KILL SCREEN 058: Corey Clark and Don Curtis of MOTHER OF GRAVES Shatter Their Toughened Visage

Over the previous few years, Decibel has championed Indianapolis sons Mom of Graves resulting from their continuation of the somber spirit the likes of Anathema, Paradise Misplaced and My Dying Bride. So smitten are we that every of their full-length choices, 2022’s The place Shadows Adorn and 2024’s The Periapt of Absence, landed comfortably in our scientifically correct Prime 40 Albums of the 12 months (No. 27 and No. 11, respectively). We’ve even been so lucky as to line up uncommon stay appearances on the 2023 installment of Steel & Beer Fest: Denver and the upcoming Steel & Beer Fest: Philly 2025. However despite all that focus, it’s solely by sheer luck that your reliable co-nerds realized that the rhythm part of the quintet—bassist Corey Clark and drummer Don Curtis—had their fists stuffed with proverbial quarters, able to throw down within the Kill Display screen arcade.

Players within the metallic group aren’t all the time fast to put on their love of the sport on their battle vests, proving an issue for each side of the digital desk. As fathers and members of such a solemn metallic act, preconceptions and lack of communication could make it troublesome for the 2 to seek out shared enthusiasm for his or her self-described “interest from their interest.” “For Mom of Graves, we’re form of the final go-to guys to speak in regards to the origins of the music and stuff,” explains Curtis. “And us loving video games… We are able to at the least really feel assured in what we’re speaking about. As a result of aside from that, I’m like, ‘I similar to to hit issues! I play drums!’” The flickering neon lights of Decibel’s nerdiest column show to be the appropriate atmosphere for them to indulge, resulting in an unusual interview with the death-doom duo. Forward of their Philadelphia debut at Steel & Beer Fest subsequent month, we have been more than pleased to carry the shadows on their gaming proclivities.

What have been your first gaming experiences?
Corey Clark: For me, it was the NES. Duck Hunt and [Super] Mario [Bros.], like, proper out the gate. That’s simply nostalgia for me as a gamer. I’ve gone by lots of the programs, however that was the one which began off. We did have an Atari. My dad had an Atari, so we had that for a short while. However aside from that, for me personally, the NES. I used to be perhaps between, like, 6 and 10, one thing in there. I don’t keep in mind precisely. It wasn’t the 12 months that it really dropped, however I used to be fairly younger. It was in all probability ’90 to ’93 space.

Don Curtis: My first expertise was a laundromat with some Pac-Man. My dad and my mother would promote it to me like, “We’re gonna go to the laundromat, however they obtained a sport there!” “Alright, I wanna go!” I like pinball, additionally from the laundromat expertise. After which I obtained the Nintendo with R.O.B. the robotic when it got here out. Like, ’85 or one thing like that.

Did you ever get R.O.B. to work?
Curtis: I did. It took lots of batteries I keep in mind. My dad favored the gyro, the spinner. He performed with that by itself. However I discovered I might use my ft for Gyromite. I’d put the second controller in and use my toes to boost the columns or no matter. Made it fairly simple.

Each of you talked about your mother and father. Was this a shared household pleasure? Or have been these simply toys to maintain you distracted so they might do all of the grownup shit?
Clark: I believe it was a bit of little bit of each, in all probability. I’m positive they obtained to the purpose the place they wanted a break and wanted to deal with some enterprise. However I believe it was one factor that they shared the joy for positive, particularly the day of getting it and giving it and every little thing, seeing our pleasure. It was a factor that we undoubtedly all sat down and did, particularly early on. They have been all the time form of into the concept of expertise. We obtained a pc once they have been first popping out, after which we obtained dial-up [internet] when it first got here out. The strikes in expertise, they form of went with us, which was cool. However yeah, gaming was much more early on.

