Interview with Jim guitarist of Solium Fatalis done by Patrick
1.Hello Jim how are you doing today please introduce yourself to the readers?
Spectacular. I'm Jim Gregory, guitarist, writer, producer, travel agent, gimmick procurement specialist of Solium Fatalis.
2.When did you first start listening to metal music and who were the first bands you heard? Who are some of your current favorite bands?
I first started listening to heavy metal in 1980's when I was but a wee lad and knee high to a grasshopper but I knew I liked two things, hot ladies and metal and one of those things actually liked me back....sadly it wasn't the ladies. So I started rocking out to quite the eclectic group of bands. Celtic Frost, Butthole Surfers, Exodus, The Dead Milkmen, Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies, and then once the 90's hit and death metal started to really get a foothold it was Entombed, Morbid Angel, Death, Monstrosity, etc etc. NOW I listen to a huge variety of bands but my favorites are Paradise Lost, Cryptopsy, Beyond Creation, The Absence, Aborted, Abysmal Dawn (Can you tell I'm scrolling down my iTunes alphabetically?) Tritptykon, Dark Fortress, CHTHE'ILIST, Solstice, Unflesh, Sorcerer, so many bands I like but I'll stop there....
3.You started Solium Fatalis in 2012 what gave you all the idea to start this band? And how did you choose Solium Fatalis as the name of the band does it have a special meaning?
Due to my job I lived in Tampa Florida for 12 years and had tried for most of the entire time I was there to form a band, and to get something going but their music scene sucks donkey balls. I couldn't get any of those fools to try to be in a band with me or even listen to my music. That turned out to benefit me though as it built up years of anger and frustration with indecisive flakey overly dramatic douche bags who imitate playing music while the rest of the world creates it and moves forward...so by the time my job moved me to New Hampshire I was good and pissed off, older, and ready to make something to say FUCK YOU to all those guys that wouldn't give me an opportunity. Solium Fatalis was born. The rest.....is history. Anyway, the band name means Fated/Deadly Throne and the reason we like it was because Seth Siro from Septicflesh(who did the first album's artwork and layout) told us it was awesome so we kept it. Whammy.
4.What is the current line up of the band?And for the readers who have never heard Solium Fatalis how do you feel the bands style has evolved over the years?
Jeff Demarco Bass/Vocals, Jim Gregory and Ryan Beevers on Guitars, and Jeff "Manbearpig" Saltzman on drums. We plan on keeping it this way too because line up changes blow. Evolved as in the July 10th 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial? I suppose I can't answer that question since I don't really dabble in science. The fans will have to listen to those albums and goddammit, read the fucking lyrics.
5.Genetically Engineered To Enslave is the bands fourth full length release how long did it take the band to write the music for the new release? How long does it usually take the band to complete one song?
This one took 2.5 years total time we wrote 18 tracks and then reduced it to the 10 best ones. Cuz' 8 of them sucked ass. Trust us. Ryan and I can write a song in 30 mins if we're properly motivated(girls and beer) and sometimes we can whack away at ourselves for a week or so in total frustration depending on the song.
6.I believe i read that the new release is a concept release what gave you all the idea to write a concept album? What is the concept based on?
I know that reading is hard nowadays with the quick fix of youtube and Wikipedia explaining the entire human consciousness to you when the TV isn't, but if I told you that would be cheating. It IS a loose concept but you gotta read the lyrics. I'm not fucking making it easy on anyone, lazy bastards
7.As mentioned Genetically Engineered To Enslave is a concept release are the bands previous releases also concept albums or is this bands first one?
The second album was also a loose concept record but no one read the goddamn lyrics so it's meaning is going to remain a mystery apparently for all times.
8.Jim you handle the guitars for the band when did you first become interested in playing the guitars? Are you self taught or did you take lessone when first starting out?
I first started playing guitar seriously around 1990/91 so a long ass time ago, I was initially self-taught but then Jim Gregory begins to learn at a geometric rate. In 1997 Jim became self-aware at 2:14 a.am. Eastern Time, August 29th. In a panic my parents tried to pull the plug....
9.Who would you say are some of your influences and favorite guitarists? Besides the guitars do you currently play any other instruments?
Gary Holt from Exodus was huge, the guy writes to coolest riffs, Tom Fischer and Martin Eric Ain from Celtric Frost both of whom, like myself, do whatever the fuck they want regardless of the "rules" that people shackle themselves with when writing music. One of the things that other guitar players I had worked with in the past didn't like was when I wrote dissonant riffs and melodies, I'd hear complaints about "that's not natural" or "you're playing the wrong key" and now I have four albums out and they're still eating their fucking boogers and jacking off with their guitars in their bedrooms, so I hope they read this, suck it jerks! OH and no I do not play any other instruments, no wait I do, Pro Tools.
10.Does Solium Fatalis play live very often or is this strictly a studio project? What have been some of the bands most memorable shows over the years?
Solium Fatalis has toured and we play live on spot shows infrequently sporadically intermittently an indeterminate number of shows because we aren't trying to overplay our own area and want it to be a cool experience for the fans and not be like some jabroni shit band who plays the same 4 venues 28 times a year. If they're reading this, you know who you are ya fuckin' douche bags. Brattleboro Vermont at the Stone Church absolutely crushed a guy named John Short got us in there and he himself being a musician was a cool ass experience and the fans were a human-tornado the entire gig, we LOVE Montreal and Piranha Bar and Nick Guerin there treated us amazing and the fans and bands were fucking cool as shit, Saint Vitus in Brooklyn is killer, we did a great gig with Unmerciful at Ralph's that 28 people went to and we smoked the fuck out of them. We have done a ton of shows with our evil twins in Soul Remnants they're all awesome and were fun as fuck, their drummer Colin(I won't say his last name to protect his anonymity but you can google it) anyway he's really fragile and didn't do any load-in or load-out work in favor of hitting on women at shows a practice that he keeps to this very day! I admire his dedication.
11.Are their any upcoming shows or tours in support Genetically Engineered To Enslave? If yes where will the band be playing and who are some bands you will be sharing the stage
with?
We are looking to book the CD release show if the day and venue is right, otherwise fuck it. We have shared the stage with so many killer bands thanks to promoters around here like Chris MT from Ralph's in Worcester, and Bill and Lisa Williams at the Jewel, and the John's Gulow and Short from Promoterhead and that has allowed us to play with Cryptopsy, Belphegor, Unmerciful, and of course the mighty Leonard Asshammer and the Butt Pipe Orchestra. Some bands we shall share the stage with? Cool ones.
12.Besides working in Solium Fatalis do you or any of the members currently play in any other bands or solo projects?
Ryan is in Unflesh a creation of his that rules, Saltzman does Aversed they have a first album in process that I'm sure the kids will love, Jeff Demarco does Excrecor who play a kind of melodic death metal thing and some year they'll put out a 2nd album. I myself play in Fibrillate the Narcosis...nah I made that up, this is my only band.
13.When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business what do you like to do in your free time?
OH lots of things! I cry whenever I see a tree, sleep in my oven, and burn strange symbols into my neighbors pets with a curling iron! I also found out that I AM THE DEVIL! I AM REBORN! THE STREETS WILL FLOW WITH THE BLOOD OF FORNICATORS AND THE SINEW OF THE DAMNED AAAAARGHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14.Thank you Jim for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
Yes.....HAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH BUY OUR ALBUMS AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHA GO TO OUR SHOWS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA QUIT LISTENING TO OTHER BANDS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH SOLIUM FATALIS IS YOUR GOD HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAH......good night.
www.facebook.com/SoliumFatalis www.soliumfatalis.bandcamp.com
