It is almost a rarity to find a metal band doing something unique, but anyone who has listened to Extinction Level Event could continuously elaborate on every quality that makes this band stand out from others. The fact that they’re an all-bass band alone is a striking factor, but it’s the insane amount of groove and rhythm that correlates with the heavy sound that is what truly sticks with the listener. Anyone can form an all-bass band, but the creative minds behind Extinction Level Event made this project into a notorious force – with plenty of clank.
With the introduction of Extinction Level Evtent, they released a couple of their first songs in late 2014 including a video for the track “Entropy.” Their latest song “Layers of my Flesh” not only expresses not only the vigor of their coined sound but also a fluctuating theme of distinguishable rhythm and groove.
In this interview with the whole band, the topic of the idea and purpose behind Extinction Level Event is discussed in-depth. The band also has an update of the release of their debut E.P. “The Catalyst” along with other goals for the year such as touring.
The New Fury: Well as an all-bass band, obviously you wanted the sound a certain way that the traditional guitar-bass-drums gig wouldn’t satisfy. What’s appealing about having this style?
Ryan Reedy: There are definitely different tones that only a bass can provide. The lowness is even more defined and of course there is what we call the clank sound that you just can’t get on guitars.
Kennon Pearson: I’ve always been more of a rhythm-bass player, even when I was on guitar. Since both bass and metal have a heavy emphasis on riffs, playing in an all-bass band was a good fit for both interests.
TNF: Sick! How do you write music for three bass players?
Ryan: The same as you would for guitar or any other instrument. The approach is very much the same. There is still a rhythmic structure to it all with of course layering, leads, etc.
TNF: I guess what I’m looking for is your individual contributions to the band and how you achieve the sound.
Kennon: Ryan and I are the ones who mostly write the riffs. Some songs are very much a collaboration between all three of us on bass, sometimes it’s predominantly one person with some help from the others. [Bassist] Duncan [Pardue] is really good at composition, [so he] helps out with refining a song after the riffs have been written. But each and every song has all three of writing for it.
Ryan: I personally contribute with a number-based approach in my writing style. I use a lot of number sets to the rhythms I create. I really find that using numbers with notes and chords applied is how I push myself creatively in the band’s writing style. I have always been fascinated with numbers and sets of numbers in rhythms in music. So this has always been a factor in my writing style for many years. I like to look at a set of numbers such as 2-4-6 and imagine what notes or chords I could apply to those individual numbers. I love that concept and this is one reason I feel that we can never really run out of options for rhythms and music in general. [There are] so many amazing combinations of numbers and space between those numbers.
TNF: Would you say each member contributes to continually holding either the rhythm, harmony, or soloing? Or do you all switch it up with each song?
Kennon: We do switch it up. With a lot of stuff currently Ryan does more of the lead/texture parts, I play the rhythm part, and Duncan plays the actual bass line. But Ryan and I switch off often. Duncan is the only one doing the technical bass lines though. Sometimes all three of us lock in for an even heavier sound.
Ryan: Duncan is our true bassist where Kennon and I are the rhythm guys in the group.
TNF: [To drummer Trey Harding] what’s your input on drums and composition for the band? Do you write the drum-parts or is it more of a collaboration for the band?
Trey: A lot of the songs were written before I joined the band so the drums were already laid out. I did get to tweak the drums to fit my style but for future songs they will give me a copy of what they have an idea for and I get to write what I please. And I will also get to bring ideas for rhythms and they can write around that idea. So far the process of writing is the bass parts are all written and then they give it to me and [put] my drums to it instead of us jamming with each other.
TNF: I noticed there’s a heavy lyrical theme of the apocalypse. Does the idea of the apocalypse have any significance to the band (I’m also looking at the band name) and why so? Are you influenced by certain works of literature, movies, video games, TV shows, and so on?
Gavin Grace: It’s really more of a coincidence than anything else. Our first song, “Destroyer” is actually about dinosaurs. The other two are about chaos and global warming. So, [it’s] kind of [about] the apocalypse. The rest of the songs on the E.P. steer away from that apocalyptic feel, though.
TNF: Well now let’s talk about the E.P. I know you guys already released multiple songs. What else should we expect?
Ryan: In terms of music we can definitely let the fans know there [are] more bass surprises with more layering, some melodic sections, more clank, alternate tunings and some leads.
Kennon: Well, as we have written more songs, each song has shown a sign of the band’s evolution. We are still discovering what makes an ELE song what it is. Each song is a new challenge and a furthering of progress as a band.
Ryan: With our latest track we have included some clean sections. [We’re] definitely interested in a six-string bass, as well.
TNF: Do you have an idea for a release date of “The Catalyst”?
Gavin: We’re waiting to decide how were going to release it right now.
