As you step through the rusty iron gates and enter the old graveyard, the sound of your footsteps echo off the worn tombstones. The moon casts an eerie glow over the burial ground, illuminating the gnarled tree branches that stretch out like bony fingers. As you make your way deeper into the overgrown boneyard the air grows thick with an oppressive sense of dread. The rustling of leaves and the faint howling of the wind combine to create a haunting melody that seems to permeate every corner of the cemetery. In the distance, you spot shadowy figures moving between the gravestones. They disappear leaving you with a sense of unease. You quicken your pace, hoping to escape. As you approach an ancient mausoleum, you hear a low growling sound emanating from within. Your heart races as you realize somethings lurking inside, waiting to pounce. Suddenly, several pairs of ghastly red eyes appear in the darkness. You freeze, unable to move as the creatures make their way out into the moonlight revealing sharp glinting teeth.
Casket Robbery is an American death metal band that was formed in 2007 in Madison, Wisconsin. They have garnered a reputation for their intense live performances and their unique blend of death metal and horror-inspired themes. One of the defining characteristics of Casket Robbery is the powerful and commanding vocals of Megan Orvold. Her aggressive screams and guttural growls perfectly complement the band’s heavy and brutal sound. The lyrics often explore themes of occult and the macabre, drawing inspiration from classic horror movies and literature. Cory Scheider and Troy Powell’s guitar work are also standout features of the band. The riffs are tight, technical, and often include a touch of melody that sets Casket Robbery apart from
other death metal bands. The rhythm section, comprised of Bryan Bykowski on bass and Erik Schultek on drums, provides a solid foundation for the band’s music, with Bykowski’s bass lines
adding an extra layer of depth and complexity to the songs. Casket Robbery has unleashed their new full length ‘Rituals of Death’ to critical acclaim.
Metal Lair had a chat with Megan Orvold, the front woman of the band, read on to see what she had to reveal.
ML: Can you give everyone a brief history of the band members and how everyone got their start in music for those who aren’t familiar with the band?
Megan: I joined the band a little under 6 years ago, really with the intent of filling in for a tour but then it all just really fit and I loved it. The rest is history 🙂
ML: Tell me about your experiences in the metal scene as a woman who not only does the death metal growl but does it extremely well.
Megan: Its no secret this genre is male dominated but I’ve been so very lucky to have really wonderful experiences being a part of the scene. Its so incredible to have people look up to and compliment my vocals, especially young women. Yeah, there have been some not so great
experiences over the years but the amazing ones overshadow them by far.
ML: How long did it take to learn the growling vocal technique and what made you decide that was the direction you wanted to go in?
Megan: I have been singing since I can remember but started to get fascinated with attempting harsh vocals in my 20’s. I joined a metalcore band and was not really happy with my progress in doing them so I started taking lessons. Those lessons gave me the tools to develop my harsh vocals to where they are today and I am SO THANKFUL.
ML: How are you feeling about all the success the band is experiencing?
Megan: We are just incredibly grateful. We work very, very hard behind the scenes and are really excited to see how far we can push this. We’re just focused on putting out good music, working hard, and maintaining our super important relationships with our fans.
ML: what are your thoughts on the extensive touring you are about to embark on?
Megan: We love it! We really look forward to meeting so many new people and fans. Its a blast.
ML: Tell me a bit about your album Rituals of Death. The album goes pretty hard. The songs and the lyrics are from the stuff of horror films which I really love. Are the lyrics solely born from the uncertainty of the pandemic or is there something more to them? Was the album meant to be light and fun or did it come from a darker place?
Megan: We’ve always had that tongue-in-cheek horror vibe to everything we’ve written as an homage to all of the cheesy horror movies that we love so much. This album really walked that line along with a darkness that came out that I don’t think any of us expected. Be it the pandemic, the state of the world, and things going on in our personal lives at the time it definitely came out dark We really seek out to walk that line between those aspects and I’m glad it came across so well with this album.
ML: How did all the band members meet and how did you guys decide to form a band?
Megan: Cory is the original member of the band. It started out as a side project for them and slowly morphed into what it is today. I joined a little under 6 years ago and fell in love with it. We’ve been fortunate enough to be introduced to members over the years that align with our goals for the band, really just through being in the industry- touring is hard, really fun and we love to do it but it really does take various tolls in peoples lives and is a hard thing to do. Lots of sacrifices have to be made so we’re thankful with the team that we have and that our goals
really mesh well.
ML: Do you all hang out when not doing band stuff?
Megan: We do! When we can. Living in separate areas and really working super hard in our
personal lives when we are home so that we’re able to tour takes up a lot of our time, but we find time to hang out together.
ML: Who does all the writing for the music?
Megan: It is usually a combination of all of us. Sometimes Cory will come up with some initial ideas and bring them to the band and we’ll work them out into full songs. Sometimes we all get together and write.
ML: What’s next for Casket Robbery? Do you guys already have an idea for your next album?
Megan: Definitely more writing, and getting to work on this next album. I have a TON of ideas and lyric notes so I can’t wait to sit down and get to work!
ML: Do you have any last words for your fans?
Megan: We love you more than words. You have all been there through EVERYTHING with us and you are what keeps us going in this insane (though fun) industry. Thank you for every share, every comment, every word of encouragement, showing up, all of it.
ML: It was a total pleasure talking with you. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule.
Track Listing:
Worm Food
Don’t Forget The Eyes
Death’s Dance
Post-Mortem
Beautiful Death
Bone Mother
The Hidden
The Hideous Old Ones Reanimate
Return To The Sky
From Hell
