Interview with death metal band from USA - GENOCIDE PACT.
Translated Duzl, thank you!
Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.
Ave GENOCIDE PACT! I haven’t
found any interview in the Czech language with you, yet. So please, first
introduce the band to our readers who don’t know you. You could start from the
early beginnings and describe the whole GENOCIDE PACT history.
Genocide Pact formed in
Washington, DC (USA) in early 2013. We play heavy fuckin’ Death Metal and
that’s all there is to it. Our third LP just came out.
I’m just listening to your new
record „Genocide Pact“ and I feel like as if I am closed in some tomb together
with OBITUARY, ASPHYX, BOLT THROWER, BENEDICTION, PESTILENCE. The record has a
great sound. Where did you record it and how satisfied you are with it? Did you
have the "last word" concerning the resulting sound?
Those comparisons are all very
flattering! I love every single one of those bands.
Yeah we’re all extremely happy
with it! We worked closely with producer Kevin Bernsten to get a sound we were
all psyched on. He did a great job. I like how raw and in your face it sounds.
A lot of Death Metal is too overproduced these days for my taste… Glad we could
make a record that sounds stripped down and real.
How was the new material for
album „Genocide Pact“ created? How exactly GENOCIDE PACT writes the
music?
Tim and I get together and
just jam old-school style. No computers or click tracks, just me and him in a
room with some energy drinks and a desire to write the sickest riffs possible.
Tim does the majority of the songwriting and I’m usually the guy who arranges
stuff. We’ve always worked very well as a unit. Nolan (bassist) has written and
helped arrange stuff in the past as well, but the majority of it is Tim and I.
„Genocide Pact“ has dark and
morbid cover art. Who is an author? I really like his work. How did you
actually choose the idea of the cover and what exactly illustrates?
The author would rather not
reveal himself haha. We told him to do something that looked like an early 90’s
Earache record. I think he did a great job.
Could you reveal us who is an
author of the lyrics and what is their background? Where did you take inspiration
for certain topics?
Our singer / guitarist Tim is
the lyricist. He writes about personal struggles, society, corruption,
violence, and all the other things that plague the real world.
You play typical, classical
old school death metal. You have never changed the direction, you are let's say
„orthodox“. Personally, this is one reason why I like your music so much. But,
didn’t you think about try to play something different, somehow to make the
GENOCIDE PACT music more unusual?
Nah, we like how we do things.
What are we supposed to do… Become technical or proggy or something? We already
have more variety than I think we get credit for… Fast part, doom parts,
mid-paced parts, odd-time signatures all over the place… I don’t really know
what else we could incorporate without selling out or being cheesy. We’re fine
where we’re at.
When I look through your
albums, you really made a long journey. It is obvious that you as a band are
still working on yourself. How often do you rehearsal together? Are you a "hard-working"
band, which practices regularly or are you more „punk“ in the rehearsal
task?
We used to be a lot better
about practicing consistently, but lately we kind of only jam right before
shows. We all live in the same general area but we have different work
schedules that don’t make it easy for us to get together too often. I wish we
practiced once a week but it is what it is.
In the case of your band, it
is very good to see your development, each album is better, and you are also
gradually better and better musicians. Do you have some goal, which you would
like to achieve? Someone wants to release an album with a large label; other
wants to play on one stage with some famous band. What about you?
Honestly we’ve never really
been a goal-oriented band. Things kind of just happened naturally for us and we
never had any sort of expectations. I think that’s helped keep the band’s
intentions pure. We’re not trying to be the most popular band of all time or
anything like that, we just want to make music we like!
If there was one ultimate goal I’d say it would be touring with Carcass. That
would be absolute peak of our existence for sure.
Can you recommend some new
albums, which impressed you at the latest time?
Antichrist Siege Machine -
Purifying Blade
Mortiferum - Preserved In
Torment
Dream Unending - Tide Turns
Eternal
Primitive Man - Immersion
Miasmatic Necrosis - Apex
Profane
Hologram - No Longer Human
Gauze - 言いたかねえけど目糞鼻糞
Not sure if those are all from
2021, but I know they’re from the last couple years. All highly recommended.
Do you know and listen to some
metal bands from the Czech Republic?
I don’t actually… Wish I had a
better answer for you but I’m not very familiar with Metal from the Czech
Republic!
We are slowly approaching the
end of the interview so I would like to ask one more philosophical question.
How would you define the death metal style? What represents this music for you
and why did you choose exactly this genre?
To me Death Metal is simply
the most extreme type of music on earth. It can be ultra fast, super slow, or
crushingly mid-paced, but you know it when you hear it. The variety is part of
the reason why I like it so much… Autopsy sounds nothing like Morbid Angel,
Amorphis sounds nothing like Immolation, etc etc.
As for us, we chose to play
Death Metal because when we started the band there weren’t very many other
bands playing the style of Death Metal we love. It was all mostly crappy
overproduced Tech-Death stuff back then… We wanted to do something in the old
school style we grew up listening to.
What GENOCIDE PACT is planning
for the next few months?
In February we’re doing shows
in Florida with our brothers CAVEMAN CULT. Then we’ll be doing some other East
Coast dates and flying out to Los Angeles to play as well. Hopefully Europe
sometime in 2022 too!
