The Evolution of Extremity: Lille Gruber of Defeated Sanity on 'Chronicles of Lunacy'

Interview by Parisa Eshrati

Photo credit: Paul McGuire

On Chronicles of Lunacy, Defeated Sanity masterfully balances their signature brutal sound with intricate compositions, exploring themes of insanity through both musical and lyrical complexity. In this email conversation with founding member and drummer Lille Gruber, we discuss the meticulous process behind the album’s creation, his philosophy on perfection, and how their approach to extreme music transcends genre tropes. From behind-the-scenes songwriting insights to the demands of their live performances, Lille offers a glimpse into the artistry and discipline that defines their work.

Let’s start by discussing the fundamentals of creating the new album, Chronicles of Lunacy. Since you all live remotely, my understanding is that you write the instrumental parts. How long was the period of getting this album written to when it was done being recorded? Could you share more about the behind-the-scenes process once you all come together and the decisions that are made once in the studio?

Lille Gruber: I started writing for Chronicles of Lunacy in 2020. I do write most of the music, but I always use and ask for other bandmember's riffs. In this case, even Josh wrote a riff for this album. Trying to collaborate gets harder when everybody lives in a different part of the world, but I still try to get everybody on board and we all discuss arrangements, etc. Josh and I meet via video chat to write the lyrics which is the last step in the procedure. In the studio, we basically don't have many decisions to make. We're talking about tones, samples, mastering etc....the structures of the songs are very clear at that point.


When composing new songs, you’ve stated how there is an endeavor of perfection, which is evident in each deliberate choice made throughout the album. How does Defeated Sanity collectively define “perfection” in your music? With this album being a long time in the making, how do you decide when a track meets your standard and is ready to release, given the often unattainable nature of perfection?

I basically feel deep inside when a song is finished. I scan for every possible flaw I can imagine and try to eliminate each one. For example, when you listen to “Carnal Deliverance” when that first slam comes back, a lot of work went into that. A lot of speedy, techy, crazy things happen and make it climactic before we bring it back at the end. It has a very special effect to get back to something familiar after being torn by riffs for that period of time. I feel not everybody knows perfection when they hear it, but I really do. It's about judgement. U gotta know.


Chronicles of Lunacy harks back to the core brutal sound of earlier Defeated Sanity. Talk to us about the significance of revisiting this style. I read that you almost made this your self-titled album because it felt so true to form;  how has your experimentation on recent releases informed and enriched your return to your core sound on this album?

We didn't almost call it the self-titled album for that reason, but for it actually fitting the lyrical concept. I honestly don't even know how much we revisited the old school DS sound and how much we actually followed the trail we left with Dharmata and Sanguinary. It's a little bit of both. I guess we just wanted to mix it up a little differently again. Possibly it WAS a direct reaction to our previous album which was super experimental and almost forcefully looked for innovation. This time everything was flowing more organically again, and traditional riffs were allowed again.


You all are known for being extremely precise and calculated in your music, and I’ve always been curious if or how this very methodical way of approaching your art bleeds into other aspects of your lives, whether it’s day-to-day habits or general worldview.

Interesting question. I know Jacob is very methodical about things, but I am not. I am actually way too chaotic in real life. I guess I save all my intelligence for the creation of the music lolz. But yeah I do know that things have to be done right. I see people half-assing certain things and not double checking, and I go....ahh man...u couldn't have thought about that a little better? Also team play is something that's my thing. Compromises, that might not be a good deal for me but I got the foresight ‘cause I know in the end it will be better for me being altruistic or whatever. It IS connected to the music and the balance that is in it.


Let’s talk a bit about the themes of the album - exploring insanity both through intrinsic forces (songs like “A Patriarchy Perverse” exploring genetically ingrained mental illness) and extrinsic formats (with songs like “Extrinsically Enraged” about rabies). What sort of references did you absorb in order to realize these themes, literary, musical, or otherwise? 

