Historie se opakuje s krutou pravidelností. Už zase stojíš u hromady mrtvol, hnijících v hluboké jámě. Válka je svinstvo a dávno už nevíš, za koho vlastně bojuješ. Bolest a utrpení, tisíce zničených životů, smrt a nenávist až za hrob. Lidé se příliš nemění, stále v sobě máme velké množství zla, závisti a umíme ubližovat. Jen na to vlastníme lepší technologie. Německé NEW WORLD DEPRESSION sleduji od jejich počátků. Vždycky se mi na nich líbilo, že jejich nahrávky mají jasný a zřetelný výraz, zajímavá témata a hlavně v sobě obsahují hudbu, která koluje i v mých žilách.
Ano, je to starý death metal, prašivý a chladný jako ty nejtemnější lidské myšlenky. Ostrý a nekompromisní, valící se kupředu jako buldozer, který nezná slitování. Zároveň v sobě obsahuje velké množství zajímavých momentů a melodií. I letos pánové odvedli perfektní morbidní práci.
Novinka "Abysmal Void" je volným pokračováním věcí minulých. Kapela postupně vybrousila svůj styl k dokonalosti. Připomíná mi velmi dobře seřízený stroj na zabíjení, který když potkáte, tak zemřete krutou a hnusnou smrtí. Kývám se spokojeně do rytmu, procházím se ve své fantazii na různých bojištích světa. Skladby jsou velmi dobře napsány, mají v sobě potřebný drive, sílu, takový ten heavy efekt, který dobré smečky umí. Němci si ale zachovávají i určitou živočišnost, touhu ničit hudbou. Novinka mě opravdu baví a na dlouhý čas se stala i mým soukromým průvodcem v současném divném světě. Stále můžeme kapelu zařadit po bok třeba takových OBITUARY, ASPHYX, BOLT THROWER, kterými se volně inspirovali a přidali navíc velkou spoustu svých nápadů a invence. Pokud máte rádi valivou, zničující odrůdu smrtícího kovu, potom jste zde správně. Osobně se mi potom na kapele nejvíc líbí to, že jim mohu jejich hudbu věřit, že jsou opravdoví, reální, autentičtí. Povedl se i zvuk, který je masivní a zároveň velmi dobře čitelný. Podepsán je pod ním Jörg Uken a Soundlodge Studio. Žádných námitek nemám ani proti obalu, jehož motiv krásně doplňuje předkládanou muziku. Určitě znáte takový ten neodbytný pocit, když si pustíte nějaké album a od začátku víte, že je to přesně ono, že se na něm řeže tou správnou stranou nože. NEW WORLD DEPRESSION nahráli desku, ke které se budu ještě hodně dlouho vracet. To vám klidně podepíšu vlastní krví. Historie se opakuje s krutou pravidelností. Už zase stojíš u hromady mrtvol, hnijících v hluboké jámě. Válka je svinstvo a dávno už nevíš, za koho vlastně bojuješ. Bolest a utrpení, tisíce zničených životů, smrt a nenávist až za hrob. Lidé se příliš nemění, stále v sobě máme velké množství zla, závisti a umíme ubližovat. Jdu se raději zavřít do svého pokoje a znovu zapínám play! Starý, rezavý death metalový buldozer, který vás rozdrtí na prach! Album chladné a temné jako lidská mysl!
Asphyx says:
History repeats itself with cruel regularity. Once again you are standing by a pile of corpses rotting in a deep pit. War is crap and you no longer know who you are actually fighting for. Pain and suffering, thousands of destroyed lives, death and hatred beyond the grave. People don't change much, we still have a lot of evil, envy and we know how to hurt. We just have better technology for that. I have been following the German NEW WORLD DEPRESSION since their beginnings. I have always liked that their recordings have a clear and distinct expression, interesting themes and, most importantly, they contain music that circulates in my veins.
Yes, it is old death metal, dusty and cold like the darkest human thoughts. Sharp and uncompromising, rolling forward like a bulldozer that knows no mercy. At the same time, it contains a large number of interesting moments and melodies. This year too, the gentlemen have done a perfect morbid job.
The new album "Abysmal Void" is a loose continuation of the past. The band has gradually honed its style to perfection. It reminds me of a very well-tuned killing machine, which if you meet it, you will die a cruel and disgusting death. I sway contentedly to the rhythm, walking in my imagination on various battlefields of the world. The songs are very well written, they have the necessary drive, power, that heavy effect that good packs can do. However, the Germans also retain a certain animality, a desire to destroy with music. I really enjoy the new album and for a long time it became my private guide in the current strange world. We can still rank the band alongside, for example, OBITUARY, ASPHYX, BOLT THROWER, which they freely inspired and added a lot of their own ideas and inventions. If you like a rolling, devastating variety of death metal, then you are in the right place. Personally, what I like most about the band is that I can trust their music, that they are genuine, real, authentic. The sound is also successful, which is massive and at the same time very legible. It is signed by Jörg Uken and Soundlodge Studio. I have no objections to the cover, whose motif beautifully complements the presented music. You certainly know that insistent feeling when you put on an album and from the beginning you know that it is exactly that, that it cuts with the right side of the knife. NEW WORLD DEPRESSION have recorded an album that I will be returning to for a long time to come. I will gladly sign that with my own blood. History repeats itself with cruel regularity. Once again you are standing by a pile of corpses rotting in a deep pit. War is crap and you no longer know who you are actually fighting for. Pain and suffering, thousands of destroyed lives, death and hatred beyond the grave. People don't change much, we still have a lot of evil, envy and we can hurt. I'd rather go lock myself in my room and turn on the play again! An old, rusty death metal bulldozer that will crush you to dust! An album as cold and dark as the human mind!
U nás před domem umírá jeden stoletý strom. Trvá tu už spoustu let. Jakoby v sobě nesl veškerou tíhu světa. Probudil jsem se zase jednou uprostřed noci a nemohl spát. Jako nějaký vlkodlak jsem si sedl do pokoje a díval se z okna. Měsíc ozařoval korunu stromu a já měl pocit, že dochází k něčemu záhadnému, tajemnému. Na tenhle, pro mě osobní a niterný zážitek, jsem si vzpomněl i ve chvíli, když jsem začal poslouchat druhé dlouhohrající album doom death metalových PILGRIMAGE.
Kapelu jsem až dosud neznal a tak jsem se jí v duchu omluvil. Vypadá to, že mluví stejným jazykem jako já, že nám v žilách koluje podobná krev. Mám rád, když na mě hudba působí podobným způsobem, když je tajemná, záhadná, návyková, když mám chuť se k ní vracet. Díval jsem se na umírající strom, na temné nebe a poslouchal jsem u toho "From Amber to Sun". Byl to pro mě opravdu silný zážitek.
