Interviews    Orodruin
by Chris Barnes

Rochester, NY's Orodruin is quickly making a name for itself among doom fans the world over...their demo CD-R is truly a magnificient piece of traditional doom work. So good, in fact, that Hellride Music will be releasing a split 7" with Orodruin and Finnish melancholy masters Reverend Bizarre in the Spring of 2003. Orodruin's combination of masterful misery riffs, killer breakdowns and prolific lyrics make this band one to watch and should be on any doom aficionados checklist. Hellride Music talks with founder/guitarist and sometime vocalist John Gallo, drummer Mike Waske and bassist/vocalist Mike Puleo.


Hellride Music: John, I first read about Orodruin on your Born Too Late website about 3 or 4 years ago I think. At that time, you guys were just in the planning stages at that time. Later I read a review of your demo in Metal Maniacs, but I can't remember what the hell it said. Then Albert from the mighty Reverend Bizarre mentions you and then the demo mysteriously arrives in the mail. And it rules. What was the catalyst for getting a band together? Had you Always been into doom?

John Gallo: I've been into Sabbath since I was lil' tike so that eventually compelled me to buy any band that sounded like Sabbath. It's mainly about the sound, that dirge like crunch and smoldering tone. Around the time I was 15 or 16, I was digging bands like Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Trouble, Cathedral, The Obsessed, WFG, COC, etc.
I started Orodruin due to the love of that style and wanted to pay homage to it. We started up around summer of 1998 right after I left a local black metal called Night Conquers Day, which I played session keyboards for. Doom is a style that was true to myself and would not be fulfilled 'til I accomplished that goal. Nick and Mike P. joined on that summer and we began writing. We were 3 guitarists making songs, haha. Being that we are also big Maiden fans it seemed that it became more and more addictive in the writing process at the time. Next thing we knew we were writing classic/NWOBHM riffs and by the time our first studio session came around we ended up doing a demo in that vein. It contained 2 songs, "Sons Of Nature" (million riff orgy classic metal) and "Creation Through Death" ( kinda doomy). We had to hire a drummer and I played most of the bass on that recording. Otherwise we all played guitar and I sang. It was recorded at Audio Images by Sebastian Marino (ex-Anvil/Overkill) back in Jan 99'. To bring things up to date...we never found a complete lineup for the next couple years and were in total stagnation. Things didn't really start to kick off again till Fall of 2001 when I was fooling around with my 8 track recorder. By that time I had acquired a drum set and bass and started recording some doomy riffs on my own. I added all the parts myself and made an mp3 out of it. I sent out an email to some people, including Mike Waske (who was in a local band called 137 at the time), so they could check it out. My previous band mates were blown away by the song. Next thing I knew I got an email back from Mike Waske asking if I needed a drummer. I was like ' Hell Yeah!!'. I brought my original members back on board and attained a drummer. Mike P switched over to bass/vocals and Nick and I maintained our guitar positions.

Hellride Music: Orodruin is a Tolkien reference isn't it? What led you to choose that name?

John: I've been into Tolkien since I was in high school back in 1994. That was my main inspiration alongside doom metal. I remember reading in some Tolkien Bestiary that Orodruin means Mountain Of Doom. I was like....there is no possible place that could be doomier than that! It sounded heavy ass and it best described our music.

Hellride Music: I would have to agree with you there. Whose in the band currently and what do they play?

Nick "Opium Eater" Tydelski - Guitar
Mike Waske - Drums
Mike Puleo - Bass & Vocals
John Gallo - Guitar / organs on album

Hellride Music: Do you get a chance to play live very much? The club environment isn't exactly doom friendly....

John: Yeah we've had quite a few gigs this year. In fact I believe we're going to be opening for a Blind Guardian / Symphony X show this November. That should be pretty cool, I'll prolly wear a Maiden shirt for that gig! haha. I must admit most of our shows consist of mainly death or rock lineups. I would like to see us get on a doom show soon. We have a club here called The Bug Jar which has the best sound for doom bands! It's kinda small and really gives us that up close and personal vibe. The last time we played, it was our most punishing set yet! Heavy!

Mike Waske: It is difficult booking one-off shows. Most clubs don't understand the genre and you end up traveling 2 hours to play with some nu-metal band. I wasted a lot of time last year traveling with my old band, I want to do it right this time. We are working hard to get our name out there so we can tour. When we do play out, I actually prefer the hole-in-the-wall places. We don't have to worry about a soundman making us sound like a death metal band. They are usually scrambling around trying to get more volume to keep up with our amps.

Hellride Music: Give us the low down on the Orodruin songwriting process... how does that come about? And who the hell is responsible for the breakdowns in some of your songs? Those are mighty tasty!!

John: I have no idea what a break down is. You mean those riffs when the other shit stops and like one riff is playing?? hehe. We are all involved in the writing process. A lot of the songs contain a little bit of all our ideas. Sometimes one of us will have an entire song written and we'll go over it to see what we can add to it. Lately, we've been writing songs right at the jam space. One of us will kick out a riff or two then another person will kick out the next riff and we just arrange it.

Mike W: This is the first group I have been in where the song writing process has been the most enjoyable part. We have a good sense for each other and where the music is going. There are so many riffs yet to be unleashed!

Mike Puleo: Definitely. We have been collaborating quite a bit lately. I also started to jam vocally. A riff will break out and I improvise with words and melodies. This is turning out to be one of the best ways to write for us.

