here is an interview i was able to get with the legendary black metal
band maniac butcher!! if you have never heard this band and consider
yourself a old-school fan you should look for this bands current release
"masakr" on negative-existence rec.enjoy the interview and stay tuned
as we have ALOT Of new reviews,interviews and ideas we hope to add to
winter torment web-zine in the future.
thanks to all who have read and supported my zine the last few years!!
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.myspace.com/winter_torment
1.metal hails barbarud!! how is your week starting out? please tell the readers a little about yourself.
-
Hell-o !! I am an old old-school Metal head from Czech. I was involved
in several Black Metal bands and projects like Nhaavah, DarkStorm, Iron
Fist, Tundra, Gottlos, Cintoreen Moor but since the end of 80-ies my
soul belongs to Maniac Butcher.
2.when did you all form maniac
butcher? what is the "current" line-up? i am sure by now most people
into black metal have heard the band but if someone is new to the band
how would you describe your music?
- The idea and name, Maniac
Butcher, was created between 1987-1989, the horde was formed later in
1992. Until 2000, we had released six full-length albums and some other
stuff like live-albums, live-DVD, EPs, demos and splits. Over the next
10 years all of our old recordings were re-released several times on all
formats (CD/LP/MC) in many countries. There was even a special
2-CD/3-LP called "The Beast of / A Tribute to Maniac Butcher". Our
line-up? Since the beginning, Blasphemer (guitars) and me - Barbarud
(vocals) are two main members. Now in 2010 there is new drummer,
Coroner, and two live-members: Infernal (guitar) and Brady (bass).
3.i
read on the bands official web-site the band has been broken-upfor 10
years.what made you guys want to reform after so long? are you all happy
with how things are going so far with the band?
- Our sixth
album "Epitaph", released in 2000, was supposed to be the final album of
Maniac Butcher. We decided to stop due our frustration and disgust with
the scene. At that time we were sure that we would never return. The
horde was disbanded for a long time but Maniac Butcher's name was still
alive thanx to numerous re-releases of our old recordings. Now, after
ten long years, we feel the same disgust, but despite that we have
decided to return.
4.the band recently released a new cd
"masakr" through "negative existence". how long did it take the band to
write and record the songs for this release? are you and the other
members happy with how it all turned out? how has response been from
press and the fans?
- Blasphemer and I decided to return on the
first day of 2010, just after a New Year's party. We then started to
compose the new songs. The album was recorded in 3 different studios
over 3 months between March and June. We are very satisfied by the
result of our work. The first responses and reviews are very positive.
Alex of Negative Existence told me that the sales are very good too.
5.does
maniac butcher have any upcoming shows/tours in support of massakr? if
yes please tell the readers about them. i know some black metal band
prefer to only work in the studio and not to play live shows. so i was
curious of your opinion on playing live shows or do you prefer to
write/record in the studio?
- No, there are no plans for long
touring. Since our reformation we played and will play only very few and
select shows in Europe just for our pleasure. Numerous gigs and touring
turn the performing into ordinary work and we would rather look forward
to every gig and enjoy it. It is hard to compare live shows with the
recording of a album. The studio work is something totally different and
much more important.
6.speaking of studio-time when the band
begins writing a new song how long does it usually take the band to
complete? does the whole band work on the music or just 1-2 members
handle everything? which is usually done first the lyrics or music? who
handles the lyrics for the band?
- We have always used the same
method: Blasphemer composes the music and records a demo tape, then I
write lyrics and create vocal patterns and then we enter the studio.
7. what are some topics/subjects you all write about?
-
Since our debut album, all of our albums have been conceptual. All my
lyrics have been written in ancient Czech, an old language of our
medieval forefathers, which is not easily understood by modern Czechs.
This has been the best way to recount the legends from our fatherland's
forgotten past and simultaneously express my personal feelings and
views. After ten long years the story is continued in the same manner on
the new album.
8.yourself and the band have been a part of the
black metal underground for many years now. how do you feel the scene
has changed over the last 15-20 years? do you feel it has gotten better
or worse with time and technology?
- Now there are thousands of
new bands and thousands of new albums every year. But it is hard to find
out about something really good. Unfortunately, the quantity has
exceeded the quality for many years and it is going to keep getting
worse. Now any teen can record an album in his bedroom coz' he can do
more with his small notebook than we could accomplish in expensive
recording studios 10-20 years ago. Recording and manufacturing of the
CDs is much cheaper and easier now and it doesn't help the scene, it
kills it.
9.everyone has their own ideas/opinions on what black
metal means to them.so i was interested to hear your opinion what does
"black metal" mean to you?
- First of all, Black Metal is my
most favorite music. Also my personal philosophy is closely related to
my music. I would say that (Black) Metal is my way of life.
10.maniac butcher come out of the czech rep.underground. what is your opinion of the metal scene in your country?
-
There was a very strong scene here in late 80's and early 90's.
Unfortunately, the conditions were very hard and many talented bands
never had the possibility to enter a good studio. Now, it's the same as
anywhere else in Europe... there are many bands but only few of them are
really good.
11.who are your all-time favorite czech bands? are their any new bands you think the readers should watch out for?
- I love early albums and demos of old bands like Master's Hammer, Torr, Asessor, Debustrol, Fata Morgana.
12.you handle the vocals for the band when did you start singing? who are some of your influences/favorite vocalist?
-
There are many vocalists who's voice I like. Not only Black Metal.
Blasphemer and I are old-school Metal heads and we love early albums of
80's Thrash and Heavy Metal gods like Slayer, Metallica, OverKill,
Kreator, Sodom, Living Death, Piledriver, Accept, Running Wild, Venom,
Celtic Frost, Bathory... as well as early Death Metal stuff like Morbid
Angel, Deicide, Unleashed... and of course early Black Metal jewels like
Mayhem, Darkthrone, Immortal... All of these bands have great vocalists
but I never tried to copy anyone else, I never looked for any
inspiration. I just wanted to make vocals that best fit the music of
Maniac Butcher.
13.do you do anything special to keep your vocals healthy? do you plan any other instruments?
-
In the early 90-ies I played bass for one of my old side-projects - but
that was in the very deep past. And anything special what I do for my
vocals? For nearly 20 years I have used one simple trick. A day before a
recording session or a live show, I take my car and go out of my
village alone. And while driving through the forest where nobody can
hear me, I roar and scream as loud as I can for about 10-15 minutes. The
next day my voice sounds better and harsh.
14.well barbarud,we
have reached the end of the interview. thank you for taking the time out
of your busy schedule to fill this out. do you have any final comments
for the readers?
- Never follow the trends and fashion !! Forget
the youtube and listen to Metal from CDs, vinyls and tapes !! Stay
loyal to old-school Metal !! Raw War !!
label contact
www.negative-existence.com
band contact
www.maniacbutcher.com
