Review Fix Exclusive: The Unravelling Frontman Steve Moore Talks ‘Revolt’

Review Fix chats with the lead singer of The Unravelling, Steve Moore, who discuss the band’s new single, “Revolt.”

Charming and charismatic industrial metal, the Calgary-based industrial metal duo of Moore and instrumentalist Gustavo De Beauville produce something special thanks to a devilishly deep and dark sound and chilling lyrics. On hiatus for over four years as Moore recovered from cancer, the two create something in “Revolt” that makes their return that much more meaningful.

Simply put, it belongs on a crime-based TV show or a horror film.

Review Fix: How have you guys used the things that have happened to you in your lives as a learning experience for your musical careers?

Steve Moore: I would say that we put everything into the music itself primarily, although of course you mature as you age and part of that is having an understanding of people, business, marketing, etc. For the most part, though, everything that we’re interested in or that we experience finds it’s way into the music and lyrics. Gus’s composition style is very emotionally charged and epic in feel, so I often let it inspire what needs to be said. We’ve both gone through dark times but I think that’s what guided us to music in the first place, so it only strengthens what we do.

Review Fix: What was the creative process behind this song? What’s the story behind it?

Moore: This was the first song Gus composed with the intention of it being sung over by me, as new Unravelling material. Having not recorded in 5 years, this was a very exciting prospect. I spent weeks listening to the track on repeat, writing pages and pages of lyrics by the seawall in Vancouver. As I do with all my lyrics, I eventually distilled it down to what I felt was its most potent form.

The music appealed to me because it was very patient, but very forceful. It’s not a hit. It projects a different intention altogether…it’s not riffy like most metal bands. It’s more interested in reaching out and setting a mood.

As far as the lyrical story, it deals with a lot of metaphor, but it’s very much about rejecting the physical and waking up. No more daydreaming. If you open your eyes and it’s “cold, hard ground at the bottom. The altar fruit is rotten”, then so be it. Then you can let go of your self-imposed crutches and move from there. The Queen leaving the hive is the ego. The end of the song is an awakening, an inner revolt. So the song, to me, is quite positive, although it has a heavy sound.

Review Fix: What else do you think makes “Revolt” special?

Moore: Although we are creating for the most part within familiar styles, I know that we are doing something different as far as the intensity and emotional quality of the work is concerned. Most heavy music lacks this, and I don’t think it has to be that way. “Revolt” is a call to inner action, and it’s encouraging that we can do this with music.

Review Fix: Who do you think will dig this single the most?

Moore: I think there are a lot of people who wish that, instead of hyping up a genre and condemning it into obscurity, which is our media pattern, genres could be expanded in creative ways. Nirvana came out with something fresh. Then the media got involved and tried to convince everyone years later that Nickelback and Creed were doing something similar. Bush, too. Tool did something fresh, and then came the copycats.

But, looking at rock n’ roll, industrial, metal, grunge, punk, the ‘90s sound, etc, can you be genuinely creative within these styles or are they all dead? I think you can be creative within them. So, people who enjoy artists like Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Alice In Chains, Nirvana, and Faith no More, etc, will probably dig the single.

Review Fix: How do you think you’d describe your sound to someone who’s never heard the band before?

Moore: I’d say it’s heavy rock/industrial with cinematic production and a poetic focus. Of course, that leaves an image in the mind, but not an overly clear one. They usually doubt it’s any good until they take a listen.

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of the year?

Moore: Quite clear actually. “Revolt” has gotten an amazing response which is encouraging. We are planning to release a bunch of singles as we work on one, maybe two, full-length albums. We’ll keep the momentum going.

Review Fix: What’s next now?

Moore: Promoting The Unravelling to as many people as possible. Spreading the good word.