HardLore Podcast: Damonteal Harris (Peeling Flesh)

Episode Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Colin Young (A), Bo Lueders (C)
Guest: Damonteal (Demontel) Harris (B), vocalist of Peeling Flesh

Episode Overview

This episode brings on Damonteal Harris, frontman of rising Oklahoma-based slam/hardcore unit Peeling Flesh, for a rowdy deep dive into the band's lore, the Oklahoma heavy music scene, tour life, and personal history—infused with plenty of humor and candid insight. Recorded just ahead of releasing their next LP PF Radio 2, the conversation explores everything from band rituals to questionable venues, musical influences, the mysteries of lyric writing, and tales from the road.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Oklahoma Scene (01:34–04:11)

Damonteal hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma (nicknamed "Teatown") and is the only Tulsa-based member; the rest of Peeling Flesh is from OKC.
Early days described as "grimy," playing in hardcore bands amidst a scene with strong roots in Oi!, power violence, grindcore, and “that shade of beige.”
Scene had a reputation for hard moshers and "grimy" venues (e.g., VFW halls), and Damonteal was once banned from a venue on his birthday for moshing too hard.

Notable Quote:

"We just had like a grimy style of music. It was a little different hardcore, a little bit of everything mixed." (B, 03:54)

2. Band Formation & Musical Blend (09:56–10:53)

Peeling Flesh formed during COVID-19, with members coming from various heavy music subgenres.
No initial plans for touring, started as a bedroom project with "stupid slams and samples" for fun.
The band’s musical DNA is a unique collision of hardcore, death metal, “slam,” and Memphis rap influence, treating samples like a “second instrument.”

Notable Quote:

"We treat our samples like, you know, kind of... like the other singer." (B, 12:52)

3. Vocals, Lyrics & Slam Ethos (00:00, 19:44, 21:59)

Damonteal's signature guttural vocals stem from making weird noises as a teen; Peeling Flesh was his first vocal frontman gig.
Lyrics often intentionally inscrutable; much of their mystique comes from rhythmic syllables and primal energy over poetic meaning.
Occasional lyric booklets inside CDs, but mostly: “The shit don’t mean nothing... every Peeling Flesh song is about a different way of beating the shit out of someone. It’s just primal, just caveman, just bunga bunga dismemberment.” (B, 21:59)

Memorable Bit:

"When you Google the lyrics, it’ll be the sample and then five question marks." (A, 19:34)

4. Tour Culture, Venues & Vehicle Life (29:05–33:17)

Post-pandemic, Peeling Flesh became road warriors, upgrading to a Winnebago minibus “spaceballs style” for full-band comfort (plus driver, merch, and sound people).
Emphasize self-sufficiency: all members are “car guys,” fix the rig on the road themselves, and the gear is designed to be flyable/international-ready.
Memorable near-death tour tales: hydroplaning, sketchy gas stops in Portland, blocked parking lots in Philly.

Notable Quote:

“…having multiple people in the band that can diagnose a problem... you need to be able to not get finessed by a mechanic.” (B, 32:19)

5. Recording & Live Setup (28:03–34:49)

All drums on record performed live by Joey, described as a “machine.”
Bass is pre-recorded for live performances, run through a rig and “played” by the guitarist in sync with a click—blurring lines between backing track and live strings, fitting their love of efficiency.

6. Albums & Writing Process (25:34–26:53, 52:25–54:03, 55:07)

Human Pudding and The G Code mark key creative leaps, with the latter being their first cohesive “LP-worthy” project where all writing was collaborative.
PF Radio 2 (next LP) is “an experience, not just a collection of songs”—promises even more hardcore and inventive twists.
The band constantly writes, already working on a post-LP split and next full-length.

7. Touring with Slam Legends & Scene Impact (13:44–14:38, 25:58–27:47)

Early tours linked them with slam legends like Devourment, who inspired and validated Peeling Flesh's rap-slam fusion.
Their own headlining “Get Rich, Die Hard” tour—every date sold out, culminating in what was asserted the “biggest slam show to date” (1,000 cap in Arizona).

