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 as a consequence of 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 reside appearances on the 2023 installment of Steel & Beer Fest: Denver and the upcoming Steel & Beer Fest: Philly 2025. However despite all that spotlight, 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 filled with proverbial quarters, able to throw down within the Kill Display screen arcade.

Players within the steel group aren’t at all times 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 steel 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 type of the final go-to guys to speak concerning the origins of the music and stuff,” explains Curtis. “And us loving video games… We are able to a minimum of really feel assured in what we’re speaking about. As a result of apart from that, I’m like, ‘I identical to to hit issues! I play drums!’” The flickering neon lights of Decibel’s nerdiest column show to be the correct surroundings 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 raise 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 quite a lot of the methods, 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 apart 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 truly 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 bought a sport there!” “Alright, I wanna go!” I like pinball, additionally from the laundromat expertise. After which I bought 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 quite a lot of batteries I keep in mind. My dad appreciated the gyro, the spinner. He performed with that by itself. However I found out 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 dad and mom. Was this a shared household pleasure? Or have been these simply toys to maintain you distracted so they may do all of the grownup shit?
Clark: I feel it was just a little little bit of each, in all probability. I’m positive they bought to the purpose the place they wanted a break and wanted to deal with some enterprise. However I feel it was one factor that they shared the thrill for positive, particularly the day of getting it and giving it and the whole lot, seeing our pleasure. It was a factor that we positively all sat down and did, particularly early on. They have been at all times type of into the thought of expertise. We bought a pc once they have been first popping out, after which we bought dial-up [internet] when it first got here out. The strikes in expertise, they type of went with us, which was cool. However yeah, gaming was much more early on.

Curtis: Yeah, my dad truly loved Pac-Man and stuff, so we type of did it collectively. He truly confirmed me the primary cheat code I’d ever seen, the place he found out the right way 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 attempt. I used to be blown away. He’s not a gamer per se, however there have been instances the place they’d, you already know, “Go in your room, you permit us alone!” My dad, I do know he appreciated Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! lots. And he was higher than me only for just a little 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 ultimately began overtaking him. However that was once we simply had the one TV and I needed to look forward to him to get completed watching his exhibits. We simply didn’t have a TV in each room like we do now.

What have you ever guys been enjoying these days? What are the video games that you just sometimes desire 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 absolutely enjoyable. It’s type of like a Diablo remake. For me, it’s, like, on steroids, you already know? It’s simply bought the entire 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 the entire fast turns down the hallways and all of that stuff, which has made it actually enjoyable making an attempt to beat your individual time. However for me, that’s what I like doing—horror and dungeon crawlers, for positive.

Curtis: For me, the Yakuza sequence has pulled me in. I find it irresistible. I can’t get sufficient. And there’s the pirate one [Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii] popping out this month, I feel. I’ll be enjoying that for positive. I feel I performed [Yakuza 6] first and I used to be like, Wow, this can be 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 the whole lot, loved these. I simply bought completed beating [Like a Dragon:] Infinite Wealth, which is the RPG fashion. Find it irresistible. The characters are cool, I like their humorousness. Somewhat bit completely different, just a little little bit of change.
Aside from that, I simply bought completed enjoying Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown. It’s bought a great retro vibe—side-scrolling, parkour sort of platformer—which introduced again the adrenaline of Mario type of, while you’re making an attempt to make sure jumps with out falling in a gap or one thing. Yakuza doesn’t try this. It’s a distinct type of vibe.

You began with half 6. You clearly weren’t there at day one of many franchise, but it surely hooked you a lot that you just went again and performed the entire previous ones. What was it about it that like actually sunk the claws in?
Curtis: One factor I actually appreciated is video games inside a sport. They’d quite a lot of mini video games. They even had a Sega arcade constructing you possibly can 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 try this. The primary time I observed that was Animal Crossing. You would get a Nintendo system on your room and you could possibly play, like, Excitebike or one thing. I believed that was actually cool. I just like the mini sport facet.

