Thrashpit.com: Australia has a heavy metal scene like few others in the world with unusual bands like DESTROYER 666, PORTAL, STARGAZER and more calling it home. Why do you think Aussie metal bands are so different from their counterparts elsewhere?
Hart: "That's a good question. I'm sure it has something to do with the geographical size of the country. Australia is such a massive country with a sparse population scattered predominantly along the coasts so it makes touring a very long, arduous and costly affair. It's also difficult organizing frequent shows. The result of this for Kunvuk was that we spent much longer developing our sound. We'd spend days in the rehearsal room sculpting out new rhythms. We'd have a 16 hour drive to the next show so we'd spend all this time driving and discussing how we were going to evolve our ideas. I think all this time spent travelling and waiting for that next show inevitably leads to a more developed and individual sound."
Thrashpit.com: One of the things I've enjoyed about your band is how often your lyrics focus on everyday, mundane concerns as it's a rarity in heavy metal. What do you hope listeners learn from hearing that particular message?
Hart: "I've never been a fan of lyrics that are based on fantasy concepts. Some people listen to music to escape their lives and I can understand the appeal, but it doesn't do anything for me. I look to music and lyrics as a way to thrash out deeper personal issues based in reality. Often when it comes to writing about reality I can't help but point out the absurdity of my own everyday concerns. I try and offset the extreme aggression in the lyrics with sarcasm and humor because yelling and barking the whole time is not really going to get the point across that I'm trying to make.
I suppose what I'd hope people take away from it is that they see the many sides of the existential issues covered by the lyrics. I'm not trying to dictate to people whether they should believe this or that about their lives. I'm just presenting the arguments how I see them and where I am currently at with these issues. If people don't care about these issues, then hopefully they can at least have a laugh at the absurdity of it all instead."
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Kunvuk released their latest album, Consume Rapture, on June 15th.
According to a press release: “After touring nationally in support of their debut album Immute: Jackals, Kunvuk retreated to their Shadow Mekanik Studios for six months to carve out their stomping and screaming sophomore punch-in-the-face.
Recorded, engineered and mixed again by the band’s guitarist and singer David Hart, Consume Rapture represents a leap forward in intensity and chaos for the band’s sound.”
The album was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (DEATH, SWANS, MASTODON, CONVERGE, BARONESS, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, CLUTCH) in New Windsor, NY.
The track ‘Teeth Swallower’ is now available for streaming and free download. Check it out below:
