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A new review section: Buried by Time And Dust

We added a new review section, coincidentally another Mayhem reference following 'The Past is Alive', with the title 'Buried by Time and Dust'. Over the years, a lot of promos have been gathering dust simply because a fresh wave of promos arrived the following month and they were consigned to oblivion. We will review them here to make a clear distinction with our other reviews. We will also use it to complete a discography in terms of reviews. Feel free to contact us if you would like to submit your music or would like to join the staff.

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Helleruin – “People can expect harsh, “in your face” melodies and bombastic drums, primitive vocals and quite some aggression.”

Besides Nachtwraak also Helleruin hails from The Netherlands and is familiar with the fine art of Black Metal. Although The Netherlands is my home country, I consider it pure coincidence that the Dutch bands are featured plenty on the pages of VM-Underground. But then again…who’s gonna stop me? Helleruin is a one-man project from an early-twenties bloke who already had a lot of experience throughout the last couple of years. As I was impressed by his first demo, I fired some questions at Carchost.

Let’s talk about Helleruin…
I created Helleruin because I wanted a band/project which features myself on every instrument and vocals, I’ve been in group songwriting a lot with other bands and I realized I’m more comfortable writing music on my own and giving it completely my vision, rather than compromise because of input from others. Helleruin was created in december 2015. Helleruin is an almost forgotten old Dutch word, which modernly could be translated as “witchcraft” or “necromancy”. I choose this because it fits the image I want to radiate.

You’re quite young, but you already have played or still playing in a lot of bands/projects, being involved as a live musician, bandmember or a project of your own. Standvast, Gheestenland, Ethraid Engrin to name a few. Care to walk us through your musical path you have taken since 2014?
Apart from playing live, we released a promotional demo with my band Ethraid Engrin in 2014, which I play drums on. In early 2016, a doom project of mine called Locus Amoenus released it’s debut on tape and recently on CD as well, I play drums and bass on that record. Early October 2016 Orewoet also released it’s first EP, which I also play drums on. I started as a live member for Gheestenland in 2014 and at the beginning of 2016 I started as a live member for Standvast.

Your demo is released in the autumn of 2016. What can the readers expect of your demo? Do you agree the opening of the first track as quite a Punk vibe going on? I mentioned I hear some Taake in your music, do you agree or do you hear other influences?
People can expect harsh, “in your face” melodies and bombastic drums, primitive vocals and quite some aggression. I think you can definitely hear punk vibes in certain parts of my music, especially the first track indeed. The reason for this is that I’m experimenting a lot with different genres in general, I think the music benefits a lot from this. But my main source of influences come from the Norwegian black metal scene mid/late 90’s, and Taake also comes from that scene indeed.

The lyrical content seems to be about war. Does certain books, historical events or movies influence you, or is it just a simple fiction that comes up when composing the music? Why have you chosen to use the Dutch as well as the English language for your lyrics? For future releases, will you keep it this way or will you shift to one of the languages?
The demo was mostly about World War one and two, but that was just the demo. The next release will have another topic. I write lyrics in a way that feels natural for the song, and sometimes Dutch feels more natural than English, and sometimes English feels more natural than Dutch. I don’t know if I will shift to one of the languages, it has to feel natural at that time. So time will tell I guess.

Now you have the demo released, what are the plans? Seeking for a label to spread the word and music of Helleruin? Playing live with session musicians? Or something else? Already ideas for an EP, split or second demo?
For future releases I will look for a label. I don’t feel like Helleruin is a name ready to enter the stage yet, but I like the idea of standing on a stage with Helleruin one day. Futhermore, I’ve recently finished recording songs for a split which will be the forthcoming release and I will record a full length album in spring 2017.

That’s all for now, thanks for introducing Helleruin to us…
You’re welcome, thanks for the interview.

Helleruin

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  • Bands: The Fog
  • Review Date: September 24, 2017

The Fog

Are you interested in a band that created THE most old school Doom/Death album since long? Fan of the ugly, raw, disturbing and primitive edge of doom/death metal? Well, search no longer, cause album ‘Perpetual Blackness’ from German based band The Fog is all you need! I’ve mailed bass player C.C. Defiler to unlock some extra info and details about the band and its creation that led me to the depths of doom. Enjoy! (Fredde)

Hello guys, everything fine in Germany?
Cheers Fredde, nothing is fine if you have to answer questions in a language you can barely speak in combination with a huge hangover, which now lasts for the third day, but thank you anyway!

Your first full-length album has been released…but I suppose many people haven’t heard about the band yet. Can you give us a introduction of how the band was formed, the different band members and their skills, … ?
The Fog is active since spring 2014 and consists of V.Lord (Vocals/Guitars), Avenger (Drums), and me, C.C. Defiler (Bass). V. Lord had the idea to play this slow kind of Death Metal since he left his former band Beyond where he played bass. He met with Avenger in the rehearsal room and after two rehearsals I joined the band. Shortly afterwards we recorded our Demo “Void Nexus” and things started to take its course.

The label this release is signed on doesn’t really exists that long (since 2010)…satisfied with this young label? How did you get in contact or was it the other way around?
Raul of Memento Mori contacted us shortly after we released the first song of our demo and after listening to the complete tape, he told us he would like to release a future album of The Fog. After a short break we began to write some new songs without any considerations of releasing another demo or a mlp or something else. But the offer was there and we were pretty convinced by the new songs so we decided to record a full album. Memento Mori did also stuff like the Delirium Re-Release and so we thought it would fit to the music we are doing.

Perpetual Blackness has been released in January 2016, so now it’s available since few months…how do you look at the album now? What’s your own evaluation about it? Things you would do in another way, aspects where you’re proud of?
I think it’s unnecessary to think about things we could do another way because you can’t change them anymore. Besides that we are pretty satisfied with Perpetual Blackness and the way it sounds. Everything sounds the way we wanted and there is no need to change anything.

Well, about the music…I listened to the album that has a duration of about 50 minutes, and in that small hour you were able to give me the feeling how doom/death metal should sound like (thanks for that!)…were you guys always obsessed by the mix of doom and death metal or did it all started with another genre? And what fascinates you about this style of metal? And I’m curious why you’ve chose the old school style of doom/death and not the more ‘modern’ version of these days hehe
I’ve always been impressed by bands like Winter, Autopsy, Goatlord, (very old )Asphyx and their approach to play this ugly and rotten kind of music. When we started we wanted to play music in that way. Simple, raw, ugly, disturbing and primitive. Like a drunk guy who beats you straight into your face, haha! Sure there are some exciting modern death/doom bands but it’s not the kind of music we want to play.

How would you describe the lyrical concept of The Fog?
‘Perpetual Blackness’ features several lyrical themes, including the senselessness of all being, visions of dystopia, cosmic chaos and mental disease. In a way, a lot of the lyrics lead back to the senselessness of existence, as everything dealing with endings in one way or another implies the former. That’s pretty much it.

Is there a track of the new record that you’re especially excited about?
I only can speak for myself, but “Grievous Scourge” is the song I’m mostly excited about. It’s the perfect song to close this album and Avenger did a great job doing the synths in the second half of the song. But it’s hard to choose one single track. I’m excited by “Perpetual Blackness” in its entirety.

Who has produced and mastered the album? Did he already scored credits while working with other bands or is he someone new in the scene? Could you give us some information about the studio it’s been created, the working process, …?
“Perpetual Blackness” was recorded by Avenger under the influence of cheap schnapps in our rehearsal room with nearly the same equipment we already used to record our demo tape “Void Nexus”. Laurent Teubl from Chapel Of Disease was responsible for the mixing. He’s a friend of us and he knows how this kind of music has to sound. Ted Tringo from The Ancient Way Mastering mastered the album. He has been recommended by Raul from Memento Mori and all three have done a really great job!

The sound on Perpetual Blackness sounds vile, the vocals sound rotten and deep and yes, even the album cover isn’t one of the sunny side (what else can you expect with this style of music )…who’s responsible for the artwork?
Misanthropic Art was responsible for the artwork. He’s done some great artworks in the past for bands like Chapel Of Disease, Nyktalgia, Alchemyst or Deathronation and we are really satisfied with the work he has done for us.