8. Band Rituals & Tour Life (41:10–46:49)

Tour rituals: heavy weed usage (“Big weed band. Big weed.”), blasting music on a found roadside JBL or their “skull candy boombox,” and indulgence in food via DoorDash.
Soto (guitarist) insists on a nap before every set, Damonteal uses autopsy songs for vocal warmups, and oat milk matcha is cited as a personal pre-show secret.

9. Musical & Personal Influences (62:21–66:45, 77:11–81:19)

Top 4 hardcore records: Mind Force demo/Future of…, Backtrack’s Darker Half, Side Split’s Second Self, Upright demo (OKC).
Top 4 hip hop records: Three 6 Mafia’s Chapter Two, Earl Sweatshirt’s Doris, Chris Travis’s The Silence of Me Eternally, UGK Swishas and Dos.
Slam vocal influences: Angel Ochoa (Cephalotripsy), Matty Way, Serge Tankian (System of a Down).

10. Other Lore & Humor

Damonteal’s leg-scar-from-Miss-May-I’s trailer (08:28), persistent venue bans, bridge-falling ankle injury rescuing a “white baby” at camp (22:32), experience with martial arts (50:43)—all recounted in hilarious, deadpan style.
Notable aversions: being called "buddy" or any Midwest nicknames (49:38).
Favorite show foods: Hawaiian barbecue bowls, banh mi, and Sheet’s/Wawa gas station eats.
Dream show line-up: Abomo, PT, Cephalotripsy, Laid To Rest, and E-Town Concrete for wild card.
Favorite band activity: blasting Memphis rap (Chris Travis), Mongoloids, and not much slam on the “slam wagon.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Peeling Flesh’s Lyric Philosophy:

“Yo, I’m not gonna lie. This shit don’t mean nothing.” (B, 00:00 / 21:44)
On Vocal Inspiration:

“I’ve been able to do the vocals I do since I was like 14 or 15. Just a kid... just making weird noises.” (B, 06:57)
On Oklahoma Shows:

“It was real grimy... you got banned from a venue in Oklahoma City?”
“Yeah, something like that.” (A & B, 04:30–04:38)
On Music Writing:

"We treat our samples like a second instrument. We treat our samples like... the other singer." (B, 12:52)
On Big Slam Moments:

“This is a 1,000 cap slam show. 100% slam bands back to back... biggest slam show to date.” (B, 36:36)
On Favorite Foods:

“We're a big fan of Hawaiian roads... pokey, rice, teriyaki chicken. If I can find a good banh mi, that's also it.” (B, 58:40)
On Gymnastics in the Pit:

“Does that translate into pit violence?”
“100, 100. I got some mean kicks.” (C & B, 51:36–51:39)
On Tour Rituals:

“We have to have music playing at all time... at first it was a JBL, we call it the Jibble.” (B, 43:33)
On their Secret Weapon:

"If I can get my hands on it, a nice oat milk matcha, I think is also the secret... oat milk matcha. Wow.” (B, 45:13–46:04)
On Road Hardships:

“Hydroplaning in the rain... pulling up to a gas station in Portland, turns out to be a bunch of people trying to hop on our bus. Only in Portland.” (B, 29:16)
On scene representation:

"Everything we do, we do for Oklahoma. To put Oklahoma on the map." (B, 39:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[00:00] – On lyrics: “Shit don’t mean nothing.”
[01:34] – Early Oklahoma scene and origins
[06:27] – Demonteal’s first band as vocalist
[09:56] – Formation during COVID and band backgrounds
[12:22] – Integrating rap samples into the music
[14:09] – Stories from first big tours (with Devourment)
[19:44] – Lyric approach & the “samples + question marks” internet mystery
[21:59] – Philosophy of primal, “caveman” songwriting
[25:34] – Creating The G Code LP, process differences
[27:09] – Audience and streaming response to The G Code
[29:05] – Upgrading to a Winnebago & on-the-road mechanics
[31:06] – Sleeping, living, and maintaining the RV
[34:49] – Gear setup, portability for touring internationally
[36:36] – The 1,000-capacity Arizona “biggest slam show ever”
[41:10] – Band rituals (weed, music, naps, oat milk matcha)
[51:36] – Martial arts background & pit application
[54:03] – PF Radio 2 LP: new directions & preview
[62:21] – Top four hardcore and hip hop records
[77:11] – Slam vocal influences
[80:16] – Favorite guest features and merch designs
[88:32] – Top Oklahoma bands to check out
[92:18] – Playing Sound and Fury fest & Project Pat encounter
[94:03] – On doing "It’s Hard Lore Time" in the Peeling Flesh voice
[95:00] – Keith Morris from Circle Jerks comes just to see Peeling Flesh
[95:31] – Closing remarks & PF Radio 2 release date preview

