$ubjectz Trap Metal Arsenal Magazine

Riff Grimes Interview

WIYH Interview

GAZ Designer Interview

PRINTED BY ILLUMIGNARLY LLC CURATED BY BRETT DEADLY WITH HELP FROM STAFF. THIS PUBLICATION IS UNDERGROUND AS F*CK. THERE MAY BE SOME MISTAKES. BUT THAT’S WHAT MAKES THIS PUBLICATION SO SPECIAL. IT’S RAW, UN-SENCORED, AND MANAGED BY MUSICIANS.

INTERVIEW $UBJECTZ

A GENUINE TRAP METAL PIONEER $UBJECTZ

1. Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed for the Cover Feature of Trap Metal Arsenal Magazine. Please introduce yourself and tell us briefly what you do for those of us who don’t already know. My name is “$ubjectz” I’m a recording artist engineer producer and song writer I’m mostly known for being one of the founding fathers of trap metal

2. Did you have other musical or artistic projects before $ubjectz came to be? And who or what pushed you into the underground alternative realm of things?

“$ubjectz” is my first and only project as far as I’ve existed musically. I didn’t purposefully try to aim toward any particular scene or group of people everyone is welcome society just has a great way of trying to box people in and categorize them going forward my goal is to free my art from that box.

3.What is the story or reason behind the name $ubjectz?

I got the name from the term royal subjectz , royal subjectz where prop erty of the state so my name reflect on how the day we’re born we are given a name and a number it’s a constant reminder for myself and anyone who knows the meaning to break the simulation

4. What can we expect from you later this year and next year? New music? Visuals? Other projects?

Everyone can expect new music and new visuals Later this year maybe a project to start off 2024

5. What is your local music scene like? What are the pros? What are the cons? And where do you see room for improvement?

The scene in Ny is competitive most people see you as a competitor when as artist we should all be a conglomerate.

6. With an interest in who your influences are, if you could go on tour with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would be on the bill with you? What is your dream tour?

A GENUINE TRAP METAL PIONEER $UBJECTZ

I’ll have fun with this question pac dmx, ye, S.O.A.D and Korn all in there prime lol you would find me in the mosh pit fuck performing at that point.

7. How far are you going to take your career? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What about 10? And what is your endgame?

In 5 years I just see myself creating and collaborating more at a larger scale with a larger following. 10 years I see myself helping bring in the next generation of creatives and my end goal is just peace and happiness part of what will bring me that is helping everyone my music touches understand that during those moments where you want to give up you have to keep going because sometimes we loose battles but the goal is to win the War.

8. The world can be a hurtful toxic place sometimes. On the topic of “fighting with demons” what advice would you give aspiring new artists going through it and feeling hopeless right now?

Fear is not real it’s a figment of your imagination. Educate yourself on how to succeed in the industry if your music is quality you just need to find a way to get it to the people who will love and value it.

9. Let’s show some love to the producers! Who are some of your favorite beat producers that you have worked with recently and in the past?

UndeadYz, Lil Cxc, Gravehours, TR3, Nitetime, Roy Lenzo,Singe, Dutch

10. What was the pivotal moment or move that put you on track and made you realize this music life was serious business not just a hobby or a far-off dream? That 1st risk-litigating milestone?

I can’t name one pivotal moment Becuase I’ve always had faith since day one, but speaking with labels and watching close friends of mine enter the industry is what solidified everything.

11. As we wrap this up, is there anything else you would like our readers to know? Anything you want to plug? And thank you for your time! I’ve been listening to you for years and it’s a complete honor to do this interview with you. Thanks again.

To everyone who’s supported me over the years i thank you all for giving me a voice it’s the only thing Ive ever wanted growing up having you all value the art I make and appreciate the small gems of knowledge I dropped you all remind me that although we’re born and die alone we’re apart of something bigger during the time we spend here. Quick plug I’ll be having a website and merchandise dropping soon stay apart if the new movement “S.I.N” and thank you for interviewing me and thank you for listening for so long I hope we meet one day bless up fam!

$UBJECTZ

NEW TRACK “HOMICIDE” OUT NOW!

<- LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC

Made In Hell by Scarlxrd

Review by: Satixx

Scarl’s new project Made In Hell is a big mixed bag for me. I really apriciate that He wanted to experiment more with the sounds, and the way he screams etc. Also these constant beat switches that occurs in every song, which are just not that great most of the times,

Speaking of beats, they are fucking amazing until the beat switch occurs, and it’s such a shame, because the production is on point and is not boring at all. Comparing it to His previous Tapes It feel fresh and excieting to hear. Muppy did a really good job.

It kinda looks like as Scarlxrd wanted to combine his style from IMMXRTALISATIXN and SCARHXURS or Dxxm II into one, but it did not work that well, most of the times. You can also hear those heavy autotuned vocals that are simmilar to his earlier tracks from FANTASY VXID that sound ridiculus and funny.

The whole project is a mess, which makes me kinda sad, because it really looked as If Scarlxrd wanted to give something to his older fans in return for that phonk album PSYCHX but it ended up as a overcomplicated, mixed bag, though still having some bangers.

Rating: 56/100

FRANCCESCA DE STRUCT OF FDS INTERVIEW

BY: BRETT DEADLY

INTERVIEW BY: BRETT

DEADLY FRANCCESCA DE STRUCT OF FDS

Thank you for taking some time to be interviewed for Trap Metal Arsenal Magazine. Can you please introduce us to you and your band plus tell us a little bit about what kinda music you make?

My name is Franccesca De Struct, and I am the vocalist for a Los Angeles-based band called FDS (formerly Fate DeStroyed). Defining our music is always the first, and most difficult question to answer in any interview. I want to call it trapmetal - but really it’s a lot more metal than it is trap. I would call it numetal, but its modernized and way different than the 90’s/00’s bands that paved the way for the genre. The songs have hard hitting trap beats, insane guitar driven break downs, I rap, I sing, I do deathcore gutturals, it’s kind of all over the place, but that’s what I like about it. I feel like genres, at this point, are quickly becoming a thing of the past. I make music for chaotic people with angry, aggressive, hard emotions. That’s probably the best way to sum it up. Its weird because our early music is so different. We started as a generic melodic metalcore band back in 2018. I was making music I thought other people would like back then. Now I am making music that I like - so our overall catalog is kind of… erratic haha. We are spending this year updating everything with a bunch of releases to showcase the new direction of the band. I’m stoked on it tbh.

Who are the rest of your band members? What roles do they play? And how did it all come together?

