Interview with death metal band from Indonesia - INCINERATED.
Answered YF (vocals), thank you!
Recenze/review - INCINERATED - The Epitome of Transgression (2025):
Ave INCINERATED! Greetings to the Indonesian underworld. I haven't found any interviews with you in Czech anywhere. So, first of all, could you please introduce the band to readers who don't know you yet? Feel free to start from the very beginning and take us through the entire history of INCINERATED.
Thank you for having us. The name INCINERATED is inspired by PUISSANCE – love incinerate, the atmosphere and the lyrical content portrayed perfectly what I wanted; the overwhelming sensation in one single devastating blow. INCINERATED was formed in 2014 but the idea was wrapped in mind far before that, to take this path one must be thinking carefully because making art is full of dedication and sacrifice. To manifest this into breathing form one must dare to face the consequences, neither align with innermost spirit or destroying it. An interplay with risk to ourselves between flesh and something sacred; because human existence are asserted as movement, mutually penetrable to each others. Then art must be a communication perhaps. Then, the experiences itself will guide into revelation that shapes us today, the fire that burn in every heart is burning and consuming – under I as INCINERATED.
This year you released your latest album, "The Epitome of Transgression." Once again, it's dark, rough, and honest death metal. Did you approach the recording differently than last time, or did you stick to tried and tested methods?
The Epitome of Transgression was recorded between two cities in four years, this is slow burning establishment with natural progression. We improved our skills during those years - we challange ourselves to signifies the transformation. To manifest this art into breathing form; words, sound and images as this flesh is a witness - touching the heart and resonating the souls. We did some different experiences by embraced both traditional and modern ways but always stick to our plan in our ways.
The new album seems to me to be somewhat more complicated than the previous album from 2020 (Stellar Abomination), perhaps less accessible at first, but at the same time incredibly dark and evil. Was that intentional? How did the album come about and how did you compose the music?
Intentional? no it wasn’t, our progression comes naturally as a rupture. It’s a natural instinct to transgress to crushing our limits that once define us. As freedom is the essence of creting art, the transformation begin to submit ourselves in the realm of becoming. We follow the law of becoming as an inner necessity to collide and dissolve to make a new form. We’re transform therefore we’re not... about composing music, it‘s an culmination during four years. As a collective bands each of us contribute a moment of though, and always bring an idea that emerges as a part of unfolding. Ofentimes, the guitar riff comes first for developing certain techniques. And drums plays vital role to sustain our music to be more alive. We’re trying not to imitate that inspired us, it’s just silly and effortless. Sometimes we worked separately but not often, it’s good things for letting our ideas to challenge one another, then unite them later into something interesting without any significant compulsion; as these fragments born from conscious and unconscious it’s important to given a space to growth. as for me the lyrics is more personal, the unique of silence and solitude that inspire and allowing the idea to shape the subject to be more sacred and glorious. What is born from our second album is a declaration of spiritual warfare.
I have "The Epitome of Transgression" on my MP3 player and I must say that I am literally absorbed by it. It's not just great ideas, but also the sound, which is devastating in a word. I'm sitting on the tram, for example, and suddenly I find myself tapping my foot. I feel like starting to party. If I weren't a man of a certain age, I probably would. Where did you record the album and who is credited with mastering it?
The essence of the album itself became the architect of it‘s form; an inner coherence that flow through vessel of its own becoming and carve the monument of it‘s expression in the summit of constellation, each fragment resonate (lyrics, sounds, artwork and images) with the whole; colliding and transforming. Consecrated in one purpose in the grand resonance of chaos, death and darkness. The album is recorded on three different studio in two cities, so the effort must be tangible. The mastering was done by Lúgubre from The Empty Hall Studio, with their magical touch on TeoT he has proven it in every shapes of our fire, and with his passion he provided a sonic craftmanship excellence that transformed every notes fierce and destructive. Because music isn‘t just about making the “good“ sounds, it must be touching the inward and ourward of the souls, a revelation.
Who wrote the lyrics for "The Epitome of Transgression"? And what are they about? Where do you get your inspiration for the themes?
I did. I got inspiration mostly from literature.
Let me quotes Bataille first “Life partly frees up a humanity for us. And for a brief moment human beings are free to unite with the existence of their divinity, a divinity that at the same time death has brought into existence.“
The Epitome of Transgression is Spiritual Warfare against oneself. The essences of man is sin, because it's an ontological condition to exist in this world. Absorbing the harmony of consecration in desperation, as man dare to proclaim the essences of fire and denied sin in every ruins—a war between the sacred and the profane. An endless march toward the mouth of the eschaton. This world is a hostile place. Consume—corrupt—manifest!
Who is credited with the cover art for "The Epitome of Transgression"? I really like his work. How did you choose the cover art?
The artwork was done through the hands of Ivan Adi Prayoga aka SerpentChron. His contribution on our second album is essential and his involvement was deeply immersive to allowing the essences of this album to fully materialize. I believe he was the right man at the right time. The process itself is demand patience. I visited him regularly over the course of 5 months (2-3 times every month and spent hours sharing ideas) only to talked and discuss about the concept of this album; to share vision and shape them into form. His dedication is unmatched and his technical skills is magnificent, that is why I choose work with him. The artwork became integral part of the narrative, with a devotion that borders on the conscious and unconscious.
Let's go back to the beginning... What was the initial impulse that led you to form a band? And why death metal? It's not exactly a style that will bring you great "fame."
A tension between the sacred and the profane in the nature of mankind is the fire that forged my soul. The work of NCNRTD is a profound struggle with spiritual decay and negation in which society denied: chaos, death and darkness. That’s why we play DEATH METAL!