You simply completed Infinite Wealth. How was it going from the very button-mashy fight of the mainline Yakuza sequence after which going into the very Dragon Quest, turn-based RPG of Infinite Wealth?
Curtis: I feel 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 effectively completed, I couldn’t get sufficient of that sport. I like [the first one] higher than Infinite Wealth. The grinding facet of it, typically I prefer to grind. I felt like Infinite Wealth was just a little bit too simple, perhaps. I didn’t know if I would love it or not, however I ended up actually liking it. I feel I just like the RPG fashion higher, regardless that I actually benefit from the motion. It’s one among my favourite video games, Like a Dragon.

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

Do you sometimes 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 exhausting to get excited like I used to. You realize what I imply? We’re not youngsters anymore. And so I feel I do search for one thing just a little bit completely different. I used to be a very heavy Future participant. It type of took over my life for a few years. We actually bonded with our fireteam; it was robust dropping out. It will get you within the feels since you grow to be actually tight with these folks. [Laughs] I made some actually good friendships off of that. However just lately, I’ve been leaning in the direction of a single-player expertise the place I’m not wanted. I don’t should be on by 7 p.m. or [else] folks will likely 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 high three proper now can be Elden Ring. It hasn’t been out that lengthy and that’s in all probability one among my favorites. I might play over and over. I feel 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 at all times type of gone to only as a result of the problem of it. That type of ties into the thrill of it, as a result of while you work a boss for 2 hours and also you lastly get him, that stage of pleasure there’s type of near what I really feel like perhaps childhood was getting that new sport or getting that new system or no matter it could be. However for me, I’ve been on a quest of accumulating sport methods 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 feel the tougher the sport might be, the extra excited I get, if that is sensible.

What are a number of the gems in your assortment that you just’ve gotten just lately and what are those that you just’re searching for?
Clark: Castlevania: Symphony of the Evening, that’s the one which I’m searching for at present. I’ve lots. [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 wish to play that I haven’t as a result of the backlog simply retains getting greater 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 broad. What would you say is your wheelhouse on the subject of the horror style?
Clark: Survival, in all probability. I’ve made pals which are extra into survival, much less simply bounce scare type of stuff. Extra ominous horror, I suppose, for me. The Resident Evil video games, these are nice. I feel that these will nonetheless stand the take a look at of time, even the unique video games. However for me, I feel survival—having very minimal [supplies], not quite a lot of gung-ho, shooter type of horror.

Curtis: I actually like Silent Hill. I feel I performed 2 first on the Xbox. Actually appreciated that. [Silent Hill 4:] The Room, actually neat story. Had a bizarre ending, and I don’t assume I bought one of the best ending. However I just like the puzzle-based scariness of being caught someplace. I believed it was neat that he was caught in his condo.

That was a bizarre sport. It’s positively very completely different than quite a lot of different titles.
Curtis: Yeah, I loved that one. However I’ve type of at all times leaned in the direction of the Silent Hill sequence for my horror. I do like Resident Evil as effectively, however yeah.

At what level are you two going to battle over which one is healthier between Silent Hill and Resident Evil?
Clark: [Laughs] I really like them each. I do. They each have very distinctive features to them that make them clearly completely different than the opposite, however I do take pleasure in them each. I nonetheless assume perhaps Resident Evil is just a little bit extra superior, however I suppose I do have a selected facet to it. The weirdness typically, it’s enjoyable and I like the thought 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 lately. Silent Hill 2 is the latest, however you could have Resident Evil 2, 3 and 4 that bought very talked-about 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 could have any type of emotions concerning 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 type of inform that they’re type of gearing it in the direction of extra trendy desires and desires with the way in which that expertise is in our face. We’re simply always stimulated. I really feel like they’re altering these video games to type of gear extra in the direction of that preferrred. The sooner video games targeted much more on what you could have, the right way to use it and never use an excessive amount of of it—you by no means know while you’re going to get extra ammo or no matter. I feel quite a lot of the newer video games, it’s type of like you possibly can simply go purchase ammo or run down that hallway they usually’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 possibly can 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 lower 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 they usually 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 dangerous video games in any manner, form or kind. I like enjoying them. I feel Resident Evil 2 remake has been the higher remake of the entire ones that we’ve gotten up to now. I feel it’s as lower and dry to the unique. Clearly, you get much more graphically and issues like that, they usually do type of change just a little bit right here and there. However roughly, it’s simple and I recognize that. However for 3, I used to be type 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 reminiscences pristine and intact. If I’ve a great reminiscence of a sport, I don’t wish to go and damage it for some cause 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. Except 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 drawn to these extra somber, severe tales in gaming, or do you sometimes search for one thing that’s extra of an escape from these heavy emotions?
Curtis: I positively really feel prefer it’s an escape. You gotta take a breath each occasionally, or come up for air. I feel video games are therapeutic, particularly for musicians, since you do want a interest out of your interest typically. Something can grow to be work if you happen to do it an excessive amount of, so I positively attempt to preserve video games for my remedy facet. I don’t wish to make it too severe. And that’s why I do like Yakuza, as a result of they do preserve it lighthearted. There’s a time for the whole lot, however I type of prefer to get upbeat just a little bit, type of overlook concerning the gloom for some time.

