The members of Hellwrath – vocalist Paul Bower, guitarist Igor Korsakov, and bassist Dylan Price – were drawn together by a shared desire to blend the heavyweight forces of slam death and deathcore into a unique and utterly crushing sonic beast. Despite only gathering beneath the Hellwrath banner earlier in 2024, they are already poised to unveil the first representation of their shared vision of devastation and desolation. Inspired by time spent working in the pressurized and dangerous environment of the prison service, battles with the devils of mental illness, and the bloody horrors of the Old Testament, Hellwrath has created the punishing, monolithic, and fiercely focused force of Sin Eater!
The latest member of The Crannk.com team RhiRhi Mac recently had the chance to ask Hellwrath a few questions about the band and the release.
What is the story behind how you folks got together and how Hellwrath came to be?
So essentially this was Igor’s brain child. He wanted to basically fuse together what he loved about slam and Deathcore and try to create something unique. Initially it was just him writing at home, and then I was made aware by Dylan (bass) that he knew a guy who needed a vocalist, as I was attempting to start up something with him. Igor sent me the tracks he was working on and I made a very rough draft of lyrics for them. Met with him in the studio mid last year and over the next few months we collaboratively formed what has now become the EP. We then needed a name, I had a few ideas floating around and we eventually settled on Hellwrath.
How would you describe Hellwrath to those who haven’t yet been graced with your talents?
Hellwrath is a perfect blend of all the best bits of Slam and Deathcore, slow brutal riffs and gutteral mayhem to create a sonic onslaught fit for those with a disposition to screw their faces up to filthiest of breakdowns!
Your cover of Godsmack’s ‘I Stand Alone” is incredible. Can you elaborate on the on why you chose this track and if there is a personal connection to the original song?
Igor, Dylan and I grew up with nu-metal back in its heyday, and Godsmack was one of those bands that stood out for us as teenagers full of angst. “I Stand Alone” was one of those songs that connected with us, and much like other kids back then, we felt like the outsiders standing alone amongst a sea of people. So we chose this song as a homage to that point of our lives and decided to put our own spin on the timeless classic.
Were there any tracks that you felt were challenging to create, and why? What were you able to do to overcome these obstacles?
Initially I think the most difficult thing for us was when I met Igor for the first time. Literally straight into the studio to record ”Silence By Death” and “Insipid Oblivion”. Neither of us really knew what to expect from each other as we’d only spoke over email until this point. But we powered on and as we became more comfortable, we both knew what was required to really make this EP special. Learning how we both worked made the whole process a lot easier, and we could really begin to bounce ideas off each other.
Is your creative process freeform or do you have structure when making songs?
I think on the whole, it’s been a fluid creative process, especially when it came to recording the vocals. Igor and I would brainstorm ideas and see if it worked. If it did, it sounded awesome, but if we weren’t sure, we’d either keep the take to fit it in somewhere else or leave it out entirely. Working like that allowed us to really create something we’ve become immensely proud of!
Were there any artists or albums you turned to for creative inspiration?
Personally, my inspirations are the likes of Mark Hunter of Chimaira, Randy Blythe of Lamb of God, George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher of Cannibal Corpse, and more recently, the godlike talents of Will Ramos of Lorna Shore. That man has an insane voice! Igor drew most of his inspiration from bands like Dysphoria, Devourment and any Czech grindcore he could get his hands on! Dylan drew his inspiration from the likes of Vulvodynia and Xavleg.
What strengths do you believe each member brings to Hellwrath?
Igor definitely has that musical edge to create simple yet effective riffs that really carries weight. Dylan has a talent for both guitars and bass, but has elected for bass duties in Hellwrath. He’s also really good on the social media side of things. I have been the lyricist and vocalist in bands over the years, so I’ve had time to hone my craft into what it is today, and I’m always learning to improve that. Collectively, its created a well oiled machine as we all have our various parts to play in the band.
What is the most important lesson you have learned with creating your Debut EP?
I think the most valuable lesson I have learned personally is how to let go and really experiment with my voice. In the past I’d be playing in bands in the same vein as Lamb of God and Chimaira so I didn’t push myself too much in regards to how many disgusting noises I could make. So creating this EP has definitely allowed me to unlock my voice in such a way I didn’t think possible.
If you could pick any venue in the world to perform at, where would you go and why?
I think we would all love to play the headline slot at Wacken Open Air, for no other reason than it’s fucking Wacken!
With the release date of August 19th quickly approaching where can listeners get their hands on Sin Eater EP?
Sin Eater will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and a full stream will be available on SlamWorldwide.Facebook
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/25gk7wy7 Apple Music: https://tinyurl.com/ykugefo2
What is next for Hellwrath? How do you envision the rest of 2024?
For the rest of 2024, I think we’ll be making a conscious effort to bring Hellwrath to a live audience, as well as continue to write new music for you all to enjoy until then!
Interview Contributor RhiRhi Mac
