Daniel Vadim Von, best known for being the current rhythm guitarist of Morbid Angel, which he has been a member of since 2017, but also bassist and vocalist in Nile since 2024. Two American names that undoubtedly resonate within the Death Metal scene since many years. Nile will release their new album "The Underworld Awaits Us All" on August 23rd via Napalm Records, starting in September an extensive World Tour throughout Europe, Japan, Bangkok, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and a more than immense list of dates throughout the United States. And if that were not enough, Morbid Angel headlines the upcoming “2024 Devastation on the Nation Tour” for almost two months, during next November and December. It is surprising how Daniel is able to cover everything and give 100% dedication, strength and professionalism to each one! Between playing at summer festivals like Graspop and preparing the last things before leaving his house for months, I was able to interview Daniel to tell us a little about himself and the bands.
INTERVIEW
OBNUBIL: Hey Daniel, nice to talk to you! Could you please give us a little background of you? What was the moment you said to yourself “I want to be a musician”? What was the first instrument you ever held in your hands and what was the first album you bought? Is it some jewel or something that you wouldn't buy again today?
DANIEL: I’ve been into music my entire life. Started with piano at a very early age, I would say around five or six years old. Eventually moved to guitar. I don’t exactly recall the first album I ever bought, it was the final years of the iron curtain and I was getting into the western metal music as a young kid living in Leningrad. There were kiosks by the subway stations where there were lots of various bootleg cassette tapes etc and we would hang around after school to see what was there, we absorbed it all. I discovered things like Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Mercyful Fate around then and this started my initial interest in metal music.
OBNUBIL: You moved from Russia to the United States when you were a child. Two completely different worlds. How old were you and what was that change like for you? If you had stayed in Russia at the time, do you think you would have gotten, musically speaking, to where you are now?
DANIEL: I was around twelve or so when I ended up in the states, it wasn’t initially planned as a move but eventually it was decided that it’s best to stay vs returning back to the disbanding USSR. My life would not have been the same whatsoever. Not to say that I would not be doing something different musically or otherwise creatively, but it certainly would not be what I do now.
OBNUBIL: Currently, you have been part of American death metal band Morbid Angel since 2017 as a guitarist. So far, what impact did starting to play with them have on your life?
DANIEL: I’ve been involved with Morbid Angel for about twenty years, known Trey for a while. At first I was a visual artist for the band, I would design a lot of media and various merchandise and apply whatever creativity to add to the overall presentation. They used to bring my old band on tours as support and eventually Trey asked me to join. In various ways Morbid Angel has been a part of my life for quite some time.
OBNUBIL: Morbid Angel headlines the upcoming “2024 Devastation on the Nation Tour” with Suffocation, Uada, Mortiferum, Fulchi and Knoll for almost two months, during next November and December. After more than 40 years since the band's existence, the band's list of songs is very long. What are the three songs that you most enjoy playing live with them?
DANIEL: It is difficult to nail down just the three songs with so many great ones in that catalog. I’d say Prayer Of Hatred, Rapture and Ageless Still I Am would be my three favorites to play live.
OBNUBIL: Besides the tour, what are the next steps for the band? Is the band planning a new album in the near future? It's been a few years since the last one.
DANIEL: There aren’t any set in stone plans. There’s always music being discussed, songs, riffs, it will happen at the right time and within the right atmosphere.
OBNUBIL: I had the pleasure of meeting you in person at a photoshoot with Incantation, during their tour a few years ago through Spain and where you played bass. Do you only play with them live or do you also have something else planned with the band?
DANIEL: Yes of course, it was great meeting you as well and thank you for taking those great photos. I don’t have much connection with that band at this point, just helped them for a few tours, it was never about anything past that.
OBNUBIL: Past October 2023 you were honored to announce that you have joined the legendary American death metal band NILE on bass and vocals. Already in December you finished recording bass for the new NILE album “The Underworld Awaits Us All”, out on August 23rd via Napalm Records. How was the recording and what can you tell us about the first album recorded with the band?
DANIEL: The Nile recording was great, very detailed and musically intense work. Karl and I made sure that we got the most out of the bass as a prominent instrument on this album and we couldn’t be happier with the result. The album overall is just a total monster on so many levels, it features elements that are new to the band and yet it is all so unmistakably Nile.
