Death Coffee Party crew uvádí již 10. (jubilejní) ročník metalového festivalu, který se koná v areálu Výstaviště Zahrady Čech v Litoměřicích už za dva týdny, a sice 19.-20.srpna 2022. Pořadatelé si letos přichystali několik skvělých headlinerů. V pátek k nám zavítají grindaři z Finska ROTTEN SOUND a v sobotu nenechají nikoho chladným GUTALAX a INHUMATE z Francie. Mimo těchto velikánů zahrají na našem festivalu, a vůbec poprvé v Evropě, ORGANECTOMY z Nového Zélandu!
Pro návštěvníky je mimo muziky zajištěno zdarma parkování a stanování přímo v areálu výstaviště. Vstupné na oba dva dny stojí v předprodeji 800 kč a na místě 1000 Kč. V prodeji budou na místě i jednodenní vstupenky za 600 kč.
Ave ATARAXY! Greetings to the Spannish underground. I hope everything is fine with you. It should be because this year you have released a third long-play full-length album in your band's career. I have to admit it has literally blown my mind. It is dark, energic and as if it cuts by the sharp edge of the knife. I can hear from the record you did a really good job and you added a big portion of the talent, too. How do you perceive the new album in comparison to the previous one? Where did you want to move and in what are these two records different?
Edu: Hi Jakub, thanks a lot for your kind words. It's been a very important year for the band with the release of this third full-length album, and we are thrilled to get it out there. Compared with the previous one — Where All Hope Fades — I'd say this new album has a better balance between atmosphere and sheer aggression. In a way, it has the best of both Revelations of the Ethereal and Where All Hope Fades, pushing the boundaries of both of them. Several reviews have already pointed that out so I may be onto something.
„The Last Mirror“ includes all attributes of good death and doom metal. For me personally, it represents the record, which I really like to listen to. How did you produce it? How look the writing process of new material in the case of ATARAXY?
Edu: We've followed the same writing process that we have always followed, which is nothing out of the ordinary. Santi writes the songs at home, he records some rough demos, and we rehearse the songs from there at our rehearsal place. Javi writes and adds the vocal lines later, and once everything's recorded he adds the keyboards.
I found out that Javi Félez signed under the mix and mastering of the new record. I have to confirm that the sound is literally killing. It still makes me add volume to the player. Javi Félez has created a sound that is cruel, raw and at the same time dark and organic. How went the work with him and why did you choose him? In which studio did you record it? How did the recording process look like?
Edu: Actually it's Greg Chandler (of Esoteric fame) the engineer who has taken care of the mastering of our last two albums at his Priory Recording Studios. Other than that, Javi Félez has been behind the recording and mixing of the album at Moontower Studios (he's been doing so during all our recordings, including the demo). He knows the band perfectly so it's always a smooth job. The main difference between this recording and the previous albums is that this is the first time we have used reamping for the guitars and bass. This has allowed us to save some studio hours while at the same time being able to spend more time repeating and polishing the guitar lines at home. When we arrived at the studio and it was time to reamp those guitars, we were able to focus on the actual tone and EQ of the guitars, with the stress of the actual performance and recording left behind, getting a heavier and more powerful sound.
An important part and a kind of extra bonus for fans today is the physical CD. You released the new album at CD in Me Saco un Ojo Records / Dark Descent Records, and it has a corpsy cover art. Who is the author? How did you choose the motif and how does it relate to the music at the record?
Edu: Yes, Dark Descent Records is releasing the CD while Me Saco Un Ojo is taking care of the vinyl version. Artwork was done by Rodrigo Pereira Salvatierra. We love what he has done for many Chilean bands (one of the most interesting death metal scenes nowadays) and he perfectly captured what we envisioned for this album, adding some elements of his own. We gave him some vague indications and he perfectly represented the spirit of this album.
I have been wandering the underground for over thirty years and I still go to Spain for music with certainty. I think we have a similar nature and taste when it comes to metal. I like your bands a lot and I monitor your scene carefully. Maybe I envy you a little, because we only have a few death metal bands that are worth it. How do you explain that death metal are doing so well in your country? How do you perceive your scene, fans, labels?