Sešli se tu muzikanti z Nizozemí a Malty, kteří nejen, že perfektně rozumí svému řemeslu, ale ještě se jim povedlo do skladeb promítnout velkou spoustu bolesti, strachu, beznaděje, smutku. Přesně takhle to má vypadat, říkám si u reproduktorů a i když mám na svém stole velkou spoustu dalších nahrávek, stále dokola se vracím k PILGRIMAGE. Tahle nahrávka má v sobě něco magického, drásá mě zevnitř, pálí a žhne a zároveň je chladná jako mlhavé ráno na hřbitově. Zlé, surové a mocné pasáže se zde střídají s melancholií a mrazem. Skladby jsou velmi dobře napsány, mají skvělý zvuk, jsou uvěřitelné, opravdové, autentické. Pro mě jsou tohle, a stále to opakuji, velmi důležité věci, které od dobrých desek vyžaduji. Za prostudování stojí rozhodně i texty a za velmi povedený považuji i obal. Na nahrávání alba se podíleli i dva skvělí hosté - Heike Langhans a její démonický vokál (DRACONIAN, REMINA) a krásná Elianne Anemaat, která přidala několik úžasných pasáží na cello. Zkrátka a dobře, nebudu vám tu vypisovat kapely, kterými se tihle tmáři nechali volně inspirovat. Určitě vás nějaké napadnou samy. O tohle zde ale vůbec nejde. Novinka je jako pohřební mše se vším, co k tomu patří. Osobně se nechám vždy a rád znovu pozvat, abych se spolu s kapelou vydal na dlouhý výlet bez konce. Prosévám mezi prsty prach, sedím na lavičce, hned vedle tvého hrobu. Vzpomínám na všechno, co jsme spolu prožili. Rozmlouvám s mrtvými. Přesně pro tyhle chvíle je tohle album určeno. Za mě osobně jej mohu doporučit všem, kteří si všímají umírajících stromů a dívají na mraky v černé obloze. Drásavý, smutný a bolestivý doom death metal s krvavou aurou, který vás převede do země nekonečných stínů! Krása umírajících dní!
Asphyx says:
A hundred-year-old tree is dying in front of our house. It has been here for many years. It seems to have carried the whole weight of the world. I woke up again in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep. Like a werewolf, I sat in my room and looked out the window. The moon was shining on the treetop and I had the feeling that something mysterious, mysterious was happening. I remembered this, personal and visceral experience for me, when I started listening to the second full-length album of doom death metal band PILGRIMAGE.
I didn't know the band until now, so I apologized to them in my mind. It seems that they speak the same language as me, that similar blood flows in our veins. I like it when music affects me in a similar way, when it is mysterious, enigmatic, addictive, when I feel like returning to it. I was looking at the dying tree, at the dark sky, and listening to "From Amber to Sun". It was a really powerful experience for me.
Musicians from the Netherlands and Malta have gathered here, who not only understand their craft perfectly, but also managed to project a lot of pain, fear, hopelessness, sadness into their songs. This is exactly how it should sound, I tell myself at the speakers and even though I have a lot of other records on my desk, I keep coming back to PILGRIMAGE. This record has something magical in it, it tears me apart from the inside, it burns and glows and at the same time it is cold like a foggy morning in a cemetery. Evil, raw and powerful passages alternate with melancholy and frost. The songs are very well written, have a great sound, they are believable, real, authentic. For me, these are, and I keep repeating, very important things that I demand from good records. The lyrics are definitely worth studying and I also consider the cover to be very good. Two great guests also participated in the recording of the album - Heike Langhans and her demonic vocals (DRACONIAN, REMINA) and the beautiful Elianne Anemaat, who added several amazing cello passages. In short, I won't list the bands that these dark ones were freely inspired by. You will surely think of some yourself. But that's not what this is about at all. The new album is like a funeral mass with everything that goes with it. Personally, I always and gladly let myself be invited again to go on a long trip with the band without end. I sift the dust between my fingers, I sit on a bench, right next to your grave. I remember everything we've experienced together. I talk to the dead. This album is designed for exactly these moments. Personally, I can recommend it to everyone who notices dying trees and looks at clouds in the black sky. Harrowing, sad and painful doom death metal with a bloody aura that will transport you to the land of endless shadows! The beauty of dying days!
Ave INFERNAL THORNS! Greetings to the Chilean underground. I hope everything is fine with you. It should be, you have the third great long-playing album of your career on your account this year. I have to admit that it literally nailed me to the wall. It is dark, energetic, cuts with a sharp edge of a knife. It is very audible that you have done a great job and also a lot of talent. How do you perceive the new album in relation to your first work? Where did you want to move and in what way do you think the records are different?
In relation to the first job, this is a much more mature, heavier and faster job. To begin with, the first work was practically a solo album and now it was a work of the whole band, where we also worked with Seba Puente on the recording, which gave us a lot and guided us to find the final sound we wanted to obtain.
“Christus Venari” contains all the attributes of good death and black metal. For me personally, it is an album that I really like to return to. How was it created? How do INFERNAL THORNS compose new material?
Mainly I think that the songs and I take them finished to rehearsals, rarely end up being as I did them because we work on it with the band, adding and removing things, changing speeds and rhythms until we reach the point where we all agree and we move on to the next song.
I found out that Seba Puente is signed for recording and mixing. I have to confirm that the sound is literally killing. It keeps making me turn up the volume on the hi-fi. Seba Puente created a sound for you that is cruel, raw and at the same time dark and animalistic. How was it working with him and why him? In which studio did you record and how did it all go?
Somehow and since it's already the third album, we needed to take a leap and make an impact. We were certain that with this new lineup and with the quality of the songs we had composed we could achieve it, so we needed someone who understood what we wanted and who reflected the sound we had in mind on the album, that's why we chose Seba Puente, since he is the one who has been at the head of several national and international projects with excellent results. Our album was recorded in his studio, Audiocustom Studio in Santiago de Chile, and took about 8 months the entire process, between recording, mixing and mastering.
An integral part and a kind of bonus for fans today is the CD. You released it on Personal Records and it has a corpse-like cover. Who is its author? How did you choose the motif and how does it relate to the music on the new album?
The author of the art is Elias Vergara, we also worked with him on the art of the second album "Inflicting Ravage to the Holy Cattle". The reason for this particular art is an idea that I had in mind for lyrics of some particular themes and that symbolize in some way the persecution of Christ and his subsequent punishment and submission, that is why the art shows Christ crucified, gagged and already in a state of putrefaction being devoured by snakes and worms. With Elías we worked on the concept until we reached the final result that left us very satisfied.
I have been wandering the underworld for over thirty years and I go to Chile to get music, actually, to be safe. I think we have a similar nature and taste when it comes to metal. I like your bands a lot and I follow your scene carefully. Maybe I envy you a little, we only have a few death metal bands here that are worth it. How do you explain that death metal is doing so well in your country? How do you perceive your scene, fans, labels?
Death metal in Chile is part of history, if we go back to the 80s, here we already had extreme bands, perhaps not exactly death metal, but with tints, some closer to grind, like Belial, and others more to thrash like pentagram, which were finally a reference for other bands... this being so, Chile has a habit of extreme bands, perhaps it must be because of the repression of the time, because of the distance from the world, I don't know, what I do know is that there is a stable scene, with labels that are serious and constant, such as Apocalyptic, who have released great glories!
Regarding the fans, they have always been present, death metal shows are always massive, but unfortunately in recent times they have become very massive, a situation that affects the attendance of the public, a lot of concerts, which affects that everyone attends.... However, fans are always there, buy material, enjoy and share with you.
You play death metal influenced by the old school. Today, the band can't avoid comparisons, but I'd be interested in how the idea of founding INFERNAL THORNS actually came about, who was and is your role model, and where do you want to take your band? Are you attracted to big foreign festivals, are you willing to go on tour with a more famous band?
The band was born around 2003 but lasted only a couple of years, until 2006 approximately and the main idea at that time and until now, was to combine death metal and black metal, bands like Grave, Unleashed, Deicide combine them with Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir (old), Darkthrone (old) that somehow I think it was achieved. Then in 2016 I resumed the band to start what we have been until now, with the recording of 3 LPs and 1 EP. The idea now is to promote this last album as much as possible to be able to reach as many countries as possible, and I think that with Personal Records we are going to achieve it. For the same reason we are always willing to go abroad and better yet, participate in festivals and make a tour that raises the level and prestige of the band even more.
