Interviews About Albums: Dead Karma - The Space Camaro (2024)

In this new interview, we sat down with the Canadian Hard Rock band Dead Karma to ask questions about their album, "The Space Camaro".

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

We're really excited about it and how it will be received. We worked really hard together and went through a change in our lineup during the recording process, but we're really happy with the end result. I think there's a good amount of variety across the four songs as we were just figuring out our songwriting process and we all come from different musical backgrounds and interests so it made for a good mix.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

Our first single is "Space Camaro", so it definitely takes its name from the song which, lyrically, though you can explore the layers of it - on its surface just presents the idea of driving a Camaro through space. Sort of elicits the opening scene of the 80s film "Heavy Metal". The band was also briefly named Space Camaro before we eventually found our way to Dead Karma. Beyond the obvious connection to the single, this is our first release so "The Space Camaro" is sort of our way of saying we're "taking off".

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

We all had a hand in composing, to varying degrees. In terms of the riffs themselves, I (Andrew) probably do the bulk of the writing on that front - at least with this EP. But in terms of the compositions of the songs, structure, and all of the little things that go into the final product of each song - we all have ideas that have found their way into every one of the songs.

4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

Based on our live shows, Space Camaro is definitely one that is well-received so that is the easy pick. But Dominion holds a special place for me (Andrew), being a song I wrote about my mother after she passed away. Dominion has always been our closing song for shows and, with Space Camaro, are the only two we've played at every gig so far.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is what is it?

I don't think we can really say there's a message for the EP as a whole. Building off what I said at the start, it's really a collection of the first songs we wrote and were happy with. The EP is best looked at as a snapshot of where we were almost a year ago in terms of our songwriting as a group so it will be really interesting to compare the EP to our future releases when they come.

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

The opening song to the EP "The Purge" has a line that I really enjoy: "You're not fighting for freedom, you're fighting for chains". In the context of the song, being about how many revolutions in history run their course until the revolutionaries themselves become victims of the mobs they've created. What often starts off as a noble goal for freedom can end with people being under equally or even more oppressive conditions than what they were initially rebelling against. Sort of the revolutionaries equivalent of Nietzsche's "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you".

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

Andrew - Early Queens of the Stone Age and early Thrice definitely inspired some of the riff writing ideas on the EP. I want to thank my wife, Lisa, for accommodating and supporting me with all the time I take for recording, gigs, rehearsal while we have two young kids at home.

Sean - Mastodon/Alexisonfire for the vocals. Contrasting gravelly versus cleaner singing styles you see from Troy and Brann (Mastodon) or Wade and Dallas (Alexisonfire)

Jacob - I don't know. Maybe Cancer Bats? I'm just trying to not get replaced by a drum machine.