Interview: Radian
It feels like a return, but also a reset. Every record we make seems to come out of a different kind of pressure, and Subterfuge took shape over a long stretch of time where the band itself was changing.
Akron, Ohio sludge/doom metal band Radian have just brought out their third album Subterfuge and it is an immersive and immense concept album that combines sludge and doom with an insane level of groove and grit. Prior to the release of the album, Gavin Brown caught up with Radian drummer Derek Vaive to hear all about the album and the story behind it as well as hearing more about Radian and their anticipation of playing live shows with the legendary Acid Bath and The Obsessed.
E&D: Your new album Subterfuge is out soon. How does it feel to be back with this new album?
Derek: It feels like a return, but also a reset. Every record we make seems to come out of a different kind of pressure, and Subterfuge took shape over a long stretch of time where the band itself was changing. When it finally came together, it felt less like finishing something and more like arriving somewhere we had been moving toward for years.
E&D: Have you been pleased with the reception this new music has had?
Derek: Yeah, we’ve been very grateful for the response so far. People seem to be picking up on the atmosphere and the narrative side of the record, not just the heaviness, which is important to us. We always hope listeners sit with the songs long enough to digest them fully, and it seems like that’s happening.
E&D: How did the creation process of the album go?
Derek: Slow, layered, and very deliberate. Nothing on this record came together quickly. We built the songs over time, letting them evolve instead of forcing them into a shape too early. We were actively submitting to the songs. This resulted in a lot of the writing being more focused on restraint—holding back resolution, letting parts repeat longer than they normally would, and allowing the weight of the music to sit in that discomfort.
E&D: What have been the biggest influences on the sound of Subterfuge?
Derek: So many things influenced this record, from life situations to music, and just generally everything we were taking in to create the vibe of the record. To be honest, a lot of the album was driven by a sense of loss and grief that was surrounding us in different ways at the time. As far as musically, bands like Neurosis, Kylesa, Acid Bath, Mastodon, and High on Fire have always been part of the foundation, but it’s not just about specific bands. We’re also influenced by anything that has mood, tension, and a strong sense of identity. With Subterfuge, we were more focused on atmosphere and space, actively submitting to what each song was calling for.
E&D: Do you feel that this is your most vast sounding album yet?
Derek: Yes. Discordian had a lot of movement, but Subterfuge feels wider and heavier at the same time. There’s more space in the songs, but that space isn’t there to make things lighter — it’s there to make the weight feel bigger. We wanted it to feel like the music was closing in around you, rather than rushing past you.
E&D: Can you tell us about the story that the songs on Subterfuge deal with?
Derek: The album is set in a reimagined version of Egypt where history unfolded differently, and the story follows a conflict between two societies living side by side. One lives in excess, the other in scarcity, and the imbalance between them eventually leads to exploitation and revolt. It’s fictional, but it deals with ideas that show up throughout history — control, collapse, survival, and what people are willing to do to protect their families and culture.
E&D: Would you ever consider doing a graphic novel or even a movie about the story of Subterfuge?
Derek: Absolutely! We’ve talked about expanding the story in different ways. The world behind the record is bigger than what fits into the songs, so something visual like a graphic novel would make sense and would be a fun project to work on. We’ve always treated the artwork and the music as part of the same language, so it wouldn’t feel strange to take the story further if the opportunity came up.
E&D: Did you feel any pressure in following up your debut album Discordian?
Derek: Not pressure in the sense of expectations, but there was a feeling that we needed to go deeper instead of just repeating ourselves. Discordian pushed us in one direction, and Subterfuge came from asking how far we could take the atmosphere and the weight without losing what makes the band sound like itself.
E&D: Does your hometown of Akron, Ohio inspire your music at all?
Derek: In a way, yeah. Akron has a certain grit to it. There’s a lot of history from the underground scene, and a lot of people who work hard at what they do. That kind of environment shapes how you approach things. There’s a DIY mentality here that carries over into how we make records and how we run the band.
E&D: Who did your hometown show at Musica go recently?
