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1. Hi Daniel and Dirk, how are things going in Germany this week? Please introduce yourselves to the readers?
Daniel: Everything is fine! We are Dirk and Daniel, we live on the southern edge of the Ruhr in a small town called Hattingen and have been making music together for about 20 years.
Here you can breathe industrial culture, but you also live in the countryside. The Ruhr is actually more beautiful than its reputation.
Dirk: Besides the typical everyday life, you look forward to concerts and good music, a distraction from the horrors of world politics.
2. When did you both discover death metal for yourselves and who were the first bands that caught your attention? Who are the current bands you like to listen to?
Daniel: Due to my age, it "only" started in the early / mid nineties. Actually not a bad time for Death Metal, as it was known that it really took off there. I had my first contact with BOLT THROWER, MORBID ANGEL and OBITUARY. All 3 are still very popular with me today. LIK have convinced me in the last few years. I also recently discovered ENCOFFINED from Argentina. Yes, I also like the HM2 Swedish sound very much. I can also recommend the current DEMONICAL. But here and there it can also be something else, like MGLA, DARK FUNERAL, LORD BELIAL or just a nice snotty rock record. But the main focus for me is still Death Metal!
Dirk: I am even older and had the privilege of growing up in the Zeche Carl in Essen. Hence my preference for German thrash metal, in terms of old stuff by DARKNESS, KREATOR and of course SODOM. In 1987 I heard DEATH - Scream bloody gore and POSSESSED - Seven churches for the first time. That was it for me... Currently I like to listen to music like HOUR OF PENANCE, SUFFOCATION but also other stuff like LORD OF THE LOST.
3. When did you have the idea to form Defected Decay?
Daniel: It was in 2019 on a whim. We are still active with SUFFERSYSTEM. But here we are more into Thrash/Death. After we started another project with a drummer from the area, but somehow didn't get anywhere with it, we decided to continue as a duo again. We can rely on each other and have the same motivation. That's what some guys out there lack. Unfortunately! Under these circumstances, DEFECTED DECAY was brought to life with a different intention.
Dirk: Defected Decay was actually just supposed to be an idea for a slower sound. „Kingdom Of Sin" was conceived as a demo. But it was so much fun to live out our Bolt Thrower influences that "Troops Of Abomination" was the logical consequence.
4. Who do you think are the band's biggest influences and how would you best describe Defected Decay's musical style if you've never heard them before?
Daniel: We don't make a secret of that. Definitely BOLT THROWER, GRAVE and the great ASPHYX. Rhythm, melodies and driving drums paired with vicious vocals. Completely in the style of 90s old school death metal! This is what DEFECTED DECAY stand for. I think that describes it quite well.
Dirk: Exactly to the point!
5. "Troops Of Abomination" is the second album that was released via Silent Watcher Rec. When did you first get in touch with this label?
Daniel: It must have been in the late summer of 2020. We were looking for allies and stumbled across the young label. On the homepage it said something about re-releases. "Kingdom Of Sin" had just been released. A few emails and phone calls later, it was clear that our debut would also be released again on vinyl via SILENT WATCHER RECORDS. And I'll tell you something very exclusive: In early 2023, "Kingdom Of Sin" will also be released on tape in a very small quantity. For this we were able to win the DIY tape label RAT COVENANT again. The LP will be released in summer 2021. At that time, we had already written a few new songs, which we offered to SILENT WATCHER, among others. As you know, we continued the collaboration. Alex gave us a free hand. For the first time we had to limit ourselves to songs, because more were written than usually belong on an album. The vinyl in particular is quite something to behold. 190g, gatefold in 2 exclusive colours! The artwork also comes into its own here. We are very happy with it.
6. How long did it take you to write the music for the new release? How long would you say it usually takes to finish a song?
Dirk: Songwriting can't be put in a temporary time frame. I write a song when it's on my mind. Sometimes in a day, sometimes in a fortnight. That's the advantage of doing everything on your own, you don't have to wait for others. Disadvantage, foreign influences spice up the end product. That's why we put guest contributions into the songs for the first time.
7. Daniel, you are responsible for the vocals of the band, so I assume that you also write the lyrics, where do you get the inspiration for the lyrics? I think the lyrics are based on war, is there a particular war that you like to read and study about?
Daniel: You are absolutely right. That's what I do. War is absolute shit and currently unfortunately very present again and very close to us. The songs are based on actual events in the Second World War. Some of them are inspired by contemporary witnesses, like "Commit To The Fire", or are meant to convey a feeling of the atrocities. The fact that our albums follow a concept just happened. But there is also so much to tell about the many years of suffering in the Second World War. Continuing the theme was just a logical step. The sound that Dirk creates also fits perfectly. In our opinion, it is a round thing, although admittedly not really new. But it doesn't have to be!
8. Daniel, when did you start to get interested in growling and screaming? Is there anything you do to keep your voice and throat healthy?
Daniel: A very interesting question! I sang in a melodic death metal band called DARK BEFORE DAWN for a few years. In my opinion, only growling was suitable for that. In the meantime I'm trying to get it a bit deeper. Admittedly, it's not easy for me. It's admirable that some singers can do it so easily. Maybe I just lack the practice. I don't use my voice too often, because it usually gets interesting during the development of a new album. Otherwise, I only shout when something is not going well, but then in a different context, hahaha.
