Interviews: Culled

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Sludge Metal/Grindcore band Culled 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 came out just like that?

The name “Culled” came from the cultural mentality of undervaluing autonomy and life, be it animal or human. In the end, we are all just bags of meat with an expiry date, a memento mori if you will. Our actions can have great impact and consequences, especially to those directly around us. So it is a calling and reminder to be mindful of that impact and the harm we can cause and to live our best life, even if that means being separated from the herd of normality

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We really wanted to create music that disrupts conventions and contrasts the moods between slow, sludgy doom-laden riffs with the chaotic speed and aggression of grindcore. These juxtapositions amplify the emotional tensions between the styles and hopefully re-enforce the importance of the message behind the music

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

Ben, Chris, and Shane played together back in 2013 for the reunion of Disciples of Power, after the first few years of the reunion Ben and Shane left and started Culled recording the debut album “Thin the Herd, Fail to Learn”. During the pandemic, the band shut down and Ben eventually joined “Suicide Pact” with Chris and Curtis after they recorded their debut, Ben asked them to help reform Culled with Shane and that is where we are today.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Ben - Yes, Atheist, Spiral Architect

Chris – Discharge, Piss Christ, Mass Grave

Curtis – Kreator, Every Time I Die, Excel

Shane – 70’s Sabbath, Napalm Death and Nasum

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Thematically and lyrically the lack of empathy in the world today.

6. Where was your last gig?

Depending on the time of publishing it will either be our performance at Sled Island with Liminal Shroud and Closetalkers on June 22nd in Calgary AB or Aug 1st at the kick party for the Loud as Hell open-air festival with Tides of Kharon, Pridelands, and Ditch Pisser

7. Where would you like to act?

We would love to play anywhere we are welcome, it would be nice to get out to some more fests such as Prepare the Ground, Obscene Extreme, or Maryland Deathfest

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer, and Cult Leader would all be dream gigs!

9. Whom not?

Anyone with misogynistic, homophobic, racist or ideologies… no room for ignorance and hate!

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

It’s been so long since I first performed but I still get stage fright, I find it best to focus on the music and the person's emotion and drive I get from it. Then the awkwardness and fear tend to fade into the background.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Napalm Death, musically and lyrically is in top form, and topical, and is pushing boundaries instead of leaning on its tremendous back catalog.

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

Autographs, I’m still beside myself that anyone would want us to sign anything. It personally feels odd in some strange way, but I’m more than happy to oblige, I’m very thankful for their enthusiasm!

13. What do you think of your fans?

We really appreciate all the love and support we have received over the years and are very humbled by the response we get from our shows. It’s really great to see all the enthusiasm and passion people have for what we do and are thankful that the messaging behind our music hits home and encourages embracing a more empathetic mindset.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s new to us but will be checking it out more often, thanks for all the work you are doing to help bring more exposure to underground music.

15. Something to add?

Thank you for the time and that you to anyone who has taken the time to listen to our music, seen us live, and supported us directly!