After releasing three demos, the Oakland, California death metal band Necrot‘s highly anticipated full-length debut is Blood Offerings. Drummer Chad Gailey gets us up to speed on the record, touring, his musical background, the scene in Oakland and more.
Chad Bowar: The band has been around for several years. Did your other band obligations lead to the extended time it took to create your debut album?
Chad Gailey: We had a plan since the beginning. Release three demos and then compile them onto an LP before we did a full-length record. So far everything’s going according to plan
Describe the songwriting process for Blood Offerings.
Luca (Indrio) wrote a majority of the album and I provided the drums to the songs after. Once those were finished, Luca taught the songs to Sonny (Reinhardt, guitar) and then we continued to practice them as a full band until we recorded in August of 2016.
How did you decide to work with Greg Wilkinson?
We have worked with Greg since 2012 and have always been happy with everything we have recorded with him. It wasn’t a hard decision to go to Earhammer again.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
I’ll never record fast music with 16″ hi-hats ever again…
How has the band’s sound evolved from your demos?
I think we always knew the style we wanted to play: punk-fueled death metal. The first demo really shows that. When we recorded “Into the Labyrinth,” we’re definitely leaning towards influences like Nihilist and Slayer, but made it fast and loose. By the time we did “The Abyss” a year later we were going full death metal feeling.
I think Blood Offerings will be considered by many as a death metal record but we put a lot of our influences from our life into each song. To me it sounds like Grave, Bolt Thrower and Celtic Frost. I grew up listening to punk and it is still special for me even though the majority of the time I listen to Altars of Madness.
Is there a lyrical theme or thread?
The pain and suffering everyone goes through in their daily life. We all make choices that affect us everyday. If you choose to be held down by your own problems or toxic individuals, you will be stuck in the same patterns until you decide to help yourself.
How did you come to sign with Tankcrimes?
We have always known Scotty and he had shown interest in releasing our demos on an LP for us. We were really happy about that and made it happen! The reception for “The Labyrinth” was solid and definitely brought our music to people who hadn’t heard us before.
Does the positive reception to last year’s The Labyrinth compilation increase your expectations for Blood Offerings?
So far the reception for Blood Offerings has been great! Tankcrimes has already sold a good amount of LPs and CDs. We also sold out of two of our vinyl variants at a recent show, which is a good sign. I’m looking forward to June where I expect us to sell a ton of merch.
What are your upcoming tour plans?
We are touring the United States with Undergang for the month of June and doing a full European tour for the month of October.
What has been your most memorable Necrot live show or tour?
I think all our tours have been pretty memorable. Lots of crazy stories for sure. For me, I think Power of the Riff was my favorite show we played in recent memory, mostly because we played really well. Runner-up would be playing with Extinction of Mankind in Oakland.
How did you get started in music?
I started playing drums at age 12 and started my first band at 15. I started Necrot with Luca when I was 18 or 19 and have been a part of other bands/projects since then.
When did you decide you wanted to pursue it as a career?
I don’t consider what I am doing a career since I don’t survive off of playing music. I definitely play drums full time. We all have to work every day to maintain the band. Playing music is what we do for fun.
Was your family supportive?
My family is supportive, but I’m sure they would have wanted me to stay in school. They have seen everything I have accomplished over the years and are happy for me. I definitely owe them a lot for their sacrifices for me.
What was the best concert you’ve attended as a fan?
Damn, that’s tough. Doom or Bolt Thrower at Oakland Metro. Fucking great shows!
The Bay Area has a strong music scene, but what’s the heavy music scene like in Oakland specifically?
Oakland has a ton of killer black/death/doom/punk bands. If you pay attention to new music, you know that a lot of it comes from Oakland. The only reason Oakland continues to have a community is because people bust their asses to keep the remaining venues alive and full of touring bands to play there. Also people in Oakland go to shows, which keeps bands coming back
What’s currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Morbid Angel, Icons of Filth, Morpheus Descends – Ritual of Infinity
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Blood Offerings comes out June 9th, 2017 in the United States and Europe! Thanks for the interview!
(interview published June 9, 2017)
