Do you like your music loud, heavy and aggressive? If you answered yes to either category, you are in for a treat. I decided to go in a much darker direction this time for our Artist of the Week feature. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Among The Torrent. Based out of San Jose, this metal group is keeping the tradition of in your face riffs and pulsating rhythms alive by creating super heavy songs with the attitude to back it all up. After hearing just one of their songs, I immediately was taken back to the early 80's when metal ruled the land. Among The Torrent has that classic metal sound, along the lines of Pantera and Metallica, but they have brought the style into the modern day by making every song that they write heavier than the last one. I got to sit down with some of the members of Among The Torrent a while back for an interview and learn more about these metal masters.
If you would like to be one of our featured artists, please fill out the submission form at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!
What are your names and roles in Among The Torrent?
Mike - Guitar/Vocals
Kiera - Guitar
David - Bass
Where are you based out of?
"We base ourselves out of the San Francisco Bay Area, but we really region out in San Jose."
And how did the band get created? What did you hope to achieve by starting this project?
"Among the Torrent (AtT) was formed in San Jose, CA in the winter of 2011. Material immediately began development once Mike and Adam (Former Guitarist) came together. We were able to get our ideas recorded using a drum machine since we didn’t have a drummer."
"Mike soon contacted Dave, who was the former bassist for Exordium, to join the ranks. Material continued to progress during the hunt for a drummer. We ended up recruiting Zach (former drummer) and was able to enter the show circuit with Mike and Adam on Vocals and guitar, Dave on Bass and Zach on drums.
"This line up continued for about 3 years until Zach and Adam exited the band for career reasons. We soon recruited Kiera on guitar, and Mike then took over all vocals. At the time of this interview, we are still-hunting for a drummer. We are still in the show circuit and are using live drum samples for our set. We can’t stand the idea of allowing the absence of a drummer to slow our progress and exposure. We keep moving forward!"
I love the determination that you guys have. It must be tough not having someone to play those parts live, but that doesn't stop you. That's dedication to the max!. So if you could describe your band in only one word, what word would you use?
"We would say "Relentless" is a good choice."
When did you all start playing music?
Mike: "At the age of 12, I began playing guitar. As a kid, I use to love movies that had epic sounding musical pieces during emotional sections of the script and of course…video games have always offered some of the most fascinating electronic pieces. Listening to bands like Metallica, Green day and Smashing Pumpkins made me pick up the guitar and want to start learning. The bands that got me into the metal scene were Opeth, Diecide, Dimmu Borgir and Decapitated to name a few. Music essentially was and is an emotional outlet that allows me to develop in so many aspects in my life and as a human being."
David: "I started playing guitar around when I was 13. First thing that got me into Metal was Metallica, the first metal album I owned was “…And Justice For All.” on cassette tape. Got into Pantera, Slayer and that’s what styles I wanted to play when I was young. It seemed like I was late in the game though since I lived in Hawaii back then and all the cool tours already happened. I was just in awe from what I found from friends recommending things."
Kiera: "I always did at least one extracurricular thing when I was young and had initially played piano from 10 to 12. When I turned 13, I switched to guitar and immediately fell in love with it. No Doubt got me into music but Evanescence got me into alternative music. Eventually bands like Killswitch Engage, Metallica, Dream Theater and Cradle of Filth got me into metal."
If you would like to be one of our featured artists, please fill out the submission form at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!
What are your names and roles in Among The Torrent?
Mike - Guitar/Vocals
Kiera - Guitar
David - Bass
Where are you based out of?
"We base ourselves out of the San Francisco Bay Area, but we really region out in San Jose."
And how did the band get created? What did you hope to achieve by starting this project?
"Among the Torrent (AtT) was formed in San Jose, CA in the winter of 2011. Material immediately began development once Mike and Adam (Former Guitarist) came together. We were able to get our ideas recorded using a drum machine since we didn’t have a drummer."
"Mike soon contacted Dave, who was the former bassist for Exordium, to join the ranks. Material continued to progress during the hunt for a drummer. We ended up recruiting Zach (former drummer) and was able to enter the show circuit with Mike and Adam on Vocals and guitar, Dave on Bass and Zach on drums.
"This line up continued for about 3 years until Zach and Adam exited the band for career reasons. We soon recruited Kiera on guitar, and Mike then took over all vocals. At the time of this interview, we are still-hunting for a drummer. We are still in the show circuit and are using live drum samples for our set. We can’t stand the idea of allowing the absence of a drummer to slow our progress and exposure. We keep moving forward!"
I love the determination that you guys have. It must be tough not having someone to play those parts live, but that doesn't stop you. That's dedication to the max!. So if you could describe your band in only one word, what word would you use?
"We would say "Relentless" is a good choice."
When did you all start playing music?
Mike: "At the age of 12, I began playing guitar. As a kid, I use to love movies that had epic sounding musical pieces during emotional sections of the script and of course…video games have always offered some of the most fascinating electronic pieces. Listening to bands like Metallica, Green day and Smashing Pumpkins made me pick up the guitar and want to start learning. The bands that got me into the metal scene were Opeth, Diecide, Dimmu Borgir and Decapitated to name a few. Music essentially was and is an emotional outlet that allows me to develop in so many aspects in my life and as a human being."
David: "I started playing guitar around when I was 13. First thing that got me into Metal was Metallica, the first metal album I owned was “…And Justice For All.” on cassette tape. Got into Pantera, Slayer and that’s what styles I wanted to play when I was young. It seemed like I was late in the game though since I lived in Hawaii back then and all the cool tours already happened. I was just in awe from what I found from friends recommending things."
