THE 11th HOUR is not just another project/band of Dutch multi-instrumentalist Ed Warby but much more than that. This band carries a special kind of energy with much deeper emotions than all his other projects and bands. Read more about THE 11th HOUR, news on HAIL OF BULLETS and many more below.
Hi Ed! I finally have the opportunity to talk to you, a man who has numerous successful bands and projects. How do you manage these commitments?
I ask myself the same question sometimes, haha! In fact I did take this year off from any writing/recording activities as I'd been working non-stop for 5 years without taking a break, making 2 albums with 11th Hour, 2 and an EP with Hail Of Bullets, another one with Demiurg, Star One, Planeur (a Turkish band for which I did guest drums) and of course Gorefest. And I also have a day job... But it's something I love to do, so one makes time for it one way or another.
I ask myself the same question sometimes, haha! In fact I did take this year off from any writing/recording activities as I'd been working non-stop for 5 years without taking a break, making 2 albums with 11th Hour, 2 and an EP with Hail Of Bullets, another one with Demiurg, Star One, Planeur (a Turkish band for which I did guest drums) and of course Gorefest. And I also have a day job... But it's something I love to do, so one makes time for it one way or another.
Allright, let's start this conversation about what's current and The 11th Hour first . This a doom death metal band that you formed in 2008 and is something different compared to your previous bands ... You're even singing! How did you come to that idea?
The idea of starting a doom band came from Rogga whom I met on the Global Domiantion forums, we started talking and noticed we liked a lot of the same music and at one point he asked how I'd feel about doing a Winter-like project. Sounded good to me but as we're both real busy nothing came of it, and I joined his band Demiurg instead. The idea stuck in my mind however, and I began writing some doom on my own. This went so well that it turned into a fully formed album so at that point I asked Rogga if he'd do the growls for it. Rogga in turn convinced me I should do the clean vocals myself as he really liked what he heard on the demos I made.
Why did you choose to play doom death metal with this band? Which bands influenced you the most in creating your own music?
Doom is a genre I've loved ever since I first heard Trouble back in 1984, I even sang (yes, back then already) in a doomband called Tempter for a short while. But as a drummer the genre didn't interest me so much, I prefer death metal and the occasional prog session. Once I started playing guitar however I really enjoyed writing these massive, slow, layered riffs. My main influence was/is Candlemass and Krux, mainly because of Leif Edling's amazing riffs. I was also hugely influenced by the album From These Wounds by Funeral, which is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Other influences are Warning, Isole, Virgin Black, etc.
This probably means that you're the main composer in The 11th Hour? How much contribution you actually leave to the other people in the band?
So far I'm the only composer, although Rogga did help out with the lyrics on both albums. So the guys that perform this music live haven't contributed to the actual material, but they do make it sound different as they have their own style of course. For the next album I do intend to get the whole band involved, on the one hand because I don't want to put myself through another year of hell and misery again, and ont the other hand because I feel they deserve it.
I read somewhere that both albums of The 11th Hour were inspired by the death of your parents . So this is quite a personal project and heavily emotional. Probably 80% of listeners can't actually relate to it, but how do you react when many people judge your music bad and utterly superficial from your point of view?
I've had some reviewers say the lyrics weren't heartfelt or „real“ enough, because I don't get all poetic and dramatic I guess. In that respect I really liked the lyrical approach of the Funeral album I mentioned, brutal and bleak in a very earthy way. But luckily a lot of people did feel there was more than just „death metal guy pretending to be doom“, sensing the personal grief behind the fictional lyrics. Of course it's not a problem if people can't relate to it and just enjoy the music.
Did you ever have doubts about your vocal abilities or did others question your singing potential, unaware of the end result ?
I've sang before, mostly on demos for Valkyrie and Elegy or just for fun, but at first I had no intention of singing a whole album like this. Of course I had some doubts as to whether people would accept me in all these new roles, but I made the Burden Of Grief album for myself and not for someone else. Some think I'm doing a great job, others would prefer to see me shut up and get a „real“ singer but I enjoy singing way too much.
I've had some reviewers say the lyrics weren't heartfelt or „real“ enough, because I don't get all poetic and dramatic I guess. In that respect I really liked the lyrical approach of the Funeral album I mentioned, brutal and bleak in a very earthy way. But luckily a lot of people did feel there was more than just „death metal guy pretending to be doom“, sensing the personal grief behind the fictional lyrics. Of course it's not a problem if people can't relate to it and just enjoy the music.