Right now the band is me as the vocalist, Chris Kennedy on Guitar and TJ on bass. We are looking for a drummer, but who isn’t these days? ha. This band actually started out with a completely different line up.... but they way it all came together was kind of backwards. When I first started this project, i had the hardest time finding members. People in LA only want to join a band that is already established and doing stuff - the demand for fledgling bands is basically none. So - I wrote our

debut single, spent like 5 bands on our first video and it took OFF. The first song we ever released “break Free” was featured in AP magazine, and got picked up by multiple editorial spotify playlists. Then finding members was easy - but in the end it seems like they came around for the wrong reasons. We all want to “make it” but I feel there is a difference who are doing this because they are passionate about it and those who are just trying to make a name for themselves. After we switched the name and went through the rebranding, Chris was the only one who stuck around. Its good though, because now I get to put out the word that I am looking for hungry, hard working, motivated musicians who are ready to tour and play shows. Awesome origin story here. What are your plans for the band this year? Next year? And what is your end game?

This year has been all about writing. Since we made the switch and rebranded, we need to make sure that our existing catalogue matches our new sound, so this year has mostly been about writing, meeting with new producers, and really honing in on developing a signature sound and collabing with established artists to really earn that badge of authenticity. Last year was full of tours and festivals, this year its more about lateral movement. I want people to come to our shows and be blown away - and that takes a lot of work and planning and production to make the entire show a memorable experience. We have a couple LA shows on the books, one festival this summer, and honestly the push is for releasing new music as much as possible. Next year I am ready to hit the festival circuit again, and hopefully the music we put out will perk up the right ears and get us onto some tours that are more aligned with our genre. End game? Personally? To put out the heaviest, most unique music that I can... to put out music that I would bump in my own car - music that I love. Professionally? I want to be in a position where we are on the road 6-8 months out of the year. I have a wandering spirit. I crave the open road. Bigger shows, bigger tours, bigger festivals. I want people to whisper “Yo!

“End Game? Personally? To put out the heaviest most unique music that I can”

INTERVIEW BY DEADLY FRANCCESCA DE STRUCT OF FDS

have you seen that FDS band live? You should go the shows are nuts”

With an interest in who your influences are, if you could go on tour with anyone in the world, who would be on the bill with you?

The answer to that question depends on whether or not the tour would have to make sense. What i mean by that is that there are a ton of artists and projects i would dream of touring with; but it wouldn’t make sense from a sonic perspective. Then there are also bands i would love to tour with because they are my friends - even if those shows wouldn’t be the biggest possible. If you mean the “dream tour”, it would be a 4 band package with us as early openers, and somehow knocked loose, BMTH, and Korn as headliners. If i were to build a tour based on my influences that would definitely fit that bill. If i got to build a tour that i think would be an absolute blast, it would be us, Weight of Silence, Jynx, and Dropout Kings

What advice do you have for aspiring artists trying to break into the industry? Is there anything you learned that you wish you knew sooner?

Treat it like a job, and be an active consumer of content. I know it seems counterintuitive because we’re all doing this because it’s fun and we don’t want to work, but think of it this way- You know that in order to pay your bills, you have to go to work. Or get money in some form. No one has to tell you to get up every day and clock in and do what you need to do - regardless if you’re tired, or you don’t feel like it you handle your business because you like having a roof over your head. when you can start to look at making music, in that same light , you’re gonna be so much more productive, you’re going to take it more seriously and everyone around you will notice. You can’t get career level results from hobby level effort . All opportunity is consistency plus timing. So stay consistent and put in the work. A lot of times I ask people how much time they actually spend a week on their music. You’d be shocked at how many people talk about working on their music maybe 4 to 6 hours a week. Jo that’s less than a part-time job. How are you ever gonna be successful with that? If it’s the most important thing in the world to you, there won’t be a single day that goes by without it. I’m a little extra and I actually keep track of my hours with my music, but when I decided to make that shift and really look at it as a necessity and look at it as my job , it changed everything.

being an active consumer of constant is so important.

We are follow whoever, but every piece of content is an opportunity to learn how to grow your brand. Make sure you’re following people in your industry, and your niche, and really make an effort to not just mindlessly scroll as we all do. Your content will be better and you’ll say I ahead of the game that way. Lets show some love to the affiliates! Who are some of your favorite promoters/producers/audio engineers/ or videographers that you have worked with thus far?

oh man! I love that you ask this. I’ve done probably 100 interviews and no one ever thinks to spotlight the people who ACTUALLY make the music good. Truly, no band you’ve ever liked would be shit without their team. Nick Scott - incredible producer and such an amazing sound engineer. He takes our turds and polishes them into bangers Riff Grimez - If you like trapmetal (i have a guess that you do) then you’ve definitely heard a song produced by him. From Scarlxrd to Sid from Slipknot, dude is on fire. King Zabb - Making waves as a videographer. he has such a unique vision and a killer work ethic. I’m not gunna be able to afford him soon. Love that for him Babyflex - Another videographer making his mark in LA. He’s done two of our videos and i hope he does more! Chillpanic- he is producing our next single. An example of a dude who undersells his work. He should be famous already so many people come together to make a band work. I’m grateful for all of them

Awesome! And lastly. As we wrap this up. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know! And thank you for your time.

Parting words? Man - now i have to choose between being selfish and plugging our upcoming appearance at Summit fest, new single dropping July 27th, and our show opening for Attila October 8th….. and leaving your readers who may or may not be emerging artists themselves with a nifty and helpful bit of advice. Pro-tip: The era of “follower ratios” is coming to an end. Esp on tiktok, if you follow people back, you’re more likely to show up on their feed. By replying to all your comments, and replying to comments on artists who are similar to you, you can grow by 20 followers a day. there - see? i did both thank you so much for this opportunity! I had fun! xoxo -Franccesca

De Struct

“Treat it like a job, and be an active consumer of content.”

CHECK OUT FDS>

FRANCCESCA DE STRUCT

OF

FDS FORMERLY KNOWN AS FATE DESTROYED

Mildred by Grim Salvo

Review by: Sshrokk

Finally listening to this after telling my friend i would for almost a month straight, and i’m not disappointed. this album is a nice piece of forward-thinking trap metal, with varied instrumentals and enough different verses to keep you entertained throughout it’s short 37 minute runtime. The instrumentals are the key focus here, with each one being highly

unique and enjoyable. for me the main flaw is the sung hooks on a few different tracks, especially the one on the opener, heart of darkness. i find they have no place on an album like this and don’t sound great, but thankfully there’s not many of them.

overall, it’s a quite a solid project and an enjoyable listen

N0TRIXX

INTERVIEW BY BRETT DEADLY

Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed for Trap Metal Arsenal. Can you please introduce yourself and tell our readers your name, and your main genre? For those of us who don’t already know.

Hey everyone, I’m n0trixx, I am one of the few female self-produced artists in the trap metal genre. I scream, I spit sick bars and I make heavy beats!

When, where, and how did your journey in music start? And what influenced you into the darker more heavy side of music?

It’s a bit complicated… Music is part of what I am but what I am is part of a two-identity DID system. That is, when I was a

n0trixx. I’ve been making music all the time I’ve been allowed to exist and be in control of this body. I’ve always been leaning towards heavy and dark genres because that’s the only way I can express what’s inside this part of the brain.