Kiera: "I always did at least one extracurricular thing when I was young and had initially played piano from 10 to 12. When I turned 13, I switched to guitar and immediately fell in love with it. No Doubt got me into music but Evanescence got me into alternative music. Eventually bands like Killswitch Engage, Metallica, Dream Theater and Cradle of Filth got me into metal."
What band has been your biggest musical influence? Are they still an influence in your playing today?
Mike: "It's so hard to choose, but I will go ahead and say that Opeth was a driving force in my overall development in the metal scene. Their ability to be so diverse and bring so many musical elements to life was always something I was inspired by."
David: "I would say bands like Metallica, Pantera, Iron Maiden. Their stage presence lit their performances right up, and that's what I like to do. For modern musical creativity, I go with Beyond Creation, Katatonia, & Decrepit Birth. More speed and melody is what I like to listen to."
Kiera: "Cannibal Corpse and Behemoth influence my writing the most, along with Dark Fortress for the more black metal riffs. I always felt like Behemoth's riffs sounded good no matter what they did, and I took so much from that style of playing."
What's your favorite song that you have written?
Mike: I'd say "Lights in Elevation", our new song, has become my favorite at this point. It was simply one of those songs you sit down and write with the greatest of ease. Everything fell into place. Funny enough, I worked completely backwards with this particular song. I couldn't get the outro riff out of my head and decided to capitalize on the riff and just started adding synth/electronics and guitars piece by piece."
"Lyrically, I always try to shoot for supernatural encounters/alternate dimension sort of things. This song in particular was based off of the idea of those who claimed to have been abducted by supernatural beings and the struggle they feel when they are released back to live life among peers as a monitored animal of the superior forces. Nobody ever believes someone when they claimed to have been abducted, and they pass that person off as crazy and out of their minds. The thing is, one would never know unless it happened to them and sadly enough....the cycle would continue, and you would then be the crazy one."
Kiera: "Proselytize, a song that is still under works but I love it so much because I feel like it has a lot of potential. I love dramatic orchestras and keys and when I started writing that song that's exactly what came from it. Simple harmonies but loud orchestras. It has so many parts that just make me want to head-bang and that's what I want to have in the riffs and songs I write."
What's one album you could never get tired of listening to?
Mike - Old mans Child - Vermin. It's just got such great composition and solid flow. Tons of classic and catchy riffs
David - Hypocrisy – Hypocrisy . It's really the best melodic death metal album & really under the radar for this bands overall discography. I believe they went to space and returned with this masterpiece. =)
Kiera - Evanescence - The Open Door. This album is what inspired me to make great orchestral pieces. It's definitely their most "dramatic" album to date and has many haunting orchestral pieces.
If you could jam with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
Mike - "Steve Vai or John Petrucci, both are wizards and have amazing style."
Kiera - "Chuck Schuldiner or Pat O'Brien.....because they Shred!!!"
David –"Dimebag Darrel & Cliff Burton. To be able to jam with the legends of metal, in my opinion, would be the best thing ever."
Best band moment, on or off stage:
Mike: "Delivering a successful set with out a drummer. We spent a lot of time and money into getting our programmed drums to sound great live, and we pulled it off with flying colors. Also introduced a new song during this set. It is extremely difficult to pull this off for metal bands."
Kiera: "I'm gonna have to second Mike. We somehow managed to play a good show without a drummer, and I'm glad that we were able to do it."
David: "I would say touring last summer was a great band moment. Everyone got to know each other "really well." lol. Everyone traded off equally, and traveling/going across the states has to be fun, ya know?!"
Have ever had an embarrassing moment on stage?
Mike: "I once called a guy in the crowd a girl in New Mexico. I said, "This chick down front is moshing harder than half the guys out here, pretty impressed!" Low and behold, the drummer at the time whispers, "Dude.....it's a dude." I think it was because he had his bangs cut much like a girl would and his face was baby butt smooth. I could only laugh at that point."
David: "Hahaha Mike's story takes the cake really, but while running across the stage and kicking the kick drum mic at one of our shows once, I do remember being slightly embarrassed. The kick drum in the mix disappeared as soon as I tripped on the mic. Oh well, it happens."
Where do you see yourself 2 years from now, and where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Mike: "Signed and touring more aggressively within 2 years. In 5 years, hopefully have 3 albums out by then and be touring with the metal acts that I grew up listening to."
David: "Signed, touring, have lots of shirts for sale and hopefully doing well overall. "
Kiera: "Getting signed would be great, and touring across the country. I'll also finally be graduating from college in two years."
Who are some bands that you play around your area with?
Mike: "Couple of great bands such as Anisoptera, Kinnefret, Cyborg Octopus, Flub, and Imperial Omen just to name a few."
David: "To add to that list, The Fresno Boys of Evisceration, Logistic Slaughter, & Soon with Crepuscle."
Kiera: "Behold the Desecration and Plagues of the Armada."
Where can people go to follow your progress and find your music?
"Our website, AmongTheTorrent.com, and also on Facebook, Reverberation, iTunes, band camp, Pandora Radio, and about 40 other digital distributors. We are all over the place."
Anything else you would like to say before you go?
"Stay tuned for the upcoming album dropping late 2015, early 2016. We always encourage bands, promoters, etc, to contact us via Facebook if interested in booking us or simply networking. We are also currently seeking a drummer so if there are any interested candidates in the San Francisco Bay, shoot us some reference material with your inquiry. We've got a So Cal tour in the works and will need a candidate locked and loaded."
Last question: If you could have written any song in history, which one would you choose?
Mike: "Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven"
Kiera: "I would second Moonlight Sonata, but for something else. Rachmaninoff - Prelude in G minor Op. 25 No. 5"
David: "S.Y.F.F.U.F. by the creators of South Park, or the intro to Beavis & Butthead. lol"