Time brings forth changes, and if things works out well, we call it progress. Unholy Ghost represents progress. Kelly McLauchlin, known for Pessimist, joined former Diabolic members to form this band, and they proceeded to create ‘Torrential Reign’. This debut album sets a high standard for future releases. It is definitely one of the best Blackened Death metal albums released in 2004. If you’ve read my review of this album or own it yourself, you’ll understand. Reason enough to gain a better understanding of Unholy Ghost. All answers were provided by guitarist Kelly McLauchlin.
Hey Unholy Ghost, how are you?
Hails! The band is doing great! Our debut CD ‘Torrential Reign’ was just released on Century Media/Olympic Recs, and we just got back from playing the ‘Gathering of the Bestial Legion’ festival in Los Angeles, CA along with Dark Funeral, Impaled and others.
Congratulations with ‘Torrential Reign’! A great album, what a way of letting us know you’re there. Did you get all positive reviews or……?
Thanks! Glad you like the album. All of the reviews have been mostly positive, especially overseas. We get most of the postive reviews from Germany, and all of Europe! We are very pleased with the results, as this is only our debut album… the next CD will be even more crushing and evil!
Did you notice a difference between reactions of American and European zines?
Yes, it seems that the European zines have been especially supportive and really like the album a lot! Some of the American zines complain that the album sounds like “typical” Florida Death Metal, but we are proud to be part of the elite! I don’t think we sound like anybody else, really… Unholy Ghost has our own sound and style, and you will hear this more as we continue to write together as a band.
I guess most people know you all from other bands (Diabolic and Pessimist). How did you get together to play in Unholy Ghost? Was it something planned or did it just come up?
When Aantar had left Diabolic after returning from European Tour, he called me and asked if I wanted to come to FL and jam together. At the time, we didn’t know if this would be a full-time band or anything, as I was still busy with Pessimist. Anyways, we started working with Paul Ouellette (bass/vox) and realized we needed another guitarist, so we asked Jerry Mortellaro to record some leads for us, on the demo we were recording. We started writing a few songs together and the whole thing came together really fast! We had to start from scratch really… we sent the demo out to the underground, and it started getting some airplay on college radio and good reviews in zines. We started getting some gigs and played a couple of fests, Snakenet “Metal Nation” and the Las Vegas Metalfest, which got the attention of Olympic/Century Media, who quickly signed the band!
Will we see Diabolic on a European festival tour in ten years, or will the issues never be resolved?
I don’t really have any opinion about Diabolic at all except that I was a fan of their earlier works for many years. All of their previous CDs, especially ‘Vengance Ascending’ with Aantar, Paul and Jerry was awesome!
How do you think about all the reunions the last years? In Europe we totally freak out on Nuclear Assault, Death Angel, Exodus, etc.
I was glad to see Destruction (Gods!) get back together, as well as Suffocation! I would love to see a Dark Angel reunion!
Considering the period of time between starting the band and the release, you did an excellent job in no time. It almost seems you only had to book a studio date. Are all the songs completely new?
Some of the arrangements were carried over from song structures that Jerry or Aantar had worked out earlier. ‘Soul Disment’ is a song that Aantar and Jerry had written over a year ago, while still in Diabolic! All the rest of the music like as far as actual guitar riffs and all the lyrics are all brand new and written just for Unholy Ghost. We all have similar influences, old-school stuff like vintage Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Destruction, etc. So when we write, we just stay true to our style and to ourselves, we really don’t worry about sounding like anyone else.
Was it easy to cooperate with three musicians that have been working together before? Sometimes it helps if you know one another, so did you knew them personally before you joined?
Yes, well our bands Diabolic and Pessimist had played several shows and festivals together in the past. We had been friends since way back, as both bands were up and coming in the US Death Metal scene. Also Aantar and I had played together briefly in a previous band, Horror of Horrors. I also knew Jerry and Paul, as we got to hang out while Pessimist was in Tampa recording our latest release, ‘Slaughtering the Faithful’. So when we all had the chance to jam together and form a new band, we knew it would turn out killer!
With Century Media as label behind you, the distribution should be quite ok. Does the album sell as you suspected?
Yes, the album seems to be really taking off! We are glad to see the CD is available in all the major stores here in the US, as well as overseas!
I have seen some tour dates in America on your site, but none in Europe. Will Unholy Ghost tour Europe this year to promote the album?
We hope to tour Europe eventually, but right now we are focused on a US Tour. We’ll probably do some more festivals and shows in the US before recording another album. There’s nothing definite yet, but hopefully by next year we can tour Europe!
Mattias Norén did some amazing cover artwork. Where did he came from all the sudden and will he be amongst you the next album?
Mattias Norén was referred to us from Century Media Recs. He has done several other bands artwork, most notably Evergrey, Jag Panzer, and others. We are extremely pleased with Mattias’ dark and evil style and he was great to work with, in incorporating our ideas into the artwork! We will more than likely use Mattias again for our next CD.
What did Juan Gonzalez achieve with you in the Diet of Worms Studio that nobody else could do?
Aantar, Paul and Jerry had worked with Juan ‘Punchy’ Gonzalez on the previous Diabolic release, ‘Vengeance Ascending’. Punchy has a really good ear and lots of experience working with fast, brutal Death Metal bands! He had recorded and produced the latest Morbid Angel album, ‘Heretic’ as well as doing live sound for Morbid Angel for years! He is also a musician, as well as a soundman/producer so that sets him apart from a lot of other producers. So, when it came time to record ‘Torrential Reign’, Punchy was an obvious choice.
What is Unholy Ghost doing now; rehearsing, writing new material, working or whatever?
Well after returning from the LA festival, drummer Aantar Coates was asked to leave the band, due to ongoing personal and professional differences. So at this time we are currently auditioning drummers! After that, we hope to tour, and will be playing some more shows and festivals in the US. Of course we already have some ideas for new songs and the next record, which we will be writing in the months ahead.
Do you still check the local underground scene? Is it alive?
The Tampa/FL Death Metal scene is still alive! Of course with so many killer bands from here in Fla: Monstrosity, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Malevolent Creation, Hate Eternal… the list goes on and on! Even Obituary played at the FL Metal Fest last March, it was fucking awesome!
Can you name five local underground bands we all should check out?
Some metal bands in the FL area to check out: Contorted, Impurity, Byam Klavor, End Unseen, Vomit Spawn, The Absence…
Well, that’s it. I’m out of questions for this time. Thanks for the time and effort, of filling in another list of I hope not all the same questions. I hope to hear from you soon and let that be on a stage in Holland. The last words are for you……….
Thanks to VM, and thanks to the fans for all your support! For more info, tour dates, etc. check our web site. Look for our CD ‘Torrential Reign’ in stores…we’ll see you on tour! KEEP MUSIC EVIL!
