Doomed Confessionary: Deadend Men
Deadend Men is a two-piece sludge/doom metal band from Kyiv, Ukraine. Without a permanent drummer, they wrote and recorded all the music at home by themselves. Only a few vocal parts were recorded in a studio with friends. Deadend Men prefer not to disclose their names because they wouldn’t want to draw too much attention.
Deadend Men’s second album »Rot« was just released on December 1st, 2024 on cassette and digital. It has a heavier and rawer sound. The band is already working on a sort of follow-up, which will differ slightly in style.
Can you say a few words about your band?
We’re a relatively young band that came together in late 2022 in Kyiv. Before that, we had all played in different bands – some in heavier genres like stoner, sludge, or punk rock, while one of us was even in a pop band. Two of us have known each other for nearly 20 years since we went to the same high school. Nowadays, we live in different cities, so we mostly meet on weekends to play and work on new material. Unfortunately, drummers keep changing.
We don’t reveal our names because, for example, one of us works in a government institution and prefers to stay under the radar, while another is a university lecturer and an engineer in a major company. We’re perfectly fine being anonymous in Deadend Men.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
The war started by Russia. It affects everything. We’ve already recorded two albums in two years and are working on a third because we don’t know what’s next—whether we’ll end up fighting ourselves or if a Russian missile will blow up our building one day. The constant stress from all this impacts every aspect of life.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Our second album, »Rot«. We recorded it in one breath, practically in a single take.
We’re also proud of staying true to ourselves. Every riff, every drum hit, and every bassline is a part of our story. Even without playing live, our music speaks louder than any words.
What was your biggest regret?
Regrets? Maybe that we haven’t played live yet because we can’t find a permanent drummer. But we see this as preparation for something explosive. Time will sort everything out.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Although we haven’t played live yet, our endless jam sessions feel like personal concerts: chaotic, imperfect, but magical.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The level of connection with listeners even without playing live. Social media and our recordings have opened new doors for us.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Our musical tastes are incredibly broad – from ambient and concrete music to EBM and punk rock – but lately, it’s been mostly sludge and doom. If we had to pick favorites, the top ones would definitely be EyeHateGod, Swans, Neurosis, Sleep, 1914, Thou, White Ward, Buzzoven, and Einstürzende Neubauten.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Never mix amphetamines with vodka.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Horror movie marathons with questionable snacks and strong booze.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Kyiv?
Kyiv, which is basically a mirror of the entire Ukrainian music scene, is going through a rough time. Foreign bands are afraid to come here, though even before the war, they rarely visited – with some nice exceptions. The local scene feels monotonous (with a few exceptions like 1914 and White Ward, but they play more abroad than at home). The biggest problem is that heavy music isn’t in demand here, and it’s rare for bands to fill venues. The whole scene mostly revolves around one specific clique that we’re not eager to be part of. If you’re not in the clique, no one cares about you, but if you are, they’ll shower you with compliments and be overly friendly.
Where can we see you live soon (concerts/tours)?
Maybe in 2025, if our first drummer comes back from Germany or if we find someone to replace him.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We’re working on the follow-up to Rot, but stylistically, it will be different. It’s likely going to be more complex music. We’ll see soon enough.
Do you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
Yes, drink some good brandy and hope the Russians don’t blow up the building with a missile.
How can people best support your band?
Buy our tapes, CDs, and tracks on Bandcamp.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Listen to good music, do your thing, and stay true to yourself. Everything’s going to be fine.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well