Curtis: Yeah, my dad really loved Pac-Man and stuff, so we form of did it collectively. He really confirmed me the primary cheat code I’d ever seen, the place he discovered methods to get “no missiles” on Galaga. He did it in entrance of me one time—you gotta go to, like, the third stage and preserve two guys alive or one thing—and he did it first strive. I used to be blown away. He’s not a gamer per se, however there have been occasions the place they’d, you recognize, “Go in your room, you allow us alone!” My dad, I do know he favored Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! loads. And he was higher than me only for a bit of bit, as a result of he learn the instruction e book. [Laughs] In order that was his declare to fame: “Yeah, I learn the handbook!” However I figured it out after which finally began overtaking him. However that was after we simply had the one TV and I needed to anticipate him to get achieved watching his exhibits. We simply didn’t have a TV in each room like we do now.

What have you ever guys been enjoying currently? What are the video games that you just usually favor to play?
Clark: I like enjoying dungeon crawlers, horror video games, issues like that. I’ve been diving into Path of Exile II, which is de facto enjoyable. It’s form of like a Diablo remake. For me, it’s, like, on steroids, you recognize? It’s simply obtained all the little tiny cracks that have been lacking in Diablo video games for me personally. After which Resident Evil video games, I prefer to run these. I’ve been engaged on a speedrun of Resident Evil 2 Remake, so I’ve been actually diving into the nooks and crannies of all the fast turns down the hallways and all of that stuff, which has made it actually enjoyable making an attempt to beat your personal time. However for me, that’s what I like doing—horror and dungeon crawlers, for positive.

Curtis: For me, the Yakuza collection has pulled me in. I like it. I can’t get sufficient. And there’s the pirate one [Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii] popping out this month, I believe. I’ll be enjoying that for positive. I believe I performed [Yakuza 6] first and I used to be like, Wow, it is a fairly cool sport! It drug me in to play the sooner ones, so I went and revisited all the opposite ones, just like the Kiwamis. After which there was the Judgment offshoot—similar fight and every little thing, loved these. I simply obtained achieved beating [Like a Dragon:] Infinite Wealth, which is the RPG type. Find it irresistible. The characters are cool, I like their humorousness. Somewhat bit completely different, a bit of little bit of change.
Apart from that, I simply obtained achieved enjoying Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown. It’s obtained a superb retro vibe—side-scrolling, parkour sort of platformer—which introduced again the adrenaline of Mario form of, whenever you’re making an attempt to make sure jumps with out falling in a gap or one thing. Yakuza doesn’t do this. It’s a unique form of vibe.

You began with half 6. You clearly weren’t there at day one of many franchise, nevertheless it hooked you a lot that you just went again and performed all the previous ones. What was it about it that like actually sunk the claws in?
Curtis: One factor I actually favored is video games inside a sport. That they had lots of mini video games. They even had a Sega arcade constructing you’ll be able to go into and play Virtua Fighter. I actually like that. You get bored with what you’re doing, I’ll simply hit the arcade and play some Virtua Fighter. It’s simply neat to have the ability to do this. The primary time I observed that was Animal Crossing. You possibly can get a Nintendo system in your room and you may play, like, Excitebike or one thing. I assumed that was actually cool. I just like the mini sport side.

You simply completed Infinite Wealth. How was it going from the very button-mashy fight of the mainline Yakuza collection after which going into the very Dragon Quest, turn-based RPG of Infinite Wealth?
Curtis: I believe there have been so many video games with the motion combos that it was actually refreshing. The best way they did the primary Like a Dragon sport, it was so properly achieved, I couldn’t get sufficient of that sport. I like [the first one] higher than Infinite Wealth. The grinding side of it, typically I prefer to grind. I felt like Infinite Wealth was a bit of bit too simple, perhaps. I didn’t know if I would love it or not, however I ended up actually liking it. I believe I just like the RPG type higher, though I actually benefit from the motion. It’s one in every of my favourite video games, Like a Dragon.

When would you say you discovered 6?
Curtis: Perhaps 5 years, one thing like that.

