Here we have a candid interview with DESPISE THE SUN Colorado death metal! We are talking to Guitarist/Vocalist DON EVANS! He is BACK on the scene with his Iconic CUSTOM ROELLER GUITAR , and sick shreds!! As a fan, i’ve been following his music and life since 2013, from the day we met at The west Texas Death Fest and then reunited once again on the stage of the Arkansas Death Fest 3 in May of 2024. Let’s dive into it and pick his brains!
Keeper- What is the History of DESPISE THE SUN?
Don: The band formed around 2010 with various members of local Colorado bands which included , execration , vomit god , dismemberment, and some other local bands which formed DTS in the beginning. After morphing through members we locked in E.J. Hennie on drums and released our first album entitled (embers of the almighty)as a two piece all the members at that time flaked out during recording which forever us into a fast mediocre recording with just the 2 of us. After that the band pretty much laid dormant for 7 years!
Keeper-Who are the current band members?
DON: Until now with bassist Rick(Lord Feces) and Joe Howard (narcotic wasteland) on drums we are currently playing shows and festivals and dropping a new album Entitled (Homotherium) Coming soon !!!! Members . Don Evans guitars/vocals Rick Gustafson bass Joe Howard drums/vocals Kevin Talley (feature) Lord Marco(studio)
Keeper-Your biggest accomplishment as a band/ individual musician
DON: We think the biggest accomplishments are yet to come but collaboration with Kevin Talley ex(dying fetus) and lord Marco (six feet under ) are pretty killer to us ! Also opening for bands like FEAR FACTORY , ALL SHALL PERISH and BATTLECROSS were pretty monumental for us !!!!
What gear do you use and abuse?
DON: Gear we use includes Roellers custom guitars Peavey electronics Seymour duncan pickups Curt mangan strings Tony Khoel straps Acoustik attak picks Soultone cymbals Scorpion percussion Axis
When you started the band what were your long term goals and ambitions?
DON: Our long term goals have always been to keep it heavy have fun and travel to cool places to play heavy shit haha
With your most current release how do you feel you have improved upon your sound/ musical output?
DON: Our upcoming release will be much more appealing to the listener from higher quality recordings to featured artists our new album will bring a new level of Colorado brutality to the scene !
Keeper-What preparations or rituals do you go through to prepare for playing live?
DON: Our basic rituals for writing include blazing some killer herbs a small sip of quality whiskey and getting into the groove for the show with a few good rehearsals beforehand !
Keeper-What hobbies interest do you indulge in outside of the band/music?
DON: Our hobbies outside of the band heavily include FISHING , FOOD, FUN , FAMILY ,and FRIENDS the 5 F's
Keeper-When writing/creating music what's the process you go through?
DON: When we write our songs we typically smoke down and lay out a game plan or idea we are wanting then we build from there sometimes it happens in hours sometimes days or weeks depending on the track ! That’s the sickest part of being in a band is bouncing ideas and creating something heavy and sick and watching it grow into something is truly something special!
Keeper-What’s next on the horizon for Despise The Sun In the future?
DON: The future for DTS is looking bright. We are playing some super killer fests in 2025 along with our first out of country festival which we are beyond stoked for ! So we hope to hang with y’all on the road !
Keeper-Any thanks or shoutouts you'd like to add
DON: Big shout out to keeper mag for the interview also all the fans that have supported DTS all these years and continue to we love you brutal heads. ! Look forward to hanging at a show near you! Cheers and as always KEEP IT HEAVY-DTS Instagram
@Despisethesun(official) Facebook
@Despise the sun
Black death thrash from Little Rock Arkansas PANTHEON. We had the Honor of meeting these guys at the Heathen House, and watching them Throw down the metal hammer on stage during the Arkansas Death Fest 3. We have Main man BJ Cook taking some time out of his day to answer a few questions for KEEPER. .
Keeper- What is the history of the band?
BJ: We formed in 2019 originally with myself (BJ), Buzzy, Baker and Donnie.
Keeper- Current band members?
BJ Cook, lead guitar/vocals Buzzy Leistikow, guitar/vocals Jeremiah James Baker, Bass Samoth Cook, Drums Eddy Hoffman, tour drummer.
Keeper- Your discography including most recent release?
BJ: Age of Wolves, debut album Empire in Ruin, sophomore album.
Keeper-What is your biggest accomplishment as a band/ individual musician?
BJ: Tough one, as a band, getting asked to play great shows and festivals. Myself (BJ), getting recognized by some of my favorite artists that I’ve looked up to.
Keeper-What gear do you use and abuse?
BJ: Bj, ESP Guitars, EVH Amps, MXR Pedals Buzzy, ESP Guitars, Krank Amps Jeremiah, Spector Basses Samoth, Mapex Drums, Paiste Cymbals.
Keeper- When you started the band what were your longterm goals and ambitions?
BJ: To play shows/tour, release our music on vinyl, have fun honestly
Keeper- With your most current release how do you feel you have improved upon your sound/ musical output?
BJ: I feel like we could have spent more time tracking. We only had 5 days in the studio but we’re happy with how it turned out.
Keeper- What preparations or rituals do you go through to prepare for playing live?
BJ: lol, usually smoke a blunt, warm up and clear our head.
Keeper- What hobbies and interests do you indulge in outside of the band/music?
BJ: Animal rescue mainly. But spending time in nature and learning about sound engineering When writing/creating music.
Keeper- What's the process you go through? BJ: Usually starts with a riff idea that we’ll start mapping out and jamming on until we get the feel for what direction to take with the song.
Keeper- What is next on the horizon for In the future Pantheon?
BJ: Lots of shows, writing the next album and studio time.
Keeper-Any thanks or shoutouts you'd like to add? BJ: Thank you for the interview! Shoutout to The Heathen House, Metal Devastation PR, and our fans!