What are the plans in terms of touring/shows? Any change you will visit the neighborhood like Belgium and Holland?
We are playing a few shows in the next months in Germany. Until now we haven’t been asked to play in Belgium or Holland. But why not? I absolutely adore Belgian beer and Dutch weed so this would be a no brainer, hehe…

I’ve noticed the album is also available via the digital way (like Itunes)…not that common that an underground band provides their music through those channels. Are you fan of the digital world of music or do you pledge the old school way like vinyl and/or tapes (a media format that has some kind of revival)? And off course, will this album be released as vinyl/tape?
Iron Bonehead recently released the vinyl version of “Perpetual Blackness”. A tape release is not planned until now but if someone wants to release the cassette version he should contact us. I’m not really interested in this Itunes stuff but our drummer had the idea to release “Perpetual Blackness” on platforms like this so we did it…

How are the reactions to the album so far?
Actually I don’t really care about the reactions. We are really satisfied about the record and how everything worked out which is much more important for me.

Any bands in particular that comes back in the sound of Perpetual Blackness?
The band which comes back most significantly in our sound is ourselves. Of course, you’ll hear some strong influences by the bands mentioned above (and others). But we do not try to copy any other band’s style, we rather prepare our own nasty mixture by blending our musical background with ideas of our own.

What is your main objective as artists? What’s the goal? And already working on new material nowadays?
The goal is to create music which is ugly and disgusting. Nothing more, nothing less. We weren’t working on new material until now. But I think we will begin to write new songs later this year.

If you could play as support band for a big name in the scene, who would you pick?
There are some “big names” who could play as support band for us if they’re offering us a certain amount of money and some schnapps.

A question I frequently ask…if you could persuade people to buy your debut album…how would you promote it? Why should people buy or at least check out this release?
Buy “Perpetual Blackness”. Otherwise we’ll find you and beat the shit out of you!

Well, I’m out of question for now…any last words for our readers?
Thanks for interviewing us & stay metal!

The Fog

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Incarceration

“…Necro sickfuck old school death metal inspired by the fastest riffs of Nihilist, Sadistic Intent, Repugnant, Sepultura and Slayer…”. And you think I will let a band with such description walk by and not ask a single question? Guess again…(Ricardo)

Well, let’s start with the unavoidable question…how things started for Incarceration? At first it was a one man project from Brazil, but now there are three members and the band headquarters is in Hamburg, Germany. Why did you move from Brazil to Germany? Could you tell us more about that? How did you get in contact with Björn and Michael?
Hi Ricardo, first of all thanks for the invitation for this interview. Very cool your atitude to print a zine in 2014 and also let it available for free over internet. Total support ! I moved to Germany ‘because of love’. My girl is German. She moved to Brazil to live with me and after 2 years she ‘imported’ me to her country. Now we live here. After we moved i began to ask around for the most sickfuck bassist and drummer on the area and after sometime i’ve met Björn and Micha.

Let’s talk a bit about you…When you got in contact with extreme metal, you stated you were into the fast Brutal Death Metal scene of Brazil like Krisiun, Abhorrence, Rebaelliun en Ophiolatry. In 2007 you began to discover the Old School Death Metal scene. Which bands grabbed you by the throat? And why were you intrigued by the Old School style? Your first band Mortificy was at the age of 14, and not surprisingly as you were a fan of the genre, Brutal Death Metal. You even played tons of gigs and even did tours. You even have played for 2000 people. Can you tell us more about those days?
Fuck Ricardo, you know more about me than myself haha! About the bands that grabbed me by the throat on that time i can say Repugnant, Verminous, Sadistic Intent, Nihilist, Entombed, Dismember, etc. I got in touch with these stuffs and needed to play that kind of music. I even thought about change the identitify of MORTIFICY. But to preserve the Brutal Death Metal concept, a few years later i started INCARCERATION.

 

After the “Decrepit Aberration” split with Escarnium, you have written 2 songs and put the one and only song of the split, “Sacrifice”, on the “Sacrifice” EP which was released on tape (300 copies) by German label F.D.A. Rekotz. Not long after this release Dawnbreed Records from The Netherlands has released it as a 7” (limited to 500 copies). And if that isn’t all, there is a CD version as well, released by Misanthropic Records & Dawnbreed Records, also limited to 500 copies. Where did you record it, who produced it, and are you still satisfied with the songs, production and artwork? Can you tell us more about the recording process? How are the reactions on this one so far? The statement “…Necro sickfuck old school death metal inspired by the fastest riffs of Nihilist, Sadistic Intent, Repugnant, Sepultura and Slayer…” creates expectations, is this your idea or F.D.A. Rekotz? Also, was it your idea to release it on cassette only at first?
The writing process was a bit tiring, i needed time to write all the riffs. But the recording process was very simple. Nestor Carrera (from Escarnium) recorded the drums in Brazil and i recorded the others instruments/vocals on my PC. After all i sent everything to Jera Cravo and he did the magic with mix/master. After have the master ready we put Forsaken and Forgotten on Youtube and days later we had invitation from the labels you mentioned. Since the beginning the plan was to release in different countries/formats. About the Death Metal statement, it was my idea. Was the best and more honest way i’ve found to introduce ourselves. \m/

Autumn 2013, you went on a European tour with Escarnium. Tell us more about it…everything went well…very well? Or you also had evenings with only 20 people in front of the stage? Or car trouble? Any cool or fun road stories to tell our readers?
It was the most intense experience for us till now. First time of Micha and Björn on the road, our first time touring together, it was fun. On the day after the first gig in Wolfsburg we were leaving the place and the promoter (Steffen from Cryptic Brood) gave us a box full of beers (36 beers i think), so you can imagine ‘the atmosphere’. We had so many crazy moments there in The Netherlands, Belgium and other countries. Every day, every moment was special. Was awesome to be on the road with the Escarnium guys. Some gigs in front of 20 people as you said but anyway we played as we were in front of 200. We love to play together. Even rehearsing we bang our heads like crazy. Having 20 guests is already total insanity! We played in Hamburg (city where we are based) in the middle of the tour and was exactly on the day of my birthday. My girl and even my fathers-in-law (my German family) were there among 150 insane bangers. We did an awesome gig, our friends were proud of us and after that i was celebrating my birthday with them. It makes more sense if you have in mind that i moved to Germany in the end of 2011, so was pretty cool to celebrate my birthday in this way in less than 2 years later. Kind of moment to remember and feel good you know ?

Can you tell us more about the new material? Is it in the same vein as the “Sacrifice” EP? What are your expectations for the (near) future for Incarceration? You will tour with Chilean obscure Death Metallers of Unaussprechlichen Kulten and also with the Mexicans of Zombiefication in September 2014. Can you tell us more about it? Also you have confirmed to be on stage during the Party San Open Air 2014.
At the moment we are writing the songs of the Debut Album. It’s different than writing an EP of 10 mins for lots of different reasons. To have a whole full lenght without breaks and only ‘tupa tupa tupa’ unfortunately is boring. So we are trying to be as killer as possible without sounds boring. If Reign in Blood is one of you favorite albuns i think you will like what we are preparing. It will be made exactly for maniacs into Hanneman fastest riffs. And yes, we have cool gigs this year. This month we’ll play with Necrowretch, Morbus Chron, our mates of Graveyard Ghoul. Later we play with Nunslaughter, Demonical, Centurian. We are also very excited to play at Party San together with masters like Obituary, Malevolent Creation, Grave, Napalm Death, Suffocation etc. And then tour in September as you said. The plan is to keep playing killer death metal, bringing our insanity and meeting maniacs all around and improving the friendship between the bandmembers. \m/

As speaking of tours, you are working for Roadmaster Booking, can you tell us more about your activities and which tour you would really like to book for Incarceration?
Yes im a professional Booking Agent. A Tour i really would like to book for Incarceration? Well, Brazil would is a dream !

Well, that’s all from The Netherlands. Anything to add?
Congrats for VM Underground Ricardo, the scene needs more atitude and you’re a very good example. Im proud of you, cool interview! Thanks for the invitation and thanks for everybody who follow INCARCERATION. It’s much more fun and makes much more sense with your support. Hope to meet all you necromaniacs somewhere. Stay tuned on www.facebook.com/incarceration , come visit us at some gig, lets share a beer and celebrate the underground. Enjoy your life, bang your head and listen metal ! \m/

Incarceration

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Fleshcrawl – “You can not plan anything in the Fleshcrawl cosmos haha”

Guess who’s back?!?

Hello, Fleshy Guys! Recently, Fleshcrawl recorded new songs for the Split cd/tape with Skinned Alive. So far, what kind of reviews did you receive? Is the public perception of the split any different from your own?
Hi there! All the reviews we received so far were quite good. We expected nothing, actually it was the first release since years. A lot of people thought we dont exist anymore haha. But we played live through all the years.

