Interviews: Thanatopsis

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal/Death Metal band, Thanatopsis, from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Thanatopsis was taken from the name of a poem that we were familiar with – it means “Meditation Upon Death”, which we thought was cool. We were originally called Existence, but since there was another band in the area with the same name, we changed it. After that, we wanted to change our name to something that we did not think any other band would possibly use.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Metal is in my blood; it is what I like to play and what I like to listen to.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

John Bishop (vocalist) and I met a few years before the band formed when we both lived in Los Angeles – we were drinking buddies that listened to metal.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

I don’t think we can narrow that down to one band per member! Collectively I would say that Kreator, Death, Venom, Iron Maiden, Exodus, and Pestilence are in there.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Sometimes I am inspired by a picture or by a band, sometimes it becomes a matter of being excited when one riff flows into another, sometimes I hear something in my head and it sounds cool – I have a lot of riffs recorded on my phone.

6. Where was your last gig?

The last Thanatopsis show was at The Pound in SF CA. Other than I, the entire line up at that time was different from the current line up.

7. Where would you like to act?

When Covid subsides and we are able to play shows again, the first Thanatopsis shows in support of the album will be in Denver, CO, which is my current place of residence.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

There are bands here I like called Pile of Priests and Seed of the Sorcerer, Womb of the Witch, that I would like to play with.

9. Whom not?

No one - we are open to playing with anyone!

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Totally – not that anyone should take advice from me, but the best practice is to concentrate on what you are playing and let things fall into place from there.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Not that we sound like any of these bands, but the bands we are inspired by are Pestilence, Carcass, Death, Kreator, Mercyful Fate, among others.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

No Comment

13. What do you think of your fans?

It is good to have fans that remember us after all of this time, we are excited to make new fans as well!

14. What do you think of our site?

Your site is awesome - it has the most complete break down of metal sub-genres that I have ever seen.

15. Something add?

Thank you for the interview – check out our debut album “Initiation” available October 23, 2020 on Extreme Metal Music.