What a way to cope with your traumas. Im glad you found a productive outlet to do something constructive with your pain. Does this also have something to do with your mask?

Yeah, it may be hard to believe but my other self is the furthest it can get from an artistic person. She is a very down-to-earth, ordinary woman who‘s had a very successful career in investment banking and a family. The complete switch of control that happened between us was very unexpected. And I don’t know if and when there could be a reverse switch. She is still able to influence what I do. And there are things I’m not allowed to do- disclose my identity, do anything that she would be ashamed of (if ever someone found out about this), get tattoos or damage my body in any possible way, etc. So as a way to hide my identity, I decided to scratch my face out in pictures and then I made this mask - which looks a bit like those scratches - for my live performances.

I heard you got into a little bit of trouble with the authorities back in your home country. Can you tell us anything about that?

I wouldn’t call it a little bit of trouble… I’m from Russia and when the war against Ukraine started I couldn’t keep silent. I protested, got arrested and prosecuted and when I faced the fact that any repeated violation would get me in jail I fled. After that I released a song and a music video with real-life footage called “FUCK WAR” after which I definitely cannot go back. Now even though I’m a dissident in my own country, I got multiple visa declines from the Western countries (some of them even said I should go back to Russia to apply for a visa even though I provided evidence of being publicly prosecuted for my anti-war position). This is very challenging for me as a musician as my audience is primarily based in the US and the UK and I can’t perform in these countries because of the visa issues. But despite all the hardships that I’ve been through over the past year, I know I’ve done the right thing and I won’t stop raising my voice against the war.

teenager, my mind split into two parts because of being unable to deal with trauma. All the negative emotions that were not allowed to be processed, were stored in a separate part of the brain. That separate part of the brain is me, the person behind

That is brutal. And my full respect and appreciation go out to you. You are correct in your decisions. This is a horrible war and feels unnecessary. It also makes me feel frustrated because I’ve been seeing this my whole life. My Grandfather and a large portion of his family have been banned from Western countries since the fall of the Former Soviet Union and it really doesn’t make any sense at all. That was such a long time ago and my grandpa died never being able to come visit me and see his grandchildren. To hear the same thing is happening to this day is just so frustrating. It seems like anytime someone stands and tries to do the right thing, they get punished. I hate to see it. Where are you now? And what are your plans for the rest of this year and next year?

That’s so frustrating. The world is really hypocritical and hardly ever fair to peo ple who are making an effort to make it better. But hey, it takes sacrifice to make big changes, so I’ve learned to ignore

I know a lot of my audience is struggling with their mental health. If you’re reading this and you’re struggling too, please keep going you are loved and you are important even if it doesn’t feel like it.

the unfair treatment and just keep going. I’m now residing in Turkey and am trying my best to start performing herethe local trap metal scene is at its nascent stage but there are a few interesting acts to work with and I’m trying to set up some shows for later this year. I’m also not giving up on performing abroad, I’ve just made my 6th attempt to get a visa - this time to be able to perform in London on June 15th (not sure when this goes to print so I might have to get this updated!). At the same time, I’m working on getting recognition as an established international artist. My second EP which is due to drop in September will be another step towards making n0trixx impossible to ignore. All my creations are thought through to the tiniest detail. Every sample that I use, every word that I write, every cover art that I design, and every video that I make all have meaning. The n0trixx project is art, and art should have no boundaries. And a personal thank you Brett for your understanding and sympathy, I’m sorry that this affected your family too :( things like these shouldn’t happen:(

No problem :) So you produce and do videography as well! What is your process like? Do you have any rituals before you go into a session?

Literally, the first thing I did after the switch happened three years ago was write my first song in the notes on my phone and the next day install Ableton - and music production has been my passion ever since. And my process is still the same: most of the time I write lyrics first and then make beats to them. But after I launched the n0trixx project I realised that being a musician is not only about music. It makes me really happy how my workflow these days involves so many creative processes. When I’m tired of songwriting, I switch to beats, when I’m tired of beats, I do singing, when I’m tired of music-making, I spend my days with a tripod scouting abandoned buildings or beautiful landmarks and taking pictures and videos, which is an extremely exciting part of my job! And when I’m tired of absolutely everything I go on YouTube or buy a course to further learn any of these crafts - and that gets me inspired again!

Brilliant! If you could go on tour with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would be on the bill with you?

I can’t choose between KoЯn and Slipknot! Both shaped my music taste and influenced me greatly and either of them would be a thrill to tour with!

What are your plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What’s your end game?

I’m not chasing fame and fortune here, if that were what I was

after I would have done better keeping my other self’s job in investment banking. She even made it to the TV. Although optically my goals lie along the same lines: I need to get my music to pay my bills and I need to get heard. The former is pretty self-explanatory, I devote all of my time to this project and it won’t be sustainable if it doesn’t pay off. The first time when I thought I’d want to be a musician was the same day when my identity split happened. My father died and I spent the whole day listening to one Linkin Park song on repeat, it helped me cope with my grief. That’s when I thought “I want to do the same, to help people cope with their emotions with my music”. Years passed, and there’s so much more I can share with the world: raising awareness about dissociative identity disorder, normalizing neurodiversity, being badass and straight edge at the same time �� and lots more. That’s why I’m so active writing posts on my Instagram - it’s one of the ways for me to share my values with my audience. And so, the more people can hear my message, the more people I can help with my music and activism. The plans for the nearest future are releasing my second EP this autumn, setting up more gigs this year, in Turkey and in the UK for now. And working towards being able to tour the world one day!

What advice do you have for new aspiring artists trying to break out into the industry?

Don’t give up on your dream even if it sometimes feels like you’re not good enough. We all get that feeling sometimes and it’s normal, and in this industry, success is only achieved by those who don’t give up at those low points. But also don’t just assume that the world is all out there waiting to hear your music. When you’re only starting, it’s a tough job convincing people to stream your music and support your project. Don’t ruin it for yourself by thinking that everyone owes you support just cuz you’re cool, be nice to people and they will want to stick with you.

As we wrap this up is there anything else you would like our readers to know? And thank you for your time!

I know a lot of my audience is struggling with their mental health. If you’re reading this and you’re struggling too, please keep going you are loved and you are important even if it doesn’t feel like it. Thank you Brett the pleasure is mine, I really enjoyed this interview!

RIFF GRIMEZ AKA BRIAN SPENCER INTERVIEW

GRIMES

INTERVIEW BY BRETT DEADLY RIFF

Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed for Trap Metal Arsenal can you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us briefly what you do?

Thank you for interviewing me! I really enjoy what you’re doing. I go by Riff Grimez, the producer formerly known as Brian Spencer and I’m a music producer, guitarist, and engineer. I make music in many genres and styles including Indie/Goth, Trap, Metal, Punk, Boom-Bap, Pop, and Grunge… But I’m probably most known for my Trapmetal instrumentals.