Edu: That's cool! I don't think the Spanish death metal scene is as big as it is in other countries, but there are definitely some good bands out there. I'd recommend some bands like Oniricous, Proscrito, Leprophiliac, Horripilant, Necrophiliac and Sanctuarium among others. But hey, I have the feeling that the Czech underground death metal scene is healthier than ever now, with Sněť and the Tones of Decay fest. I'm also a huge fan of the old Czech scene — Master's Hammer (managed to see them in a packed Roxy in Prague, what an amazing show), Root, Törr, Drakar, Debustrol, Moriorr… as well as more traditional metal bands such as Loretta, Titanic, Citron or Arakain. So feel no envy! Czech Republic had way more relevant extreme metal bands than Spain has ever had.
You play doom death metal influenced by, among other things, the old school. Today, the band can't avoid comparisons, but I would like to know how the idea to start ATARAXY was born, who was and is your metal idol? Where do you want to move your band? Are you attracted to large foreign festivals, for example, are you willing to go on tour with a more famous band?
Edu: Due to job issues, it's not easy for us to go on tour in the usual manner. We have to book our shows on different spare weekends that we can all take off work. I don't think we are really interested in the idea of touring opening for a big band, we prefer to keep it underground. Underground, honest festivals are always a go. Get in touch! I hate the word idols (kill them!) but Trey Azagthoth is in my opinion the ultimate death metal superhero.
When I started my blog six years ago, I had a vision that I would try to support bands that are not so much popular, or they are lost in underground. To let the world knows about them. I think I'm doing quite well, at least according to the responses. How do you approach the promotion of your music? Do you rely upon the label or do you send the CDs for various reviews by yourself? For example, I buy albums that I really enjoy. What about you? Are you also fans who often support your colleagues? Do you go to concerts?
Edu: Nowadays it's mostly the labels and the PR agencies they work with. We'd rather spend time working on the actual music, as we suck at taking care of promotion. Of course we order plenty of new stuff from different labels and distros and we regularly go to shows. We're music fans above all!
On the one hand, today the new band has a lot of opportunities to make themselves more known, but on the other hand, there are a huge number of groups and the fans are getting lost in this big metal sea. A lot of people just download mp3s from the internet and instead of to visit the concert they prefer to spit poisonous saliva on Facebook. How do modern technologies affect you as ATARAXY? What do you think about downloading music, google metalists, streaming music, etc.?
Edu: I barely listen to any music online (only at work) but I'm fine with people doing it. After many years we've finally set-up a proper Bandcamp with digital downloads available and people seem to dig it. I wouldn't get music that way as I still prefer physical formats, but to each its own. I guess it's somehow an easy way to support the band and it has already helped us cover some extra costs we've had lately. I don't have much to say about Google metalists and social media addicts. All those bums seem to have too much spare time, which I don't. Socioparasites, why don't you get a job?
I like to ask the musicians what death metal means to them. How would they define it, whether it is more the philosophy and lifestyle thing for them or "just" relaxation? What does it mean for you? How do you perceive and experience it?
Edu: I love the darkness, morbid edge and violence of death metal. I wouldn't call it a lifestyle or a philosophy but it's not just plain relaxation or leisure either. You need to feel passion for it to truly wave its flag.
Finally, a classic but important question. What is ATARAXY planning in the upcoming months? Where can we see you at the stage?
Edu: We're planning a series of shows to support the album release that should take place during this next autumn and winter, mostly in Spain. We wouldn't mind playing some shows abroad next year but only time will tell.
Thank you so much for the interview. I wish a lot of success to the new album and let the number of your fans expand as much as possible. I will look forward to seeing you somewhere live again. I wish you a lot of success both musically and personally. I'm going to push „The Last Mirror“ into my head again!
Edu: Thanks a lot for having us. Hopefully we'll be able to play in Europe next year and meet you and other death metal maniacs.
about ATARAXY on DEADLY STORM ZINE:
Recenze/review - ATARAXY - The Last Mirror (2022):
Ave ATARAXY! Zdravím do španělského undergroundu. Doufám, že je u vás vše v pořádku. Mělo by, máte na kontě letos druhé 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?