OBNUBIL: You already published the new single “To Strike With Secret Fang” and “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes". What are the songs and the album about? What can we expect from the album? What do you think you have personally contributed to the new release?
DANIEL: The album’s lyrical content is still very much the classic Nile approach that the fans expect, the deep historical references, the passing of the knowledge, so to speak. Underworld, of course, is a vey present and strong topic throughout the album, hence the title. My personal contribution are the basslines throughout the recording, a lot of effort went into perfecting the details and I think that it all worked out great.
OBNUBIL: The NILE “The Underworld Awaits Us All” World Tour is also a huge topic. Dates throughout Europe, Japan, Bangkok, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and a more than immense list of dates throughout the United States… in addition to stepping on the big festivals! Occupying all your time with one concert after another this year and next 2025. Are you still excited about playing live in the same way as when you started playing live? Is there a place you haven't played yet and where you would be excited to play?
DANIEL: For sure there is a lot of touring planned, it’s a big album that deserves a big world tour and what’s announced so far is the initial part of it. Of course music is ultimately what I do and, as a professional, it’s important to keep a positive and productive outlook on things like touring and multiple performances that it involves. It can be a lot to deal with at times, especially when one has been at it for a while. But being able to say that today I am doing what I set out to do in my younger years without ever giving up on my dreams is the ultimate reward, along with the opportunity to bring some great metal music to the fans worldwide. There aren’t many areas where I haven’t performed at this point, would be interesting to perhaps play in India or the African continent one day.
OBNUBIL: Does your musical career leave you time to dedicate to a personal life? Do you regret some moments when you should have spent more time with your loved ones or other things?
DANIEL: Of course the touring takes up large portions of time, but it doesn’t last forever. There is an element of adventure in it of course but at the end of the day it is work nevertheless, a lot of people work abroad, study abroad, get deployed, you name it. It makes one truly appreciate what they have at home and that much more happy to be there.
OBNUBIL: Has the life of a musician ever pushed you to the limit and you thought “I'm going to quit and dedicate myself to something else”? Is there a moment, perhaps on tour, where you've felt a breakdown? What advice would you give your 20-year-old self or when you just started with music?
DANIEL: I don’t recall ever having a moment when I was ready to give up on music in general, there was a time in my twenties when I was ready to give up on the concept of working with bands and just concentrate on writing and recording in my own studio space. But I believe it was Trey who inspired me to return to the live performance back then and well, here I am. The advice that I would give to my younger self would be to not waste time on working with people who weren’t made for this.
OBNUBIL: What has been, without a doubt, the greatest and best experience in your musical career and what has been the worst?
DANIEL: I’d say that the best moment was back in early high school when a couple of my friends and I put together our first band and actually started to create some real songs, it was so inspiring. The worst was two of my beloved dogs passing away within two weeks of each other while I was on tour.
OBNUBIL: During long road trips on the way from one concert to the next, what do you do to entertain yourself? Do you usually look for your moment of solitude or is it something that is almost impossible?
DANIEL: For the most part I’m not much of a party guy or big on constant socializing, sometimes a bit of privacy is what keeps one sane when surrounded by so much while on the road. A lot of times I would do some work on my laptop or read or just put on some creepy stories on YouTube and try to catch up on some sleep in my bunk.
OBNUBIL: What motivates you to get up every morning and keep playing music and what frustrates you most about being a musician?
DANIEL: The passion for the art is what keeps me going. Though ultimately it’s my craft that I have to hone and keep as sharp as a blade because bands like Morbid Angel and Nile don’t leave much room for error. What frustrates me the most is having to realize that it’s a job no matter what the mood is. But as an artist I just don’t know where I would be without music in my life.
OBNUBIL: Describe yourself in three words.
DANIEL: Determined, driven, dedicated.
OBNUBIL: It has been a pleasure talking to you and getting to know you a little more! Thank you so much for taking your time answering the questions! Is there anything that you would like to say to the readers and to your fans?
DANIEL: Thank you Jaqueline, great talking to you as well! To the readers and fans - I definitely recommend that you check out the new Nile album “The Underworld Awaits Us All”. See you in the pit!
Interview done August 2024. Promo photo taken by Jaqueline Vanek, Obnubil Studio, Casey Coscarelli.