Hellride Music: How about the lyrics... I'm listening to 'Pierced by Cruel Winds' right now and not only is that a great DOOM song title, but it's a great example of the prolific quality of the Orodruin lyrics. Where does the inspiration come from?

John: That would be Mike P's territory. He conjures up epic linguistics of verbal constipation within the darkest crevices of his mind. Oh yeah, I wrote the lyrics to "Burn The Witch"….nothing special….just about a Troll eating a Witch's skin.

Mike P : When we were in the studio tracking the guitars, we were listening to the playback of the song. The riffs were so massive that it painted a picture of destruction, mammoths, and other various doom themes. You could say the song wrote the lyrics.

Hellride Music: Name the top five greatest Doom bands of all time, in your opinion of course, and why you chose 'em.

John: Saint Vitus - Because they got me into doom and are the sloth lords of all time with the gut wrenching mid, Trouble - This is what doom is about, the depressive slow single note harmonies, Witchfinder General - This band was way low before their time. Death Penalty is definitely an album to whip out for doom enlightenment. Pentagram/Death Row - Man, Victor Griffin and Vincent McAllister are the riff master generals. Pentagram encompasses the whole spectrum of doom! My last choice is a tie between Cathedral and Candlemass. Cathedral were the progenitors of the next wave of doom and they carried on the tradition of their forefathers. Candlemass revolutionized doom to the masses in the form of epic doom metal that put excellent song writing and guitar solos into the opus.

Hellride Music: Nice choices. What are your plans for Orodruin in the future? You're in the studio currently aren't you? How's that going?

John: Yes, we are working on the song for the split. (which you are graciously putting out, cheers!). We also have a couple other songs which are probably our best yet. I think with our new songs we are starting to define our own style. We are adding some progressive elements here and there and the doomy riffs are doomier than ever! Mike P's vocals have become very intense. I think a lot of doomers will be surprised by the new stuff.

Mike W : Release album and tour! If we can find the right label to work with, I will spend all next year on the road. Doom for the masses!

Mike P : Hopefully with the release of the Reverend Bizarre/Orodruin split, we will get more people's attention. I am eager to tour and release more epic doom opuses.

Hellride Music: Will the time ever come for an Orodruin line of merch? Not only the obligatory T-shirts, but the backpacks, lunch pails, the McFarlane Toys line of Orodruin action figures, etc... in other words, if Sharon Osbourne ever offered to manage Orodruin, would you take it?

John: hmmm, Parker Bros. has agreed to release an Orodruin video game for the Atari 2600. It shall be about a quest for fire in the deepest caverns of Mount Doom. Remember that game, Warlords, it's going to be a cross between that, River Reid, and The Smurfs.

If Sharon Osbourne offered to manage us???? That would mean the earth would stand still, animals would stand upright and humans would develop new orifices that would spurt feces from their eye brows. But, hey... I'm game.

Mike W: Merch is definitely in the works. We hope to get the album out soon so we can hit the road selling Orodruin steak knife sets.

Hellride Music: HAHA!!!! The last track of the demo...erm... I don't have the track listing here in front of me, but it's a killer. Is that a mellotron your using there? If not what is it and whose suggestion was it to incorporate that sound? It's very DOOOOOOOOOOOOOMY!

John: Oh yeah, that's a Yamaha synthesizer. We had this long ass ending after "Epicurean Mass" and just wanted it to be really decrepit and doomy. Mike P. and Nick played the acoustic guitars and I did the Synth and organs. That's cool that you think it's a mellotron. We're going to continue to incorporate weird stuff like that in the future.

Hellride Music: How about the Born Too Late website. Will you keep that running?

John: I can't even remember the last time I "ran" it, Haha. As you have noticed it's been a little out of date lately. Actually, I have a second staff member, KM Doom aka Mark Konzerowsky, who is doing interviews with Albert of Reverend Bizarre and a band called Eyes Of Ligeia. That should be cool, I'll get those posted as soon as I get them. I would like to maintain Born Too Late so that it stays the premier haven for all things traditional doom.

Hellride Music: I gotta ask, who did the Orodruin website? It looks awesome!

John: That would be me, I like to do dorky things like create graphics and make websites. Thanks, I appreciate your praise. As long as the site serves the purpose of being informative and available for most pc's to view. I am sick of all those slick flash sites that have all diamonds but no rust. People need to put more creativity into simple methods of web design rather than bland ideas with flashy bells and whistles.

Hellride Music: OK John. Many thanks for the interview and best of luck to Orodruin in the future. Any last words? Shout-out or wassups?

John: No problem, we appreciate all the support we can get. I'd like to mention we have a show with Blind Guardian and Symphony X, November 18th, 2002 at The Waterstreet Music Hall in Rochester, NY. Anyone in the upstate NY area is more than welcome to attend. Opening with us are fellow local metaller's Warblade. For more info go to http://suddendeathovertime.com

Many hails go out to every single doom band and fan in the entire scene through out the whole world. You all know who you are and I don't wanna leave anyone out! And hail Impaled, you sick bastards!

Mike W : Shout-out to Hellride!


Read the Hellride Music review of Orodruin's demo CD-R.

Visit the Orodruin website at http://orodruin.us

Visit the Born to Late website at www.born-to-late.com

Copyright 2002 HellrideMusic.com
Interview by Chris Barnes 10/16/02