It’s been 9 years since your previous album, “Structures of Death”. And finally we have new materials. If you would be asked, to compare these new songs, To any songs of your former releases. What would be the main difference?
Mostly I think they are a bit more melodic but in the end it´s still Fleshcrawl. Listen to the first song “Return of the Flesh” you will hear immediately the typical Fleshcrawl tunes. So there is no big difference compared to former releases. What you hear is fuckin´Fleshcrawl!

Working on the new tracks, how do you challenge yourself? Do you set up any goals like “the new somgs should be faster”, or “the new songs must be heavier”? Or is it just the natural result of the hard teamwork?
You can not plan anything in the Fleshcrawl cosmos haha. Every song should sound like a song from Fleshcrawl thats all. If any riff don´t fits in this holy law than we don´t use it and thats the whole secret.

Did you have any particular songs that took you more time to write than usually? What would be your top song of the new tracks from this split and why?
For me personally the song “Kingdom of skulls” is the top song of the split. It has got typical lyrics but the pronunciation was really hard haha. We played this songs several times live yet and it turned out to a really killer song.

This time you worked with which producer? How did it go? Why did you decide to choose him to be the producer of the album? What can you say about your cooperation.
This time we worked with Maggeson of mighty Revel in Flesh in his homerecording studio VaultM. Maggeson and me are friends since the beginning of time i guess. We know each other over 20 years. I recorded a lot of stuff together with him in his studio and also we did several projects together. He is a death metal freak like me so nothing more to say hehe

Let’s talk a bit about the song titles, where do they come from? What are the meaning behind the lyrical themes? How tight does it go, with the total concept of the band?
For me my vocals, my voice, is another instrument beside the guitars or drums. I write typical death metal lyrics about death and gore nothing special nothing else. This time the 2 first songtitles, “Return of the flesh” and “Reign again” speaks for their own. Fleshcrawl is back and we reign again haha

The new shirt art was created by? Quite a great artist. How did you find him?
The shirt art was created by the incredible Roberto Toderico of Toderico Art! He is a fantastic artist. In this case i talked to Randy from BrutalArtRecords about doing a special shirt for the release and he told me Roberto is a big fan and want to do a design. Also I´m a big fan of Roberto and I wanted to work with him since years so the unholy collaboration takes force.

Recently you were confirmed for an Asian tour, will you be performing as full headliner? How did it go? Do you have connections there? And in this period of terror attacks. Aren’t you guys a bit scared? What shows would probably be the highlight, or is your most exciting place you are going to play?
The idea was born as my friend Aabeg from the Nepalese death metal machine Dying Out Flame asked me to play the Nepal Death Fest in January 2016. We want to do that but we needed more gigs to handle the costs of the flights. Aabeg and another Nepalese brother helped us a lot with their connections to other Asian promoters. With our fee from the gigs we could pay the flights and so we could do a Asia tour playing in countries like Nepal, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. To handle to cost to Nepal we played a pre gig in Dubai. Everywhere we played headlinershows except in Singapore.
To your question about terror – fuck terror, fuck terrorists, fuck everybody who disturb people living their lives as they want to live it
For me personally the most exciting places were Nepal and Vietnam. I will go back there personally this year.

Having so many albums in your discography, it’s probably a tough decision to pick up the right songs for the set-list, isn’t it? Usually, what is your choice based on? What are the tracks that are always asked by public?
Its a hard decision whith songs we should play. You have want to play new material but also you have to play older ones or let me say classics. So we change songs in the setlist but we have to play songs like “As blood rains from the sky”, “Soulskinner” or “Dark Dimension” to name a few. To satisfy everybody is impossible haha

Let’s get back in time and talk a bit about the early days of Fleshcrawl. First of all, do you remember who came up with that name? As you had some issues with the former names before. Did you discuss any other versions as well?
Stefan our former guitar player came up with Fleshcrawl. The names before like morgöth or suffocation where used as everybody knows from other bands haha.

The band was formed in 1987. Tell us, how did you meet each other? What was your first rehearsal place like? Do you remember any of your first shows? And what were these like?
The founding members Stefan and Basti met at school and so the story began. We met each other on a gig of my former band AletheiaRelief somewhere in south of germany i think. One of the first Fleshcrawl gig I was also there as an guest. In the south of germany everybody knows everybody in the scene these days. Our first reheasal room was in the basement of a bakery but we lost it due to satanic music on sundays haha

Being a young metal band in the late 80s, how could you describe your local underground? How did you discover the new bands? And how involved into tape-trading were you?
As i said before. Everybody knows everybody haha. Especially in the south cause every band played in smal youth center and everybody was there. Later the german scene with bands like Atrocity, Torchure, Morgoth, Lemming Projekt and so on was good conected. Bands from foreign countries we knew by trading tapes. This was also the reason we have to change our names. Both morgoth and suffocation released a demo before us haha. From the beginning we had a close connection to the scandinavian scene. So this is why we covered bands like Demilich, Demigod or Carnage.

And I have the last question. Why was there this long period of total silence around the band? And did anyone of you guys do some other projects or bands?
This fuckin long peroid is based off privat things. Our drumer for example have to work for over 4 years in the UAE. So we have to play live with different session drumers. A lot of rehearsel time was spent to lern the songs with them. Another reason is we are getting old and lazy haha but to be honest everbody have normal dayjobs, familiy and some have children and a day has only 24 hours. Simple but the truth!!
Me and Olli are involved in other projects, cause we want to play metal more than anything else. Olli is part of mighty heavy metal machine Stallion and I am a part of CarnalGhoul, a collaboration of bandmembers from Desaster, Demonbreed and SkinnedAlive (thats why the Split takes part) and Fleshcrawl. Also i did several guest vocals for bands like Lifeless, Megascavenger, MeatTrain and so on.

That’s it, thank you for the interview. Would you like to add anything in the end?
Thanks for the interview and your interest in fuckin´Fleshcrawl. Hope we meet one day to drink a few beers together! Cheers

Fleshcrawl

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Worship Death

The South American Death Metal sound has always been something special, from the first tunes of acts like Sarcofago, Sepultura, Vulcano, Hadez, and Mortem you are able to hear some extreme violence with ditto production. On this day acts like Atomic Aggressor, Putrid Evocation, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, Coffin Curse and Horrifying are the new blood in the scene to carry on the distribution of pure filth. This time we will introduce WORSHIP DEATH, Old School Death Metal from Chile and just released their first demo…(Ricardo)

It is always a boring question, but how did you guys started? If my information is correct only F666 (Bass/Vocals) is involved with another band as well, called Anticristor.
Hell-o! Patrick here, vocals/guitar. Well, Worship Death was born last year, in July, after the demise of a previous band where I played with Cursed (drums). This band was not doing almost anything and I had a lot of plans, so the birth of Worship Death was natural. Also, I had the idea to create this band for a long time, even as a solo project… Finally, after several rehearsals and with the idea of recording the “Promo MMXV” in mind, I invited F666 to play the bass, because he is a long time friend. With this line-up, the circle was closed. F666 plays in Anticristo (Black/Death Metal) and Cursed plays in Ancient (traditional Doom/Heavy)

The music of Worship Death is influenced by the Swedish and American Old School scene, as well as some Hardcore/Punk. Which bands/albums are important for Worship Death in general, and which bands/albums were inspirations for “Promo MMXV”?
There’s a lot of bands and albums. Maybe some are not noticeable in our music but really are a great influence. Bands like Slayer, Nihilist/ Entombed, Dismember, Autopsy, Repulsion, Death, Carnage, Morbid Angel, Grave, Bastard Priest, Misfits, Asphyx, Darkthrone, Repugnant, Discharge, Metallica, Exodus, Minor Threat, Sodom, Sepultura, Dissection, Doom, Bad Religion, Possessed, old Amorphis, etc, and albums like Left Hand Path, Severed Survival, Like an Ever Flowing Stream, Horrified, Earth A.D, Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing, Reign in Blood, Dark Recollections, Under the Hammer of Destruction, Leprosy, Into the Grave and many many more (if I write all influences I will never end!)

