POISON VOID - Enter The Abyss ... (Singapore - Death Metal - Interview with Daryl).

Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music? 
Hi, this is Daryl, bass and vocals for Poison Void. I go by D. in the band. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to music in one way or another.
In Singapore, metal is still quite niche, and it’s usually something you discover through someone you know rather than something you hear on the radio or in public spaces. That was the case for me as well.
I got into more accessible rock and metal through friends in school, and from there I started going back to discover classic metal acts like Sabbath, Priest, and Maiden, which really got me hooked.
The music, the attitude, and the whole lifestyle drew me in. Growing up in a place like Singapore, I think that sense of rebellion also played a part, especially hearing bands that felt completely outside anything you’d normally encounter here.
Over time, my taste naturally shifted towards extreme metal, and before I knew it, I was fully immersed in the underground. I started going to local gigs, meeting people in the scene, and from there, it felt natural to start playing and becoming part of it.

Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Poison Void currently consists of myself on bass and vocals, B. on guitars, and Z. on drums.
The band started from an idea that B. had. He wanted to form an old school death metal band and asked me to take on bass and vocals. We had known each other for many years, so things came together quite naturally.
Z. later joined on drums, and since he and B. had already played together previously, there was some familiarity there as well. The chemistry developed quite quickly, as the three of us share similar attitudes towards music and the band.
All of us have been active in different bands within the underground over the years, so there was already a shared understanding when we started playing together.
The band came from a desire to create something that stayed true to the style we grew up with. We weren’t interested in reinventing anything. The goal was to strip things back and play death metal the way we believe it should sound.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
Our sound is rooted in old school death metal, with a focus on keeping things straightforward.
I wouldn’t say people should listen to us “at all costs”, but if you’re into death metal that is direct, intense, and uncompromising, then Poison Void will speak for itself.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ? 
Our lyrics are mostly influenced by personal experiences and reflections on themes like death, the unknown, and confronting forces beyond human understanding.
They play a role in shaping the overall atmosphere of the music, but we’re not trying to push a specific message. It’s more about creating a feeling that fits the sound.
We prefer to leave space for interpretation, so listeners can take their own meaning from it.

About your latest release ? 
Our latest release is the EP "Call of the Void", which came out in 2024.
The material was written over a series of rehearsals, where ideas were brought in and developed collectively. Each track has its own character, but the EP as a whole was meant to be a concise introduction to the band’s sound and intent.
It was recorded at TNT Studios in Singapore by K.K. Wong, who has worked with many bands in the local underground, and later mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door Mastering.
The artwork, created by Sant V. Schreiber, was something we felt closely aligned with the themes explored in the music, particularly the idea of confronting the unknown or the abyss.
It is available on CD and cassette through Madness Records in Malaysia, as well as digitally on platforms like our Bandcamp, Spotify and YouTube. 
Physical copies can be obtained through Madness Records or directly from us via our social media platforms.

Future plans ? 
Right now, we’re focused on finishing our full-length album and playing more shows while continuing to build the band.
The material for the new album is coming together and we’re targeting a release in early 2027.

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
To take the band as far as it can go, play in different parts of the world, and continue releasing music that we can stand behind over time.

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ? 
The best show for us was our first gig, opening for the Dutch death metal legends Sinister in Singapore. It was our live debut, something we had been building towards for a while, so there was a lot of anticipation within the band. That made it a particularly special experience for all of us.
As for the worst, we try not to look at any show that way. There have been shows where things didn’t go as planned, but we treat those as learning experiences.

Next live-appearance(s) ?
Our next live appearance is on June 5 in Singapore, alongside Sex Messiah from Japan, Blood Serpent from Vietnam, and Distrust.

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
The local scene is relatively small but active, and people tend to cross paths sooner or later. There are bands pushing different extremes, from more raw and aggressive sounds to more technical approaches. 
Because it’s small, there’s a certain closeness as people show up not just to play, but to support.

Last word is yours.. 
Thank you Fabien and Rough Times for the interview (You're welcome ! Ed.) and to everyone who has taken the time to listen and support what we do.