Additional Highlights

Paranormal Tangents (68:40–71:33): Ghost stories involving haunted portraits and mysterious noises in old apartments.
Food Preferences (58:27–61:48): Tour eats, banh mi love, gas station food, and enthusiastic endorsements for Burger Punk, a punk-themed burger joint in OKC.
Musician Shoutouts (62:34–66:41): Local Oklahoma bands, shoutout to snuffed on site and other scene peers.
Tour Mishaps (74:00): Philly block party erupts around their RV after a breakdown.

Closing Remarks

This episode delivers pure DIY spirit and Oklahoma pride, underscoring Peeling Flesh’s relentless work ethic, love for their scene, and irreverent approach to heavy music. It’s charming, hilarious, and packed with genuine “lore” for fans and newcomers alike—leaving listeners eager for PF Radio 2 and the next chapter of Oklahoma slam.

PF Radio 2 drops late September; catch Peeling Flesh on their U.S. tour (and, soon, in Europe).
“Everything we do, we do for Oklahoma.”

HardLore Podcast: Damonteal Harris (Peeling Flesh)

Episode Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Colin Young (A), Bo Lueders (C)
Guest: Damonteal (Demontel) Harris (B), vocalist of Peeling Flesh

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Oklahoma Scene (01:34–04:11)

Damonteal hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma (nicknamed "Teatown") and is the only Tulsa-based member; the rest of Peeling Flesh is from OKC.
Early days described as "grimy," playing in hardcore bands amidst a scene with strong roots in Oi!, power violence, grindcore, and “that shade of beige.”
Scene had a reputation for hard moshers and "grimy" venues (e.g., VFW halls), and Damonteal was once banned from a venue on his birthday for moshing too hard.

Notable Quote:

"We just had like a grimy style of music. It was a little different hardcore, a little bit of everything mixed." (B, 03:54)

2. Band Formation & Musical Blend (09:56–10:53)

Peeling Flesh formed during COVID-19, with members coming from various heavy music subgenres.
No initial plans for touring, started as a bedroom project with "stupid slams and samples" for fun.
The band’s musical DNA is a unique collision of hardcore, death metal, “slam,” and Memphis rap influence, treating samples like a “second instrument.”

Notable Quote:

"We treat our samples like, you know, kind of... like the other singer." (B, 12:52)

3. Vocals, Lyrics & Slam Ethos (00:00, 19:44, 21:59)

Damonteal's signature guttural vocals stem from making weird noises as a teen; Peeling Flesh was his first vocal frontman gig.
Lyrics often intentionally inscrutable; much of their mystique comes from rhythmic syllables and primal energy over poetic meaning.
Occasional lyric booklets inside CDs, but mostly: “The shit don’t mean nothing... every Peeling Flesh song is about a different way of beating the shit out of someone. It’s just primal, just caveman, just bunga bunga dismemberment.” (B, 21:59)

Memorable Bit:

"When you Google the lyrics, it’ll be the sample and then five question marks." (A, 19:34)

4. Tour Culture, Venues & Vehicle Life (29:05–33:17)

Post-pandemic, Peeling Flesh became road warriors, upgrading to a Winnebago minibus “spaceballs style” for full-band comfort (plus driver, merch, and sound people).
Emphasize self-sufficiency: all members are “car guys,” fix the rig on the road themselves, and the gear is designed to be flyable/international-ready.
Memorable near-death tour tales: hydroplaning, sketchy gas stops in Portland, blocked parking lots in Philly.

