Interviews: Last Retch

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Death Metal band Last Retch from Canada. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name; did you plan it or come out just like that?

JR: The name Last Retch refers to the last retch before you choke and die. A death knell of sorts. Finlay (Vocals) and I were living together during the pandemic. After a heavy night of partying, we were extremely hungover. Finlay started throwing up very aggressively in the toilet, and at one point I heard him dry heave followed by complete silence. I ran to the bathroom to see if he was okay. When I got there, I said something along the lines of “I thought I heard your last retch”. He immediately said that would be a sick band name. We laughed about it, and then named our new band Last Retch.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

JR: Finlay (Vocals), Derek (Guitar) and I were previously in a more technical metal band that never went anywhere. As we were recording an EP, I was talking to the producer about how much I loved more straightforward death metal like Cannibal Corpse and Entombed. The producer was Davis, the original drummer in Last Retch. We immediately started writing a demo, and the band became our focus. The main appeal to playing OSDM for us is the simple grooves and emphasis on concise songwriting. Tech death and deathcore can become tiring and boring after a while. The simple grooves and focus on riffs make death metal more fun. We just want to headbang and get a circle pit going.

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

JR: Finlay, Derek, and I grew up together in a small town. We’ve been messing around with music for 20 years at this point, but Last Retch is our first real band with recordings and live shows. We all met Davis while working on a previous band called Murder. Matt is Davis’s cousin. Davis is no longer playing in the band, but he will still be producing the band’s music moving forward.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

JR: Bolt Thrower

Finlay: Cannibal Corpse

Matt: Bolt Thrower

Derek: Carcass

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

JR: Good tone and cool guitars. When I pick up a nice guitar and play it through an overdriven tube amp, I feel powerful. All the best riffs come from rocking on a loud amp after a few beers. I know the other guys like horror movies and serial killer podcasts, but I’m just a riffer. When the guitar feels good in the hands, the riffs start flowing.

6. Where was your last gig?

JR: Our last gig was at Hardluck Bar in Toronto. It’s a great venue that hosts many touring acts and local bands. The sound is good, and the staff are top-notch. Shoutout to Craig from Bonecrusher Promotions. He always takes care of us and makes sure we get paid.

7. Where would you like to act?

JR: We would like to play Western Canada and the United States as soon as possible. It's expensive to get visas and a van, but we have plans to go stateside as soon as we can. Beyond that, Europe would be sick, but the USA is a priority. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

JR: I would love to play with bands like Serpent Corpse, Outre Tombe, Mortal Wound, and Outer Heaven just to name a few. There are so many good death metal bands right now, we just want to rock with all of them.

9. Whom not?

JR: Bands without riffs. Gotta have riffs.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

JR: We usually just have a couple of beers to loosen up before we play, but none of us really get stage fright. If you are well-prepared, well-rehearsed, and confident in your material, there’s nothing to fear.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

JR: Cannibal Corpse, Bolt Thrower, Carcass, Entombed, early Decapitated, Dismember, Morbid Angel, Slayer, Pantera, Death, and many, many more. Can’t forget Metallica. Some people think Metallica is lame, but Metallica fuckin rules. 

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

JR: Nothing weird. A guy from Germany asked me to mail him guitar picks. But nothing too strange.

13. What do you think of your fans?

JR: We are extremely grateful to anyone who has supported us in any way. We love playing death metal and hope to take our music to new places in the future. 

14. What do you think of our site?

JR: I live under a rock, so I am unfamiliar with your site, but I will be checking it out for new music recommendations.

15. Something to add?

JR: Our new EP Ergotism is out now on CDN records. We will be playing around Ontario and Quebec in 2024 with plans to play in Western Canada and the US in 2025. We're hitting the studio at the end of May to record another full-length. Keep your eyes peeled for that in 2025. DEATH METAL RULES.