The Pagan Dead

When you think of Salt Lake City, UT you don't think about Psychobilly. One of the hardest bands of the genre emerges from SLC. The Pagan Dead have been around since 2000 and will soon be releasing there 3rd album. You can hear a heavy Metal influence in there sound as well as other influences. Its been a long time since the band released a new album so I'm glad to heard they are still going strong. Keep your eyes on there page for more information on the band as we eagerly await the release of the “The One of the Black Goatskin”. I had a chance to speak with Muerto and here's the man in his own words...

BBM: Whats your name and what do you do for the band?

My name is Patrick also known as Hades or Muerto. Upright Bass, Vocals, and Songwriter

BBM: Hows life treating ya?

Life has been extremely busy for the last couple of years but it has been good.

BBM: How did you come up with the bands name Pagan Dead?

The name comes from the Samhain song entitled Samhain. “Autumn’s cold brings the Pagan Dead who seek the warmth of the Samhain fires.” We did a cover version of the song on our first album and it was one of the first songs we started playing together as a band.

BBM: What was your first major experience in music and what made you want to be in a psychobilly band?

I first played bass in a couple of rockabilly bands in my late teens/early twenties. Playing rockabilly was a good experience but I wanted to start something where I could express other interests so I formed the Pagan Dead and began writing songs. The Pagan Dead has never been just a psychobilly band. We have always crossed over into metal, and this has steadily progressed with each release.

BBM: Three words that describe the band?

Primeval. Vehement. Chthonic.

BBM: I heard the unmasterd track and its killer! Tell our readers about the album?


We have a new album coming out soon that we’ve been working on for quite a few years now. It has 8 songs and is about an hour long. It is concept album dealing with a Sorcerer's magickal workings, which lead him to the Sabbath of the Sorcerers. Each song represents and depicts a different formula, rite, ceremony, initiation, etc. the culmination of which is the dreaded Sabbath where the Sorcerer becomes the God and is rent asunder. His flesh and blood partaken of as a sacrament. We have a preview track up on YouTube for listeners to check out.

BBM: What’s the name of the album and how did you come up with it?

The name of our new album is “The One of the Black Goatskin”, which is also the title of the final song on the album. It is an epithet of Bacchus and the song is a hymn unto him. It depicts the Bacchanalia as the Sabbath of the Sorcerers. The major influence for the song was Frazer’s Golden Bough.

BBM: How would you say the sound of this album has evolved compared to past work?

Our sound has evolved considerably on this album, especially with the addition of our new guitar players—Rocker and Alejandro. Both of whom are excellent guitar players and this is our first album to feature 2 guitar players which makes the songs more dynamic with harmonies and amazing guitar solos. The sound is darker, heavier, more dynamic, and has progressed further towards metal.  I took a different approach to the songwriting process and with the help and input of the rest of the members of the band it had a great impact on the end result of each song.

BBM: When/where can people get their hands on it?

We don’t have a date set as of now. We’re working on getting it out early in 2013. Possibly January. We will have a CD release show here in Salt Lake City which will be the first place people will be able to get there hands on the new album. Then we will have it for sale digitally and through the website shortly thereafter.

BBM: How would you say the psychobilly scene had changed since forming?


Here in Salt Lake City the psychobilly scene is practically non-existent and I would say we are fairly out of touch with how the scene is in other parts of the world. It seems like it has died down considerably from when the band formed. There used to be a lot more going on out in California as far as festivals and big shows.

BBM: Funniest touring moment?

I think I could answer the question better as a most memorable tour moment rather than funniest, which would have to be the day after one of our shows in Browsville out on a beach in the gulf of Mexico with a bottle of mescal, a bottle of anejo, a cooler full of beer, a huge bonfire, fire walking and shooting a handgun at a metal garbage can.

BBM: Favorite place to tour and why?

Our favorite place to tour is probably Austin and Brownsville Texas. Great crowd, great friends, and a great time after the show!

BBM: Where do you find inspiration in life?

I find inspiration from books, music, poetry, nature, magick, meditation and other mystical practices, and from the gods…

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?

I am a ceremonial magician and a yogi and am currently in teacher training to become a certified Yoga teacher. I am also an avid owner of the American Pit Bull Terrier. I currently have 4 dogs that are all named after gods and goddesses.

BBM: What’s in heavy rotation in your ipod?

Anything and everything by Brown Bird has been in heavy rotation for quite some time now.

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to start a psychobilly band?

As with everything in life, if you put your will into it you will succeed. Where there is a will there is a way. Don’t let anything or anybody get in your way.

BBM: Besides the album whats coming up for the future?

As of now we don’t have any other plans for the future. I am starting a new project and will probably mainly focus on that for now. We’ll see what the future holds.

BBM: Where can fans get merch and the latest news on the band?

We should have some new merch made up for the CD release and we will be updating our website and will have some for sale on there again. Best place for latest news will be on the website once its updated or on our Facebook page.

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?

For some last words how about a quote of some lyrics off the upcoming album? “Cast out of a dying womb a God without form, and from the lightning’s fire the daemon is reborn…”