Do you usually discover new video games that get you excited or do you hunt down stuff that hits that consolation meals feeling?
Curtis: For me, it’s laborious to get excited like I used to. You realize what I imply? We’re not youngsters anymore. And so I believe I do search for one thing a bit of bit completely different. I used to be a very heavy Future participant. It form of took over my life for a few years. We actually bonded with our fireteam; it was powerful dropping out. It will get you within the feels since you change into actually tight with these individuals. [Laughs] I made some actually good friendships off of that. However lately, I’ve been leaning in the direction of a single-player expertise the place I’m not wanted. I don’t need to be on by 7 p.m. or [else] individuals will probably be upset with me. Music picks up, leaves much less time for the video games. That’s the one factor I’ve to sacrifice. I can’t beat a sport as quick as I used to.

Clark: In all probability in my prime three proper now could be Elden Ring. It hasn’t been out that lengthy and that’s in all probability one in every of my favorites. I might play time and again. I believe I put 262 hours in it already. I platinumed it on the PS5. It was so a lot enjoyable to play. FromSoft video games have been one thing that I’ve all the time form of gone to simply as a result of the issue of it. That form of ties into the joy of it, as a result of whenever you work a boss for 2 hours and also you lastly get him, that stage of pleasure there may be form of near what I really feel like perhaps childhood was getting that new sport or getting that new system or no matter it might be. However for me, I’ve been on a quest of accumulating sport programs that I had once I was a child and video games that I’d performed or video games that I wished to play. I’ve been doing that for in all probability 5 or 6 years now, simply accumulating previous consoles and stuff like that. However yeah, I believe the harder the sport will be, the extra excited I get, if that is smart.

What are among the gems in your assortment that you just’ve gotten lately and what are those that you just’re searching for?
Clark: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night time, that’s the one which I’m searching for at the moment. I’ve loads. [Laughs] They’re all gems to me. A few of them are video games that I performed and a few of them are video games that I need to play that I haven’t as a result of the backlog simply retains getting larger as a result of I preserve discovering little gems. Silent Hill would in all probability be one of many gems, Silent Hill 2. I’ve Boogerman: [A Pick and Flick Adventure] on Genesis. [Laughs]

You introduced up horror video games. The umbrella for horror video games has gotten very, very vast. What would you say is your wheelhouse relating to the horror style?
Clark: Survival, in all probability. I’ve made pals which are extra into survival, much less simply bounce scare form of stuff. Extra ominous horror, I assume, for me. The Resident Evil video games, these are nice. I believe that these will nonetheless stand the take a look at of time, even the unique video games. However for me, I believe survival—having very minimal [supplies], not lots of gung-ho, shooter form of horror.

Curtis: I actually like Silent Hill. I believe I performed 2 first on the Xbox. Actually favored that. [Silent Hill 4:] The Room, actually neat story. Had a bizarre ending, and I don’t suppose I obtained the very best ending. However I just like the puzzle-based scariness of being caught someplace. I assumed it was neat that he was caught in his condominium.

That was a bizarre sport. It’s undoubtedly very completely different than lots of different titles.
Curtis: Yeah, I loved that one. However I’ve form of all the time leaned in the direction of the Silent Hill collection for my horror. I do like Resident Evil as properly, however yeah.

At what level are you two going to combat over which one is best between Silent Hill and Resident Evil?
Clark: [Laughs] I really like them each. I do. They each have very distinctive elements to them that make them clearly completely different than the opposite, however I do get pleasure from them each. I nonetheless suppose perhaps Resident Evil is a bit of bit extra superior, however I assume I do have a particular facet to it. The weirdness typically, it’s enjoyable and I like the concept of the world altering and issues like that. However for me, the sooner Silent Hills have been a bit extra clunky and never as clean because the Resident Evil video games.