Did you ever have doubts about your vocal abilities or did others question your singing potential, unaware of the end result ?
I've sang before, mostly on demos for Valkyrie and Elegy or just for fun, but at first I had no intention of singing a whole album like this. Of course I had some doubts as to whether people would accept me in all these new roles, but I made the Burden Of Grief album for myself and not for someone else. Some think I'm doing a great job, others would prefer to see me shut up and get a „real“ singer but I enjoy singing way too much.
We can talk about music for a long time, but it is important to promote it and get it out there to the audience... Certainly this also includes selling physical copies whose sale has significantly decreased nowadays because there is the internet where you can basically find everything. How do you feel about downloading music from the Internet and how much you actually support promoting music on the Internet ?
I still feel that downloading without the intention of buying is theft, but I also realize this is quickly becoming a very old-fashioned, even obsolete way of looking at it. The internet is a fantasic promotion tool, but it sucks that all the work you do is „rewarded“ with people taking your album for free, and justifying it by saying „I'd rather buy a shirt at your show“.
What 's currently going on in the bunker Hail of Bullets? It's been two years since 'On Divine Winds' album. The audience is already asking and speculating on forums about will be the theme of the next album...
I had a massive case of writer's block after Lacrima Mortis, making that album really drained me so it took a while to get going. But I'm happy to say the bunker is buzzing with excitement again, we have a bunch of great new songs, Martin is putting together the new concept (and no, I'm not telling what it is but it'll be huge in scope). Musically we're going for a mix between the first 2 albums, it's definitely going to be rawer and more brutal than On Divine Winds.
I had a massive case of writer's block after Lacrima Mortis, making that album really drained me so it took a while to get going. But I'm happy to say the bunker is buzzing with excitement again, we have a bunch of great new songs, Martin is putting together the new concept (and no, I'm not telling what it is but it'll be huge in scope). Musically we're going for a mix between the first 2 albums, it's definitely going to be rawer and more brutal than On Divine Winds.
Do you sometimes regret that Gorefest disbanded?
Do you feel that you accomplished as much as you realistically could with the band?
Sure, sometimes. Breaking up was a stupid move and I was very much against it. A break would have been much better in my opinion. But we did make 2 great albums, did about a 100 shows, and we left a better impression when we broke up than last time with Chapter 13 which everyone seems to hate (I still like the album though). Things go as they go I guess, At least I have Frank in The 11th Hour these days, so that's 50% of Gorefest on stage.
What do you generally dislike today in the music industry? How satisfied are you as a musician with the label's work and their conditions?
I'm very satisfied with both Napalm (11th Hour) and Metal Blade (Hail Of Bullets), but it's getting more and more difficult to survive in today's music industry. Touring has become impossible for bands this size, unless you like losing a lot of money (there goes the downloaders' „well, you can make lots of money touring now“ argument), album sales keep going down, which in turn results in smaller budgets to make albums on... it's just not as much fun anymore, sign o' the times.
OK, that's all I had to ask this time. I wish you all the best in your future work with your bands and with promoting the new album of The 11th Hour! See you around!
Thanks and 'til next time!
Sure, sometimes. Breaking up was a stupid move and I was very much against it. A break would have been much better in my opinion. But we did make 2 great albums, did about a 100 shows, and we left a better impression when we broke up than last time with Chapter 13 which everyone seems to hate (I still like the album though). Things go as they go I guess, At least I have Frank in The 11th Hour these days, so that's 50% of Gorefest on stage.
What do you generally dislike today in the music industry? How satisfied are you as a musician with the label's work and their conditions?
I'm very satisfied with both Napalm (11th Hour) and Metal Blade (Hail Of Bullets), but it's getting more and more difficult to survive in today's music industry. Touring has become impossible for bands this size, unless you like losing a lot of money (there goes the downloaders' „well, you can make lots of money touring now“ argument), album sales keep going down, which in turn results in smaller budgets to make albums on... it's just not as much fun anymore, sign o' the times.
OK, that's all I had to ask this time. I wish you all the best in your future work with your bands and with promoting the new album of The 11th Hour! See you around!
Thanks and 'til next time!
