Psycroptic

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Uniters of groove and death metal, Psycroptic have a fine artillery of critically acclaimed material and are also much loved among the average metalhead. They are armed with a contagious sound and a knack for writing good tunes. Unquestionable genius has been harnessed to create such enjoyable death metal, and the individual talent Blistering.com addresses today is a Mr. David Haley, drummer for Psycroptic as well as Sydney-based industrial metal band The Amenta. We talked to the human side of an “inhuman” drummer…

Blistering.com: Hi Dave. You must be stoked to be releasing a hotly anticipated album and going on the road touring?

David Haley: Yeah, we are all excited. We have a lot of shows in front of us and we are looking forward to seeing all our friends again on the road. It will be a lot of fun that’s for sure. It’s really cool that people have been looking forward to getting the album...it’s a good time in the band at the moment.

Blistering.com: Must be an exciting time with both Ob(Servant) and The Amenta’s NoN coming out almost simultaneously.

Haley: It is. I recorded my parts for the Amenta album mid last year, so that one has been a long time in the works...but it’s an excellent album. I only play session drums for them, so I hadn’t really been involved in the recording process, so it was really cool to finally hear it. Of course Psycroptic is my main priority but to be involved with both bands is cool....but yeah, it’s an exciting time musically.

Blistering.com: Has (producer) Logan Mader’s presence been a big help in the album writing and recording process?

Haley: Well, Logan only mixed and mastered the album...so he wasn’t there during the writing or the actual tracking of the album. He definitely had a big effect on the sound in a sonic sense on the album, but not in terms of the songs themselves. In a technical sense Joe produced the album as he structured the songs and shaped them into what they are.

Blistering.com: Doesn’t it bug you when music journalists refer to you guys as “Tasmanian Devils?”

Haley: Nah, it’s just a bit of fun really. It kind of fascinates a lot of people that we are actually from Tasmania, so we can understand the interest or the excitement it generates. It’s kind of cool...we are proud to be from Tasmania...and the Tasmanian Devil is probably the most famous Tasmanian icon. It’s a real animal as well.

Blistering.com: The tour of Europe is shaping up to be huge with Black Dahlia Murder, Sylosis and Cephalic Carnage - we are certainly looking forward to having you! How has the reception been on previous European tours?

Haley: Europe has always been good to us in terms of the audiences, and we always look forward to touring over there. Each time we go over it gets better and better, so I’m sure this one will be the best yet. It will be fun as hell I’m sure! We are excited to see all our European friends again.

Blistering.com: How do you live up to hype of the “inhuman” drumming when recording?

Haley: I just do what I do, and don’t really worry about things like this when we're in the studio. I’m not really trying to 'live' up to anything...just having fun really. If you worry about what people think, then you are doing it for them and not yourself....to be honest to the people who like your music you have to be honest to your self and do exactly what you want.

Blistering.com: How long have you been drumming in metal bands?

Haley: For quite a long time really...about 10 years or so. I’m 28 now, and I started playing metal when I was about 17 or 18...so it’s been a while. It’s my preferred style I like to play, but I do play other styles just for fun. I try to practice a lot of different stuff when I get the opportunity to do so.

Blistering.com: There are obviously legendary metal drummers that have inspired most new drummers behind the kit, but are there any really talented youthful skinsmen on the scene at the moment?

Haley: Of course...there are a lot of younger guys (and girls!) coming up through the ranks now that are kicking ass – which is great to see. 2 of the younger guys are Lyell from The Faceless and Dan from Aborted. These 2 guys are really young and kicking ass and doing a lot of good things....but there are loads for great players. It’s a good time for the drumming community.

Blistering.com: Any other Australian bands worth our while?

Haley: Check out bands such as Ruins, The Amenta, Neo Obliviscaris...man, there are a whole heap of bands. People should just check out things on MySpace...this is the best way to hear first-hand what’s happening out here.

Blistering.com: Which albums in 2008 have impressed you?

Haley: Hmmm, tricky question. I really liked the new Testament (The Formation of Damnation) album...even though I’m involved with the band, the new Amenta album is crazy. There are lots of cool stuff, but I just can’t think of any more at the moment. I’m in a bit of an old school mode at the moment, and listen to a lot of older stuff.

www.myspace.com/psycroptic