Of course, you’re not the first one who mix Death Metal influences with Punk/Hardcore ones, but tell us why Punk/Hardcore is important to you and gives you the urge to blend the two styles in Worship Death?
To be honest, it took me several years before I start getting into Hardcore Punk, but once this style became part of my musical tastes, I could not get rid of it anymore … For me, it’s definitely very important. I like the energy, the attitude, the sound and, of course, the quality of this style. These characteristics can fit perfectly into Death Metal; also many bands that I like a lot have the same influences than me. Moreover, we cannot forget that Punk was very important in the birth of extreme metal, giving an extra dose of power and violence to traditional heavy metal, resulting in the birth of Thrash Metal, and later in Death Metal. Therefore, I think that any follower of the violent and heavy music should listen HC/Punk. Although the EP will have many HC influences, the songs that I’m creating now are more Punk and with more D-Beat rhythms. Anyway, always we will be a Death Metal band, those are just influences.

Do you still follow the Punk/Hardcore scene nowadays?
I listen a lot of HC/Punk , but just the same old bands.

What are the inspirations for the lyrics? The usual Death and Gore or are there anti-religious themes as well?
The inspiration is the fascination with death and different stories that come to my mind. There it is no something specific, like movies or books, these ideas just come out of nowhere. In addition, some lyrics will come with stuff like catalepsy or anti-religious and negative points of view, but related to death. All Worship Death lyrics have and will have concepts about death.

You released the promo as a CDR, limited to 100 copies, yet Distributiöns öf Death (Malaysia) contacted you guys to release it as a cassette as well. Can you tell us more about the deal with Distributiöns öf Death? Can you tell us more about this new label, which is specialized in releasing cassettes?
Nicholas from Distributiöns öf Death, wrote us after hearing the “Promo MMXV” on Bandcamp. He told me he was a distributor and he wanted to start editing bands. We would be their second release (the first was Lavatory’s “Morbid Terror”). He offered us 200 tapes and well, everything went great. Distributiöns öf Death is a very responsible and committed label, as it met all the agreement. I hope that we can work again with DöD in the future.

And are you guys thrilled about the fact it has been released the old school analog way as well? Are you planning to release it as a 7” as well?
It’s great that “Promo MMXV” has been edited in tape. Originally it was called “promo” and not demo because demos must be tapes, not CD, nor in CD-R format. We had an offer to edit the promo in 7″ but after several emails exchanged, the label did not write back again. It would have been great, anyway we are more than satisfied with tape edition.

How about new material? You stated: “This year there will be a new EP that will follow the same line of “Promo MMXV”, but it will be heavier, more suffocating and more varied”. Can you tell us more about the forthcoming material?
We’ll record 5 songs, which will be 3 new and 2 from the promo. Basically it will be a more varied material because there will be more doomy and dense riffs, other times more crust, more punk riffs, double bass drums, etc. These five songs are a general sample of what Worship Death is, where we do not want to pigeonhole into a single style of Death Metal. I love Swedish Death Metal, the Florida Death Metal scene, Finnish Death Metal, bands from Netherlands, so I want to capture many ways to play Death Metal.

It seems you got signed by Apocalyptic Productions, an underground Death/Black Metal label from Chile who also released material from Istengoat, Praise the Flame and Putrid Evocation. How did you get in contact with them? Will they release the new EP?
I have known Marco (owner of Apocalyptic) for several years. He’s a good friend who is really dedicated to his label. He’s honest, does band promotions very well and gives them a fair deal. The agreement between Worship Death and Apocalyptic Prod was set even before of the promo edition because I showed him this recording. He really liked it and he offered me a deal. I told him about the next EP, and well, deal done. Both parts trust each other, so everything all will be great. In the last semester of this year it should be available for maniacs around the world. They will be 500 copies on CD.

If you could record 5 covers for an EP, which tracks would you give a Worship Death treatment?
Uff… a hard question, but in this moments I choose these songs: Slayer – Necrophobic, Repulsion – Acid Bath, Dismember – Defective Decay, Entombed – Carnal Leftovers, Misfits – Devilock.

The Chilean Underground Old School Death Metal scene is doing well at the moment. What is your view on your own scene at the moment? Can you introduce us to some fine underground acts that deserve support?
In my opinion, right now the Chilean scene is one of the best in the world and has the best bands in our history. I respect several bands of the past, but I think that never before we have had so many good bands at the same time. I recommend (apart from the bands that you have written in this interview) Uttertomb, Eaten Alive, Ancient Crypts, Invincible Force, Miserycore, Infernal Slaughter, Oraculum, Putrid Yell, Capilla Ardiente, Mental Devastation, Intenebras, Ripper, Calvario, Attacker Bloody Axe. Feretro, Expiation, Butamacho, Deathly Scythe, Necroripper, Unholy Force, Metastasis, Slaughbbath, Force of Dakness, Procession, Evil Madness, Perversor, Austral and many others. These are the bands I remember now.

You’re quite the chauvinistic bastard, aren’t you…one of the best scenes in the world at the moment, ha! But seriously, do you also have the explanation why all kind of quality bands and releases are popping up at the moment? The distribution is getting better, more small labels, better possibilities to promote the sound of death…or just a coincidence?
Hahaha, there may be some chauvinistic bastards, but I don´t know anyone. I think the main thing is the quality of the bands. That is the most important, because if there’s no quality, the rest doesn’t matter. Moreover, I know a lot of musicians/bangers and they have the right attitude. In addition, many foreign labels have begun to put their attention into our scene, then this causes that the national stuff to have better distribution, and here are many labels that do their job very well, such as Apocalyptic, Mushantufe, Underground Defenders, Tyrannus, Veins Full of Wrath, etc. There are also studies that are doing fantastic recordings, like DM6, Etagord, Maestro 6, etc. In addition, zines are also doing a great job, and the gigs are more frequent and higher quality. Obviously, not everything is good, there will be always posers and lots of shit, but I prefer to focus on the positive things.

That’s all for now, thanks for introducing Worship Death to us…
Thank you for the interview. This is the first interview that I answer so I was pretty excited hahaha. Cheers! Feel the putrid scent of death!!!!

Worship Death

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The Eliminati

Although not a lot will be familiar with The Eliminati, the story behind the Death/Thrash band already started back in 1996. That year was the birth of grindcore band Magnetron (Microwave in Dutch) and was all about the fun and idiocy. Tracks had duration of 1 second and if you’re lucky…54 seconds. After some line-up changes and a couple demos all ended in 1998. The thing which made them famous was the fact that Magnetron was the very first band Vampire Magazine interviewed for Issue # 1, ha! 2007: Magnetron reformed by original members Isaak, Dennis and Johan, but this with a faster-than-fast Thrash ambition in the vein of Dead Head, Hypnosia and Nuclear Assault. After a self-released full-length called “A Measured Timeframe”, drummer Johan left and new drummer Wouter arrived. It was also the start of evolving from a “fun-Bermuda shorts”-Thrash band to a more serious and…and they might kick my ass for this… matured Death/Thrash combo. Unfortuntately they have split-up recently. (Ricardo)

Can I use “matured” in this case? Although you’re still the same guys, with same sense of humour on and off-stage, the presentation of the band (as well as visual as music) has evolved and you seem to have a more serious attitude.
Stijn: I wouldn’t call it ‘matured’, but more of a shift in synergy within the band. With Jox leaving and Wouter entering, we kinda lost the frantic, grindy edge and took on a more structured, melodic approach. At the same time, the music started to include different influences, more melody and more brutality at the same time. But I don’t think this is because we matured, but more a matter of not wanting to repeat the same thing over and over again.
Isaak: Maturity is in the eye of the beholder. But we have aged for sure. For me personally, I just have to. All these new songs we have, there’s nothing ‘funny’ about the music nor the lyrics. I want the total Eliminati concept to be more cohesive
Dennis: Matured, matured… hey, we’re not THAT old! 😉 Okay, the age has a little part in it, but mainly the feeling of the band and the music has changed that much that it just didn’t feel like Magnetron anymore.