When I founded my website seven years ago, I had a vision that I would try to support bands that I don't think are that prominent. To let the world know about them. I think I'm doing quite well, at least according to the feedback. How do you approach promotion? Do you leave it to the label or do you send CDs yourself for various reviews? For example, I buy albums that I really enjoy. How are you doing? Are you also fans who like and often support their colleagues? Do you go to concerts? Do you party?
We have always done the promotion ourselves, contacting zines and blogs, sending our material so that they can make us reviews of our albums. But now that we're under the Personal Records label, we don't have to worry about that as they take care of everything and that's been a relief for us at that point. And of course I'm also a fan and I consume a lot of music from colleagues, mainly national, material that I buy at the same events and I also buy online from bands that I can't see live since they are from more distant cities, but I like to go to events and share with colleagues always.
On the one hand, a band starting out today has a lot of opportunities to make themselves known, but on the other hand, there are a huge number of bands and fans get lost in them. Many people just download mp3s from the internet and instead of a concert, they prefer to spit venomous saliva on Facebook. How do you, like INFERNAL THORNS, get influenced by modern technologies? What do you think about downloading music, Google metalheads, streaming music, etc.?
Social networks, streaming platforms and all that is part of the new world where we are inserted, we don't worry much, we have more attention on making music, playing, and that's it, if they download the shit, copy it or do whatever, I don't care... Since those who do that, they would never buy music, they don't go to shows, so they don't exist...
The true fans are those who go to the shows, buy music and find out about the bands' news through the different means that exist.
I like to ask musicians what death/black metal means to them. How would they define it, is it more of a philosophy and lifestyle for them or “just” relaxation. What does it mean to you? How do you perceive and experience it?
For us it is an expression, whether it is anger, artistic, violence, cruelty, can it be a philosophy? If, in certain cases, sometimes even a declaration of principles, on our part it has always been a way of expressing our appreciation of various dogmas and the frustrations of the interposed systems, not in political terms, but rather in cultural terms, thinking of the culpist social structure interposed by that nefarious organization that everyone knows....
This is death metal, death, hatred and destruction
Finally, a classic but important question. What are INFERNAL THORNS planning in the coming months? Where can we see you at a concert and when will you visit Europe? If you want to say something to fans, labels, promoters, here is the space…
For the next few months there is a lot of promotion of the last album, some events, and the recording of a second video clip, we already have one of our song "Christ Distressed". Next year we are scheduled to make a live recording, where we will record songs from all our albums to present it on youtube and perhaps edit it on CD with 4 bonus tracks that are songs that we have already recorded and saved. We intend to visit Europe in the not too distant future, hopefully next year, and if promoters join, even better and always open to conversation.
Thank you very much for the interview. I wish not only the new album a lot of success and may the ranks of your fans expand as much as possible. I'll be looking forward to seeing you live somewhere and I hope you're doing well both musically and personally. I'm going to get "Christus Venari" stuck in my head again!
Thank you very much for having an interest in the band and giving us the opportunity to make ourselves known. Hopefully one day we can meet on those sides and be able to share a ton of beers as it should be. Greetings to all bangers and follow us on our social networks to be aware of our news !! \m/
Ave INFERNAL THORNS! Zdravím do chilského undergroundu. Doufám, že je u vás vše v pořádku. Mělo by, máte na kontě letos třetí dlouhohrající skvělé album své kariéry. Musím se přiznat, že mě doslova přikovalo na zeď. Je temné, energické, řeže ostrou hranou nože. Je hodně slyšet, že jste odvedli skvělou práci a taky velká porce talentu. Jak vnímáš novou desku v souvislosti s vaší prvotinou? Kam jak jste se chtěli posunout a v čem jsou podle tebe nahrávky odlišné?
Ve srovnání s prvním albem je toto mnohem vyzrálejší, těžší a rychlejší. První album bylo prakticky sólovým albem, zatímco toto je dílem celé kapely, na kterém jsme při nahrávání spolupracovali také se Sebou Puentem, který nám hodně dal a pomohl nám najít finální zvuk, který jsme chtěli dosáhnout.
„Christus Venari“ v sobě obsahuje všechny atributy dobrého death i black metalu. Pro mě osobně se jedná o desku, ke které se hrozně rád vracím. Jakým způsobem vznikala? Jak skládají nový materiál INFERNAL THORNS?
Hlavně si myslím, že písničky, které přinesu hotové na zkoušky, málokdy skončí tak, jak jsem je napsal, protože na nich s kapelou pracujeme, přidáváme a ubíráme věci, měníme tempo a rytmus, až se všichni shodneme a přejdeme k další písničce.
Dohledal jsem si, že pod nahráváním a mixem je podepsán Seba Puente. Musím potvrdit, že zvuk doslova zabíjí. Pořád mě to nutí na hi-fi věži přidávat volume. Seba Puente vám vytvořil zvuk, který je krutý, surový a zároveň temný a živočišný. Jak se vám s ním spolupracovalo a proč právě on? V jakém studiu jste nahrávali a jak vše probíhalo?
Jelikož se jedná již o třetí album, potřebovali jsme nějakým způsobem udělat skok a zaujmout. Byli jsme si jisti, že s novým složením kapely a kvalitou skladeb, které jsme složili, toho můžeme dosáhnout, takže jsme potřebovali někoho, kdo by pochopil, co chceme, a kdo by na albu odrážel zvuk, který jsme měli na mysli. Proto jsme si vybrali Sebu Puenteho, protože je to on, kdo stál v čele několika národních i mezinárodních projektů s vynikajícími výsledky. Naše album bylo nahráno v jeho studiu Audiocustom Studio v Santiagu de Chile a celý proces, včetně nahrávání, mixování a masteringu, trval asi 8 měsíců.
Nedílnou součástí a jakýmsi bonusem navíc je pro fanoušky dnes CD. Vy jste jej vydali u Personal Records a je opatřeno mrtvolným obalem. Kdo je jeho autorem? Jak jste motiv vybírali a jak souvisí s hudbou na novince?
Autorem uměleckého díla je Elias Vergara, se kterým jsme spolupracovali také na uměleckém zpracování druhého alba „Inflicting Ravage to the Holy Cattle“. Důvodem pro tento konkrétní obal je myšlenka, kterou jsem měl na mysli pro texty některých konkrétních témat a která symbolizuje určitým způsobem pronásledování Krista a jeho následné potrestání a podrobení, proto obal zobrazuje Krista ukřižovaného, s roubíkem a již v rozkladu, požíraného hady a červy. S Elíasem jsme na konceptu pracovali, dokud jsme nedosáhli konečného výsledku, který nás velmi uspokojil.
Toulám se podsvětím již přes třicet let a do Chile si chodím pro muziku vlastně na jistotu. Myslím, že máme podobnou náturu i vkus, co se týká metalu. Mám vaše kapely hodně rád a pečlivě sleduji vaši scénu. Možná vám i trošku závidím, my máme u nás jen pár death metalových smeček, které stojí za to. Čím si to vysvětluješ, že zrovna u vás se death metalu tolik daří? Jak vnímáš vaši scénu, fanoušky, labely?
