INTERVIEW: Blake Connally (Dead In The Dirt)

Dead In The Dirt just completed tracking for your first full length, The Blind Hole, with Andy Nelson from Weekend Nachos. How was the recording experience?

We had a great time. A residency studio experience was exactly what we needed to focus and complete the record. We were able to immerse ourselves in the process instead of being surrounded by the distractions of being at home. Andy has been a close friend for a few years now, and so he was in tune with our live performance and our previous records before we entered the studio. This gave him an edge and personal stake in helping us create an aggressive and harsh record.

How will the songs on The Blind Hole compare to the Fear and Vold EPs?

The new LP is much different in a lot of ways from our previous material. The Blind Hole is an extremely personal record lyrically. We wanted to create something that not many people are doing in extreme music, which is right songs about reality, not some fake nihilistic world view. So many bands want to make loud aggressive music, but have nothing to say. Musically, I feel like there are many different atmospheres and a lot of our influences come through. Fear and Vold have their place in our history, but The Blind Hole is a step in much more painful direction.

You mentioned the lyrical content of the new record as more personal. What topics do you touch on, and are there any specific recurring themes?

There are many recurring themes: the fear of death, wasting what little time we have, losing loved ones, being vulnerable. We wanted to make a record that people can connect with, and write about our reality as it is. We have no interest in making music that is emotionless or superficial.

This LP will be your second release through Southern Lord. What is the relationship like between DITD and SL?

Southern Lord is a great label to work with. We have a good working relationship. We are pleased they will be putting out our new LP.

The band also completed a decent amount of touring with Sunn O))) last year. Was it an interesting experience playing to a more chilled out metal crowd than a rowdy hardcore crowd?

It was definitely a once in a life time experience. We really didn't know what to expect. The entire touring experience was much different than what we were used to, and spending time with people we look up to was a very surreal experience. It was really nice to play places where shows are taken seriously, where people actually watched us instead of being more concerned with beating the shit out of each other. Playing a 15 minute set, I think we were on and off the stage so fast most people didn't know what was going on until it was over. Sunn O))) were very supportive and great to hang with, hopefully one day we can do it again.

What are the band's plans for the rest of 2013 and beyond?

We are doing a short two week run of the midwest starting in the beginning of May, and we may be doing a west coast run in late July, but we are most excited for our month long European tour starting in October.