Inherus, a doom and post-metal force hailing from the state of New York, recently released their debut album "Beholden." The band of kindred spirits thrives on a shared love for sonic exploration. With a diverse array of musical influences and the unique dynamic of two vocalists, Inherus crafts a consistent, emotionally charged atmosphere. Following our recent review of "Beholden", we had the opportunity to interview them exploring their musical journey and looking into the evolving aspirations for pushing the boundaries of their sound in future releases.
I truly appreciate this interview and your willingness to share your story with both your devoted fans and our avid readers. I stumbled upon "Inherus" not long ago when one of our writers reviewed your debut album, "Beholden," and I must admit, I was thoroughly captivated by it. Could you please enlighten us on the origins of the band? How did it all come together?
Brian: Back in 2018, Anthony put out an ad on social media looking for people to start up a doom/post-metal band. I responded, having known his previous work in Witchkiss because I was looking to start up something similar on the side of my other band, GRID. We talked a bit about musical influences and what we wanted the outcome to be and decided we should get together and jam to see how it feels. After jamming a few times at my house, we decided it was time to round out the lineup. I had been in a band with Andrew about a decade ago called Swallow The Ocean, and he was the first person that came to mind when I thought about drummers. As it turns out, Anthony had also jammed with Andrew a few times when that band tried to start up again a few years back, so he already had some experience playing with him. The three of us got together and started practicing regularly, fleshing out the skeleton of what became "Forgotten Kingdom." At some point along the way, Anthony met Beth at a show and immediately befriended her, even sending her a live recording of the skeleton we had written. In a week or two, Beth had sent us back the skeleton with vocals and some added guitars, including a solo. We pretty much knew right off the bat that we had to have her. So, we had her come to practice to see how it felt. We all clicked pretty instantly, and Inherus was born.
Could you shed some light on the origin of your band's name? I've noticed that in some versions, you use a 'V' instead of a 'U.' Would you mind elaborating on this variation for us?
Beth: Inherus was a word we derived from the Latin word “Inhere,” meaning “to belong.” This was because when I returned to the East Coast after a long time living on the West Coast, being in bands and playing all over the place, I felt a sense of belonging with Brian, Anthony, and Andrew. We are all from the same generation, the same general place and time in the world, and we grew up within an hour of each other and had so many similar experiences growing up that it seems all of us draw from a familiar place to create music together. I think this is evident in our collective senses of humor and ease in creating in the same space. It takes a lot of trust to create music, and ultimately, that was a feeling I had right from the first time I heard what these musicians were working on. I knew right away I had to be a part of it because it was being generated from the heart. To me, that sense of sincerity is more important than all the musical training in the world because it cannot be forged. Being in this band has always made me feel like one of the kids taking their bike after dinner during summer to explore the neighborhood with the other kids. That’s a feeling that I never plan on losing again in music - “to belong.”
You've clearly drawn inspiration from a diverse range of genres while maintaining a strong "doom" influence in your current sound. How do you manage to strike this balance so effectively?
Brian: While we all share a common love for doom/post/psych metal, each of us also branches out to other genres that we have less in common with. We bring it all to the table, each putting in what we love. Our musical chemistry takes care of the rest.
Would you mind sharing some of your band's and individual musical influences? Take us back in time, and could you pinpoint that one album, song, instrument, or even a specific moment that truly ignited your passion for becoming musicians?
Brian: As a band, I think our most common influences would be Cult of Luna, YOB, Tool, Russian Circles, and Black Sabbath. As far as my personal musical influences, I'd have to say, and this changes constantly, but right now it's artists like Trent Reznor (NIN), Buster Odeholm (Humanity's Last Breath, Vildhjarta, Thrown), Will Putney (Fit For An Autopsy, END, Better Lovers). These guys are all the main songwriters of various bands and often multi-instrumentalists. They also have some serious skills in the studio.
