Review Fix chats with Dead Earth singer Jack Sabolich, who discusses the band’s origin, goals and more.
Review Fix: How did you guys get together?
Jack Sabolich: Dead Earth was formed in January of 2018 by singer Jack Sabolich, after leaving his former band Hemi Devils in order to pursue playing and writing heavier darker songs again. After a few changes in the lineup, the current members consist of Jack Sabolich on vocals, Jeff Ready (ex-Sappy Belle) on Bass, Joe DeFrank on Guitars, and Matt Kollar (ex-Sappy Bell) on drums. At the time of this interview, we are currently searching for a lead guitarist to replace original lead guitarist Mark Hardy. 2020 has been a rough year, with Covid-19 and band lineup changes, but fear not, Dead Earth continues to churn out killer riff laden tunes, and are currently working on the next full length album.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Sabolich: Usually the guitarist(s) come up with the songs, and each member puts their stamp and writing styles into each song. I usually hear the song and the music or riffs will remind me of somethings, and I just write for the song. Sometimes it take me 5 minutes to write lyrics, or sometimes I may have to walk away from it and come back to it. Each song is like a puzzle, when you write for the song it usually goes together quite easy. If you’re not feeling it, is when you have to walk away and possibly find the right pieces.
Review Fix: What do you think makes this band special?
Sabolich: What makes this band special is the amount of songs we have written in a short period of time, and the fact that we have never given up, considering all the line up changes and a pandemic. We have currently released one EP entitled “Pollution†in August of 2018 as well as one full length album entitled “Truth Hammer†in September of 2019, which contains remixed versions of the 6 songs from the EP, as well as 7 new additions. Both “Pollution†and “Truth Hammer†were recorded, mixed, and mastered at Brainchild Studios. Dead Earth has played over 40 shows locally and out of state, including 2 consecutive years at The Cleveland Metal Holiday Show, as well as playing shows with popular bands such as Destructor, Nunslaughter, and Midnight, just to name a few. With a strong passion and drive for the music we make, Dead Earth is continuously writing new material and perfecting their heavy metal style, and we are currently working on killer new material and getting better with each song.
Review Fix: How would you describe your style?
Sabolich: Dead Earth songs are influenced by a blue collar, a heavy industrial, mean street mentality and ideology, as well as the cold, dark winters from the city in which they hail powering their dark, heavy sound similarly to the elements that influenced such legends as Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. We are also heavily influenced by the old school thrash sound and newer bands like Power Trip.
Review Fix: What are your goals for this album?
Sabolich: Our driving goal is to get our music out to the world for all to hear, and to keep the true style of classic hard rock and heavy metal alive for fans of all ages to continue to enjoy. We would also love to play in Europe some day, especially at the big music festivals.
Review Fix: What’s the standout song? Is there a story behind it?
Sabolich: I would have to say that the whole cd has standout songs. The 2 songs that really stick out for people are I Am Rock, which is about our hometown Cleveland, Ohio and the very first rock concert that ever took place. It’s also tribute to the rock fans everywhere who have kept heavy music alive. The second song is Green Earth, which is a tribute to a particular green bud that makes you feel alright, alright, alright!!
Review Fix: What’s next?
Sabolich: When things open back up because of the pandemic, then we plan on hitting the road hard. Currently we are going to tighten up on our new songs, write new songs hopefully with a new lead guitarist, and brush up on our stage show, which by the way we do add some cool theatrical horror themes to our stage show.
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