Thank you for the interview
and I wish you a lot of sold CDs, hundreds of crazy fans and tons of great
ideas.
Ave GENOCIDE PACT! Nikde jsem s vámi nenašel žádný rozhovor v češtině. Poprosím tě tedy nejdřív, abys čtenářům, kteří vás ještě neznají, představil kapelu. Můžeš klidně začít úplně od začátku a provést nás celou historií GENOCIDE PACT.
GENOCIDE PACT vznikli ve Washingtonu, DC (USA) počátkem roku 2013. Hrajeme kurva death metal a to je vše. Naše třetí LP právě vyšlo.
Právě poslouchám vaši novinku „Genocide Pact“ a připadám si, jako bych byl zavřený v nějaké kobce spolu s OBITUARY, ASPHYX, BOLT THROWER, BENEDICTION, PESTILENCE. Deska má skvělý sound. Kde jste album nahrávali a jak jste s výsledkem spokojen? Mluvili jste nějak do výsledného zvuku?
Všechna ta přirovnání jsou velmi lichotivá! Miluju každou z těchto kapel. Ano, máme z toho všichni obrovskou radost! Úzce jsme spolupracovali s producentem Kevinem Bernstenem, abychom získali zvuk, který jsme chtěli. Odvedl skvělou práci. Líbí se mi, jak syrově to zní. Spousta death metalu je v dnešní době na můj vkus příliš přeprodukovaná. Jsme rádi, že jsme mohli udělat desku, která zní stroze a realisticky.
Jakým způsobem vznikal nový materiál pro „Genocide Pact“? Jak vlastně tvoří/skládají GENOCIDE PACT?
Tim a já se sejdeme a prostě jamujeme oldschoolový styl. Žádné počítače nebo metronom, jen já a on v místnosti s nějakými energetickými nápoji a touhou psát ty nejmorbidnější možné riffy. Tim složí většinu skladeb a já jsem obvykle ten, kdo aranžuje. Společně nám to vždy fungovalo dobře. Nolan (basák) v minulosti také psal a pomáhal aranžovat věci, ale většinu tvoříme Tim a já.
„Genocide Pact“ má temný morbidní obal. Kdo je pod ním podepsán? Jeho práce se mi líbí, Jak jste vůbec nápad na obal vybírali a co má znázorňovat?
Autor chce raději zůstat neodhalen, haha. Řekli jsme mu, aby udělal něco, co vypadá jako deska Earache z počátku 90. let. Myslím, že odvedl skvělou práci.
Kdo je autorem textů a o čem pojednávají? Kde pro témata berete inspiraci?
Textařem je náš zpěvák/kytarista Tim. Píše o osobních problémech, společnosti, korupci, násilí a všech dalších věcech, které sužují reálný svět.
Hrajete typický, klasický starý death metal. Nikdy jste z téhle cesty neuhnuli, jste „ortodoxní“. Osobně je to jeden z důvodů, proč se mi vaše tvorba tolik líbí, ale nelákalo vás někdy zkusit hrát něco trošku jiného, nějak tvorbu GENOCIDE PACT ozvláštnit?
Ne, líbí se nám, jak věci děláme. Co máme udělat? Stát se technickými, progresivními, nebo tak něco? Už teď jsme dost rozmanití... rychlé party, doomové party, party ve středním tempu, liché party všude kolem… Opravdu nevím, co dalšího bychom mohli začlenit, aniž bychom se zaprodali nebo nebyli kýčovití. . Je nám dobře tam, kde jsme.
Když si projíždím vaši tvorbu, ušli jste opravdu dlouhou cestu. Je hodně znát, že na sobě jako kapela pracujete. Jak často vlastně GENOCIDE PACT zkouší? Jste poctivou skupinou, která se pravidelně schází, nebo jste spíš pankáči, kteří tomu nechávají volný průběh?
Dřív jsme byli ve zkoušení mnohem důslednější, ale v poslední době jamujeme jen těsně před vystoupením. Všichni žijeme ve stejné oblasti, ale máme různé pracovní doby, které nám znesnadňují scházet se příliš často. Přál bych si, abychom zkoušeli jednou týdně, ale je to holt tak, jak to je.
Na vaší kapele je opravdu vidět, jak se každé album postupně zlepšujete, vyvíjíte, jste stále lepší. Máte nějaký cíl, kterého byste chtěli dosáhnout? Pro někoho to je slavné vydavatelství, jiný si chce třeba zahrát se slavnou kapelu.
Upřímně jsme nikdy nebyli kapela orientovaná na cíle. Věci se pro nás dějí tak nějak přirozeně a nikdy jsme neměli žádná očekávání. Myslím, že to pomohlo udržet záměry kapely čisté. Nesnažíme se být nejpopulárnější kapelou všech dob nebo něco podobného, jen chceme dělat hudbu, která se nám líbí! Kdyby existoval jeden jediný konečný cíl, řekl bych, že by to bylo turné s CARCASS. To by byl určitě absolutní vrchol naší existence.
Jsou nějaké desky, které tě v poslední době oslovily?
Antichrist Siege Machine - Purifying Blade, Mortiferum - Preserved In Torment, Dream Unending - Tide Turns Eternal, Primitive Man – Immersion, Miasmatic Necrosis - Apex Profane, Hologram - No Longer Human, Gauze – 言いたかねえけど目糞鼻糞. Nejsem si jistý, jestli jsou všechny z roku 2021, ale vím, že jsou z posledních pár let. Vše rozhodně doporučuji!
