INTERVIEW: Drifter

New York Heavy Metal mob DRIFTER have already made an impact with a killer demo and 7″, the classic way to start a cult discography. Despite only having six songs, I feel they are a strong act in the underground so decided to speak with Leo…

1. Hey DRIFTER! Can you introduce the bands to the rockers out there yet to discover you / who want some pleasantries to kick this off?

LK: Hello, Leo here to answer some questions – not sure I can provide any pleasantries though. I’d have to check with my parole officer first.

2. What made you two decide to form a band in the first place? Playing more NWOBHM-oriented music over in the states, are you filling a void there or simply worshipping your idols?

LK: No, there’s no sense of void fulfilment, and I don’t believe either one of us to be the worshipping kind… It just felt natural to play some out of touch heaving rock cause that’s where we were at. We just have no regard for today’s sensibilities – it wasn’t really a choice.

3. The first step was the kickass “Demo 2021”, featuring four songs of pure Heavy Metal, plain and simple. What methods did you use to record these songs, what inspired them and how did the creation of the demo come to fruition?

LK: Thanks, we were pretty pleased with the demo. The methods are perhaps less interesting than the results – but I can say that it certainly took some time to get it all together, such that the ‘2021 demo’ came out it 2022 …

With each song, we just chip away at em, working with a feeling – trying to realise that feeling – until it becomes ‘more than a feeling’…

Not unlike Boston, I suppose.

4. Getting picked up by Dying Victims Prod at this point surely helped? How has work with Florian been so far? Personally they are one of my favourite labels of the last years…

LK: We had gotten a few offers after the demo, but we went with Flo because I’ve known him for a long while and we like him well enough. He’s been very relaxed to work with. That is to say, he’s met nearly all our demands haha. He’s a good guy.

5. Not long passed before we got a 7”, the true NWOBHM spirit continuing. This features two brand new cuts. Again, like before, can you explain the creation of these songs? Give us a taste of what’s happening in the dusty record grooves.

LK: Both songs were already written when we released the first demo. At the time we thought we should hold them back for a single.Plus, we couldn’t have two shuffle songs on the demo (or could we?)… So we kept ‘em up our sleeve for a while. 

6. There’s a lot of bands playing old school Heavy Metal in the 2020s. What sets DRIFTER apart from the rest in your own words?

LK: I guess that’s for the listener to decide. I would say our lyrics are more honest and relatable. But ya know, I would say that…… 

I think we’ve got a more ‘blue collar’ approach to songwriting. We write what we know. We’re wielding hammers, not swords. 

7. There’s a smaller niche of bands like yourselves, Amethyst, Century, Tyrann and Heavy Sentence who have a more honest, raw and primitive feeling that still draws on melody but in a less refined way. Is this a reaction to bands like Enforcer, Riot City, Traveler etc or do you feel a kinship in all playing various older styles of the genre?

LK: Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard, but no, I don’t personally feel part of any scene. It’s always good seeing old and new friends at festivals, but as for the state of today’s bands, I’m the wrong guy to ask. I pretty much enjoy living under a rock.

8. Live shows are sparse but feature on strong lineups. Does DRIFTER have the approach of less is more, or can we expect heavy touring? What shows have been the best / are you most excited about?

LK: Yes, in some regards less is more – but for now this is mostly down to availability and logistics. At the moment tracking for the album is ongoing – so other than KIT in April, the album will take priority. The new material will certainly be worth its weight.

In regard to past shows – the best response was probably Muskelrock. I was (and am still) quite impressed that people could sing along to choruses for songs they’d never heard before. Simplicity of the choruses aside, it was still quite remarkable…!

9. Last words are yours bangers! What’s next? Another 7”? An LP? A world-conquest tour?

LK: Thanks for the interview. It’s not everyday being taken in for questioning, but hopefully this was useful in some way. See you all behind bars.