Whipworm on Rock Attitude
“Sometimes a song just needs a moment to breathe”
In this interview for Rock Attitude, Travis Weinand of Whipworm discusses Death Beyond, the band’s fifth full-length release, diving into its narrative-driven concept, cinematic approach, and evolving sound. Blending aggression with atmosphere and rooted in an organic songwriting process, the album reflects a band growing more confident in its identity while continuing to push its creative limits.
With Death Beyond marking your fifth full-length release, how do you see the band evolving both musically and conceptually at this stage?
– The most important thing is to just let the music develop organically. I rarely sit to write with any preconceived ideas, I just let it happen as it wants to. But it does seem that we get a bit more ambitious and confident in what we’re capable of each time around. So I wouldn’t be surprised if the next album is an even more epic adventure.
The album follows a narrative about fate, prophecy, and challenging Death itself — what inspired this concept, and how did it develop during the writing process?
– I actually had a dream about it. I began getting letters from someone who knew things they couldn’t possibly know, and went out to find them, and got lost in a dark forest. The rest I developed later. I began writing it as a screenplay, but the material lent itself to metal so well, I couldn’t resist using it as the basis for the album.
Storytelling plays a central role in Death Beyond. How important is narrative cohesion to your songwriting compared to purely musical ideas?
– I just love albums that pull you in and give you something more to experience. I’m a huge film nerd, so trying to weave a more cinematic experience into my songwriting has been something I have been doing for a long time. It also really helps shape the sonic landscape and gives me a kind of musical compass. The emotional flow of the story influences the sounds that evolve.
The record blends thrash and death metal with a cinematic scope — how do you approach balancing aggression with atmosphere?
– The push and pull of the more aggressive elements against the more atmospheric parts is really what makes writing this stuff fun. The loud parts make the quiet parts more engaging, and then when the heaviness hits again, its impact is much more effective. The tension building between the two is what I aim for.
Can you walk us through the creative dynamic between Travis Weinand and Dave Ferarra when building such a detailed and conceptual album?
– Thankfully Dave is always down for whatever mad ideas I have. Our last record was a concept album about Ghostbusters, haha. I come up with the riffs, then we sit and work on them together and get everything where it needs to be. Once the structure is put together, he records his drum parts in his studio and sends them to me. Then I sit in my studio and begin putting all the details together. It’s a long process of refinement and experimentation.
The album features both relentless speed and darker, more atmospheric passages — how do you decide when to shift between these extremes?
– It all just kind of happens as we write. I never have the intention of making a song a certain way. Sometimes a song just needs a moment to breathe. Especially in a song with narrative support, the music needs to reflect the emotions and action of the story.
Having started during the pandemic, how has the band’s origin shaped your identity and creative direction today?
– The time we were forced to spend at home gave me the opportunity to put together a very humble home studio. For the first time in my life, I could take as much time as I wanted to experiment and record. I learned how to produce, mix and master our songs and make them sound just how I want. We also had lots of time to just be in our rehearsal room just jamming. That time gave us a nice starting point, and we realized how much we enjoy working together.
There’s a strong sense of escalation throughout the story of Death Beyond. Did you structure the music to mirror the protagonist’s journey?
– Absolutely. Each song reflects what is happening to our unfortunate main character. The lyrics aren’t written until after the songs are finished, however. So while I’m writing, it’s all just a loose structure of the narrative. The themes influence the music, and then the music influences the lyrics. Sometimes I come up with the song titles before writing any riffs. It’s an organic process that isn’t set in stone. But it works for me, so I don’t mess with it.
Your sound pays tribute to multiple eras of heavy music while remaining distinct — which influences played the biggest role in shaping this album?
– It may be painfully obvious, but Opeth are one of our biggest influences. The way they deftly weave between brutality and beauty is unmatched. I also was listening to a bit of Revocation and Alice in Chains. I think some of those influences shine through.
With each release pushing your limits further, what goals did you set for yourselves with Death Beyond, and where do you plan to go next?
– We really just wanted to make something that is unmistakably ours. I think each release we get more of our own unique identity, and this album is something we are extremely proud of. We aren’t trying to be anything for anyone, or to fit in anywhere. Going forward, the main goal, as it always has been, is to have fun. Dave and I love doing this. We challenge each other to push our limits and get better. I expect the next one will be even more uniquely Whipworm.
Thanks!
-Travis Weinand
OFFICIAL LINKS
https://www.facebook.com/whipworm
https://www.instagram.com/whipwormmetal/
