Music Bugle Exclusive – Q & A – Immortalizer

By Nicholas Jason Lopez

He’s a one-man band.

Dave D.R. grew up on hard rock and heavy metal at a young age and it has come in handy for his adult years for his Toronto-based project, Immortalizer.

He takes care of the writing, recording, producing, instrument playing and even marketing on his own, with the project being his opportunity to truly take his musical vision to life, by any means necessary.

The Music Bugle had the chance to talk with him about what he believes is misunderstood about the genre, a quote that motivates him to keep doing what he does and much more, which you can check out below.

Music Bugle – How did you decide on the Immortalizer name? 

Dave D.R. – When I first started writing material for Immortalizer, I was searching for a great name, preferably a one-word band name, which is no small feat, especially these days, but while I was working on lyrics for the song, “The Immortalizer,” I suddenly realized that Immortalizer would be a pretty kick-ass band name! So, it was an easy decision after that.

Music Bugle – What is something that you think people misunderstand the most about your genre? 

Dave D.R. – Hmm, that’s a tough one. I think a common misconception with my general style of metal is that cleaner/NWOBHM style vocals are somehow less metal, which I personally disagree with, especially when you consider some of metal’s biggest pioneers like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio, etc.. To me, metal is about freedom of expression and heavy music. Not about a specific formula that needs to be followed to be considered “real” metal. 

Music Bugle – Where are your favorite places to play shows? 

Dave D.R. – Music halls are definitely a personal favorite. The bulk of my performing has been done in bars and music halls. There’s something about the intimate venues that really connect you to the audience. I’d love to play at Wacken Open Air one day too, of course. That’s always been a dream of mine. I’d also love to play in opera houses and theatres for the best possible acoustics!

Music Bugle – What’s a quote that motivates you to keep doing what you do? 

Dave D.R. – “When you seek perfection, you give up passion.” Paul Stanley of KISS said that and it always stuck with me. I always took it as, “do the very best you can, but don’t polish things to the point where you’ve sanded off the edge!”

Music Bugle – How would you compare your latest work to your earliest? 

Dave D.R. – Well, from my early work with Immortalizer to now, a lot has changed. I’ve upgraded a lot of gear to get better quality recordings. Things went to a whole new level when I started working with Ralf Scheepers. l’ve learned so much from him. He helped me with gear, further developed my vocals and really motivated me to keep pushing myself as an artist to get the best result from each recording. On top of that, he’s really transformed my songs with his skills mixing, mastering and engineering. I owe him a lot! 

Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?

Dave D.R. – I’ve been listening to a lot of my favorites. Lots of Judas Priest, Primal Fear, Avantasia, Helloween, Saxon and Accept!

Music Bugle – What’s something that you wished happened more in today’s music industry? 

Dave D.R. – I wish there was more focus on the music versus the image side of metal these days. I understand the need for style, but the music should be the main focus. 

Music Bugle – Where do you go when you need an escape?

Dave D.R. – I escape to my studio and immerse myself in my music. Writing, recording and all that fun stuff. I get so absorbed in my work that the world melts away for a short time. 

Music Bugle – Which of your songs connect with you the most on a personal level?

Dave D.R. – That’s a very good question. I think it’s a toss-up between “We Were Born For Metal,” which features Ralf Scheepers, which makes it incredibly special to me and “The Fallen,” which was written for loved ones who passed away, so it’s extremely personal.