Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
We are a relatively new band. ITUS formed in the beginning of 2019 when Brandon Lucking and I decided to write doom songs together. We tend to see eye to eye musically, and we both have extensive past band histories.
In high school, some bored buddies and I co-founded a band called Morterra out of Burlington (Retirementvill, Canada), and we did pretty well for some teenagers with long hair, frequently rubbing shoulders with tons of bands from Hamilton back in 2004-2007. In 2011 I co-founded Vodnik out of Toronto.
From 2014 to 2018 Brandon played bass in Dead Man’s Will out of Learnighton, Ontario and Unsacred Seed out of London.
How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
We would describe our style or sound as an attempt to draw horror themes and some very enjoyable metal feels from the 90’s to blend doom, death and groove metal with a psychedelic atmosphere. We employ the use of many pedals and effects to achieve these sounds, in tandem with our very dark melodies and demon-possessed lyrics.
Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?
In ITUS we strive to offer something completely different from even the genres we choose to stem from. Using our technical knowledge and experience with gear and live shows, we are vying to achieve the same if not close to the same sound live as on our albums. We bring a dark, heavy, bone-chilling atmosphere to the table which we believe will entice the metal spirit out of people.
What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media?
So far ITUS has released 2 music videos of cover songs, one of Sepultura’s ‘Roots Bloody Roots’ and one of Rob Zombie’s ‘Lords of Salem’, and both were well received by the burgeoning fanbase. Those were released on Devil’s Night and Halloween of 2019.
This past Friday (February 7, 2020), we released our debut single and EP title track ‘PRIMORDIAL’. So far it has surpassed our expectations in terms of public response and proved a solid preview to our upcoming EP due out Friday the 13th of March.
Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far?
We have yet to perform live, but we’ve started jamming with a Drummer at our jam space/headquarters. We are looking for booking a cd release show, so stay tuned.
What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
Our approach to every aspect of this band has and will continue to be professionally and thought out. We are not here to waste our time or anyone who thinks that we’re worth their time. We are here to do what we love, and that includes running a business to ensure ITUS’ success.
What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
As we release our DEBUT EP/album Friday the 13th of March 2020, we plan to continue producing music videos to promote and push our music. Indeed we plan to produce a video for each and every song we release to the public. Expect one every 1-2 months. Some will be lyric videos, but in ITUS we happen to have a passion for film as well as music. We have friends growing in that industry and we pride ourselves on our collaborative instincts.
Meanwhile, we have also been busy writing the next EP. As of now, we may be able to record and release it this year, but we aren’t going to confirm any dates publicly. This is a project of passion as well as a business, and we ascribe to the motto of ‘under-promise, over-deliver’.
Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
We are active on Facebook so contact us anytime and we’ll direct you to our Youtube, Bandcamp, and/or Twitter. Purchase our single (and soon more) on Spotify, Itunes and Google play.
February 2020