1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Wohedness is busy jamming and writing some new tunes. We always have the next show to look forward to, and like to keep sharp on our set, so we’re pretty regular with it. Also we like make it a habit to always have a new song in the works to add to our variety. We play a very old set, songs that have been played since the early 90’s, so the old stuff is very familiar, making new songs must.
2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new material and how it differs from previous efforts?
The newer stuff is a little more technical than the older songs. They’re less punk influenced and more thrash/death metal influenced. They still have the groovy aspect the band has always had, and try to keep almost a ‘grit’ factor like old stuff, but still have a very refined sound for grind. Although some songs that are older have been revamped since the last line up change a few years back, and are played far faster in more ‘brutal’ compared to before. We really wanted to get that extra punch in on the new album.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new music?
Lyrics are a combination of gore and politics. Some older lyrics are about sickening and gross things, with songs titled ‘Intestinal blowout’ ‘Radioactive sphincter’ and ‘Fungus Crotch’. The older version of the band was very gore and crust influenced. Later lyrics expand to cover political conspiracies, war, social upheaval, and aliens. New tunes like “Bathsalts Apocalypse’ and ‘Behold a Pale Horse’ are inspired by the recent ‘bathsalts’ media mania surrounding a brutal attack in Florida, and a book of the same name published by the late Bill Cooper, related to a government cover up of the existence of extra terrestrials.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Wohedness is woe and woeful existence. Anyone who knows the band would say it might be a fitting name because of some of the things that always seem to mess with the band and its members, being wohed out over something or other as times have changed. Somehow, the band survived and has reassembled in its best incantation yet.
5. I know that the band split up for a couple of years, what was the cause of the split and the decision to reform?
Well the last vocalist John Haight moved away for work, so the band sort of shut down for a while. Bob had brought in some new guys in the later 2000’s (Corey and Dan) and with the old guitarist Gord kept jamming regardless. For a couple years they just jammed without a vocalist to keep the set alive. I (Binski) had been singing DM vocals for my first metal band I was in, and they had tried out another guy a few months before me but it didn’t work out. A couple of friends in bands that jammed at the same place introduced me to them. I came to jam and started learning the music, learning some old lyrics and vocals, and getting the chance to make all new stuff for a bunch of songs that were only ever half done. Since then we have had another line up change, with Dan going from bass to 2nd guitar, and adding a new bassist Matt MacLennan. We are totally happy with how it’s working out!
6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
We have played a lot of local shows around our city in the last year and a half. I’d say we have a typical DM/grindcore appearance. You’ll see army boots and black hoodies, with some fierce head bobbin and twirlin windmills. We also have hit a few amazing shows around our province, and we have had the chance just recently to open for Vital Remains in Halifax to a packed venue.
7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
No plans to tour, but have been considering trying to go on a central Canada tour in the fall. Mainly at the moment we are playing in province shows and writing a string of new songs for our next album. Most of our energy for the new few months will be put towards that. We’d like to begin recording our next one over the summer and have it out in the fall. The last album had a few new versions of previously recorded songs. The next album will be all new tunes.
8. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or received any interest?
We’re always up for any good opportunities that might come our way. We definitely don’t rule out ever getting on a good label. There is a certain advantage to maintaining the creative control of being independent, but the endorsement of a label is a very positive thing for a band as well.
9. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death metal and grindcore?
Most of our impact for the whole band’s history has been local and spanning eastern Canada. Wohedness has maintained a certain consistent sound adhering to an early 90’s punk/grind sound. So we’ve held onto older fans of this type of music. With many line up changes over the years it has been hard to make big strides outside of the region. With our latest line up shuffle we feel we have the best set up yet, and plan to keep making songs in the new Wohedness style bringing modern metal writing together with the oldschool simplicity of blasting grindcore.
10. Are there any other musical projects going on these days?
A few of us are involved in other metal bands from Halifax. Dan is also a guitarist in the grind band Burnt Church. Matt and I have joined with the drummer from Burnt Church and the guitarist from a local black metal band Inmortis, which ended last year, to form a new death metal group called Infected Remains. Burnt Church has been around for a few years now, and are pretty seasoned grinders. Infected Remains is brand new, only formed last September, and played our first show last weekend. All of us plan to keep all of these bands active and participating heavily in our scene.
11. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
It will end up far more technical, and keep a fast pace. We like our groovy death metal, but enjoy the response from fans to the faster paced blasts. We’re leaning more towards a straight up death metal sound, with some grind mixed in.
12. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Well the greats are always influencing us. Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Vital Remains, Napalm Death, Cryptopsy, Suffocation...We’ve always been listening to these bands but most of them we have seen recently as they have come through our region, and it seems to keep an emphasis on them if we know we’re going to get to see them live. There always seems to be a new album going around that we soak up in droves that definitely curbs our focus.
13. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
A few of us are builders, gardeners, one a full time music student, and I like to game whenever I can on a space based MMO. Lots of hobbies, music is a big one, and all either work full time or go to school.
14. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thanks for talking about the band, we work hard at trying to be as true to the genre as we can, and do our best to produce a good solid live performance. We only plan to increase the quality of our sound and recordings. We have more merchandise on the way and artwork to top off the death metal brutality typically conveyed by us as true genuine WOHEDNESS.
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