DUMB WAITER - Blast Beats from Richmond, VA!

What happens when black metal, death metal, shoegaze and pop songwriting collide? You get Dumb Waiter which is, quite literally . . . RADICAL METAL. I seriously love these guys. That may creep them out a bit but the heart wants what the heart wants. In this episode of Radical Metal, we sit down with Dumb Waiter, one of Richmond, Virginia's most original and genre-defying bands, to explore the creative process behind their latest album, Change. We dive deep into: 🎵 How blast beats became a defining part of their sound 🎷 Why a saxophone can sound more like a synthesizer than a sax 🎤 The challenge of writing memorable vocals after 14 years as an instrumental band ⚖️ Balancing darkness, hope, atmosphere, and emotion 🛠️ Building songs by putting the music before individual egos 🤘 Richmond's thriving DIY, punk, and metal scene 🔥 Stories about Lamb of God, GWAR, Mastodon, Cephalic Carnage, and Virginia's incredible heavy music community 🎬 The meaning behind their surreal "Change" music video 🎸 Why sometimes the simplest song is the hardest one to write This conversation goes far beyond gear and influences. It's about creativity, honesty, artistic evolution, and what it takes to reinvent a band without losing its identity. ALSO . . . we really like them and want to be their best friends. So there is that. Watch and find out why. 🎧 Check out Dumb Waiter's new album Change and let us know your favorite track in the comments! Instagram: @dumbwaiterband Bandcamp: https://dumbwaiterva.bandcamp.com/alb... Here are chapter timestamps for the interview: 0:00 – Intro & pre-show banter 2:01 – Discussing the new album's genre and sound 4:03 – Metal influences and extreme music inspiration 6:09 – Evolving use of blast beats 8:25 – Band lineup and instrumentation (bass, sax, pedals) 10:55 – Atmosphere, feeling-driven songwriting 14:05 – Album tone: darker themes and lyrics 18:35 – Blending extreme genres with pop songwriting 22:12 – Writing/refining lyrics and vocals 26:02 – The "Change" music video 33:47 – Mastodon fandom and Richmond metal scene stories 39:54 – Richmond's music scene today 45:39 – Touring, sound mixing challenges 48:33 – Band chemistry & collaborative songwriting process 52:51 – Musical influences (David Gilmour, Genesis) 56:27 – Day jobs and creative life balance 1:00:30 – DIY music community in Richmond 1:04:24 – Favorite parts of the new album 1:07:46 – Closing remarks If you enjoy thoughtful conversations with musicians, artists, and creators exploring heavy music and the ideas behind it, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and ring the bell so you never miss an episode. Find us on these other platforms: Check us out on the following: Website: www.radicalmetal.com Substack: https://substack.com/@radicalmetal Instagram: @radicalmetal_theshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@radical.metal...