Emaciation, falling somewhere between black metal and death metal, will mark its 20th birthday this year

If a stranger happened upon him, they'd first see the two and a half feet of reddish-blond ponytail. They might notice the black leather pants, too, although stranger things have been worn to metal shows. And they would hear him lean around the bar to ask politely whether he might be able to get a glass of water, please, "to do our makeup."

Even before he emerges onstage in character and corpse paint, it's unavoidable, the question begged by this slim, soft-spoken persona.

Who is that?

It's Kirby Ray, founder and frontman of Emaciation and one of the truly singular characters about town. He's a radio personality and program director on Real Rock 99.3, frequently seen at charity events and fundraisers.

But on stage, he's Lord Kirby Ray, sovereign nightmare of death metal.

Members of Emaciation rehearse Sunday night in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

He and his friend, Stu Faris, founded Emaciation in 1996 as a way to reconnect with the music they cherished growing up.

"We like all genres of music," Ray said. "We just wanted to get back to something more metal."

Emaciation, over the years, has seen 55 band members, of which Ray is the only remaining original.

The current lineup consists of Ray, aka "Lord Kirby Ray," "Sir JJ" Seabaugh, Nathan "Surnat Facehan" Surface, Brandon "Brandor" Elfrink and Charles "Gnarly Charlie" Rockwell.

Kirby Ray, frontman of Emaciation, rehearses Sunday night, Feb. 7, 2016, in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

As the band's 20th anniversary looms, Ray said he enjoys it every bit as much as ever, but it's taken its toll.

Members of Emaciation from left, Kirby Ray, Brandon Elfrink, Charles "Gnarly Charlie" Rockwell, JJ Seabaugh and Nathan Surface.Laura Simon

"I used to headbang really hard when I was young, back in the '80s, then in the '90s I started to feel it," he joked. "Now I do more of a shoulderbang."

Their music lands somewhere between black metal and death metal, Ray said. Their compositions are complex and technically demanding, but where death metal often emphasizes speed to a fault, Emaciation's creative vision tempers speed for the sake of showmanship.

Some riffs -- think Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" -- would sound like a chipmunk theme at a breakneck bpm, but with breathing room, they hit like a gothic freight train.

"We're trying to play our songs so that people can feel it," he said. "Not something that's always playing a million miles an hour."

It's apocalyptic in a great way. Emaciation makes the sounds of despair and destruction cathartic and invigorating.

Members of Emaciation from left, Kirby Ray, Brandon Elfrink, Charles "Gnarly Charlie" Rockwell, JJ Seabaugh and Nathan Surface.Laura Simon

"It's as extreme as it gets," Ray said.

While the musical cues come from death metal, Emaciation's stage cues are taken from the larger-than-life drama of black metal and beyond.

Ray explained the band's stylistic choices are as rooted in the glam and decadence of David Bowie and Elton John as they are in the camp and shock value of KISS and Alice Cooper.

"I like going on stage as something different," he said. "And I think the look is a big part of it."

To that end, Ray's costume includes not only makeup, but spiked and studded regalia and a crunchy black guitar.

Members of Emaciation from left, Kirby Ray, Brandon Elfrink, Charles "Gnarly Charlie" Rockwell, JJ Seabaugh and Nathan Surface.Laura Simon

"Otherwise you could just listen to the CD," he said. "I feel like [costuming] heightens the experience of the show."

In two weeks, the band is preparing to release its latest album, "Earth Odyssey," the first since 2003's "Planet in Bliss," on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

"It's the best one we've ever done," Ray said. "It sounds just like I wanted it to sound like."

And on Aug. 20, the band will celebrate its 20th birthday at Pitter's Cafe and Lounge on Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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