Sick that u noticed! Josh and I watched documentaries and read articles as we always do, I think Josh reads quite a bit on it. I am more like the lazy docu guy haha. “Extrinsically” is actually the only thing that talks about extrinsic things actually. The rest is basically about mental illness, although rabies technically are not but they do inject this neurological disorder into the human system, which is still fascinating if u think about it.


In a way, this full internal/external exploration mirrors your music itself—it’s an all-encompassing experience, consuming both mentally with its technicality and physically in its demanding execution. Do you see this parallel as intentional, and how do you think this full-body experience ties into the album's exploration of human mania?

Woooooah interesting observation right here. I mean I just know DS is a full body AND soul/intellect experience which is why I love dedicating my life to it. It was not intentional but if u wanna think that, feel free to haha! To me, playing what we're playing in DS is my attempt to achieve musical enlightenment (maybe in my next life lol)
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I also appreciate how you delve into complex ideas while avoiding the stereotypical 'serial killer worship' that many death metal bands lean into. Instead, this album presents these themes in a way that feels much more tangible and relatable to the listener. What does this reveal about your perspective on the human mind and its role in shaping these concepts?

Thank you! We never believed in stereotypical things. We've just been dealing with such a wide range of influences, we wanna turn extreme death metal into art.

You’ve stated how you approach music as seriously as possible so that your themes are viewed more artistically rather than just over-the-top absurdity, as commonly seen in genres like goregrind or what have you. Can you elaborate on the songwriting process, both instrumental and lyrical, with this approach? How do you delve into that mindset while also still enjoying the process?

First of all: I sometimes question myself and think maybe we are taking this thing too seriously and the most artistically valid thing u can do is just be stupid like Devourment etc...haha (cus it's perfect!, they definitely don't try to make it more than it is). Our songwriting process is literally composition. A theme gets invented and you try to weave it forth and marry it to other themes. Then you start to decide on structure. This whole development goes on for months until you know deep inside, it's finished. The lyrics and vocal patterns are already considered in the beginning but are nailed down at the end of the process. I don't have to delve into it, once it’s on it’s taking over my life. I start thinking about problems for days and finding solutions is very freeing!


Tell us about the Chronicles of Lunacy tour and how that’s been going so far. I would presume that by playing such physically demanding music, you all must have some kind of warm up or routine in order to be able to play these shows night after night. If so, what does that entail? ( In other words, how have y’all avoided carpal tunnel after all these years?!)

We have experienced carpal tunnel or similar things and surpassed it. That's the way hahaha. About warm ups, we all just take our instruments while the support bands go on and start getting familiar. Often someone has to sit at merch digging for hoodies in size XXXL down the bottom of a box instead. LOL. The tour has been one of our biggest successes in our history so far. Amazing package of brutal legends. It killed!


How do you adapt your intricate studio compositions to the live setting?  I read that Jacob has to adjust his bass playing in the live setting to fill in the overdubbed second guitar parts, and I’m curious if there are other ways the band modifies the material for live performances?

Yeah playing with only 1 guitar sometimes makes it neccesary to change what each stringed instrument is playing. Sometimes arrangement changes helpe the flow of the set as well. A little intro, or even cutting a part, etc. can be good. I liked very much when we toured Canada, we used a Gorguts homage intro as a homage to Canada/Quebec as well!


Any plans for a U.S. tour this year? Anything else you’d like to mention or what fans can look forward to from you all?

Yes, there are big plans coming! We wanna come over there twice in the next two years at least. One tour will be supporting a bigger band, and the other will be headlining giving the US fans a full view of the Chronicles of Lunacy album and play some classix from the back catalogue as well! DS is taking a little creative break for now as we have been going non-stop the last few years and we might bring in some "anniversary tour" type things, as well as a full-length Dharmata album that is already fully written to be recorded as soon as we have the time for it!
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Stay up to date with tour dates and more:
https://defeatedsanity.com
Instagram and Bandcamp
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