9. Who would you say are your favourite singers over the years? Do you play any other instruments besides singing, if so, which ones?
Daniel: Definitely the triangle and timbrels! No, joking aside. I have no talent for instruments and even less patience. I leave that to Dirk. There are quite a few favourite singers. Martin Van Drunen and Karl Willets are at the top of the list. As I am also a big DISMEMBER fan I have to mention Matti Kärki. Tomas Lindberg is also always good to listen to and watch. Although I can do very little with the last AT THE GATES albums.
Dirk: Without further ado my Waves, Chuck Schuldiner, Frank Mullen, Martin Van Drunen and Karl Willets and of course some more.
Daniel: Shit! I forgot to mention Chuck! Ashes on my head!
10. Dirk, you write the music for the band, when did you start getting interested in writing and performing music?
Dirk: Oh, as soon as I had contact with handmade, authentic music. When this flood of great music took possession of me in 1985 (ACCEPT, RUNNING WILD, METALLICA...) it was clear, I had to get my guitar. Then I co-founded a few bands, such as INTOXICATED from Gelsenkirchen and RESURRECTED from Duisburg. It was a lot of fun.
11. Are you self-taught or did you take lessons when you started? Which instruments do you play at the moment?
Dirk: Actually both, first I played it (sounded like HELLHAMMER), then I wanted to get better and I had a mega guitarist from Gelsenkirchen who showed me scales, fingerings, etc. Otherwise, look at it, try it out. Otherwise, watch, try out, learn... there was no YouTube yet where you could watch everything immediately in repetition.
12. Defected Decay comes from the German death metal scene, what are your thoughts about the scene in Germany over the years?
Daniel: I am happy that death metal has grown again over the years and has a bigger fan base. There are a lot of young bands in Germany that have it going on and are revitalising the scene. I like to support that by buying records or merch and going to club concerts. That's the only way to keep it going. Luckily, there's a lot on offer in the Ruhr area. Be it a metal party or even a concert. It's a shame, though, that there are fewer and fewer collectors. Of course streaming is convenient. But that's why the few remaining record shops are going to the dogs. I sometimes catch myself listening to music on my PC instead of putting on vinyl or a CD. But for me, the physical product is the only option. Old school!
Dirk: I don't support this streaming nonsense at all. I wouldn't download our songs on Spotify, Amazon etc. myself. Unfortunately, others already do that for us. YouTube is quite cool if you want to distribute a teaser or a self-recorded video for a song.
Especially here in the Ruhr area there are so many brilliant death metal bands. Check out the sampler
"Hymns Of Eternal Decay" !!! Just a small selection of talent.
13. Who are your absolute favourite bands in Germany and are there any new bands you can recommend to the readers?
Daniel: Out of old affinity and because of the proximity KREATOR and SODOM. However, with some reservations. Not everything that glitters is gold with those two. Not to forget MORGOTH. Everything up to Odium plays regularly for me. Jagger from DISBELIEF also did a great job with Ungod. But without Marc it's not really MORGOTH.
Dirk: LORD OF THE LOST, Basta... Joking aside, I love KREATOR - Pleasure to kill and
SODOM - Persecution Mania... MORGOTH of course, I like to think back to the concert in Dortmund at the OBITUARY Tour of the Cause of death, with MORGOTH in the opening act...awesome!!!!
My recommendation: THE INFERNAL DECEIT!!!!
14. What does underground metal mean to you both?
Daniel: Passion is the first thing that comes to mind. Small labels and events that are run and organised with love for music. Of course you also have to look at the financial aspect. But the music is in the foreground, and you can feel that. I'd rather go to a small, cosy club concert than to a mega event like Wacken. There's too much funfair for me and it only distracts from the core of the whole thing.
Dirk: Again, short and sweet "Support The Underground" without it there would be no hard music.
15. Dirk, Daniel what do you like to do in your free time?
Daniel: Besides the family, there's usually not much left over. A large part of my free time I actually put into music. With SUFFERSYSTEM and DEFECTED DECAY we release something new every year. A lot of time goes into writing lyrics, designing layouts and promotion. Now and then, but unfortunately far too little, I sit down in my armchair and put on an LP. I have also rediscovered my games console. During the last weekends, it was sometimes a bit late!
Dirk: Family, meeting friends and listening to music, making music. I like reading dime novels,
I'm also a total film and series nerd!!!
16. Thank you so much for taking the time to fill out this interview, do you have any closing comments for the readers?
Daniel: Keep metal alive and support the underground! I don't want to read anywhere that metal is dead, as it has been discussed before!
If you want to listen to our work, you can find us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Bandcamp. Just have a look. We would be glad. Thank you Patrick for the interview!
Dirk: oh,...yes - my FALSE MUTATION project is in the final spurt!!! Have a listen and also there:
Support the underground!!!! Defected Decay Links https://defecteddecay.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DefectedDecay https://www.instagram.com/defecteddecay/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjCthVhNIk6gTkwm8Rllmwg Silent Watcher Rec. https://silentwatcherrecords.de/ https://silentwatcherrecords.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SilentRecordsWatcher/ https://www.instagram.com/silentwatcherrecords666/
