The UK extreme metal group Outergods are in the Meet The Band spotlight this week. They just released their debut album A Kingdom Built Upon The Wreckage Of Heaven. Nathe Sinfield (guitar, electronics) introduces us to his band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Outergods.
Nathe Sinfield: Sam (Strachan, vocals) and I used to work with each other and bounced around the idea of writing/releasing a song. I ended up sending Sam a song in mid to late 2020, which was “Catacombs of Madness,” and then we released it as a demo in early 2021. Due to how fun it was writing the song, we ended up writing a whole album and then enlisted the help of Jordan Spencer (Evil Scarecrow), Alex LeGrice (Raised By Owls) and Dan Oldcorn (Antre) to form a full band so we can play these songs live.
Describe the songwriting process for A Kingdom Built Upon The Wreckage Of Heaven.
I’d write a rough draft of a song, send it to Sam and then let Sam do whatever he wanted with the lyrics and vocals. Due to Sam and I having a very similar vision of what we wanted to create, the whole process of writing was very smooth. Sometimes we’d give each other some pointers for adjusting a segment or tweaking a vocal pattern.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
I think it would be writing “Tangled In The Cogs Of The Nightmare Machine,” “Nothing But A Fetid Worm” and the title track. I feel these songs came together really quickly and I’m really proud of both the instrumental and vocal aspects of songs. I’m proud of the whole album, but these songs, in particular, took shape very fast.
What was the biggest challenge in recording it?
I think it was just finding time to finish it, plus the experiences Sam and I were going through at the same time. It was a great outlet for us, but (without going into too much detail) at times it was very hard to boot up the DAW and record.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
I’d say the sound was a combination of death metal, black metal and grindcore, with a hint of thrash.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
The album has a loose concept of hell. But more of a personal hell, rather than biblical, mixed with dark fantasy and Lovecraftian elements.
How did you come to sign with Prosthetic Records?
Originally, we were going to self-release the album. However, I decided to send it over to Prosthetic Records and had no expectations. Thankfully, they liked it and wanted to work with us and now we’re in the perfect label partnership!
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
We’d like as many people to listen to it as possible. When you spend as much time as we did writing and recording it, you hope the result is many people listening to and enjoying it.
What has been your most memorable Outergods live show?
We recently played Bloodstock Festival and it was an amazing experience. So far, that is our most memorable show and we hope to be invited back again!
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
We’ll be setting off on a short run of shows from the 1st to the 3rd of September with Hellfekted and Vulgar Dissection, which will be in support of our debut album.
How did you get started in music?
My dad has been in bands since he was a teenager and made sure that I learned an instrument when I was young. This resulted in me forming bands whilst in school, so music has been a part of my life for many, many years. My first bands were metal, and I found a genre I wanted to pursue early on.
Who were some of your early influences and inspirations?
Robb Flynn has been an inspiration of mine since I first got into Machine Head back in 2001. They were the first band I became obsessed with. Shortly after that, I got into death metal and Erik Rutan of Hate Eternal (as well as ex-Morbid Angel, and currently in Cannibal Corpse) became another guitarist/songwriter/producer I was heavily influenced by.
What was the first metal concert you attended?
That would be Machine Head, with support from Caliban and God Forbid at Rock City in Nottingham on 1st Dec 2004. I think I still have the ticket somewhere. It was when they were touring Through the Ashes of Empires, which is an incredible album.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
Probably gaming. I’m a massive Soulsborne fan, so I tend to replay Bloodborne, Dark Souls, or Elden Ring a lot.
What’s the best thing you’ve binge-watched lately?
I recently re-watched the anime Monster. It’s phenomenal.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Our drummer, Jordan, will be playing a bunch of shows throughout January and February 2024 with his band Evil Scarecrow. They’re an amazing band and put on an incredible live show. You should definitely check them out on some of the dates!
(interview published September 2, 2023)
Watch Outergods – “Tangled In The Cogs Of The Nightmare Machine”
