DAATH, often typeset as DÅÅTH (formerly known as Dirtnap or Dirt Nap) is a metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Their music incorporates styles such as thrash metal, death metal, industrial metal, and progressive metal. Their work is heavily influenced by Da'at and Kabbalah. Dååth, however, does not identify a direct religious affiliation in its music.

DÅÅTH was formed by Eyal Levi and Mike Kameron, who had been playing in bands since they were in middle school. DÅÅTH's first album ‘Futility’, was self-released in 2004. Their Roadrunner Records debut, ‘The Hinderers’, was released in 2007. In October 2007, singer Sean Farber left the band. A few months later, Sean Z was named the new singer.

The Band's new album ‘The Consealers’ was released last April by Century Media Records (via a partnership with Roadrunner Records). This is the first album with their new singer Sean Z. The guitar parts a more influential on this ‘The Concealers’ was produced and mixed by Jason Suecof and Mark Lewis (Trivium, All That Remains, Devildriver).

It seems there is much to talk about, Metal-Experience had the chance to talk to the band who are currently on tour in the US in support of their latest effort. 

First of all, how are you? And congratulations on the release of your new album ‘The Concealers’ which will be out in a couple of weeks, of course we’d like to ask you a couple of questions about it.

Emil:  Peachy!

It’s been two years since your previous album ‘The Hinderers’ came out. In between albums, there were some line-up changes so can you give us a quick update on Daath?

Eyal: I started wearing womens underwear and spend a lot of time on all fours in the kitchen. I don't know about the rest of the guys, but I found myself.

Jeremy: Our trailer still sucks.

How did you launch into writing material for ‘The Concealers’ and how much time did you spend on the songs?

Sean: As far as the lyrics and patterns go we got to work as soon as possible,  just so  I could to have as much time as possible to make sure to nail it.

Emil:  There was also a lot more jamming involved on this record.  Mainly between Kevin and Eyal.  It was just like a "shit it all out" style of song structuring.  Once they got a good solid movement of music put to tape, riffs would then begin to be tweaked as would the structure of the songs.  Melodies and Solos would soon follow..

Eyal: All day every day for about three months straight. I think I took three weeks and went to Europe and still ended up working on it every single day. It was quite intense. Some people say that it’s a very short time to write an album in but I think that with the level of focus and how intense that focus was, three months was more than enough. In the end there's eleven songs on the album but we wrote well over twenty.

Did ideas come easily so that you just had to write them down or was it more like a careful composing thing?  

Emil:  We basically blasted out material - Some good, some bad.  Some basic ideas, some more complex.  Some ideas came easily, some ideas took more refining to get them to where they are now.  Then when the gigantic blob of material was in front of us, we got together before starting the process with Jason (Suecoff) and picked our direction. There are some leftovers that we'll probably revisit in the future, but I think everyone is happy with the 11 songs that we went with.  

What comes first, lyrics or melodies? 

Sean: Nothing writing wise seemed to be a first or last type of situation, mostly everyone wrote a little bit everyday. But lyrics are usually last, just like my last fucking name; last

Emil:  Ha! Yeah, I'm always second to last with the W's.  Sometimes a riff needs a melody, sometimes a melody needs a riff.  I think all the dudes in this band try to let the songs sort of steer themselves into what they eventually become. 

Jeremy: melorics- the fatal combination of both happening at the same time. Or maybe lyrodies.

What were the goals you had in mind when you started to record ‘The Concealers’, any elements you definitely wanted to have on the album?

Emil:  We wanted more solos.  During ‘The Hinderers’ we would hear things from fans like "I had no idea you guys could shred" or when a video was posted online you would hear "Who is this guy/these guys?"  I think it takes more time for the listener to formulate his own opinion when you are providing them with something that is not exactly the norm. Monte Conner was also suggesting we go that direction as well.  Insert Jason Suecoff and Mark Lewis into the picture, and you have an album that is more "riffy" when there are riffs, and more "solo-ish" when there are solos.  

After the release of ‘The Hinderers’, Sean Farber (vocals) and Mike Kameron left the band and soon after that Sean Z. stepped in. Did the line-up changes have an influence on the new songs and did Sean contribute to the songs or were they already written?

Emil:  Sean Z stepped in and killed it while having a good time which is what it is all about. The lineup changes were more healthy for me because I get along with Sean Z more on a personal level. Z was with us through the entire writing process, which had a huge (positive) influence on the rest of the band.  

What is the utmost important ingredient for a song according to you?

Emil:  The song itself.  ...which is exactly why I’m in this band.  Everyone thrives on doing what is right for the song, or record.  

Sean: That everyone is all on the same page musically and mentally, and that was definitely apparent while writing the songs for this record. the guitars to me as a listener are always the most important ingredient. Muddy shitty guitar tone just hurts to listen to and bad guitar playing doesn't help either. The amazing work Eyal and Emil did on this album both in tone and skill truly blows my fucking mind.

Jeremy: You can’t catch a fish without a hook.

‘The Hinderers’ was already a step forward after your self released album ‘Futility ‘, but ‘The Concealers’ is actually the first album on which Daath shows its full capabilities: What are your thoughts on this statement?

Emil:  It always helps to have a solid lineup.

Eyal : It’s the truth. You can't compare our demos with our first true album. 

Jeremy: Is this our full capability? Does that mean I have to go home now? 

Could you please describe the implications of the title ‘The Concealers’, what does it stand for and is there a special meaning behind it?

