Billy Fraser interview – DISCERN
By Jimmy & Jay
CMG: Where do you live?
Billy: I live in the Northern Suburbs of Dallas, TX, in Garland. Love this area!
CMG: What was your childhood like?
Billy: I was blessed to have a wonderful childhood provided to me by my parents. I never was in want, my mother was wonderful, and I was given the love I needed, as all children should be given. The teen years were rougher, but as far as my childhood, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
CMG: Did you grow up in a religious home? How did you come to your faith?
Billy: Most of my family would go to church every Sunday, and we were Lutheran. In all honesty, I hated every minute of church growing up. I felt it was stupid, a waste of time, and I remember, even as young as age 5, I felt that all that I saw were humans just acting out of the fear of the unknown, with man-made rituals thought up by someone’s own limited notions of God, which is of course, what religion is to begin with, and I despised it all. Now, with that being said, I did believe in God, and I had respect for Him, even though I was not saved yet, but I just hated church itself.
Years later at age 11, through 3 specific things: Nature, Science, and the Animal Kingdom, I surrendered my life to Christ and became Born Again.
CMG: Did you grow up in a musical home?
Billy: Not really, but my parents did listen to Elvis, The Guess Who, The Eagles, and such. However, the one defining moment in my life regarding music, and what changed my life’s course, was when I saw a KISS commercial, at age 3. I remember standing in front of the TV, not realizing what exactly I was looking at, but I was blown away 1000% by the stage show, the makeup, their music, and the drummer behind his massive drum set. At that moment, I decided I was going to be a drummer, and the following year at age 4, I got a drum set and started playing drums. While the Beatles influenced KISS and countless others, KISS were MY Beatles.
From that point on, I was listening to as much music as possible that I could find, in addition to what my brother was jamming to, such as Queen, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Foreigner, and many others.
CMG: What instruments do you play?
Billy: Drums, first and foremost, then guitar/bass.
CMG: As a musician, how did you gravitate towards Death Metal?
Billy: I had joined my first full band at age 14 in 1988, which was Summoned, and we were a Christian Thrash Metal band. Soon after joining, we recorded a demo, selling a ton in the underground, through reviews and a local metal shop. We were a 3-piece at first, and then once we obtained a 4th member who played lead guitar, the songs became so much better. We opened for One Bad Pig, Vengeance Rising, and played a few other gigs around town.
Since Thrash and Death Metal are basically on the same highway, it only was natural to verge into the Death Metal lane, so to say. I had first heard Death’s album Leprosy, in 1989, and I was blown away!! Those vocals, those riffs…I had never heard anything like it!!! Then, at a Vengeance Rising gig in 1990, I met my longtime friend/brother Neal Christmas, who showed me a jambox tape recording of his death metal band, and again, I was totally blown away. Such a different view musically than Thrash! Months later, I was exposed to Obituary and Napalm Death, so my band Summoned naturally progressed to full-on death metal, by early 1991, with our songs strongly reflecting our love of the bands mentioned before, Obituary and Napalm Death, with blasting, tons of double bass, etc..
CMG: Why does this term “Christian Death Metal” still offend so many people in Christian and secular circles?
Billy: Well, the offense is the name of Christ itself, for those who do not know Him, as His name and power offends our sinful nature, as humans. The other avenue, with Christians who are offended by it and not understanding the fact that Believers can love and play death metal, is just either pure ignorance or an unwillingness to embrace the fact that God Himself is not limited by a human’s likes or dislikes, as He can use anything He wants to use, to get His point and message across. For what I do with DISCERN, I use the term, ” Spirit-Filled Death “, as technically, that is what it is.
CMG: Have you always done Christian music exclusively?
Billy: Yes.
CMG: What were your favorite bands growing up?
Billy: My favorite bands then and now are the same, plus of course, many more bands as I have gotten older and discovered the plethora of bands out there: KISS, first and foremost, Queen, Whitesnake, Stryper, along with earlier Christian Rock/Metal bands such as Barnabas, The Resurrection Band, Philadelphia, Messiah Prophet, Saint, Soldier, Cross, Paradox, Barren Cross, Bloodgood, One Bad Pig, etc..
I am also very much into hardcore bands such as Sick Of It All, Youth of Today, Judge, Insted, and Seven Seconds.
