interview with andrew P.editor of burning churches and more!
metal hails!!!
hope everyone is having a good/relaxing weekend? well here is a new interview i have done with one of closest and longest friends within the underground andrew p. he is the main reason/person who got me started in the zine side of the underground so many years ago. well as you will read andrew is EXTREMLY passionate about metal and zines so you will not find a better more in-depth writer than him. if you are a band or label interested in being promoted in one of andrew's web-zines. then by all means email or write him a "snail mail" letter for more information.well enough of my babbling turn up the metal to 100 and annoy your country/rapping neighbors and enjoy the interview and zine!
metal regards
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
Interview with Andrew Parrish, editor of Burning Churches, Circlepit Assassin and Ominous Vomit review sites, and singer of National Collapse. Done by Patrick.
1.metal hails brother! how is life in ohio been treating you? please tell the readers a little about yourself.
Well, greetings, Patrick! I won't bore the readers with some sort of obtuse biography, just suffice it to say that I am deeply devoted to the metal scene and my band National Collapse, and have been around for a while, for good or ill.
2.at what age did you begin listening to metal? who were some of the first bands that caught your attention? was it long until you discovered the undergound? who are some of your "current" favorite bands?
I began listening to metal (real metal, that is, since we all start off in the same way - enticed by heavier bands that are later revealed to us to be less than heterosexual) at about age 10. That makes puts me at about 20 years or so of experience with this manic music we love so much. The first bands to really grab hold of my earlobes, since when I was 10 it was 1990, were probably the big 3 - Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, with a dose of Anthrax. Overkill grew to be my favorite band during my teenage years, and I discovered the underground when I purchased You'll Never See.. by Grave and Blood Ritual by Samael on the same day, and as fate would have it, I was fuckin' hooked. I have had a love affair with old European metal ever since. From there it was a deep, dark journey into the depths of hell, and since I was the only real metal fan from my town at the time, I sort of developed in isolation. Currently, and there is no accounting for taste as it takes all sorts to make the world go 'round, I am listening to a lot of Acid Witch, Nocturnal Graves, Inquisition, Vorum, NunSlaughter, Suffocation, Volturyon, Ignominious Incarceration, Human Filleted, Exhale (Swe), Magrudergrind, and Parlamentarisk Sodomi.
3.i know you have been working/writing for fan/web-zines for alot of years now.when did you first become interested in writing for zines? besides your first 2 fanzines {metal union,cult} what other fanzines did you write for?
Talking about my old fanzines is like when my wife shows naked baby pictures of me to my friends. It's embarrassing and funny at the same time. I wrote for a few online sites, and then I failed to complete a few issues of some 'zines that I had started. I have trouble finishing things. There, I said it. If anyone was wondering why I appear and disappear in the underground as much as I do, there it is. My apologies to anyone I have ever offended because of this. It's all a mental hang-up and I am working on it. But yes, I wrote for a few sites that aren't around anymore, like Monster's World of Metal and Eternal Frost. That was back before blogs and Myspace. I'm a geezer at the ripe old age of 30. I started, like you, in the underground when the primary form of communication was...GASP...ACTUAL LETTERS!!! Oh, the HORROR!!!
4.as mentioned your first two zines were metal union and cult. please tell the readers a little about each of these zines? are either of them still availible to buy?
Metal Union was a naive attempt at unity within metal. Idealism and naivete conspired, and two issues were born with the intention of open-minded tolerance amongst metal genres. A third issue was never finished and died on the cross for its sins. Cult was my rebellion against Metal Union, in a way. I had had enough of nu-metal bands infiltrating the scene at the time, and it was a little overzealous. I hated anything that sounded clean or well-done and wasn't black as Samuel L. Jackson's accent. This did lead to me hearing some great demos from Blood Cult and Chemikiller and Toxic Holocaust, however. It was my honest opinion at the time, but hindsight is a bitch, and I forgot my true passion (which I just wasn't getting a lot of in the mail at the time) - DEATH METAL. And no, they're no longer available. I disposed of the hundred or so issues of #1 and #2 Metal Union that were left, as I didn't want that stain to represent my views any longer, and Cult was a DIY, low-print-run affair (I made them as they were ordered or I needed them). They are dead and I am glad.
5.your three newest web-zines are "burning churches"{black metal,dark metal},omnious vomit{brutal death} and circlepit assassin{Thrash,cross-over metal} when did you first get the idea to create these zines? please tell the readers a little about each of them.
The idea for Ominous Vomit actually goes back about a year. I wanted to do another print 'zine. However, I am of the opinion that a print 'zine is the financial equivalent of me simply taking my money and throwing it out of a moving car that is traveling at 100 mph. I will simply never see it again, and I'm not prepared to do that, especially with a family. So, instead, I chose to take it online. Blogs have changed the way people are using the internet, and I figured "What the fuck, I can do that." So, Ominous Vomit as a review site was born. It focuses strictly on death metal and grind. Burning Churches will actually focus strictly on black metal. I make no bones about my love for nasty-ass brutal black metal, from Morbosidad to Immortal to Inquisition to Grand Belials Key. You shall not find any romantic keyboard-laden faggotry on that site. Circlepit Assassin is my site to review thrash and crossover and crust. Yes, I love crust punk. The politics are bullshit and annoying, but I love the music. Bands like Ausgebombt, After the Bombs, Sanctum, and Stormcrow are just amazing. I do plan on doing an actual print 'zine called Slave to the Casket that focuses strictly on US death metal as a seriously low-print-run type of thing, and then distributing a .pdf file online for free. Work on that will be completed as time allows. So far I have interviewed Drogheda and I plan on interviewing NunSlaughter, Abdicate, Fully Consumed, Invasion, and several others. Only interviews, no reviews. Articles only, and no Q&A format. Nothing against it, but I can write, and I want to.
6.i know the zines are fairly new but are you happy with how things are progressing so far with them? if any bands or labels are reading this where can they send promo's? do you only review cd's,cdr's,etc. or will you also accept "digital" promo's? is their a certain style {or styles} you refuse to review?
They're going alright. Page views are picking up. If I had the time that I used to, I could really get some shit started. However, it is a "free time" type of thing, and all I really want to do is support the scene and toss my opinion out there as someone who may have a little bit of authority on the matter, as I've heard thousands of albums over the 20 years I've been listening to this music. If labels want to send shit to me, that's fine. I like and prefer vinyl, but I will check out CDs, tapes, anything. I actually like digital promos that I can download at my leisure. That is a cost-effective method for labels to use, and it makes things faster. If the label doesn't have to pay to send shit to me, that's one more dollar that can go to the next release, of which I am in favor. I don't refuse to review anything, really, but just know that if you send me something and it doesn't fit the mold of the three sites I have, I might not review it at all, or, if I hate it, it might be made fun of or get blasted out of the water. That's their risk. A quick look at my sites should inform any intelligent promo mule of what I'm all about.
7.in your eyes what makes a good fan- or web-zine? what are some of your all-time favorite fanzines? are their any good web-zines you enjoy reading when you have the time?
Good solid opinions make good 'zines. Period. Wishy-washiness never cuts it. Stand firm and proclaim your love or hate! If you decide differently later, then fine. 'Zine editors waffle too much with opinions, and I love it when someone is passionate about their opinions. My all time favorite fanzine, of course, is Canadian Assault. Dale Roy is the MAN. His fanzines laid waste to all others, and he got me started on so many bands. My current favorite is Compilation of Death, a Chilean 'zine that is just unbelievable, devoted to death metal the old way. Tons of early '90s interviews are reprinted, along with old flyers and shit, as well as new interviews of old and new bands. It came with a Merciless (Swe) poster! Awesome! Nope, don't really read webzines. I know, I'm such a hypocrite. I just don't. I do check out reviews for albums on metal-archives.com, however. Some people on there are so goddamn biased, though, toward one genre or another. A lot of great brutal death metal bands get bashed simply because they are brutal and the person who bought it and reviewed it is retarded.
8.do you have any advice for someone who might be thinking of starting up their own zine?
Decide if you have the money to throw away on a paper 'zine, firstly, and then decide what you will cover and stick to it. As for webzines, you'll never be able to cover the whole metal scene unless you have like five guys reviewing shit. Also, with your first issue, do not expect to get many promos unless it's not your first rodeo. You have to prove yourself. Only interview bands you like or find interesting. If you do interviews just to keep the promos flowing, then you are what is wrong with this scene. It gives the labels a reason to think a band doesn't suck when you interview the ones you think are awful and put a positive spin on it. Let their album sales be the only thing to determine that.
9.you and i have been a part of the metal-underground since the late 80's/early 90's {god we're old ha,ha} so i was curious how do you feel the scene has changed over the years?{besides the obvious creation of the internet}
Well, the internet! It's THE thing that changed the scene. The splintering of the genres is also a big thing, but that came along the most quickly when the internet gained popularity. More sounds crashing up against more sounds broke everyone off into genres. And fake drum sounds. Just ask my drummer Kevin, he hates fake drum sounds. Double bass triggers are simply utilitarian, so you can hear them better, snare triggers with sound replacement is like filing off your fingerprints. Lots and lots and lots of bands too. Folks that otherwise wouldn't hear or play metal are currently in all stages of development out there, from awkward to awesome.
10.i kind of got ahead of myself with the last question.how do you feel about the internet being used in the underground metal scene? a good thing or bad thing?
We wouldn't be doing this interview without the internet - or we would, but it would SUCK to write it all out. The mp3 is the single most detrimental and helpful thing the internet has given us. It has ruined the awesome feeling of finding an album just based on the cover art alone, since everything is readily available for preview, but it also ensures you don't buy a fucking stinker. Another negative is copycat-ism. A band catches on like Black Dahlia Murder (who are fucking awesome, by the way) and fuckin' BLAM, there's like 20 other bands that are suddenly on labels who sound like that. I hate that. That, however, is how shrewd marketing works. The labels know that few bands have lasting potential, so they go for the short money in trend sales. I get it. Hats off to excellent labels like Hells Headbangers and Nuclear War Now! who consistently don't give a fuck about what's popular. They have a lot of my fucking money!
11.i have not heard it much lately but i know a few years back i remember people saying stuff like the underground metal scene is dead or dying. would you agree or disagree with this statement?
Then they aren't looking very fucking hard. I consistently find new killer bands - just ask my bandmates, they're probably fuckin' sick of me bringing new shit for them to hear. Certain sounds fade in and out of popularity - for a while, no one sounded like Sweden 1990, but now there's like 200 bands who do that, with varying degrees of success. There's still a million slam death bands, tons of shitty grind bands, a million gaylord one-man black metal outfits, and the cream of the crop always rises to the top to be noticed - the ones that suck quietly drown in the silence of their turd-like existence. Underground metal is VERY alive, supported by amateurs like us who don't get paid and just happen to stumble on each other. Simply because we don't use a pen to write letters anymore to each other and spend a million fucking dollars on stamps doesn't mean the underground is dead. Check out small labels, buy some fucking music, and enjoy yourself! Go to see your local metal shows and you'll find stuff, trust me. Metal will never die, it just goes deeper underground.
12everyone has their own opinions or ideas on what it means. so i was curious what does the term "underground metal"mean to you?
Metal music played without regard for the opinions of people surrounding the band or in the scene, and played in a style that bucks the trends. That is very important. If it's not their band, they shouldn't have a say in how it is going to sound. That's why corporate and commercial music is always so much of the same thing. All they want is to ride whatever current wave of sound is out there at the moment, make the money, and move on. That's why there are a million bands that have bad haircuts and use NYDM-style slam riffs and call themselves "hardcore." It's why there were a million bands that sounded like At the Gates. It's why so much Aquanet got used in 1988. Money and success do not a band ruin, but the opinions of others can and will, Confucius say.
13.coming back to the zines for a moment you are currently working on
3 different zines/featuring different musical genres. so i was curious would you consider yourself to have a open-mind towards metal and music in general?
