Through the Eyes of the Dead Interview: Justin Longshore on Bloodlust

Following the release of Bloodlust, Through the Eyes of the Dead was quickly gaining attention within the American extreme metal underground. Combining elements of melodic death metal with crushing aggression, the South Carolina band introduced a distinctive sound that immediately caught the attention of fans and critics alike.

In this exclusive interview, Rockum's Gino Alache speaks with guitarist Justin Longshore about the formation of the band, the making of Bloodlust, its musical influences, lyrical themes, the artwork behind the album and the group's plans for touring and recording throughout 2006.

Gino Alache: Congratulations on the release of Bloodlust. How and when was Through the Eyes of the Dead formed?

Justin Longshore: Thanks! We formed in June 2003 and we're based in Florence, South Carolina.

Gino Alache: How did the band get its name?

Justin Longshore: Our former guitarist, who is no longer in the band, came up with it. He was talking about what it would be like to be a mortician and to literally look through the eyes of the dead. The phrase stuck with us, and we decided to use it as the band's name.

Gino Alache: How would you describe your musical style?

Justin Longshore: I'd say we're a melodic death metal band, but there are a lot of other influences in our music. We're definitely not a traditional death metal band, and I don't really consider us metalcore either. I'll let listeners decide for themselves.

Gino Alache: The artwork for Bloodlust is incredible. Who designed it?

Justin Longshore: Thanks! Paul Romano created the concept, and all of us contributed ideas. We're really happy with how it turned out, and we'd definitely like to work with Paul again on future releases.

Gino Alache: What are your biggest musical influences?

Justin Longshore: I'm really into old-school death metal from the early '90s—bands like Carcass, Cannibal Corpse and Death. I'm also a huge fan of European melodic metal. Everyone in the band has very similar musical tastes.

Gino Alache: Could you tell us about your releases so far?

Justin Longshore: Our first release was the EP The Scars of Ages, which came out in September 2003. We never actually recorded a demo. We also released a split called The Annihilation of Expectation with our friends in The Knife Trade. Bloodlust is our first full-length album and it's out now through Prosthetic Records.

Gino Alache: What are your thoughts on religion?

Justin Longshore: I think everyone should believe whatever they want to believe. We don't really focus on religion the way many metal bands do. We're pretty neutral about it.

Gino Alache: What subjects inspire your lyrics?

Justin Longshore: Anthony writes all of our lyrics, so he could explain them better than I could. But we're both really interested in forensic science, true crime and serial killers. He enjoys telling stories and creating vivid imagery through the lyrics.

Gino Alache: What's your opinion of today's metal scene?

Justin Longshore: I think the support for metal is really strong. Every year it keeps growing, especially with festivals like Ozzfest and Sounds of the Underground. I still think metal will always remain an underground style of music—and honestly, that's part of what makes it metal.

Gino Alache: If you were President of the United States, what would you do to help metal music?

Justin Longshore: (laughs) That's a tough one. I'd definitely try to make metal more accessible in record stores and on television.

Gino Alache: Do you think Satanism, occultism and black magic are comparable to Christianity?

Justin Longshore: I think that depends entirely on the individual. Like I said, I don't really get involved in religious discussions.

Gino Alache: Are you a fan of Swedish death metal?

Justin Longshore: Absolutely. I'm a huge fan of melodic metal, so maybe I'm a little biased. Bands like At the Gates, In Flames and Dark Tranquillity have been major influences.

Gino Alache: Alcohol, cannabis, cocaine... a little or nothing?

Justin Longshore: Personally, I don't do any of that, although some of the other guys in the band might disagree with me! (laughs)

Gino Alache: Do you know much about the Latin American metal scene?

Justin Longshore: Not really, but I'm very interested in discovering it. I always enjoy listening to new music from different parts of the world.

Gino Alache: What are Through the Eyes of the Dead's plans for the future?

Justin Longshore: We have a lot planned for 2006. We'll be touring extensively to support Bloodlust, hopefully making it over to Europe, and we'll also begin writing our next full-length album.

Gino Alache: Finally, would you like to leave a message for Rockum readers?

Justin Longshore: Thanks a lot for the interview—we really appreciate it. Please check out our new album, Bloodlust. Keep up with everything we're doing through our website and MySpace, and thanks for all the support!