Deplancke says that his vocal technique originally came from imagining the Incredible Hulk with a mic. "When I started getting into death metal and listening to bands like Deicide, I'd do my own little project at home by myself," he says. "Since getting together with these guys, I feel like I've gotten a lot better. It hurts really bad when you first start. It's hard to explain, because you don't get lessons. Nobody's gonna teach you. It's kind of trial and error. Eventually, you develop a technique. Each practice, it hurts a little less and I do it for a little longer."

Nastasy says that, while it's not always easy for a death metal band to gig around Detroit, they can essentially play the same venues as any other band as long as the lineup's appropriate. "There's the Halfway House in Detroit," he says. "It's a house that puts on basement shows. We played there a couple of months ago. There's also the Corktown Tavern, the Lager House. Not too many metal bands play Harpos anymore. There's the Token Lounge, and the Ritz, I guess. Blondie's has metal touring packages coming through, and if a local band wants to play they make you sell tickets."

So what's an "appropriate lineup" for a death metal band in a town nearly devoid of death metal? "Actually, there's a scene with a lot of bands developing a following," Deplancke says. "Battlecross is doing really well. Every band has its own little niche and we're definitely the old-school death metal band in the scene. Black Dahlia Murder is close, but they have the melodic thing. I hate subgenres and labels, but I guess we're one of the few true death metal bands in Detroit."

Nastasy looks up from his beer. "And right now, we're at our strongest."

Writhing plays April 20, at the Halfway House, 13367 Loretto St., Detroit.

> Email Brett Callwood