DUNGEON FILTH: ‘Make some music, see where it goes’

DUNGEON FILTH: ‘Make some music, see where it goes’

By Scott “Filthy, Dirty, Stinky” Belzer

If you’ve been around the Atlanta metal, punk or hardcore scene long enough, there’s a great chance you’ve seen the putrid, energetic, frenetic feast that is Dungeon Filth.

Whether it’s lightning fast fills, riffs that scrape the ground floor of hell or lyrics that make you wanna get freaky (both sexual and non-sexual) in a graveyard, Dungeon Filth has something for everyone when it comes to extreme music. Metalheads, punks, and crusty-kin alike flock to the Filth’s caustic call. Not ashamed to admit I’m one of them.

And it’s not just me. Dungeon Filth – made up of guitarist Mason Smith, vocalist Drew Travis and drummer Spencer Parker – have summoned the old and new across every Atlanta venue and dozens across the country. Whether it’s doing short runs across the southeast, southwest, northeast or Midwest with genre giants, welcoming fresh national acts and newcomers alike, Dungeon Filth acts as Atlanta’s own ambassador for all things GRIND. 

In honor of their upcoming show with Nuclear Tomb, Cemetery Filth (more Atlanta filth for my fellow filthy freaks) and Eyecatcher, it became evident it was high time to get the low down on the lower depths. After all, it’s not every day you run into a band with a seeming-BDSM fetish, showin’ them feet on stage, and knowing how to put the capital “G” into grind. 

1. The name Dungeon Filth brings up so many images, thoughts and assumptions. It’s great. But let’s get the story straight. What does it mean? Where does it come from? Gimme that origin story!

All: We all moved in together maybe in 2019 and called the basement where we practiced the ‘dungeon’. We leaned heavy into the BDSM theme and it felt fitting for the sound we were going for!

2. What inspired the first Dungeon Filth riff and song?

Drew: When writing the first song , it was one true crime story that really inspired me to write some lyrics about a young man in love/lust with a corpse, then I wrote all the guitar riffs to go with it, took it to the guys, and we put it all together. It was very much still in the black metal style that we originally started out as and took a lot of inspo from bands like Pungent Stench at the time.

3. How did the band come together? How has it changed over the years?

Drew: Initially, in 2017 I met Mason and Spencer separately at my fast-food job. After some lineup changes back then, at 5 members and under the name Bloodwvrm, we had 1 song mostly written and some band photos. After a bunch of changes in lineup and a few shows as Dungeon Filth, it was just the 3 of us, me taking over bass instead of rhythm guitar. Eventually decided to put the bass down all together.

4. What’s one common misconception about grind and grindcore?

All: We are all unsure how to answer this one. You have to be a little strange to listen to any extreme metal, and a more specific type of strange to appreciate grind.

1. The genre sits somewhere between metal, punk and hardcore – a niche within a few other niches. Why do folks typically “miss the boat” when it comes to grind? What’s the secret to truly appreciating it? 

Mason: Pizza Highfive and Couple Skate are some good answers to this one!

All: Grind is about pushing limits and boundaries and in the end, just playing for fun. We weren’t originally a grind band, and it took time for us to find our place, but once we did, things really took off. Make some music, see where it goes.

2. What draws you guys to this specific type of music? The aesethetics? Arrangements? Energy?

All: It’s all about the energy! We love blast beats and fast, ignorant riffs. Everyone we meet that grinds is genuinely so nice and cool, that’s a huge bonus, friends in all kinds of places!

1. What’s the secret to finding the perfect snare tone?

Spencer: Crank it. 

2. How many drum fills is too much? Is there such a thing? In a typical grind song, is there a fill minimum? 

Spencer: No Rules! Just play what you think is sick!

3. Who came up with the idea for bondage masks? Where did that go? Does the spirit still live on in other ways?

Drew: We had these crazy ideas for the stage performance. I built a Saint Andrew’s cross, got a bunch of dildos from our roommate who worked at Tokyo Valentino, and decided to go with a BDSM theme for our music for the first few years. 

We started with gimp masks, then changed them up, the dog mask and cross mask for Mason and Spencer were the most iconic! I’d breathe fire during shows and put people on the cross to be whipped, and we’d have a dog cage for the crowd to have fun with. 

It was a lot to keep up with and it gets hot as hell up there, so most of that went away. I still wear the harness and collar though, gotta keep it filthy!

4. Feet?

All: It gets hot as hell up there!

5. You guys seem to play once every other week. Out of the countless houses, dive bars and venues, what’s been your favorite thus far?

 All: Poor Boys in New Orleans. Our dude Gdubb puts on some of the best grind shows in the south.

6. Where do you look forward to playing shows in Atlanta? What’s the best spot these days?

All: South Bend Commons and Boggs of course!

7. What’s one thing Atlanta could do better when it comes to heavy-ass music?

Spencer: Play faster and play the music you want to hear!

8. Who are grind fans sleeping on? Who should folks be listening to right now to get hyped on grind in general?

All: Disease, Scrotal Erosion and Fake Dust, Shunt, so many more. Grind in the US is doing amazing, lots of great fests happen every year for fans of fast music! 

9. What about locally? What Atlanta music has you stoked right now?

All:  Stress Reliever, Fleshgrid, Corporatocracy, Borzoi, Cheerleader come to mind!

10. Any advice for people who hear Dungeon Filth and think to themselves, “Damn. I wanna do that”? 

All:  Make some good friends and start a band. Just start playing together, get tight, get good at your instruments, keep getting better and faster. Don’t worry about any rules, just write what feels good and makes your blood rush!

Tickets to see Dungeon Filth perform live at Boggs on Sunday, August 2nd with Nuclear Tomb, Cemetery Filth, and Eyecatcher are available online here.