Znáš, posloucháš nějaké kapely z České republiky?
Vlastně ne... Kéž bych pro vás měl lepší odpověď, ale metal z České republiky moc neznám!
Blížíme se k závěru a tak bych zkusil jednu více filozofickou otázku. Jak byste definovali styl zvaný death metal? Čím pro vás tato hudba je a proč jste si vybrali právě tento styl?
Death Metal je pro mě prostě ten nejextrémnější typ hudby na světě. Může to být ultra rychlé, super pomalé nebo vražedné střední tempo, ale poznáte to, jakmile to uslyšíte. Rozmanitost je jedním z důvodů, proč se mi to tak líbí… Autopsy nezní jako Morbid Angel, Amorphis nezní jako Immolation atd. Pokud jde o nás, rozhodli jsme se hrát death metal, protože když jsme s kapelou začínali, nebylo moc dalších kapel, které by hrály ten druh death metalu, který milujeme. Tehdy to všechno byly většinou mizerné přeprodukované tech-death...věci. Chtěli jsme udělat něco ve stylu staré školy, na kterém jsme vyrostli.
Co chystají GENOCIDE PACT v nejbližších měsících?
V únoru vystupujeme na Floridě s našimi bratry CAVEMAN CULT. Pak budeme mít další koncert na východním pobřeží a poletíme hrát také do Los Angeles. Doufejme, že klapne v roce 2022 i Evropa!
Děkuji za rozhovor a přeji spoustu prodaných nosičů, stovky šílených fanoušků a tuny dobrých nápadů.
REEK - Porn for Satan CD 2021, Iron, Blood and Death Corporation
for english please scroll down
Když odsekáváte zmrzlé maso od kostí, tak potřebujete ostrý nůž. K tomu by vám měla hrát nějaká pořádná, poctivá muzika. My, staří hrobníci, moc dobře víme, že velmi vhodný bývá hnilobný švédský death´n´roll. Netřeba chodit nikam daleko, letos je tu s novým albem skupina REEK. A opět se jedná o pořádný náklad plesnivého masa. Pokud tedy máte chuť, jste zváni na nekonečný večírek do dávno opuštěné márnice.
Podávat se budou ledové riffy, chorobný vokál a drtivé bicí. Alkohol poteče proudem a tančit s námi budou jen ty nejkrásnější zombie. Nic neřešit, jen přidávat postupně volume, až se nám hlava rozskočí na tisíc kousků. To není v současném šíleném světě zase tak málo, co říkáte? REEK to se mnou opět umí, znovu mě rozsekali a pohřbili zaživa.
REEK na to jdou podobně jako ENTOMBED, nověji třeba THE GENERALS, TURBOCHARGED. Nesmí samozřejmě chybět mrazivý zvuk, připomínající chřestění s pytlem plným kostí. Také spousta rock´n´rollových prvků. Songy tak nepostrádají potřebný drive a sílu. Líbí se mi i nadsázka, se kterou jdou pánové na trh. Kapela si na nic nehraje, hází mezi nás jak smradlavé syrové maso jeden morbidní flák za druhým a nám nezbývá nic jiného, než tančit až do úplného konce. Tihle gentlemani přesně ví, jak na to, mají tento druh muziky v krvi, zakódováno v genech. Zatímco si mladí metalisté fotí nekonečnou řadu zcela zbytečných selfie, REEK vám nakopou zadky. Dokáží být špinaví, devastující, rychlí jako smrt sežehnutím. S provedením nemám absolutně žádný problém. "Porn for Satan" si neskutečně užívám. Jako bych se vrátil do starých dobrých časů, když se pohřbívalo zásadně jen do země. To aby byla mrtvola dobře uleželá, než dojde k exhumaci. Od téhle desky lítají jiskry na všechny strany. Vůbec mi nevadí, že je vše zmrzlé na kost. Tady se totiž hraje ještě poctivě, od srdce, s dlouhými pohledy do nekonečných chodeb podsvětí. Dejte mi někdo sekyru a nové pivo. Noc bude ještě dlouhá. Pravý švédský death´n´roll, který vám ukáže cestu do pekla! Skvěle!
Asphyx says:
You need a sharp knife when you're cutting frozen meat off the bone. You should have some good, honest music playing. We old gravediggers know that rotten Swedish death 'n' roll is very suitable. You don't have to go far, this year the band REEK is here with a new album. And once again it is a load of mouldy meat. So, if you're in the mood, you're invited to an endless party in a long-abandoned morgue.
Icy riffs, sick vocals and crushing drums will be served. Alcohol will flow and only the most beautiful zombies will dance with us. Nothing to do, just add volume one by one until our heads explode into a thousand pieces. That's not so little in today's crazy world, is it? REEK have done it again; they've chopped me up again and buried me alive.