Death metal v Chile je součástí historie. Pokud se vrátíme do 80. let, už tehdy tu existovaly extrémní kapely, možná ne přímo death metalové, ale s nádechem tohoto žánru, některé blíže grindcore, jako Belial, jiné spíše thrash, jako Pentagram, které se nakonec staly vzorem pro další kapely... Chile má tedy tradici extrémních kapel, možná je to kvůli tehdejšímu útlaku, kvůli vzdálenosti od světa, nevím, ale vím, že zde existuje stabilní scéna s seriózními a stálými vydavatelstvími, jako je Apocalyptic, které vydalo skvělé desky!
Co se týče fanoušků, ti byli vždy přítomni, death metalové koncerty jsou vždy masové, ale bohužel v poslední době je jich příliš, což má vliv na návštěvnost, mnoho koncertů, což ovlivňuje to, jestli se všichni účastní... Fanoušci jsou však vždy přítomni, kupují materiál, baví se a sdílejí s vámi.
Hrajete death metal ovlivněný starou školou. Dnes se vlastně kapela nemůže vyhnout srovnání, mě by ale zajímalo, jak vlastně vznikl nápad založit INFERNAL THORNS, kdo byl a je vaším vzorem a kam vaši kapelu chcete posunout? Lákají vás třeba velké zahraniční festivaly, jste ochotni vyrazit na turné s nějakou slavnější smečkou?
Kapela vznikla kolem roku 2003, ale vydržela jen pár let, přibližně do roku 2006. Hlavní myšlenkou v té době i dodnes bylo spojit death metal a black metal, kapely jako Grave, Unleashed, Deicide s Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir (staré) a Darkthrone (staré), což se podle mě nějakým způsobem podařilo. V roce 2016 jsem kapelu obnovil, abychom mohli začít to, čím jsme až dosud byli, a to nahráváním 3 LP a 1 EP. Nyní je naším záměrem co nejvíce propagovat toto poslední album, abychom oslovili co nejvíce zemí, a myslím si, že s Personal Records toho dosáhneme. Ze stejného důvodu jsme vždy ochotni vyrazit do zahraničí a ještě lépe se účastnit festivalů a absolvovat turné, které ještě více zvýší úroveň a prestiž kapely.
Když jsem před sedmi lety zakládal svoje stránky, měl jsem vizi, že se budu snažit podporovat kapely, které podle mě nejsou tolik na očích. Dát o nich vědět světu. Myslím, že se mi to celkem daří, alespoň podle ohlasů. Jak přistupujete k propagaci vy? Necháváte to na labelu nebo sami posíláte CD různě na recenze? Já si třeba alba, která mě opravdu baví, kupuji. Jak jste na tom vy? Jste také fanoušci, co rádi a často podporují své kolegy? Chodíte na koncerty? Paříte?
Propagaci jsme vždy dělali sami, kontaktovali jsme časopisy a blogy, posílali jsme jim naše materiály, aby nám mohli napsat recenze našich alb. Ale teď, když jsme pod labelem Personal Records, se o to nemusíme starat, protože oni se o všechno postarají, a to je pro nás v tuto chvíli velká úleva. A samozřejmě jsem také fanoušek a poslouchám hodně hudby od kolegů, hlavně z domova, kterou kupuji na stejných akcích, a také online od kapel, které nemůžu vidět naživo, protože jsou ze vzdálenějších měst, ale rád chodím na akce a vždy se o ně dělím s kolegy.
Na jednou stranu má dnes začínající kapela spoustu možností, jak o sobě dát vědět, ale zase na druhou stranu, skupin je obrovské množství a fanoušci se v nich ztrácejí. Hodně lidí jen stahuje mp3 z internetu a místo koncertu raději plive jedovaté sliny na facebooku. Jak vás, jako INFERNAL THORNS ovlivňují moderní technologie? Co si myslíš o stahování muziky, google metalistech, streamování muziky apod.?
Sociální sítě, streamovací platformy a vše, co je součástí nového světa, do kterého jsme se dostali, nás příliš nezajímá. Věnujeme větší pozornost tvorbě hudby, hraní, a to je vše. Jestli si to stahují, kopírují nebo dělají cokoli jiného, je mi to jedno... Ti, kteří to dělají, by si nikdy nekoupili hudbu, nechodí na koncerty, takže neexistují...
Skuteční fanoušci jsou ti, kteří chodí na koncerty, kupují hudbu a sledují novinky o kapelách prostřednictvím různých dostupných prostředků.
S oblibou se ptám muzikantů na to, co pro ně znamená death/black metal. Jak by jej definovali, jestli je pro ně spíše filozofií a životním stylem nebo „jen“ relaxem. Co znamená pro tebe? Jak jej vnímáš a prožíváš?
Pro nás je to výraz, ať už jde o hněv, umění, násilí, krutost, může to být filozofie? Pokud v některých případech jde dokonce o prohlášení zásad, z naší strany to vždy byl způsob, jak vyjádřit naše uznání různých dogmat a frustrace z vnějším systémů, ne v politickém smyslu, ale spíše v kulturním smyslu, s ohledem na viníkovou sociální strukturu vnějším tou hanebnou organizací, kterou všichni znají...
Toto je death metal, smrt, nenávist a destrukce.
Na závěr klasická, ale důležitá otázka. Co chystají INFERNAL THORNS v nejbližších měsících? Kde vás můžeme vidět na koncertě a kdy navštívíte Evropu? Pokud chceš něco vzkázat fanouškům, labelům, promotérům, tak zde je prostor…
V příštích několika měsících nás čeká spousta propagace posledního alba, několik akcí a natáčení druhého videoklipu, jeden už máme k písni „Christ Distressed“. Na příští rok máme v plánu živé nahrávání, kde nahrajeme skladby ze všech našich alb, abychom je mohli prezentovat na YouTube a možná je vydat na CD s 4 bonusovými skladbami, které jsme již nahráli a uložili. V dohledné budoucnosti, doufejme že příští rok, máme v plánu navštívit Evropu, a pokud se k nám připojí promotéři, tím lépe, jsme vždy otevřeni jednání.
Děkuji moc za rozhovor. Přeji nejen nové desce spoustu úspěchů a ať se co nejvíc rozšíří řady vašich fanoušků. Budu se těšit někde naživo a ať se vám daří jak po hudební stránce, tak i v osobní rovině. Jdu si „Christus Venari“ zase narvat do hlavy!
Moc děkujeme za zájem o kapelu a za příležitost, kterou jste nám dali, abychom se mohli představit. Doufáme, že se jednoho dne potkáme a budeme si moci dát spoustu piv, jak se patří. Zdravíme všechny fanoušky a sledujte nás na sociálních sítích, abyste byli v obraze! \m/
Vždycky jsem přemýšlel, kde se bere zlo. Takové to hnusné, opravdové, šílené, zničující. Hledal jsem ve starých kobkách, četl jsem pradávné spisy, Navštívil jsem domy plné šílenství, ale nakonec jsem zjistil, že se ukrývá v každém z nás. Záleží jen na příležitosti a schopnosti ovládat naší mysl. Vím to já, ví to i španělští tmáři AKOUPHENOM (AkoúΦenom). Kapela, která díky své muzice jasně definuje temnotu i chlad. I letos se jedná o nekompromisní, propracovanou a pro mě osobně velmi návykovou záležitost.