Clark: Yeah, it’s type of the identical for me. I suppose it’s type of situational; the place I’m at in life and even the season, I really feel it will possibly add to the ambiance and the sensation of gaming. So if you happen to’re caught inside the entire time due to winter, you wish to play one thing just a little bit extra lighthearted. But when the whole lot’s up and going and always working, typically it’s good for me to quiet down and dive deep right into a storyline or one thing like that.

Resident Evil 2 remake speedrunning: What made you resolve that not solely that was the sport, however that you just have been going to choose up speedrunning?
Clark: Watching different folks do it, seeing the thrill going by. I really feel like beating a sport is one factor, however beating a sport higher is one other type of thought course of, like, How can I lower getting from right here to right here down with much less ammo, much less saving? or no matter it could be. I feel I bought 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 quicker—take much less harm to the place it cuts eight seconds off my time. Watching these different folks do it, it doesn’t appear unattainable.
The enjoyable factor about speedrunning is you don’t have to do it a sure manner. You’re actually simply racing your self inevitably. You’ll be able to attempt to get on leaderboards, however they’re all the way down to milliseconds, you already know? It’s so irritating to see. And then you definately do a run and also you’re three quarters of the way in which by the sport after which the RNG modifications, the zombie comes just a little 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 practising and changing into a greater musician?
Clark: Truthfully, I’ve by no means truly considered it, however saying it and listening to it out loud, I can positively see that being a correlation. It positively performs into one another, for positive. We used to play in a demise steel band known as Summon the Destroyer and it was a really technical demise steel 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, but it surely was a type of issues the place I felt like we saved testing ourselves. Like, May we go up a pair extra BPMs? May we go just a little quicker? And it felt like that. So yeah, I positively might see a parallel between the 2. Completely.

Curtis: My mother was cool and would at all times 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 consider that, particularly the platforming sort video games the place you’re reacting. It positively sharpens you up just a little bit. You’re utilizing your arms. Drum sticks, the controller, it’s simply an extension of your physique principally. You type of overlook that you just’re holding a controller—it simply turns into you and the sport. It’s the identical with my instrument. Once I’m enjoying the drums, I overlook that I’m holding a picket stick and I’m hitting issues.

What’s your private finest time?
Clark: I feel 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 ceaselessly 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 feel it’s a private factor, like, How good can I do?

We’ve got spoken to a up to date of yours, Corey Parks from Graveripper, who can also be very into speedrunning. Have you ever ever shared notes with him? Do you could have many players within the Indianapolis steel scene or are you three type of the anomaly?
Curtis: I feel we preserve it low-key for some cause. We’re all robust guys, you already know, whereas we’re on the gig. I’m positive there’s a number of players—there must be. It’s one thing we should always contact on extra, but it surely’s at all times speaking about gear, no matter.

Clark: I’ve talked with Corey just a little 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 might 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 positively really feel like there needs to be extra communication. I really like what you guys are doing with this, along with your section, with what you guys put collectively. It’s phenomenal. I find it irresistible. I’ve truly been watching and retaining monitor earlier than this ever even took place. It’s actually rad.

We recognize your assist. We’re small, however devoted.
Clark: Yeah, that’s the place it begins after which it blows up. I feel that that is truly just a little little bit of motivation for me to to begin speaking about it just a little bit extra as a result of it could 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 bought 4 TVs and 4 rooms and a router spreading cables by the hallways. Mountain Dew and pizza! That’s the type of stuff that made me not solely recognize however love gaming—the camaraderie that comes with it. However yeah, as he stated, you grow old and also you gotta act just a little bit in a different way. I don’t assume you ought to should, [laughs] however like I stated, perhaps that is motivation.