Derek: It was great. Playing at home always feels good. You see familiar faces, people who’ve been around since the early days, and that energy feeds back into the set. Rooms like that tend to create an intimate atmosphere, which is something we really connect with.
E&D: Prior to the release of the album, you are playing a show with The Obsessed in Cleveland. You must be looking forward to that?
Derek: Absolutely. The Obsessed are legends, so getting to share a stage with them is something we don’t take lightly. Shows like that remind us why we started playing heavy music in the first place, and we are very grateful to be a part of it.
E&D: The next day, you are playing with Acid Bath, again, you must be excited about that?
Derek: Yeah, this one means a lot to us. Acid Bath are pioneers of the kind of doom and sludge that really shaped our sound, so sharing a bill with them feels surreal. They’ve been an influence on the band from the beginning, and getting the chance to play a show like this is something we are very excited to be a part of. It’s the kind of night you know you’ll remember for a long time.
E&D: Will you be unleashing a lot of material at these live shows?
Derek: Most of the set is all new material from Subterfuge. The new songs translate well live because they’re built around groove and tension, so they hit hard for shows these kinds of shows.
E&D: What are your other live plans once the album comes out?
Derek: We’ll be playing regionally and nationally throughout the year and filling in dates as they come together. We have a tour in May (all the dates will be posted on our socials), and probably some more in the later part of the year. The goal is to stay on the road as much as we can in support ofSubterfuge and get the record in front of people who haven’t heard us before.
E&D: What bands have you loved touring and playing shows with the most?
Derek: There are tons of amazing bands that we’ve played with and made friends with over the years. The underground has no shortage of awesome bands, and we’ve just been lucky enough to share the stage with them. When you’re around people who care about the music as much as you do, shows feel more like a family get together, which we love. Some groups that come to mind are Crop, Lordship, False Gods, Slow Wake, Pathless, Moontemple, The Mound Builders, and so many more.
E&D: Who would you love to play shows with in the future?
Derek: There are a lot, but bands like Kylesa, Monolord, The Melvins, or Messa come to mind. We’re drawn to any artists who balance heaviness with mood and emotion.
E&D: What have been some of the most memorable Radian live shows you’ve played to date?
Derek: Every show is its own unique experience, and we treat them all equally. We just love to play and connect with people no matter what the circumstances. Some of the smaller rooms provide an intimacy to the moment that we really love and appreciate. Festivals are great too, but there’s something about a tight space where you can almost feel the sound moving through the crowd.
E&D: Who are the biggest inspirations for the music that Radian make?
Derek: The bands we mentioned earlier are part of the foundation, but inspiration for us comes from more than just music. We’re all big fans of film—especially horror—as well as art and history, and those things tend to shape the atmosphere just as much as any band does. Even places we’ve travelled or experiences we’ve had end up influencing the mood of what we write. We’re usually chasing a feeling more than a specific sound, and those outside influences help give the music its identity.
E&D: How did Radian start as a band in the first place?
Derek: Radian started in 2017 with Mike Burns. The initial idea was to combine groove, grime, and atmosphere into something that felt both ugly and beautiful at the same time. From there it just kept evolving with every lineup change and every record.
E&D: What have been some of your most memorable moments with the band so far?
Derek: Finishing each record is always a big moment, because we put so much of ourselves into them. Playing shows with bands that we grew up listening to, traveling to places we never expected to go, and connecting with people through the music — those are the things that stand out the most. It all requires a lot of hard work and time invested, especially as a DIY band, but it’s well worth it.
E&D: What are the essential doom/stoner/sludge albums for you?
Derek: That’s a tough question because there are so many records that helped shape those genres over the years. Some albums that stand out to us as defining moments would be Houdini by the Melvins, Take as Needed for Pain by Eyehategod, Flower of Disease by Goatsnake, Drop Out by 16, Snailking by Ufomammut, Crack the Skye by Mastodon, and Purple by Baroness. Each of those records has its own identity, but they all carry that balance of weight, atmosphere, and groove that really set the foundation for what doom, sludge, and stoner metal are today. They’re the kind of albums that don’t just sound heavy — they feel heavy, and that’s something we’ve always strived for in our own music.
