Unmerciful Interview With Jeremy Turner

When it comes to sheer sonic obliteration, few modern death metal bands deliver the kind of relentless intensity that Unmerciful brings to the table. Born from the bloodlines of brutal legends like Origin and rooted in the unforgiving Midwest scene, Unmerciful have carved out their savage path, combining technical precision, punishing speed, and an uncompromising vision of brutality. With each release, they raise the bar on what extreme death metal music can be, and their latest offering, called “Devouring Darkness”, only pushes the boundaries further. I caught up with Jeremy Turner, the band’s craftsman on guitar, to talk about their journey through chaos, their dedication to unrelenting heaviness, and what keeps the Unmerciful machine running full throttle in a world that seems to grow darker by the day.

-Hi Jeremy, it’s been a long time since we last spoke—exactly five years. How’s life been treating you since then?

We’ve been keeping busy with our personal lives for the most part over the past five years. We released Wrath Encompassed and went on a couple of tours in the US. We also got to play a couple of shows in South America for the first time. Then, just writing and recording the new album.

-Your new album, Devouring Darkness, was released on May 23rd via Willowtip. From what I’ve listened to over the past week, it’s a brutally sick album. How long did it take to put this record together? What kind of musical structures did you focus on during the songwriting process?

Thank you. We started writing the new album a few years ago. Clint and I are both slow writers, so new songs take a little longer than they probably should. As far as structures, we tend to write and see where the song evolves. Sometimes, it comes out the way it’s supposed to, and other times, we change a few things to make the song flow better.

-What was the recording process like for Devouring Darkness? Can you give us some insight into the recording and production stages?

Clint has a home studio, so we decided to do everything there for this album. Clint purchased a couple of channels of SSL gear, which helps in making a recording sound good.

Trynt recorded his drums first with guitar scratch tracks and click maps. Then, it was off to guitars. I recorded the songs I wrote, and Clint did the same with his songs. We figured it would go smoother if we did that, with all of the nuances in the songs and everything. We also handled the bass the same way. Then it was time for Josh to lay down his vocals. Clint and I added backing vocals after he was done.

-Once again, the guitars and bass are handled by you on the new album. Are you still playing bass live as well? What’s the reason behind this choice? Who are the musicians featured on the album, and what’s your current lineup?

I am back on guitar live. I have always been a guitar player. I handled bass duties in Unmerciful because there were already 2 guitarists when I joined back up with the band, and I just wanted to be a part of this band. When we parted ways with Justin, Clint had me move back over to the guitar. I had fun being the bassist for a while, but guitar is where I belong.

Our current lineup is Clint Appelhanz and I on guitar and backing vocals, Trynt Kelly is on drums, and Josh Riley is our vocalist.

-Going back in time like over 20 years —how was Unmerciful formed? What were you guys thinking?

Unmerciful was formed in 2001 by Clint and James (King). There were a couple of demos and lineup changes before I briefly joined in 2004, before I got the live Cannibal Corpse touring gig that year. After that, I joined back with them and recorded Unmercifully Beaten. Unfortunately, I ended up quitting the band mid-tour during a Cannibal Corpse tour that we were opening. My wife and I had a young son at home that I missed more than I thought I would, and there were some clashing personalities on tour. Looking back, it wasn’t the right thing for me to do, but at the time, I felt it needed to be done.

They found Justin to take over guitar duties in early 2007 and toured more across the US and Europe. They went on hiatus in 2009, I believe. When they reformed in 2012/2013, they asked me if I wanted to handle the bass duties, and that was that.

-What was the period like between your first demo and your debut album Unmercifully Beaten, from 2003 to 2006?

Unmerciful was kind of a side band at that time, because Clint and, eventually, James as well were in Origin. They recorded Echos of Decimation in late 2004, which came out in 2005. We recorded Unmercifully Beaten in 2005, which didn’t get released until 2006.

-You’re one of the rare bands in whose discography there’s not a single album I dislike. But if you had the chance, is there an album you would’ve wanted to turn out differently, or one you’d like to change or tweak in some way?

I would probably tweak the production on Wrath Encompassed. I wish it turned out a little clearer, because there are some incredible riffs on that album.

-What was the creative process like for your 2016 album, Ravenous Impulse? Looking back at that time, what kind of details would you like to share?

That was a little different. I had not been a part of Unmerciful from 2006-2013, so most of the songs for that album had already been written. Justin had a couple of songs that he wrote. Clint wrote a couple of songs, “Kingdom of Serpents” and “Sociopathic Predation”, that were written closer to recording the album. The song “Unmerciful” was a collaboration between Justin, Clint and me. That song turned out pretty cool.

I had written an instrumental years before I rejoined Merc, and they were cool enough to let that be on the album “Methodic Absolution.”

We did have to scramble and get a drummer with the sudden departure of James. We reached out to John (Longstreth), and within a couple of months, we were in the studio.

-How was the release process for Wrath Encompass, which came out in 2020? Unfortunately, it was a time of major global challenges. Did the album’s release and your touring plans get affected after it came out?

The whole pandemic very much affected the release of “Wrath Encompassed.” We were recording the video for the title track while everything was being shut down. We didn’t get to do any form of touring to support the album until well after a year of its release.

One of the first shows we got to play after that situation was a Deathfest in South Dakota (Slamdakota), which was a great return to a sense of normalcy.

-When did you start listening to music? How did you first discover rock and metal? Do you remember the first metal album you ever bought?

I remember always listening to music. I remember my parents listening to AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds...” album when I was pretty young. I went through the 80’s hair metal (who had amazing guitarists, even if some of the music was cheesy). I remember my older cousin coming over with what I believe to be the “No Life Till Leather” Metallica demo before I ever knew what heavier metal was.