Edu: Ahoj Jakube, moc děkuji za tyto slova. Vydání třetího řadového alba bylo pro kapelu velmi důležitým rokem a my jsme nadšeni, že se nám ho podařilo vydat. V porovnání s předchozím albem „Where All Hope Fades“ bych řekl, že nová deska má lepší rovnováhu mezi atmosférou a čistou agresí. Svým způsobem má to nejlepší z „Revelations of the Ethereal“ i „Where All Hope Fades“ a posouvá hranice obou. Několik recenzí už na to upozornilo, takže možná na tom něco bude.
„The Last Mirror“ v sobě obsahuje všechny atributy dobrého death a doom metalu. Pro mě osobně se jedná o desku, ke které se hrozně rád vracím. Jakým způsobem vznikala? Jak skládají nový materiál ATARAXY?
Edu: Postupovali jsme stejně jako vždycky, což není nic neobvyklého. Santi píše skladby doma, nahraje hrubé dema a ty pak zkoušíme v naší zkušebně. Javi později píše a přidává vokální linky a jakmile je vše nahráno, přidává klávesy.
Dohledal jsem si, že pod nahráváním a mixem je podepsán Javi Félez. Musím potvrdit, že zvuk doslova zabíjí. Pořád mě to nutí na hi-fi věži přidávat volume. Javi Félez 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?
Edu: Je to vlastně Greg Chandler (z Esoteric), zvukař, který se postaral o mastering našich posledních dvou alb ve svém Priory Recording Studiu. Jinak za nahráváním a mixem alba stojí Javi Félez z Moontower Studia (pracoval na všech našich nahrávkách, včetně dema). Zná kapelu dokonale, takže je to vždycky snadná práce. Hlavní rozdíl mezi touto nahrávkou a předchozími alby spočívá v tom, že jsme poprvé použili reamping pro kytary a basu. To nám umožnilo ušetřit několik hodin ve studiu a zároveň jsme mohli strávit více času opakováním a pilováním kytarových linek doma. Když jsme dorazili do studia a nastal čas tyto kytary reampovat, mohli jsme se soustředit na skutečný tón a ekvalizaci kytar, přičemž stres ze samotného hraní a nahrávání zůstal za námi, čímž jsme získali hutnější a silnější zvuk.
Nedílnou součástí a jakýmsi bonusem navíc je pro fanoušky dnes CD. Vy jste jej vydali u Me Saco un Ojo Records / Dark Descent Records a je opatřeno mrtvolným obalem. Kdo je jeho autorem? Jak jste motiv vybírali a jak souvisí s hudbou na novince?
Edu: Ano, Dark Descent Records vydává CD, zatímco Me Saco Un Ojo se postará o vinylovou verzi. Obal vytvořil Rodrigo Pereira Salvatierra. Líbí se nám, co udělal pro mnoho chilských kapel (jedna z nejzajímavějších deathmetalových scén současnosti), dokonale vystihl, jak jsme si album představovali a přidal k tomu i některé vlastní prvky. Dali jsme mu několik nejasných indicií a on dokonale vystihl ducha tohoto alba.
Toulám se podsvětím již přes třicet let a do Španělska 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?
Edu: To je super! Nemyslím si, že španělská deathmetalová scéna je tak velká jako v jiných zemích, ale rozhodně tu jsou dobré kapely. Doporučil bych kapely jako Oniricous, Proscrito, Leprophiliac, Horripilant, Necrophiliac, Sanctuarium a další. Ale mám pocit, že česká undergroundová deathmetalová scéna je teď díky Sněti a festivalu Tones of Decay zdravější než kdy dřív. Jsem také velkým fanouškem staré české scény - Master's Hammer (podařilo se mi je vidět v zaplněném pražském Roxy, úžasná show), Root, Törr, Drakar, Debustrol, Moriorr... stejně jako tradičnější metalové kapely jako Loretta, Titanic, Citron nebo Arakain. Takže není co závidět! Česká republika měla mnohem více relevantních extrémních metalových kapel, než kdy mělo Španělsko.
