Interview with Opium Death

April 03, 2024

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Irvin: Funny enough, what got me into music was listening to Mexican banda music when I was a kid constantly over the radio and stereo systems at home. I didn’t like it at first, but it made me curious as to how there were these sounds that when put together it created a context that expressed the artistic vision of the group and established an auditory identity for them. Because of that, I started to venture into many styles of music to get a better understanding of songwriting. If I hadn’t gotten into music, I believe I would’ve gotten into an accounting or medical career.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Irvin: I love seeing and analyzing films and artworks created by people from different backgrounds because it brings forth a perspective that one could not possibly imagine on their own. Because of that, I wanted to learn so much about the creative process and how many artists and filmmakers work to get their vision that’s been stuck in their head into a visual and physical representation of it. It made me want to take courses and read online sources to see how ideas can be formed and what works conventionally. From there, having an open mind myself, I started to experiment and trust my ear to find the right ideas.

How long has your band been around?

Irvin: The band has been around since 2015 under the Opium Death name but it derived from an old one that I formed with a friend of mine back in 2012 under the name of Cazador. It started off as a cool idea to just cover our favorite heavy metal songs at the time. Playing gigs and writing our own songs did come across our minds but never thought it would happen. We just didn’t see that until I started playing student gigs at my local music school and the band got tired of covering the same songs.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Irvin: I am based out of the Chicagoland area and while I wasn’t too familiar with the local metal scene as a teenager with limited knowledge of the genre, I didn’t realize its actual existence until I started doing my research on certain bands that came from the city and surrounding suburbs. Because there is a healthy mix of different music styles in the city, it opened a rabbit hole that I was happy to dive into to then be inspired by countless musicians that grew up in the area. It brought a sense of opportunity and that by itself was enough to get the band moving forward with our ideas.  

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Irvin: The name was brought up during a brainstorming session with my former bandmates at the time because we felt that the name Cazador did not feel right to us. My friend was having a bonfire and so we took the time to start thinking of different names that could help elevate the impression of the band. We planned to have it be a two-word phrase with death being the second word just like Napalm Death. After some time, one of us shouted opium and there was silence at first but ultimately agreed on it. At the time we thought it was just a cool name and didn’t think much of it but looking back at it now, the name takes on the meaning of commitment and a healthy drive that benefits the group. It has a double meaning too because we also want to address the opioid crisis that was happening and should not be forgotten since it is an occurring problem to this day. It’s a brutal reality that I know many of us have some knowledge of in one way or another and I could not think of anything else that is just as effective.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Irvin: The most memorable shows would have to be the first ones we ever did under the Opium Death name because it brought experiences that I think everyone needed to feel to see how we could evolve as performers. There was a local spot that we played occasionally called Q-Bar and there we met many friends and bands that were coming up in the local scene over the first few years. We had family and friends record our performances and I’m glad they did because it reflected everything we worked on up to those moments. It prepped us to wanting to do better for future shows in different venues and improve our skills as musicians.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

 Irvin: Right now, my favorite venue to play at is the WC Social Club in West Chicago. The sound system, the staff, and parking spots are just fantastic for everyone that wants to attend and perform there. We always had a great time there every time we performed, and the place is just so welcoming. It starting to gain more recognition as more touring acts are coming through there and I am excited to see that venue flourish as an iconic venue for music.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

 Irvin: Easy, it would have to be our biggest influences like Slayer, Deicide, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse, and Atheist just to name a few. There’s just so many bands out there even the up-and-coming ones that we are willing to open for. We just love playing this extreme style of music because that’s what got us to wanting to do this in the first place to start a band.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Irvin: Have an open mind and be willing to take in feedback, both good and bad, because it brings a perspective that you yourself may not realize since you focus in your personal moments thinking that what you are doing is good and passable and may miss something that is crucial in your development as a musician and as a bandmate. Teamwork is essential to progress the band forward as well as communication because it creates the cohesiveness that is demanded to function as a unit and execute a clean performance when people come to see you perform. I would tell my younger self to trust my gut instincts and to not let anyone discourage me from doing what I love. It’s what holds back progress and confidence to reach the potential one has to truly be great at what they are working so hard for.  

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Irvin: Follow your passions and have an open mind towards many aspects in life. It helps create a sense of purpose and confidence to fulfill one’s goals in life and take risks that will help build character and knowledge that can benefit you later down in life. It will always be a learning experience every day and so I say move head on with diligence.   

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Irvin: The Condemned means the most to me because it is the oldest song on the band’s debut album that lived on across multiple lineup changes and shows from the very beginning, so it has history. It is a song that I believe many people can relate to when it comes to being bullied and peer pressured into something we are not comfortable doing. The title refers to the person that causes such pain and trauma to the victim that doesn’t deserve it in the first place and is a sickness that needs to go away because of the outcomes it brings. At the time I was writing it, I always heard personal stories and read books that involved school bullying being at an all-time high and how it was affecting many young children in various areas all over the country. The lyrics showcase the pain it brings and anger for seeing the damage that has been done across time and that it needs to be dealt with before it gets worse.  

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Irvin: I love playing all the songs we wrote because they all have been carefully crafted in a way that gives the song an identity and expression that doesn’t repeat from one song to the next. It’s always a new experience when we switch out songs for a gig because it delivers a different feel and energy like a book from beginning to end. The song that gets requested the most would have to be Ozymandias, Genocidal Nemesis I: Fear, and Vesuvius.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Irvin: We generally start off with a riff that one of us comes up with, whether at home or during rehearsal, and if we love how it sounds, then we proceed to build up upon it. Sometimes one of us brings over a completed song with just guitar or bass and so Dennis comes up with beats in real time to then see the bigger picture of that song. It’s what worked for us so far and rarely do we sit down and start from scratch and complete it in one day. What inspires us is the music that we listen to as well as ourselves as we learn about our musical upbringings and how it influences us to want to make this kind of music.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?Irvin: Triumph and positive messages about learning and gaining wisdom as we go on about our lives. It’s an important lesson that we as humans must adapt to since there will always be hardships that may pause everything else that’s been going on. If anything, we have the capacity and strength to push forward and so I try to mostly paint that image both lyrically and musically.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Irvin: Yes, we do and we get past them by listening to everyone’s thoughts on it and come down to a consensus on what is the best course of action to resolve it by voting what helps benefit the band’s interests. We all have different opinions on different things and so we always push to speak up if something is not right or something is interfering with the band’s progress.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Irvin: We have plans of doing a tour to help spread the band’s name and music to various locations across the country. We are also planning on releasing new merch and writing new music to help evolve the look and sound of the band as we learn new things along the way and make the most out of it. Currently, we have our debut album scheduled to be released on April 19th and are looking to book more shows and look for opportunities to open for touring acts when they come to town. It’ll help build the momentum and presence of our name in the scene and hopefully reaches the right ears to then be recommended for festivals and record labels.

Genocidal Nemesis I: Fear -

 

Condemned -

 

Reply

or to participate.