Kapelu jsem objevil více méně náhodou, když jsem se zase jednou toulal v podzemí. Nahlížel jsem do kobek, nasával pach smrti, užíval si utrpení prokletých. Na jednom starém pohřebišti jsem našel dávno opuštěný hrob, na kterém byl stejnojmenný nápis. Ihned jsem si nahrávku opatřil a sedl si k reproduktorům. Chvíli jsem nasával atmosféru, nechal hudbu, aby mě přesvědčila na svoji stranu. Na stěnách začaly tančit stíny a na podlaze se objevila zkažená krev. Věděl jsem, že jsem zde správně. Tohle je přesně black a death metal podle mého gusta. Když nastal ten správný čas, začal jsem psát tuhle recenzi.
Pánové mají na svém kontě již jedno dlouhohrající album a také EP. Určitě si jejich diskografii zkompletujte, rozhodně stojí za to. Pojďme ale k letošní novince. Ta je po okraj narvaná morbidními motivy, má ostrý a chladný zvuk i zajímavý motiv na obalu. Po formální stránce bylo splněno vše na výbornou. Jako fanoušek se tak můžu soustředit na hudbu samotnou. Ta je magická, podmanivá, ušpiněná sírou. Líbí se mi, jakým způsobem kapela přistupuje k extrémnímu metalu. Věřím jim každý tón, notu, každý úder bicích i výkřik do tmy. Sestupte dolů, do podzemí, zapalte ohně a obětujte na oltáři všem démonům. Tohle je negace Boha, všech těch nesmyslných zákonů a pouček, tohle je obrácená modlitba, šílený výlet do nekonečné Hádovy říše. Nejdůležitější pro mě potom je, že mě baví nahrávku poslouchat, rád se k ní vracím, dávám si ji s chutí v každou denní dobu, ale nejlépe stejně vynikne, když se setmí, stíny se začnou prodlužovat a ulicemi se toulají přízraky. "Connections to the Erebus" je přesně tím druhem neklidného černého kovu smrti, který se vám zadře pod kůži i do podvědomí postupně. Chce to chvilku čas, aby vynikly jednotlivé nuance. Když vydržíte, budete po zásluze odměnění velmi krutým, ohavným a děsivým zážitkem. Psal jsem to již mnohokrát, poslouchám hudbu hlavně srdcem a jako starý metalový pes dávám téhle smečce vysokou známku kvality. Klidně vám to podepíšu vlastní krví. Vždycky jsem přemýšlel, kde se bere zlo. Takové to hnusné, opravdové, šílené, zničující. Hledal jsem ve starých kobkách, četl jsem pradávné spisy, Navštívil jsem domy plné šílenství, ale nakonec jsem zjistil, že se ukrývá v každém z nás. Nihilistický, divoký a chladný black death metal plný špíny a zkažené krve! Démoni se znovu probudili!
Asphyx says:
I have always wondered where evil comes from. The ugly, real, crazy, destructive kind. I searched old dungeons, read ancient writings, visited houses full of madness, but in the end I discovered that it hides within each of us. It just depends on the opportunity and the ability to control our minds. I know this, and so do the Spanish darksters AKOUPHENOM (AkoúΦenom). A band that clearly defines darkness and coldness through its music. This year, too, it is an uncompromising, sophisticated and, for me personally, very addictive affair.
I discovered the band more or less by accident when I was wandering around the underground once again. I looked into the dungeons, inhaled the smell of death, and enjoyed the suffering of the damned. In an old burial ground, I found a long-abandoned grave with an inscription of the same name. I immediately got hold of the recording and sat down by the speakers. I took in the atmosphere for a while, letting the music win me over. Shadows began to dance on the walls and rotten blood appeared on the floor. I knew I was in the right place. This is exactly the kind of black and death metal I like. When the time was right, I started writing this review.
The guys already have one full-length album and an EP under their belt. Be sure to complete your discography, it's definitely worth it. But let's move on to this year's new release. It's packed to the brim with morbid motifs, has a sharp and cold sound, and an interesting cover design. Formally, everything has been done perfectly. As a fan, I can focus on the music itself. It is magical, captivating, and tainted with sulfur. I like the band's approach to extreme metal. I believe every tone, every note, every drum beat, and every scream into the darkness. Descend into the underground, light the fires, and sacrifice to all the demons on the altar. This is the negation of God, of all those meaningless laws and precepts; this is a reverse prayer, a mad journey into the endless realm of Hades. The most important thing for me is that I enjoy listening to the recording, I like to come back to it, I enjoy it at any time of the day, but it stands out best when it gets dark, the shadows begin to lengthen, and ghosts roam the streets. "Connections to the Erebus" is exactly the kind of restless black metal of death that gradually gets under your skin and into your subconscious. It takes a while for the individual nuances to stand out. If you persevere, you will be rewarded with a very cruel, hideous, and terrifying experience. I've written this many times before, I listen to music mainly with my heart, and as an old metalhead, I give this pack a high mark for quality. I'll gladly sign it with my own blood. I've always wondered where evil comes from. The ugly, real, crazy, destructive kind. I searched old dungeons, read ancient writings, visited houses full of madness, but in the end I discovered that it lurks within each of us. Nihilistic, wild, and cold black death metal full of filth and rotten blood! The demons have awakened again!
Vysoko v horách, tam kde leží mršiny na skalách, jsem našel jedno staré pohřebiště. Usedl jsem na pradávný oltář, na kterém byly ještě stopy krve. Měl jsem ve sluchátkách nové album chilských maniaků INFERNAL THORNS. Kapely, která hraje pravověrný death metal způsobem, že při něm ožívají staré rituály. Cítil jsem, že je smrt zase jednou velmi blízko. Stačilo mi několik poslechů, abych věděl, že jsme jedné krve. Hudba se mi dostala postupně do žil a pokaždé, když se k albu vrátím, vidím před sebou nebohé tváře obětí. Kněz znovu pozvedá ostrý nůž.
Přiznám se, že je to moje první setkání s kapelou a ihned jsem si musel sehnat i předchozí nahrávky. Doporučuji vám to také, protože jinak byste přišli o spoustu morbidních zážitků. Letos pánové vydávají již třetí dlouhohrající album. Nutno rovnou dodat, že se jedná o velmi povedený materiál po všech stránkách. Poslouchejte hodně nahlas, jedině tak naplno vyniknou mrtvolné nuance jednotlivých skladeb.
Je zde velice zkušeně a naléhavě kombinován starý prašivý death metal s chladným blackem. Je tak činěno podobným způsobem, jako to činily kapely typu NECROPHOBIC, případně ATOMIC AGGRESSOR. Netřeba ale hudbu těchto tmářů k někomu přirovnávat. Kapela má svůj vlastní výraz, postupy, je zajímavá ze své podstaty. Ostatně, jinak bych o ní nepsal. Hodně se mi líbí ostrý a divoký zvuk. Je pod ním podepsán Seba Puente, který stejně, jako autor motivu na obalu, odvedl perfektní práci. Neznám nic lepšího, než zhasnout všechna světla a stále dokola poslouchat "Christus Venari". Líbí se mi, že pokaždé objevím něco nového, nějaký zajímavý moment. Mraky jsou zase nízko a probudím se ze zlého snu. Musím jít. Vysoko ho hor, na staré pohřebiště, na místa, na kterých byly prováděny šílené rituály plné krve a utrpení. Satan zase jednou sedí na svém trůnu a usmívá se. Má důvod, tohle je totiž album, které je po okraj narvané tlakem a zkaženou energií. Hoří zevnitř, roztrhá vás, dostane se vám do podvědomí. Jako nějaká stará choroba. Maso vám odpadá od kostí, ve vnitřnostech budete mít oheň. INFERNAL THORNS jsou pro mě velkým překvapením letošního roku a už teď vím, že se k jejich novince budu ještě hodně dlouho vracet. Má v sobě totiž vše potřebné pro záhrobní rituály. Navíc mě opravdu baví poslouchat. Vysoko v horách, tam kde leží mršiny na skalách, jsem našel jedno staré pohřebiště. Usedl jsem na pradávný oltář, na kterém byly ještě stopy krve. Myslím si, že opět nastal čas. Znovu zapínám play a jsem v jiném, děsivějším světě. Black death metalový rituál! Démonické, divoké a nespoutané album plné chladu a reálné kruté smrti!