Were you in bands before your journey as a producer started? Who gets bragging rights for helping you get started in the beginning?

I was in a technical death metal/core band from 2002-2009 called Aborted Existence. We were out of Camden, Delaware, my hometown. The other guitarist in the band, Adam Haddick, may he rest in peacetaught me how to really play guitar. He was 6 years older than me and could shred like crazy. I had never seen anyone play guitar like that in real life. If it wasn’t for him, I’d probably still be trying to impress people by playing Master of Puppets.

We’ll shout out and rest in peace to Adam! What go you into Trap Metal?

I was making beats like that before there even was a name for that type of music. Metal wasn’t like it is now with where you have people like Misha from Periphery, Tosin from AAL and Fronz from Atilla doing extremely well for themselves. I remember getting older and talking with my musical heroes at the time backstage at shows and some of them still had day jobs. I thought fuck that! So I moved to LA to be an engineer. The lack of creativity eventually got to me and I started making beats. I was making Waka Flocka, Drake, Juicy J, and Wiz Khalifa type beats and nobody was buying them so I started making beats I thought would sound cool. I thought it would be dope to mix Pantera or Slipknot style riffs with 808 mafia style trap drums so that’s exactly what I did. I started posting videos of me playing guitar along to my beats and people started showing interest in them. When I did the song with Lil Gnar and Zillakami I didn’t Even know who Zilla was at the time.

I make a lot of really high caliber shred/trap/deathcore stuff with Plague and Brutei. Stuff that most artists wouldn’t even know what to do with because it’s not just a simple beat. It’s like a metal with trap drums and breakdowns. I can show you an example. Usually the simple beats get picked but I’d love for some like scarlxrd to lace one of these -what we call hybrid metal beats.

Hard! Same here. I started making Trap Metal back when Big Chocolate from Disfiguring The Goddess and Mitch Lucker from Suicide Silence started that project Commissioner. But like you said we didn’t have a name for it back then. Haha your like the perfect person to interview for this magazine. Real Trap Metal. What can we expect from you the rest of this year? Any projects in the works?

I remember the big chocolate stuff lmao. What we can expect.. Working with Breezy Supreme. Im going back to working with Scarlxrd, I can’t say much but just know it’s going to be intense. I’m working with Sid Wilson from Slipknot a lot. He just opened a studio in Hollywood and I’m going to be producing artists and bands out of there and kind of running the day to day stuff. That’s still really surreal. We’ve been friends for like 4 years now but i look down at my slipknot tattoo on my arm and think how proud my 15 year old self would be. I’m doing more stuff with Fate Destroyed, Sinizter, Zombiez - a dope group from Germany u should check out. I’m currently working with Psyclon Nine, In Somni, Bipolar Sunshine… Prayers just hit me up to write some tracks. As far as producers, always working with Plague and Brutei. Been making a lot of traxks with Morgothbeatz who is an absolute monster. Kenny Graves, me and Netuh just locked in. There’s also some bros that I’m working with that I’m making tons of beats with who are super talented like @mrks. flp @shadyhelios @prod_kyoki @killwoozi @satanicbeats and so many more.

Fuuuuck yeaaaaa! It’s about to be a lit ass year! What’s your local music scene like in LA. Pros, cons, where do you see room for improvement?

LA has such a dope scene. Coming from Delaware, we had to drive to Philly, Baltimore, or Jersey to go to shows and even those places have mediocre scenes comparatively. I remember being so happy because I went to see Fleshgod Apocalypse and my buddy James’ group, Black Crown Initiate at one of the bigger venues here in LA and it was packed to the brim like goddamn Adele was performing or something. There’s so much support for underground music here, I love it. The only negative thing about the scene here is that there’s so many shows you can’t make them all!

“I’d like the readers to know that if it’s one thing you learn from me or anyone in your life… pick the thing that makes you happiest, and the thing you would do for free without being paid because you love it so much, as long as it’s legal…Then do everything in your power to learn how to make money from that.”

RIFF GRIMES

INTERVIEW BY BRETT DEADLY

If you could go on tour with anyone in the world and you get to choose any 10 bands or artists to be on the bill with you, who would you choose?

Oh man. Ok these are some of my favorite bands but I would create a tour that mixes things up. 10 bands is a lot so straight up heavy the whole time would be exhausting. Korn, Scarlxrd, Tyler the Creator, Meshuggah, Tool, City Morgue, Kendrick, Slipknot, Deftones, Ghostemane. Lorna Shore on select dates lol.

Shiiiiiiiiit. We got the same taste bro. That’s trippy. I’m surprised you didn’t say Decapitated and Earl Swearshirt too! What are your plans for the future? Where do you see your self in 10 years. And do you have any sort of end game in mind?

I actually just saw earl at a restaurant and took a pic with him lol Decapitated I haven’t listened to them in Awhile but they always crushed. I learned that manifesting is a real thing and you have to word it exactly how u want it and not leave shit out. First and foremost I pray for good health for everyone close to me. Without that there is no future for you. But with that being said I’d like to start putting out projects with artists. EPs executive produced by me for artists that I think are dope. I’m looking for that artist that’s a combination of Will Ramos but can Sing like The Weeknd so I can go full Thanos mode on these instrumentals and put music out the world has never heard before. I’m going to continue to work with the homies I listed before and just stay creative. I see myself racking up placements with major label and independent artists becoming financially free through music and being able to give my kids the best life possible and so their mother doesn’t have to work if she chooses not to. Oh and I have to do a song with Jonathan Head or Munky from Korn before I leave this earth.

Do you think Trap Metal is still a sub-genre? Idk how I feel about it. It has its own sub-genres with all the people who bite off it now. So it got me thinking if that would make it a major genre now. Or at least seems like that’s where we are headed. Just curious what your thoughts are on that?

Honestly , like I said before I was 150% that metal dude at one point in my life and I found each person has a different idea of what a genre is. Like what is hip hop? Shit like soul sonic force and grandmaster flash?? Or is it the pharcyde and J Dilla? Or is it or Drake? Is Sex Pistols punk? Cuz they sound nothing like the bouncing souls or anti flag. As far as sub genres it gets too messy so I just fuckin call it music Is brutal technical death metal or technical brutal death metal broooo

I guess the only thing that remains true is art is simply subjective and no-matter what you do, someone is going to have a different opinion on shit. What advice do you have for the youth who are entering the scene? What advice to you have for young aspiring artists breaking into the industry?