Hrajete doom death metal ovlivněný starou školou. Dnes se vlastně kapela nemůže vyhnout srovnání, mě by ale zajímalo, jak vlastně vznikl nápad založit ATARAXY, 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?
Edu: Kvůli pracovním povinnostem pro nás není snadné vyrazit na turné obvyklým způsobem. Musíme si rezervovat koncerty na různé víkendy, kdy si všichni můžeme vzít z práce volno. Myslím, že nás ani moc neláká myšlenka předskakovat na turné nějaké velké kapele, raději se držíme v undergroundu. Undergroundové, poctivé festivaly jsou vždycky v kurzu. Ozvěte se nám! Nesnáším slovo vzory (zabijte je!), ale Trey Azagthoth je podle mě ultimátní deathmetalový superhrdina.
Když jsem před šesti 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?
Edu: V dnešní době jsou to hlavně vydavatelství a PR agentury, se kterými spolupracujeme. My raději trávíme čas prací na samotné hudbě, protože se o propagaci neumíme postarat. Samozřejmě si objednáváme spoustu nových věcí od různých labelů a dister a pravidelně jezdíme na koncerty. Jsme především hudební fanoušci!
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 ATARAXY ovlivňují moderní technologie? Co si myslíš o stahování muziky, google metalistech, streamování muziky apod.?
Edu: Sám hudbu online téměř neposlouchám (jen v práci), ale nevadí mi, že to dělají jiní. Po mnoha letech jsme konečně založili pořádný Bandcamp s možností digitálního stahování a zdá se, že se to lidem líbí. Já bych si takhle hudbu nepořizoval, protože pořád dávám přednost fyzickým formátům, ale každému, co jeho jest. Myslím, že je to tak nějak snadný způsob, jak podpořit kapelu, a už nám to pomohlo pokrýt nějaké další náklady, které jsme v poslední době měli. O Google metalistech a závislých na sociálních sítích nemám moc co říct. Zdá se, že všichni ti flákači mají příliš mnoho volného času, což já nemám. Socioparaziti, proč si nenajdete práci?
S oblibou se ptám muzikantů na to, co pro ně znamená death 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?
Edu: Miluji temnotu, morbidní hrany a násilí death metalu. Nenazval bych to životním stylem nebo filozofií, ale není to ani obyčejná relaxace nebo odpočinek. Musíte cítit vášeň, abyste mohli skutečně mávat jeho vlajkou.
Na závěr klasická, ale důležitá otázka. Co chystají ATARAXY v nejbližších měsících? Kde vás můžeme vidět na koncertě?
Edu: Plánujeme sérii koncertů na podporu vydání alba, které by se měly uskutečnit během příštího podzimu a zimy, většinou ve Španělsku. Příští rok bychom se nebránili ani koncertům v zahraničí, ale to ukáže až čas.
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 „The Last Mirror“ zase narvat do hlavy!
Edu: Děkujeme za rozhovor. Doufejme, že si budeme moct příští rok zahrát v Evropě, abychom se mohli potkat s tebou, stejně tak, jako s dalšími deathmetalovými maniaky.
about ATARAXY on DEADLY STORM ZINE:
Recenze/review - ATARAXY - The Last Mirror (2022):
Našel jsem další amulet, vyřezaný z kostí oběti. Děsivý výraz, pach krve, smrt a násilí. Vše působilo záhadně a temně. Kolem se vznášely temné představy zvrácené mysli. Doslova jsem cítil, jak do mě zajíždí ostrý nůž, jak mi odřezává maso od kostí. Jak mě pálí mozek a v břiše se usadil strach. Je tu ale ještě něco divného, zvláštního, jiného. Otevřu CD přehrávač a v něm naleznu nové album maniaků INSTIGATE.
Jedná se o surový, syrový death metal té nevyšší kvality. Riffy jsou bolestivé a již od začátku je zcela jasné a zřetelné, že jsou pod muzikou podepsání zkušení muzikanti z kapel jako BLOODTRUTH, DEMIURGON. Najednou jste přímo v lavině, uprostřed tsunami. Nebo na místě, kde se stal nějaký násilný čin.
