SOURCE – Omens is the new Desert Storm record. Tell us about the making of this record, at what point did the album title come to mind and were there any special difficulties or challenges that came about during the writing/recording process?
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – We have been working on the “Omens” album for about a year now. Writing and jamming ideas. We got into the studio to start recording in August, and finished the mixing and mastering in January.
The title came about quite randomly. We didnt really have many ideas, but Matt suggested “Omens” and we all quite liked the sound of it so stuck with it.
We didnt really have any difficulties apart from at the very end of the mixing sessions, we had to work around the clock with the engineer on the last session in order to keep on schedule.
SOURCE – I’d like to learn more about some of my favorite tracks on the new album: specifically Vengeful Gods, Pain, Grief and Suffering, and The Machine.
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – All three of these songs started around an initial guitar riff idea. Vengeful Gods and the Machine were riffs I had written at home, and Pain, Grief & Suffering was a riff Chris had come up with. Most of our song writing process is like this, once there are a few ideas that people like we try to work around them and jam until the song is complete and we’re all happy. It’s only then when Matt starts writing lyrics and vocal melodies.
Lyrically the songs are all very dark. The Machine is about the end of mankind and how we as a human race blindly exist. Pain, grief & suffering is about feeling numb and disassociated with your life that you crave pain and any hard emotion to feel something.
Vengeful Gods is about some kind of ancient evil.
SOURCE – You have a video out for Black Bile. Can you discuss some of the meaning behind the visuals?
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – Black Bile is about the Black Plague pandemic of the 1300’s. It’s quite strange actually as just as the video came out it became apparent the covid-19 was also a pandemic!
The story/meaning behind the visuals are 2 dream like scenarios where the plague doctor is portrayed as a grim reaper type character chasing the poor & sick. 2 of the people dreaming die after he catches them and 1 escapes. The visuals were shot in the forests near my house and the Oxford University colleges / cobbled streets nearby. We felt these locations captured the look we were going for quite well.
SOURCE – With the advent of Facebook and Spotify, do you feel that the need to maintain accessibility with a demanding fanbase puts a strain on what is important (read: the music)?
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – Yes it certainly can, but these days social media and spotify / downloading & streaming are pretty essential for reaching a wider audience. It’s just about making sure the music is always the prority, however both have to coincide together to help build a fanbase.
SOURCE – Are you one of the people who still buys physical albums or listen to everything through streaming and the various digital platforms?
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – Actually i am yes. I always enjoyed and still do enjoy buying cds. My dad recently gave me his old record player from the 1970’s so i’ve just started collecting vinyl too.
I also listen to a lot on youtube and Spotify as well.
SOURCE – Do you have the support of friends and family in your music endeavors? And what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received regarding music related events – either from fellow musicians, friends, or outside parties?
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – Yes, family and friends have always been encouraging it which is nice.
The best advice is just to keep having fun…the minute it stops being fun is when you have to look at why you’re still doing it. I guess in recent years the band has become more serious / stressful and at times we as a band argue…that sucks, but on the whole we do still enjoy touring and writing music together and generally still get on well, so for us we are still having fun and it’s still worthwhile.
I don’t remember who it was that gave me that advice, but the advice stuck in my head at least.
SOURCE – Now there is a lot of uncertainty about the Coronavirus issue, how do you think this COVID-19 affects the music industry and specially the world of music?
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – Oh it’s just awful and is affecting everything massively. Peoples health, the economy, people losing jobs / pay…it’s just terrible. The music industry has been hit so hard, particularly full time bands that need to be on the road to make their living! We’re fairly lucky we all work other jobs are are still getting an income. All tours are postponed, we cancelled our european tour that was supposed to start 1st May, but we’re working really hard to rearrange the dates to October…most are in place now which is good, i just hope things are mostly back to normal by then so we can get out and play / promote the new record this time without disruption.
SOURCE – And finally, something you want to share with the readers of Source?
Ryan Cole (Guitar) – Thanks to everyone for reading, and to you Falber for taking the time to do this. Thanks to all those that have supported us by buying the new record. If you havent got yours yet, head over to www.desertstorm.bandcamp.com – Hope to play Brazil someday too! Stay safe!
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