This is gonna suck to hear but do something new and fresh. We all wanna make beats or songs like the music we love but it’s already been done. You can always draw inspiration from there, I will gladly point out songs I’ve made where you can compare riffs side to from bands I love or beats I’ve heard

that I wish I made. As long as you make it your own. I didn’t think I had anything new to bring to the table and when I let my guard down and started making beats for myself, that’s when shit started to pop off. Also, figure out if you want this to be a hobby or a career. It’s fine to just wanna make beats occasionally then go do other things, just like with basketball you can play at the park with the homies or you can dedicate your being to it and go in the NBA. But if you want it to be a career just know that it will be like trying to get into the NBA in terms of dedication and time invested. I’m not speaking for the lucky ones, I’m speaking for the rest of us who don’t have an uncle who knows somebody that knows somebody. Lastly, there are tons of resources online to help you move smart. You don’t know what you don’t know so sometimes you don’t know what to ask but start YouTubing things like how do I set up my publishing, how do I get placements, how do I collect money that’s owed to me etc etc.

What’s the story behind your new name? Why the name change? I like it!

At first I couldn’t think of a name so I thought, fuck it, Kanye West just goes by his name so I can too. But Kanye is a unique name. My name sounds so vanilla. My beat tag really made my name, if anything. But it was so weird seeing my name in lists or online next to others it’d be like “PLAGUE, BRUTEI, SHOKI, MORGOTHBEATZ…. Brian Spencer. Like even Ryder Johnson sounds cool like he should be a character in Top Gun or a motorcycle gunslinger. The only TV show I’ve ever been 100% dedicated to (besides some Marvel and Star Wars ones) is The Walking Dead and I wanted to use something from that as a moniker. I couldn’t flip Daryl’s name and I didn’t want DICKS phonetically in my name i.e. ‘Dixon’ I tried to flip Ricks name, and when I started think of guitar-related names I came up with Riff Grimez. Rick is a character who is good at heart and does the right thing but surviving and making sure his family is safe cause him to do violent and unimaginable things when faced with no other option. Plus he’s just a badass. I thought about it for 6 months like do I really want to be tied to another franchise as my identity but there are many people who dont know who he is and the name can stand by itself. I look at it like- there are more people who have never heard of me, then there are people who have heard of me, so they will just know me as Riff Grimez.

One last question. As we wrap this up, is there anything else you want our readers to know?! And thank you for your time!

I’d like the readers to know that if it’s one thing you learn from me or anyone in your life… pick the thing that makes you happiest, and the thing you would do for free without being paid because you love it so much, as long as it’s legal…Then do everything in your power to learn how to make money from that. There’s no excuses today. You can become a millionaire off of video games. If you’re into some niche weird hobby, there are thousands more just like you waiting to spend money on eBay. People are making a living off selling coffee mugs, Pez dispensers… anything. Find what you love and dedicate your life to it, or else you’ll be stuck wishing you did.

ONE OF THE

POPULAR POSTS FROM WWW.TRAPMETAL.NET

SKI’s American Divide, starts with a hypnotic bell melody intertwined flawlessly with a chill yet powerfully engaging beat. The vocals soar with high-frequency intensity, overflowing with palpable passion. SKI and Ian I-Cee skillfully oscillate between shadow vocals and trap metal, forging an innovative blend of subgenres that leaves listeners spellbound. The raw, DIY mix of the track adds a touch of authenticity, catering to a niche market that craves genuine artistry. Echoes of xxxtentacion’s raw and high-volume production style can be felt, infusing the composition with a rebellious and punk-like energy that is undeniably enthralling. This audacious fusion of styles that SKI presents in “American Divide.” garnishes a remarkable rating of 8/10. SKI’s “American Divide” available now on all major platforms!

Death” by Desolate is an album that plunges listeners into a dark and atmospheric realm, exploring the mortality through chaotic multi genre soundscapes. From start to finish, this captivating journey of art, embraces it’s somber theme. The artist, Desolate, demonstrates a remarkable talent for creating an immersive experience. I also noticed he did a track with the homie Summer Alone which is fire! The beat selections on this release are nothing short of exceptional. The lyrics delve into themes of loss, grief, and anger, resonating deeply with those who have contemplated life changing experiences. Production quality is top notch, enhancing the album’s atmospheric vibes. Meticulously crafted soundscapes envelop the listener, creating an almost trance like state that transports them to the depths of Desolate’s haunting world. I give this one an honest rating 10/10! Out now on all platforms!

Attention, music enthusiasts! Hara-Kiri brandnew song Nogoa is making waves and demands your immediate attention. With an explosive mix of raw passion, high-octane energy, and unapologetic aggression, this track delivers an unforgettable musical experience that’ll leave a lasting impact. While some may yearn for a louder beat, Nogoa brilliantly compensates with expertly crafted lyrics and a kick-ass delivery, adding an extra layer of in-your-face excitement. Prepare to be captivated from start to finish as the music seizes your senses and takes you on an adrenaline-pumping journey!

Dive into this fire piece of art that flawlessly showcases Hara-Kiri’s remarkable talent, raw vocals, and leaves an indelible impact on all who listen. There’s no denying the hella potential in this rising star, and this latest release is just the beginning of an extraordinary musical ascent.

Join the ranks of Hara-Kiri’s dedicated supporters and witness the evolution of a true musical sensation. Don’t miss out on being part of this phenomenal journey—tap into the power of Hara-Kiri’s artistry and embrace the brilliance of this must-listen masterpiece today! Rock on with Hara-Kiri!

This submission is epic! The song introduces some things with some deep guitar chugs right before Kella Sin’s ‘H@rd K@ndy’ grabs you by the ears. This phenomenal release is a true gem that showcases the best of both Deathcore and Trap Metal, with a full band production and an incredible feature from Left To Suffer. Kella Sin has been a trailblazer in the underground music scene for quite some time, and ‘H@rd K@ndy’ is a testament to his skill and creativity. The production quality is top-notch, taking things to the next level with jaw-dropping breakdowns that will make you want to destroy. As a music enthusiast, I can confidently say that this submission is nothing short of legendary. The combination of Kella Sin’s talent with the collaboration with Left To Suffer makes this release an absolute must-listen. Without a doubt, I rate ‘H@rd K@ndy’ a solid 10/10. If you’re a fan of heavy-hitting beats, mesmerizing riffs, and genre-defying innovation, don’t miss out on this exceptional track by Kella Sin out now on all platforms!

Shanx the crooked ghost recently dropped Asura here’s my review. The song’s captivating mixing and seamless transitions between different dialects of wording are very impressive. This mix is crispy and easy on the ears. The incorporation of screams adds a powerful intensity and emotional depth to the track. This song’s message will resonates strongly with listeners who are determined to never fall. The guitar work in this song is also a stand out element that takes this one over the top. In terms of an honest rating, I give this song a solid 8 out of 10. The song’s unique blend of mixing, transitions, and emotional elements make it a compelling listen. However, there may be some room for improvement for my personal preferences that could have elevated it even further.