Sort of. Hear me out. There is so much going on within metal that I will never, ever get sick of it. I never even need a change of pace - I just switch out the Suffocation for some Anathema, or the Anathema for Exodus, or Exodus for Watain, and on and on. I do like some stuff that isn't metal or punk, but it's so few and far between. It has to sound real to me, and much music popular with the mainstream today doesn't sound real. Go back and take a look at the rock and roll from the late '60s and '70s (even disco) and compare it to today's stuff. Today's stuff doesn't even come close as far as musicianship and attention to detail and integrity. Marketing departments determine more musical sounds today than musicians do. So when I come across something amazing that isn't metal that is somewhat amazing, like Wolfmother, The Cranberries, Gnarls Barkley, or something that thinks out of the box like those bands, then I pay attention. Sometimes shit sells simply because it's that damn good.
14.you live in the great state of ohio i remember ohio had one of the
BEST metal {mainly death,grind,some black} scenes in the mid to late 90's.what is your opinion of ohio's metal scene's both past and the present scene?
The scene in the past was varied and full. You could play all over the place and see tons of shows, without some of the bullshit that occurs today. However, I think this is the case in most places. The scene now is fractured, fragmented, and mainly resides in Cleveland. Most bands you may be aware of exist in that city, and hardly ever come south (why would you drive to Akron or Canton when the choices of the city of Cleveland lay at your doorstep?). We, National Collapse, are one of three existing underground bands that I know about here in the Canton area. Let me stress - not every unsigned band is underground. Most are just pop-music fans that are trying to play heavy. These bands I do not consider to be underground. Do you know how many fuckers with combed-crazily hair and skinny jeans we've had to fuckin' play with in the past? The only other underground metal bands in Canton are Mortifier and Trazom. They both play pretty incredible fuckin' thrash, but I'm not sure that Trazom is still active. Mortifier is the best, and we will be doing shows!
15. who would you say are some of your all-time favorite metal bands
from ohio? are their any new bands from ohio you think the readers should watch out for?
Well, my favorite band of all time is from Ohio, and that is NunSlaughter. Also, make sure to check out Midnight, Soulless, Mortifier, Trazom, Nekrofilth, Crucified Mortals, the always incredible Drogheda, the musical wizards in Fully Consumed, Necrotic Disgorgement (used to be Regurgitation), Vindicator, Schnauzer (for a laugh), Spawn of Satan, and filthy-ass Manticore. There are others, but that is a good snapshot of Cleveland right now. Not all those bands consistently play out, so keep an eye out if you're in town.
16.when not working on zines or listening to metal.what do you enjoy
doing in your spare-time?
TV and movies take a lot of my time, with my favorite shows of all time being The Shield, Rome, Twin Peaks, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, and anything else that's brainy and above the belt. I can't stand stupid fucking reality shows. The shit is mind-numbing and makes me retarded when I watch it. You can actually FEEL yourself becoming part of the lowest common denominator when you watch reality TV sometimes. As far as movies, anything old and of the horror genre, particularly if it's Italian and from the 1970s and early 1980s. Fulci and Argento, when they are good, are great. Exploitation films of that time are truly incredible, as they broke all the rules just to see if they could break them! Cult film takes quite a bit of my extra time. I also read a shitload of books, with my focus being on H.P. Lovecraft, R.E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock and their contemporaries. Politically incorrect sword and sorcery fiction keeps my interest. Hard science fiction is sometimes good, and so is speculative fiction like alternate history, of which the master is Harry Turtledove. I also read much history, focusing on Rome, World War II, and my ancestors, the Germanic people. Football is also very important to me - the Cleveland Browns, although plagued with a decade of shitty seasons since they came back, are my team, through thick and thin. I watch hours upon hours of football, pro and college, when the season is upon us. When football isn't on, most times anything with two teams and something to hit, kick, or throw back and forth between them works.
17.well brother,we have reached the end of the interview.good luck to
you and the future of these zines! total support!! do you have any final comments for the readers?
Exhaustive, as usual, my friend. I appreciate the support, especially since I've been flaky as fuck the last couple of years while trying to keep up with life and its constant attempt to emasculate and eviscerate me, all the while dodging financial ruin's attempt to dominate my well-being. National Collapse is in the final stages of mixing our first demo, and a logo and artwork are forthcoming for it. You catch that at www.myspace.com/nationalcollapse when it happens. Otherwise, look above and search for my review sites. Sporadic updates will happen with those. I do my work best in fits and starts. If you made it this far, dear reader, I feel sorry that you had to endure my rants, raves, and personal biases. I hope you can forgive me. If you're ever in Canton, look the band up. Remember, FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB, IT'S DEATH METAL.
to check out andrew's web-zines just click below and enjoy!!
Ominous Vomit - Death Metal: ominousvomit.blogspot.com
Burning Churches - Black Metal: burningchurches.blogspot.com
Circlepit Assassin - Thrash/Crust/Crossover: circlepitassassin.blogspot.com
hope everyone is having a good/relaxing weekend? well here is a new interview i have done with one of closest and longest friends within the underground andrew p. he is the main reason/person who got me started in the zine side of the underground so many years ago. well as you will read andrew is EXTREMLY passionate about metal and zines so you will not find a better more in-depth writer than him. if you are a band or label interested in being promoted in one of andrew's web-zines. then by all means email or write him a "snail mail" letter for more information.well enough of my babbling turn up the metal to 100 and annoy your country/rapping neighbors and enjoy the interview and zine!
metal regards
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
Interview with Andrew Parrish, editor of Burning Churches, Circlepit Assassin and Ominous Vomit review sites, and singer of National Collapse. Done by Patrick.
1.metal hails brother! how is life in ohio been treating you? please tell the readers a little about yourself.
Well, greetings, Patrick! I won't bore the readers with some sort of obtuse biography, just suffice it to say that I am deeply devoted to the metal scene and my band National Collapse, and have been around for a while, for good or ill.
2.at what age did you begin listening to metal? who were some of the first bands that caught your attention? was it long until you discovered the undergound? who are some of your "current" favorite bands?
I began listening to metal (real metal, that is, since we all start off in the same way - enticed by heavier bands that are later revealed to us to be less than heterosexual) at about age 10. That makes puts me at about 20 years or so of experience with this manic music we love so much. The first bands to really grab hold of my earlobes, since when I was 10 it was 1990, were probably the big 3 - Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, with a dose of Anthrax. Overkill grew to be my favorite band during my teenage years, and I discovered the underground when I purchased You'll Never See.. by Grave and Blood Ritual by Samael on the same day, and as fate would have it, I was fuckin' hooked. I have had a love affair with old European metal ever since. From there it was a deep, dark journey into the depths of hell, and since I was the only real metal fan from my town at the time, I sort of developed in isolation. Currently, and there is no accounting for taste as it takes all sorts to make the world go 'round, I am listening to a lot of Acid Witch, Nocturnal Graves, Inquisition, Vorum, NunSlaughter, Suffocation, Volturyon, Ignominious Incarceration, Human Filleted, Exhale (Swe), Magrudergrind, and Parlamentarisk Sodomi.
3.i know you have been working/writing for fan/web-zines for alot of years now.when did you first become interested in writing for zines? besides your first 2 fanzines {metal union,cult} what other fanzines did you write for?
Talking about my old fanzines is like when my wife shows naked baby pictures of me to my friends. It's embarrassing and funny at the same time. I wrote for a few online sites, and then I failed to complete a few issues of some 'zines that I had started. I have trouble finishing things. There, I said it. If anyone was wondering why I appear and disappear in the underground as much as I do, there it is. My apologies to anyone I have ever offended because of this. It's all a mental hang-up and I am working on it. But yes, I wrote for a few sites that aren't around anymore, like Monster's World of Metal and Eternal Frost. That was back before blogs and Myspace. I'm a geezer at the ripe old age of 30. I started, like you, in the underground when the primary form of communication was...GASP...ACTUAL LETTERS!!! Oh, the HORROR!!!
4.as mentioned your first two zines were metal union and cult. please tell the readers a little about each of these zines? are either of them still availible to buy?
Metal Union was a naive attempt at unity within metal. Idealism and naivete conspired, and two issues were born with the intention of open-minded tolerance amongst metal genres. A third issue was never finished and died on the cross for its sins. Cult was my rebellion against Metal Union, in a way. I had had enough of nu-metal bands infiltrating the scene at the time, and it was a little overzealous. I hated anything that sounded clean or well-done and wasn't black as Samuel L. Jackson's accent. This did lead to me hearing some great demos from Blood Cult and Chemikiller and Toxic Holocaust, however. It was my honest opinion at the time, but hindsight is a bitch, and I forgot my true passion (which I just wasn't getting a lot of in the mail at the time) - DEATH METAL. And no, they're no longer available. I disposed of the hundred or so issues of #1 and #2 Metal Union that were left, as I didn't want that stain to represent my views any longer, and Cult was a DIY, low-print-run affair (I made them as they were ordered or I needed them). They are dead and I am glad.
5.your three newest web-zines are "burning churches"{black metal,dark metal},omnious vomit{brutal death} and circlepit assassin{Thrash,cross-over metal} when did you first get the idea to create these zines? please tell the readers a little about each of them.
The idea for Ominous Vomit actually goes back about a year. I wanted to do another print 'zine. However, I am of the opinion that a print 'zine is the financial equivalent of me simply taking my money and throwing it out of a moving car that is traveling at 100 mph. I will simply never see it again, and I'm not prepared to do that, especially with a family. So, instead, I chose to take it online. Blogs have changed the way people are using the internet, and I figured "What the fuck, I can do that." So, Ominous Vomit as a review site was born. It focuses strictly on death metal and grind. Burning Churches will actually focus strictly on black metal. I make no bones about my love for nasty-ass brutal black metal, from Morbosidad to Immortal to Inquisition to Grand Belials Key. You shall not find any romantic keyboard-laden faggotry on that site. Circlepit Assassin is my site to review thrash and crossover and crust. Yes, I love crust punk. The politics are bullshit and annoying, but I love the music. Bands like Ausgebombt, After the Bombs, Sanctum, and Stormcrow are just amazing. I do plan on doing an actual print 'zine called Slave to the Casket that focuses strictly on US death metal as a seriously low-print-run type of thing, and then distributing a .pdf file online for free. Work on that will be completed as time allows. So far I have interviewed Drogheda and I plan on interviewing NunSlaughter, Abdicate, Fully Consumed, Invasion, and several others. Only interviews, no reviews. Articles only, and no Q&A format. Nothing against it, but I can write, and I want to.
6.i know the zines are fairly new but are you happy with how things are progressing so far with them? if any bands or labels are reading this where can they send promo's? do you only review cd's,cdr's,etc. or will you also accept "digital" promo's? is their a certain style {or styles} you refuse to review?
They're going alright. Page views are picking up. If I had the time that I used to, I could really get some shit started. However, it is a "free time" type of thing, and all I really want to do is support the scene and toss my opinion out there as someone who may have a little bit of authority on the matter, as I've heard thousands of albums over the 20 years I've been listening to this music. If labels want to send shit to me, that's fine. I like and prefer vinyl, but I will check out CDs, tapes, anything. I actually like digital promos that I can download at my leisure. That is a cost-effective method for labels to use, and it makes things faster. If the label doesn't have to pay to send shit to me, that's one more dollar that can go to the next release, of which I am in favor. I don't refuse to review anything, really, but just know that if you send me something and it doesn't fit the mold of the three sites I have, I might not review it at all, or, if I hate it, it might be made fun of or get blasted out of the water. That's their risk. A quick look at my sites should inform any intelligent promo mule of what I'm all about.
7.in your eyes what makes a good fan- or web-zine? what are some of your all-time favorite fanzines? are their any good web-zines you enjoy reading when you have the time?
