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INTERVIEWS |
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| Nox Vomica Zine |
NV: This....is the shortest, most listless interview I have ever done. Why?? I've no idea. It's a pity, too, because the tape I received from Dies Irae showed them to be a very talented band with much promise. Anyway, on to the questions, which incidentally were done sometime last year and are quite old! NV: Tell us the stats on the band....when did you form, who are the members,
etc...
NV: What releases are currently available and how can one get them? What
do you have planned for future releases?
NV: Have you had any interest from labels?
NV: Are there any specific emotions or states of mind your music will
evoke in the listener?
NV: Who are some of your personaly influences? NV: In what way does each band member add his own unique traits to the
music?
NV: What is the scene like in Minneapolis? Are there any local bands
you'd recommend to the readers?
NV: Have you or do you plan to do any out of state shows?
NV: Thanks for doing the interview....anything to declare?
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REVIEWS |
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DJ Markus San Diego Team, Germany - Dj & Production |
Dies Irae is the best newcomer band I have heard for 1998. As a DJ, I receive about 1,000 promo CDs a year from labels and none of them have moved me as much as this new album, D.O.G.M.A., by Dies Irae. I want them to come to take Europe by storm and remember me when they are rich and famous |
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| OUTBURN magazine
review by J C Smith |
Dies Irae create quality, guitar-driven Gothic music with quirky production values. At first, i was uncertain if I liked what i was hearing as the hollow, scrubbed clean, no edge production seemed somehow empty, lacking in depth or density. The ever-present reverb/echoey tides that usually dominate a lot of Gothic releases were not present - or so i thought. Repeated listenings have proved my perception of the deceptive production to be wrong, as there are echoey, effects-laden guitars throughout, it's just that Dies Irae have chosen not to let the tracks bleed into each other: each instrument stands apart from the others, and yet connects within the constructs of the song. And it's the songs that matter. "Asheade," scours the night sky, moonbeams like lasers, stumbling percussion and guitars drenched in moist effects, while Jonathan Ford's guitar-work in "Unbelievers" reflects in its strewn noise radiance an impression of Bauhaus' Daniel Ash in one of his more playful, experimental modes. Only a couple of examples, but the format holds true for the whole disc. Also of note, Civitas Hall's deep, derivative yet expressive vocals (a hint of Rozz Williams...) cut through the music at all times (must be-yes!-the aforementioned production). Throughout, the influences are apparent (see above, as well as the occasional Joy Division/Peter Hook bassline), but it is interspersed with a pop-smeared 90's outlook. A worthy venture for the gothic inclined. -J C Smith | |
| Femme
Fatale dj and editor of Deadly Nightshde fanzine |
“The
Dies Irae DEMOS CD is a breath of life for Minneapolis’ staggering “goth”
scene. It brings new sound to a once stagnant scene that is growing
day by day. Combining elements that embody jazz, electronic, new wave,
gothic and yes, a bit of punk, this foursome has their foot in the right
direction. Civitas’ vocals compliment the music very well, having
elements of an early Peter Murphy, while the guitarist embodies the likes
of The Chamelons UK, Bauhaus, and The Cure(to name a few). The bass
player has a very strong resemblence to Peter Hook and uses these traits
to give the band a Joy Division/New Order feel to it. And the keyboards
are exquisite. Embodying jazz, 60’s elements, and some I can not place
for lack of knowing the right words, but these are some talented boys and
they can certainly give Tess artists Autumn a run for their money.
I like Gothic music that is alive, original, and powerful; many bands within
the scene try to copy the more popular acts like The Sisters Of Mercy(like
The Wake), and lacking the ultra spooky vocals that have graced the scene
for such a long time(bands like Nosferatu). For me Dies Irae brings
orginality and raw untainted talent that will serve them well in the long
haul ahead. |
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| LAST SIGH
magazine
review by Objekt |
Something happened in the 80s when I was still wearing black lipstick and letting my fingers wander everytime Robert Smith sighed..we would drink ourselves silly on everclear and go mope on the mall in Uptown, ignoring the passers by.(oh i shudder to recall those days)Then I turned 18, and what happened was suddenly music took a turn for the worse and started sucking. Everyone was doing insane freaky shit to themselves like cramming their genitals into spandex pants and wearing lime green tank tops. This actually continued for a number of years, contrary to the belief that disease can always be estinguished by ingenuity. Even now, all these years later, most of us have had to turn to the deep recesses of the underground to find anything worth getting passionate about. Dies Irae has been around for a few years now..and its only unfortunate that one has to immerse itself completely in the realm of existence that involves being completely unconventional in order to discover them. Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, this foursome has managed to infect a very lucky handful of souls across the planet. They have reawakened the finger wandering, the scantily clad living room dancing, the absolute visual paralysis those of us still holding onto the 80s haven't experienced since our first Siouxie and the Banshees concert. They have successfully ressurrected the best parts of our past through minimalistic electronics, non processed vocals, and a truly nostalgic retrun to that Bauhaus bass tone. They bring a cool refresher to the ranks of wretchedly unpoetic and overdone gothic acts getting recognition today. Vocalist Civitas tosses an intelligent mix of visualization and wry humor into his lyrics, which completes a grand picture when combined with the obvious raw talent of Jonathan Ford, Benjamin Bacon, and JJ Kidder-the remaining members of his band. At first I scoffed when I first saw them open for Tess Records'Autumn last year. They were then incomplete and a little uncomfortable..(or perhaps it was I who was uncomfortable with being pierced by a truly sensuous stare, one that will be the downfall of Civitas Hall for sure when the wrong individual gets reeled in.) Then, they reeked of SOM...Civitas moved like Alexander Vellanov, and the group was a shoddy and incongruous conglomeration of college students.They have since come a long way, and their stage presence is more professional and laid back. Most take them for being too serious, too quasigothic, too into their own body odors, and completely uninterested in anyone else. I have come to realise this is completely untrue. I really believe they take themselves for absolute fools, and tend to laugh at others on the inside...others that think over adulation and worship is the way to this bands heart. When asked what they thought of themselves, Ben retaliated with," Are you really sure you want that CD...because we really suck." The CD is 14 tracks of energetic and romantically fun music...with a few darker songs thrown in the mix.Highlights include Postal, Unbelievers, Asheade, and Deforestation( a great instrumental that defies any need for words or explanation). My only slap on the wrist is going to come with Whisper, where the uncanny resemblance to the Cure's Same Deep Waters As You is a little too prevalent. But really...the only thing that disappoints with Dies Irae is the fact that they don't have major distribution and a live drummer (but is that necessary?)Oh...and that JJ hasn't yet tried stuffing himself into spandex. -V | |
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LeXi RefLEXIons zine, Nachtmusik Inc. |
Lying on the floor paralyzed with awe (That is all I can say about Dies Irae's performance Friday night. Did it have to end? Now they have made it to my top ten all time favorite bands. They blow away the new bands that are coming out on Cleopatra and the like.) |
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DJ Feare DJ, Nachtmusik Inc. |
Dies Irae keeps tightening up their show everytime I see them. |
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Elisabeth Nox Vomica zine |
They are very, very good based on what I've heard. The music of Dies Irae is definitely in the gothic realm, and is minimalistic and verytextured all at once. I can see these guys getting signed quite soon. |
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