An interview with Dan Watson, Aaron Toole, and Gabriel Mangold
Interview and Photos by: George Archibald

​It has been close to two years since I last spoke to any of the members of Enterprise Earth. There have been lineup changes, and new music since that past Summer Slaughter. As some faces have changed the music has remained brutal as ever. With newest addition Gabriel Mangold, the music has taken a turn for the technical which can be heard on Enterprise Earth’s latest release ‘Only Hell Will Embrace the Damned’. I was fortunate to catch up with the band as they were on tour supporting Dying Fetus and Thy Art is Murder at their Cleveland stop of the MetalSucks Spring Tour.
GA: It has been about 2 years for me seeing Enterprise Earth, which was on Summer Slaughter. Since that time there has been a lot going on with a new album, and several lineup changes. Please tell me about these changes since that time?
DW: Yea, we have Gabriel Mangold on guitar now. We feel like we have a really strong team now, everyone is reliable, everyone is strong with their instruments. Everyone also has different styles of writing. We trust each other as well, which makes for a solid lineup.
GA: Who is currently playing bass for the band?
DW: Right now, we have our buddy Rob filling in. We also still have BJ (Sampson) in the band but he is not with us on tour at the moment.
GA: The band released its newest single to date ‘Only Hell Will Embrace the Damned’ on Friday 3/16, can you tell me about the process of writing this song, and is there a new album on its way?
DW: This is just a stand alone single. This is also the first song where Gabriel was able to showcase his writing skills since joining. This song is kind of a new direction with Gabriel’s input.
GM: This is the first time BJ and I have written together. It was refreshing to write with someone who can bounce ideas back and forth with. The process felt very fluid and natural, which was great because sometimes writing with another person can be difficult.
AT: It was very challenging to learn. It was challenging on drums for myself, but I like where the music is going. I like that it is a little more extreme in parts. Usually we stick to around 140 bpm but for this song we bumped it down to 133 bpm, but by doing that we are playing on the 32nd note value; so, when blasting even though the quarter note tempo is slower you are actually going faster. It is deceivingly  difficult song to play but fun for sure.
GM: We slowed the tempo down but made the parts harder.
GA: The new single has a bit of a black metal feel along with that opening lead riff, sounds like the band has decided to go way technical, can this be a sign of things to come for the band or was this just how the writing process for that song came to be?
GM: I feel like the writing process was natural, it could be perhaps a slight inclination of where the band could be headed however. This was the first song I have written for the band and I am sure that, that sound will continue to develop. I expect in the future it may be something of the same or maybe a little different too.
GA: When the band is writing newer material, where do you look for influences when writing?
DW: For me personally it is about expressing my emotions and thoughts, and abstract ideas while trying to put them into a storyline. For me it’s like life’s struggle.
GM: Sometimes I will just be vibing a certain band or song or idea. Other times It’s a scene or a setting, and I try to capture that when writing. This time for ‘Only Hell Will Embrace the Damned’ BJ had the idea for the song structure, and I kind of just did my thing over his structure.
GA: Since this tour just began, is there anything you all anticipate when you get back on the road? Like a favorite venue or stop, or even a great day off stop to spend some time?
DW: Denver is one of my favorites.
AT: Seattle is always fun. This venue (The Agora Theater) I remember from Summer Slaughter, and it was really fun.
DW: I remember taking a shower back there. I walked out and saw a thousand people, and I am just wearing a towel. (everyone laughs)
GA: What is a tour essential that you must bring with you when you hit the road?
DW: A pillow and a toothbrush. Also cans of Anne’s soup. I was trying to get a plane pillow before tour, like the little donut, but my Wal Mart didn’t have any.
GA: This question is for Gabriel. Enterprise Earth is based out of Spokane, Wa but you are a native to Pittsburgh, Pa, how did you get involved with EE, and can you tell us some of the projects you have worked on?
GM: I have been online friends with Dan and BJ for a few years now. Dan did guest vocals on one of my other bands tracks a few years ago and that’s how we got to know each other. We just kept in touch over the years. When Enterprise Earth has a guitarist vacancy I hit up BJ, and they took me on the road, and here we are.
DW: It’s kind of funny because Gabriel was our first choice to fill the spot, but we never asked him. We assumed he would be busy with his band, Delusions of Grandeur and his own stuff, so it is kind of funny how it all works out in the end.
AT: He killed it his first night by the way! We showed up in Pittsburgh and jammed with Gabriel once the morning of the Pittsburgh show at Mr. Smalls, and then played together that night.
GA: What plans does the band have instore for later in the year?
DW: This summer we are going to be writing a new album, and we are going to be announcing our new record label. In the fall we will probably be touring off that record.
GA: Where can people find the band, and where can people go if they want to pick up some merch online?
DW: We do have a website http://enterpriseearthband.com and on there we have a Big Cartel and Merchnow store. Everything can be found throughout website.
GA: Anything else you would like to add?
DW: I have a clothing line I just launched called Death Wind (https://www.deathwindclothing.com/ ). I am really stoked because I get to wear my own clothes.
AT: I have a website where I am doing online drumming lessons, Tooleshed Drums. www.toolesheddrums.com Traditionally I would do lessons in person but recently started doing them through Skype. The website is www.toolesheddrums.com/ with an E since it is a play off my last name Toole. If anyone is interested in lessons, there are links to my YouTube videos through that, and my contact information.
GM: I own a digital marketing company named Jamagram (https://www.jamagram.net/ ) where I specialize in Instagram growth. I represent tattoo artists, photographers, models and all kinds of people, to help them gain more exposure on social media.

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George Archibald

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