Dave Haley (Psycroptic) Interview: The Scepter of the Ancients, Death Metal and the Band's Future

Following the release of The Scepter of the Ancients, Rockum's Gino Alache talks with Psycroptic drummer Dave Haley about the band's rapid rise within Australia's extreme metal scene, the songwriting behind its latest album and the challenges of building a career from Tasmania.

In this exclusive interview, Haley discusses Psycroptic's origins, musical influences, future recording plans, touring ambitions, his approach to drumming and the band's goals following the release of The Scepter of the Ancients.

Gino Alache: Hi Dave! Is Psycroptic currently working on a new studio album?

Dave Haley: Yeah, we're working on new material at the moment, so we might record late in 2004 or maybe in 2005—we'll see what happens. We've got about three songs written so far, so we're still a long way off. The songs are sounding really cool, and we're already playing one of them live.

Gino Alache: Is it difficult to stand out in Australia's metal scene?

Dave Haley: We're even more isolated than most Australian bands because we live in Tasmania, which is an island off the southern coast of Australia. We have to travel just to reach the mainland. We're very isolated from the scene, and that's both positive and negative. We avoid a lot of the usual bullshit, but we also miss out on many opportunities.

Gino Alache: I know Jesus Anal Penetration from Australia. Are there any other bands you'd recommend?

Dave Haley: Bands like Alarum, Astriaal, Alchemist, The Amenta, Intense Hammer Rage, Portal, Ruins, Embodied and Omnium Gatherum are all really cool. There are quite a few great bands over here—you should check them out.

Gino Alache: Tell us briefly how Psycroptic started.

Dave Haley: We formed in 1999 after the bands we were playing in split up. We were already friends, so we started jamming together and everything clicked. The lineup has remained the same since we formed. We recorded our debut album in 2000, which was released in 2001. After that we toured and wrote more material for The Scepter of the Ancients, released by Unique Leader Records in 2003.

Gino Alache: How did the members get to know each other?

Dave Haley: Some of us went to school together, while others met through local shows. Since Joe, our guitarist, is my brother, we've always shared the same group of friends. We're all close friends and spend a lot of time together.

Gino Alache: Many of the band's influences include Dying Fetus. How important has that band been to Psycroptic?

Dave Haley: We all listen to a lot of different music, and I wouldn't say any one band has influenced us more than another. We enjoy everything from extreme death and black metal to power metal and traditional metal. If it's good music, we'll listen to it. We try to keep an open mind.

Gino Alache: When did you start playing drums?

Dave Haley: I got my first drum kit when I was 13, and I just turned 24 last week, so I've been playing for about 11 years. I didn't become really serious until I was around 15 or 16, when I started taking lessons and practicing more. I'm still learning because there's so much to explore on the drums.

Gino Alache: What was the first record you ever bought?

Dave Haley: Metallica's Ride the Lightning. I got it on cassette when I was eight years old. It's an amazing album. I remember my mum took it away first so she could read the lyrics and make sure there wasn't anything bad on it. Once I got it back, I practically wore the tape out. I've loved metal ever since.

Gino Alache: What do you hate?

Dave Haley: I don't hate many things, but I can't stand discrimination of any kind—whether it's based on race, age, gender or personal preferences. It's complete bullshit. People should live their own lives without interfering with others, as long as nobody gets hurt.

Gino Alache: Which bands would you most like to tour with?

Dave Haley: There are heaps—too many to list. This year we'll be playing with Deeds of Flesh in Australia, which will be killer. We'll also be touring Europe later this year, so hopefully we'll get to share the stage with even more great bands.

Gino Alache: What do you know about Peru?

Dave Haley: Not a lot, honestly. I'd love to visit someday. I know Peru is on the west coast of South America and has beautiful scenery. That's about it. What do you know about Tasmania? (laughs) You should check out some websites about Tasmania!

Gino Alache: What's the best live show you've ever seen?

Dave Haley: Opeth is still the best live band I've seen. Hopefully after I see Deeds of Flesh, that might change. I'm really looking forward to that show.

Gino Alache: Do you think The Scepter of the Ancients is a stronger album than The Isle of Disenchantment?

Dave Haley: Definitely. I think it's an improvement in every aspect—musically, production-wise and in our performances. It also sounds more like Psycroptic and has a more original identity. Next time we record, we want to raise the bar even higher.

Gino Alache: Are there any plans to tour South America?

Dave Haley: Unfortunately not at this stage. Right now we're focused on Europe and hopefully the United States after that. Coming from Australia is very expensive, so we simply can't afford a South American tour at the moment. Hopefully that will change in the future.

Gino Alache: Finally, what do you think about Rockum, and what would you like to say to our readers?

Dave Haley: This is my first contact with Rockum, and it's been a real pleasure. To all the readers, keep supporting metal! And if you haven't heard Psycroptic yet, please check us out. Thanks for the interview, and stay metal!