REEK is going for it like ENTOMBED, more recently like THE GENERALS, TURBOCHARGED. Of course, the chilling sound, reminiscent of rattling a bag full of bones, must not be missed. Also, a lot of rock'n'roll elements. The songs do not lack the necessary drive and power. I also like the exaggeration with which the gentlemen go to market. The band doesn't play with anything, they throw one morbid slap after another like stinky raw meat and we have no choice but to dance until the very end. These gentlemen know exactly how to do it, they have this kind of music in their blood, coded in their genes. While the young metalheads take an endless series of completely useless selfies, REEK will kick your ass. They can be dirty, devastating, quick as death by burning. I have absolutely no problem with the execution. I enjoy "Porn for Satan" immensely. It's like I'm back in the good old days when burying was basically just in the ground. So that the corpse is well laid to rest before exhumation. Sparks are flying in all directions from this slab. I don't mind that it's all frozen to the bone. Because here it's still played honestly, from the heart, with long glimpses into the endless corridors of the underworld. Somebody gets me an axe and a new beer. It's going to be a long night. True Swedish death 'n' roll that will show you the way to hell! Great!
Recenze/review - REEK - Death Is Something There Between (2020):
Na úvod musím zmínit, že Jørn Lier Horst vystudoval kriminologii, filozofii a psychologii. Pracoval jako kriminalista a tak jsou jeho knihy o hodně víc uvěřitelné. Líbí se mi, že i Zlovůle je syrová, svým způsobem lidská. Je o zlu, o temnotě, které máme každý v sobě. A někteří jej nedokáží ovládnout. Uprchlý sériový vrah a jeho Komplic. Setkání s pozůstalými. Novinářka a její otec, který pracuje u policie už spoustu let. V norském prostředí, které autor velmi dobře zná, rozplétá postupně příběh, ze kterého mrazí. V doslovu je navíc napsáno, jakými případy se inspiroval.
Myslím si, že někteří netrpělivější čtenáři Zlovůli nepoberou. Protože v ní není žádný zázračně chytrý vyšetřovatel. Vrah je brutální, ale tak tomu u detektivek bývá. Jen s tím rozdílem, že se v detailech Jørn Lier Horst zbytečně nevyžívá. Raději se soustředí na otázku, kde se vlastně zlo bere? Jasnou odpověď sice nedostanete, ale rozhodně vám bude napovězeno a pokud máte rádi spíše psychologické romány, budete si mlaskat. Stejně jako u předchozí knihy Poustevník (2013) jsem o celém příběhu často a dlouho přemýšlel. Čtu hodně a zajímavé je, že některé motivy se mi usadí v hlavě, jiné se objeví třeba až po několika letech. Možná je právě tohle to, co u knížek hledám. Zlovůle je napínavá, ale přeci jen trošku jiným způsobem, než býváme obvykle zvyklí.
Detektivové pracují ve skupině, dělají chyby, tady se asi do pečlivě vystavěné konstrukce otiskly autorovy vlastní zkušenosti. Samozřejmě, pořád jsme v Norsku, vše je neskutečně temné a chladné. Reálie jsou jako vždy vykresleny velmi přesvědčivě. To by ale nestačilo. Jørn je hlavně velmi dobrý vypravěč. Knížku jsem si koupil ještě před vánoci a díky shonu před svátky jsem se k ní dostal až ve chvíli, kdy ostatní sledovali pro mě osobně velmi nudné pohádky. Raději jsem za zachumlal do deky, rozsvítil lampičku a jal se spolu s Wistingem, Stillerem a Line přemýšlet, kdo by asi tak mohl být vrah.
Většinou bývám dobrým odhadcem, tipařem a hlavního zlouna odhalím dávno předtím, než mi jej autor potvrdí, ale zde jsem tápal. Schválně, zkuste si knížku přečíst a uvidíte sami. Třeba vám taky sedne jako mě. Zrovna jsem si říkal, když jsem seděl pod stromečkem - vánoce jsou svátky klidu a míru a spousta knížek pod jedličkou obsahovala v názvu samou temnotu. Možná je to tím, že se mi líbí napětí, rád přemýšlím, odhaluji. A Jørn mi opět nedal nic zadarmo.
Jak sám říká - Tato kniha pojednává o zlu, o ochotě způsobovat jiným lidem bolest a utrpení. Je to vlastně svým způsobem velmi smutné, ale takový už život někdy bývá. Už se těším, až bude přeložena další autorova kniha do češtiny. Zlovůlí si mě totiž opravdu získal na svoji stranu a potvrdil si pozici mého oblíbeného spisovatele.
Nenapravitelný sériový vrah sedí za mřížemi – je možné, že ho ani ty nezastaví? Vězeň odsouzený na doživotí za vraždu dvou dívek se rozhodne policii ukázat, kam skryl nikdy nenalezené tělo třetí oběti. Připravená prověrka na místě se však zvrtne a vrah za dramatických okolností uprchne. Wisting i jeho kolega Stiller z oddělení dlouhodobě nevyřešených případů jsou přesvědčení, že mu pomáhal tajemný Komplic, jehož se dosud nepodařilo dopadnout. Stop je ale málo a času ještě méně. Když někdo unese mladou policistku, jde už o vteřiny.
Ještě před chvílí si se smál, ještě před několika okamžiky jsi věřil. Stačila jedna střela a změnil se ti zcela život. Křičíš a nikdo tě neslyší. Vyhraná bitva, nemáš žádnou radost. Lazaret, vyznamenání a zkažený zbytek dní na tomto světě. Historie se několikrát změní a jednou si za hrdinu, pak tě nenávidí. Skončíš s kamarády odstrčen stranou. Stačila jedna válka, jedna střela a všechno je jinak.
