1.Hello please introduce yourself to the readers?
Hi, I’m Steve, guitarist for BURIED, a Dutch death metal band. We’re signed to Brutal Mind and our first album ‘Oculus Rot’ will be released on February 14th, 2021.
2.When did you first discover metal music and was it long before you discovered the Underground Death metal scene?
I think I was 14 or 15 years old when a friend of mine introduced me to Strapping Yound Lad, that’s where it started for me. I know Joel and Robbe formed Pyaemia –their previous band- when they were in high school, Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse were big influences back then.
3.Who were the first bands that you listened to and who are some of the current bands that have caught your attention?
Definitely Strapping Young Lad (abum City) was a big thing for me, but also Pantera, Nile, Hyprocrisy and Meshuggah. Then I digged deeper into the Swedish death metal, after that I started to listen more and more to American death metal bands. I remember listening to Morbid Angel for the first time, I must have been 15 or something, I just couldn’t understand it. It took some years before I finally heard the brilliance of it. The other guys in the bands have always been into brutal death. Bands that caught my attention lately are Vulnere, Tomb Mold, Vitriol and Serocs.
4.I believe Buried is a new band when did you all first get the idea to start this band?And are you satisfied with how things have gone with the band so far?
Well, I’ve been playing with a lot of musicians over the years, trying to get a band together like we are now. Robbe and I have been playing together for 10 years already I believe. But it was until Worm joined on bass in 2017 when everything fell into place. Him joining us we knew we had a steady line-up. Joel, Robbe and Worm have been together in Pyaemia and have been friends forever, I think that’s a big plus as well.
5.What is the current line-up of Buried? And for the readers who have never heard the music yet how would you best describe it?
Robbe V - drums, Joel Sta - vocals, Worm - bass and Steve - guitars. We all love old school death, but we also like modern bands. Think of Decapitated, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse combined with Revocation, Pantera with a modern production.
6.Oculus Rot is the bands debut full length that will be released through Brutal Mind when did you and the band first come in contact with this label?
Joel’s other band Arsebreed is signed to Brutal Mind as well, so we knew already that they are great people who work hard to promote underground death metal bands. We didn’t talk to other labels to be honest. Brutal Mind signed us after hearing 3 songs and we’re very happy it worked out that way. We are in contact with them very often, they really work together with us on promoting our band.
7.Does the whole band take part in the writing process or does one member usually write everything? How long does it usually take to complete one song?
I write the riffs and most of the time the song structure. Sometimes I work with Joel on the structure, he has a great ear for what a song might need. Then Robbe works on his drum parts. He completely programs his parts before he learns to play them, he really wants his parts to be creative and not to be dictated by things he can already play. After that process Joel writes his lyrics and sometimes Joel and I work together on vocal arrangements. In the meantime Worm works on his parts. It can take quite a long time to finish a song, but when we’re done every detail is in place, it’s ready to be recorded for the next album basically.
8.Who usually handles writing the lyrics for the music and what are some subjects you all wrote about on the debut release?
Joel writes all the lyrics. It’s almost funny how easily he comes up with great lyrics. Most of the time our songs are about mental problems, distorted visions of reality and the struggle to cope with that. Inspiration comes from documentaries and movies. Joel himself is a very healthy guy haha! On the cover of Oculus Rot you see a guy strapped to an (imaginary) chair with an oculus rift on his head, being tortured with the images he sees. Nothing is real, still he is experiencing pain and anxiety. John Douglas did a great job capturing our ideas in the artwork.
9.Besides the upcoming debut release does the band have any other merchandise currently availible? If yes what is availible and where can the readers purchase it? Yes! At www.brutal-mind.com you can buy the album, a shirt, longsleeve and a flag. European fans can order our album at https://pathologicallyexplicit.bigcartel.com/product/buried-oculus-rot-cd. And check facebook.com/buriedmetal for more things to come!
10.What does Underground Metal mean to you?
It’s like a well of inspiration. Death metal to me is about creative freedom. I love bands that sound different than what I’ve heard before. And of course I love good riffs.
11.Buried comes out of The Netherland's death metal scene what are your thoughts on the scene in The Netherlands over the years?
I think the other guys could give a more elaborate answer, since they’ve experienced the scene in the early 00’s. But bands like Disavowed, Severe Torture, Prostitute Disfigurement are still around. A modern Dutch metal band is Spectrum of Delusion, I think those guys deserve all the attention.
12.Who are your all-time favorite bands coming out of The Netherlands and are their any new bands you feel the readers should check out soon?
Textures, Celice, Pyaemia, Disavowed, Arsebreed, Pestilence. Check out Spectrum of Delusion!
13.When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I like to travel, Scandinavia being my favorite destination within Europe. And of course meeting friends (at concerts) and drink beer together!
14.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
You’re welcome. Please check out ‘Oculus Rot’! Band Contacts https://www.facebook.com/buriedmetal Label Contacts https://brutal-mind.com/?s=buried&post_type=product https://brutalmind.bandcamp.com/album/oculus-rot https://www.facebook.com/brutalmindjakarta https://twitter.com/brutalmindstore
