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interview w/ Loss (who released 'Despond', played Nashville)

by BBG, with photos by Diana Lee Zadlo

Loss

Its been around four years since Loss released their Life Without Hope…Death Without Reason demo, an impressive and slowing spreading monument to funeral doom that spawned vinyl pressings due to its popularity. Seek out that demo if you can. The three song EP lead to splits with Necros Christos and a four way with Otesanek, Mournful Congregation, and Orthodox.

Now, after a string of smaller releases Loss is back with their latest LP, Despond, which is out now via Profound Lore. Loss’s Despond is a juggernaut that isn’t all about barks and darkness; its a genuinely emotional and brooding slab of funeral doom that is genuinely melancholy and crushing. Despond‘s instrumentation is impressive here, but what is more impressive is the emotional intensity that bubbles beneath the surface.

Loss celebrated the release of Despond on May 20th at the Rutledge in their native Nashville with Pallbearer and Anhedonist (who played NYC with Hooded Menace). Pictures from that show are in this post.

We also sat down with Loss to ask them a few questions about the band and Despond. Read our chat, and check out more of this pictures, below…

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Who is Loss? What is your DNA makeup (members, previous bands, brief history)

In October of 2003, four men sealed a pact to create wretched, mournful art, culled from a collective, bleak experience. It was to be a combined vision, encapsulating depression, anxiety, failure, illness, disease, despair, pain, fear and loss, to express what we felt sonically represented the idea of Funeral Doom….

Personnel: Jay LeMaire – Drums / Tim Lewis – Guitar / John Anderson – Bass / Mike Meacham – Guitar + Throat

One of the most compelling things about the Loss sound is the beauty and melodicism that lies beneath all of the depressive guitar work and emotional anguish. Where does the melodicism come from? What are some bands that have influenced you that might not fall in the “heavy” vein?

We are inspired by a wide range of music and art…The melodies we write bleed from the veins of our creation. The sadness and emotion comes natural when writing and blooms from a very dreary place inside of us I suppose…We normally don’t like to list specific bands etc but since you asked it in an interesting way…some non-heavy artists that have taken an inspirational toll on us would be: Arvo Part, Miles Davis, Rome, The Cure, Bauhaus, Christian Death, Swans, Atrax Morgue, Boyd Rice, Nick Cave, Joy Division, Hermann Kopp, Current 93, Death In June, Antonius Rex, Jacula the list goes on….

Loss

Life Without Hope…Death Without Reason demo was truly epic and spread fast amongst the underground set. Looking back on that demo now, why was the decision made to revisit two tracks on Despond but not the others?

MM: (??) Well there were only 3 tracks on that demo and one was an introduction piece so we decided to re-record the tracks because we felt they were not presented in their final form or properly on the demo…the changes were subtle but necessary

Despond is actually your first LP, and first with Profound Lore. Coming off that well-received demo, what were your goals for this LP?

Well, I guess to spread our message far and wide. Doom your life. Life isn’t worth living 99% of the time…perhaps some listeners will use our lyrics as a guide…..

Describe the Nashville scene. Who are some bands that you enjoy and are making waves in that area?

No scene. No bands.

Despond‘s body isn’t even cold yet, but what else do you have coming up?

MM: We are getting lots of offers for live aktions so perhaps you will see live despondence in your area? I know next we will write and record an EP consisting of 3-4 songs but that will begin later rather than sooner and maybe a cover or two as well if the mood strikes us…We will be performing at the amazing Rites Of Darkness festival this December taking place in Texas and we just performed Despond in its entirety in our home town complete with visuals and short films to correspond with the albums interludes… the future is always bleak and grey….who knows whats to come. We wont stop until we have reached our goal of the perfect funereal atmosphere….but for now take solace in Despond. Fatum Vesti Vita.

More pictures from the Nashville show below…

Anhedonist

Anhedonist

Anhedonist

Anhedonist

Anhedonist

Pallbearer

Pallbearer

Pallbearer

Pallbearer

Pallbearer

Pallbearer

Pallbearer

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

Loss

no more live dates to report at the moment