Good solid opinions make good 'zines. Period. Wishy-washiness never cuts it. Stand firm and proclaim your love or hate! If you decide differently later, then fine. 'Zine editors waffle too much with opinions, and I love it when someone is passionate about their opinions. My all time favorite fanzine, of course, is Canadian Assault. Dale Roy is the MAN. His fanzines laid waste to all others, and he got me started on so many bands. My current favorite is Compilation of Death, a Chilean 'zine that is just unbelievable, devoted to death metal the old way. Tons of early '90s interviews are reprinted, along with old flyers and shit, as well as new interviews of old and new bands. It came with a Merciless (Swe) poster! Awesome! Nope, don't really read webzines. I know, I'm such a hypocrite. I just don't. I do check out reviews for albums on metal-archives.com, however. Some people on there are so goddamn biased, though, toward one genre or another. A lot of great brutal death metal bands get bashed simply because they are brutal and the person who bought it and reviewed it is retarded.
8.do you have any advice for someone who might be thinking of starting up their own zine?
Decide if you have the money to throw away on a paper 'zine, firstly, and then decide what you will cover and stick to it. As for webzines, you'll never be able to cover the whole metal scene unless you have like five guys reviewing shit. Also, with your first issue, do not expect to get many promos unless it's not your first rodeo. You have to prove yourself. Only interview bands you like or find interesting. If you do interviews just to keep the promos flowing, then you are what is wrong with this scene. It gives the labels a reason to think a band doesn't suck when you interview the ones you think are awful and put a positive spin on it. Let their album sales be the only thing to determine that.
9.you and i have been a part of the metal-underground since the late 80's/early 90's {god we're old ha,ha} so i was curious how do you feel the scene has changed over the years?{besides the obvious creation of the internet}
Well, the internet! It's THE thing that changed the scene. The splintering of the genres is also a big thing, but that came along the most quickly when the internet gained popularity. More sounds crashing up against more sounds broke everyone off into genres. And fake drum sounds. Just ask my drummer Kevin, he hates fake drum sounds. Double bass triggers are simply utilitarian, so you can hear them better, snare triggers with sound replacement is like filing off your fingerprints. Lots and lots and lots of bands too. Folks that otherwise wouldn't hear or play metal are currently in all stages of development out there, from awkward to awesome.
10.i kind of got ahead of myself with the last question.how do you feel about the internet being used in the underground metal scene? a good thing or bad thing?
We wouldn't be doing this interview without the internet - or we would, but it would SUCK to write it all out. The mp3 is the single most detrimental and helpful thing the internet has given us. It has ruined the awesome feeling of finding an album just based on the cover art alone, since everything is readily available for preview, but it also ensures you don't buy a fucking stinker. Another negative is copycat-ism. A band catches on like Black Dahlia Murder (who are fucking awesome, by the way) and fuckin' BLAM, there's like 20 other bands that are suddenly on labels who sound like that. I hate that. That, however, is how shrewd marketing works. The labels know that few bands have lasting potential, so they go for the short money in trend sales. I get it. Hats off to excellent labels like Hells Headbangers and Nuclear War Now! who consistently don't give a fuck about what's popular. They have a lot of my fucking money!
11.i have not heard it much lately but i know a few years back i remember people saying stuff like the underground metal scene is dead or dying. would you agree or disagree with this statement?
Then they aren't looking very fucking hard. I consistently find new killer bands - just ask my bandmates, they're probably fuckin' sick of me bringing new shit for them to hear. Certain sounds fade in and out of popularity - for a while, no one sounded like Sweden 1990, but now there's like 200 bands who do that, with varying degrees of success. There's still a million slam death bands, tons of shitty grind bands, a million gaylord one-man black metal outfits, and the cream of the crop always rises to the top to be noticed - the ones that suck quietly drown in the silence of their turd-like existence. Underground metal is VERY alive, supported by amateurs like us who don't get paid and just happen to stumble on each other. Simply because we don't use a pen to write letters anymore to each other and spend a million fucking dollars on stamps doesn't mean the underground is dead. Check out small labels, buy some fucking music, and enjoy yourself! Go to see your local metal shows and you'll find stuff, trust me. Metal will never die, it just goes deeper underground.
12everyone has their own opinions or ideas on what it means. so i was curious what does the term "underground metal"mean to you?
Metal music played without regard for the opinions of people surrounding the band or in the scene, and played in a style that bucks the trends. That is very important. If it's not their band, they shouldn't have a say in how it is going to sound. That's why corporate and commercial music is always so much of the same thing. All they want is to ride whatever current wave of sound is out there at the moment, make the money, and move on. That's why there are a million bands that have bad haircuts and use NYDM-style slam riffs and call themselves "hardcore." It's why there were a million bands that sounded like At the Gates. It's why so much Aquanet got used in 1988. Money and success do not a band ruin, but the opinions of others can and will, Confucius say.
13.coming back to the zines for a moment you are currently working on
3 different zines/featuring different musical genres. so i was curious would you consider yourself to have a open-mind towards metal and music in general?
Sort of. Hear me out. There is so much going on within metal that I will never, ever get sick of it. I never even need a change of pace - I just switch out the Suffocation for some Anathema, or the Anathema for Exodus, or Exodus for Watain, and on and on. I do like some stuff that isn't metal or punk, but it's so few and far between. It has to sound real to me, and much music popular with the mainstream today doesn't sound real. Go back and take a look at the rock and roll from the late '60s and '70s (even disco) and compare it to today's stuff. Today's stuff doesn't even come close as far as musicianship and attention to detail and integrity. Marketing departments determine more musical sounds today than musicians do. So when I come across something amazing that isn't metal that is somewhat amazing, like Wolfmother, The Cranberries, Gnarls Barkley, or something that thinks out of the box like those bands, then I pay attention. Sometimes shit sells simply because it's that damn good.
14.you live in the great state of ohio i remember ohio had one of the
BEST metal {mainly death,grind,some black} scenes in the mid to late 90's.what is your opinion of ohio's metal scene's both past and the present scene?
The scene in the past was varied and full. You could play all over the place and see tons of shows, without some of the bullshit that occurs today. However, I think this is the case in most places. The scene now is fractured, fragmented, and mainly resides in Cleveland. Most bands you may be aware of exist in that city, and hardly ever come south (why would you drive to Akron or Canton when the choices of the city of Cleveland lay at your doorstep?). We, National Collapse, are one of three existing underground bands that I know about here in the Canton area. Let me stress - not every unsigned band is underground. Most are just pop-music fans that are trying to play heavy. These bands I do not consider to be underground. Do you know how many fuckers with combed-crazily hair and skinny jeans we've had to fuckin' play with in the past? The only other underground metal bands in Canton are Mortifier and Trazom. They both play pretty incredible fuckin' thrash, but I'm not sure that Trazom is still active. Mortifier is the best, and we will be doing shows!
15. who would you say are some of your all-time favorite metal bands
from ohio? are their any new bands from ohio you think the readers should watch out for?
Well, my favorite band of all time is from Ohio, and that is NunSlaughter. Also, make sure to check out Midnight, Soulless, Mortifier, Trazom, Nekrofilth, Crucified Mortals, the always incredible Drogheda, the musical wizards in Fully Consumed, Necrotic Disgorgement (used to be Regurgitation), Vindicator, Schnauzer (for a laugh), Spawn of Satan, and filthy-ass Manticore. There are others, but that is a good snapshot of Cleveland right now. Not all those bands consistently play out, so keep an eye out if you're in town.
16.when not working on zines or listening to metal.what do you enjoy
doing in your spare-time?
TV and movies take a lot of my time, with my favorite shows of all time being The Shield, Rome, Twin Peaks, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, and anything else that's brainy and above the belt. I can't stand stupid fucking reality shows. The shit is mind-numbing and makes me retarded when I watch it. You can actually FEEL yourself becoming part of the lowest common denominator when you watch reality TV sometimes. As far as movies, anything old and of the horror genre, particularly if it's Italian and from the 1970s and early 1980s. Fulci and Argento, when they are good, are great. Exploitation films of that time are truly incredible, as they broke all the rules just to see if they could break them! Cult film takes quite a bit of my extra time. I also read a shitload of books, with my focus being on H.P. Lovecraft, R.E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock and their contemporaries. Politically incorrect sword and sorcery fiction keeps my interest. Hard science fiction is sometimes good, and so is speculative fiction like alternate history, of which the master is Harry Turtledove. I also read much history, focusing on Rome, World War II, and my ancestors, the Germanic people. Football is also very important to me - the Cleveland Browns, although plagued with a decade of shitty seasons since they came back, are my team, through thick and thin. I watch hours upon hours of football, pro and college, when the season is upon us. When football isn't on, most times anything with two teams and something to hit, kick, or throw back and forth between them works.
17.well brother,we have reached the end of the interview.good luck to
you and the future of these zines! total support!! do you have any final comments for the readers?
Exhaustive, as usual, my friend. I appreciate the support, especially since I've been flaky as fuck the last couple of years while trying to keep up with life and its constant attempt to emasculate and eviscerate me, all the while dodging financial ruin's attempt to dominate my well-being. National Collapse is in the final stages of mixing our first demo, and a logo and artwork are forthcoming for it. You catch that at www.myspace.com/nationalcollapse when it happens. Otherwise, look above and search for my review sites. Sporadic updates will happen with those. I do my work best in fits and starts. If you made it this far, dear reader, I feel sorry that you had to endure my rants, raves, and personal biases. I hope you can forgive me. If you're ever in Canton, look the band up. Remember, FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB, IT'S DEATH METAL.
to check out andrew's web-zines just click below and enjoy!!
Ominous Vomit - Death Metal: ominousvomit.blogspot.com
Burning Churches - Black Metal: burningchurches.blogspot.com
Circlepit Assassin - Thrash/Crust/Crossover: circlepitassassin.blogspot.com
interview with grave desecrator done by patrick
metal hails
here is a new interview with the mighty brazilan old-school metal force "grave desecrator". if you are a fan of old-school death metal from the 80's and early 90's then you must check-out grave desecrator's second full-length "insult" through hells headbangers in the u.s
thanks to all for the support and enjoy!!
metal regards,
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
interview with vallakk the necrogoat bassist for grave desecrator done by patrick.
1.hails vallakk! how are things in brazil?please tell the readers a little about yourself.when did you first get into metal? who were the first bands you listened to?who are your "current" favorite bands?
Hell-o! I’m a bastard in my 30´s. I know what Metal is about since I was 8 years old, since my brother brought home 2 vinyls during that time; AC/DC´s Back in Black and Rainbow´s Rising! In 1983 we had KISS in Brazil for the very first time, and this country started to receive international bands back then. In 1985 we had Rock in Rio festival, which featured lots like Iron, Whitesnake, Ozzy, Scorpions etc. Of course I didn’t go there, cos´ I was too young. But I already know about their music and I loved their guitar shapes like flying v, explorer etc. My brother didn’t keep the faith into Metal at all, but I started to get it seriously late 80´s, early 90´s! My first gigs were Ratos de Porão, Dorsal Atlântica and some other shit bands, with shit gears, playing shit music! My interest to occultism and the darkness increased when I started to understand about the darkest lyrics from the darkest bands! That was really a break up of my catholic heritages, even that I never went really into that shit, even when I was a child! Nowadays, I keep a lot into the old bands I started to listen to (Since Iron Maiden, Kiss to Bathory, Venom, Celtic Frost, Slayer and Sarcofago). I’m really into Metal and Rock n Roll! I like very few Black Metal bands from nowadays. Vulturine, Diocletian, Necros Christos, Communion, Augrimmer(Ger), are some of the very few “new” good bands really into the dark path I think it’s interesting for me. I like a lot of Death Metal into old school sounding ( Poisonous, Headhunter DC, Bolt thrower, Purgatory, Autopsy etc..), new Dark Throne is very good even if most people are talking bullshit about them! Blood Tsunami plays good Thrash Metal as well as for Farscape, Whipstriker etc. Also Turbonegro, The Electric Hellfire Club kills! As you see, I keep listening to a lot of shits that can even surprise you! Black Sin likes more of traditional Heavy Metal, some guitarists and Death Metal. He hasn´t been into new Black Metal since he most listen to few of the old ones like Hellhammer, Bathory etc..Butcherazor loves Judas Priest, Sarcofago, Venom, Bathory and old bands. He’s not too much patient to know new bands, even if some of them are really cool! But he told me very good things about The Devil’s Blood for example.
