Exclusive Interview: 20 Questions with… Penny Coffin!

Two EPs down and Scottish Greek Death Metallers Penny Coffin are fast making a name for themselves in the Underground Metal scene from which they have arisen to plague us. Celebrating the arrival of not only “ΣΚΕΛΕΤΙΚΟ ΣΚΟΤΑΔΙ” (Greek for “Skeletal Darkness“) but also the release of both EPs (the other being “ΤΕΦΡΑ” or “Ashes” pronounced “Tefra”), on cassette via Dry Cough Records, guitarist and vocalist duo Daniel Paton and Joseph Kelly did us the honour of answering 20 Random Questions!

1. What’s your poison?

DP-Sparkling water

JK-Rat

2. What’s your habit?

DP-Procrastination

JK- Wafting farts up to my mouth with my hands like tiny helicopters, plus I’m a total gym freak

3. The new EP is your first with new bassist Garry Ross. What kind of initiation did you subject him to before he could be considered a fully fledged member of Penny Coffin? 

DP-Look angry in a band photo and wear skinny jeans on stage. He passed both with flying colours. He’s now a sex symbol in Scotland.

JK-We made him inhale from a plastic bag containing a dead pigeon then buried him in a shallow grave, he only resurrects to play bass

4. What drove you towards the sample from “I’m Thinking Of Ending Things” by Jessie Buckley for the title track “Skeletal Darkness“? It seems like a left field choice on paper but works really well in the context! 

DP-Thanks. We think so too. We just liked the poem a lot and that section in particular. The movie was great, it asked the viewer some questions about themselves. Skeletal Darkness is a great title too. I imagine everyone that hears that phrase has their own concept of what it means.

JK- I seen the film just as the demo of the song was being done and it set off a wee alarm bell in my head. It links the first 2 tracks perfectly, they’re both inspired by the same thing , so it made total sense to return to the sample when looking for embellishments

5. A band you have previous beef with over damaging borrowed gear at a live show offer you a support slot in order to bury the hatchet after things for heated over social media. Are you tempted by the offer or thinking it might be a trap? 

DP-… Who damaged your gear?! Are you looking for advice??

JK -If they are providing the backline then sure!

6. What are you looking forward to most in 2022?

DP-Playing more gigs and going to gigs.

JK- Getting better at swimming

7. How intense are your band rehearsals?

DP-Extremely. I treat them as preparation for war.

JK-We only stop to sleep and eat co-op meal deals

8. When times get rough, what are you screaming along to on your headset?

dp-MESHUGGAH

JK- “Only time” by Enya

9. How did the guest appearance on “Skeletal Darkness” from Gråt Strigo come about? What was it like bringing a guest on board?

DP-We wanted a tortured black metal style vocal on that section and Grät Strigo are one of our favourites and local. So we had been in contact before with a few messages on social media in the past. We decided to ask and they obliged. It was very straightforward.

JK- Mega talented band- great ethos, great politics- sound as a pound.

10. How did having Apostolis Karalis At Flowers in Concrete Studios (Krushya, In Absentia, Discordance) in Patras, Greece master the new EP “ΣΚΕΛΕΤΙΚΟ ΣΚΟΤΑΔΙ” come about? Was he someone that your veteran of may projects including Bionic Origin and Dominicide in drummer Panagiotis Rodopoulos had worked with before? 

DP-Yeah, that was exactly how it came about. Panagiotis had worked with Apostolis previously and had good results so it was a no brainer. We were happy with the end result.

JK- He put real work in, guys a saint.

11. Forget pre-gig rituals, do you have any post-gig rituals?

DP-Usually we host a met and greet with Garys female and male fans. Panos puts his leather jacket back on, Joe goes dancing.

JK- I usually retreat to my favorite kebab shop where I laugh at posers as my corpse paint washes off with sweat. Got one boy a belter- pointed at his scorpions patch and just said “scorpions”

12. What has been the strangest moment Penny Coffin have experienced?

DP-Actually getting music released has been strange, It’s not an easy task. So releasing our Music and having positive feedback has been strange but rewarding.

JK- In inverness some boy obviously didn’t think our vocals were deathcore enough so proceeded to make himself sick showing us how it’s done

13. If you see a Gorilla riding a Rhino down the road in front of you, are you following to see what all the fuss is about?

DP-I’m sure I’ve seen something similar before and followed…

14. If you could go back 5 years and give a nugget of knowledge to your younger self, what would you say?

DP-Watch out where the huskies go and don’t you drink the yellow snow.

15. Pizza and beer is a sensational award winning combination so what are your favorites?

DP- Pepperoni and Tennents Lager

JK- I prefer ristorante or something with a rich tea base. Beer wise anything room temperature

16. If your house is burning down and you can go in and save one thing, what are you saving?

DP-The popcorn.

JK- maybe my family

17. From the bands you have heard on the local scene, who would you predict a bright future for?

DP-Rancid Cadaver and Tempered.

JK- Brainbath but only because they have the right footwear.

18. What’s your favourite venue to play?

DP-No favourites as of yet

19. What would mean more to you as a band, a huge one off festival appearance at Bloodstock (United Kingdom), Wacken (Germany) or Maryland Death Fest (United States) or a 20 date European tour supporting opening for a band like Deicide?

DP-Opening for someone like Deicide would be the one. More gigs, more places and more of a streamlined audience.

20. Who would you thank in your Grammy Award winning speech?

DP-My Mum! Nobody else!

JK- Jethro Tull for not turning up that year

“ΣΚΕΛΕΤΙΚΟ ΣΚΟΤΑΔΙ” by Penny Coffin is out now via Dry Cough Records and available over at bandcamp