Anders Biazzi je jako válečný death metalový veterán, který pomocí své hudby vzpomíná na chladné a temné bitvy lidských dějin. Tentokrát ve společnosti vynikajících muzikantů Remco Krefta (GRACELESS, SOULBURN) a Jona Rudina (WOMBBATH). Jsem znovu na bojišti a sleduji tank z obalu, jak přede mnou ničí vše živé i neživé.
Oproti předchozím nahrávkám mi připadá EP temnější a s hutnějším, masivnějším zvukem. Čtyři nové skladby, ostré, mrazivé a nekompromisní a jeden cover od ENTOMBED, jako pocta a vzpomínka na dva death metalové maniaky - Sven Groß and L.G. Petrov. JUST BEFORE DAWN se opět povedlo mě přenést doprostřed nekonečných bojů. Nabroušený bodák, který vám stejně starý protivník zabodne do břicha. Vztek v jeho očích, který dávno nahradil radost, se přenesl i do hudby. Novinka je černá jako nohy s boláky po dlouhém pochodu. Má v sobě potřebnou sílu a energii, je jako vždy uvěřitelná, surová a ostrá. Jako bych byl opravdu někde v zákopech a sledoval dávno mrtvé stíny vojáků. Kapela je volným pokračováním a stylovým pohrobkem BOLT THROWER, samozřejmě s typickým severským větrem v zádech. Mám doma celou sbírku a nová deska v ní rozhodně chybět opět nebude. Povedla se po všech stránkách. Líbí se mi, jakým způsobem je složena, jak je uvěřitelná a zahraná s nadšením pro věc. Pokud jste jako já staří death metaloví vojáci se spoustou šrámů na těle, tak neváhejte ani chvilku. Dostanete nahrávku, která na sobě může mít nalepenou ochrannou známku vysoké kvality. Temný death metalový útok!
Asphyx says:
Just a moment ago you were laughing, just a few moments ago you were believing. All it took was one shot to change your life completely. You scream and no one hears you. A battle won; you have no joy. Lazarette, honours and the rest of your days in this world are ruined. History changes several times and once you're a hero, you're hated. You end up pushed aside with your friends. One war, one missile, and everything are different.
Anders Biazzi is like a war death metal veteran who uses his music to recall the cold and dark battles of human history. This time in the company of outstanding musicians Remco Kreft (GRACELESS, SOULBURN) and Jon Rudin (WOMBBATH). I'm on the battlefield again, watching the tank from the cover as it destroys everything living and non-living in front of me.
Compared to previous releases, I find the EP darker and with a denser, more massive sound. Four new songs, sharp, chilling and uncompromising and one cover by ENTOMBED, as a tribute and memory to two death metal maniacs - Sven Groß and L.G. Petrov. JUST BEFORE DAWN once again managed to transport me into the middle of endless battles. A sharpened bayonet that an equally old opponent will stab into your stomach. The rage in his eyes, which had long ago replaced joy, carried over into the music. The novelty is as black as the sore feet of a long march. It has the necessary power and energy, it is as believable, raw and sharp as ever. It's like I'm really in the trenches somewhere, watching the long-dead shadows of soldiers. The band is a loose continuation and stylish successor of BOLT THROWER, of course with the typical Nordic wind at its back. I have the whole collection at home and the new album will not be missing in it again. It was a success in all aspects. I like the way it is composed; how believable it is and played with passion for the cause. If like me you are an old death metal soldier with a lot of welts on your body, don't hesitate a moment. You're getting a record that may have the trademark high quality stamped on it. A dark death metal assault!
Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?
Hello! And thank you for this opportunity. My name is Paulo Soares, and I’m the founder and only element of this project. I founded this project in 2020, and this is a homage to Swedish Death Metal, to bands like Entombed, Dismember, etc.
Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?
Besides being a musician, I am also a producer and Recording/Mixing Engineer, so I have the freedom to record and produce on my own stuff. I don’t consider myself a Mastering Engineer, but I ended also mastering the album myself as well.
How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?
This album was released both digitally and physically, through CD format, and it was a small release of 200 copies.
Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?
As the only Ruttenskalle member, I am also the author of the lyrics. They were inspired on the gore/psycho theme. I got inspired mainly by some crazy murderers and very disturbed people. And on me too of course. We all have a dark side and fucked up fantasies…
Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?
Yes, image is also important for sure. The main logo was created by me, and then finished by a talented graphic designer from Belarus (ModBlackMoon). The Album artwork was created by Daniel Cabrera from Philippines (Dan’s Putrid Art). I have been trying to also manage my social networks, but I must admit it have been a little hard to do almost everything on my own, also because Ruttenskalle isn’t my only project.
Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takés care about you?
I choose Gruesome Records for the physical release, mainly because I trusted their previous work with other bands, and because they’re from my Country, and they are also kind of a very recent label, and I thought, hey... maybe we can grow together. They are very careful and as passionate as me, so I couldn’t be happier with my choice. They even exceeded my expectations!
Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?
Regarding this project, there are a few obvious names, like Dismember, old Entombed, Entrails. But I have also other influences that may have been a little bit notorious, for example, I also love Florida Death Metal, and bands like Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, etc., have also been a great influence on me.
Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?
Besides Gruesome Records, I admit I also sent it also to some bigger foreign labels, but I don’t think its worth to mention them. Anyway, I didn’t have any response back from any of them, but at same time, I’m also not surprised.
How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?
With Ruttenskalle I never played live gigs, but from experience with another bands, usually big festivals are where I have been playing for a greater audience, and that’s always a bit more motivating. However, from the performance point of view, I believe we should perform the same way, in whatever circumstance we’re playing. I don’t care if I’m playing for a few people or for thousands, I will always deliver same quality performance.
What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?
This started as a personal/side project, but I would like to be able to perform some live shows and write new material for future releases. However, this is not my priority project now. I’m more focused on my main band Rageful (also Death Metal but in another flavor)
How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?
Určitě znáte ten pocit, když máte strach a nevíte proč. Jakoby jste se probudili z těch nejděsivějších nočních můr a dívali se do tmy. Zmatení, s velkou bolestí na hrudi. Vrací se vám jen samé zlé myšlenky a vzpomínáte na věci a zážitky, na které byste raději zapomněli. Pak vstanete a pustíte si desku "In Chaos Ascend". Najednou znáte přesnou definici toho, co znamená pravé peklo.
NECROPHAGOUS je kapela složená z členů VISCERAL BLEEDING a ENTRAILS. Hraje syrový, surový death metal staré školy, u kterého se vám opravdu vrátí všechny noční můry, které jste kdy měli. Masivní prašivý zvuk, chorobný vokál a hlavně riffy, které vám rozmlátí obličej do krve. Vítejte v Hádově říši!
NECROPHAGOUS si berou inspiraci převážně v americké death metalové školy. Pokud máte rádi smečky jako DEICIDE, DYING FETUS, CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, mohly byste být určitě spokojeni jako já. Je zase noc a do mé hlavy vstoupili démoni. Probudí mě krásná dáma s kosou a vezme mě na koncert, který je zároveň posledním na tomto světě. Alespoň pro mě. Kapela mě umí přenést do temných zákoutí záhrobních chodeb. Vše odsýpá jako lavina z kamení, kostí a zkažené krve. Songy řežou vždy tou správnou stranou nože a mě nezbývá nic jiného, než se k nahrávce často vracet. Je mi totiž dobře ve společnosti krvelačných stínů, s chutí se dívám na obal. Zkrátka a jednoduše, pokud jste jako já staří death metaloví psi a oceňujete u hudby hlavně nadšení, odhodlání a smrad rozkládajících se mrtvol, tak neváhejte ani chvilku. Pánové dokáží navodit tu správnou špinavou, smradlavou atmosféru, známou ze starých piteven. Většinou, když hodnotím nějaké debutové album, tak se snažím být shovívavý, ale tentokrát nemusím. Jedná se o dospělé, skvěle složené a zahrané inferno vysoké kvality. Zároveň je i příslibem do budoucna. Mám neodbytný pocit, že mě někdo sleduje. Vidím v jeho rukou nůž. Stačí pár okamžiků a jsem na druhé straně. Nevadí, jsem připraven, poslouchám totiž "In Chaos Ascend". Absolutní death metalový masakr!
Asphyx says:
Surely you know the feeling when you are scared and you don't know why. It's as if you woke up from the scariest nightmares and stared into the darkness. Confused, with great chest pain. Only bad thoughts come back to you and you remember things and experiences that you would rather forget. Then you get up and play the album "In Chaos Ascend". Suddenly you know the exact definition of what true hell means.
NECROPHAGOUS is a band composed of members VISCERAL BLEEDING and ENTRAILS. He plays raw, raw old-school death metal that will really give you back all the nightmares you've ever had. Massive dusty sound, sick vocals and especially riffs that will smash your face into blood. Welcome to the Realm of Hades!
NECROPHAGOUS take inspiration mainly in American death metal schools. If you like packs like DEICIDE, DYING FETUS, CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, you could definitely be as satisfied as I am. It's night again and demons have entered my head. A beautiful lady with a scythe wakes me up and takes me to a concert, which is also the last in this world. At least for me. The band can take me to the dark corners of the grave corridors. It empties everything like an avalanche of stones, bones and rotten blood. The songs always cut with the right side of the knife and I have no choice but to return to the record often. I feel good in the company of bloodthirsty shadows, I look at the packaging with gusto. In short and simply, if you, like me, are old death metal dogs and you especially appreciate the enthusiasm, determination and stench of decaying corpses, then don't hesitate for a moment. Gentlemen can create the right dirty, stinky atmosphere known from old autopsies. Usually when I rate a debut album, I try to be lenient, but this time I don't have to. These are adults, well-composed and played inferno of high quality. It is also a promise for the future. I have an unquenchable feeling that someone is watching me. I see a knife in his hands. Just a few moments and I'm on the other side. Never mind, I'm ready, because I'm listening to "In Chaos Ascend". Absolute death metal massacre!