2.when did you guys form grave desecrator? what is the "current" line-up? for the readers who have never heard the band how would you describe the music?
We deformed this cult back in 98 with me as Valak (guitarist that time), Butcherazor(bass that time), F.Mordor(voices – we fired him off few time before entering the studios to record Sign of Doom!!). We had problems to have a lasting drummer, so we recorded our debut demo “Demo 01” with a session drummer. The other drummers who recorded with us were Adrameleck and Angeldust, who recently was fired as well! Now, we have the skills of M. Cativeiro. He plays also in Apokalyptic Raids. We play Black fucking Death Metal into brazilian ways! Dare to check us out or kill yourself!
3.the band recently released it's second cd "insult" through the mighty hells headbangers rec.how long did it take the band to write and record the songs for this release? are you and the other members of the band happy with how everything turned out?
Yeah, HH´s is the responsible to spread the plague in Americas. Ketzer rec. is working with us in Europe! This album took about less than 1 year long to be recorded. I think the things got really faster this time.
4.how has the response been from the fans and press? how did the band come in contact with hells headbangers rec.? do you find it difficult to work with a label in a different country?
I think we have receiving a very good response worldwide! It’s a work that surprises since the cover art to the straight-in-your-face lyrics! Sometimes the people show some resistance regarding our imagery etc. Others call us a new “Sarcofago”, and I don’t think it’s the case! Some reviews are even strange but interesting. They depict some things that we didn’t realize about ourselves, haha! I think HH´s is doing a very good work with us and we thank them a lot! We have more contact to labels outside Brazil, so I have no problems with the distance etc. They’ve been working very well for us, much better than any brazilian label could afford us!
5.how often does the band get to practice? when you begin work on a new song how long does it usually take to complete? does the whole band work on the music or just 1 or 2 members handle everything?
Uh! Our process is a bit confuse, but in the end it works, I guess...For “Insult”, I did my lyrics and gave to them. They grooved it in their song lines, changed something, we discussed, I gave ideas etc, etc.. I asked a very chaotic and defiant song with a sarcastic but effective lyric and then Jesus Joint was taking form. We’re now with a new drummer and we practice once a week, but during more than 3 or 4 hours long. The new drummer has a studio! We’re not now in a process of new songs, so I think it’ll get more and more intense when ideas for the third album start to come in mind!
6.who usually handles the lyrics? what are some topics/subjects the band writes about?
Me and Butcherazor write the most in GD. Butcherazor is more straight and raw kind. I normally use some internal feelings on it, sometimes a lot of sarcasm. In “Insult” we didn’t want a deepest approach which could underrate the loyalty of an emotional rage! We were trying some immediate eruption as angry as we can!
7.does the band play live very often or do you guys prefer to work in the studio? who are some bands you all have shared the stage with? if you could set-up a "dream" show/tour who would you love to play live with?
We don’t play so often because we don’t have support in our country. And I think most bands into brazilian underground are suffering the same shit. But we did a very cool european tour last October, and after that, we did some few gigs here. We’ll try new dates in the Northwest area in Brazil still this year!!! We played with bands such as Impurity, Catacumba, Angelwitch, Angmar, Waffentrager Luzifers, Vader, Headhunter DC, Hellkommander and a lot more. Personally a tour with Slayer, Mercyful Fate, Danzig, Venom would be a dream come true! haha
8.brazil has always seemed to have a very strong and intense metal-scene. would you agree? what is your opinion of brazil's underground metal scene?
Yes, we’ve been a very active scene since a long. Thanks to the people who believed on it in such a sunny and carnival country. The cultural aspects here aren’t suitable for Metal at all. But we’re the resistance! I think we have a big amount of bands, but very few with something really interesting to show away! Also, bigmouthed people who talk only bullshit! But these assholes are living in their worthless commonplace. I don’t think it happens only in Brazil by the way, but the worldwide scene suffers from the same problem. But it’s more my point of view, perhaps...
9.who are some of your all-time favorite brazilian bands? are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?
My favorite brazilian bands are Sepultura, Sarcofago, Dorsal Atlântica and Vulcano! I like many others old bands, but I think these ones are the perfect representation of the best eras in brazilian underground! I like some new bands like Vulturine, Farscape, Osculum Obscenum, Luvart, Poisonous...
10.what does the term "underground metal" mean to you? i know over the years some have said the underground scene is dying or dead. would you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Underground is an alternative way to rape the morality in music and mainstream money talk! It can be weaker or stronger depending the time, but it will never die, as even the “biggers” search for refuge when their “success” is falling apart!
11.coming back to the band you handle the bass for the group. when did you start playing bass? who are your influences/favorite bassists?
I’m not a bassist. I’m a guitarist who tries to play bass! If you have the chance to see me alive, you’ll notice I play like if it’s a guitar, picking up and down savagery the lines! I used to be guitarist in GD, but when we departed F.Mordor, I gave the idea to Butcherazor (who composed most of the songs) play the guitar and voices, and I get the bass bulldozer instead. The things got really faster this way and we’ve no regret! I’m fan of bassists of course, like Steve Harris, Dan Lilker, Cronos and Lemmy!!!!!!!!
12. do you or any of the members of grave desecrator play in any other bands/projects? if yes please tell the readers a little about them.
Black Sin is playing a sort of evil hardcore project alongside M. Cativeiro. Only this!
13.when not working on new music for the band or filling out interviews.what do you enjoy doing in your spare-time?
I like to get out and drink with my close friends. Listening to music, reading and thinking!! I spend a lot of time thinking alone! Black Sin is married and have a son, so he works with computer and spend his time with his son and wife (no, he didn’t get married at a church, blaaaarrghhh!). Butcherazor spend a lot of time at some whorehouses and worthless cheap bars.. I used to do that, but I’m quite broke and old now, haha!
14.well vallakk we have reached the end of the interview. thank you for taking the time to fill out this interview. do you have any final comments for the readers?
I thank you a lot Patrick. The Brazilian Blackest Metal Massacre salute you! For all those in US interested to GD, please ask it for Hell´s Headbangers. In Europe, by ketzer rec.
www.myspace.com/gravedesecrator666
www.hellsheadbangers.com
www.ketzer-records.de
grave666desecrator@gmail.com
PO BOX 8018 Rio de Janeiro – RJ – 21032-970 - Brazil
here is a new interview with the mighty brazilan old-school metal force "grave desecrator". if you are a fan of old-school death metal from the 80's and early 90's then you must check-out grave desecrator's second full-length "insult" through hells headbangers in the u.s
thanks to all for the support and enjoy!!
metal regards,
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
interview with vallakk the necrogoat bassist for grave desecrator done by patrick.
1.hails vallakk! how are things in brazil?please tell the readers a little about yourself.when did you first get into metal? who were the first bands you listened to?who are your "current" favorite bands?
Hell-o! I’m a bastard in my 30´s. I know what Metal is about since I was 8 years old, since my brother brought home 2 vinyls during that time; AC/DC´s Back in Black and Rainbow´s Rising! In 1983 we had KISS in Brazil for the very first time, and this country started to receive international bands back then. In 1985 we had Rock in Rio festival, which featured lots like Iron, Whitesnake, Ozzy, Scorpions etc. Of course I didn’t go there, cos´ I was too young. But I already know about their music and I loved their guitar shapes like flying v, explorer etc. My brother didn’t keep the faith into Metal at all, but I started to get it seriously late 80´s, early 90´s! My first gigs were Ratos de Porão, Dorsal Atlântica and some other shit bands, with shit gears, playing shit music! My interest to occultism and the darkness increased when I started to understand about the darkest lyrics from the darkest bands! That was really a break up of my catholic heritages, even that I never went really into that shit, even when I was a child! Nowadays, I keep a lot into the old bands I started to listen to (Since Iron Maiden, Kiss to Bathory, Venom, Celtic Frost, Slayer and Sarcofago). I’m really into Metal and Rock n Roll! I like very few Black Metal bands from nowadays. Vulturine, Diocletian, Necros Christos, Communion, Augrimmer(Ger), are some of the very few “new” good bands really into the dark path I think it’s interesting for me. I like a lot of Death Metal into old school sounding ( Poisonous, Headhunter DC, Bolt thrower, Purgatory, Autopsy etc..), new Dark Throne is very good even if most people are talking bullshit about them! Blood Tsunami plays good Thrash Metal as well as for Farscape, Whipstriker etc. Also Turbonegro, The Electric Hellfire Club kills! As you see, I keep listening to a lot of shits that can even surprise you! Black Sin likes more of traditional Heavy Metal, some guitarists and Death Metal. He hasn´t been into new Black Metal since he most listen to few of the old ones like Hellhammer, Bathory etc..Butcherazor loves Judas Priest, Sarcofago, Venom, Bathory and old bands. He’s not too much patient to know new bands, even if some of them are really cool! But he told me very good things about The Devil’s Blood for example.
2.when did you guys form grave desecrator? what is the "current" line-up? for the readers who have never heard the band how would you describe the music?
We deformed this cult back in 98 with me as Valak (guitarist that time), Butcherazor(bass that time), F.Mordor(voices – we fired him off few time before entering the studios to record Sign of Doom!!). We had problems to have a lasting drummer, so we recorded our debut demo “Demo 01” with a session drummer. The other drummers who recorded with us were Adrameleck and Angeldust, who recently was fired as well! Now, we have the skills of M. Cativeiro. He plays also in Apokalyptic Raids. We play Black fucking Death Metal into brazilian ways! Dare to check us out or kill yourself!
3.the band recently released it's second cd "insult" through the mighty hells headbangers rec.how long did it take the band to write and record the songs for this release? are you and the other members of the band happy with how everything turned out?
Yeah, HH´s is the responsible to spread the plague in Americas. Ketzer rec. is working with us in Europe! This album took about less than 1 year long to be recorded. I think the things got really faster this time.
4.how has the response been from the fans and press? how did the band come in contact with hells headbangers rec.? do you find it difficult to work with a label in a different country?
I think we have receiving a very good response worldwide! It’s a work that surprises since the cover art to the straight-in-your-face lyrics! Sometimes the people show some resistance regarding our imagery etc. Others call us a new “Sarcofago”, and I don’t think it’s the case! Some reviews are even strange but interesting. They depict some things that we didn’t realize about ourselves, haha! I think HH´s is doing a very good work with us and we thank them a lot! We have more contact to labels outside Brazil, so I have no problems with the distance etc. They’ve been working very well for us, much better than any brazilian label could afford us!
5.how often does the band get to practice? when you begin work on a new song how long does it usually take to complete? does the whole band work on the music or just 1 or 2 members handle everything?
Uh! Our process is a bit confuse, but in the end it works, I guess...For “Insult”, I did my lyrics and gave to them. They grooved it in their song lines, changed something, we discussed, I gave ideas etc, etc.. I asked a very chaotic and defiant song with a sarcastic but effective lyric and then Jesus Joint was taking form. We’re now with a new drummer and we practice once a week, but during more than 3 or 4 hours long. The new drummer has a studio! We’re not now in a process of new songs, so I think it’ll get more and more intense when ideas for the third album start to come in mind!
6.who usually handles the lyrics? what are some topics/subjects the band writes about?
Me and Butcherazor write the most in GD. Butcherazor is more straight and raw kind. I normally use some internal feelings on it, sometimes a lot of sarcasm. In “Insult” we didn’t want a deepest approach which could underrate the loyalty of an emotional rage! We were trying some immediate eruption as angry as we can!
7.does the band play live very often or do you guys prefer to work in the studio? who are some bands you all have shared the stage with? if you could set-up a "dream" show/tour who would you love to play live with?