Curtis: I’ll offer you that. [Laughs]

Each the Silent Hill and Resident Evil franchises have seen fairly important remakes in recent times. Silent Hill 2 is the latest, however you’ve Resident Evil 2, 3 and 4 that obtained very fashionable remakes. Are you discovering enjoyment with these remakes [as they’re] revisiting these titles and giving them these high quality of life updates? Do you’ve any form of emotions in regards to the purity of those franchises?
Clark: With speedrunning and stuff like that, I watch speedrunners. I watch different players play these video games. You’ll be able to form of inform that they’re form of gearing it in the direction of extra trendy needs and wishes with the best way that expertise is in our face. We’re simply continually stimulated. I really feel like they’re altering these video games to form of gear extra in the direction of that very best. The sooner video games targeted much more on what you’ve, methods to use it and never use an excessive amount of of it—you by no means know whenever you’re going to get extra ammo or no matter. I believe lots of the newer video games, it’s form of like you’ll be able to simply go purchase ammo or run down that hallway and so they’re going to drop ammo and issues like that. I’ve an appreciation for the originals as a result of they’re those that I performed and people are those that helped information my journey by gaming. However the brand new ones, it’s nearly like you’ll be able to take a look at them not essentially as a remake, however like a department of that franchise. I really feel just like the third remake in Resident Evil, they reduce out half the sport nearly from the unique.

Yeah, big environments have been simply gone.
Clark: Yeah. And the truth that they confirmed you the clock tower and so they didn’t give you the clock tower? [Laughs] It’s humorous.

Proper? So irritating! You get there and also you’re like, Oh, candy! We’re going within the clock tower subsequent! Alright, right here we go! After which no clock tower. [Shrugs]
Clark: Yeah. I imply, I wouldn’t say that they’re unhealthy video games in any approach, form or kind. I like enjoying them. I believe Resident Evil 2 remake has been the higher remake of all the ones that we’ve gotten up to now. I believe it’s as reduce and dry to the unique. Clearly, you get much more graphically and issues like that, and so they do form of change a bit of bit right here and there. However roughly, it’s simple and I admire that. However for 3, I used to be form of let down. 4 was good, although.

Curtis: I haven’t checked out any remakes, actually. A variety of the time, I prefer to preserve my recollections pristine and intact. If I’ve a superb reminiscence of a sport, I don’t need to go and spoil it for some purpose or get mad at it. However I don’t have a complete lot of time to play, so I’m searching for the brand new video games. Until I actually prefer it. In the event that they remake these center Yakuza video games, I’ll play these. 3, 4 and 5, I’d like full remakes of these, please. [Laughs] That’s about it.

Mom of Graves performs very somber music. Do you end up interested in these extra somber, critical tales in gaming, or do you usually search for one thing that’s extra of an escape from these heavy emotions?
Curtis: I undoubtedly really feel prefer it’s an escape. You gotta take a breath each every now and then, or come up for air. I believe video games are therapeutic, particularly for musicians, since you do want a interest out of your interest typically. Something can change into work in the event you do it an excessive amount of, so I undoubtedly attempt to preserve video games for my remedy facet. I don’t need to make it too critical. And that’s why I do like Yakuza, as a result of they do preserve it lighthearted. There’s a time for every little thing, however I form of prefer to get upbeat a bit of bit, form of neglect in regards to the gloom for some time.

Clark: Yeah, it’s form of the identical for me. I assume it’s form of situational; the place I’m at in life and even the season, I really feel it could actually add to the environment and the sensation of gaming. So in the event you’re caught inside all the time due to winter, you need to play one thing a bit of bit extra lighthearted. But when every little thing’s up and going and continually working, typically it’s good for me to calm down and dive deep right into a storyline or one thing like that.

Resident Evil 2 remake speedrunning: What made you determine that not solely that was the sport, however that you just have been going to select up speedrunning?
Clark: Watching different individuals do it, seeing the joy going by. I really feel like beating a sport is one factor, however beating a sport higher is one other form of thought course of, like, How can I reduce getting from right here to right here down with much less ammo, much less saving? or no matter it might be. I believe I obtained my first S+ run on Resident Evil 2 remake after which I used to be like, OK, perhaps I can do the identical factor, however do it sooner—take much less injury to the place it cuts eight seconds off my time. Watching these different individuals do it, it doesn’t appear inconceivable.
The enjoyable factor about speedrunning is you don’t have to do it a sure approach. You’re actually simply racing your self inevitably. You’ll be able to attempt to get on leaderboards, however they’re right down to milliseconds, you recognize? It’s so irritating to see. And then you definately do a run and also you’re three quarters of the best way by the sport after which the RNG modifications, the zombie comes a bit of sooner than he usually does and now you’re out 5 seconds and that’s the run—you gotta begin over.

