Detroit hardcore band D Bloc are releasing their new EP, Do Not Cross, and we chatted with them about it.
The new album is a tour de force of clashing guitars and brutal aggression, highlighting the band’s unique Detroit-beatdown style, along with their ability to switch between shredding and chugging ahead, both equally ferocious. D Bloc—Camden Good (vocals), Rich Ybarra (guitar), Matt Slawick (bass), and Alex Adams (drums)—truly deliver everything you’d want from a heavy hardcore group with the new EP, showing they are a force to be reckoned with within the genre.
As the band reflect on Do Not Cross in full with listeners for the first time, we caught up with Good to learn more about the creation of the new EP.
What was the writing and recording process like for this album?
It was pretty natural. Rich (guitar) is extremely talented and proficient. Once he joined the band shortly after our first EP was released, we got right at it. He had a few songs the he already had written the music for, so we hit the ground running. I’d write lyrics to a video of us playing the song.
As far as recording goes, we couldn’t have asked for a better recording experience. We recorded the EP with Mat Kerekes (Citizen) in Toledo, Ohio. We’ve all known each other for a long time, so it was super comfortable. Mat had a lot of good input on the record, and we couldn’t have done it without him.
Who are some of your biggest influences on this album?
Rich is always listening to a lot of metal, actually. Usually listening to other genres helps him write better in the genre he’s trying to write, but bands like Hatebreed, Nothing Left, and Sepultura are always on heavy rotation. Also lifting weights and No Limit Records.
What are some of the lyrical themes on the record?
The lyrical themes on this album are just real things that I’ve been through or seen happen in the past couple years. There has been influx of fake people being exposed for the past few years in my life. That definitely was on my mind very heavily when I was writing the lyrics for this whole EP but specifically for the song “Mouthpiece.”
Do you have any touring plans in the works that you want to share?
Everyone in the band works full time and myself and Matt (bass) have children, so doing big tours really isn’t in the cards for us. I don’t know how much I can say but we do have two different “tours” outside of the United States in the works and a weekend run down south with some great bands and friends planned for later this year and early 2023.
What’s next for the band musically?
I think we’re going to start working on a full-length LP next. We’ve done two EPs at this point, and I think it’s been huge for us to be able to get that material out. I’m really excited to sit down with everyone and be able put out something a little bit longer and to cement ourselves as a band that did more than just a couple EPs.
Any Detroit HC bands you want to shout out to?
Of course there is! Shout out: Enemy of God, Big Deal, No End In Mind, Ante Up, Doubt It!, Loose Cannon, High Alert, Normal, Never Ending Game, Iced Out, Poison Tongues, Dogz of War, Cold As Life, and all the OG DHC bands.
Is there anything else you want to add?
Hardcore is sick and in a super cool place right now. Keep going to shows; Keep buying merch and records. Support your friends in what they’re doing, and gas them up as much as you can. Check out Detroit Head Check Zine podcast and Terror Zone podcast. Detroit hardcore forever.
For more from D Bloc, find them on Instagram and Facebook.
Photo courtesy of D Bloc
