As part of our Highlight of the Week series

Hi guys, my name is Dan Carter, and I am the owner of the artist development agency DC Sound Attack. We provide management, bookings, and PR services to rock and metal bands. I am also the bassist for the melodic death metal band Under Blackened Skies from Birmingham.

Q1. Can you tell us about what led you to find extreme metal and what about it ignited this passion you have for it?

While I mostly listened to skater punk as a kid in school, my heavy introduction to metal came from bands such as Fear Factory, Slipknot, and Chimaira. My journey to discover and enjoy extreme metal began when I was in college. Some friends of mine were in a band called Funeral Throne, and they had the works—corpse paint, pig heads, and lots of pig’s blood. It was my first time seeing the theatrical side of metal on a smaller scale, and I was hooked. I checked out everything from Emperor to Death.

Q2. When did you first get involved in underground music? Can you tell us how that journey started?

I have been in various bands since I was in school; however, nothing serious until I joined Left For Red in 2010 (not extreme metal). From this, I learned the ropes, made contacts, and eventually started a small promotion company in Birmingham, putting on everything from rock bands, including Stone Broken and Massive Wagons, who are doing pretty well for themselves, to extreme metal bands such as Malignancy, Svart Crown, Unfathomable Ruination, Warlord UK, and more.

Q3. Are there any pinnacle events or specific people that have kept you on the path of supporting extreme metal? 

I am lucky to work in a very diverse music scene in Birmingham, and over the years it has seen some incredible bands, most of which are sadly not around anymore. However, these bands had a huge impact on my love for the genre. Bands such as Gehtika, Morgue Orgy, Necrotize, and a band I joined a couple of years back, Under Blackened Skies, were all massive inspirations to me. Their music was incredible, and they were great performers. This kept my interests in check, but to be honest, it was finding Bloodstock in 2010. After going to Download and Sonisphere for a few years previously, my partner and I were drawn to a lineup that included Gojira, Devin Townsend, Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Gorgoroth, and loads more. Since then, BOA has been a huge part of my musical journey, as I have seen most of the icons of the genre.

Q4. Can you tell us of any resources, entities, or communities that could be particularly helpful for extreme metal bands in the underground today? 

I think for younger bands, the Metal To The Masses initiative is a great way to get to know other bands and build a fan base. There are communities such as 0161 in Manchester and London Metal Coalition in London that do fantastic work for their music scenes. Additionally, there are a whole heap of management, PR, and booking agencies that you can utilize, including (shameless plug) DC Sound Attack, Hammerdown, UK Thrashers, Reaper Agency, Bitter Edge, and loads more.

Q5. How many band t-shirts and merch items do you think you’ve collected so far? 

Too many! 🤣 I am always dressed to depress.

Q6. What is your favorite metal-themed movie? (Rockumentaries count)

Um, School of Rock will always be my favorite. However, Airheads, Heavy Trip, Detroit Rock City, and Metal Lords are classics, and I am partial to a rockumentary with Some Kind of Monster, Viva the Underdogs, Murder in the Front Row, and Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey being just a few of note.

Q7. Are there any extreme metal bands in the underground today that you feel the readers need to listen to?

Sure, there are Trivax, Deathcollector, The Crawling, Raised By Owls, Master’s Call, The Sun’s Journey Through The Night, Repulsive Vision, Bloodyard, Underdark, and Embodiment, just to name a few off the top of my head that are 100% worth checking out if you haven’t already.

Go follow everything that Dan is up to via DC Sound Attack: https://www.instagram.com/dc_soundattack?igsh=MTg4M3lqNDR4Y2RkNw==

And follow his awesome Death metal band UNDER BLACKENED SKIES here: https://www.instagram.com/ubs.music?igsh=MTh1cGw1YnFjY3ZtbQ==