Notable Quote:

“…having multiple people in the band that can diagnose a problem... you need to be able to not get finessed by a mechanic.” (B, 32:19)

5. Recording & Live Setup (28:03–34:49)

All drums on record performed live by Joey, described as a “machine.”
Bass is pre-recorded for live performances, run through a rig and “played” by the guitarist in sync with a click—blurring lines between backing track and live strings, fitting their love of efficiency.

6. Albums & Writing Process (25:34–26:53, 52:25–54:03, 55:07)

Human Pudding and The G Code mark key creative leaps, with the latter being their first cohesive “LP-worthy” project where all writing was collaborative.
PF Radio 2 (next LP) is “an experience, not just a collection of songs”—promises even more hardcore and inventive twists.
The band constantly writes, already working on a post-LP split and next full-length.

7. Touring with Slam Legends & Scene Impact (13:44–14:38, 25:58–27:47)

Early tours linked them with slam legends like Devourment, who inspired and validated Peeling Flesh's rap-slam fusion.
Their own headlining “Get Rich, Die Hard” tour—every date sold out, culminating in what was asserted the “biggest slam show to date” (1,000 cap in Arizona).

8. Band Rituals & Tour Life (41:10–46:49)

Tour rituals: heavy weed usage (“Big weed band. Big weed.”), blasting music on a found roadside JBL or their “skull candy boombox,” and indulgence in food via DoorDash.
Soto (guitarist) insists on a nap before every set, Damonteal uses autopsy songs for vocal warmups, and oat milk matcha is cited as a personal pre-show secret.

9. Musical & Personal Influences (62:21–66:45, 77:11–81:19)

Top 4 hardcore records: Mind Force demo/Future of…, Backtrack’s Darker Half, Side Split’s Second Self, Upright demo (OKC).
Top 4 hip hop records: Three 6 Mafia’s Chapter Two, Earl Sweatshirt’s Doris, Chris Travis’s The Silence of Me Eternally, UGK Swishas and Dos.
Slam vocal influences: Angel Ochoa (Cephalotripsy), Matty Way, Serge Tankian (System of a Down).

10. Other Lore & Humor

Damonteal’s leg-scar-from-Miss-May-I’s trailer (08:28), persistent venue bans, bridge-falling ankle injury rescuing a “white baby” at camp (22:32), experience with martial arts (50:43)—all recounted in hilarious, deadpan style.
Notable aversions: being called "buddy" or any Midwest nicknames (49:38).
Favorite show foods: Hawaiian barbecue bowls, banh mi, and Sheet’s/Wawa gas station eats.
Dream show line-up: Abomo, PT, Cephalotripsy, Laid To Rest, and E-Town Concrete for wild card.
Favorite band activity: blasting Memphis rap (Chris Travis), Mongoloids, and not much slam on the “slam wagon.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Peeling Flesh’s Lyric Philosophy:

“Yo, I’m not gonna lie. This shit don’t mean nothing.” (B, 00:00 / 21:44)
On Vocal Inspiration:

“I’ve been able to do the vocals I do since I was like 14 or 15. Just a kid... just making weird noises.” (B, 06:57)
On Oklahoma Shows:

“It was real grimy... you got banned from a venue in Oklahoma City?”
“Yeah, something like that.” (A & B, 04:30–04:38)
On Music Writing:

"We treat our samples like a second instrument. We treat our samples like... the other singer." (B, 12:52)
On Big Slam Moments:

“This is a 1,000 cap slam show. 100% slam bands back to back... biggest slam show to date.” (B, 36:36)
On Favorite Foods:

“We're a big fan of Hawaiian roads... pokey, rice, teriyaki chicken. If I can find a good banh mi, that's also it.” (B, 58:40)
On Gymnastics in the Pit:

“Does that translate into pit violence?”
“100, 100. I got some mean kicks.” (C & B, 51:36–51:39)
On Tour Rituals:

“We have to have music playing at all time... at first it was a JBL, we call it the Jibble.” (B, 43:33)
On their Secret Weapon:

"If I can get my hands on it, a nice oat milk matcha, I think is also the secret... oat milk matcha. Wow.” (B, 45:13–46:04)
On Road Hardships:

“Hydroplaning in the rain... pulling up to a gas station in Portland, turns out to be a bunch of people trying to hop on our bus. Only in Portland.” (B, 29:16)
On scene representation:

"Everything we do, we do for Oklahoma. To put Oklahoma on the map." (B, 39:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[00:00] – On lyrics: “Shit don’t mean nothing.”
[01:34] – Early Oklahoma scene and origins
[06:27] – Demonteal’s first band as vocalist
[09:56] – Formation during COVID and band backgrounds
[12:22] – Integrating rap samples into the music
[14:09] – Stories from first big tours (with Devourment)
[19:44] – Lyric approach & the “samples + question marks” internet mystery
[21:59] – Philosophy of primal, “caveman” songwriting
[25:34] – Creating The G Code LP, process differences
[27:09] – Audience and streaming response to The G Code
[29:05] – Upgrading to a Winnebago & on-the-road mechanics
[31:06] – Sleeping, living, and maintaining the RV
[34:49] – Gear setup, portability for touring internationally
[36:36] – The 1,000-capacity Arizona “biggest slam show ever”
[41:10] – Band rituals (weed, music, naps, oat milk matcha)
[51:36] – Martial arts background & pit application
[54:03] – PF Radio 2 LP: new directions & preview
[62:21] – Top four hardcore and hip hop records
[77:11] – Slam vocal influences
[80:16] – Favorite guest features and merch designs
[88:32] – Top Oklahoma bands to check out
[92:18] – Playing Sound and Fury fest & Project Pat encounter
[94:03] – On doing "It’s Hard Lore Time" in the Peeling Flesh voice
[95:00] – Keith Morris from Circle Jerks comes just to see Peeling Flesh
[95:31] – Closing remarks & PF Radio 2 release date preview

Additional Highlights

Paranormal Tangents (68:40–71:33): Ghost stories involving haunted portraits and mysterious noises in old apartments.
Food Preferences (58:27–61:48): Tour eats, banh mi love, gas station food, and enthusiastic endorsements for Burger Punk, a punk-themed burger joint in OKC.
Musician Shoutouts (62:34–66:41): Local Oklahoma bands, shoutout to snuffed on site and other scene peers.
Tour Mishaps (74:00): Philly block party erupts around their RV after a breakdown.

Closing Remarks

PF Radio 2 drops late September; catch Peeling Flesh on their U.S. tour (and, soon, in Europe).
“Everything we do, we do for Oklahoma.”

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Damonteal Harris (PeelingFlesh)

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Summary

HardLore Podcast: Damonteal Harris (Peeling Flesh)

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Oklahoma Scene (01:34–04:11)

2. Band Formation & Musical Blend (09:56–10:53)

3. Vocals, Lyrics & Slam Ethos (00:00, 19:44, 21:59)

4. Tour Culture, Venues & Vehicle Life (29:05–33:17)

5. Recording & Live Setup (28:03–34:49)

6. Albums & Writing Process (25:34–26:53, 52:25–54:03, 55:07)

7. Touring with Slam Legends & Scene Impact (13:44–14:38, 25:58–27:47)

8. Band Rituals & Tour Life (41:10–46:49)

9. Musical & Personal Influences (62:21–66:45, 77:11–81:19)

10. Other Lore & Humor

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Additional Highlights

Closing Remarks

Summary

HardLore Podcast: Damonteal Harris (Peeling Flesh)

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Oklahoma Scene (01:34–04:11)

2. Band Formation & Musical Blend (09:56–10:53)

3. Vocals, Lyrics & Slam Ethos (00:00, 19:44, 21:59)

4. Tour Culture, Venues & Vehicle Life (29:05–33:17)

5. Recording & Live Setup (28:03–34:49)

6. Albums & Writing Process (25:34–26:53, 52:25–54:03, 55:07)

7. Touring with Slam Legends & Scene Impact (13:44–14:38, 25:58–27:47)

8. Band Rituals & Tour Life (41:10–46:49)

9. Musical & Personal Influences (62:21–66:45, 77:11–81:19)

10. Other Lore & Humor

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Additional Highlights

Closing Remarks