By Jaden Croucher
Rushing drums, loud guitars, and guttural vocals: Corpsepit has nailed the formula for old-school death metal.
Hailing from Ottawa, Corpsepit consists of Lucas Adams on rhythm guitar, Milo McColl on drums, Talon Daigle on bass and backing vocals, and Ryan Farrell on guitar and vocals. In 2022, they made their debut with their EP Cryptic Burial. Since then, they’ve gripped the local metal scene with appearances at Ottawa Punk Fest and Maverick’s Back to Life Showcase. They’ve also performed with the likes of Hexvoid, Braindown, Gland, and Dying Fetus.
The texture of their music is dense, with an array of colourful sounds meshing together to paint a truly brutal musical portrait. The technicality of their instrumentation, paired with Daigle and Farrell’s powerful vocals, cements their dynamic presence within the metal scene. I sat down with Daigle to discuss the band’s impact, history, and future endeavours.
Photo: Jaden Croucher.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Apt613: So how did the band come together?
Daigle: The band officially came together in 2020. I met Ryan on Kijiji. He knew our drummer, Milo, from projects they worked on together in the past with Josh, who is now in Mesothelioma. Josh jammed with us for a bit but went to work on Meso, and Lucas joined the band to complete the lineup.
How do different musical and personal influences shape your sound?
My influences for bass are straight-to-the-point, old death-metal music sound, in-your-face punchy and crunchy—bands like Tyrant Trooper, Purtenance, Bolt Thrower, [and] Entombed.
What is the local metal scene like?
It’s sick! I’ve made a lot of new friends. It’s always a party.
Photo: Rad Zarei.
How do you collaborate as a band during the songwriting process?
We throw riffs and beats back and forth at each other, write our riffs down on a sheet of paper [and] talk about themes of grotesque violence and horror.
What is your favourite part about performing live?
I really like seeing the crowd move! And I enjoy playing bass, so I’m always having fun. … It’s sick getting to see a bunch of bands I listened to [during] Covid like Dying Fetus, who we opened for back in 2022. We have had lots of fun going on the road to a couple of places and met a lot of awesome bands. We’re really excited to hit the road again.
Are there recurring themes or messages in your lyrics?
Definitely horror. A lot of our songs are all different stories, but you’re supposed to interpret them in your own way. Soon, we’re gonna have our lyrics available so you can check them out.
Photo: Rad Zarei.
What was the feedback from your audience on your latest single Cryogenic State?
[The feedback] was good; people liked it. That one’s our Batman song!
Would you guys ever sign to a label, or do you prefer DIY?
We definitely have our eyes on some [labels] we would like to work with in the future.
Any upcoming tours, collaborations, or special projects?
I think we’re doing a Doomed to Obscurity tour soon; we’re just still working out the details! We also have an all-ages show Saturday, March 16 with Exorcist, Grimhold, and Ultimis at The Brass Monkey.
Love head-banging local metal? Check out Corpsepit on Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, and Facebook.
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