"Read Into it What You Will" - An interview with Novembers Doom

MID-MAJOR MAYHEM

By: Geoff Teach

Chicago doom/gothic metal quintet, Novembers Doom, don’t often like to spell things out too obviously when they write their hauntingly heavy music. “We like to leave it up to the listeners to interpret what they hear in their own way,” says Larry Roberts, guitarist and main music composer, “It’s pretty interesting to see how differently people tend to interpret our songs and their meanings.” Novembers Doom are set to unleash their ninth studio album on the public, “Bled White” (The End Records), and while the band is wholly excited for its official release on July 15th, 2014, it is still never easy to truly classify their correct subgenre, as Novembers Doom is one of those rare heavy metal bands who seem to consistently wander in and out of their appointed pigeonhole. Sometimes sounding like doom, melodic death, gothic, or even folk metal on occasion, even Roberts himself admits to the quirkiness of his outfit, saying, “We’ve always been one of those odd bands who don’t always fit neatly into any category.” Yet while the debate over the band’s genre placement may still rage on, one thing is for damn certain: “Bled White” will challenge its listeners to think and to feel, and that’s precisely what Novembers Doom aims for.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of speaking with the aforementioned Roberts and the newest addition to the band, drummer Garry Naples, about their latest offering, touring, their recent performance at the famed Graspop festival, and the modern music business in general. Novembers Doom (also comprised of members Paul Kuhr (vocals), Vito Marchese (guitars), and Mike Feldman (bass)) has managed to stay alive and kicking for twenty-five years now, but Roberts attributes a lot of this longevity to their rabid fan base. “I think there’s [been] times where this band could’ve stalled and come to a stand still for various reasons, but when we see and hear all the support from fans who want us to keep going, it fuels us to continue on,” he says, and though their Stateside fan contingency is strong and loyal, it is really European fanaticism that has most impressed them. “I’ve been to Europe twice now with the band,” says Naples, “and both times, it has been unbelievable how much the fans are into it. The fans of the band seem to be extremely supportive wherever [we play], but Europe has always treated the band [especially] well.” Pontificating on as to why this seems to be case, Roberts adds, “I think we have just connected better with fans overseas, probably because there’s more fans of our style of metal there than here. We’ve also toured far more over in Europe than [home], so that factors into it, as well.” Whatever the reasons may be, though, Novembers Doom have more than once parlayed their overseas popularity into landing on the bill at the world famous Graspop Metal Meeting Festival in Belgium (both in 2008 and 2014), sharing the marquis with such well-known artists as Mastodon, Gojira, Cynic, and even the legendary Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.

Novembers Doom’s current and capable lineup. (L to R: Vito Marchese, Paul Kuhr, Mike Feldman, Larry Roberts, and Garry Naples)

Playing a show of this size and magnitude just before releasing a new album also shows just how genuinely shrewd the band is when deciding to play live. “It comes down to having the right opportunities and making sure we take proper advantage of them we find them,” explains Roberts, and while touring may be an expensive proposition (for both band and management), Roberts also acknowledges that sometimes the risk is worth the reward, saying, “We need to get out and promote the new disc, especially since it’s already been getting such great reviews and feedback.” Naples seems to agree, adding, “I know we are looking into options for more gigs to help promote the record, so hopefully we get some plans squared away soon.” No matter what, however, Novembers Doom is contemplating hitting the road solely due to “Bled White” and their yearning to support their new work. Recorded at Belle City Sound Studios in Kenosha, Wisconsin, “Bled White” was completed with purpose and efficacy. “We go [into the studio] with a pretty detailed plan of what we’re going to do and how, so that makes things run pretty efficiently,” says Roberts, and in all, “Bled White” was recorded, mixed, and mastered in roughly four weeks’ time, even with a new(er) member recording with the band for the first time. However, by the time Novembers Doom hit the studio, even Garry felt quite comfortable. “We had spent the last year or so working on the new material, and really got heavy into it when it came down to the last couple months before we started the sessions,” states Naples, and continues, “There were still some last minute changes and additions, but I felt we were pretty prepared.”

The cover art of “Bled White”, to be officially released July 15th, 2014.

Consequently, all of that preparation and planning has resulted in a full length album that has caused music critics and writers the world over to heap praise upon the Chicago five-piece, but, to the band, it is what the fans think that truly matters most. “Fan support is critical to this band being able to carry on,” says Roberts, and with that in mind, Novembers Doom continually attempt to create works that are satisfying from start to finish. “’Bled White’, being an album that is fairly long, has a lot of peaks and valleys,” explains Naples, adding, “It was important that everything flow well to us, so that people would listen and be brought in for the whole [ride].” Like many great metal albums that have come before it, “Bled White” was organized and ordered with extreme care and consideration. “It’s very important to me that a song like ‘The Silent Dark’ finishes the album, or that the guitar piece ‘Scorpius’ comes before ‘Unrest’,” says Roberts, and adds, “We focus greatly on the song order for each album we release.” This attention to detail and obvious concentration on creating a rollercoaster ride of musical emotion is one of the main things that draws people to the band, and, as a result, Novembers Doom’s ride is one that is special and unique to each fan who settles in for the journey. They may be quirky and hard to define, but it is just this kind of unpredictability that keeps things fresh for their steadily growing fan base, and, with fitting finality, this is just as Novembers Doom has always intended anyway.

To check out “Heartfelt”, one of the new songs on “Bled White”, just press play below!