Hold Fast: Oliver Ackermann

By Emma Z. on 11/21/2011

Many know Oliver Ackermann as the guitarist and vocalist for the noise rock band A Place To Bury Strangers but that's just one of the outlets for his interest in all things sound. Death By Audio, the line of effects pedal he produces from his Brooklyn workshop, is the other. The space is a DIY wonderland with all the wires, knobs and parts to build all kinds of noise makers from which he does "every aspect of every bit of (his) craft as much as he possibly can." Ackermann takes great pride in the equipment his shop produces, it's Death By Audio's pedals that create the crazy, indescribable effects behind the music of such bands as Lightning Bolt, Grooms, Wilco and Nine Inch Nails.

With names like Supersonic Fizz Gun, The Octave Clang and Interstellar Overdrive Ackermann's pedals create sounds that are beyond compare and are widely recognized as some of the highest quality equipment available. That's because each piece is handmade with extreme attention given to every detail, even down to the labeling on the casings. Death By Audio not only plays home to the effect pedal factory but also serves as a performance space for Brooklyn's growing DIY music scene - giving new bands a place to show off their stuff. Ackermann, like Norman Collins, has worked hard to create a space where he - as well as others in his ever expanding community - can hone their craft, not to mention make a lot of really incredibly (and loud) noise.