Do you see a parallel to working towards and changing into a greater musician?
Clark: Actually, I’ve by no means really considered it, however saying it and listening to it out loud, I can undoubtedly see that being a correlation. It undoubtedly performs into one another, for positive. We used to play in a loss of life metallic band referred to as Summon the Destroyer and it was a really technical loss of life metallic band and it was one thing that was timed and quick and technical on the guitar. It was tremendous enjoyable to play and I liked it, nevertheless it was a type of issues the place I felt like we saved testing ourselves. Like, Might we go up a pair extra BPMs? Might we go a bit of sooner? And it felt like that. So yeah, I undoubtedly might see a parallel between the 2. Completely.

Curtis: My mother was cool and would all the time say, “You’re working in your hand-eye coordination.” She was a type of that purchased into that, so I’m like, Sure! I do imagine that, particularly the platforming sort video games the place you’re reacting. It undoubtedly sharpens you up a bit of bit. You’re utilizing your palms. Drum sticks, the controller, it’s simply an extension of your physique principally. You form of neglect that you just’re holding a controller—it simply turns into you and the sport. It’s the identical with my instrument. After I’m enjoying the drums, I neglect that I’m holding a wood stick and I’m hitting issues.

What’s your private greatest time?
Clark: I believe for me proper now, it’s an hour and, like, 46 seconds or one thing like that—which is, like, 12 or 13 minutes away from the world report, if I keep in mind appropriately. Although it’s solely lower than quarter-hour, that’s eternally away from getting near a world report, [laughs] in order that’s why I haven’t tried to get on any of the scoreboards. I haven’t submitted something or something like that. It’s only for me. I believe it’s a private factor, like, How good can I do?

We’ve got spoken to a recent of yours, Corey Parks from Graveripper, who can be very into speedrunning. Have you ever ever shared notes with him? Do you’ve many players within the Indianapolis metallic scene or are you three form of the anomaly?
Curtis: I believe we preserve it low-key for some purpose. We’re all powerful guys, you recognize, whereas we’re on the gig. I’m positive there’s plenty of players—there needs to be. It’s one thing we should always contact on extra, nevertheless it’s all the time speaking about gear, no matter.

Clark: I’ve talked with Corey a bit of bit about gaming. Nothing about speedrunning or something like that. I do know he was enjoying a bunch of the Silent Hill video games, I’m unsure if he was speedrunning any of them. However we haven’t actually, like I stated, mentioned something extra than simply chitchat forwards and backwards—what we’re enjoying, what we’re doing—however no notes. That may be cool.
Going again to the parallel you introduced up earlier James, gaming and enjoying, I really feel like they’re hand-in-hand, music and video games. I undoubtedly really feel like there ought to be extra communication. I really like what you guys are doing with this, along with your phase, with what you guys put collectively. It’s phenomenal. I like it. I’ve really been watching and preserving observe earlier than this ever even took place. It’s actually rad.

We admire your assist. We’re small, however devoted.
Clark: Yeah, that’s the place it begins after which it blows up. I believe that that is really a bit of little bit of motivation for me to to start out speaking about it a bit of bit extra as a result of it will be good to get collectively. I keep in mind within the early days enjoying Halo on Xbox, having LAN events with all of your buddies coming over. You’ve obtained 4 TVs and 4 rooms and a router spreading cables by the hallways. Mountain Dew and pizza! That’s the form of stuff that made me not solely admire however love gaming—the camaraderie that comes with it. However yeah, as he stated, you become old and also you gotta act a bit of bit otherwise. I don’t suppose you ought to need to, [laughs] however like I stated, perhaps that is motivation.