Back to The Eliminati, it seems to be a mix of “to eliminate” and “The Illuminati”. The logo has a cross-hair, the use of the Japanse “Rising Sun”, the combat outfits on stage…Can you tell us more about the meaning of the moniker for the band itself, and why it reflects the music you play at the moment? Having explained this all, let’s look at the bigger picture. Why changing the moniker and the presentation / attitude of the band? If I’m not mistaken, you have chosen to remove the Magnetron tracks off the setlist. You see The Eliminati as a new, fresh start and it cannot relate with the old Magnetron tracks?
Dennis: The name is exactly that. It was an idea that came to my mind in the train, back from work. It’s a combination of the military we all like, with a mysterious touch if you like. Considering the Magnetron songs, more and more Eliminati songs are added to our setlist. As long as the old tracks fit in and we still like to play them, these Magnetron tracks will be part of it.
Stijn: We do still play some Magnetron tracks, Born Witless, Right to Dislike, Compulsory Communication, for example. For me personally, The Eliminati is not a replacement for Magnetron, but more of natural evolution. The name is an interpretation of our common fascination for dictatorships, conspiracy theories, the atrocities of warfare and the craving for ultimate power (without trying to reach any of these things ourselves, mind you). For us, this combines very well with the more structured, more militant character of the music and the combat outfits.

The Eliminati; you still hear the thrash roots in the new songs. So the fast Dead Head riffs and Hypnosia controlled chaos is still present, yet it is blended with Death Metal, the kind before 1993. In your own words, which Death Metal acts or albums influenced The Eliminiati?
Stijn: I don’t really think of it that way. Ofcourse music is written from a certain point of view, influenced by what one has heard through the years, but never with a specific band or album in mind.
Isaak: Not just specific albums. More an era. When I write for TheEliminati, I’m in a certain state of mind. I try to feel about metal as I did in ’89, ’90 and ‘91. Now what were the aspects about it that really did it for me. Death metal was still pioneering. Only a handful of studios knew how to even produce such music, which led to all those marvellous and differently sounding albums. I mean, you could often hear where a band came from based on the production and riffs. Back then, death metal rules weren’t cast in stone, it still was free. They just did whatever they felt like. So I shan’t name all my fave death metal albums from those days but I can tell you which ones have had an (in)direct effect on the songwriting (sofar); Necroticism Descanting The Insalubrious, Mindloss, Been Caught Buttering, Expositionsprophylaxe, Consuming Impulse, the Eternal Fall, Mental Funeral, Master, Spiritual Healing, War Master. And many more old demos from bands that hadn’t even released an album yet like Necrophobic, Acrostichon, Vader and the swedish Desultory. But as you said yourself, there’s so much more to our music that just those rancid death metal influences shoved into a thrash metal smoothy.

Summarized in my review I described The Eliminati as “furious Thrash, melodic hooks, good leads and solos, gang-shouts and raspy vocals Martin van Drunen-alike vokills, variation in speed, Old School Death Metal influences, Maidenesque “Flash of the Blade” tremolo picking”. Summarizing the summary: The Eliminati is diverse. Tell us how does a The Eliminati song exist? And why and how you make certain decisions within a song. Like why there aren’t any Van Drunen-like vocals in the opening track, why you choose something unexpected like the Maidenesque “Flash of the Blade” tremolo picking? Let me pick your musical brain…
Isaak: Making metal songs i.m.o. isn’t Tetris, just putting together blocks of riffs and ideas. If you actually can pull that off and become rich, I applaud you as a businessman but not as an artist. When I sit down there are two ways I can start. Either I come up with lyrics and rhythmical vocal lines and start writing music to it or the other way around. The second procedure, to me, is much more time consuming and difficult. I need to have a broad concept in my mind what story I want to tell with that specific song. As far as using different vocals, it’s all a matter of what I think with suit the song and lyrics. And I do not want to use the same trick for every song. Sometimes a song doesn’t need my raspy thrash vocals or it doesn’t need grunts. The opening tune was so varied in it’s riffs, in order to survive as a cohesive song it needed simplicity toward the vocal approach. Most important is how I feel about a song. That’s why I rarely bring loose riffs to a rehearsal but pretty much finished songs. After we start rehearsing, a song will get its own identity because of the specific group of people performing it. There will always be slight modifications here and there to improve the song and/or performance value. When performing, it comes to life, it becomes a lively beast, breathing, growling, thrashing around. If I listen back now to ‘Blender Bitch’ and spot all the inspiration that has gone into it yet it still works as a song on its own and is a pleasure to perform, I can say it’s my favorite Eliminati song to this day.

You guys are well read, having books in all kind of genres be it history or fictional. What are the lyrics about? And how important are they for The Eliminati?
Isaak: I have this thing for violence in any form, be it physical, psychological or emotional. The darkest aspects of human behaviour. I even see being born into a democracy as a form of subliminal social violence, being forced into a serviceable existence by the majority. (Almost )anyone can act civilised and nice under comforting circumstances but in the end the majority of mankind consists of dangerously egoistic and territorial omnivores. If I think what the deepest feeling is that I have behind all my lyrics, it’s the endangerment of my own wellbeing by others.

Tell us more about the EP cover, it has something to do with the UFO crash at Roswell, if my information is right?
Stijn: Nope. It’s our own interpretation of a picture from 1942 of the Great Los Angeles Air Raid. During this air raid, an unknown object was caught in searchlights and anti-aircraft artillery was fired. Up until now, no one is sure what it was. The US airforce attributes it to a weather balloon, but ofcourse there are many conspiracy theories about it, and some UFOlogists see it as evidence for extraterrestrial visitation. Suits the Eliminati concept perfectly.
Dennis: One of the reasons… well, maybe the main reason… was the feeling this image gives you as a spectator. It gives you an eerie, uncomfortable feeling. There is something up there, coming from the dark, and you don’t know it’s intentions. Heck, you don’t even know WHAT it is! But it’s coming…At first we wanted to use the original 1942 photo, but the resolution was way too low. If we ever want to print CD’s or release it on vinyl the quality would be so poor, it would be useless. So I re-created it. The mountain ridge you see really are the Los Angeles Mountains, the spot where this all happened 73 years ago.

In my humble opinion, your material is of such high quality, it should have much more exposure. You are offering the new EP for free, yet I don’t see a lot of reviews of it. Even not in the (web)zines in our own country. What is going wrong? Am I having shit in my ears or are chief-editors/reviewers not interested to go after music themselves, downloading it themselves? You’re getting a fuckin’ great EP for free, shitforbrains!
Stijn: Guess we’re a bit lazy with this. We’re not really actively promoting it. I mean, we’ve announced it on the usual social media, but we’re not grabbing editors or promoters by the balls and shove our EP down their throats. Maybe it’s the romantical idea that ‘good music sells itself’.
Dennis: The EP is available on Youtube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Spotify. As are millions of other albums. And we promoted it on Facebook and Twitter. Just as millions of other bands do. So even if we made it to the webzines, it’s a struggle against millions of other bands. Social Media is a blessing and curse at the same time. It’s very easy accessible, for both bands and fans. There are so many bands nowadays, you can make it a fulltime job to stay in the picture.

How great is it, just when the EP is released, there is already a guitar cover of “Sandstorm” on Youtube, played by a fan. I can imagine it was a moment of proudness when you saw it at first.
Stijn: I thought it was funny, we know the guy and we know he likes our music. But seeing some one else covering your stuff… yeah, worse things could happen.
Dennis: That was very funny indeed. I invited him to play it live with us, if he dares, mwuhahaha.

What is the goal for The Eliminati? World Domination, or getting noticed and playing a gig is good enough? A nice tour through Europe maybe? What kind of package would suit you well?
Stijn: Me personally, I want to play live as much as possible. Ofcourse, with having families, other bands and regular jobs, it’s hard to squeeze in gigs. On top of that, I do think we lost some momentum with the change of monicker. I have never regretted the change, but a new nom de guerre basically meant starting from scratch all over again. And you also see that the great retro thrash wave has blown over. I don’t see us as a retro thrash band, but people love to simplify things and we’re often thrown on that huge pile. It’s up to us to prove them wrong and show the world we are still alive and kicking.
Dennis: For me, certainly playing gigs on a regular basis. But we sure have to get noticed so we don’t play just for the bartender and an occasional enthusiast pooltable.