Asphyx says:
High in the mountains, where carcasses lie on the rocks, I found an old burial ground. I sat down on an ancient altar, which still bore traces of blood. I had the new album by Chilean maniacs INFERNAL THORNS in my headphones. A band that plays orthodox death metal in a way that brings old rituals back to life. I felt that death was once again very close. It only took me a few listens to know that we were of the same blood. The music gradually got into my veins, and every time I return to the album, I see the poor faces of the victims in front of me. The priest raises his sharp knife again.
I admit that this is my first encounter with the band, and I immediately had to get their previous recordings. I recommend you do the same, because otherwise you would miss out on a lot of morbid experiences. This year, the gentlemen are releasing their third full-length album. It must be said right away that it is very well done in every respect. Listen to it loud, as this is the only way to fully appreciate the corpse-like nuances of the individual songs.
Here, old dusty death metal is very expertly and urgently combined with cold black metal. It is done in a similar way to bands like NECROPHOBIC or ATOMIC AGGRESSOR. But there is no need to compare the music of these dark ones to anyone. The band has its own expression, methods, it is interesting in its essence. After all, otherwise I would not write about it. I really like the sharp and wild sound. It is signed by Seba Puente, who, like the author of the motif on the cover, did a perfect job. I know of nothing better than turning off all the lights and listening to "Christus Venari" over and over again. I like that every time I discover something new, some interesting moment. The clouds are low again and I wake up from a bad dream. I have to go. High up in the mountains, to the old cemetery, to the places where crazy rituals full of blood and suffering were performed. Satan sits on his throne once again and smiles. There's a reason, this is an album that is packed to the brim with pressure and corrupted energy. It burns from the inside, it tears you apart, it gets into your subconscious. Like some old disease. The flesh falls off your bones, you'll have fire in your guts. INFERNAL THORNS are a big surprise for me this year and I already know that I'll be coming back to their new album for a long time. It has everything you need for afterlife rituals. Plus, I really enjoy listening to it. High in the mountains, where carcasses lie on the rocks, I found an old burial ground. I sat down on an ancient altar, which still had traces of blood on it. I think it's time again. I turn on the play again and I'm in another, scarier world. Black death metal ritual! A demonic, wild and unbridled album full of cold and real cruel death!
Celou noc jsem, ostatně jako obvykle, strávil v záhrobí. Naslouchal jsem šepotu nemrtvých, bál se řevu bestie, našlapoval jsem opatrně, abych nenarušil spánek démonů. Mezi těly v různém stádiu rozkladu jsem hledal hudbu, která mi koluje v žilách. Opravdový, reálný, surový death metal ze staré školy. Našel jsem jej v kobce s názvem DECEDENT. Opět a znovu každé ráno uléhám do své oblíbené rakve. Tentokrát s úsměvem na tváři, našel jsem hudbu, kterou definovala samotná smrt.
Pečliví čtenáři našich stránek moc dobře ví, že jsem o téhle kapele již psal (recenzi dohledáte dole, pod dnešním článkem). Gentlemani z Michiganu volně navazují tam, kde minule přestali. V naprosté tmě, v hlubokém podzemí, kde po stěnách stéká hnis a zkažená krev. Tohle je smrtící kov, který vám poláme všechny kosti v těle a lebka vám pukne tlakem.
Vše je tu náležitě hnusné, ohavné, morbidní. Zvuk je rezavý a prašivý jako urna, ve které vás možná jednou pohřbí. Pokud tedy nebudete mít to štěstí a nezemřete v dřevěné rakvi, uložený v zemi zaživa. Kapela na to jde nekompromisně, ostře a divoce, nezapomíná ale ani na temné a chladné melodie. Pokud jste, stejně jako já, starý fanoušek nebo se vám jenom líbí perfektně zahraná stará škola podobným způsobem, jako to uměly a umí kapely typu ROTTREVORE, DISMA, FUNEBRARUM, ABHORRENCE, INCANTATION, OBITUARY, PESTILENCE, BOLT THROWER, UNDERGANG, CONTAMINATED, potom bych vás rád na tomhle obřadu plném krve a násilí přivítal s otevřenou náručí. Budete určitě spokojeni. Ano, hudba je zde krutě podmanivá, někdy mám dokonce pocit, že mě během poslechu objímá samotná dáma s kosou. Já vím, kapela rozhodně nepřináší nic nového do záhrobí, ale o to tu ani nejde. Hlavní je, že mě nové, první dlouhohrající album "For Those in Shallow Graves" baví poslouchat. Nalezl jsem si v něm totiž všechno, co mám na tomhle stylu tolik rád. Tlak a energii, tmu i chlad. Vždy mi jde u hudby o předané emoce a atmosféru a tu umí vytvořit DECEDENT na výbornou. A tak se zase jednou kývám spokojeně do rytmu a je mi úplně jednou, že se svět točí úplně jiným směrem. Zkrátka a dobře, pokud chcete muziku, která vám vyrve všechny vnitřnosti z těla, jste tu správně. Celou noc jsem, ostatně jako obvykle, strávil v záhrobí. Naslouchal jsem šepotu nemrtvých, bál se řevu bestie, našlapoval jsem opatrně, abych nenarušil spánek démonů. Mezi těly v různém stádiu rozkladu jsem hledal hudbu, která mi koluje v žilách. Našel jsem ji. Hnilobou a zkaženou krví nasáklý prašivý death metal, u kterého budete pohřbeni zaživa!
Asphyx says:
I spent the whole night, as usual, in the underworld. I listened to the whispers of the undead, feared the roar of the beast, and treaded carefully so as not to disturb the demons' sleep. Among the bodies in various stages of decay, I searched for the music that flows through my veins. Real, raw, old-school death metal. I found it in a dungeon called DECEDENT. Again and again, every morning, I lie down in my favorite coffin. This time with a smile on my face, I found music defined by death itself.
Careful readers of our website know very well that I have already written about this band (you can find the review below, under today's article). The gentlemen from Michigan pick up where they left off last time. In complete darkness, deep underground, where pus and rotten blood run down the walls. This is deadly metal that will break every bone in your body and crack your skull with pressure.