We don’t play so often because we don’t have support in our country. And I think most bands into brazilian underground are suffering the same shit. But we did a very cool european tour last October, and after that, we did some few gigs here. We’ll try new dates in the Northwest area in Brazil still this year!!! We played with bands such as Impurity, Catacumba, Angelwitch, Angmar, Waffentrager Luzifers, Vader, Headhunter DC, Hellkommander and a lot more. Personally a tour with Slayer, Mercyful Fate, Danzig, Venom would be a dream come true! haha
8.brazil has always seemed to have a very strong and intense metal-scene. would you agree? what is your opinion of brazil's underground metal scene?
Yes, we’ve been a very active scene since a long. Thanks to the people who believed on it in such a sunny and carnival country. The cultural aspects here aren’t suitable for Metal at all. But we’re the resistance! I think we have a big amount of bands, but very few with something really interesting to show away! Also, bigmouthed people who talk only bullshit! But these assholes are living in their worthless commonplace. I don’t think it happens only in Brazil by the way, but the worldwide scene suffers from the same problem. But it’s more my point of view, perhaps...
9.who are some of your all-time favorite brazilian bands? are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?
My favorite brazilian bands are Sepultura, Sarcofago, Dorsal Atlântica and Vulcano! I like many others old bands, but I think these ones are the perfect representation of the best eras in brazilian underground! I like some new bands like Vulturine, Farscape, Osculum Obscenum, Luvart, Poisonous...
10.what does the term "underground metal" mean to you? i know over the years some have said the underground scene is dying or dead. would you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Underground is an alternative way to rape the morality in music and mainstream money talk! It can be weaker or stronger depending the time, but it will never die, as even the “biggers” search for refuge when their “success” is falling apart!
11.coming back to the band you handle the bass for the group. when did you start playing bass? who are your influences/favorite bassists?
I’m not a bassist. I’m a guitarist who tries to play bass! If you have the chance to see me alive, you’ll notice I play like if it’s a guitar, picking up and down savagery the lines! I used to be guitarist in GD, but when we departed F.Mordor, I gave the idea to Butcherazor (who composed most of the songs) play the guitar and voices, and I get the bass bulldozer instead. The things got really faster this way and we’ve no regret! I’m fan of bassists of course, like Steve Harris, Dan Lilker, Cronos and Lemmy!!!!!!!!
12. do you or any of the members of grave desecrator play in any other bands/projects? if yes please tell the readers a little about them.
Black Sin is playing a sort of evil hardcore project alongside M. Cativeiro. Only this!
13.when not working on new music for the band or filling out interviews.what do you enjoy doing in your spare-time?
I like to get out and drink with my close friends. Listening to music, reading and thinking!! I spend a lot of time thinking alone! Black Sin is married and have a son, so he works with computer and spend his time with his son and wife (no, he didn’t get married at a church, blaaaarrghhh!). Butcherazor spend a lot of time at some whorehouses and worthless cheap bars.. I used to do that, but I’m quite broke and old now, haha!
14.well vallakk we have reached the end of the interview. thank you for taking the time to fill out this interview. do you have any final comments for the readers?
I thank you a lot Patrick. The Brazilian Blackest Metal Massacre salute you! For all those in US interested to GD, please ask it for Hell´s Headbangers. In Europe, by ketzer rec.
www.myspace.com/gravedesecrator666
www.hellsheadbangers.com
www.ketzer-records.de
grave666desecrator@gmail.com
PO BOX 8018 Rio de Janeiro – RJ – 21032-970 - Brazil
interview with psycho done by patrick
morbid greetings!
i was lucky enough to get this promo {as well as interview!} of the singapore old-school blackend death/thrash metal band psycho. the band recently released their debut "pain addict pigs" through the mighty moribund rec. in the u.s if you enjoy the sounds of old-school metal with all the attitude,aggression. you must defintly check out psycho today!!
metal regards,
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
1.metal hails bryan! please tell the readers a little about yourself.
Hails! I am the founder/directer and lead guitar player of PSYCHO - the horror obsessed, sex driven and bloodthirsty band from Singapore.
2.when did you and the other members of psycho first meet? was it long until you decided to form psycho? what is the "current" line-up? for the readers who never heard psycho's music how would you describe it?
I formed PSYCHO in 2005, lead vocalist Penny Torture and i are relatives, drummer Kaz and i used to go to school together and I met bass player JY in 2006. JY joined the band the following year taking over bass duties ever since. Our early influences include Black Sabbath, Venom and Mercyful Fate. Over the years, we've gotten heavier, developing our sound and style - which is a mix of the heavy metal genre with distinct influences of black, death and thrash metal. We also have a very old-school vibe to our tunes with a sick groove.
3.the band recently released your debut cd "pain addict pigs"through moribund rec.how long did it take the band to write and record the songs for this release?
It took us about a year to write, and another 6 months to record.
4.are you and the rest of the band happy with how everything turned out? how has the response been from the fans and press?
Haa, yes most definitely, everything worked out well. We're pretty pleased with the whole production process and quality of the output. Horns up to Odin and Nathan of Moribund Records for believing in our music and style.
The response from both fans and press has been pretty positive so far. Everyone we've spoken too here is looking forward to what we're gonna do next.
5.when the band starts working on a new song how long does it usually take to complete? does the whole band work on the music or does 1-2 members handle everything?
I write the stuff first before taking it to the rest of the guys, so we'd have a basic idea and structure of what the songs should sound like. Individual parts would then be worked out around that. I don't like to rush the writing process, experimenting with various ideas for song structure, style and groove usually takes some time. I record everything i do and usually get the opinion from the rest of the band, to see if they dig it.
6.who usually handles the lyrics for the band? what are some subjects/topics you all write about?
Penny pens the band's lyrics. Sex, violence, death and the occult are prominent themes in our lyrics. We also have our own take on humanity and religion.
7.the band comes out of singapore's metal underground. for the readers who are not familiar with the metal scene there.what is your opinion of singapore's metal scene?
Singapore's metal scene is still a young and growing one. There isn't much of a real scene .. yet.
8.who are some of your all-time favorite bands from singapore? are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?
Impiety has been flying the flag for years now, wicked band with wicked tunes. Absence of the Sacred, Suicide Solution, Crucifixion, Sanity Obscure and Oshiego are some of the bands to keep a look out for.
9.does the band get to play live very often? who are some bands you have played with? are their alot of places in singapore for extreme metal bands to play?\
We've played alongside the above mentioned bands a couple of times over the years. There aren't many places for bands to play in general actually. There used to be quite a few, however perhaps the lack of location may have left organizers in a constant search for new places to hold shows. There are still a few shows here and there, but what serious bands here want to do, is play overseas.
10.in your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground? and what does the term "underground metal" mean to you?
The best thing about the underground is that you'd get some of the best metal there is … only if you can find or get your hands on it.
11.coming back to the band you handle guitars for the group.at what age did you begin playing the guitars? are you self-taught or have you taken lessons in the past?
I picked up guitar when i was 12 and i'm self-taught.
12.who would you say are some of your influences/favorite guitarist? do you play any other instruments?
Yea, synths and such. I do improv performances once in a while, on my own - gives me the opportunity to make a whole lotta noise. Ok back to guitar, i'd say Ritchie Blackmore when he was doing Deep Purple and Rainbow, a huge influence .. and i also really admire Trey's guitar playing.
13,well bryan thanks alot for taking the time to fill out this interview. do you have any final comments for the readers?
Cheers!
i was lucky enough to get this promo {as well as interview!} of the singapore old-school blackend death/thrash metal band psycho. the band recently released their debut "pain addict pigs" through the mighty moribund rec. in the u.s if you enjoy the sounds of old-school metal with all the attitude,aggression. you must defintly check out psycho today!!
metal regards,
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
1.metal hails bryan! please tell the readers a little about yourself.
Hails! I am the founder/directer and lead guitar player of PSYCHO - the horror obsessed, sex driven and bloodthirsty band from Singapore.
2.when did you and the other members of psycho first meet? was it long until you decided to form psycho? what is the "current" line-up? for the readers who never heard psycho's music how would you describe it?
I formed PSYCHO in 2005, lead vocalist Penny Torture and i are relatives, drummer Kaz and i used to go to school together and I met bass player JY in 2006. JY joined the band the following year taking over bass duties ever since. Our early influences include Black Sabbath, Venom and Mercyful Fate. Over the years, we've gotten heavier, developing our sound and style - which is a mix of the heavy metal genre with distinct influences of black, death and thrash metal. We also have a very old-school vibe to our tunes with a sick groove.
3.the band recently released your debut cd "pain addict pigs"through moribund rec.how long did it take the band to write and record the songs for this release?
It took us about a year to write, and another 6 months to record.
4.are you and the rest of the band happy with how everything turned out? how has the response been from the fans and press?
Haa, yes most definitely, everything worked out well. We're pretty pleased with the whole production process and quality of the output. Horns up to Odin and Nathan of Moribund Records for believing in our music and style.
The response from both fans and press has been pretty positive so far. Everyone we've spoken too here is looking forward to what we're gonna do next.
5.when the band starts working on a new song how long does it usually take to complete? does the whole band work on the music or does 1-2 members handle everything?
I write the stuff first before taking it to the rest of the guys, so we'd have a basic idea and structure of what the songs should sound like. Individual parts would then be worked out around that. I don't like to rush the writing process, experimenting with various ideas for song structure, style and groove usually takes some time. I record everything i do and usually get the opinion from the rest of the band, to see if they dig it.
6.who usually handles the lyrics for the band? what are some subjects/topics you all write about?
Penny pens the band's lyrics. Sex, violence, death and the occult are prominent themes in our lyrics. We also have our own take on humanity and religion.
7.the band comes out of singapore's metal underground. for the readers who are not familiar with the metal scene there.what is your opinion of singapore's metal scene?
Singapore's metal scene is still a young and growing one. There isn't much of a real scene .. yet.
8.who are some of your all-time favorite bands from singapore? are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?
Impiety has been flying the flag for years now, wicked band with wicked tunes. Absence of the Sacred, Suicide Solution, Crucifixion, Sanity Obscure and Oshiego are some of the bands to keep a look out for.
9.does the band get to play live very often? who are some bands you have played with? are their alot of places in singapore for extreme metal bands to play?\
We've played alongside the above mentioned bands a couple of times over the years. There aren't many places for bands to play in general actually. There used to be quite a few, however perhaps the lack of location may have left organizers in a constant search for new places to hold shows. There are still a few shows here and there, but what serious bands here want to do, is play overseas.
10.in your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground? and what does the term "underground metal" mean to you?
The best thing about the underground is that you'd get some of the best metal there is … only if you can find or get your hands on it.
11.coming back to the band you handle guitars for the group.at what age did you begin playing the guitars? are you self-taught or have you taken lessons in the past?
I picked up guitar when i was 12 and i'm self-taught.
12.who would you say are some of your influences/favorite guitarist? do you play any other instruments?
Yea, synths and such. I do improv performances once in a while, on my own - gives me the opportunity to make a whole lotta noise. Ok back to guitar, i'd say Ritchie Blackmore when he was doing Deep Purple and Rainbow, a huge influence .. and i also really admire Trey's guitar playing.
13,well bryan thanks alot for taking the time to fill out this interview. do you have any final comments for the readers?
Cheers!
interview with invasion done by patrick
here is a new interview i did with pete {a.ka. phlegm} of the mighty
u.s force invasion!!! the band recently released it's third-assult on
the masses "orchestrated kill maneuver" through the mighty rotting
corpse records.fans of straight-forward pure-death metal will worship
this force that mix old-school brutality with some newer elements.
keep the flames of metal burning bright!!!
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
Interview with Pete Clemens/Phlegm - guitars and vocals for Invasion; done by Patrick
1.metal hails Pete how are things going for you this week? Please tell the readers a little about yourself.
Phlegm: Hails brother! Happy New Year!!! The week has been very interesting to say the least!!! I’m a 41-year-old thrashing metal maniac who’s been into the metal underground since the mid 80’s. I’ve been playing music since 1985 and have had a blast doing it!!!
