The Reno, Nevada death metal duo Fog Wall are this week’s featured Meet The Band artist. Their debut album is Gloomweaver. Alex Malmquist and Zak Brady introduce us to their band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Fog Wall.
Zak Brady: In our junior year of high school I got the courage to hand Alex (who was already in a sick local death metal band) a CD of my attempt to be their vocalist. Recorded through a Rock Band mic, I handed him an incredibly awkward demo of a song about a giant pterodactyl and he (luckily) heard the potential and gave me a shot. We have been in bands together ever since. Fog Wall in particular is a passion project of some of our favorite themes and musical elements, brought to life through Alex’s hard work learning the wild and wonderful world of recording.
Describe the songwriting process for Gloomweaver.
Alex Malmquist: The main goal was to just be free, although I think no matter what we intend to do it will always kind of fall under the “death metal” umbrella. My biggest musical influence is Peter Steele so channeling that into more extreme metal is something that has always inspired me. The most important part always is to enjoy it and have fun.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Zak: Definitely cry-laughing after comically evil closet-studio shoutings gone awry. Recording monster noises with your best friend proved to be hilarious.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
Alex: I would say learning how to mix/master the album, this is very DIY and basically for the love of the game.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
Alex: Somewhere between the frantic chaos and gross sludge of Morbid Angel and the heavy tar tempos of Type O Negative.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Zak: I believe I was playing through Elden Ring when the time for words came in the songwriting process for me so that’s where this album leaned in the soulsborne aspects. Alex was ripping through The Silmarillion and Ungoliant was haunting him I think…so naturally Tolkien creative fumes were being huffed in the fog.
How did you decide to cover “The Profit Of Doom,” and how did you approach the arrangement?
Alex: I have honestly thought about a death metal cover of Type O since I was a kid because they can be so HEAVY, so when I got into audio/recording it was one of the first things I wanted to do. The idea of a medley was to capture some of my favorite heavier moments of the band and put them in one place. This cover is kind of a dream come true for me, RIP Peter Steele!
What led you to go the independent route for the release?
Zak: We don’t know much about all the proper avenues, I think we just set a goal release time and doing it independently was easier for us.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
Zak: That many an ear may behold the dawning of the fog.
Do you have plans to play live in support of the record?
Alex: Stars are aligning and we are hopeful.
How is the metal scene in Reno?
Alex: It is awesome. We have rad bands like No One Good, Sun Collider, Violent Crime, DTG. I could go on and on, we are fortunate to have a lot of creative folks out here.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
Zak: Bigfoot YouTube compilations while I draw. Alex is always traversing the plain with his best pal Luna.
What’s the best thing you binge watched recently?
Zak: I’ve been watching a lot of videos about whales, and there’s an extended version of Lord of the Rings playing at one of our places at any given time.
What’s currently in your musical heavy rotation?
Alex: The new God’s Hate EP Won’t Be Disgraced rules, Bo forever. Zak’s been listening to the new Saidan album.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Zak: Check out our other band, SANDVVITCH! A technical death metal creature brought to life through our brother and friend of the fog, Alex Gozza, on guitar.
(interview published September 5, 2026)
