Interview and Video Premiere: Unleash Mathy Insanity with Fawn Limbs
The international insanity corporation otherwise known as Fawn Limbs has been fucking shit up quite nicely in their relatively short existence. Nicely enough, it should be said, to shoot from relative obscurity to the thunderous limelight of the, ah, underground mathcore/death metal scene in pretty much no time. They fearsome threesome of Eeli Helin (Mireplaner, Lung Knots), Samuel Smith (Artificial Brain, Luminous Vault), and Lee Fischer (Gore Bath, Evilyn) popped up on my ugly radar upon the release of their spectacular full-length debut Harm Remissions. It was violent, calculated, horrific, spastic, and all the things one with a passion for ADHD metal could ever hope for, thus landing it on the most honorable of dishonors – a place on our 2019 best of list. Thankfully for them, however, they far exceeded the length and girth of this tiny hub of nastiness, with their most recent effort, Sleeper Vessels turning even more heads and, if I may, crushing more internal organs. Oh, and on the 2020 list too.
So, given the amount of adoration and respect I have for these obviously disturbed gentleman (who, I should say, also appeared on our most recent compilation MILIM KASHOT VOL. 2) I was super excited to be able to premier a sick, very sick, quite sick video for one incredible song off off Sleeper Vessels, "Subtle Abuse." You can view that beautiful audio-visual object below and, while you are being sonically murdered, can also take a look at the short "musical inspirations" themed interview I conducted with the trans-Atlantic terrorists. I swear I'm going to lay off the alliterations, I swear.
Before we get to that this is just to say that you can check out our other interview series (Albums of the Decade, Pillars of the 90s) and, you haven't already, please follow follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify and support whatever it is that we do on Patreon, and check out our kinda-sorta podcast, MATEKHET (YouTube, Spotify and all that). On to my chat with the Fawnsters. What a horrible nickname I just came up with.
What was the first album you bought with your own money, and where did you buy it?
Eeli: Gojira – The Link. Bought it at some random grocery store.
Samuel: Death – Spiritual Healing. Purchased at my local record store, Slipped Disc in Valley Stream, NY.
Lee: Metallica – Garage Days, from TLM Records in Williamsport. PA.
What 2-3 albums did you hear the most growing up
Eeli: Something from Iron Maiden, Audioslave, Metallica, and the likes, thanks to my dad.
Samuel: When I was a kid, my parents were always listening to Sweet Baby James by James Taylor and the Crosby, Stills & Nash self-titled record.
Lee: I just remember my Mother always playing Air Supply, Barry Manilow, and Meatloaf. So yeah…haha
What two albums taught you the most about making music (mixing, production, performance)?
Eeli: Ulcerate – Vermis, Terra Tenebrosa – The Reverses
Samuel: Oxbow – An Evil Heat, Miles Davis – In a Silent Way
Lee: Only 2?! That's tough… Fates Warning – Perfect Symmetry, Death – Human
What is the last album that absolutely shocked you?
Eeli: The Vomit Arsonist – That Which Has Been Forgotten
Samuel: Reveal – Scissorgod
Lee: Psyopus – Ideas of Reference
What album relaxes you or centers you the most?
Eeli: Thisquietarmy – Métamorphose
Samuel: Talk Talk – Laughing Stock
Lee: Anything from Chick Corea Electric Band, or Allen Holdsworth.
What are the 2-3 albums you’ve listened to the most recently?
Eeli: Alpdruck – Alpdruck, The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble – Here Be Dragons, Nordvargr – Metempsychosis
Samuel: Onirik – The Fire Cult Beyond Eternity, Jute Gyte – Ship of Theseus, In Gowan Ring – The Glinting Spade
Lee: Katatonia – The Great Cold Distance, Gordian Knot – Muttersprache, Cephalic Carnage – Exploiting Dysfunction
What album is grossly underrated?
Eeli: Way too many to list
Samuel: Thantifaxath – Sacred White Noise
Lee: Confessor – Condemned
What album would you recommend from your local scene?
Eeli: I'm sorry, what scene? If there even is one to begin with, I'm not a part of it.
Samuel: Thaetas – Shrines to Absurdity
Lee: I'm not too familiar with the local scene.
