I know that seems like something that came out of left field, but let me explain. For you to understand what up means, it's a good idea to get a good view of what down is.

For you to truly relish what happiness is, it's probably a good idea to wrap your mind around the concept of sadness, loss, pain, humiliation, embarrassment.

For you to really understand the concept of value, it's a good idea to have a healthy relationship with the idea of loss and worthlessness.

Do you see where I'm coming from? And that is the underlying philosophy behind doom metal. We focus on the impending destruction, the chaos, the point of no return.

And, as seemingly discouraging and depressing as some of these subjects may be on many different levels, you can't help but feel more optimistic.

Often times, people will only miss the well when the water has run dry. You only miss the people that you really love the most once they have passed away or they have drifted away. But before that point, it's too easy to take them for granted.

It's too easy to think that your kidneys will always be in great working condition, that you don't have to worry about kidney stones. It's very tempting to think that there will always be water in the well because you keep going back to it year after year and nothing really changes. But believe me, things really change overnight in the worst way possible when the water dries up.

This is the sensibility and the underlying philosophy of doom metal. We focus on the chaos. We focus on the impending destruction and collapse of everything that is sacred in the Western European mindset and we put that front and center. That becomes the center of our art.

And, if anything, it gives us a renewed optimism of what we have. It gives everybody a push, if you will, regarding appreciation. A little bit of gratitude goes a long way. But before that point, we make a big deal of the fact that things are falling apart and that there is great music to be made with this sensibility and mindset.