Everything here is appropriately disgusting, hideous, and morbid. The sound is rusty and mangy like the urn in which you may one day be buried. That is, if you are not lucky enough to die in a wooden coffin, buried alive in the ground. The band goes at it uncompromisingly, sharply, and wildly, but doesn't forget the dark and cold melodies. If, like me, you're an old fan or just like perfectly played old school in a similar way to bands like ROTTREVORE, DISMA, FUNEBRARUM, ABHORRENCE, INCANTATION, OBITUARY, PESTILENCE, BOLT THROWER, UNDERGANG, CONTAMINATED, then I would like to welcome you with open arms to this ceremony full of blood and violence. You will definitely be satisfied. Yes, the music here is cruelly captivating, sometimes I even feel like the Grim Reaper herself is embracing me while I listen. I know, the band definitely doesn't bring anything new to the grave, but that's not the point. The main thing is that I enjoy listening to their new, first full-length album, "For Those in Shallow Graves". I found everything I love so much about this style in it. The pressure and energy, the darkness and coldness. For me, music is always about the emotions and atmosphere it conveys, and DECEDENT does that excellently. And so, once again, I nod contentedly to the rhythm and don't care that the world is spinning in a completely different direction. In short, if you want music that will rip your guts out, you've come to the right place. I spent the whole night, as usual, in the underworld. I listened to the whispers of the undead, feared the roar of the beast, and treaded carefully so as not to disturb the sleep of the demons. Among the bodies in various stages of decomposition, I searched for the music that flows through my veins. I found it. Rotten and blood-soaked death metal that will bury you alive!
Ave DAGON! Greetings to the French underworld and thank you very much for your resurrection. When I went to pick up your compilation from the mailbox, I was very curious. And I must say that I am literally thrilled. You play old school death metal exactly to my taste. It seems that we are of the same blood. Please tell us why you have only released two demo recordings and one split album in your entire existence? And what was the reason you decided to break the wall of silence this year and release a new CD after so many years? Why this year?
Guillaume: Hi Jakub, and thank you for this interview. The reason Dagon only released 2 demos and 2 tracks on a compilation CD is that in its first incarnation, the band had a very short life. François, who has always been the main creative force behind Dagon, sensed the end of the first wave of death metal at the time. Rather than changing the style to please the audience, he preferred to stop the band, feeling we hadn’t caught the right wave.
Back then, without the internet, we didn’t get much feedback on our music (apart from label rejections :-) ), and since François wanted to move quickly, I think it discouraged him a bit. He was handling everything himself, and without speaking for him, I think he’d had enough. On top of that, some members were starting to work, I was becoming a student… the usual reasons bands break up!
We reunited 30 years later thanks to the initiative of the label Xenokorp, which wanted to reissue Bound to Mutation back in 2022, and the interest of the French YouTube channel Voyage au centre de la scène, which made a short feature on us. In the end, the release on Xenokorp didn’t happen, and some time later Raph from Great Dane Records reached out to me. By the time everything was set up, the reissue came out this year.
In my review, I wrote that when I went to the mailbox to pick up your CD, which Raphael from GREAT DANE RECORDS sent me, I didn't know you at all. Yet in 1992, you released a split with SUPURATION and PUTRID OFFAL, which, by the way, I have loved since my youth. Will you please take us back to the good old days and reminisce? How did DAGON actually come about, who inspired you back then? Please walk us through the history of your band.
Dagon, which wasn’t even called Dagon back then, was formed at the very end of 1989 by François, who brought in Franck on drums and Gérald on guitar. At that time, the band didn’t have a bassist or a singer.
I met François through his cousin, who was in my class, at a concert he was organizing in his hometown of Bruay, in the north of France. François used to organize a lot of concerts back then. That particular show featured Coroner, Watchtower, Tankard, Loudblast, and Death Power (you can see the poster here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7J3TVLnVh/).
As I mentioned, the band didn’t have a singer or bassist yet, and I had just finished a small experience as a singer in a thrash band at my high school. So I offered my services to François, who invited me to an audition. I got along well with everyone, and they decided to keep me as the singer.
At the time, the band was more thrash than death metal. Our influences included Kreator, Slayer, Coroner, but also the early albums of Death and Pestilence. Shortly after I joined, we recorded the rehearsal tape Four Paths to Lunacy as a kind of calling card to find a bassist. This first demo is quite thrash, but when listening back for the reissue, you can clearly hear Chuck Schuldiner’s influence and, already, François’s talent as a composer!
If I'm not mistaken, only guitarist François Janquin and singer Guillaume Lefebvre remain from the original lineup of DAGON. But other members also played on the demo recordings. How does it work with copyrights and such? I'm not very familiar with this, but did you have to get permission from the other members in order to release the compilation?
Since François is the sole composer of the band, and most of the lyrics were written either by him or by me, we didn’t really need to ask anyone for permission. Moreover, when the band reunited, the former members were involved in the project and were aware of the reissue.
It can be found that three new members joined the lineup this year (source: Encyklopedia Metallum). Does that mean that DAGON started playing again? Did you become an active band again after years of hibernation?
Yes, we are active again. At the time of the reunion, we got back together with three original members: Franck on drums, Gérald, who had switched to bass, and Étienne on second guitar. After a few ups and downs and lineup changes, the band stabilized with François Janquin (guitar), Valère Lefebvre (guitar), Caspar De Gruil (bass), Pierre Facon (drums, ex-Death Control, ex-Hast), and Guillaume Lefebvre (vocals).
Since then, we’ve played about ten shows, including gigs with Left to Die, Incantation, and Agressor in Lille, as well as with Misanthrope and Bliss of Flesh at the Haeresis Festival.
I'm a little confused about this. I don't know the old demo recordings, and the new CD sounds dirty and has that great old school patina, but it's still not as "dirty" as the recordings used to be. What formats did you actually have the demos in? How did you approach mastering? Or are the songs re-recorded with new band members?
No, the tracks haven’t been re-recorded; they were remastered by a contact Raph from Great Dane Records usually works with for his label. They did a great job, considering our only sources were old cassettes (except for the two tracks from the Obscurum per Obscurius compilation, which had been released on CD). So it still has that vintage feel, but the songs were slightly boosted by the remastering. Raph handled this technical part himself, as he’s used to it, and we think the result sounds pretty cool!
What were your beginnings as a musician? How did you actually get into death metal? What was your first performance? What was the first concert you attended? Who influenced you the most in the beginning? Do you have any formal musical education?
In the band, Valère and I are the only members without formal musical training. Pierre and Caspar both went to conservatories and are music teachers, and François also attended a music school and is an accomplished musician.
As for how I got into death metal—speaking for myself—I started listening to heavy metal with bands like Iron Maiden and Scorpions when I was 11 or 12. A bit later, a friend from school introduced me to Metallica and Megadeth, and then I discovered the whole wave of German thrash metal with Kreator, Destruction, and so on. In Lille, there was already Loudblast, which was my first death metal concert (though I had already seen Coroner opening for Motörhead in 1988 or ’89).
Regarding death metal itself, the first three albums I listened to were Leprosy by Death, Consuming Impulse by Pestilence and Schizophrenia by Sepultura. I saw Sepultura in Belgium during the Beneath the Remains tour, and Massacra was also on the bill that day. After that, I saw almost every band of the era, because Lille, where I live, is close to Belgium, and all the bands would play there.
It's probably like this (and I see it in my friends too), that when you grow up with a certain kind of music, it stays in your blood forever. I go to festivals, I meet and hear a lot of great young bands, but then some old bards come along, often tired, and they blow me away. What I remember about the nineties is that what was great about them was that every band sounded different. To this day, I can recognize a few notes of old MERCYLESS when I hear them somewhere. How do you perceive death metal in the context of the times? Do you follow new trends, bands, are you still an active listener, or are you just an old-timer? I'm not really into those generic, artificial technical death metal bands. They bore me, I can't help it. They have no soul, no drive... well, some of them...
Over the years, I’ve broadened my musical horizons considerably and listen to a wide variety of styles. But when it comes to death metal, I still have a strong preference for the old school—bands like Death, Obituary, Entombed, Carcass, Morbid Angel, and, of course, Mercyless from France, which I absolutely love. These are timeless bands that I still enjoy seeing live whenever possible. I still have all my old vinyl records, from the most famous to the more obscure releases.
