Beyond the bayous and swamps of New Orleans comes a new Death Thrash band called Herakleion. After recently destroying the revered state of Florida with all of its Death Metal History going back to the Tampa scene and Morrisound studios and thus cementing their mark now on the peninsula, Herakleion recently wrapped up its 5 date "Curse over Florida " tour with tour mates Void. Herakleion is made up of Apollo on guitars and vox, Speed on Drums and Chris on bass. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of the guys answer some questions after a break in their very busy schedule.
So first things first, tell me about the history of the band and how you all came to be?
Apollo: Speed and I met in the summer of 2020 through an ad I placed looking for band members. We met up, jammed on a Sepultura cover, and started writing that same day. Our shared goal was to be the angriest band in the scene.
Speed: The two of us ran into Christian at a show the following spring. We sent him over a couple of the early “28 Days Later” demos and got together.
How did you all choose the name Herakleion and please tell our readers what exactly the name means?
Speed: The goal was to have a short, memorable, abstract name for the band. We wanted something that we could make our own without any preconceived meaning behind it.
What are the band's main influences? Any influences outside of the Metal realm?
Speed: The band’s collective influence is rooted in old school death metal and 80’s thrash. Each of us have our own personal influences that shape how we approach our instruments and song writing. Most of the way we structure songs is taken from music we enjoy outside of heavy metal. We find it keeps it unique and from sounding cliché.
There is a very rich cultural and musical scene in New Orleans right, how is the metal scene down there? What makes NOLA so unique and different from other regional scenes?
Apollo: As of now there is a resurgence of a lot of the old school style sludge and newer hardcore type bands. The scene is as busy and fresh as ever in comparison to some other places that I’ve seen.
I just rewatched the music video for "Cryogenic Death'. Definitely Headbangers Ball worthy! Looks like it really captures your live performances well. Do hometown shows tend to be the craziest?
Speed: Home state shows tend to be really wild. Lafayette and Baton Rouge most certainly have the rowdiest crowds.
Speaking of shows, you guys have toured extensively and numerous times right, Where are some of your favorite places to play and what cities have the wildest crowds? Seeing as how you are all looking to be seasoned Road Warriors now, any crazy tales from the road??
Speed: We’ve loved every city we’ve played so far. Tallahassee, St. Louis, and Cleveland are some recent favorites. As for the craziest cities… those are all in Florida. It doesn’t matter if it is 20 or 200 people, those dudes will break monitors stage diving and be concussed by the end of the first song.
Apollo: Our wildest crowd response is mostly in Texas and Florida. There are much younger scenes out in those states that go absolutely nuts.
You guys take great pride in having recorded your latest EP "Necroverse" in analog without digital assistance of any kind. Tell us about that process and why it's so important and perhaps how more bands should follow suit.
Apollo: The way we tracked the new EP was live off the floor; to tape with no protools or computer guidance. We were all in a circle in the same tracking room. If one of us didn’t nail it, the two inch tape was rewound and the song was played front to back again. It is how we’ve always approached recording. For Necroverse, we wanted to maintain that same attitude and take it a step further and go all analog. If our heroes could do it, why couldn’t we?
Speed: Song structures and individual parts were much harder this time around. The band as a whole exited the studio a much tighter group because we chose to track this way. There is a sense of heightened feel and passion behind each performance on the record because every time we tracked a song it was erasing the previous recording. We played every take with the intensity of the first because there is no undo button, no comping parts, no cheating, if you flub it you’re back in the tracking room.
Over the course of these last few years with 2 EP's under your belt as well as tons of shows played, what are some of the main obstacles that you may have all had to endure as a young and upcoming band in a highly competitive Music scene?
Speed: The only obstacle is yourself. If you live and breathe the band, things start to fall into place. Just one of those things where pure focus just gets you through it all.
It recently snowed in NOLA . That is quite a rare occurrence. Did you all welcome it or meh? Out of curiosity was it enough for a good ol' snowball fight!?
“It was great. We got off the road from a run we did through Texas the night before, so waking up to almost a foot of snow outside was the ultimate post tour day off. Apollo and I met up that evening to check out that area and have some dinner.
Apollo: Being born in New York it wasn’t anything new to me. It was more enjoyable seeing other people react to it who had never seen snow before.
Other than playing sick Death-Thrash what other interests does the band have outside of music?
Speed: Music is always number one, it has been since I was a toddler. Outside of writing and shows, I enjoy collecting and listening to records. Also big into art and old comic books.
Apollo: Outside of playing music and working a job, I normally don't pick up on any other activities. I like my focus narrowed.
When can we expect a Full Length Album and what are the band's goals for 2025!?
Speed: 2025, Herakleion will be on the road constantly. The goal this year is the same as the past few… do everything the same but more often and more efficiently.
Currently working on the full length. We are most certainly in no rush to release it. Like the two EPs before it, the full length needs to be thought out and well constructed. It is what we find present day extreme metal is lacking; raw aggression that doesn’t compromise song writing. Once again, the disdain for the current ways drives our cause.
Herakleion will be back on the road in March opening up for Exhorder. Check out their social media for select dates!
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