If my information is correct, you were planning to release a 7” when you were still Magnetron. Are there plans to release a 7” (be it a split or not) with The Eliminati? Or something else on vinyl, as you are all big vinyl lovers….ah fuck it, what will bring the musical future? Have you written any new songs as well?
Stijn: New songs are coming up constantly. We have no definite plans to release anything on vinyl at the moment. Maybe we will in the future, but if we do it, it will be a very limited release.
Isaak: The split EP was planned under our old name and we actually made recordings of 4 songs with the former line-up. Those plans were shelved and the recordings remain unreleased. Two of those songs were re-recorded with our current line-up btw. If ever another bands want to release a split EP with us, they’re free to contact us if they feel us and them are a good match. We got new material already so we’re up for it

Thanks to you all for introducing The Eliminati to our readers. I hope the downloads will rise sky high after they have read this. Good luck guys and last words are for you…
Stijn: Slut. Whore. Cunt. Cheers my friend, thanks for the exposure AND WHEN THE FUCK ARE WE GOING TO GET SHIT FACED DRUNK AGAIN??
Isaak: Fegelein, Fegelein, Fegelein
Dennis: Thank you readers for your interest. NOW GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASSES AND DOWNLOAD OUR EP, DO YOU HEAR ME! xoxo

The Eliminati

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Soulburn

“A suffocating darkness eclipses the world as Soulburn rise anew…” The road towards the final resurrection and second album was one with a couple of turns. At first there was a new band called To The Gallows to express their fondness for Bathory and Hellhammer. Rogga Johannson (so many bands, let’s name Paganizer and Revolting) left in the beginning and Henri Sattler (God Dethroned) did the same not long after. While rehearsing Bob Bachgus and Eric Daniels were certain; this is SOULBURN!

After a few seconds when “Under the Rise of the Red Moon” kicks in…I have to agree 100% with you, this is Soulburn! Although you have mentioned that “Feeding on Angels” has more Asphyx in it, II think this is THE continuation of that album after so many years of silence. Although I’m a huge fan of Wannes’ his vocals on the debut, the vocals of Twan makes this album a bit darker and demonic. What make you decide to recruit Twan as your vocalist and not try to persuade someone with the same vocals as Wannes? Was Wannes himself an option?
Eric: We did ask Wannes several times If he would join with us in the original soulburn line up. However he was too busy with his family life and his own band so he made that clear. At the end Twan came up and the band was a fact, Soulburn this way ,this line up is the best to spread our dark grimm metal. We wanted also the more black type of vocals, as we all are Bathory minded, twan did the job we all were thrilled of.

How the process of writing and recording did go? Everything went as planned? Are their songs unused and on the shelves that didn’t make the album?
Eric: The process of making the Soulburn songs arent that difficult. I collect all guitar riff ideas, record them home as reminder and for the ideas to hear it back.Together with Bob he arrange the songs and we set the base of the songs. Drums and first rhythm guitar gives us the idea how the song would be build. The second guitarparts and solo’s and bass and vocals comes later when the structure of the songs are definite. We like to work this way, and gives the best result the way we want it.

Bob, in your owns words you said “Suffocating in Darkness” is “a very dark album, our darkest one since Asphyx’s ‘Embrace The Death’, with lots of old Bathory / Venom / Celtic Frost love in it”. Is this the album you had in mind when you all started To The Gallows? Which song does represent that statement the most and why? Are there flaws on it of which you think “hmmm, if it was possible, I would change that a bit”.
Bob: Yes it is indeed.Exactly what we had in mind too.And Twan put it into words just perfectly! This is not the album we had in mind for TTG since we already had Soulburn slumbering in the back of our heads while writing the material. It was Eric who suggested it and that was a great idea.I think it was in the back of our minds for quite some time as well. Which song? I think “I do not bleed from your crown of thorns” since that has all the doomy elements in it anmd the drive we need. Flaws? No,I don’t think so since the album was recorded this way with this mindsetting too.It all happens for a reason and the album came out the way it should have come out.

If I’m right, for this album, you both are the musical creative core behind it. And Twan the lyrical one with his dark views on occultism. Will Twan and guitarist Remco Kreft will have their musical share on any forthcoming releases? Perhaps on the new split 7” with Desaster? Can you tell us more about the 7” released by Cyclone Empire?
Eric: As in earlier question explained we work this way cause it’s for us the best way. We like to rehearse together, make our ideas real, and it’s the nicest thing in music to do, making new songs. Everyone inside the band has his task, together we make the album of course, but the start of songs Bob and I do. We did this process of working together earlier in Asphyx and it fits the right way to us. The split 7” will be released on 7th august, a brand new song, completely Soulburn worth !

Correct me if I’m wrong, but you both have quit Grand Supreme Blood Court recently. Was it a difficult decision, especially as it is your brainchild, Eric? Is it strange others continue GSBC?
Eric: Yes that’s true. Well, very difficult it wasn’t cause Soulburn was already consuming the most of my music time. I simply can’t do 2 bands, give the best. I also my opinion it’s still strange why people or musicians play in more than 1 band. To me it seems like, I have too much time or it’s too easy, lets do another band. Soulburn is the band I want and will be connected to, the riffs I play and compose comes with the heart and soul for Soulburn, and I am not a machine like producing riffs after riffs for GSBC too. Its not my style and it’s not what I prefer. That’s why the decision to quit was easier. No it’s not strang if the others will continue. I made my decision and stick with it. Soulburn is my fulltime attachment.
Bob: For me it was very easy since I totally focus on Soulburn anyhow.GSBC was a lot of fun to do and both Eric and me have a good history with Martin so that was great but Soulburn is more our cup of tea.Both Eric and myself were always into creating dark and obscure music(that is why I formed Asphyx in the first place) and Soulburn has just that what we need in making music.For us Soulburn is the future.

Something for both of you, the legacy question….The promotion around Soulburn, Grand Supreme Blood Court or probably any other musical activities you will endeavour in the future, always get the “ex-Asphyx”-label. Does it bother you, as you both have other musical activities you are proud of as well, or are you aware of the fact Asphyx is such a powerful moniker which every Death Metal fanatic know around the world. Which…probably, makes you proud as hell as well….?
Eric: Of course that label we always will carry, but I have to say, I am and was proud to play in Asphyx, I did for 11 years with heart and soul, and experienced the nicest things in musicbuiss, it doesn’t bother me at all. I am proud of what I did, and I still behind it for 100%. However, Soulburn doesn’t need to promo with our earlier band, its quality we make and will make and after all, millions of words can be spent, the music always speaks for itselfs.
Bob: It does not bother me at all since Asphyx was and will be always my band and I am very proud of what I did achieve with Asphyx.And since Asphyx is known worldwide in the DM scene and Eric and me were an important part of it we will always be remembered of that.But on the other hand,Soulburn has not very much to do with Asphyx,except for slow grinding doomparts(but hey…that was always the trademark of Eric and me anyway).Maybe a comparisation to the old Asphyx ’89-’90 era,because of the occultness,but for the rest Soulburn really stands on it’s own and should not further be compared to Asphyx anylonger.

Accompanied by the mighty tones of Bathory’s “Enter the Eternal Fire”, I thank you both for answering my questions. I left something uncovered, feel free to add it here!
Eric: Thank you Ricardo for this one and excellent might tones the Bathory ones. Towards the readers…Check out our upcoming split 7” with Desaster, and some news here, next year a brand new Soulburn album coming your way. See ya at our shows !! Cheerz & Greetz
Bob: Thanx for the interview!!

Soulburn

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  • Bands: Repulsive
  • Review Date: November 15, 2015

Repulsive

If you are a follower of this mighty zine…and why wouldn’t you be…you will probably know we are huge fans of everything that can be categorised as Old School Swedish Death Metal. Or SweDeath if you will. The Skogsberg-sound, Boss HM-2 Buzzsaw tone…It has so many names, but it has all the same effect on us. This time we give space to underground act REPULSIVE from the UK. Let’s start with obvious question…(Ricardo)

Can you tell us more about the formation of Repulsive? If I’m right you came up with a direction after you have moved from London to Derby. Why is it so hard to find a drummer nowadays? There are only a few in the UK, or is the style not that popular among the double-bass animals?
First of all thank you for having us on your awesome zine amongst some legendary artists. After I received my offer at the University of Derby, I networked through any musicians and metal fans I could find at the university and discovered Tom who played bass and vocals. I had a few instrumental ideas produced and Tom had a vision for an OSDM project ‘Repulsive’. A good half of my ideas matched his vision, so we collaborated our efforts and he we are! Struggling to find a drummer did put us in a position of great uncertainty due to the fact that there are indeed too few in existence and too few into this style alone. As it stands we are relying on session players. Luckily we managed to drag the hilarious and awesome Stephen (Pteroglyph, Slaughter Throne) all the way from Leeds to perform with us for a debut gig!