Sean: ‘The Concealers’ is exactly that, concealment, and all of it that takes place in this fucking crazy daily grind life we live.

Jeremy: We are not gonna tell you…... think about it.

Who was responsible for the lyrics on this album and where do you get your inspiration from?

Sean: Well I wrote a majority of them, but it wouldn’t be fair to take all the credit when every member one way or another had a hand in the  writing process, especially Eyal and Jeremy. Inspiration? Well, what inspires every great musician .. marijuana?... which may or may not be legal in some states. 

Emil:  ::laughter::

On ‘The Concealers’ we hear a more guitar influenced sound instead of the industrial sound on your previous release. Is this an influence you wish to develop more in the future, or can we expect something completely different on your next album?

Emil:  I always expect something different but with the same Daath sound.  Eyal and I both have been experimenting with new tunings, so it is possible this may creep its way into the door for the next record.  

Eyal: It’s in our nature as people to keep progressing. That translates to who we are as musicians. Expect a far more developed Daath sound on the next one. I expect to completely dominate ‘The Concealers’.

Jeremy: Different, or I'm gone. probably expect the same of the others. We like to try to find new stuff all the time. But we do like guitars so I'm sure they will be featured.

Do you have any favorite songs on the new album?

Emil:  For me it changes from day to day. One that is always in the top three for me is “Wilting The Vine”. I'm proud of the transitions in that song.  

Sean : Well I have 3 also but one that didn't make it to the album but did the bsides, and is my favorite will be floating around out there somewhere is “Liquid Memories”, but my album favorites are “The Worthless”,  “Day of Endless Light”, and “Always Sharpen The Blades”.

Have you received any feedback on the album yet?

Emil: Yes, mainly from industry people and close friends considering the record has not been released yet. We’ve had quite a positive response so far..

Are third party opinions (press, fans, etc.) on your music important to you? Or are your music and band the only things that matter?

Sean: Fans are always the most important to me, because I was just one of them. Good music doesn’t hurt either.

Emil: It’s always music first for us, but fans are EXTREMELY important to us.  Especially with the way the industry is today. You have to have a handshaking relationship with each and everyone of them or you are fucking yourself. The internet allows people to see through hype and mysterious bullshit a lot easier these days..

Overall, are you pleased with the outcome of the songs or would you have liked to have changed anything in retrospective? Which element on the CD are you most proud of?

Sean: Absolutely ; the album is the best shit I have ever done or gotten to be a part of, and the element I’m most proud of is Emil, Eyal, jeremy, and kevin and being able to write some music with these crazy fuckers.

Which song is your favourite one to play live? Which song do you find is the most challenging one to play live?

Sean: “The Worthless” or “Subterfuge” are definitely my favorite to play, and “Sharpen The Blades” kicks my fucking ass.

Eyal: Playing “Sharpen The Blades” is definitely the most challenging but there are no easy songs on the new album. All the new songs required me to step up my playing.

Who are your greatest influences – both in terms of composition, as well as your guitar playing?

Emil:  Early on I was heavily infulenced by Death and Cynic, as well as the more straight ahead metal bands like Pantera and Friedman era Megadeth.  As far as soloing goes, I am more into Gypsy Jazz players like Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Rosenberg. I'm also a sucker for fusionists like John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, and Greg Howe.  

Can you tell us a little about yourself and the kinds of things that motivate you in your writing, your poetry, and your lyrics?

Sean: Everyday shit, drugs always help motivate, like sharpen the blades, I ate some crazy fucking shrooms, and way too many I might add, and I beleive it was around 7 or 8 am the lyrics just poured out, but mostly pot, if it's around, ill be your best friend.

Emil:  Not having some shit day job motivates the hell out of me!  

What were the highlights and low points throughout your career?

Emil:  Performing with Paul Reed Smith was definitely a highlight for me. If I'm not on stage it's a low point.. 

Eyal: Ozzfest and Japan were highpoints for me. Low points have been when things are less active.

What is your opinion on the metal scene these days? What do you think about the overload of bands at the moment and is there anything missing in the scene?

Eyal: I think that the internet is the greatest blessing and the greatest curse that music has ever come across. It’s not just the internet... It’s Guitar Center offering affordable equipment too. With how easy it is to get a band together and get the music out there, every half talented asshole with no business in music has a band. That has definitely flooded the market. With a terrible world economy making it more difficult to get started and also to continue maybe the herd will be cut down a little. At least I hope so. The metal scene is overcrowded with half talented wannabees and that makes it harder and harder for the audience to find the really great music which is out there.

What can we expect from Daath in the near future, any touring plans?

Eyal - Never ending!

Where do you see the band going within the next five years, and where do you see the band’s musical direction going for the next album?

Eyal - Definitely expect older band members and a lot more music. It’s hard to really say where we're going to go because it’s never planned but I'll say this, every record we make is going to be radically different. I want the next one to have a much more orchestrated and synth oriented feel, but with the same focus on guitars and destruction... and hooks out the ass.

Thanks for your time,

Eugene Straver

Current members :

Sean Z. - vocals

Eyal Levi – guitar

Jeremy Creamer – bass guitar

Emil Werstler – guitar

Kevin Talley – drums

Former members :

Sean Farber - vocals

Mike Kameron - keyboard, synth, additional vocals

Matthew Ellis - drums

Albums :

(2004) - Futility (Self-released)

(2007) - The Hinderers

(2007) - Dead on the Dancefloor (EP)

(2009) - The Concealers