After studying a number of the interviews that we’ve completed, was it stunning to see what number of others in recognizable bands have been all in favour of video video games? Did you simply by no means think about 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. Typically—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 must be a correlation with steel, and like I used to be saying earlier, if there’s, there are extra players. I simply really feel prefer it’s a type of issues the place not realizing a person or chatting with 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 the entire 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 while you do see a sure individual 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 manner?
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 at all times pop for good music, like SimCity, Pilotwings. Tremendous Nintendo had a very cool lounge organ vibe. These are those that basically keep on with me. There’s an even bigger connection to be made with bands and video games—crossovers and soundtrack sort stuff. It’s beginning to occur just a little bit already, but it surely might get actual big.

Clark: Are you guys acquainted with Mortal Shell? Rotting Christ did a bit for them as effectively, 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 feel $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 bought the sport as a result of it type of gave me that darkish FromSoft type 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 positively assume it could carry a distinct demographic to gaming as effectively.

Let’s say someone 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’d say FromSoft, for positive. Not solely as a result of I’m biased, however I really feel like there’s quite a lot of ambiance in these video games. Although they’ll get type of brutal, they’ll actually get heavy in simply the battles and always going into it. With our method to doom, I feel that it may be large and be atmospheric in itself. I feel touring from place to put would positively 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 might be slated to play at Steel & Beer Fest in Philly, and you’ve got been hitting different fests as effectively. Do you ever get an opportunity to carry gaming with you on the highway, or is that strictly an at-home decompression factor?
Clark: I do prefer to sport on the highway if I can. I feel 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 just a little bit after they dropped the brand new Zelda [The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom]. So I bought to play bits and items of that on the highway once we have been going forwards and backwards to areas. After which I noticed that I didn’t carry 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 assume there’s actually a boundary to what I’ll attempt, too. I’ll attempt 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 residence for now. We’re on the highway extra, I’d think about. I’ve so many drum items and it’s nerve-wracking to maintain monitor of all that. It’d be exhausting to carry one other rig with me. And I attempt to keep locked in, you already know what I imply? If we’ve bought an enormous present, I don’t need too many distractions. I imply, if there’s quite a lot of downtime, it’s good to have one thing.

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

Curtis: Yeah, yeah, for positive. If there’s one there, we’ll each do it, for positive. We’ve bought 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, if you happen to’re enjoying at no cost, 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 bought earlier on, and it type of gave him that arcade really feel with us simply being at residence. I really like them. They’re tremendous enjoyable. They’re tiny, they’re out of the way in which and it type 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 bought a maintain on gaming. I really feel prefer it’s a type of issues—type of just like the story you [points to Curtis] have been saying earlier—I’m just a little higher at a lot of the video games that we play collectively, however then a month later, I’m now not higher. [Laughs] Children are sponges, like they are saying. We’ve already had this type of wiring occurring all through our lives, so enjoying a brand new sport, we type of readjust the way in which that we expect. It’s going from the clunky controls to one thing extra clean. For youths, they simply take in it and it’s instantaneous. So, I’ve little doubt that he’s going to positively 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 try 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 can be a sport that every of you’ll advocate as a great type of escape or launch and even one thing that provides just a little little bit of hope?
Clark: That’s a great query. [Pauses] I suppose it type of depends upon the discharge you’re searching for you. I don’t know. I really feel like a sport which you can thoughtlessly play can be Helldivers 2 or one thing. You’ve had an extended day at work or no matter, you get residence and also you don’t wish to decide to a storyline, you simply need your mind to let go and simply grind, for me, that will 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 feel that’s a great one which’s simply inconsiderate and a great launch and straightforward to type of let go of actuality for a short while.

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

Clark: [Laughs] Tried and true.

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

The Periapt of Absence is out there now through Profound Lore and might be bought right here.
Tickets to see Mom of Graves at Steel & Beer Fest: Philly 2025 might be bought right here.
Observe Mom of Graves on Bandcamp, Instagram, Fb, BlueSky and Twitter.