This week, the Nashville doomsters Season Of Arrows are in the Meet The Band spotlight. Their sophomore album Give It To The Mountain was supposed to be released this month, but the group has signed a new record deal and the disc will be unveiled early next year. Let’s get to know Season Of Arrows.Give us a brief history of Season Of Arrows.
We were all friends first. Both of our guitarists have been playing together since 1998 in various bands. Our drummer played with Dave (guitar) off and on since they were 17 years old. Brandon (guitar) and Stormie (vocals) are married and Brad (drums) lives with them. Shawn (bass) is Brandon’s cousin, so we knew we had great chemistry before we played music together.
Describe the songwriting and recording process for Give It To The Mountain.
It typically starts out with a few guitar riffs and an idea. Although, sometimes we will bring in fully fleshed out songs and arrangements, it just depends.
How has your style/sound evolved from your debut?
Although we still like our first album a lot, we feel that this new album is heavier and darker, it seems to have more of a overall focus. We took a less is more approach at times to let Stormie’s vocals carry the music. Through playing shows and recording, we learned what works best and what doesn’t within our music, too.
What are your expectations for the album?
They are pretty high, We have put our heart and soul into this one. Honestly we do this for ourselves and if other people are really into our sound than that is amazing, too. Hopefully this record will help us gain more exposure, play some bigger shows, and help us determine what the next step is for us.
What was your most memorable Season Of Arrows live show?
It was cool to play at Exit In with Jucifer and having all their massive wall of amps behind us. We played a show in this small record store in Louisville, KY called Modern Cult Records. We were all kind tired and stressed from that day, but we played very well and it sounded killer in that room. You don’t have to be at a bar or music venue to have a great show.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
Since it’s at the end of the year, we don’t have any shows planned as of now. That could change quickly though. Nashville has a competitive music scene. We have a goal of getting over to Europe and play a some shows one day.
Who are your musical heroes?
We all listen to several kinds of music, honestly. Here’s a few that come to mind: Aaron Turner, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Justin Broadrick, Tony Iommi, Mike Patton, Matt Pike, Jeff Buckley, Andy Wood, Siouxsie, Billie Holiday, Jeff Hanneman and Buzzo are some good ones.
What’s the heavy music scene like in Nashville?
Right now, I would say it’s thriving. There are several awesome heavier bands we enjoy like: Yautja, Greywoods, Loss, All Them Witches, Howling Giant, Rift and Commoner to name a few.
What’s currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Here’s some newer albums we dig: Every Time I Die, Oathbreaker, Monolord, Russian Circles, Metallica, Failure, Mariner, Generation of Vipers, Scorpion Child, Pallbearer, Sumac, Thrice, Boyfrndz, Neurosis, Wolves in the Throne Room, Yob, High on Fire and Torche, among others.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Yeah, be sure to follow us online. We have released three songs off our new album online. We have a video that we shot for our song “The Bridge” and that is in the works right now, and I am sure we will have some killer shows coming up. Currently waiting on plates to be finished for the vinyl LP release. We will have some new T-shirt designs fairly soon. Also, we just signed a CD release deal with Argonauta Records based out of Genova, Italy and we’re really excited about that! We highly recommend checking out their label and the awesome bands they have worked with.
(interview published December 3, 2016)
