Decepticide's logo at the show. Photo by Kaitlyn Gaub.
Disclaimer: One member of The Northern Light is a bassist for Decepticide. This article does not mention this member or their affiliation with either community.
The alternative music scene in Anchorage — and Alaska in general — has been sparse the last few years. A band that has remained a mainstay of the scene is the thrash and melodic death metal band Decepticide. The band performed at Chilkoot Charlie’s on Feb. 21 alongside COLORS MVMNT from Fairbanks.
Decepticide was formed by vocalist Ryan Hull, drummer Brian Harris and guitarist Enzo Montana in 2008. The Northern Light interviewed Hull and Montana about the band and the music scene in Anchorage.
The band has been going strong for 17 years, and is a group based on their shared love of the music and friendship. Hull said that all of the members are friends, have day jobs and most have kids.
The band’s first show was at Hull’s house on New Year’s in 2008, cementing the band’s beginning.
Anchorage has been the band’s main stage, but they have also played in Pennsylvania while touring for roughly one year. Pennsylvania is known as a large hub for heavier music in the U.S.
The band grew up with the music scene here in Anchorage, and experienced waves of popularity. Montana said he mourns old all-ages venues that included Club Millennium and Anchorage Community Works.
Although, there are still some all-ages venues in Anchorage, like Out North and another space downtown, where the band performed a week prior to the Chilkoot Charlie’s show.
Hull and Montana had previously played for the band Murder Is Justice in Anchorage and were ready to try a new project. Hull said introducing himself to playing music and metal in general seemed like a destiny.
“I’m like a fourth generation musician on my dad’s side, so it was always ingrained in me to do it,” said Hull.
“I met some people in high school, and they just kind of started handing me music. And the first time I heard Pantera and Slayer that was saying, I grabbed the torch and just ran with it. I have ADHD like a motherfucker, so I'm always hunting new music,” Hull said.
Montana also cited Pantera as an influence for Decepticide. After forming the band, Montana said they started exploring bands like Lamb of God and Darkest Hour, and started to inject some of the modern metalcore sound into their music.
Montana, originally from Columbia, became interested in metal music and playing guitar when he moved to the U.S. in 2001.
“My step brother, he had an electric guitar. I had never seen an electric guitar in my life and so he started playing some Metallica for me,” said Montana.
“And I was just blown away that you could replicate the sounds of songs that I recognized, and I just couldn't believe that. So, like, I started playing music from there and playing heavy music too.”
As to why metal is the chosen genre for the band:
“Metal is powerful. If music you're listening to doesn't affect your emotional state, it's not doing its job. Metal, good metal, even songs I've listened to for ten years still give me goosebumps on the good spots.”
Hull and Montana both explained how they fight against the modern digital music scene while mostly relying on people coming to shows and buying CDs.
“To get people interested in music is this right here. It's live music, live shows, because people can watch … but there is nothing like being there, and that's why it's so important for these all-ages venues to pop up,” said Montana.
“So like, kids who are growing up in such a, like streaming-era experience, like real music in real time, and not just like, on a fucking click of a fucking button.”
Montana added that he hopes playing live shows will inspire younger artists to break into the scene.
The band also has a new EP in the works that is set to release over the summer, as well as a recently released single “Immolation.”
Anchorage’s music scene is small but mighty.
Hull said, “I think we’re about to see a good upswing.”
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