An interview with Psyclosarin’s Brandon, Aaron, David, Jon, and Ian

Interview and Photos by: George Archibald

​Death metal outfit Psyclosarin made their way into the western Ohio scene in 2011. Formed in Salem, the band has gone through several line up changes. Now, with the acquisition of several new members the band has solidified and is currently writing their second full-length album set for a spring 2019 release. Psyclosarin also announced recently that they would be traveling in early 2019 to be a part of their first overseas fest, the Reykjavik Metal Fest in Reykjavik, Iceland. I got to speak to the band as they opened for Internal Bleeding, Pyrexia and Within Destruction, to learn more about this current line up and their new album.

GA: How about we start off with introductions, can you tell me a little about the band?

Jon: We started in 2011, and it is just me now from the original line up. We started in Salem, OH in 2011, then after that there has been a whole family tree of different members, and we have this awesome line up now.

GA: David, Aaron, and Brandon are the newest members to the band how did you become part of Psyclosarin?

Aaron: By coincidence David and I, tried out on the same day. I was taking a hiatus from music previously and wanted to get back into it. A friend of mine Seth Kensington, who was in the band at the time recommended I try out, but he quit before I joined and I kind of just shot in to his spot. So, I was extremely lucky.

Brandon: It is kind of the same story for me. The band was in the same situation, where they were looking to write new music, and had music written; and they were having issues with their previous vocalist. They made a band decision that they needed to bring in someone else. Aaron and I have known each other since we were teenagers and have been in bands before together, he asked if I wanted to try out. I came out, and did not nail the first try out, but they saw the energy and asked me to join. Within six weeks I had new lyrics for all 6 new songs that we played tonight.

Jon: The difference from that first try out to now, is amazing.

GA: I see the band is working on a 2nd full length album, can you tell me more about it?

Jon: We are actually going to work more on the album tomorrow. We have two songs recorded already. Brandon still has to do vocals for those, and then we are going to do scratch tracks for most of the other songs on the album tomorrow.

Brandon: We have four songs that are written that need finished as well. Hopefully we will have all the recording done, and everything finished up for a spring 2019 release.

Jon: It is looking right now, that it will have eleven or twelve songs on the album.

Brandon: The plan is to get the album done, and out before we go out to Iceland.

GA: What was the writing process for the new album like?

Jon: Lately, we have all had our own ideas. In the early days of the band Ian and I wrote most of the music, but that has expanded since the addition of Brandon, Aaron, and David. Ian and I used to jam all the time and then bring those ideas to the band.

Brandon: We have a little of everybody writing parts, Ian is even jumping on guitar to write riffs. Everyone brings their own thing to the table. I have a song that I am writing entirely from start to finish for the new album. Aaron has his own ideas, basically every member has their own song, and if it is not finished, they bring it to the band table and everyone chips in to help get it finished. We work together on it as a collection, and it has been working out well.

Jon: Speaking for the diversity of this album, there are different styles within the band, and we don’t want to go any particular way. We encourage everybody to do their own thing, which leads to an independent factor of writing which I think comes through on the songs. I think it is good to have these different facets mash together on an album.

Brandon: Everyone in this band has experience in overall song writing, is what it boils down to.

Jon: Especially with Brandon, he also plays several instruments.

Ian: That’s a big factor, it is nice to have a vocalist that knows about music and about sound. It makes a world of difference. From notation, to everything it helps the process of writing, that much more.

David: For Brandon to be able to follow the pitch for a vocal line to match up with a guitar riff adds that much more impact to a song.

GA: The band just announced that in 2019 you will be playing in Reykjavik, Iceland as part of the Reykjavik metal fest with Napalm Death. How did the band get to be a part of this fest?

Ian: I communicated with one of the promoters and told them we were interested in playing the fest. We went into this with no specifications for time slots, or anything we just wanted to be a part of the show. The opportunity to travel overseas is amazing, so we wanted to capitalize on that. So, through communicating with some of the promoters in Reykjavik, they put us on the bill and took us in, and we are proud to be a part of the Reykjavik Metal Fest in Iceland 2019.

GA: What are you looking forward to when the band goes to Iceland?

Ian: For me, learning the ropes of international travel as a band, and learning how to travel with equipment. I’m hoping to talk with some of the veterans who have been in the scene for a long time and pick up some knowledge from them. We want to take in the culture, and we are also looking forward to doing some hiking while there. I just want to take it all in and learn from it.

Jon: I have heard Iceland has a great group of metal fans there so looking forward to talking to them and playing for them.

Brandon: I am looking forward to getting to network with actual fans face to face outside of the US. Whenever we put music up on Spotify and YouTube, we are seeing all these hits from people outside of the US, and we don’t have a chance to actually interact with those people. This is an opportunity to get out there and interact with some of those people, and network with bands and fans outside of the US for a change. It will be different to do this outside of social media. To hand a person a hard copy of a cd has a lot more impact then someone just buying our music online. This to me is going to be the most exciting thing about this trip. I am also hoping to be able to run into Napalm Death or Benighted and get to pick their brains on what they did early in their careers to get to where they are now.To be able to learn from these bands we all look up to. This is a major opportunity for bands like us, from nowhere Ohio to take advantage of, and we are going to make the best of it.

GA: What gear is the band currently using live?

David: I use a Fender Aerodyne Jazz bass, my amp head is an Acoustic B600, which I run through a Hartke cabinet. I also use a bunch of effects pedals in my signal chain.

Jon: I use B52 cabinets, with a Peavey XXX amp head. I am playing on a rare Ibanez Falcon X series guitar, and I use Bosspedals for my effects.

Aaron: I am currently running a Peavey 6505 which is the metal standard, into a Mesa 2×12 cabinet. I play on a Jackson Soloist guitar. I have a pretty basic signal chain with an EQ, a TubeScreamer, a delay and a tuner.

Ian: I play on a Taylor Superstar Classic – North American Maple, it has a nice warm sound with great attack. Axis A21series pedals, with Roland triggers and an Alesis DM 5 module. I have an assortment of cymbals currently.

GA: If someone wanted to support the band online where can they find your online store, and keep up to date with you through social media?

Brandon: People can keep up to date with the band on Bandcamp.com, we also post on Facebook, and Instagram. As the new album gets finished, we are looking to expand onto other social media platforms as well. Bandcamp is also the best place currently to purchase things.

GA: Anything else you would like to add?

Jon: We appreciate everyone’s support in the scene. It means a lot to us as musicians trying to push forward.

Bancamp: https://psyclosarin.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PsyclosarinMetal

Instagram: @Psyclosarin

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George Archibald

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