Tell us more about the recording process of your debut demo. The songs which are on it, are they written by you or is it a group effort? Why have you chosen to cover Morbid Angel’s “Immortal Rites” of the mighty “Altars of Madness” album? Do you have other covers in mind to give it a crusty and repulsive twist?
Our debut demo isn’t an official release per se, but a simple online medium by which listeners can obtain and enjoy our songs (FREE OF CHARGE). They were all produced on our personal computers. The songwriting is a mix of our efforts. ‘The Entity’ is an old idea entirely composed by myself [Vash], where as the other two originals hold contributions from all of us. ‘Immortal Rites’ was a choice me and Tom made as we wanted a cover not only to market ourselves but to make a cool and interesting rendition whilst retaining the aesthetics of the original. As for any other covers, we will wait to see as it’s not currently our priority.

What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music? Just the simple slash and gore or does Repulsive has a message?
The simple ‘slash & gore’ is certainly something we include as we enjoy that stuff and it greatly suits our sound. That however isn’t my forte so I leave those lyrics to Tom who does a brilliant job. (I’m too much of a pussy to watch the kind of films he watches haha.) My writing leans towards spiritual and demonic hocus pocus. I’m not going to go into too much detail but to summarise, The Entity is about my accounts of Sleep Paralysis which I’m sure anyone can relate to how terrifying an experience it is.

Your first demo got a raving review in our zine. And it seems others like it as well. Still, you mentioned this demo as a semi-non-formal release. You consider it more as a bedroom-project. But I assume you’re pleased with the attention it got, for a simple non-formal release on the internet? If you look back at it, what would you change to enhance sound or quality of the demo?
Thank you very much! I look forward to reading this review. We are extremely pleased with the reception it had and we’re optimistic for what the future holds. I would still consider the demo as the product of a bedroom project as that’s literally what it is. Of course we are blessed with the production skills and resources which allowed us to produce and showcase our material to an enjoyable standard. That does not mean to say I’m satisfied with the production quality. Virtual drums and amplification will always sound kack as opposed to the real thing, and it is difficult to mix to an optimal standard in an acoustically untreated environment. Because of this, we decided to offer these substandard quality tracks free of charge to our audience. There will be no compromise on quality for any official release. Production will take place in a studio with real amplification, real drums and be produced in a suitable environment.

After my shameless online promotion for the Fleshcrawl “Descend into the Absurd” article, written by Marcin of Panzerfaust zine / Compilation of Death zine which was featured in our second issue, you replied that the album was a huge inspiration to form Repulsive. Can you tell us more about your admiration for that particular album? Are there other uncommon SweDeath albums you consider as an influence for Repulsive? What does SweDeath means to you? Are you a collector yourself?
Not necessarily to form Repulsive and not just that particular album, but Fleshcrawl in general have been a big influence in my writing style for Repulsive. I would consider them one of (if not,) the most comparable band to us in terms of our sound as well as Entrails and Bloodbath. Like them, we have taken equal influence from the founding fathers of SweDeath. Whilst that is the general sound we achieve, we consider all forms of extreme metal as influence and not just Swedeath. I personally am more into my firey Morbid Angel-esque style DM including bands such as AngelCorpse, Spearhead, Centurian etc, so I like to throw that in the saucepan. On the topic of uncommon albums, a long forgotten 90s band I discovered to have originated in my hometown of Croydon known as ‘Decomposed’ released the (first Candlelight Record’s) album ‘Hope Finally Died’ which is a hugely underrated gem, and I implore anyone who likes their Death Metal with a hint of Autopsy/MyDyingBride doom to listen to it. Otherwise, anything by Vallenfyre is a win and a huge influence. Classics wise, Carnage’s Dark Recollections, Wombbath’s ICT and God-Macabre’s Winterlong come to mind. What’s special about Swedeath is the tone alone conveys a sense of slow rot and decay. Speed up the pace and you’ve got a chainsaw delivering graphic splatter gore without the need of a visual element. Swedeath is essentially the absolute unadulterated epitome of Death Metal.

What are the future plans for Repulsive? Gigs, releasing new material etc.? Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future. Keep on doing the SweDeath thing and take it to a higher level or more the Edge of Sanity direction?
Gigging is certainly a plan. We performed our debut gig in Nottingham last Saturday (11th July 2015) opening for Warlord and we were amazed by the incredible reception we had not only as the first band but first gig ever! Video footage is available to enjoy on our Youtube/Facebook. We will be hitting the road again in August for a 3 date weekender in the South England with the homeboys Anoxide and Annunciation, and with another drummer who we will reveal in due time. There is hot new material we have included in our live set-list so there’s another reason to come see us live. We will hold back on releasing anymore tracks until we produce an official release which will also be provided in physical format. As well as producing more music, the objectives of this band include performing live internationally. As for our stylistic direction, I cannot comment to say whether we will sound the same in the future or whether things will be different. Rest assured, we won’t be doing an ‘Illud Divinum’.

Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Once again thank you for featuring Repulsive in your zine. It’s been a pleasure answering your questions. To your readers, check out Repulsive on our facebook and Bandcamp! Cheers!

Repulsive

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Putrid Offal

Formed in 1991, the death metal/grindcore band from France called Putrid Offal had a nice start in the beginning, but troubles came up after releasing some demo’s and split albums, which resulted in a sudden death from this band …but in the year 2014 they reformed, and now, 20 years later, their first full-length album is a fact. A short explanation from bassist Fred Houriez about their reformation and first full-length ever can be read on VM Underground! (Fredde)

Hello, how’s the weather in France for the moment? And off course, how is it going personally?
A good winter weather but all is fine.

First of all, I’m glad you guys are back! I’m only 33 years old, so I was just 10 years when your first demo and EP were released, but I guess I’m not the only one that likes albums from ‘veterans’ hehe. No, serious, with the digital world nowadays it’s easy for younger people to dig up old school metal music. Are you fan of this digital world to spread music or do you only swear by LP’s and albums you can store in your collection?
You must live with your century. I have a good opnion of the digital world. I mean, it’s more easier for a band to be known now than in the nineties. You have tons of tools to do that. There’s only two things that digital can’t give : talent and creativity. About the LP, I d’on’t swear about it but I like having the object in my hands, to see a cover in a normal size. Nowadays, a band is not only a music thing, there’s also all the image around it.

Well, the band already got a long history, but just now in the year 2015 your first full-length album is released. Explain us why it has taken so long? Off course I know you guys split around the year 1994, but the main reason for that split is perhaps for some readers also not that clear…can you give some comment about that too?
When we split in 1994, Franck and me continued in a band called M.Pheral but we didn’t play grind/death. It was an industrial project with machines. When our drummer, Boris, left the band, we didn’t want to search a new guy so Putrid Offal has fallen in a long lethargy.

‘Mature Necropsy’ is the title of the album, obviously referring to the split album ‘Premature Necropsy’. Who came up with that idea as album title…and can you tell us in your own words the link between the split album?
The idea is from me. When we decided to rearrange all our back catalog, we did it for us not for a label. So when Kaotoxin has been seduced by the stuff, the project took a new direction. With our experience, our technological knowledge, the songs sounds more mature than in the nineties. The sounds are more clear, the songs more brutal and fat. That’s why, we, with Kaotoxin, have decided to do a double CD with Mature in one hand and Premature in the other. The listener can compare the two periods.

I’ve read that old school Carcass was an important influence for the sound of Putrid Offal. Is that correct? And it’s pretty coincidental that you guys reformed after the great comeback of these pioneers or is that by chance? Honestly, I really made that link haha
I’m definitively a Carcass fan ! I’ve grew up with these guys. I got their demos and EP from the eighties. We try to take distance in our composition with Carcass and the fact that Philippe has joined us is a good thing. He has not the same influences and he told me, “we can’t do that it sounds like a Carcass songs !”. He brings his ideas and they are numerous. About the reformation, it’s only a coincidence, nothing else.

This release is a re-mastered version from the original analog tapes in the history of Putrid Offal. I guess many fans will be enjoyed they can have polished tracks from the beginning period…but aren’t you afraid that some fans will have another opinion and swear by the old recorded versions? And what exactly have you guys changed in comparison with the original tracks on this new release?
Some guys prefer the old version, it’s their choice. Personnally, I prefer the new ones. They are very well thought out. We worked on these songs for six months. We made new parts, took off others. The main things is that we took our time to find a very good guitars sound and the voices. In the nineties, we recorded the split LP in two days so nothing was very well thought out.

After an absence of about 20 years you guys all had to rehearse those song over and over again I guess…was that something difficult or was this something like riding a bike after suffering a broken leg for you?
It wasn’t difficult because we have always played music even if it wasn’t in a band. In fact, we have listened to the old version one time, then we have started to work on the new version and we have cut some parts, added new ones like we were in the 90s.