2.when did you first get into metal? who were some of the first bands you listened to? who are some of your "current" favorites?
Phlegm: I started listening to metal back when Black Sabbath & Ozzy split up. I picked up “Blizzard of Ozz” and was immediately hooked! Then I proceeded to hear of Iron Maiden and that just flattened my senses even more! Unbelievable stuff at the time! Finally I heard “Haunting the Chapel” by Slayer in 1984 and that was it. If it didn’t scream intensity I probably wouldn’t have listened to it after that. As for current favorites there are too many to list here but mostly the older stuff from my youth is what I’ve been hitting: Grave, Uncanny, Sacrifice, Infernal Majesty, Sodom, Kreator, Venom, Metal Church, Armoured Angel… the list goes on!!!
3.when did you guys get the idea to form "invasion"? what is the current line-up of the band? For the readers who have never heard the band how would you describe invasion's music?
Phlegm: I was in a band named Sea of Tranquillity with Crusader and we had just finished working on our debut album “The Omegan Ruins” and things had slowed to a crawl for that project. Work schedules and everything were getting in the way & one day at practice when the guitarist didn’t show up we started playing older Swedeath stuff from the early 90’s. After messing around with it we decided to record an 8 song demo which actually became our first album “Conquered” released on Hammerheart in Europe. As of today the line up consists of Crusader/drums, Warbastard/bass, new guitarist Stabhoth of Noctural Torment and myself, Phlegm/guitar/vocals. The INVASION sound has progressed but has always maintained the element of Scandinavian death metal in the guitar sounds and stylings. The vocals fluctuate from album to album in that I’ve changed my singing styles to fit the intensity of each album albeit something similar to Kreator/Sadus to the agony of Jorgen Sandstrom from Grave. Very intense musical barrage I think!
4.the band recently released it's debut cd "orchestrated kill maneuver" through rotting corpse records. How long did it take you guys to write/record the songs for the debut?
Phelgm: Yes, this is our first cd with this label but third release altogether. The first was “Conquered” released in 1999, 2nd was “Berserk Artillery Barrage” released in 2002 and finally Orchestrated in 2010. Most of the music was written between 2003 and 2005 but we decided to put the band on hold and deal with some of life’s unexpected issues. Crusader got very sick at one point and had to be hospitalized which delayed any rehearsals. After that things just slowed down. In 2008 we decided to see what was left to record and started practicing again to see if we had enough quality material to release the new album.
5.are you and the other members of invasion happy with how everything turned out? how has the response been from the press and fans?
Phlegm: As an artist there are always changes you’d like to hear but most are so small our audience would never know the difference to what we’d been searching for. The reviews for this album have been spectacular!!! Almost everyone thinks this is our best release to date, but you still have those die hards who believe “Conquered” is the only thing we should have released, haha!!! And good for them! I’m that way too when it comes to some of my fav bands!!!
6.has the band gotten to play many live shows or small tours in support of the debut cd? do you enjoy playing live or do you prefer to work in the studio?
Phlegm: No, we haven’t had the opportunity to do many shows. I think we’ve only done a handful in our existence since 1999. Between work, family & other obligations we don’t have the time or the financial resources to set up a small tour. Lately my preference (although my band members may disagree) is to set up in the studio and blast away!!! I enjoy sitting behind the console with a producer and finding those sounds that will eliminate the enemy!!!
7.who are some bands you all have played/toured with? if you could set-up a "dream" show/tour who are some bands you would love to tour/play with?
Phlegm: We’ve done shows with local bands like Nocturnal Torment, Skullview & Psychomancer. One of the best shows we’ve done was with Belgiums Enthroned in Chicago! Very good show & great turn out!!! I think if we’d have a dream tour you’d need to transport us back to 1995 and let us join the likes of Grave, Uncanny, Dismember/Carnage on stage! That would be a riot!!! I know there are probably 80 bands I’d kill to tour with but will go with that right now!
8.have you guys had time to start writing for the next invasion release? how many songs do you plan to have on it? how would you say the music is different from the debut "orchestrated kill maneuver"?
Phlegm: Yes, we have 3 songs worked out already for the new album and they are in the same vein as the OKM recordings. Why mess with something that isn’t broke? If you listen to each album you’ll be able to hear the progression musically as some of the songs off the first album (Conquered) were actually written back in 1990 and didn’t see the light of day until it’s official release in 1999.
9.when you all begin working on a new song does the whole band work on the music or does 1-2 members handle it all?
Phlegm: Normally Crusader and I conjure up all the music/lyrics and we bring in the brothers to fill out the sounds. The other guys write and record in separate bands (Warbastard plays in Skullview & Stabhoth plays in Nocturnal Torment) so we tend to incorporate their ideas only in structuring, although at times some of their riffs may infiltrate one or two songs.
10.which usually comes first the music or the lyrics? the band/lyrics seem to be based around war. when did you become interested in reading/studying about war? is their one particular war or time in history that you base the lyrics around?
Phlegm: The music is always written first. We iron out all the structures & changes and then add lyrics/vocal ideas to the mix. The basis of our three albums has been on World War 2, but I think on the next release we will either try something different lyrically with the US Civil War in 1865 or perhaps the Korean Conflict. There are a plethora of ideas to choose from when it comes to lyrics because every conflict and battle is different if you really look close at them.
11.i know this will seem like a joke question but i promise you it's not. but do you think their will ever be world-peace? it seems like they get close then some nutcase goes and fucks it up.
Phlegm: No. Won’t happen. Too much going on behind the scenes for that to take place and I note the basics behind it: Big Business & Big Money.
12.coming back to the band you handle the guitars for the band when did you become interested in playing the guitars? are you self-taught or have you taken lessons?
Phlegm: I started taking guitar lessons when I was 10 or 11. That was essentially the only instrument I ever actually tried to learn. I played guitar for roughly 2 years and ended up switching to bass when I joined my first band, Shades of Grey from Michigan City, Indiana.
13.who are some of your influences/favorite guitarists? besides guitars do you play any other instruments?
Phlegm: Yes I play bass & that is my main instrument. I play guitar for rehearsal & studio recordings only so you won’t catch me playing live anytime soon.
14.besides the guitars you also handle the vocal duties for the band. when did you first start singing? who are some of your favorite
singers? do you do anything special to keep your throat/voice healthy?
Phlegm: The first band I started singing with was Shades of Grey and my main influences were the guys from Kreator, Sacrifice & Sadus. Over the years I’ve encompassed gutturals from death metal but I think I try and maintain a steady balance. As for keeping my voice healthy I don’t do anything. I just try and sing with a vicious attack & make it brutal.
15.what does the term underground metal mean to you? i know in the past few years i have heard some the underground scene is dying or dead would you agree with this?
Phlegm: No, there will always be an underground but it’s changed since the formative years. Emails & texts have replaced snail mail & the like. I know of 5 or 6 very good local bands who use the web with increasing efficiency to spread their name & that’s what’s important. I think as long as the music exists there will always be an underground.
16.well pete we have reached the end. thank you for taking the time to fill it out. do you have any final comments for the readers?
Phlegm: Thank you for the interview!! If you get the chance checkout our new release on Rotting Corpse Records titled INVASION – Orchestrated Kill Maneuver and prepare for total war!!!!!
keep the flames of metal burning bright!!!
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
Interview with Pete Clemens/Phlegm - guitars and vocals for Invasion; done by Patrick
1.metal hails Pete how are things going for you this week? Please tell the readers a little about yourself.
Phlegm: Hails brother! Happy New Year!!! The week has been very interesting to say the least!!! I’m a 41-year-old thrashing metal maniac who’s been into the metal underground since the mid 80’s. I’ve been playing music since 1985 and have had a blast doing it!!!
2.when did you first get into metal? who were some of the first bands you listened to? who are some of your "current" favorites?
Phlegm: I started listening to metal back when Black Sabbath & Ozzy split up. I picked up “Blizzard of Ozz” and was immediately hooked! Then I proceeded to hear of Iron Maiden and that just flattened my senses even more! Unbelievable stuff at the time! Finally I heard “Haunting the Chapel” by Slayer in 1984 and that was it. If it didn’t scream intensity I probably wouldn’t have listened to it after that. As for current favorites there are too many to list here but mostly the older stuff from my youth is what I’ve been hitting: Grave, Uncanny, Sacrifice, Infernal Majesty, Sodom, Kreator, Venom, Metal Church, Armoured Angel… the list goes on!!!
3.when did you guys get the idea to form "invasion"? what is the current line-up of the band? For the readers who have never heard the band how would you describe invasion's music?
Phlegm: I was in a band named Sea of Tranquillity with Crusader and we had just finished working on our debut album “The Omegan Ruins” and things had slowed to a crawl for that project. Work schedules and everything were getting in the way & one day at practice when the guitarist didn’t show up we started playing older Swedeath stuff from the early 90’s. After messing around with it we decided to record an 8 song demo which actually became our first album “Conquered” released on Hammerheart in Europe. As of today the line up consists of Crusader/drums, Warbastard/bass, new guitarist Stabhoth of Noctural Torment and myself, Phlegm/guitar/vocals. The INVASION sound has progressed but has always maintained the element of Scandinavian death metal in the guitar sounds and stylings. The vocals fluctuate from album to album in that I’ve changed my singing styles to fit the intensity of each album albeit something similar to Kreator/Sadus to the agony of Jorgen Sandstrom from Grave. Very intense musical barrage I think!
4.the band recently released it's debut cd "orchestrated kill maneuver" through rotting corpse records. How long did it take you guys to write/record the songs for the debut?
Phelgm: Yes, this is our first cd with this label but third release altogether. The first was “Conquered” released in 1999, 2nd was “Berserk Artillery Barrage” released in 2002 and finally Orchestrated in 2010. Most of the music was written between 2003 and 2005 but we decided to put the band on hold and deal with some of life’s unexpected issues. Crusader got very sick at one point and had to be hospitalized which delayed any rehearsals. After that things just slowed down. In 2008 we decided to see what was left to record and started practicing again to see if we had enough quality material to release the new album.
5.are you and the other members of invasion happy with how everything turned out? how has the response been from the press and fans?
Phlegm: As an artist there are always changes you’d like to hear but most are so small our audience would never know the difference to what we’d been searching for. The reviews for this album have been spectacular!!! Almost everyone thinks this is our best release to date, but you still have those die hards who believe “Conquered” is the only thing we should have released, haha!!! And good for them! I’m that way too when it comes to some of my fav bands!!!
6.has the band gotten to play many live shows or small tours in support of the debut cd? do you enjoy playing live or do you prefer to work in the studio?
Phlegm: No, we haven’t had the opportunity to do many shows. I think we’ve only done a handful in our existence since 1999. Between work, family & other obligations we don’t have the time or the financial resources to set up a small tour. Lately my preference (although my band members may disagree) is to set up in the studio and blast away!!! I enjoy sitting behind the console with a producer and finding those sounds that will eliminate the enemy!!!
7.who are some bands you all have played/toured with? if you could set-up a "dream" show/tour who are some bands you would love to tour/play with?
Phlegm: We’ve done shows with local bands like Nocturnal Torment, Skullview & Psychomancer. One of the best shows we’ve done was with Belgiums Enthroned in Chicago! Very good show & great turn out!!! I think if we’d have a dream tour you’d need to transport us back to 1995 and let us join the likes of Grave, Uncanny, Dismember/Carnage on stage! That would be a riot!!! I know there are probably 80 bands I’d kill to tour with but will go with that right now!
8.have you guys had time to start writing for the next invasion release? how many songs do you plan to have on it? how would you say the music is different from the debut "orchestrated kill maneuver"?
Phlegm: Yes, we have 3 songs worked out already for the new album and they are in the same vein as the OKM recordings. Why mess with something that isn’t broke? If you listen to each album you’ll be able to hear the progression musically as some of the songs off the first album (Conquered) were actually written back in 1990 and didn’t see the light of day until it’s official release in 1999.