Kennon: But we can’t share anything beyond that. [It will] hopefully [be released] before the summer. The E.P. itself is done, it’s been done. We just are working on the outlet(s) of release.
TNF: Great. How about each one of you state how your individual influences contributes to the whole of Extinction Level Event.
Ryan: My influences are of course Meshuggah, A Life Once Lost, Living Sacrifice, Fear Factory, Dead By April — in terms of the metal/rhythmic influences. In the aspects of chords and progressions I would say Journey, Al Di Meola, Pagans Mind, The Rippingtons, Omnium Gatherum, Anubis Gate and Blessed by a Broken heart.
Kennon: I come from a very riff-heavy influence. The music I listen to is all about memorable riffs. I picked up a guitar because of Tony Iommi’s playing, but I became further influenced by bands like Mastodon, Lamb of God, Arch Enemy, and several others. As I began diving more into the more modern era of metal, I became very interested in more technical riffage: bands like Periphery, Monuments, and Meshuggah. These bands contributed more to my playing and writing in terms of the more technical and abnormal sounds.
Trey: I don’t really approach it from how other bands or musicians have influenced me. For me it’s about keeping a steady groove even if there are some odd patterns or odd meters and just make it to where the listener doesn’t feel lost with random drumming; a nice heavy groove to munch on. So when the band gives me a complicated-ass riff or section I try to smooth it out and make it feel right.
Gavin: My vocal style is heavily influenced by Lamb of God, System of a Down, and Meshuggah among others — as anyone who’s heard our songs can probably guess. It’s been great for writing to this kind of stuff. I feel like my style really fits with what these guys have created.
Duncan: Well, as the only “true” bass player in the band (i.e. my background is actually as a bassist) all my main influences are bass players and that has carried over into the writing process for our material in that I’m more focused on having a solid foundation for the songs. So I’m approaching the material with the mindset of a bassist — rather than a guitarist as Ryan and Kennon are — which seems to be working well so far. Also, I’m a really big fan of funk bassists (Larry Graham, etc.) so some of that influence may start to rear its head before too long.
TNF: I know some of you discussed playing techniques with the previous question, but is there anything else you guys would like to add about your individual playing techniques?
Ryan: Chord progressions have been a huge factor in my writing. How can I incorporate key changes/modulation into my writing is another aspect of what I bring to ELE.
Kennon: For me, I like making everything sound huge. Since we all use different basses, [we] have slightly different (live) tones; it’s all about layering, even when we are playing the same exact parts. It’s all about having a wall of tone. And that can be made based on note/chord choices, or even just tone choices.
TNF: I saw on your Facebook you’ve been playing a lot of shows. Tell me about the band’s live experience so far.
Kennon: It’s been great so far! The first thing people wondered was how we’d sound live. And with LOTS of work on getting the proper tones, practicing as a group to get tight, we’ve managed to create a great set and a great live sound.
Ryan: We have enjoyed it so far. We have our tones tweaked for the live setting. As [Kennon] mentioned we have three different tones going on. So that has helped tremendously with our live tone. The feedback is that it’s a monstrous sound and the fans dig what they are seeing out of us on stage. We are playing the full E.P. so fans awaiting our EP can definitely hear it in the live setting.
Kennon: We’ve all been playing live shows a lot prior to ELE in other bands, so we are no strangers to being on-stage. That being said, it has been really fun playing this music live. We really come alive on stage, and we hold nothing back.
TNF: Do you guys see a tour in your future? I know I would love to see you in Florida.
Ryan: Touring is on the ELE list of things to do.
TNF: Hope to see you guys soon then! You guys just formed your band in October of last year and already you have received so much exposure. How does that feel?
Kennon: It’s amazing and very humbling to see the attention and support we’ve been getting! That being said, we’re constantly working hard to continue to grow and expand! There is rarely downtime in the ELE camp.
Ryan: Definitely humbling and truly is a blessing to all of us. Without those who have believed in us and our sound we would not be where we are at, especially Trey [Xavier] over at Gear Gods as he was our first fan and believer in our material. He is truly what started it all in the metal press.
Kennon: Another thing that has given us a great feeling about the process is how much organic growth we’ve had. While we’ve put a lot of work into promotions and marketing ourselves, people like our stuff. And it shows! We have a large reach and so many people love to share our music and content!
TNF: Here’s the last question: other than the E.P. is there anything else you would like to add about definite plans for 2015?
Kennon: LOTS of shows, more music, and lots of extra entertaining content!
Ryan: Our CLANK style will be spread among the metal community this year and they will be hearing [and] seeing more of it with many special guests in the near future.
https://www.facebook.com/extinctionleveleventband
https://extinctionleveleventnc.bandcamp.com/