You come from Indonesia and play extreme death metal. Our readers would certainly be interested to know how the death metal scene works in your country. To tell you the truth, lately I've been hearing only great bands from you. Does that mean the scene is very strong there at the moment? What about concerts, how many people go?
Thanks for mentioning NCNRTD. Honestly speaking i didn‘t really knows what happens in the scene nowadays, because I’m not really into “scene” and I don’t feel I give a huge contribution, so I don’t really have an opinion about scene in here. As far as I knew, people always exciting to go on gigs.
I can't help but ask. You live in Indonesia, which is considered a strongly religious country. Do you have any problems with that? Do you get any coverage on TV or in newspapers? How is life in your country influenced by religion?
No, I think the issue of religion in this country lies only at the point of naivety—the tendency of people to easily forget and forgive—which in this case becomes very easy to politicize (spiritually manipulated?), as has been evident for at least the past three decades. What should have been a spiritual foundation has been reduced to a tool, spiritual degradation—desacralization. That’s why in every fucking election, religion is weaponized in campaigns, commodified in sermons, and staged in the name of morality. Any efforts toward “traditionalism” are best understood as defensive measures wanted to revive or uphold, only as an acts of public interest nor a political movement. The sacred become profane, an ontological corruption. Consumed by material and temporal.
Corruption practices have become normal—a part of tradition, it's no longer highest crime here. Perpetrators can smile while being interview on media, this behaviour is unnacptable but sadly this is reality we must facing it, and that is deeply rooted in society from the lowest levels to those in power. You know, even It was present during colonial times, and it’s still here! It’s completely disgusting. Along with tangled bureaucracy, a system too powerful for most to challenge, It’s a system built to protect the few (profitable for them), to confuse people yet lack of commitment from both government and the people have led to injustice and a lack of transparency a passive complicity that enables injustice and hides behind excuses. As a rich geographical country, the excessive exploitation of nature is too high in here, of course, the effect contributes further to widening social inequality that threatens the very structure of the people and republic. People here are too naive and easily fall. They're have become blind in the face of materialism—a force that now dictates daily life, creating a structure that is hard to swallow—sustains a systemic structure to be more stupid and crinkle to digest. Because everything is fucking treated as a necessity, everything and everyone have a price. Making aspects of existence into commodity written in market logic, where value is measured in profit rather than in meaning. the global economic pressure is too hard to control. I don’t think modernism and capitalism is truly ready for this country.
I believe people aware of all this, but the grip of materialism is so strong that it fosters indifference, drowned by the desire to cunsume. The government doesn’t dare to do much, the lack of commitment had been restrained by an oligarchic system that has been running for a long time for generation. There’s no courage to challenge the status quo, because most who rise to power are products of the same system they pretend to criticize. Then, everyone wanted to be part of the government, but only for foolish reasons—status, wealth, famous etc. And this leads to a state where what remains is hollow nationalism, dressed in religious slogans, shouting about identity, equality and unity, but utterly lacking any ethical spine.
Your music shows that you are influenced by both the American death metal school and old European bands. What about you as fans? Do you prefer the original death metal of the 1990s, or do you also draw inspiration from new albums? If so, I'd be interested to know which bands had/have the biggest influence on INCINERATED.
The source of inspiration is diverse (not only in the realm of metal) but always the same, Morbid Angel, Puissance, Sarcofago, Current 93, Antaeus, Deathspell Omega, Brighter Death Now, Ofermod, Abigor, Antaeus just to name a few.
What about you and concerts in general? Are you a band that plays as many concerts as possible, or are you very selective? Do you have any dreams, such as a band you'd like to tour or festival with, or a city where you'd like to perform?
NCNRTD always choose selective gigs or fest. We avoid fest or gigs who sponsored by capitalist organization as we’re not product but as an entity to bring the flames of Death Metal in true sense!
What does death metal and music in general mean to you? Even after more than 35 years, I am still fascinated by its power and darkness. Is death metal a lifestyle for you? How do you perceive it in relation to yourself and your opinions? Feel free to venture into the realm of philosophy.
Because death possessed of a feeling of sacredness! First of all, we must segregate what Death Metal and daily life, because we live inside what it called the state included their law, society and moral compass. The prevail tendency is on those who have authority or even power, so in this life I just trying to adapt in every fucking situation. Choices is appears as sovereign, it’s free. Yet beneath this surface, a subtler drama unfolds such as social pressures, duties, works or even expectations. Modern society is lack of Individual freedom. They’re was chained to his role in the social order. If I did what I wanted, perhaps I’ll be dead or in imprisoned by now. In a culture that canonizes the individual decision as sacred, truly authentic choice emerges not as the norm, but as a rare rupture—an anomaly rather than the rule. What we call “decision” is often but the echo of inherited forms, the quiet inertia of the collective mind wearing the mask of personal volition. A paradox indeed. Neither Black Metal nor Death Metal is rebellion towards everything, manifestation of something sacred and spiritual. As art is a metaphysical task and it has to be a “communication” to something beyond ourselves, the act of freedom that releasing your inner struggle. I just wanted to do it right and true to myself.
What does INCINERATED have planned for the coming months? If you want to say something to your fans, labels, or promoters, now is your chance...
Mene tekel upharsin! we will perform The Epitome of Transgression exclusively at the end of this year!
I'm going to listen to your new album, The Epitome of Transgression, again. I have to say that, for me personally, it's basically a perfect death metal work. A total inferno. I wish you all the best with the album and hope it reaches as many fans as possible. It deserves it. Thank you for the interview, and I'm already looking forward to seeing you live sometime!
Likewise, all this questions has been much appreciated!
Recenze/review - INCINERATED - The Epitome of Transgression (2025):
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