Words by @killer.solo.music
We caught up with What Lies Below vocalist Andrew to talk about I Let It Consume Me, writing through darkness, the future of metalcore, and why Australia is still high on the band’s bucket list.
There are interviews where you ask a question and get a rehearsed answer.
Then there are interviews where you end up talking plugins, breakdowns, studio tricks, songwriting, touring, and why mac and cheese can become just as memorable as the venue you played.
My chat with Andrew from Pennsylvania metalcore outfit What Lies Below definitely fell into the second category.
With the band’s debut full-length I Let It Consume Me finally here, it’s obvious this isn’t just another collection of heavy songs. It’s a record built around personal reflection, accountability and growth—subjects Andrew admits aren’t always easy to revisit.
“You go back on things you don’t really want to go back on,” he explained while talking about the writing process. “But at the end of the day, it’s a really cathartic thing.”
That honesty has become one of What Lies Below’s biggest strengths. Rather than hiding behind vague metaphors, Andrew has grown more comfortable saying the things he might never have spoken aloud a few years ago.
“I think it’s easier over time to say things you were maybe worried to say in the beginning.”
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation centered around where metalcore is heading. With shoegaze textures, thall influences, electronic production and old-school metalcore all colliding, Andrew isn’t interested in chasing trends.
“We’re just going to keep writing what we think is cool and see what happens.”
It’s a simple philosophy, but it’s probably why the band continue to evolve without losing what makes them sound like What Lies Below.
Of course, we couldn’t avoid talking gear, songwriting and studio life. Like most musicians, Andrew laughed about how the first vocal take is often the one you end up keeping, while admitting writing lyrics can feel more like therapy than work.
Outside the studio, the band have an enormous year ahead, with touring across the United States before heading to the UK and Europe alongside Acres. Better yet for Australian fans, Andrew revealed that bringing What Lies Below Down Under has always been one of his biggest goals.
“One of the big five things I had when starting this band was going to Australia.”
You heard the man. Promoters… make it happen.
From talking about Currents, ERRA and Invent Animate to debating guitar solos versus breakdowns (Andrew proudly chose solos), the conversation felt less like an interview and more like two musicians geeking out over heavy music.
If I Let It Consume Me is any indication of where What Lies Below are headed next, they’re only scratching the surface.
This is the gospel.
I bite crowd surfers.
Killer.