9.when you all begin working on a new song does the whole band work on the music or does 1-2 members handle it all?
Phlegm: Normally Crusader and I conjure up all the music/lyrics and we bring in the brothers to fill out the sounds. The other guys write and record in separate bands (Warbastard plays in Skullview & Stabhoth plays in Nocturnal Torment) so we tend to incorporate their ideas only in structuring, although at times some of their riffs may infiltrate one or two songs.
10.which usually comes first the music or the lyrics? the band/lyrics seem to be based around war. when did you become interested in reading/studying about war? is their one particular war or time in history that you base the lyrics around?
Phlegm: The music is always written first. We iron out all the structures & changes and then add lyrics/vocal ideas to the mix. The basis of our three albums has been on World War 2, but I think on the next release we will either try something different lyrically with the US Civil War in 1865 or perhaps the Korean Conflict. There are a plethora of ideas to choose from when it comes to lyrics because every conflict and battle is different if you really look close at them.
11.i know this will seem like a joke question but i promise you it's not. but do you think their will ever be world-peace? it seems like they get close then some nutcase goes and fucks it up.
Phlegm: No. Won’t happen. Too much going on behind the scenes for that to take place and I note the basics behind it: Big Business & Big Money.
12.coming back to the band you handle the guitars for the band when did you become interested in playing the guitars? are you self-taught or have you taken lessons?
Phlegm: I started taking guitar lessons when I was 10 or 11. That was essentially the only instrument I ever actually tried to learn. I played guitar for roughly 2 years and ended up switching to bass when I joined my first band, Shades of Grey from Michigan City, Indiana.
13.who are some of your influences/favorite guitarists? besides guitars do you play any other instruments?
Phlegm: Yes I play bass & that is my main instrument. I play guitar for rehearsal & studio recordings only so you won’t catch me playing live anytime soon.
14.besides the guitars you also handle the vocal duties for the band. when did you first start singing? who are some of your favorite
singers? do you do anything special to keep your throat/voice healthy?
Phlegm: The first band I started singing with was Shades of Grey and my main influences were the guys from Kreator, Sacrifice & Sadus. Over the years I’ve encompassed gutturals from death metal but I think I try and maintain a steady balance. As for keeping my voice healthy I don’t do anything. I just try and sing with a vicious attack & make it brutal.
15.what does the term underground metal mean to you? i know in the past few years i have heard some the underground scene is dying or dead would you agree with this?
Phlegm: No, there will always be an underground but it’s changed since the formative years. Emails & texts have replaced snail mail & the like. I know of 5 or 6 very good local bands who use the web with increasing efficiency to spread their name & that’s what’s important. I think as long as the music exists there will always be an underground.
16.well pete we have reached the end. thank you for taking the time to fill it out. do you have any final comments for the readers?
Phlegm: Thank you for the interview!! If you get the chance checkout our new release on Rotting Corpse Records titled INVASION – Orchestrated Kill Maneuver and prepare for total war!!!!!
interview with metal-core zine done by patrick
best regards,
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
Interview with chris forbes editor of metal-core fan/web-zine done by patrick
Patrick: Metal hails Chris! How are things going in New Jersey this week? Please tell the readers a little about yourself.
CF: Things are cold here in NJ as it is the middle of February. My 4 month year old daughter kept me awake last night so i got about 2 hours sleep, but I took a nap earlier and I am good to go now. I am a 45 year old male, who has been in to the underground since around 1983 and in 1986 I took the plunge and started my own fanzine called Metal Core, which believe it or not I still do today! I put out 30 print issues and then in 2000 I went to an all internet format and on my website you will find interviews with bands, past and present, and record labels and other zine editors, etc. There is also reviews on there and my reviews are no holds barred. If I love a band I will worship them, but if I hate a band they best prepare for a trashing.
Patrick: At what age did you discover metal? Who were some of the early bands you listened to? Who are some of your "current"favorites?
CF: I would say I discovered metal, at least heavy metal around 1978 or 1979, when Black Sabbath came into my life. Albums like "Never Say Die, "Sabatage" and then when Ozyy left and started doing is solo stuff and Dio joining Sabbath only made me seek out more. Then I discovered Motorhead "Ace of Spades" and this lead to 1983 and then Metallica 'Kill Em All" and oh my god I was hooked. I started reading about more bands, bands like Diamond Head, the whole NWOBHM, Venom and of course Slayer. From there I started reading Kerrang and Metal Forces and started going to a store called "Rock N Roll Heaven" in Clark, NJ where I discovered actual fanzines like Kick Ass Monthly, which still to this day is the greatest fanzine I have ever read ever. Bob Muldowney RIP my man your zine ruled.
Patrick: I believe you started Metal-Core Fanzine back in 1986!! When did you get the idea to create the zine? How did you come up with the name for the zine?
CF: Around 1985 when I was going to shows in Phila, PA at the Empire Rock Room I started buying a fanzine called Total Thrash, which was a local zine put out by Scott Helig. He was asking for people to write some shows reviews and reviews, so I started sending him some stuff and after like 2 or 3 issues, because I was sending him so much stuff, he suggested I start my own zine. I took that as a bit of challenge and because I was so into this new style of music, I decided to go for it and released my first issue in late 1986. It was half-size and I made only 150 copies and sold them for a dollar. In it I interviewed a couple local bands, did some reviews of stuff I had brought and had some zine ads. In this issue I did a review of Slayer's new album, Reign in Blood. Wow coming up on 25 years of me doing the zine. As far as the name goes, in 1985 the bands Overkill and SOD (Stormtroopers of Death) did a 7 date tour of the East Coast, including a show I saw at City Gardens, NJ, which I was at. In a local music weekly, there was an ad for the 7 shows and the add dubbed the tour the Metal Core tour, being that Overkill was metal and SOD was a combo of both. I saw the ad and thought that would be a great name for my zine and you have to remember at this time the whole crossover scene was big, with bands like The Crumbsuckers, SOD, Agnostic Front, The Cromags, DRI, etc.
Patrick: I got into the underground {demo's.zines,etc..} metal-scene myself in 1993-94. So i was curious who were some of your favorite zines back in the mid-80's? Was their any particular state in the US that had an amazing scene that stuck out? What about world-wide metal scene was their any countries you felt had the strongest metal scene?
CF: Some of my favorite zines back in the day were Kick Ass Monthly, Total Thrash, Voices From The Underground, Morbid Mag, Slayer Mag, Blackthorn, Screams From The Gutter, Disorder, Ripping Headaches, Book of Armegeddon, No Glam Fags, Suburban Voice, Bloodshed, Subversive Agenda, Curious Goods, and I am sure there are many, many more that I can't remember anymore. I used to trade with tons of zines back in the day and we would stuff each others letters and packages with ads for other zines and bands and that is how you would discover maybe a new band or zine and then you would be off writing them a letter asking for a demo or to trade zines. The scene was so united back then, those were great times. When I would get a new copy of zine in the mail, I would digest it from reading it from cover to cover, which even with the computer and the internet stuff, unless you were there, a print zine was the best. I miss the days of print zines big time. There was much more closeness with everybody back then too. As far as states, back in the mid 80's I was big time into the whole Bay Area thrash scene. Fuckin Exodus, Heathen, Death Angel, Violence, Forbidden, Dark Angel, Slayer, Metallica, That area was awesome and another was NY with the whole hardcore thing with Nuclear Assault, Carnivore, Agnostic Front, The Cromags and going to Lamour's in Brooklyn, NY for tons of shows in the 80's and also City Gardens in Trenton, NJ.
Patrick: What is it about the underground metal-scene that has kept you motivated to keep metal-core fan/webzine going for all of these years? When did you decide to move metal-core from a "print" version to the net?
CF: Even after 25 years I still get a thrill hearing a new band that gets my neck going. I still love going to my PO BOX and hoping there is some CDs there to review. Or when I get the new issue of Snakepit and sit down and spend 2 hours reading the great interviews he has in his issues. That, by the way, is my favorite print zine right now, Snakepit. I still enjoy reviewing new bands and older bands new releases and going to concerts. I just saw Gama Bomb with Overkill a few weeks back and that was a great show as Gama Bomb is one of the newer bands I like a lot and Overkill is still kickin ass and "Ironbound" is one of their best releases and they keep the old thrash metal flame burning bright. I do admit I miss the closeness and stuff of the old days, but I have moved on from that and it is no use going back to the "good ole days" and I just accept that this is the scene today and most of it is internet oriented. I will say there is more bad bands than good, but when I hear Gama Bomb or Black Witchery putting a smile on my face, that is all I need. I decided to move to the zine to the internet around 2000. I was gonna do both and just have some interviews "exclusive" to the website and at this time my zine was on newsprint and I was printing 10,000 of them and the zine was free. I was getting rid of over 1000 at Vintage Vinyl alone and I did 6 issues in newsprint and got rid of all 10,000 copies I printed. Anyway when i was putting together issue 31, I was having a tough time getting ads for the zine. At this time a lot of zines were either folding or going to an on-line format and with the past 6 issues, the ads were paying for the cost of the zine and I was breaking even, which was all I wanted to do. Well like I said I was having a hard time getting ads and I wasn't gonna go back to a xerox format so I decided to pack in the print form and just do a on-line zine. It was a very tough decision to do for me and I to this day, still miss having an actual issue in my hands. When I would get an issue back from the printers I would look through it and stuff and yeah it is cool when a new set of reviews go up and new interviews go up, but they will never replace the print version of my zine. I actually did finish issue 31 of my zine and I might, and my webmaster is also pushing for this, for me to release issue # 31 on my site. My webmaster said he can make it so it reads like a mag and you can turn the pages. If I do I will release with all the ads and all. Time will tell.
Patrick: I have always admired your ability to write long,in-depth interviews keeping them informative and interesting. When you begin on a interview how long does it usually take you to complete one? Do you have a certain limit of questions you ask or do you just work until you feel it is finished?
CF: If I am going to send a band an email interview that I am not toally familiar with, like say I got a demo from them and like enough to do an interview, I will go to their website and see if I can find any interesting information on them to make the interview better. Of course what makes a great interview instead of just a good one is if the person answering the questions give you some long and interesting answers. I try not ask the same questions to ever band over and over and obviously if is a band that has been around awhile or a record label I will try and ask them some questions like how is it to run a label and maybe some advice to somebody who wants to start up a label, etc. People don't give a rat's ass about influences and stuff like that anymore. I try and do interviews not just for my information, but from a fan's perspective, cause in the end that is what I am a fan too. Some interviews question take longer than others and again I have to be in the right frame of mind with no distractions when I am sending out questions to the interviewer. I don't really have a limit, but I don't think a band would be to into it if I send them a 65 question interview ha ha. Maybe some bands would answer it, but not many I am sure. A phone interview they would, but god imagine transcribing that puppy. I know Laurent at Snakepit has interviews like that. Wish I had the time, but 2 four month year old daughters take care of that for me he he.
Patrick: Who have been some of your favorite bands, labels, ppl. to interview over the years? Is their any certain person you have not had the chance to interview that you would love to get the chance to interview them?
CF: Some of my favorite bands I have interviewed over the years would be, Nucelar Asasault, Slayer, Anthrax, Savage Death, Possessed, Dark Angel, Violence, Exodus, Celtic Frost, Saxon, Brian Slagel from Metal Blade Records, Monte Conner from Roadracer Records, when they were at their peak, I have a great interview with Area Records that should be up on my site by the time you read this, The Mentors as El Duce was a riot on the phone, Kreator, Destruction, Snakepit zine, etc. I could go on for hours. I would love to interview Muncipal Waste and when their next cd comes out I am gonna try to make that happen. Would love to interview Slayer again as i did my interview with them when South of Heaven came out. Also to make my life complete, an interview with my favorite band of all time, AC/DC would be a fuckin all time high for me.
Patrick: What do you feel makes a good/special zine? {whether it be a fan or web} If anyone reading this is thinking of starting up their own metal zine do you have any advice to share with them?
