Edwin (Guitar) and Tyler (Vocals) from Harvest the Lost
Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?
Edwin: The name in short refers to the grim reaper, which is why you see a scythe in our logo. Much of our material covers melancholic topics about the human experience, based on a mixture of fictional and non-fictional themes, including death, the downfall of the human race, horror, etc.
We started the band in October 2016, which was when we recorded our first song, Wasted Life. I grew up in Northern Virginia while Tyler grew up in Central Virginia, and Australia for a time!
Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?
Tyler: Yeah we’re the same age. We worked together but didn’t interact much. Once we both realized that we were both into metal and played music everything kind of just fell into place.
Edwin: Before the band, I had a solo instrumental project that I did as a hobby and posted stuff to soundcloud. At some point, Tyler sent me a sample of his vocals over one of my tracks and after a little bit of brainstorming, we decided to form a new band altogether.
Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?
Tyler: I grew up in a super conservative and religious household so finding music that I could relate to was difficult for me. I started skateboarding when I was 14 and my friends introduced me to Slipknot. I immediately fell in love with their sound and image and started downloading their music off of limewire. I would listen to them behind my parents back and they were my gateway-drug into the metal music world. So slipknot has a special place in my heart. Now days I’d have to say my favorite bands are Signs of the Swarm, Lorna Shore, Carnifex and Monastaries. Will Ramos is a huge inspiration vocally and a good model of all the crazy sounds a human being can make.
Edwin: I listened to hip-hop growing up but really did so to try and fit in with the “cool kids” (Spoiler alert: It didn’t work). When I was about 14, I was introduced to System of a Down and immediately fell in love. As time went on, I went looking for something heavier, but I didn’t know how or where to find it. I had a friend in high school burn me a CD with bands like Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Slipknot, and Behemoth. Tyler was actually the one that got me more into deathcore and I started listening to bands like Suicide Silence, Chelsea Grin, To The Grave. Behemoth is definitely a major influence for my guitar playing as they use lots of tremolo picking/palm muting and harmonic minor patterns. I also draw a bit of inspiration from After the Burial, which is a favorite of mine.
Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?
Tyler: I’ve been playing music since I was 10 years old. I started with classical piano and picked up the guitar halfway through my teenage years. Music has always been a passion of mine and I’ve always tried to incorporate it into my life in some way or another.
Edwin: I was a band geek all throughout grade school, playing the trumpet. At 14, I got a guitar for Christmas which was coincidentally when I began listening to metal and 17 year later, here I am. I don’t ever plan on stopping!
What songs or albums are on your current playlist?
Tyler: “Stained in Rot “ by Ov Sulpher, “King ov Deception “ by Lorna Shore, “Force fed Apathy” by Monastaries are my favorites right now.
Do you sing in the shower?
Tyler: Not really. Honestly most of my singing and screaming practice is done on my hour commute to work and back each day.
Edwin: Maybe humming some riff ideas here and there but mostly I just ponder the universe and the ever present existential dread haha
Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?
Tyler: Release as much fucking music as possible and hopefully start to get a little more attention from the metal community.
Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?
Tyler: Yeah we’ve got several in the works!
Edwin: As a matter of fact, we have a single coming out on December 02! It’s called Devoid Ov Hope.
If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?
Tyler: Honestly the Canal Club in Richmond, VA or Baltimore Soundstage would be sick.” That’s where we always have to go to see metal shows so I guess that’s just in my head ha. Also now that I think about it, Penhurst Asylum in Pennsylvania would be pretty cool too- they sometimes have concerts there and that would be pretty badass.
Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?
Tyler: No, unless we’re talking about Slipknot I never have a favorite album-I just like various songs from albums.
Edwin: It’s always hard to choose, but definitely Rareform by After the Burial
Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?
Tyler: I listen to a wide range of music from Classical music, pop punk, Country and Southern Rock. I’m pretty open about my musical influence and tastes so I don’t feel bad about any of them ha.
Edwin: I make it a point not to ever feel guilty about anything I listen to! That being said, I love Taylor Swift, especially her new album. But it also depends on my mood because I’ll listen to just about anything, ie rap, EDM, country…
If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?
Tyler: Lorna Shore, Signs of the Swarm, Chelsea Grin, Brand of Sacrifice, Angelmaker, Carnifex, Monastaries, Distant and Vulvodynia.
Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money?
Tyler: Oh god, I’m pretty sure it was probably *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys or something back in the 90s lol.
Edwin: Mine was definitely No Strings Attached by *NSYNC.
As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?
Tyler: Thanks for supporting our music, it means so much. I always tell Edwin that if at least one fucking pre-teen listens to us behind his parents back and blares our music when he’s pissed at his mom then we’ll have accomplished enough haha.
Social Media:
Instagram: @harvestthelost
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1JzfRLkmnwMwru5REg4fas?si=6TOJui3tRCGDib-vWRpMHg
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJ8psSv8r_vWYRjaor6azg
This interview is purely the property of The Metal Asylum