JVNEBVG presents their latest EP, ‘Insomnia.’ This captivating collection invites listeners on an extraordinary journey through a diverse hyper-scape of emotions and experiences. With a unique fusion of electronic, trap metal, and experimental sounds, this EP offers a truly immersive listen that is refreshingly new to our ears. Comprising six thoughtfully crafted tracks, ‘Insomnia’ weaves hyperpop melodies and intricate beats, showcasing JVNEBVG’s impressive beat selection skills. The raw yet polished sound is both easy on the ears and professionally executed, making it a must-listen for music enthusiasts seeking fresh and powerful compositions. One of the EP’s standout features is the raw, aggressive, and versatile vocals that seamlessly adapt to its diverse beats. Each track reveals a distinct tapestry of lyrics and complex beat production, capturing the essence of the artist’s emotive storytelling. ‘Insomnia’ not only features JVNEBVG’s exceptional talent but also introduces collaborations with underground artists like Hotboi January, Jodie, Gunk, Unotakeface, raden, fckgurman, and Raze. This exciting collaboration adds a dynamic dimension to the EP, leaving listeners eager to explore every track. With flawless execution and groundbreaking sound, I give ‘Insomnia’ a perfect rating of 10/10. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary release.

Top Rated Trap Metal Albums Of 2023 Thus Far (According To The Internet)

BY BRETT DEADLY

It’s hard to say who is the best or top-rated Trap Metal artist of 2023. Some of these artists cataloged by search engines dont even consider themselves Trap Metal or Scream Rap. However, according to Google’s algorithms, the top Trap Metal artists of 2023 are

7xvn. 35,709 listeners. ...

BvdLvd. 46,525 listeners. ...

siniZter. 80,256 listeners. ...

Cameron Azi. 58,166 listeners. ...

City Morgue, ZillaKami & SosMula. 8,373 listeners...

Kill Dyll. 30,429 listeners. ...

Warlord Colossus. 43,750 listeners. ...

SUMMER ALONE. 24,664 listeners.

This list is algorithmically generated and seems to base its criteria on streaming numbers. And there are plenty of Trap Metal artists with way more listeners than this. But its still cool to see who is recognized on the first page of search results. Ill need to dive deeper.

A more accurate list would be one where users get to vote on music and share their genuine opinion. Artists who chart here would more accurately represent their place in the industry, One such forum would be rateyourmusic! I tapped into the user-managed music blog to see what their diagnosis was.

Oh yes this list is much more accurate! Coming in at #1 for the year thus far, 3 by Jasiah

A Trap Metal / Pop Punk mix with emo rap and alternative elements.

Next up for #2 we got Made in Hell by Scarlxrd. Another solid strait up Trap Metal release from the goat with that UK industrial vibe.

3. THE WALLS HAVE EYES by Kxllswxtch. A Trap Metal instant classic with alternative rock and emo rap vibes.

4. Riot Music by Dropout Kings a regular listen for me. And a staple for any Trap Metal enthusiasts with a craving for 90s nu metal blended

perfectly with modern metalcore.

5. A Gradual Decline in Morale by Kim Dracula one of the most innovative and explosive artists to hit the Trap Metal / Metal circuit in a long time.

6. BIRTH OF VENUS by Banshee a beautiful Witch House / Trap Metal crossover ballad like no other, featuring a female vocalist.

7. XTREMETRAP by Dirtybutt An experimental hiphop / Trap Metal / Breakcore compilation with genuine underground energy and Chicago drill energy with a punk twist. The fact RYM recognizes authentic underground talent like this made this list so real.

8. I Swe*r to G*d I’m Just F**king Goofin Y’all by Yung Skrrt the mf legend himself. While Yung Skrrt dips his pen into all the different genres he sees fit, he’s also profoundly good at metal. Talented internet rapper + metal = Trap Metal. This list is accurate as fudge.

9. Death Trip by Misanthropy Club. A Trap Metal instant classic with hardstyle and deathcore elements.

10. U+23FF by Abyuse. Dark Ambient Trap Metal for those of us who need to catch a break without straying from the scream rap path.

11.The Witching Hxur by Lonesity a Trap Metal Horrorcore mix haunting our dreams and concluding this list I found on RateYourMusic

I’d say this list is genuinely accurate. It has introduced me to some new artists and shines a light on artists I already wanted to see at the top of the list. Because the blog is curated by users and music-listening enthusiasts it’s completely unbiased and accurate. I’ve never seen a blog work so effectively and I agree with the average ratings I see on posts. Granted there are a lot of haters on here too, but that just comes with the territory of creating something real and free. I checked a few other sources but most of these lists feature favoritism and unfair practices so I left them out of the article. Now keep in mind, these are just the 11 top-rated / voted albums of 2023 according to one source. This is just based on the opinions of a trusted source. I will follow up in later issues with my own list of Top Rated artists, albums, and singles. I just wanted to get the general consensus first. Mission accomplished.

WHISPERSINYAHEAD

INTERVIEW BY BRETT DEADLY

broadly, I had some piano and singing lessons growing up: in particular, I had an amazing singing teacher who introduced me to alternative, showing me that there’s more than just mainstream music out there also, I write poems and read ancient literature (mostly Greek and Latin classics like myth-journeys and tragedies) ever since a child, which ended up influencing the ways I write my lyrics

That makes sense. You sound incredibly musically inclined on your tracks. Very versatile. What plans do you have for the rest of this year? And what about next year?

I appreciate your taste in music, means a lot you fw mine :) June 12 we got the AMV for my Phonk-Metal single FUNERAL (prod by the living legend NetuH) on the Trash Gang channel (S/O Gang) In July I’ll be on a scream rap banger with n0trixx, prod by n0trixx herself speaking of versatility, August I’m aiming to release one more track, prod ROOSEVELT: hard, melodic, punchy Also got a super fine one with the homie RyanLV and TwentyThree in the works, prod by one of the most exciting new producers in the underground (YM0D) For now, by the end of the year, or the beginning of the new one, I would love to have a track with my boy DEADLY, as I love his extremely versatile style, well performed lyrics, great flows and his genuine attitude (and maybe we got something cooking with NetuH)

Yuuuh we got a lot to look forward too! It’s about to be a crazy year! With an interest in who your influences are if you could go on tour with anyone in the world who would be on the bill with you!?!?

Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed for Trap Metal Arsenal Magazine. Can you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about what you do?

Thank you for having me family I’m the Whispersinyahead, or, the whispers in your head I’m first a supporter of the underground and of the people that have inspired me since discovering this culture And I’m an artist, trying my best to give something back to the culture I love, with my music I want what I do to inspire who’s here now, as well as who’s coming next, like the people I look up to have inspired me: a passion turning into action is the best, y’all ;) What a great motive to make music! How long have you been rapping and making music? And we’re you involved in other musical projects before this?

