Interview with death metal band from Spain - CAUSTIC.
Recenze/review - CAUSTIC - Inner Deflagration (2026):
Ave CAUSTIC! It took me almost the whole weekend, but I found the cassette. It’s all crumpled up and didn’t play very well, but I’ve got it. I bought the album “Rebirth of Procreation” a long time ago at a record fair, and it’s probably just a bootleg. If I’m not mistaken, the only members left from the ’90s are bassist Xavi Brossa and singer Roger Moreno or am I wrong? How did you actually come up with the idea to start playing death metal back then? Could you please walk us through your band’s history?
Hello Jakub and Deadly Storm Zine! Yes, you’re absolutely right today only Roger and Xavi remain in the band. Over the years, we’ve unfortunately gone through constant lineup changes, which has slowed the band’s progress. But staying active in the underground for so long isn’t easy, and these things tend to happen.
Caustic was formed in 1992 by the core members who were already deeply into death metal. From the very beginning, we challenged ourselves to play extreme metal because of what the style made us feel. In 1995, we released our first demo Xavi is the only current member who was already part of that recording. Later, in 1999, we released our first full-length album “Rebirth of Procreation” through Jackhammer Music, and in 2006 we followed it up with “The Horror Cult” via Hecatombe Records.
After that, we didn’t return until 2015 with “Hate Generation” on Sevared Records, and only now have we finally released our fourth album.
As we mentioned, Caustic’s history has been very unstable due to the constant turnover of members for reasons beyond the band’s control. We’d like to take this chance to thank everyone who has contributed to the band over the years.
This year, after a long eleven years, you released a new album. I have to say that for me, your music has long been a sure bet. We’re cut from the same cloth that’s a given. I’d be interested to know how the new album “Inner Deflagration” came about? What was the vision, and how satisfied are you with the recording? Where did you want to take things?
It’s a great satisfaction for us to know there are people who like and take interest in our music. We really appreciate.
The main goal of the new album is to put the band where it deserves to be, both musically and especially in terms of production.
After so much time, we wanted the new work to show that Caustic has learned how to handle all these aspects, and we believe the final result is very positive. Without a doubt, it’s our best work to date and shows us the path forward for future releases.
In fact, we are currently finishing the recording process of our previous album “Hate Generation” to re-release it in the future with production similar to our latest work “Inner Deflagration.” We consider it a very good album that needs production improvements, and we’re sure that when we reissue it, it will surprise everyone.
Probably the biggest change since last time is the new drummer, Pol (I consider drums to be essential in death metal). Actually, there have been other lineup changes in the band as well. Why do your musicians change so often? Did you have to change your approach to writing new material because of that?
It should be said that Pol joined the band after the album had already been recorded, following certain disagreements with the previous drummer, who actually recorded all the drum tracks.
As you said, Caustic’s history has been marked by constant lineup changes. This is because very few people are willing to commit long-term, whether due to personal reasons or stylistic differences.
It’s difficult to find people who share the same expectations as the rest of the band. While we’ve never aimed to become ultra-famous (although we wouldn’t mind!), we have always required a minimum level of commitment, consistency, and motivation to push the band forward. Unfortunately, this hasn’t always been reciprocated, but despite everything, we’ve always kept fighting.
I think you’ll agree with me that sound is very important, and not just for a death metal band. I had to sit down and listen to the new album. It’s a tsunami! A total old-school massacre. Exactly my kind of thing! Where did you record it, and who handled the mixing and mastering? Did you have a big say in the final sound?
Both the recording and mixing were done at Axtudios in Barcelona by Óscar David (Mr. Ax), and the mastering was handled by Gail Liebling. We’re very happy with the results.
We were present in the studio during the mixing process and took direct part in it. For the mastering, we maintained constant communication with Gail, who lives in the Netherlands. We had already worked with him before, so the process was very smooth and satisfying.
Who designed the cover art? I really like the cover; I can tell right away that this is raw death metal. What were the guidelines for the artwork for “Inner Deflagration”? How did you reconnect with the artist, and why him specifically?
The artwork was created by Adi Dechristianize, an Indonesian illustrator. We spent some time searching online for artists, and Adi convinced us with the rawness of his illustrations.
We had several conversations with him to convey our ideas, and after a few drafts, he sent us the concept that eventually became the album cover.
The idea behind the artwork was to portray the anguish expressed in the track of the same name. That’s why there’s a kneeling human figure showing clear distress and unease, from which all the monsters that torment them emerge. The background depicts a hellish and desolate landscape, symbolizing the feeling of isolation and hostility that surrounds human beings in extreme situations.
But your new album also has very interesting lyrics. You have no idea how many times I’ve identified with them. What are they about on the new album, and who wrote them? And where did he draw inspiration from?
The lyrics represent everyday aspects of our lives that transform into dark and terrifying experiences. The reality we’re immersed in today means that neither our minds nor our bodies are truly free, leading to dark thoughts that push us to the limits of our existence.
We live in a world where we are under enormous pressure just to survive. Everything is measured by how much money you have. Often, it’s all appearances meant to hide personal failure. And that fear of failure has a perverse effect on the mind it transforms you into someone despised, outside the system, with thoughts beyond human logic.
