Collapsed Vein is the brainchild of a single artist Kevin George who channels personal struggles and existential themes into a unique fusion of melodic death and doom metal. With the debut album Pain Communion set for release on April 18th, the project delves into loss, grief, and defiance against societal and religious constraints. In this interview, we explore the inspirations, creative process, and ambitions behind Pain Communion, as well as the challenges and rewards of being a solo extreme metal musician.
Serial Metalbums: Collapsed Vein is a one-man melodic death metal project. What initially inspired you to embark on this solo journey rather than forming a full band?
Kevin George: I was working at the State Hospital at the time. I started doing a lot of night driving after work to clear my head from some of the things I had to deal with while working there, and would just put random things on my radio to check out, usually immersing myself into whole albums. I had been a pretty big doom fan at that point already, but those long drives gave me the chance to just listen through full albums. Because of the mood I was in at that time, I ended up listening to a lot of Doom stuff. One of those drives, I was out until the sun started coming up and the whole area was super foggy and dreary. I was listening to Esoteric at that time and it made me have the idea that I wanted to do something like that. Just the right setting and mood for me to feel inspired. At the same time, I was already a member of several other bands, so it made sense to explore something on my own—to exercise a creative outlet that was entirely mine.
Serial Metalbums: Working alone means complete creative freedom but also full responsibility. What are the biggest challenges and advantages of being a solo artist in extreme metal?
Kevin George: The most significant advantage is having total control over the music—every riff, lyric, and production choice is exactly how I envision it. There’s no need to negotiate or dilute ideas to fit another person’s style. However, the greatest challenge is shouldering the entire weight of the project. From songwriting to recording, mixing, and even promotion, everything falls on me. There are moments of isolation where it would be great to have another musician’s perspective, but in the end, I embraced the responsibility as part of the artistic process.The decision to create Collapsed Vein as a solo project stemmed from years of frustration with unreliable bandmates and unfulfilled creative visions, a lot of empty promises or unrealistic expectations that ended up leaving things incomplete and still in my lap. I’ve been in multiple bands before (still am!), but schedules, priorities, and commitment levels always seemed to conflict. Writing alone allows me to fully realize my ideas without compromise. It also became a personal challenge—a test of endurance and dedication to see if I could bring my vision to life without external limitations. If it doesn't succeed, the responsibility falls entirely on me, which is both daunting and motivating.
Serial Metalbums: Your music blends aggression with melody in a compelling way. How did you develop the sound of Collapsed Vein, and what influences shaped it?
Kevin George: My sound comes from years of absorbing extreme metal in all its forms. Bands like Yob, Triptykon, Neurosis, Crowbar, Esoteric, Novembers Doom, "Monotheist" from Celtic Frost, old Mastodon, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Extol and Type O Negative have influenced my approach, particularly in how they balance crushing heaviness with atmospheric depth. I also can't forget Black Sabbath, whose song I covered for this release. I’ve always been drawn to contrasts—the idea that melody can coexist with brutality. The gothic doom elements in my music, particularly the use of pipe organs and choirs, are a direct result of my fascination with dark, grandiose soundscapes combined with a small amount of wanting that instrumentation with a hint of jest towards their normal environment of use: in church!
Serial Metalbums: Pain Communion is your debut album, set for release on April 18th. What emotions and themes define this record? When crafting the album, did you approach songwriting with a clear concept in mind, or did the music take shape more spontaneously?
Kevin George: Pain Communion is a reflection of loss, grief, and existential dread mixed with animosity towards religious and societal institutions that manipulate and control public perception. The album’s title itself hints at suffering as a shared human experience, a rite we all endure. While I had overarching themes in mind, the songwriting process was largely organic. The music took shape naturally, guided by the emotions I was processing at the time. Some tracks came from deeply personal experiences, while others were inspired by abstract concepts of decay and mortality. Lyric writing was somewhat of a new endeavor for me, but I rose to the challenge and came up with what I thought was relevant to the overall sound. You know...cliché metal shit.
Serial Metalbums: As a solo musician, how did you handle the recording process? Did you perform all instruments yourself, or did you collaborate with any session musicians?
Kevin George: I performed and recorded all the instruments myself. Guitar, bass, vocals, drums, keyboards —it was all done in my home studio. While having a full band or session musicians could have been an option, I wanted this first release to be a pure representation of my vision. I also handled all the engineering, mixing, and mastering myself. It was a bit of a challenge doing everything with nobody giving guidance and it was one of the toughest things I've ever mixed because of the type of guitar tone I wanted needing to sit right with everything. Probably the only area I was truly uncomfortable with was vocals, because I don't think I'm very good at it.
Serial Metalbums: How do you hope Pain Communion will resonate with listeners, especially within the melodic death metal scene?
Kevin George: I hope the album offers something deeper than just another melodic death metal or funeral doom release. There’s a weight to the music, an emotional depth that I think will speak to listeners who appreciate extreme metal with substance. While I embrace the aggression of the genre, I also want to push the boundaries—bringing in doom, gothic elements, and unconventional song structures to create something immersive and evocative. I have people close to me who, when they hear this type of genre, assume they won’t get it because someone once made them listen to Sleep or Bongzilla. This is not that type of doom. It’s meant to be immersed in.
Serial Metalbums: With the album set for release, what are your plans for promoting Pain Communion? Will there be music videos or live performances?
Kevin George: Promotion will start off digital and hopefully eventually have physical efforts. I plan to release a couple of music videos and maybe a lyric video to visually capture the album’s themes. Social media, underground metal blogs, and niche metal communities will be key in spreading the word. As for live performances, I’m not ruling them out, but Collapsed Vein is primarily a studio project for now. The project was a byproduct of frustration with people not following through with commitment, regardless of my reputation for upholding such from my end, so it'd really have to have the right people aboard. If the right opportunity arises, I would consider assembling a live lineup to bring the songs to the stage.
Serial Metalbums: To wrap things up, is there anything you’d like to express to those who have supported you and will be listening to the new album?
Kevin George: I’m deeply grateful to anyone who takes the time to listen to my music. Collapsed Vein is the product of many years of struggle, introspection, and perseverance. If my music resonates with even a few people on a meaningful level, then I'll be satisfied. Thank you to everyone who supports underground metal—this scene thrives because of passionate listeners who seek something beyond the mainstream.