I know you feel me, cuz we share that same type of heart :) Coming to think of it, I started rapping about 5 years ago (but been passionate about rap basically since I was born): I started off by joining freestyle rap cyphers snd battles, something that positively revolutionized the ways I have of expressing myself and connecting with others When it comes to music, more

It’s gonna be a year to remember, my friend :) and wow that’s an extremely interesting question, I’d definitely love to (and most definitely will ) share the stage with some of the current underground artists who have inspired me the most: Grim Salvo, TwentyThree, Istasha, Witchouse 40k, Ak3k, Warlord Colossus, and Sect Unit Reading that list it’s kinda clear I wanna join HellHoundMilitia heheh but I also wanna take a chance to S/O my OG underground inspirations and influences: Ghostemane, $B, Gvllow, Killstation.

Awesome taste in music! Where are you based out of and what is your local music scene like?

You feel me:) I’m currently based out of Sofia Gotta say I especially love the metal scene around here matter of fact one of my goals is to have a metal + underground show, where I and maybe a few more artists perform back to back with some sick bands hehe. Who are some of your favorite producers to work with and why?

Great question, since producers are so essential to an artist’s sound and personality Currently, Istasha and the 33marrow group are my favorite producers I love how punchy and crispy, as well as melodically detailed yet never overstated, their productions are: that makes

for an amazing sonic landscape for an artist to express something dark, beautiful, deep, and powerful at the same time, which I can’t wait to experience myself in the context of working with them One more I’d like to mention, along similar lines when it comes to detailed yet tight and well-engineered, meaningfully atmospheric productions, is… YM0D, my man, if we’re talking about my currently favorite producers: what’s crazy is that he’s relatively new to dark/scream/metal and trap productions (although he’s a master musician), but he has so much to bring to the table that everything he creates for me is somewhat an instant classic (e.g. the King of Death production)

Who gets bragging rights for helping you get to where you are now? What brands and influencers should aspiring artists like us be tapping in with?

Another great question from you my friend, since now more than ever receiving meaningful support from platforms with an audience is one of the ways to become part of the conversation as an artist Speaking of the brands and influences who have helped me getting here, I gotta first of all give a special shout-out to Scroll Gang, cuz they had my first single on Spotify (What’s Mine) hit half million super quick on their channel (first time for me on there too), and really got my name out there first Speaking of the present, the other and absolutely major shout-out goes to my family Trash Gang: they have believed in me and are one of the biggest reasons my name is getting noticed more and more in the underground scene I always been a fan and it just feels great to be working with them and having an impact through our art.

And I really couldn’t conclude my shout-outs the right way if I didn’t give the biggest one to a guy I consider a living legend and simply a good fucking example in how to be a great musician, a great promoter, and a great human being: my man Brett Deadly (aka DEADLY) @trapmetalarsenal just gonna say we are working on some legit good shit together, and I’m happy af that’s the people I chose and who chose me.

I’ve noticed you have an incredibly positive presence in the industry. How do you personally deal with external negativity? What are your thoughts on that?

That’s one hell of a topic, isn’t it? I genuinely believe that negative energy manifesting itself in negative or destructive behaviors is, nonethelss, an extremely valuable source of energy and meaning. I feel like I’ve learned to more and more effectively “make sense of” the external (and even the internal) negativity that I face or come across, in a way that - if negativity is energy - I do understand it and can use it as such, as energy to convert into action. I could argue that doing so (converting negative/destructive energy into positive/constructive action) is at the core of my music creative effort, as I aim to provide listeners (and myself) with the means to experience a cathartic moment of purification in the face of all the spiritual/ psychological/phyisical pollution and corruption we experience in our everyday life. Negativity is energy, and we are energy beings as well as energy users: as long as we accept and meaningfully act on this role, we should be able to overcome and transform it, despite how not easy that actually is. That’s why I believe we should strive to be good to ourselves, those we love, and other human beings, while also striving to “understand” how to meaningfully be and do so.

I wasn’t expecting that answer holy crap! I’ve never heard someone refer to negativity as a resource before! It actually makes so much sense! Generally negativity is something I avoid because I don’t know what to do with the energy and then I self destruct like voltorb. I’m going to make a mental note and start trying to see the value in the negative. Where does your strong moral compass come from? This something you were taught or something you have always had with you?

Truly glad you feel me, my man. You are full of power, courage and creative energy, and I am confident you will learn to make better and better use of such opportunities :) My ethics and morals are definitely the result of my own commitment towards “facing” (as opposed to “hiding from”) things: in this sense, I can definitely say I’ve always had that in me, it’s a constitutive element of who I am. But it’s also something that I feel like life has taught me, to the extent that I have witnessed my inner moral will and strength grow proportionally to how much I’d strive to find ways to be present as well as helpful both for myself and for others, especially those I’ve cared about. I’m sure you’ll agree that genuine love towards yourself and others will enhance or give you moral strength and direction:)

Absolutely. I won’t lie to you or the readers. That’s something I had to learn the hard way. Nothing good ever came out of my life until I took a look at myself and let go off all that unnecessary

hatred and bad energy. I try to keep a balance now and do my best to protect the peace instead of disturb it like I used to. And my whole life experience shifted for the better. Yoooo lol. This is probably one of the best interviews I’ve ever done. Getting back on topic. Where is the best place for readers to check out and support your career?

For sure one of the best chats I’ve had, a truly meaningful moment speaking with you man For everyone who wanna support me, my Spotify artist page is the place to visit and stream from Especially with all the music I’ll keep dropping this year. As we wrap this up. Just wanna say thank you for your time, and is there anything else you want our readers to know!

I thank YOU for this and all the amazing work you keep putting in for our community To your readers I wanna say: stay strong and stay focused y’all!

AN INTERVIEW WITH GAZ

Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed for Trap Metal Arsenal Magazine! Can you please tell us who you are and what you do!

My name is Gaz (@GVZZVH) and I am a cover art and merchandise designer in the underground rap scene. I’ve worked with lots of artists and helped bring their visions to life, whether it’s a dope merch collection for their fans, or a cover that resonates with their album.

Where are you based out of, and how long have you been designing?

When I started designing I was based in the UK, but I recently moved to Minnesota. I have been designing for about 10 years. I started designing in about 2013 in the Call of Duty community, making Twitter headers and clan logos. Over time that has evolved and in the past couple of years I’ve really started pursuing freelance design.

That’s a cool way to step into the game! What brings you to the United States!?

So originally I was born in Texas, but at a young age my family moved to the UK. After I finished my schooling I decided I wanted to move back to the US, so I moved to Minnesota where one of my brothers lives.

Nice! I’m stoked to have you here! What plans do you have for your design brand this year? What about next year? I really enjoy the reels and design-related content that you do. Your like a designer that also entertains!

I have quite a few plans but a lot of them are still in the works, but my main plan for now is to launch a segment of my brand “CRITICAL!”. This will be a hub of all my creative endeavors. I will be creating limited edition collectible CD’s for select artists in the underground scene, with only 20 being available for each artist. They will all have their own special features and can be sold by the artists to their fans! I am also planning on launching some of my favorite designs as actual merch for fans of my work to wear that will evolve over time. This all will be alongside my cover art and merch design commissions that I am already working on and planning to expand.