CF: Way back in the day you had zines from all over and I would say most if not all just told how they felt about a particular band. I don't think many zine editors back in the day were afraid to shred a band because they didn't like them. I know I didn't. When I first started the zine I was strictly interviewing bands and I forget how or why, but I had become friends with Monte Conner over at Roadracer and he invited me to come up to see him in his offices up in NYC and when i was up there it dawned on me how much work went into making a label run and I asked him if I could interview him. At first he was like why me, and I said cause it will make for a great interview. He gave long answers to my questions and it was just cool and different not reading another interview with say Slayer or Anthrax or some generic death metal band talking about how they were influenced by the 1st Death album or each band claiming to be more evil than Slayer or faster than this band or that band. After that I tried to include at least one interview in each issue that was non band, whether it was a label or zine or even a female dancer as i did an interview with Felicia the Grimoire Girl in issue # 27 and I just posted a video of her I found from the 1999 Milwaukee Metalfest with her dancing with the Deathkids in a bikini thong!!! She I must say struts around pretty good in her high heel boots he he. If you go to You Tube and type in Felicia in Bikini Thong I am sure the video will pop up ha ha. My best piece of advice if your going to start a zine, BE HONEST!!! If something sucks, it sucks, but explain why it sucks. Whether it is some band sounding like a 10th rate Suffocation or Cannibal Corpse clone, or that you hate the singer cause he screeches and it not brutal, etc. I hate the clear singing female thing in metal noa and all the deathcore singing and happy thrash bands. When I get stuff like that I butcher them to death. It is not a personal attack on the band or label, but if I say i don't like something, you need to at least explain why. Your readers and the label that sent you a promo, you at least owe them that. You can't just say, "oh I hate this, it sucks" and that be your whole review. Now on the other hand, if you love something or even like it, you can explain that. Whether it was a killer riff that got your neck moving or you playing air drums or had you out of your chair moshing around your room. Just be honest in your reviews and you can't go wrong. At first you might have to review some things you brought, I did that early on, and then before long the promos will come rolling in. Contact labels and send them a link your webzine or blog and most will start sending you promos. Don't be afraid of trashing their bands cause they might stop sending promos, if they do that, i say fuck em. Honesty is the best policy. Your readers will thank you and in the end they will keep coming back tour page and also try to include contact info in the review, even if you trashed the band. As far as interviews go, just try to make the questions interesting and you'll learn from your mistakes and make sure you get a couple pics to go with your interviews. If anybody wants any other advice or anything else feel free to email me and if you think doing the zine will be too much by yourself, see if you can find a buddy or somebody to help out with your zine. Just remember, above all, be honest.
Patrick: If any bands labels are reading this and are interested what styles of metal do you cover? Are their any styles you hate or refuse to review?
CF: I consider myself pretty open minded. I mean I like death, black and thrash metal and also jazz stuff like Pat Methany to The Jazzmasters to top 40 stuff from the 70's and rock n roll as well. As far as what styles I cover, it is pretty much anything that falls under the metal, hardcore, punk, or rock n roll umbrealla. If something is sent to me via the regular mail it gets a review no questions asked. I am getting a ton of digital promos to review, and I can't review them all as their just isn't time for me to do that as I work a full time job, go to the gym, have a wife and now 2 kids. I do try to review most of the stuff I get digital wise. If a band or label sends me an actual CD to review, it gets reviewed no questions asked. I would say if I got a country or a rap CD to review, i would put the CD back in the package and send it back. I hate country, and hate rap music even more. Some 70's dance and disco stuff I like, but rap is a waste or my time and should be taken out in a back yard and buried, but that stuff sells by the bucket load. Why I don't know it is just some guy rapping into a mic with some god awful music playing, usually superfical too. Fuckin junk.
Patrick: Besides the zine i know back in the 80's/90's you also owned/ran Metal-Core Distribution. Is this still up and running? If yes where can the readers find a current list of merchandise?
CF: No unfor it isn't. I still sell stuff on occassion like I did at a local death metal fest that was in Phila, PA last year and probably will do it again in August of this year. Labels I will sell your stuff at the show, get in touch we can work something out. I do now manage a band called Necrodemon, who play a brual, punishing slab of old schoo, death/black metal, you can check em out at"
www.metalcorefanzine.com/Necro
www.myspace.com/Necrodemon
Patrick: I know you have been a part of the underground metal scene for well over twenty years now. How do you feel the scene has changed over the years? Also i know some people say the "underground scene" is dying or dead would you agree or disagree with this statement?
CF: The scene has changed in many ways. The biggest is easily the internet. I mean you can play a live show and a few hours later one of your songs from your set can be up on You Tube. Or your whole set. Heck how many old videos from back in the day are up there. I have seen almost the whole set Slayer did at The Ritz in NYC from 1986 up there and good quality too. Back in the day you would have to dub VHS tapes (an oldie term ha ha) with a buddy or go throw VHS tape list and stuff. Same thing with demos, as back in the 80's, you would go and trade demos with people by looking at their lists and then they would go and dub the stuff you wanted on a 60 min or 90 min cassette tape. Those were some crazy days. Of course who could forget about stuffing various flyers for bands and zines when you would mail out stuff. I would have piles of that stuff on my desk and when sending out an order I would stuff the envelopes with flyers for other zines and bands. It would be nuts getting various flyers in the mail and passing them around. Also when you would go to shows back in the day, usually you would get a local band handing you out flyers for an upcoming show they were playing and I used to stand outside as people were leaving trying to get them to buy my zine ha ha. Now obviously with sites like My Space, Facebook and even a bands own website it is easier to spread the word about your band also you have various sites that have metal forums and stuff and you have places were you can download music and stuff. The negative thing I see about that is, I think kids will want music just for free and just download the music onto their Ipod or stuff. I still want the CD, with the cover art, the lyrics, etc. I still love going up to Vintage Vinyl and buying CDs. I will say I think there is way too many bad bands out there and it makes it harder for the good bands to get noticed as it is hard for them to get any attention when there is so many bad bands out there. As far as the scene dying, I don't see that. I saw Slayer, Megedeth and Testament last summer here in NJ and there was over 8,000 people there. The Maryland DeathFest in Maryland draws huge crowds ever year. I am sure some places metal has died out or doesn't have a big sceve, but it is far from dying. Shit look at all the bands on My Space, that is unreal. I saw Overkill in NJ a few months ago and the place was packed as packed could be.
Patrick: I guess I should have mixed this in the last question but obviously the biggest change within the underground scene is creation of computers/internet. what is your opinion of the internet in the underground? Do you feel it has helped or hurt the overall scene?
CF: My opinion of the internet is the underground is mixed. Obviously it is easier and faster to get your music out there and stuff with the creation of such sites as My Space, Facebook and other social networks. On the other hand you have way too many bands out there playing the same redundunt shit over and over. If I hear another happy thrash metal band I'll punk. Or that fuckin weak ass deathcore crap with the shouted vocals. That fuckin music my friends is nothing but fuckin garbage. Job For A Cowboy, Five Fingers Of Death and all the bands that sound like them are completely worthless and any fans of those bands and bands like them, need to wake up and smell the coffee. Yeah compare those bands to Kreator, Destruction, Dark Angel and I could go on and on. There is way too many of these nu/jump metal bands on My Space that all have 1000's of so called "friends" when in reality they couldn't sell 2000 records. I do have a My Space and Facebook pages and I do need them to promote the site, but yeah in some ways I wish it was back in the mid 80's and early 90's, but you got to move on. On the plus side of things, i have re-contacted with many old friends from back in the day, so that is cool and hopefully some of these young kids will read about bands like Celtic Frost, Sodom, Vader, Immolation and stuff and seek out their music. I hope so. Also another plus is now I can send out email interviews and the band answers them back and all you have to do is put an intro to it and do a spell check and then you can go post it. No more having to type or transcribe interviews like the good ole days he he. Used to type my old interviews on a word processor, does anybody remember those ha ha?!!!
Patrick: I might be wrong but I believe you have done everything{interviews,reviews,articles} in Metal-Core since the very beginning. Have you ever looked for more "writers" or do you prefer to work alone?
CF: I have done everything on my own and prefer it that way. I don't want to sound arrogant cause that is the last thing I am, but I figure, it has my name on it and stuff so why not do it all by myself. When I was younger I had no problem writing letters and doing reviews as I lived alone and worked the night shift at work, so I would get up in the morning go to the gym and then come home and answer mail and do reviews and go to work. Now again with the internet it is easier to send out interviews via email instead of having to transcribe or type them as I said above, which saves on time, which is precious to me since I am now married and have 2 little beautiful girls to raise.
Patrick: When the day comes that you decide to put Metal-Core to rest for good. {hopefully not for a few years!!} How would you like yourself and Metal-Core zine be remembered?
CF: To be remembered as somebody who way back in the day was a fan of this music and just decided to put out a music fanzine to help spread and support bands that I liked. For somebody who was honest in his reviews of bands and that I hope people enjoyed reading my reviews and interviews. To this day, I don't think I am anybody special, I am just a fan of this music who happens to do a metal based website to help and support bands, labels and other zines. I currently have no plans to shut down Metal Core anytime soon neither.
Patrick: In your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground today and what does the term "underground metal" mean to you?
CF: Well here I am almost 27 years since I first heard "Kill Em All" by Metallica and the best thing about the underground is all the fans, bands, other zine editors, record label people, publicity people etc that I have met and dealt with over the years. All the great bands that have released their incredible music that I have enjoyed over and over and have filled my walkman, and now Ipod, which I use to work out at the gym and have blasted from my car CD player and my CD player at home for almost 30 years now. For all the countless times I have slam danced and staged dived at concerts. The countless zine editors that I have traded zines with and have filled my waking hours reading their interviews and their reviews on stuff, whether I agreed with it or not. That is the best thing I can say is all the countless memories I have had meeting bands and other zine editors at metalfests and what not. The underground has been a big part of my life and will continue to be part of it I hope for a long time to come.
The worst part is all these 6th rate nu metal/jump metal bands thinking they are death metal, when your not even close to being a real death metal band. Way too many shitty bands in the underground now, it makes it extra hard for the good bands to get noticed. Lots of shitty black metal bands putting on corpse paint and just playing fast with no feeling thinking they are "true black metal" Ha, they wouldn't know "true black metal" if it came and spit them in their face. Also way too many gore/grind bands that just sound like a 10th rate Cannibal Corpse and all these gore bands that sound like a 10th rate Suffocation clone band with their super low cup the mic style and those awful fake tin can sounding blast beats, those are so far from being real blast beats it isn't funny. Uh want a blast beat, Try Morbid Angel. Back in the day, you didn't have as many bands and the great bands stood out, now with so many labels and bands, it makes it hard to find the good to great bands, when there is so much crap out there. I get so many digital promos now it isn't even funny. God way too many releases are being put out, many beyond bad. I couldn't imagine being a 20 year old kid and trying to sort through all that stuff to find a good band. There is still plenty of good and some great bands out there. I fuckin hate deathcore vocals and I hate bands that do the "clean" vocal style and mix it in with "death metal" vocals, that is fuckin crap.
Patrick: Well Chris we have reached the end of the interview. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to fill this out. Do you have any final comments?
CF: Wow Patrick I am flattered you would want to interview me, so a horns up for that. You asked some great questions and I hope I gave you some interesting answers. Sorry for the delay in getting this to you, as I don't go on My Space much anymore, but here it is and I hope you can still use it. Any bands that would be interested in sending me some stuff to review, my address will be below. Also any zines, I'd love to trade links and what not and I always like to check out new zines, so point me in your direction. Patrick, again mega thanks for doing this interview with me, it was fun being on the other end of the spectrum so to speak. If anybody wants to get in touch with me for any reason, my address and website info is below and horns up for heavy and keep it heavy....metal till death....
www.metalcorefanzine.com
www.myspace.com/metalcorefanzine
www.facebook.com/metalcorefanzine
Metal Core c/o Chris Forbes PO BOX 622 Marlton, NJ 08053 USA