After studying among the interviews that we’ve achieved, was it shocking to see what number of others in recognizable bands have been occupied with video video games? Did you simply by no means take into account it to be a factor?
Curtis: It by no means crossed my thoughts, actually. It’s simply one thing you don’t take into consideration. Generally—I don’t know why—it sparks the creativity. However yeah, it’s one thing I by no means considered, actually.

Clark: I really feel like there needs to be a correlation with metallic, and like I used to be saying earlier, if there may be, there are extra players. I simply really feel prefer it’s a type of issues the place not understanding a person or talking to a person, you’re like, “Oh!” Like, I by no means would have thought that [Cannibal Corpse vocalist George] “Corpsegrinder” [Fisher] would play claw machines and donate all the stuffed animals. However then you definately learn that and also you’re like, That’s superb! However I by no means would have thought that! You realize what I’m saying? [Laughs] It’s one thing that you just in all probability are like, “Yeah, for positive,” however then whenever you do see a sure particular person band members or celebrities or no matter, you’re like, Oh wow, cool! That’s neat.

The connection to death-doom wouldn’t precisely be essentially the most obvious, however would you say that there have been any gaming OSTs which have influenced both your method to music or your appreciation of music in any approach?
Curtis: Sure sport soundtracks stand out to me. ActRaiser for Tremendous Nintendo has a really orchestral, large, epic theme. I actually loved that. As an impression, it stayed with me. It set the temper for the sport. I’d all the time pop for good music, like SimCity, Pilotwings. Tremendous Nintendo had a very cool lounge organ vibe. These are those that actually persist with me. There’s a much bigger connection to be made with bands and video games—crossovers and soundtrack sort stuff. It’s beginning to occur a bit of bit already, nevertheless it might get actual big.

Clark: Are you guys aware of Mortal Shell? Rotting Christ did a bit for them as properly, if I keep in mind appropriately, which is tremendous cool. I’m nearly constructive. You’ll be able to obtain it on PS5. It’s like an additional I believe $7 or one thing like that, not very costly. But when I keep in mind appropriately, yeah, they did a pair tracks for it, which is insane. I obtained the sport as a result of it form of gave me that darkish FromSoft form of feeling, after which after getting the sport I used to be simply studying by the “about” a part of it and on the backside it stated one thing about it. I used to be like, That is insane! It ought to occur extra. I undoubtedly suppose it will convey a unique demographic to gaming as properly.

Let’s say any person approached you and stated, “We’re going to arrange a deal the place you are able to do an OST to a sport in any one franchise.” On this magical world the place it’s that simple, what franchise would you presumably love to do a soundtrack?
Clark: I might say FromSoft, for positive. Not solely as a result of I’m biased, however I really feel like there’s lots of environment in these video games. Although they will get form of brutal, they will actually get heavy in simply the battles and continually going into it. With our method to doom, I believe that it may be huge and be atmospheric in itself. I believe touring from place to put would undoubtedly be simple to suit that gameplay.

Curtis: Let’s attempt to hook up the following Doom soundtrack, no matter that’s.

You guys don’t [play outside of Indianapolis] a lot. You’ve solely performed a handful of exhibits, however you’re slated to play at Steel & Beer Fest in Philly, and you’ve got been hitting different fests as properly. Do you ever get an opportunity to convey gaming with you on the street, or is that strictly an at-home decompression factor?
Clark: I do prefer to sport on the street if I can. I believe a few years in the past, we did a brief little stint to the East Coast and I introduced my Swap with me, and that was a bit of bit after they dropped the brand new Zelda [The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom]. So I obtained to play bits and items of that on the street after we have been going forwards and backwards to areas. After which I noticed that I didn’t convey a charger for it, so I had to purchase a brand new one simply to maintain it going. [Laughs] However, yeah, I do like gaming as a lot as I can, truthfully. I don’t suppose there’s actually a boundary to what I’ll strive, too. I’ll strive any sport as soon as, however there’s sure ones that do drive me, just like the FromSoft video games.