There are also other lyrics influenced by ’90s slasher and classic horror films, such as “Mato en mi tiempo libre” or “Mestres de l’Assassinat.” And then there are tracks like “Rotten King” or “Maggots,” which deal with death in a raw, realistic way because in the end, we all become white worms as organic matter decomposes.
It’s not a conceptual or single-theme album. But you may have identified with aspects related to the reality we live in a constant state of pressure where we’re only expected to perform, produce, and generate. In the long run, this leads to an internal explosion of rage, which is precisely the album’s title.
Here in the Czech Republic, almost all of us are atheists. There are only a negligible number of practicing Christians. Or let me put it this way: the church doesn’t interfere with social life at all. Sure, sometimes a few sheep protest before a concert, but it’s more of a joke. How is it over there in Spain? Have you ever had any issues with that as a band?
In Spain, Christianity is deeply embedded in society. Even though it’s officially a non-denominational state, the Catholic Church still has a lot of influence. This is a legacy of nearly 40 years of fascist dictatorship and a flawed transition to democracy, where the Church remains one of the main pillars of the Spanish right.
That said, Christianity is deeply rooted culturally, regardless of political beliefs. For decades, education, festivities, and daily life were shaped by religion. At certain times, attending weekly mass was socially mandatory, and not doing so could lead to marginalization.
Today, this has largely diminished, but traditions like Holy Week still demonstrate the devotion of a large part of society.
As for us, we’ve never had problems at concerts due to protests of this kind. In fact, I don’t recall any such protests at shows. However, in other cultural areas there have been incidents for example, comedian Leo Bassi received death threats and even suffered an attempted bombing in his dressing room in 2006 due to his criticism of the Catholic Church. There’s even an association called “Christian Lawyers” that files lawsuits against anyone they believe offends Christian values. As you can see, “you don’t mess with the Church.”
You’re from the town of Molins de Rei, in Catalonia. What’s your scene like—the bands, the clubs? I live here in the Czech Republic in a fairly large city, and death metal isn’t doing well here at all. Every concert I want to attend means a long trip for me. How is it over there?
Believe it or not, the underground scene is quite competitive, and no one helps anyone. Clubs charge extremely high rental fees, promoters only support established bands, tours are already pre-arranged, and it’s nearly impossible to get on them. It has become normalized for bands to pay to play.
Underground music is no longer respected like it was in the ’90s.
We’ve always been a very independent band. We’ve never hired a booking agency, nor have we constantly chased festivals for slots. That may explain why we haven’t played many shows but at this point, we won’t change. We don’t ask for money or catering just respect.
What about your beginnings? CAUSTIC traces its origins back to 1992. In underground circles, you’re rightly considered a legend. When and how did the idea to play death metal actually come about? What about your first show? From 1999 to 2005, we didn’t hear much from you why was that? Please share your memories with us.
Thank you very much for considering us a legend! The idea of playing death metal came when we formed the first stable lineup in 1992, as several members loved the style.
Given our age, many of us experienced the rise of death metal firsthand, and it was one of the best things that ever happened to us musically. We knew we wanted to be part of that scene—and with a lot of effort, we did, and still do.
Between 1999 and 2005, we went through a period of many departures, which made it difficult to stay active. We had to replace all the guitarists, which was very challenging, and that’s why there was no news from us until “The Horror Cult” was released.
What does death metal and music in general mean to you? How do you perceive it in relation to your life and society? Is it a hobby? A lifestyle? What has it given you and taken away? Feel free to delve into philosophical reflections as well.
Music is a very important part of our lives, especially metal and particularly death metal. It’s a way of life. We listen to metal daily, attend concerts regularly, and even our clothing is closely tied to the music.
Creatively, music takes up much of our free time, whether composing or rehearsing. It’s still a hobby because our personal lives don’t allow us to do it professionally, but it’s a hobby we dedicate a lot of time and effort to.
The philosophy of death metal? Enjoy it and of course, drink lots of beer hahaha!
What does CAUSTIC have planned for the coming months? If you have a message for fans, labels, or promoters, this is the place for it…
In the coming months, we want to promote the new album by playing as many shows as possible. So far, we’ve never performed outside the Iberian Peninsula, but we’d love to.
So, we invite promoters from all over the world to get in touch!
As mentioned earlier, we also plan to re-release “Hate Generation.” We’re currently finishing the recording process and will soon move on to mixing and mastering. It’s a very good album, but at the time, the final result wasn’t what we wanted now we want it to reach the level the band deserves.
Also, Mike from Horror Pain Gore Death Productions has confirmed we’ll release it together, which is fantastic. We’re very happy working with him and hope to continue doing so!
Another thing we want to fix is the long gaps between albums. We’ve already started writing new material, and this time it won’t take 10 years we promise!
Hopefully I’ll see you live somewhere soon. The new album turned out really well. Thanks for it and for the interview. I appreciate it. May your music go as well as possible, and may you thrive in your personal lives too!
Thank you very much for your interest and support. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that the work of so many years is recognized in so many parts of the world—we weren’t even aware of it. This motivates us to keep pushing forward.
Brutalize!!!
Recenze/review - CAUSTIC - Inner Deflagration (2026):
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