I started getting into metal in 1986, with “Master of Puppets” and “Reign In Blood.”

I’m really glad I got to grow up in the era of the rise of Death Metal. The first death metal album I heard was Death’s “Spiritual Healing” album when I was 16. That was it! I would go and buy every album that looked cool at the local record store in the “Death Metal” section! Man, 1990 was an incredible year for Death Metal!

-How did you get into the world of extreme metal and the underground scene? What were the things that drew you to this music and community?

Paul (Ryan) and I started jamming together in 1997. Within a year, we had formed Origin and played our first show (opening up for Suffocation during the “Despise the Sun” tour. Paul had become friends with the guys in Cephalic Carnage, and we went to Denver to hang out with them. Everyone I met in the underground scene was very cool at that time.

In 1999, I went to the Milwaukee Metalfest with a few copies of the Origin demo in hand. I remember handing them out to the record labels that had booths at the fest. We got a call from Relapse Records a couple of weeks after that expressing interest in signing. They were talking with Cephalic at that time too, and were close to signing them.

Us, Cephalic Carnage and Vile all played a show together in the Denver area one night, and Matt Jacobson and Andrew Hosner flew out to catch the show. That show pretty much solidified both bands signing with Relapse. Getting on that label and getting to do all of the tours we did in the “early years” was so incredible.

-When and how did you first start playing guitar or any instrument? What was your first instrument?

I was 13 years old when I heard the Ozzy/Randy “Tribute” album. The way Randy played on that album made me want to start playing guitar. My grandmother bought me my first guitar and amp (a Vantage Flying V and a Crate 10-watt practice amp). I took lessons for about a year, got impatient, and learned on my own after that. I got guitar tablature books for some albums and learned others by ear (I’m sure a lot of what I played along to was wrong, but it sounded right! Ha).

I took piano lessons from the ages of 7 to 9. I don’t remember why I stopped, but I kinda wish I had stayed with it, as I was reading music then. Now, I can only use guitar tab. I’m no good at reading music.

-You and Clint have been making music together for years. How did you first start playing music together? What are some things you click on, and are there any areas where you clash?

If I remember correctly, Clint and I met around 1993. We hung out a little, and he let me play a little on his guitar (a red crackle Washburn guitar with like 33 frets! Lol).

When Psul and I started jamming together, he recruited guys he had been in bands with before, Clint included. So, 1997/ 1998 is when we first started being in a band together.

I don’t think we clash on anything musically. We both want to make the sickest music we can make.

-You play what I’d call truly uncompromising death metal. How would you describe your music? Outside of death metal, are there any musical theories or styles that have influenced you and Clint as songwriters?

I think UNMERCIFUL is just straight auditory violence. Vicious, relentless Death Metal. Straight and to the point.

Clint and I both grew up in the “golden age” of Death Metal. I would say we are influenced in our writing by growing up during that time. I’m pretty sure we both have the same favourite Death Metal band in SUFFOCATION. When “Effigy of the Forgotten” was released, that became the Bible for us as far as death metal was concerned. Of course, there are many great death metal bands, and there are many bands we love and listen to, but Suffo is the pinnacle.

We both listen to guitar shredders and different styles of music altogether, but I’m not sure how much that influences us in death metal. I know I get ideas from different styles of music I listen to, though, and I’m sure Clint does as well.

What have been some of your favourite albums in recent years? Any recommendations? What do you think about the newer wave of young groove-metalcore-jamming bands labelling themselves as death metal? Do you think they live up to the death metal label they claim?

So many bands, so many albums! I’ll go back a few years, though. The live Suffocation that came out in 2021 is so good! Disentomb’s “The Decaying Light” is a favourite, as is Hideous Divinity’s “Adveniens” album. I have also gotten into the newest Vitriol album. The Gorgasm “Sadichist” EP is fucking dick, and I’m looking forward to the new album they are working on.

As far as the “newer wave,” one thing about death metal and music in general is that it’s always evolving. I’m not big on putting labels on bands or pigeonholing them into a genre. If people like it, then more power to them.

The thing I liked about death metal when I first got into it was that there were supposed to be no rules, no boundaries. Somewhere along the way, categorising and labelling have kind of taken over.

-Wrath Encompassed, the previous release, was released during a difficult time—lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, and all that. Your latest album, Devouring Darkness, is coming out this May. What are your touring and concert plans after the release? Do you have any message for concert promoters in Europe and the U.S.? (Come to Europe!!! –Soner)

“Wrath Encompassed” was released at a horrible time. With “Devouting Darkness,” we have a CD release show in KC, MO on Friday, June 20th at the Warehouse on Broadway (3951 Broadway BLVD) with some killer bands from KC (Torn the Fuck Apart, Garoted and Hossferatu). We have a tour in the works in the Fall, and I hope that works out; it will be an absolute banger of a tour.

As far as Europe, we have not been back to Europe since 2008!!! We want to tour there again! Either this year, or next!

In the US, we are working with Stephan at Continental Booking. I have personally reached out to a few European booking agencies to try and make something happen. We will see!

-Devouring Darkness is a killer album—truly dark, just like the title suggests. I’m glad we got to talk again about music and Unmerciful. Any final words for your fans and the metal maniacs reading this interview?

“Devouring Darkness” is kind of a “return to form” meets “new era in violence” for us. Fans of completely relentless death metal will NOT be disappointed with this album!!

We do have a merch distribution in Europe (Heretees Merch), and the best way to order our CD outside of the US is directly from Willowtip Records. New merch announcements coming soon too! Thank you!