For me, it's always been a love of guitar and later being a frontman. Seeing the grunge explosion in the early 90s is what really did it for me. I knew then that's what I wanted to do. Alice in Chains at the time really stood out to me. They were heavy and yet so melodic. Later on, I knew I wanted to be a frontman when I saw Korn's performance at Woodstock. That moment when Jonathan Davis screamed "ARE YOU READY??" and the entire crowd looked like a tidal wave, man...still gives me goosebumps.
Anthony: I am all over the map influence-wise, but the Post Metal bands that Brian listed are spot on for me. I think I bring a lot of doom and sludge into the mix as well. I was heavily influenced by Crowbar, Sleep, and The Sword. Bands like Acid Bath, COC, Eyehategod, and Weedeater just speak to my soul in a way that only sludge metal can provide me. I try to bring some of those influences into my bass playing, I feel like there is always room for some down and dirty blues-based riffage when the time is right.
Walk us through your creative process when it comes to writing and composing songs. What's your usual approach when starting a new song? Do you gather in a specific location, or do you prefer to exchange ideas digitally?
Brian: We have quite a few different ways of going about it. When writing for Beholden, most of the songs started with riffs and partial structures being brought in by individual members to a band practice, and then they were fleshed out among the band. The songs that we've been working on since then are a combination of riffs and songs being written by individuals during lockdown, and the jam sessions that we have during every practice. I think things will continue that way too. Sometimes an individual playing at home comes up with something worth recording and sending to everyone, but the real magic is when we jam together. Our musical chemistry is just ridiculous. We practice at Beth's home studio, and she has some killer gear, so we record every practice. So, when we catch fire...it's all on tape.
You've achieved a remarkable consistency in atmosphere and mood throughout your music. Could you share your approach to ensuring that everyone in the band is on the same page in terms of mindset to maintain this consistency?
Brian: I think it's the fact that we all share common musical and life interests. These things come out in our music when we play together.
Having two vocalists puts you in a very small pool of bands. Can you elaborate on the reasoning behind this choice and explore the ways it influences the essence and dynamics of your music?
Brian: Well, when Anthony and I had started the band, I had planned to do vocals. That was the reason I started this band with him to begin with because my other band (GRID) was instrumental. I thought doing vocals and playing guitar at the same time was daunting, but I wanted to do it badly. When we heard Beth's voice for the first time, the decision was instantly that she had to sing for us. Now both of us are exploring the different ways we can attack songs vocally. On top of her ridiculously beautiful singing voice, Beth also has a killer scream. I'm also gonna try my hand at singing as well...which is also daunting when stacked up against such an amazing talent.
I'm really impressed by your seamless transition and perfect timing when passing the creative torch. "Forgotten Kingdom" happens to be my favorite track, which beautifully exemplifies this. However, I'd love to hear your perspective on this matter. What are the challenges and advantages that you face with two vocalists, and how does it contribute to the band's overall sound?
Brian: Thank you! I think having two vocalists is one of the things that defines our sound. As far as challenges...I'm not sure of any at the moment, but it definitely has its advantages. We are able to deliver our message, or relay our emotions as we feel them. Whether they are sung beautifully or screamed harshly. We can also apply beautiful or brutal harmonies.
How do you collaborate on vocals and lyrics? Are there specific themes that each of you tends to gravitate toward?
Brian: Beth and I approach vocals differently. She seems to have ideas on tap and is already writing before the song is complete. I tend to need to hear the song after it's complete, so I can see how it feels to me. In this instance, I'm writing my lyrics in reaction to what Beth has written already. She provides the theme, I read what she is saying, listen to the music, and then step up to the plate.
Can you share some insight into the recurring lyrical themes in your music? Are there any specific stories or experiences that have inspired your lyrics or songwriting?
