Doomed Nation

Sounds For The Lost Generation

Doomed Confessionary: Dustin Cleary (Blackstaff)

Blackstaff is an one-man sludge/doom metal band based out Seattle, Washington created by Dustin Cleary (ex-Death Rattle). Doomed extreme metal with a dark fantasy twist from the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Prepare to be crushed!

With three EPs, two singles and a split with The Wright Valley Trio under the belt, Blackstaff is currently gearing up to release full-length album »The Storyteller« on September 6th, 2024.

Can you say a few words about your band?
Blackstaff is my one-man recording project, heavily inspired by dark fantasy and “Grimdark” (which is a phrase coined from Warhammer but used to apply to bleak, very ‘doomed’ fantasy) topics. It is a wonderful outlet for my feelings about late-stage humanity and also can be a platform to pay homage to the things I love – nerdy things like D&D, Pathfinder, Magic: The Gathering and things of that sort.

What was the biggest challenge for the band?
A live act for Blackstaff is something I aspire to eventually, and I would say that the greatest challenge is finding and assembling all the right pieces of that team. I am a particular person with a particular vision, and I have very little time to spare – a musician has to check the boxes of work ethic, personal values, strength of character, and punctuality, or the venture would not be worth it for me. Blackstaff is something that I love – I would never want it to become “work”, or a wrangling effort.

What can you be most proud of so far?
I am very proud of this project in general, but I am especially proud of my upcoming album, »The Storyteller«, which releases on the 6th of September. This collection of songs contains, in my opinion, my best songwriting and the best efforts of my mix engineer Todd Purnick and I on recording and production (and Derek Mattin always brings out the best polish with his mastering).

What was your biggest regret?
I have no regrets about this project – only learning experiences. In music, each production is a snapshot of a song, and a future effort is always a possibility. I plan to re release some of my older music when time permits, applying what I have learned in the process.

What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Blackstaff is not yet a live band, but ask me again in a couple of years!

What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
How friendly and accessible people can be. It is truly a privelege to know the people that I have met in this community so far, and I look forward to many more friendships and collaborations.

What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I am always listening to Horn Of The Rhino, Conan, Morbid Angel, Triptykon, and also bands like Portal, Altarage and Spectral Voice.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Never make music for money or success – the odds are, those things aren’t coming. Make what you enjoy making, regardless of the feelings of the crowd or requirements of genre.

What are your guilty pleasures?
Maybe not “guilty,” as I love all music and believe that each flavor has its merits, but I listen to a lot of Sia. I think she is an amazing musician and songwriter.

Can you say something more about the music scene in Seattle / Pacific Northwest?
Dark, heavy, extreme music is flourishing in the Pacific Northwest of America, particularly doom and black metal. Bands like Mizmor, Bell Witch and High On Fire all call my area home. Come and check out the local scene some time!

Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
On Instagram! Ha!

What are your plans for the future as a band?
Live performance – something nontypical, maybe a costumed performance, atmospheric. My music is themed around characters (mostly one particular character) and stories in this dark other-world, and I can’t imagine being the kind of group that goes on stage and says “hi, we’re Blackstaff from Seattle, we’re going to play some songs for you, blah blah blah.” Nothing against that – I just can’t imagine that for Blackstaff. For us, I would love to see the “fantasy” become the “reality.”

How can people best support your band?
Buy merch! Listen to the music! And hit me up on social media, I love making friends.

Do you have any message for your listeners?
To all who have supported me thus far, much love! I hope to take you to heavy new worlds for many albums to come.

Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.