WRITTEN INTERVIEW- BURIED ABOVE GROUND (MN DEATHCORE)

Minnesota has been known for a wide array of musical talent, from Bob Dylan to Prince to After The Burial. At the heart of it all, in the Twin Cities area, there is a thriving Metal scene that the outside world has recently been tapping into. One of the latest bands to branch out is the Deathcore band Buried Above Ground, who have just released their EP, Birth, which is available NOW through Seek and Strike. I recently had the opportunity to ask a few questions to the band. Here's what they had to say.

For those that may be new to the band, describe Buried Above Ground?
We are a 4 piece metal band from the Midwest hellbent on world domination.

You just released the new EP, Birth, through Seek and Strike. What went into the writing process for Birth?
DJ our guitarist does the majority of the songwriting.  Usually he would write either parts or full songs and bring those ideas to the band.  We would listen to them and give input on what we liked and didn’t like, then he went back and really fine tuned them.  After that, the rest of us collectively each add our own personalities to the songs, and then as a group make production and recording decisions.  Our goal throughout the entire recording process was just to he as dark and heavy as could, and whatever came out, came out.  We didn’t restrict ourselves, or try to put ourselves into any certain genre or box.  We kind of just let what was inside of us at the time, come forth.  That's partially also why we called the album Birth.  We felt as though this was just the beginning of our journey.  

What’s been the reception to Birth so far?
You know, just being some normal guys from the Midwest, its been really cool to receive messages, compliments, fan mail, show offers, and stuff like that from all over the world.  We didn’t necessarily have any particular set of expectations for this EP other than we wanted it to really be the best work we could do at the time.  We were really focused more on the product itself, and making sure that we were all happy with everything, than we were with how it was going to be received.  We are just happy that people like it, and that it has given us an opportunity to do what we love on a larger scale. 

You also released a video for the song, Serpent, through Metal Injection. How has the reception been to the video so far?
The reception to the video has been overwhelmingly positive.  Metal Injection is one of the biggest outlets in the world when it comes to metal, and we are just honored to be mentioned by them.  Its been really cool to see some people and members from bands that we look up to reach out to us and say they are into what we are doing and stuff like that.  It has been very validating. 

With  building up a name for yourselves for quite a while now. How does it feel to be getting more notoriety outside the Twin Cities with Birth?
Honestly it hasn’t really hit home yet, and maybe that's a good thing.  We just like to keep our heads down and focused on the tasks ahead of us.  We are all really creative people in the band, and that creative outlet comes first.  So we really don’t try to worry about that stuff too much, so we can really just focus on writing good music, and being as creatively open and honest with our music and each other as possible.  

What’s next for Buried Above Ground?
We’ve had a lot of opportunities and cool things come our way over the last year or so, and we are more so just waiting until the time is right to to release some plans and news that we have upcoming.  We already have our next album written and are just finishing it up in the studio now, so we are really in no hurry to release anything or rush ourselves with this next album.   

What are you currently listening to?
We actually listen to a lot of different styles and genres.  A lot of local stuff actually from around where we are.  Right now, the new Thy Art is Murder is in heavy rotation.  We were big fans of the recent Car Bomb album.  Both Acacia Strain and Emmure recently had great albums that we play a lot as well.  I think most people would be shocked to hear that we listen to a lot of hip hip, from Kendrick Lamar to Tyler the Creator to Aesop Rock.  To us its important to have a array of musical influences, as to not pigeon hole yourself into a box.  Music shouldn't be categorized in any other way other than you either like it, or you don’t.  

What do you like to do when you are not focused on Buried Above Ground?
Like anyone else we all have hobbies and activities that we enjoy.  Recently, the band and all that comes with it, has taken up the majority of our time, and so we haven't really had the opportunity to do some of those things as much as we would like to recently.  Coming from MN, we like to fish, and enjoy the outdoors.  Hitting a good local brewery never made any of us upset, and just enjoying our time at home in the Twin Cities when we get it.  

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. I hope people will go check you guys out and dig what you guys have to offer. Before we are done is there anything else you would like to mention that I haven’t brought up yet?
I think its important that we mention our manager Bobby, publicist George, and booking agents JJ and Matt.  Those guys all do a lot for us, and make it so we really just get to focus on being artists, which we can’t say enough how much we appreciate.  Together they make a pretty lethal combination, that without their combined efforts, pretty much nothing we do would be possible.  And not to mention, journalists and people like yourselves who take the time to cover what we do, and listen to what we put out there.  We can’t say enough how much we just really appreciate everyone around us.   We are lucky to be doing what we get to do, and its because of people like yourselves spreading our name, that makes it all possible.  So thank you. 

Buried Above Ground- Birth is available NOW through Seek And Strike