Beth: I think trust is a huge theme in our music, as it is in life. It takes so much strength to create trust with other people - it’s such a terrifying thing to most people - to really be yourself, to really express your thoughts, to really let your guard down. We live in a world where people take advantage of each other, often at the expense of innocence or kindness. Music is one thing that sort of rails against that brutality, where you can scream against the wind at whatever place life has felt like darkness. This theme I think you can find in literally every track on the album - and maybe this is just something Brian and I picked up on lyrically because we’re at that time in life where we’re all looking for something genuine in the work, as opposed to maybe the commercial and surface-level stuff we were sold as kids about what life is supposed to be like versus what it really is. "The Dagger" and "Forgotten Kingdom" are perfect examples of this - both songs deal with trust and holding people at a distance. The key line of "The Dagger" (in this case written by Anthony actually) was “I’m giving you this dagger handle first” - to me one of the best lines of the album and such a powerful measure of a person that I think every one of us has done at some point - giving trust to someone else who has ripped the blade from your hand only to leave a scar. We have these moments throughout our lives, and with each new moment, I learn about people on this planet, I like to hope that I wise up a little. "Beholden" was one of those albums that gave us many lessons, and sometimes the lessons come after the lyrics are written, and it makes sense like some kind of puzzle designed by something bigger than us. I think that is the beauty of whatever art we all create - that the interpretation continues to evolve with time.
New York has a vibrant music scene. How has being part of the NY metal scene influenced your band's growth and sound?
Brian: We're really just diving in now. We're picking up shows, getting to know more bands, and cementing our footprint.
Are there any local bands or venues in New York that have had a significant impact on your musical journey?
Anthony: Local venues took a big hit during the pandemic, unfortunately. Older places like The Chance in Poughkeepsie are closing their doors. Lucky for us, there are some great bars and unity in the local scene. One of the bright spots is the hard work that Stephen Keeler, owner of the record shop Rock Fantasy, is doing in Middletown, NY to book bands at the local bowling alley. Some really cool lineups, including local powerhouse All Out War, played there recently. It's really awesome to see in such an intimate setting.
We want to get back down to NYC soon for more shows in the coming year, finding places to play and bills to jump on is still a bit of a struggle, but we hope through growing exposure (such as cool publications like this), some doors may open for more NYC gigs.
I know that you just released “Beholden”; however, we suspect that you guys are probably looking ahead. What can fans expect from your upcoming projects or releases? Are there any new elements or directions you would like to explore?
Brian: Hopefully, a single or two in the beginning of the new year...and then we'll continue refining the songs we have for album number 2. We're really just looking to expand on our sound, which I think is unique. I personally wanna add some heavier elements in and experiment more with the spacey aspect of our songs.
How do you envision the band's evolution in the coming years, both musically and personally?
Anthony: We continue to evolve with our band's chemistry whenever we rehearse and jam. We are also always sharing music we find back and forth in our group chats daily. I think that it's a really big thing that keeps us creative and open to whatever flows out of us. Diversity in our tastes and influences really make us what we are as a group, and that's an ever-evolving process.
I feel with the new songs we’ve been writing that we are just finding our sweet spot, always honing our craft and sound. We also share books, poetry, art, you name it amongst the group. I think evolution doesn’t stop with the music; the music we make just reflects the personal journey we are each on. It’s one thing about this band that I haven't had with any other band I've been a part of, the constant uplift we provide one another. I hope that energy finds its way via our music to the listener and can uplift them as well. If we can change one person’s day for the better, I consider that a smashing success.
Do you have any plans for touring? Are there specific venues or festivals you'd love to perform at in the future?
Brian: We're itching to play some festivals. Desertfest, Doomfest, etc.!
Anthony: We are really looking to play festivals in the coming year; we have our feelers out but if anyone has any suggestions and can point us in the direction of organizers/leads/contacts, we’d love to have a chat!
Lastly, is there a message or something special you'd like to convey to both your dedicated fans and our readers?
Brian: Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to our music. I hope it has been as therapeutic for you as it is for us. If you're just checking us out, throw the album on and enjoy the ride.