Death Valley Scars - Joe Denby talks to Dan Devour about his dark lifestyle!

London, Notting hill Gate, UK

Getting to know the dark Industrial mastermind Dan Devour!

Joe Denby talks to Industrial Metal's new mastermind and provocateur Dan Devour (Aka Devoured by the Dark) lead singer of the London chaos merchants Death Valley Scars about the upcoming new album 'The Suffocation of the World' and surviving as an Alternative band.

Music Trespass: How did Death Valley Scars start?

Devour: Death Valley Scars came out of the ashes of the Undead Romantics which were more Horror Punk, I have always been more interested in the sound of Industrial bands of the 80's / 90's like Skinny Puppy, Pigface, Revolting C**ks (Now better than ever in their new incarnation C**ksure), Ministry and of course Nine inch Nails. I actually was very careful in the beginning of Death Valley Scars to not be compared to Marilyn Manson, but in the end that just went out the window and I just decided to be who we are and Death Valley Scars on the early material most definitely is inspired by the God of F**K and now I am quite happy about that.

Devour: I think the new material for our next full length album 'The Suffocation of the World' has really evolved and you can hear our own signature sound on it, which I think came to life in songs like 'No Suffering, Sexual Decimation' and 'Vista (Bodi-Dis-Morphi-A) all off our first release 'Suicide, Sex and Suffering'. These three songs have helped us to really mold the new record into what we wanted it to sound like.

Music Trespass: How would you describe the band's sound?

Devour: Evil Sexual Industrial Metal, the deepest sound of your dark fantasies in a corrupted package. DVS where never meant to be for the faint hearted, we are not a band for people with heart conditions... we are F**ked Up!!!, We are Twisted!!! we are your worst nightmare! Our records will mess you up! if your not ready for it or don't like it... the simply turn it off!!!.

Music Trespass: Tell me about the new album 'The Suffocation of the World'?

Devour: The World is now corrupt and F**ked Up!!! and I think everything is about the thing I hate the most money. I feel that we are imploding and 'The Suffocation of the World' is coming. Everything is going to come to a tragic end and I feel like I am the tragic comic come to tell everyone about it. I do think my version of this World is a little more twisted. In my World the girls wear Latex, Rubber and PVC and the men are all twisted freaks ready to creep up on you in the dark.

Devour: It is all about the end of the World and the end of life and the endless blackness that is in our souls. Your going to get all new songs brought in heavier and nastier... I've been listening to a lot of Psyclon 9 and Skinny Puppy songs and loving the new C**ksure material and this and Metalcore bands like Himsa and Motionless in White have made me move in a slightly different direction for the new album and I think people are going to be blown away by it.

Music Trespass: What sound are you aiming for with the new material?

Devour: A dark brooding mash up of Extreme Industrial Noise that in places verges on the work of Alec Empire (Atari teenage Riot / Digital Hardcore) all put into an evil commercial package. I have been talking to Seven Factor who has worked with Chris Vrenna (NIN / Marilyn Manson) and Psyclon 9, working on some of the music that has really interested me recently and he is interested in working with some of the tracks. I don't want to change the formula though that has been working for us so far, so I am bound to work with Ays Kura (Die Kur) on some of the material. He is one of my best friends and when we work together we just seem to come up with some very interesting material. I think these two very different production styles will help to make my vision come to life.

Music Trespass: Have fans of the band ever surprised you?

Devour: Yes! we have a lot of fans that fly to the UK from very far places to come see us play. I always thought this would be amazing, but when it actually happens it freaked me out a little. I am a very private person and they can be very intense and want a lot of your attention. It is so nice of them to spend their hard earned money to come see us and I really respect this and I invite them to come say hi, because this is a big deal and we really appreciate the support.

Devour: I find it really hard at shows to deal with everything, because we put on a very big show with loads of special effects and I need to think constantly about what is happening or I will make mistakes. So if I seem a little vacant, I am not being rude I am just in deep thought. I really want to meet them all and sign anything they have that they want signed. I hate it when I go to see bands and they won't sign anything, I find it very rude it is your place off work.

Devour: The other thing that surprised me is that a lot of our fans get tattooed and this makes me very proud, that someone can love us enough to have us on their body permanently... you can't get rid of it so this is a big step for them to make and shows that they are going to support us for life which means loads. I have my best friends Amen logo on my arm next to my inspiration OhGr (Skinny Puppy) so I know about being in it long term for a band.

Dan Devour's OhGr from Skinny Puppy tattoo (Pictured Above)

Music Trespass: Where's the best place to get updates on the band?

Devour: Like other bands we use the horrible tool Facebook, we all actually hate it but at the same time are secretly addicted to it. I sometimes wish it would F**K Off!!! but I find myself going back to it like a drug user and this my drug of choice... I think it's a bad thing but I want more.

Dan Devour with Marilyn Manson (Pictured Above)

Music Trespass: What are you listening to at the moment?

Devour, OhGr, Skinny Puppy, Pigface, C**ksure, Sukekiyo, Nik Kershaw, Motionless in White, Bright Light Bright Light, Lee Thomas, KajaGooGoo, Splendor and of course the new single by Marilyn Manson 'Deep Six' that has been on repeat. Also the new Die Kur album 'Manifesto (The Scorpion)' that record is really strong.

Skinny Puppy (Pictured Above)

Music Trespass: Skinny Puppy or Nine inch Nails?

Devour: This is a very hard question indeed... I would have to say Skinny Puppy. I actually have the singer of the band OhGr tattoed on my arm like I said before.. He is like my mentor an guides me when I am in the studio in a weird Richard E Grant 'How to get ahead in Advertising' kind of way. Ays Kura (Die Kur) actually gave me an OhGr birthday card.... that was really cool and I still have it up in my room.

Music Trespass: What does the future hold for Death Valley Scars?

Devour: A whole lot of pain and suffering!

Interview and Questions by Joe Denby / Photo's by Dezadie, Luca Viola Mikey Cartwright (Ponderosa Pix) and Carter Photography / Paintings by Lesley Cartwright

'The Suffocation of the World' is due for release in early 2015 via NMTCG.