photo : Nikki That Rocktographer

11th June, 2023

Director’s Cuts has put every Aussie deathcore band on notice. The brutality contained within has definitely raised the bar. What were your goals for this album?

Simon – To put death metal drums in front of the widest audience possible. That shit means a lot to me.

Matt – I think the biggest goal was to just make a record that we all loved and that was a real mix of all the band’s tastes. I think we nailed that. 

How was the album received by the metal community?

Matt – the response to the album has been great. Lots of fans and reviews saying they dig it, and the songs that we’ve played live have had a great reaction from the crowds. 

How would you personally describe To The Grave’s current sound?

Simon – The melting pot had a ton of colours in it this time around. We pinched heaps of stuff from heaps of genres so it’s tough to put it to a few words. Personally, I’d still call us deathcore, but with groove elements and bigger choruses this time around.

Matt – I don’t care about our music fitting in a little box of genre descriptions. We’re a heavy band, and that’s about as far as I think about it. 

photo : Nox Nohi

Why heavy music? What is it about this style and sound that attracts you to it?

Simon – It’s pure expression isn’t it. Aggression and performance in synergy. Going full throttle is as cathartic as it is integral to a great show or a great take in the studio. Gotta get it out, brah.

Matt – coz sick riffs are sick

How did you first discover and get into metal?

Matt – I heard some cool riffs and it changed my life. Been hooked ever since.

Who were/ are your music heroes? Who inspired you to want to play metal?

Simon – Joey Jordison, and Chris Adler, are probably two earliest influences. Nowadays catch me drooling over my peers side of stage. So many of my music friends are superheroes in my eyes. And Ken Bedene… that dude is proof we perfected carbon-based killing machines long ago.

Matt – biggest inspiration is Jason Newsted from Metallica. Coolest bass player that band ever had. Monster musician and amazing live performer.

photo : Travis Worland

Was there a defining moment that made you decide to play an instrument?

Matt – pretty much the same time I got into heavy music I wanted to play an instrument. Played guitar badly for a while then switched to bass and didn’t look back.

How did you learn to play your instrument? Formal lessons, self-taught, online?

Simon – I started off with lessons and did that all through school up to graduation, and funnily enough, I’ve just recently gone back to lessons again; my hands are idiots and that’s gotta change.

How often do you get to practice as a band?

Matt – we all take our instruments, and the band, pretty seriously. Because we all live so far from each other we only rehearse as a band before tours but we come in ready and knowing our shit. 

How often do you practice? Is it playing along to songs, working on specific techniques, etc…?

Simon – Usually a mix of both, that’s a healthy way to do it I think and also necessary. Applied practice is boring and hard sometimes but sharpens your tools and lets you carve cooler shapes into songs. Running the songs is just as important, both your own, and learning other artists material/styles.

Matt – everything. Learning cool bits of other songs for inspiration, drilling our material constantly. 

photo : Travis Worland

How are your songs conceived?

Jack – I usually write out all the skeletons out then bring them to the boys and we refine them down together

Matt – Yeah, Jack writes a heap of sick riffs and rough structures then we work it all over together. It’s pretty cool that everyone has their input and the push / pull of all of us having different tastes takes things in some cool directions.  

What artists, old or new, are you listening to currently?

Simon – A lot of Jeremy Soule, Gojira, Nils Frahm, Aphex Twin, Hallmark 86, Aborted, LTJ Bukem, Jesper Kyd, Photek, the list goes on…

Matt – lots of dungeon synth stuff – Old Sorcery has been getting a lot of spins lately. The new Kruelty album, “Untopia”, is the most evil hardcore record ever released, so that’s been in high rotation too. 

What have been some of your most memorable shows to date?

photo : Travis Worland

Simon – Two-way tie between Knight and Day in Victoria for new years that year, and Tilburg with Shadow of Intent. Both were pretty “stop and take this in for a sec” moments in my life as a musician.

Matt – Yeah that whole Shadow of Intent tour was a wild experience. First time overseas for the band, lots of sick shows. Playing Gothenburg in Sweden and finally getting to play a show with Humanity’s Last Breath was sick. 

What jobs do you have when you aren’t playing with To The Grave?

Simon – I wrench on cars and do voice acting when I’m not on the road.

Matt – I’m a music producer and touring sound guy. 

Is it hard to juggle work and a touring schedule? Are your employers ok with you taking leave to tour?

Simon – My work is pretty flexible fortunately, but running the band as a business in between trying to have a life and a full time job is pretty draining at times. On that grindstone non-stop.

Matt – yeah I work for myself so I don’t have to deal with the shit of having a boss. Everything I do is music related so it’s pretty fun. 

photo : Fixated Photography

Worst touring experience?

Matt – coming home after touring and missing all the new friends we’ve made.

Simon – Yeah Matty nailed it. End of tour blue-balls and post tour depression do be real things man.

Who’s your bucket list artist to tour with?

Matt – Slipknot

What’s the last show you saw that you weren’t playing at?

Simon – Knotfest 2023 in Sydney! What a day, proud of our boys in Alpha Wolf <3

Matt – My mate’s band, Bloody Legend, it’s full on 80s hair metal worship and it rules. 

What do you do in your free time? Hobbies outside of music?

Simon – Fuckin’ way too many to list. Project cars, building engines, archery, gaming, vinyl, voice acting, plenty more.

Matt – I watch a lot of horror movies and read dumb fantasy novels. Still a goofy kid at heart.

Favourite holiday destination?

Simon – Probably somewhere I haven’t been yet

Matt – Germany is one of my favourite places.

Specifically, what gear do you play?

Matt – Ibanez and ESP basses, Darkglass pedals, Ampeg and Mesa Boogie amps. I love all the flavours of Rat pedals but they’re too filthy to use with this band.

photo : Fixated Photography

Any endorsements?

Simon – Yessir, Trick Drums & Hardware, ain’t none better, you heard it here. Fishsticks drumsticks, cop em. TRX cymbals, with me since the beginning. 

What’s your dream gear?

Simon – Zildjian Cymbals, Tama drums

Matt – anything that works every time and doesn’t cost me heaps. 

Who designs your artwork for releases, shirts, tour posters?

Matt – Dane does a lot of the “visual” aspects of the band, it’s very helpful that he’s so talented with that shit. We commission a lot of artwork too.  

Thoughts on U18 venues/gigs?

Simon – If there’s a way to facilitate our fans of younger ages being able to catch our shows, that’s more heads through the door who get to throw down and see us play. Sounds like a win/win to me.

Cats – lovable family members or Satan’s spawn?

Simon – If you don’t like cats you’re immediately bashed.

Matt – Cats are the best. All animals are our friends and everyone should stop killing and eating them. 

What does 2023 have in store for To The Grave?

Matt – more music, more tours, more fighting against animal cruelty. 

photo : Nox Nohi

Matt Clarke : @matt.ttfg

Simon O’Malley : @gtmodified

Jack Simioni : @jack.simioni

To The Grave : @tothegraveau