Curtis: For me, for essentially the most half, I preserve the video games at dwelling for now. We’re on the street extra, I might take into account. I’ve so many drum items and it’s nerve-wracking to maintain observe of all that. It’d be laborious to convey one other rig with me. And I attempt to keep locked in, you recognize what I imply? If we’ve obtained an enormous present, I don’t need too many distractions. I imply, if there may be lots of downtime, it’s good to have one thing.

Do you ever hit a Barcade or simply usually arcades?
Clark: Oh, each time.

Curtis: Yeah, yeah, for positive. If there’s one there, we’ll each do it, for positive. We’ve obtained Tappers right here. It’s a bar/arcade, actually cool. You purchase a drink and all of the video games are free. Actually cool idea.

That appears very beneficiant. [Laughs]
Clark: [Laughs] Yeah. Properly, they’re all customized beers and whatnot. So, it’s not a cheap drink, however, in the event you’re enjoying free of charge, it’s value it, for positive.

We see a few cupboards behind you. What are you working with there?
Clark: [Looks back] That’s Marvel Tremendous Heroes, after which Rampage again behind it. It’s simply the little [Arcade1Up machines]. They’re tremendous enjoyable. I’ve a 10-year previous and we each love gaming. This was one thing that we obtained earlier on, and it form of gave him that arcade really feel with us simply being at dwelling. I really like them. They’re tremendous enjoyable. They’re tiny, they’re out of the best way and it form of brings again the nostalgia of it.

Are you hoping that your son carries on the legacy of gaming?
Clark: I’ve little doubt in him. He’s obtained a maintain on gaming. I really feel prefer it’s a type of issues—form of just like the story you [points to Curtis] have been saying earlier—I’m a bit of higher at a lot of the video games that we play collectively, however then a month later, I’m not higher. [Laughs] Youngsters are sponges, like they are saying. We’ve already had this sort of wiring taking place all through our lives, so enjoying a brand new sport, we form of readjust the best way that we expect. It’s going from the clunky controls to one thing extra clean. For teenagers, they only take in it and it’s prompt. So, I’ve little doubt that he’s going to undoubtedly keep it up the gaming love and legacy of it.

Curtis: I’ve a son who’s a very good gamer, and it’s to a degree the place if he is available in a room, I’ll cease enjoying if I’m enjoying one thing as a result of I don’t need him to roast me. [Laughs] He’s like, “What did you do this for?” I’m like, “I don’t know what… Simply shut up!” If he is available in, I simply pause it and ask him about his day. [Laughs]

Although you’re a band that’s related to very morose, somber music, such as you stated, all of us might use some escapism in our life. What could be a sport that every of you’ll advocate as a superb type of escape or launch and even one thing that gives a bit of little bit of hope?
Clark: That’s a superb query. [Pauses] I assume it form of relies on the discharge you’re searching for you. I don’t know. I really feel like a sport which you could thoughtlessly play could be Helldivers 2 or one thing. You’ve had a protracted day at work or no matter, you get dwelling and also you don’t need to decide to a storyline, you simply need your mind to let go and simply grind, for me, that might be Helldivers. You drop in, you kill a bunch of shit and then you definately return up and then you definately drop in once more, kill some extra shit, return up. For me, I believe that’s a superb one which’s simply inconsiderate and a superb launch and simple to form of let go of actuality for a short while.

Curtis: I gotta return to the Yakuza collection, man.

Clark: [Laughs] Tried and true.

Curtis: There’s lots of good things in there, really feel good tales. You get to assist lots of people out. There’s lots of facet missions the place individuals are in bother and also you get to assist out, you get to be the hero. You all the time come out on prime, which is cool. [Laughs] I can’t consider something higher than that.

The Periapt of Absence is offered now by way of Profound Lore and will be bought right here.
Tickets to see Mom of Graves at Steel & Beer Fest: Philly 2025 will be bought right here.
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