Regarding Thrash, Death, and a little bit of Black: Old Metallica and Anthrax, Slayer, Deliverance, Vengeance Rising, Razor, Obituary, Napalm Death, Death, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Immolation, Suffocation, Asphyx, Skeletal Remains, Vore, Immortal, the mighty Vader, and the list goes on. Those are the main faves I can think of right now.
CMG: What is the history of the band Oblation? – How did the band start, who was in the band, what did they play, what was the mission, and why did the band end?
Billy: After Summoned’s last gig in Houston at the After Dark Club in 1991, the band split up. I met up with Mitch Reese, who played rhythm guitar, and originally I had wanted to continue Summoned with Mitch and a whole new lineup, but he felt it was best to start fresh, and that is how Oblation was started. We started writing songs quickly, and by 1992, we recorded our one-song demo for Dead Unborn, having our friend Dino Deblasio record bass/lead guitar in the studio, followed by producing our homemade video for it. Shortly after, Mike Rizzo joined, who played lead guitar, and we all worked on more material, finally to have Alan Tregoning, our bassist, who is from Australia, fly over to join us, and Oblation was then a solid and full outfit. We put out our 3-song demo in 1994, played many shows in TX and other states, received tons of great reviews/press in the Death Metal underground, and by 1995, we had much more material for another release. However, by the end of 1995, half the band were not interested in continuing to play death metal, while the other half did still want to focus on putting out death metal, so we ended the band.
CMG: Let’s talk about the video for “Dead Unborn”. I saw it for the first time on a Heaven’s Metal videotape (yes, on videotape) and was blown away by both the musicality and the imagery. What influenced your decision to tackle abortion in Death Metal, and was there any backlash about the video being too “gory”?
Billy: We decided to simply show people the fruit of what they originally state they believe in, as far as ” abortion rights. ” So many only think as far as the idea of it, versus what it REALLY is, which is the murder of an unborn child. The results were outstanding: So many were totally floored, minds were changed, ideas were re-arranged, and the fact of what we showed was the evidence that changed minds in this issue. There were a few ” loud ” reactions to it, but that is to be expected when reality itself, for such an issue, is shown in its entirety. Years after Oblation ended, I received a letter from someone who showed our video to someone considering an abortion, who then changed her mind after seeing it. That right there is the reward itself.
CMG: You were an official member or a live/session musician for Crimson Thorn? Tell us that history and association. (IMHO, it was inevitable because of the similarities in your style of Death Metal, and theirs)
Billy: Oblation met the mighty Crimson Thorn back at Michigan Mosh 1994, and we were blown away by their sheer power!! We became instant friends, and it was such a blessing! Being that I am their biggest fan and knew all of their songs on drums, when they needed a drummer, I flew up and played a few gigs with them, and we all had a blast, pun definitely intended. The understanding of the situation was, of course, when they found a drummer up there in MN, to use them, but until they did find a drummer, I would help them out when I could. Miles Sunde, their main guitarist and songwriter, has done the DISCERN album cover artwork for the past two DISCERN albums, and will be working on the new album, as well. Love the Thorn!
CMG: When did Discern form and who is in the band?
Billy: DISCERN formed in 1996 immediately after the disbanding of Oblation. In fact, DISCERN was going to be a side project of mine while Oblation was going full-force. I had already written a number of songs for DISCERN by the time Oblation had ended, which ended up on the first DISCERN album.
I am DISCERN, writing and recording all instruments/music, while I have the pleasure of having friends doing the lead guitar solos. On the first album, I had my producer Andrew Albert do the leads, while on the second album, Rick Hunter-Martinez from metal legends Soldier shredded at will, and his will was very strong! He will also be on the new/upcoming DISCERN album, as well.
CMG: What influenced your decision to create an album where you did all vocals and played all instruments?
Billy: I just felt that it was very natural and easy to write/record my own music.
CMG: Discern is a Death Metal band that is not shy about your heavy Blues influence! Who are your favorite Blues artists and what influenced you to incorporate some of that into Discern?
Billy: The Blues influences come from a love of the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, and Whitesnake, who are technically a classic rock blues band, and their power totally has a light shining on my music that strongly influences it. Stevie Ray Vaughan was beyond incredible, and his talent, IMO, is unmatched. I think having the Blues influence in the music of DISCERN is appropriate, as Blues is just as powerful as death metal, and it gives the music a different edge.
CMG: You tend to tackle a lot of controversial subjects on the Discern albums – especially with certain teachers in the church and certain movements. What fueled your interest in these subjects?
