Interview With Theatrical Horror Metal Band "Them"

Greetings from Metalheads Forever Magazine, I’m Keith Clement, How are you today?

TN: I am doing well after a very busy All Hallows eve!

Fear City was out last week, would you like to tell me about the songwriting and production behind the new album?

TN: Sure! The songwriting process always begins with the music. While the musical framework is being worked on, I start working on a summary of the story using a large whiteboard located in my basement studio.

Once the musical framework has been completed, I will create vocal mappings to indicate how and where I would sing. Finally once that process is complete, the final steps are creating the details within the story and writing out the lyrics to match the story and vocal mappings.

Once we have final songs, we go into our respective studios with the drums being recorded first (Last 2 albums the drums were recorded by Dave Otero – Flatline Audio in Denver, CO). Finally when all tracks have been recorded by all of the musicians, Dave Otero will mix and master the project before handing off the masters to our label (Steamhammer Records). At the time of master hand off, pictures, videos, artwork must be part of that hand off too. So it is quite a task to get this all done within a dealine but the final product is always worth the hard work everyone puts in!

What is the concept behind the album and the theme of the cover art?

TN: At the end of the 3^rd Album, KK Fossor is sucked into the ground by the crimson corpse and dies. He yells to Remsen “Don’t forget your bloodline”. Steamhammer records released a digital single in Dec 20221 titles “Encore” which gives a more details as to what KK’s assistant, Remsen, must do. Remsen must procreate and that he does. KK is brought back to life by a toxic chemical spill that occurs near his burial site outside the town of Hemmersmoor and that is the chain of events to bring us to “Fear City”. KK now in 1981 must find the descendant of his loyal servant and travels to NYC to locate him. Once located, KK and his new assistant, Renaldo (The great, great grandson of Remsen), travel to meet Valeri (The prostitute) to assist in locating the lair of Minister Thompson (The great, great grandson of Peter Thompson the witch hunter from Manor of the Se7en Gables and Return To Hemmersmoor. The cover of “Fear City” depicts KK, Renaldo and Valerie in their travel to the lair of Minister Thompson.

14 mind blowing musical awesomeness, great composition and wonderful work behind the album, how do you feel about the outcome?

TN: The band is extremely pleased with how this album came out. Personally, I love this one a lot maybe because I grew up in the time period KK is now stuck in.

Two Videos Welcome To The Fear City and Retro 54, Would you let me know the making of these videos?

TN: We filmed in 3 locations for these 2 videos. Green screen sessions in both NY and Germany as well as on location in NYC and on location in a Germany Club in Germany.

Was there something special you did on the release date?

TN: I walk into a local record store and purchase the album. I have performed this ritual for the last 3 records. It’s fun and I act as though I just learned of the band. This time my girlfriend told the store owner I was the singer in the band and I wound up making a promo video for the album and for the record store. Lots of fun!

What are the touring plans for end of 2022 and 2023?

TN: At the moment nothing planned yet. We are hoping to go out as direct support for a larger band sometime in 2023. Stay Tuned…

How has the road been for THEM?

TN: Touring is never easy but rewarding in the sense you make many people happy with performing the music you create. Plus we always make new friends, eat amazing foods and experience new places together.

What would be some of the highlight moments for the band?

TN: The biggest highlight for all the members of the band is becoming friends. We would never have met anyone in the band if it wasn’t for us creating music. We were not friends at first. We evolved into friends and even if the band ended tomorrow, we would always meet up from time to time.

Being a Theatrical Horror Themed band, do you plan to take to the Big Cinemas?

TN: Funny you should ask that. There are plans to release graphic novels and to create a screenplay for a TV Series.

What would be some of the upcoming plans for the band

TN: Hopefully write and record more records, perform at some amazing festivals and tour some awesome parts of the world!

Finally what would be the message for the fans?

TN: We are all truly excited about the release of “Fear City”. We are passionate about what we create and we hope you all enjoy the music on this album. Finally, we all hope to see you at one of our performances in the near future! \m/

Track Listing:

October 28th, 2022

01 Excito 1:48
02 Flight of the Concorde 3:48
03 Welcome To Fear City 4:12
04 Retro 54 4:54
05 An Ear For the Action 0:29
06 Graffiti Park 4:06
07 191st Street 5:30
08 Home Stretch 0:54
09 The Crossing of Hellgate Bridge 9:19 10 Death on the Downtown Metro 3:42 11 Stay Tuned… 0:23
12 A Most Violent Year 0:57
13 The Deconsecrated House of Sin 3:43 14 In the 11th Hour 3:17