Sounds awesome! Who or what are some of your biggest influ-

ences as a designer?

I would say my biggest influences would be my close friends in the industry, they really inspire me with their drive and passion for their work. My good friend @adjacen7 has been a huge influence in helping me push my craft further and evolve my skills over the years. As for “public figures” that inspired me, I would have to say Virgil Abloh. I have watched a lot of his lectures over the years and found his view on design and brand identity fascinating which really helped me develop my style in both my content and client work.

What advice do you have for graphic designers trying to get started in the industry?

I think the main thing I would say is to practice a lot with a variety of different styles until you find one you really resonate with. Refine that style you like into your own and start making a lot of designs with it. If you post them on social media eventually you’ll get noticed by some artists and you can start offering it as a service for them. I would also say that the main thing to know about this industry is it’s all about connections. So making friends with artists is a huge step, all it takes is a few referrals and you’ll start to see growth!

I’m also a designer, and I wanted you to weigh in on an issue I’ve been seeing. I love your work because you actually take organic images and textures I’ve never seen before and manipulate them in very tasteful ways that are your own. But other designers steal most of their textures, design elements, and ideas. I’ve even seen entire groups of designers sharing trading and using stolen downloadable assets without paying for it. How does this make you feel?

I’ve seen a lot of this too, its a huge issue that unfortunately is pretty much impossible to solve since there’s no real way of protecting you assets from being stolen. I think the main thing is to showcase to the newer designers in the industry that you don’t need to steal assets if you can learn how to make them yourself. I understand that a lot of designers may not have enough money to just buy loads of asset packs, but if we can share how to make some of these assets easily and cheaply at home we might be able to stop them from stealing. Realistically, I know that it is inevitable that some designers will still do this, but hopefully if I can put out some tutorials it might stop even just a few people from doing it which I would see as a win.

Yooo that’s actually a great take on it. Instead of selling assets (which is how they steal it) we should be sharing knowledge and empowering each other! Fuckin hard! As we wrap this up, is there anything else you want our readers to know? And where would he the best place for musicians to tap in with you for design services?

Can’t think of anything else right now! I appreciate the interview, this is my first mag placement and I am excited to hit that milestone in my career! If an artist is looking to work with me on a cover art or merch collection the best place to contact me would be on Instagram @GVZZVH or my email gvzzvh@gmail.com - looking forward to working with some new artists so feel free to contact me whenever!

The Agorist

INTERVIEW BY BRETT DEADLY

Who gets bragging rights for helping you get to where you are now?

Me. I do everything. I make all the instrumentals, I do the vocals, I mix and master everything, I even do the artwork. I do a damn good job at it all too considering I had no idea how to do any of this a week ago. One day I was really missing music and I just decided “I don’t need bandmates or producers I know how to write bangers, I’ll just figure it out as I go” so that’s exactly what I did. Like I hold out a nastly long pig squeal in Buried and I couldn’t scream at all a year ago.

What are your plans for the rest of the year? New music? Music videos? Shows?

Thanks for taking some time to be interviewed for Trap Metal Arsenal magazine! Can you please introduce yourself and tell us just a bit about what you do?!

I am The Agorist and I make angsty anti-government trap metal with bounce riffs and breakdowns

How long have you been making Trap Metal? And where you in bands or other projects before this?

I’ve been at it since like march although last year I dropped a version of my song Pay Stubs that was the worst thing on earth, it’s still probably out there somewhere if you want your ears to bleed. Before this I played bass in a metalcore band called Burn Your Bridges. We were great we put out a couple songs before parting ways.

I have another two songs I plan on putting out, maybe a third if I have the time. I never wanna be the guy dropping every couple weeks though so many people just keep dropping for the sake of dropping and the songs lose the magic. I def wanna do a video for this next song though and as for shows I have my first one coming up pretty soon, I’m so fucking ready for that I’ve missed gigging so much it was always my favorite part of being a musician. Nothing beats jumping off the stage and into the pit getting covered in everyone’s blood, sweat and beer.

And what is your end game?

Endgame for me is when heavy music becomes a cool thing to be into again. I’m from the metal world and every show is full of dudes that look the same standing with their arms crossed and talking about which guitars the band is using. It’s such a niche nerdy thing now. I’m more about creating a fun experienxe that normal people want to be part of. There was a time when people of all walks of life were into metal, that was the nu-metal era. That’s what I see with trap metal. A lot of regular people that otherwise

wouldn’t listen to heavy music are getting into that screaming shit and I love it. So I would say creating or contributing to a community like that in a meaningful way would be my endgame. It would also be sick to be able to live off my music.

With an interest in who your influences are, if you could go on tour with anyone in the world who would be on the bill with you?

Oh shit that’s a tough one. My influences are all over the place but i think my dream tour to like be on would be Attila, Tallah and ten56 cause those guys all kick ass.

What’s your local music scene like? What are the pros. What are the cons? And where do you see room for improvement?

The local scene (Long Island) is actually doing very good right now we got a lot of great bands in the metal scene right now. I’m a big fan of PathWeChoose they sound like myspace era deathcore, then there’s Xhale doing some solid post-hardcore, Resistor doing Nu-Beatdown. My first show is a rap show I checked out everyone online and they’re all great and it seems like this promoters shows do really well so I think overall this is a great scene to be part of. Came a long way from when I first started as a musician.

And i really appreciate you asking about the local scene not enough people care about the underground. People talk about such huge artists like they’re the underground like “oh yeah I listen to underground rappers like Zillakami” or like “Yo you gotta check out these guys Lorna Shore” and you know it’s cool no hate, but no one’s like “check out my homies band they just got their first thousand streams”

Oh yea our publication is very underground. I like to ask questions like that for those of us touring or planning to tour! Knowledge is power! Let’s show some love to the producers and engineers too! Who are some of your favorite producers or engineers that you have worked with thus far?

So far I’ve only produced for myself, but in the future I plan on working with someone who is better at mixing and mastering.

Oh thats actually so fucking hard. I just started producing my own stuff as well. Mad impressive bro. Do you plan to pursue a career in audio engineering?

Thank you and no I really don’t know that much about it, I just am REALLY good at

turning knobs and pressing buttons until I get the sound I like. Sometimes I’ll go on facebook and reddit and offer like $10 mixes so I can get more practice, but no one ever bites

Thats real af! As we wrap this up is there anything else you want our readers to know? And thank you for your time!

Yeah don’t forget to support your local artists and artist friends. It’s horribly discouraging in the beginning whether it’s trying to sell niche art online or playing a sunday show in a dive bar to twelve people, it’s a struggle, but we’re willing to do it and always appreciate any support. A “good job”, a share on instagram, anything at all will make someone’s day. I’ll plug my music to customers at work and when they come back and tell me they loved it it’s