Billy: Just the simple fact that God’s Word speaks about these issues, such as false prophets, and the time that will arrive where men will not put up with sound doctrine, but who will listen to teachers who tickle their itching ears. Those who take an imaginary clay mold of who they think “God” is, but molding this image to the image they themselves want to serve, instead of being transformed by Christ Himself. This false image they follow is a false god who desires everyone to be healthy, wealthy, and literal gods of their own life, and fully believing they are “little gods! “. This echoes the lie spoken by the serpent in the Garden of Eden, where he stated “You will be like God” if they ate of the fruit God forbid Adam and Eve to eat. This deception, and teachings, are very strong within the Body of Christ, brought to us by many lying wolves from hell itself who teach such atrocities. I am not speaking about secondary issues, such as end times, miracles existing today, different views of baptism, etc.. We can all differ on such issues but can remain steadfast and united with the major essentials of the Christian Faith, such as who God/Jesus are, the issue of sin, and the need of repentance, etc. However, when that one preacher preaches Biblical ideas for 15 minutes, and then in minute 16, slips in the subtle heresy that changes everything about the “god” they are preaching about, that is when true evil/heresy is abounding. So, with all of that being said, on every DISCERN album, I have a song/songs about the bottom-feeding heretical false-god salesmen within the Body of Christ who need to be exposed. Those liars on TV begging for money, and who perpetuate the cult of the Faith Movement. After all, as Believers, we ARE supposed to expose the devil’s schemes, naturally.
Interesting how so many who do not know Christ can see through this deception, alongside Biblically-Faithful followers of Christ, yet many who claim Christ fall for these circus acts in the Church!
CMG: How many albums have you done so far?
Billy: Two: Revive and Rebuke from 1998 and To Praise With Persecution from 2007.
CMG: What are the pros and cons of being the sole member of a “band”?
Billy: Pros: You work on your own time and accord, and there is no arguing about songs with other band members..HA HA!
Cons: Not having outside influences bringing another flavor to the songwriting mold.
CMG: What is your favorite snack on the road while touring?
Billy: I have never been on tour, but a few favorite snacks of mine are these Chocolate-Nut Bars I get from Aldi, and Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, which I try to eat as least as possible!! LOL!
CMG: What band would you clear your calendar to tour with?
Billy: Vader, Suffocation, Internal Bleeding, the mighty Asphyx, Napalm Death, Obituary, Immortal, and the list goes on.
CMG: Do you have plans to tour Australia or the USA?
Billy: Australia? I would love to visit Australia someday!! As far as touring as a whole, I have no plans whatsoever, as I do not have an actual band itself to tour with, so at this time, not an option.
CMG: Have you had backlash because of the style of music you play?
Billy: Nope, not at all!
CMG: How has the reaction been to DISCERN?
Billy: Wonderful!! I have been in metal/death metal magazines, and played on metal radio stations, from all over the world. The response has always been great! CDs of my second album are still selling and also still available!
CMG: What do you think of the current state of Christian Metal?
Billy: I honestly cannot answer that question because I simply do not follow the current Christian Metal scene itself.
CMG: What is your favorite non-metal music to listen to?
Billy: I love: Classical, Hardcore, and Electronic music!
CMG: What is something about you that no one reading this would know?
Billy: I dip all of my fries in Mayo.
CMG: Are you working on new music?
Billy: Yes, I have the third installment of Spirit-Filled Death finished and I am practicing up at this very moment to plan a recording date, so I can be the best I can be.
CMG: What is your favorite thing about being a Christian?
Billy: The astounding fact that the God of the entire Universe desires a relationship with me, who loves me and who provided me a way out of the hell I was facing because of my sin, and that He/God/Jesus are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
As Believers, we do not have religion made by the sinful nature of man, we have the true/living reality of Jesus, in a relationship with Him!!
His love is pure!
CMG: How can the Christian Metal Group community support you?
Billy: By supporting me in prayer, and by purchasing the new CD once it is out, which I am hoping for a release early next year.
You can keep up with DISCERN on FB at: https://www.facebook.com/discerndeathmetal
DISCERN email: soundofwhitenoise@rocketmail.com
You can order DISCERN CDs and T-Shirts at Soundof Whitenoise Records by messaging them on FB at: Soundof Whitenoise
Thank you guys for the interview and blessings to you!