Line up -
Tommy Carlsson (Visceral Bleeding, ex-Entrails) - Vocals & Guitar
Za projektem Petroleum stojí bubeník, skladatel, aranžér a producent Ivo Plaček a multiinstrumentalista a zpěvák Aleš Hrnčál. Hlavními autory hudby a textů jsou veteráni české extrémně metalové scény z přelomu 80. a 90. let – Miroslav Valenta (ex-Master’s Hammer) a Daniel „Šakal“ Švarc (ex-Fata Morgana, Törr). Oba autoři své věci většinou i sami zpívají, ale na desce hostují například také latinskoamerická zpěvačka Jam Valcors nebo Tomáš „Chymus“ Hanzl (Isacaarum, Pačess, dříve Negligent Collateral Collapse, Closing, Antigod a další), ve skladbé Beast pak zpívá Zuzana Dubnová.
Album ve formátu CD vloženého do papírového rukávu vydává 17.2.2022 label BLACK BARN MUSIC. Předpobjednávky budou otevřeny od 17.ledna 2022 na eshopu www.blackbarn.cz
Hail REDEMPTOR! Greetings to Poland. And I have to thank you right away, because your new album "Agonia" became my guide for a long time. I love to come back to it and keep discovering new and new dark corners. How did the album come about and where did you want to go from your last, equally good record "Arthaneum" (2017)?
Thank you very much Jakub! We're really grateful for your kind words and support! That's the one of the biggest compliments to hear, that the listener wants to dive deeper into the music, and to search some more for less striking layers of the composition... That was also main reason why we altered the "Arthaneum" formula a little bit. Former album brought more maturity and built some solid ground for further work. Now we are back with more atmospheric, story-telling music, which brings more feelings and stimulates imagination. "Arthaneum" had more philosophical-related, existential content, while "Agonia" is definitely something which you can feel with your senses, like real stories and real imagery.
When you went into the studio to record the new album, did you know what sound you wanted? I really like the coldness and darkness that you can feel from the record. The instruments are beautifully legible and at the same time everything is incredibly massive, restless, cutting. Where did you record and who is signed for mixing and mastering?
This time we wanted to achieve a bit more modern, wider sound, with a good punch. So finally we teamed up with Tomasz "Zed" Zalewski, who caught that direction flawlessly. He is well known mainly from thrash and alternative music productions, but he has such a big experience that it was a simple task to understand our needs. By the way, he have been working on the new Decapitated album at the same time, so it's another sign that he's one of the best sound engineers in our region. We also want to thank Dominik Wawak from dMb studio, for perfectly engineered drum recordings; and Filip "Heinrich" Hałucha from Heinrich House Studio, for his time and input!
When I got the promo materials from your label, I was surprised how many musicians changed in the band. Why is that? If I'm not mistaken, only Daniel Kesler is left from the original line-up. Does that mean he's the main composer, the person responsible for everything? How does REDEMPTOR actually create, compose new material?
Since the beginning our tunes are extremely far from being easy and cheerful in any way. That music is really demanding and time consuming to compose, and even more demanding to record and perform. So except Daniel, me and Hubert, the other members rotate more or less, jumping in if they have a time and energy to be a part of the band.
If it comes to the roles... Daniel is the main composer since he formed Redemptor in 2001. I've joined the horde in 2007 and Hubert in 2010. Since then we both add our ingredients to the main structure. Hubert is focused on soloing and good vibes in the band (you can only wonder how crucial is that!). I'm responsible for my parts of vocals, orchestrations, samples and backgrounds. I wrote a few songs as well, and Hubert finally did his first song for Redemptor on "Agonia" album.
REDEMPTOR always had great album covers. Do you put a lot of emphasis on graphics? The motif on "Agonia" really caught my attention and I like it. Who is the author and what exactly is the motif supposed to represent?
I've been doing all visuals for Redemptor since I became the member, so it was kinda point of honour for me, to make it always right. This time I've been searching for the right idea for a longer time. Main concept was to paint our tunes as an endless streams of lava, reflecting volcanic barren landscapes. So I was really close to do something dark and simple like Metallica did for the Black Album... And then I stumbled upon the gruesome pics from archaeological site at Pompei. At that time I've been writing the final track about Pliny the Elder - the slowest and the heaviest song I ever wrote. Searching for the deeper background of the story I found a real pictures of excavated people of Herculaneum, mummified with ashes. It totally blew my mind. So all I did then was to paint a figure screaming above, petrified in its dying breath. The whole body position is reflecting the real person, cast in ashes and mud in 79AD.
Is "Agonia" a concept album? It seems to me that you tell a dark and mysterious story. What are the lyrics on the new record about and who is the author?
"Agonia" ("agony" in Polish) pictures the critical stages of human attempts. We tried to look behind, from perspective of a man who is conscious about the whole burden of his experience, memories and reality around. That's the overall direction... But when it comes to the themes... Daniel prefers to write more abstract, philosophical lyrics. His lines have many meanings and leave space for interpretation, while mine are more focused on specific subjects. Zum Beispiel... First song relates to the hidden sides of social engineering. Another one embraces a vicious circle of hurt, repeating pattern, passed on various levels. We also have an anti-war protest song which talks directly about the refugees, living victims of war and regimes, that had a chance to survive and tell their stories (one important note: we don't speak about the modern forms of "Hegira" here). And finally you'll notice instantly, that the last song conveys the tragedy of Pompei, while as a matter of fact is inspired by the story of Pliny the Elder, and has a form of valedictory letter of a man, who meets his final hour.
