Metalcore powerhouse Dead Eyes was born from a leap of faith. After meeting the other members once — guitarist Jim Poggi, bassist Eric Rembecki, and drummer Chris Chapman — vocalist Zach Williams knew they had something special. He then went all-in, moving cross-country to Baltimore, and thus Dead Eyes was born.
The band has built their sound on anthemic choruses and heavy breakdowns, all built upon lyrics centered around resilience, recovery, and overcoming adversity. They’ve shared stages with I Prevail, Attack Attack!, Fit For A King, Set It Off, and Beartooth. Backed by their fiercely loyal fanbase, the DeadKru, Dead Eyes are ready to take on the world.
I met up with the guys at The Pyrle in Greensboro, NC, on their current tour, opening up for Born of Osiris and All That Remains. Welcome to Quick Hits with MSM (formerly Ten with MSM), featuring the one and only Dead Eyes:
MSM: What is the tour bus snack that disappears instantly?
JIM: Chomps.
ZACH: Protein bars.
ERIC: Donuts.
CHRIS: Alani's.
MSM: Who controls the aux cord?
JIM: No one. We drive in silence.
MSM: Really???
CHRIS: If you want a very specific answer — whoever's driving.
MSM: If Dead Eyes had a mascot, what would it be?
JIM: I'm going to say a pit bull.
ZACH: Mike Wazowski.
CHRIS: I have to pass on this one.
ERIC: Anxiety.
ZACH: The CEO of JP Morgan.
MSM: How do you want fans to feel when they walk out of your set tonight?
JIM: That's a great question.
MSM: Aren't you glad you're first?
JIM: I want them to feel like they just got their faces ripped off in the best way possible.
ZACH: I want them to feel like they experienced a rock show, not just went to one.
CHRIS: I just want them to enjoy the show and have it be something special — not just any other performance. I want it to be something that they remember and stands out to them.
ERIC: I want them to feel like they can go home and do that exact thing in their own world and be successful at it.
MSM: What keeps you pushing forward on the bad days?
JIM: The promise of another good day.
ZACH: For me, it's stories from fans and people who love the music.
ERIC: I would say the fans; seeing people get excited even when I'm tired, then it just wakes me up.
CHRIS: Remembering that I used to work a really bad nine-to-five, and I'm out here doing what I love with my buds.
MSM: What is a non-heavy artist that secretly influences your sound?
JIM: Bruce Hornsby.
ZACH: Max Martin.
CHRIS: I'll just say Bruno Mars.
ERIC: Sabrina Carpenter.
MSM: As you keep growing, what is one thing you refuse to lose about Dead Eyes?
JIM: Our artistic and personal moral integrity on some things.
ZACH: The resilience.
CHRIS: I would say our energy.
ERIC: That is honestly a tough one, but just humbleness. Remembering where we came from. You got those on the way up, and they'll be getting you on the way down.