Drummer Laye Louhenapessy is the new drummer…can you tell us something more about him, and why have you chosen him to join the band? I’ve noticed he’s from the year 1991, perhaps that’s some kind of superstitious fact or so…And many fans surely wonder why Boris isn’t part of the band anymore? Okay, his last contribution was in the year 1994, but when reuniting a band, mostly the line-up from the old era is asked first to join I guess?
Boris and Ludo didn’t want to be include in this project. So we have worked with programming until Laye, who is the Dehuman drummer too, join us. We take him because he is a very good drummer in grind parts. We have tried several drummers before him and they didn’t do the job. Laye has very quickly understood what we need from him. And he has a good state of mind.

Same question, but then for guitarist Philippe Reinhalter who’s also a new face in the line-up…
Philippe played in Division Alpha before Putrid Offal. He is a very good friend of us since a very long time. A soon as I talk to him about this project, he was seduced. So we started to work together to rearrange the songs and then Franck came to put his voice on the new version.

Promoting an album, the best way off course is spreading your music through shows…already some shows planned in the future? If yes, can you give us some sort of schedule? And I live in Belgium…any chance I can visit a show there soon? If not, shame on you haha. Also, excited to go live on air (French radio ‘Killing Machine’)?
You are a lucky guy ! We play in Belgium at the Unideath fest in Roeselare in may 23th ! By the way, we are booked for the Obscene Extreme fest (Czech) in july and at the Death feast (germany) in september. Others dates are in discussion.

Do you still follow the metal scene these days? Any French bands that we have to check out immediately according to you? Any bands you truly dislike (it doesn’t always have to be positive, ha!)
We have always following the metal scene. For example, I’m a bit disappointed with the last Bloodbath or the first Entombed AD. But I’m enjoying the last Godflesh, incredibly powerful. About the french bands, we loved Benighted, Loudblast, Ad Patres, Blockheads. There’s a grind band that I like a lot, maybe you know it, it’s Department of Correction. Their music is devastating.

How’s the underground scene in France…many places where underground metal can be seen/heard or can this be improved you think?
Like others countries, there are tons of bands in every death metal music style. There’s also a lot of places to give shows. It’s rather good. You can always improve like more underground french bands in the french festivals, but it’s not bad. A french band can do a good local career here.

I already mentioned Carcass in one of my previous questions…but are there other bands or styles that stole your heart during your life?
Personnaly, Carcass is my fave band. I grow up with them, I’ve got their demos and first EP. I also like grind bands such as Napalm Death, Terrorizer, Agathocles, General Surgery, Regurgitate, Necrony, Exit 13, Rotten sound and many others. Outside death metal music, I listen a lot of industrial music and some electro one which give me a good inspiration.

I read that new tracks will be written…how is that working out so far? And will you use these tracks for another full-length or will you stick with an EP?
Yes, we have six new songs. One, Livor mortis, has been used on our Suffering EP. The others should be used for another EP which will be out at the end of 2015, early 2016.

On the internet some people talk that the old albums are ‘rare’ objects these days, and if you like to purchase them, you easily pay 10 times the price. Did you know that and do you think there’s a specific reason for that besides the limitations of copies made back in the days?
In fact, I never seen this. One day, a fan told me that our split LP with Exulceration is sold 150 $ ! I was very surprised. I just know that what is rare is expensive. But in Putrid Offal’s case, it’s a bit strong !

Putrid Offal, what does it mean exactly? Enlighten us…
Pieces of body in decomposition and putrefaction.

Nice artwork, it somehow does remind me of the one from Bloodbath’s album titled ‘The Wacken Carnage’…more precisely…I think they’ve used the foot, and you were the lucky ones to use the rest of the body? Or am I wrong?
It could be that ! I have always been interested in medical stuff. So when I proposed this cover to the rest of the band, they agreed immediatly.

Well, I guess I’m out of questions for now…any last words for our readers? Any last message to spread?
Thanks a lot for your interest and support. Listen Mature necropsy and you will have a steamroller between your ears ! Thanks for the interview!

Putrid Offal

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Obscure Burial

“We don’t play old school or retro, but insane and devoted Death Metal!” OBSCURE BURIAL certainly is devoted with their mid-1980s sound and attitude in the vein of acts like Necrovore, Profanatica and Possessed. They released their second demo at the end of 2014 and like the first one, Invictus Productions is charmed of it and decided to promote it. Welcome in the demonic world of Finnish darkness…(Ricardo)

It all began as two piece project. As certain things slowed us down, and when those obstacles where cleared, we went to hunt two more corpses to complete the line up.

As some of you guys are or were involved in Black Metal acts like Kadotus, Ancestors Blood, Inferi and Urgamla, is Obscure Burial the Death Metal link you all wanted to have which you cannot develop in your other bands?
Sure it is the link, and some of the bands you mentioned are broken or on hiatus, they don’t matter the cause.

You stated in an interview that you see Obscure Burial as a “unique band on Finnish soil”. In your opinion, what makes Obscure Burial unique? The authentic sound, songwriting and attitude?
The thing is, Death Metal from up here have always concentrated on the heavy, doomy and slower side, as we’re inspired by furious, fast and ripping style that has roots in Thrash metal. Our uniqueness in something that has come off natural, there are many small things that create the sound, the songwriting, live shows, to its perfections. We don’t do bullshit anyway, we deliver what we are. We sound the same live as on records. We are fresh flesh, but same time rotten to the core! And on Finnish soil, just try to come up a name from past that has done anything near as us? Sure there are Morbid Angel copycats a thousand but all of them are relying on clean studio sound, meaningless lyrics, non-imagination at its peak. We hack the shit out of them, just by being furious players, giving all in, not just as a nice hobby to play technical guitar wanking.

For you as individual, which albums persuaded you to check out the extreme side of metal?
The masterpiece that goes under the title Ride the Lightning, with ”best” tracks from Master of Puppets copied to the end of the tape, that I got hold. After that came Slayer’s Divine Intervention with Haunting the Chapel as bonus tracks, and after those all Hell broke loose.

In an interview you mentioned the following: “People that need to label their music with monikers as such have taken the wrong path in the very beginning and haven’t understood something divine.”. It’s always a discussion between the ones who let the art speak for itself and the ones who want to describe it with words to situate it and throw in comparisons. For you, as an artist, what is the trigger to dislike labels as Old School Death Metal in combination with Obscure Burial? When you are being compared with acts like Sadistic Intent, Necrovore, Morbid Angel, Profanatica…does it bother you or is it just part of the “reviewing-and-promoting-business”?
Sure we have strong influence in our music, but we don’t let it take control, they are and were our inspiration in the beginning. We don’t do this stuff to be remembrance of something that once was, but a fresh and honest band. Our recordings present us the way we sound in our rehearsal room, it’s not produced any way to sound this or that. If you really believe in what you do, writing music in this case, you don’t need any monikers to push it to others. If you title yourself as Old School you’ve gone the path already to the very end and don’t let inspiration and imagination take you off.

The lyrical content seems to be dark and demonic. Does certain books, historical events or movies influence you, or is it just a simple “this is the only lyrical content that fits our Death Metal”? The way it’s meant to be so to speak?
We sing the gospel of the mighty Death, Satan’s Metal.

On your first demo called “God’s Abomination”, you relived the sound of the 1980s by using material from that period of time, like “Marshall Tube amp heads pushed hard to break up”, and to record it live. Did you do the same with “Epiphany”? In the recording process, what was the difference between the two demos?
Both were recorded exactly the same way, live onto tape. As being a guitar geek myself, there were some minor changes in guitar gear, but not else. Those old Marshall tube heads have the touch of Devil itself, nothing has ever reached their supremacy.

What is your connection with Invictus Productions, who promoted both demos? Are you working on a deal with Darragh of Invictus to release the debut full-length, EP or 7”? Speaking of which…are you working on new material what are the near future-plans? Are you diving deeper into obscurity music wise?
We are currently working on a debut album, which is going to be released by Invictus Productions. There will also out a demo compilation CD before that. We will do number of demo songs for the album atleast, since they’ve lived lives of their own and need to be presented better ways.

That’s all for now, thanks for introducing Obscure Burial to us… If I left something uncovered, feel free to add it here!
Shout his name, shout his words, and decline in them.

Obscure Burial

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