I also appreciate more recent bands. My sons listen to metal too, so I keep an eye on their tastes, which is how I discovered groups like Blood Incantation, Gatecreeper, Baest, and Nile. I’m also very fond of bands from my region, like Skelethal, whom I adore, as well as Frakasm and Mortal Scepter, who play thrash-metal.
I grew up in the socialist bloc, many recordings only reached us after several years, and our society is still marked by this mess today. Metal was rebellion for us, we were young, we wanted to be different. We waited for hours in front of the store and then often left disappointed because only a limited number of cassettes had arrived, so we begged for copies. We slept in sleeping bags so we could be the first to get the new Sodom. But those are my memories, what are yours? I'd be interested to know what it was like in France in the 1990s?
I got into metal around the age of 11 or 12, but I really started listening seriously around 15, so in 1987. I experienced the explosion of thrash first, and a bit later, death metal. It was an amazing time, full of energy and excitement. In France, though, there weren’t that many of us listening to it, and while the big releases were relatively easy to find, smaller bands were often harder to track down. Plus, you had to have the money to buy all those records, so my friends and I had a system: each of us would buy one record per month and record it onto cassette for the others.
I discovered many bands thanks to radio shows as well. And in the early ’90s, there was an amazing metal record store in Lille called Underground Records. It was like a little paradise, and all the bands would cross paths there. That’s actually how the Obscurum per Obscurius CD compilation came about, for example. We even ended up rehearsing there with Dagon, renting Loudblast’s practice space. It’s a really great memory. Looking back, we were pretty lucky!
There were also a lot of interesting bands in France at the time: Nomed, Massacra, Loudblast, Death Power, Agressor, Supuration, Mercyless… It wasn’t easy for them, but they still managed to tour.
I'm always interested in how the band and musicians perceive the current situation on the scene. I really like France as a country. I've been there several times, and even though I don't drink much wine, I've always been thrilled by the sights, the people, the atmosphere, and even the underground scene. But that's my view from the outside. How do you perceive your current scene? By the way, your women are really beautiful, no question about it!
I don’t drink much wine either—our region in the north leans more toward beer, a bit like over there, right?
As for the scene, metal tours have always tended to skip France. Usually it’s just a date in Paris, and maybe two or three other cities if you’re lucky. Here in Lille, where I live, it’s not too bad—there are quite a few shows, whether in large venues or smaller clubs. We have a club called the Black Lab with a great metal and hardcore lineup; that’s where we played with Left to Die, Incantation, and Agressor. And in Belgium, there are always lots of shows as well.
Regarding the French scene itself, compared to Dagon’s first period when there were already quite a few bands, I’d say there are now a huge number of groups, across all styles. And something that didn’t really exist back then are the big-name acts that tour even abroad. I’m thinking of Gojira, of course, but also Alcest, Gorod, Igorrr, Year of No Light, The Great Old Ones, or Black Bomb A (in a more hardcore style), and let’s not forget Loudblast and Mercyless, who are still around!
Overall, bands are much more professional than they used to be, and there’s a lot more media coverage now, thanks to the web.
A lot has changed since I started listening to metal. We have new technologies, Spotify, the internet, everything is more chaotic. I don't see it so much anymore and I tell myself that I should resign, lock myself away in a cabin in the woods and just listen to old recordings and read. But I can't, I still enjoy it immensely. People, clubs, beer, girls, new and old bands, it's simply my life. How do you perceive music? How would you define death metal? What does it mean to you? Is it a hobby, a lifestyle? Feel free to engage in philosophical reflections.
For me, music is more than sound, it’s life, my life. Over the years, I’ve broadened my tastes, but old-school death metal will always have a special place in my heart. I still love catching both classic and new bands live, and you’ll always see me in band shirts with long hair, because metal isn’t just music, it’s a way of expressing who I am.
Death metal, and music in general, is both a hobby and a lifestyle. It’s about energy, intensity, creativity, and sharing the experience with people at shows, clubs, and festivals, it’s about feeling alive. It’s also about a connection to the past, those first albums, that thrill of discovery, and the community that formed around it.
I still follow new bands too, through my sons’ tastes as i said or the modern underground scene, but the core of it, the passion and the soul, is what keeps me hooked. The scene has changed: it’s more organized and planned than before, which can make some bands feel less spontaneous, but the essence remains. Death metal is history, life, and energy, it’s in your blood forever, and I could never give it up.
Times have changed not only in terms of the fact that listeners today have a wide range of options for accessing music, but also in terms of how music itself is recorded. Completely new studio technologies, digitization, various editing techniques, etc. Have you noticed these changes? As a musician, do you keep up with what's new? And do you like it? Or are you more into the classics, traditional methods?
When it comes to recording and studio techniques, we have a lot of catching up to do with Dagon. Our methods are pretty much stuck in the past… well, 30 years in the past, in fact! It takes us ages to record new material because we’re not really used to modern approaches. We’re definitely old school in that sense.
That said, we’re ready to embrace it. We have about ten new songs waiting to be recorded, and a new album is in the works for Great Dane Records. So even if it’s a learning curve, we’re excited to dive in and see how far we can push our sound with today’s tools.
Before I forget... Will "Aeonthology 1990-1992" also be released on vinyl? I think fans would definitely appreciate it and it would be a beautiful collector's item.
Great Dane Records will release a very limited vinyl edition, so fans (if we have any) shouldn’t wait too long to get their copy. I’m sure Raph will give you a heads-up in time!
Does DAGON play live? I imagine a small club, around 200 people, a great atmosphere. I'd love to see you in concert sometime. How about a tour?
Even back then, live shows were our priority, and that hasn’t changed. Between 1990 and 1992, we played over 20 concerts, sharing the stage with bands like Loudblast, Agressor, Mercyless, Cannibal Corpse, Sadus, Samael, Massacra, and Supuration.
Since our return, we’ve played around ten shows, including gigs with Left to Die, Incantation, and Agressor in Lille, Sumus Diabolus Incarnatus in Béthune, and more recently at the Haeresis Festival alongside Misanthrope, Bliss of Flesh, and a few others.
We try to play at least one show a month and are open to all kinds of opportunities. We don’t have anything against touring, but we all have jobs, and Valère, our second guitarist, is still a student. That said, as I mentioned, we’re open to anything, like doing a 3-4 date run over a long weekend? Why not? There are also lots of metal festivals these days, and being able to play at few of them is one of our goals.
Do you have any other plans for DAGON in the future? Or was this year's compilation just a dream come true and you're not planning anything else? If you have a message for fans, labels, promoters, here's the space.
This reissue was definitely a dream come true, thanks to Great Dane Records, and it’s been amazing. Now, after a 30-year break, we want to pick up the pace and start releasing new material regularly, that’s what drives us. I think it will also make it easier for us to book shows. So if anyone is interested in having Dagon play, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
As for releases, we’re very happy with Great Dane Records, they take great care of us.
Actually, I have to thank both DAGON for the interview and especially for the music, as well as Raphael, who broadened my horizons by sending me your CD for review. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it. I'm an old archivist and fan, and as such, I really appreciate your words. I wish you success as musicians and in your personal lives. I'm going to put on "Aeonthology 1990-1992" and forget about the strange world we live in for a while!
Thank you very much for your kind words and for your very interesting questions, I hope you will like the answers!