How is REDEMPTOR doing with concerts? Do you have any live shows at all now? I also think it must be really hard to get your act together. You each play in different bands and for example drummer Daniel Rutkowski also performs with HATE.
We did a tour promoting the former album, and then we've been totally focused on our lives and writing "Agonia". I've became a father in that period, and so did Daniel, so you can imagine the scenario... we had simply different duties for a while... Then came that whole "Csomething" plan for humanity, so it was useless to plan anything else, than the album's release...
I like the Polish death metal scene a lot. But you guys are a bit different, atypical. Most of your bands combine death metal with black. But I'd put you more on the side of my favourites TRAUMA, LOST SOUL. Who was your role model when you started with music and how did you get into death metal?
Love to hear! These two bands are true veterans of our local scene. I would add Yattering to that trinity of bands who never shared the fame of our biggest export death metal acts, however their albums and gigs have been so powerful...
Well, I consider being a metalhead since I was 12. But I can even say that I'm into music since I was born, as my parents lived from it, and all of that spirit has been my natural environment. My father has been playing, composing and rehearsing with people all the time, mostly at our home. So that's why I'm simply addicted to music and the lifestyle it creates. Easy to guess, metal became my very own way of finding my identity, and ways to express my frustrations and disappointments of the young age. My drive into more and more extreme music accelerated till I was around 18. It had it's peak with technical death metal bands like Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Cryptopsy and of course Morbid Angel, and finally Nile... Since then my fascination with brutal music started to extrapolate onto other genres, beyond metal as well.
You come from Krakow, which is a beautiful city. What's the scene like in your area? How many people come to a concert of death metal bands? What about the fans? I remember that Polish metalheads were always wild and a lot of fun. What about clubs, promoters? Is it alive in your country?
I moved to Cracow for this particular reason! I grew up in Warsaw, but the wild, crazy life in Krakow has been something I couldn't resist. It's hard to summarize 20 years of life, but yeah, it's been great to live in these times, when the metal scene was really strong here. Lots of great shows, dedicated people, and places you could go. But all things change... from my perspective metal music goes through a really strange and tough times. We can choose from amazing amount of new recordings, but narrowed audience, and big shift in a lifestyle of modern society brings metal to some reduced, bleached form, comparing to what this genre was... even 15 years ago...
What I really like about your band is how you are evolving, you have a clear direction and goal - to play honest, good music. But do you have any dreams? How far do you want to go with REDEMPTOR? Are you tempted by a big label, is there a dream of a festival?
Yes, we are really serious to tread our steps carefully. Each album takes shitloads of time and money to become reality. It's important part of our lives, so with each our release we try to transcend our past achievements. We already think about the next album, to rise the bar, and bring something new. Maybe not in terms of extremity and brutality, but for sure we want to go further considering the maturity, emotions and musicality. The other plans depend on situation of the overall "entertainment" business we know, and reality of the upcoming months and years. But for sure hitting the stage of some bigger fests would be a blast, and hope we gonna make it!
It is impossible not to ask, but in recent years we have been receiving negative information from Poland. I do not want to discuss the issue of abortion here, but I would be interested in the influence of the Church on normal life. Are the bands being restricted in any way? In our country, there is a constant battle between the left and the right, and unfortunately, dirty politics is penetrating metal as well. How is it with you?
I can speak only on my behalf. For me it's a simple thing... When you throw stones, the other side will sooner or later do something to fight back. No matter if it's the Catholic Church, or bunch of Pastafarianists... All antagonisms rise emotions, convictions, and help to create personal identity. But it's way healthier to rise over it, and to be conscious about all these mechanisms... Starting from stimulus–response behavioural patterns, to the roots of all things, related to the past and history. It's also good to have a closer look on social engineering, and all tricks it has under its belt, to entangle us in sick circles and blind emotionality. Without awareness we tend to become a part of other-directed, delirious mob. Of course it also happens on purpose, but it's good to know who benefits from that.
When you say technical death metal, everyone imagines complex compositions, unclear and often incomprehensible. How do you perceive death metal? What does it mean to you? You can go into philosophical reflections.
At least that is the area where I like to keep things simple... To me, the most important features of classic death metal genre are: broad use of blast-beat and growling; focus on overall sonic brutality, built around the specific, distorted-guitar riffs.
That's it, no use to complicate that... despite there are a few schools of this genre - which entered some significant variety - it's still easy to distinguish a typical death metal band. Of course this can be widened and mixed with other ingredients. That's what can make it more creative for the reviewers, and to help these bands who want to escape some boundaries.
What are REDEMPTOR's plans in the coming months? And would you like to say something to the fans?
To promote the album, and then to promote it even more. At this moment we are finishing the second video-clip and preparing several interesting YouTube footages, like play-throughs, interviews on equipment, and some other related things...
So we would like to invite You, to keep an eye on our profiles, to see what we got. Thanks for your time you spent on reading this interview, Stay well, and let the metal flow!
Thank you very much for the interview. I'm already looking forward to going home and watching "Agony" again. Really great work all round. I wish it sells well so that you always have packed concerts. May you do well in your private life. REDEMPTOR RULES!
Thank you so much, and best wishes to you Jakub as well!
Warm-hearted greetings also to the Czech metalheads and our friends there. We're having such a great memories from your peaceful country... in example countles, amazing times at Brutal Assault editions, and other fests. Hope to meet you soon!