Pokud bych měl tvorbu INSTIGATE k někomu přirovnat, volil bych smečky jako MISERY INDEX, ROTTEN SOUND, SUFFOCATION, DYSCARNATE. To by bylo ale příliš jednoduché. Ve skladbách jsou zakomponovány velmi zajímavé momenty. Poslech se tak stává opravdu pestrou záležitostí. Kombinace nenávisti, vzteku a chladu připomíná stará opuštěná jatka, kde jsou do zdí stále otištěny bolest a utrpení. Krvavý obal, zvuk jak z márnice a skvělá celková produkce všemu dodává na ještě větší přitažlivosti. Je to jako se dívat na rozhovor se sériovým vrahem. Bestialita, nízké pudy, ale také zvědavost a snaha pochopit. S touhle nahrávkou to mám velmi podobné. Zpočátku jsem byl stržen do víru a rozsekán na kusy, ale časem jsem začal objevovat i jednotlivé nápady, ukryté pod povrchem. Někdy je nutné se podívat i na odvrácenou stranu našeho světa, do země nekonečných stínů. Někde tam muselo vznikat i nové album "Unheeded Warnings of Decay". Mezi amulety z kostí, vyřezaných za hodně hnusných okolností. Smrtící kov nikdy nebyl pro slabé povahy a INSTIGATE se rozhodli jít až na jeho samotnou a krutou podstatu. Jedná se první dlouhohrající počin a měl bych trošku přivřít oči. Jenže nemusím. Vše je v nejlepším pořádku. Masivní, hutné, divoké a zcela zničující. Death metal s krvavým cejchem smrti!
Asphyx says:
I found another amulet carved from the victim's bones. A terrifying expression, the smell of blood, death and violence. It was all mysterious and dark. Dark images of a twisted mind floated around. I could literally feel a sharp knife plunging into me, cutting flesh from bone. As my brain burned and fear settled in my stomach. But there's something else, something strange. I open the CD player to find a new album by the maniacs INSTIGATE.
This is raw death metal of the highest quality. The riffs are painful and from the beginning it is quite clear and obvious that the music is signed by experienced musicians from bands like BLOODTRUTH, DEMIURGON. Suddenly you are right in the middle of an avalanche, in the middle of a tsunami. Or in a place where a violent act has taken place.
If I had to compare INSTIGATE to someone, I would choose bands like MISERY INDEX, ROTTEN SOUND, SUFFOCATION, DYSCARNATE. But that would be too simple. There are some very interesting moments embedded in the tracks. It makes listening a really varied affair. The combination of hate, anger and coldness reminds of old abandoned slaughterhouses where pain and suffering are still imprinted on the walls. The bloody cover, the morgue-like sound and the great overall production adds to the appeal. It's like watching an interview with a serial killer. Bestiality, low instincts, but also curiosity and a desire to understand. I feel very much the same with this record. At first I was swept up in the whirlwind and cut to pieces, but over time I began to discover the individual ideas hidden beneath the surface. Sometimes it is necessary to look at the other side of our world, the land of endless shadows. The new album "Unheeded Warnings of Decay" must have been created somewhere there. Among the amulets of bones, carved under very ugly circumstances. The deadly metal was never for the weak of character and INSTIGATE decided to go down to its very and cruel essence. This is the first full-length album and I should close the eye a little . But I don't have to. Everything is in the best of order. Massive, dense, ferocious and utterly devastating. Death metal with the bloody stamp of death!
A few questions - interview with death metal band INSTIGATE.
Answered BORCIA and SRC, thank you!
Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?
BORCIA: Instigate's idea was born during Demiurgon and Bloodtruth’s "In Sanguine Veritas Tour", in 2019. We were really in tune during the long transfers between concerts, it was a really fun experience.
Discussing the ideas to develop on a new project, just talking about the nuances of death metal that we had not yet explored in the other formations, was a very natural process. As for the drums we have always had extraordinary musicians as guests, first with Kevin Talley for the promo "Echoes of a Dying World", then with Francesco Paoli in full length. So, we needed an equally good drummer for live performances on a permanent basis. Edoardo was a real stroke of luck and arrived just in time to appear in the video "Indoctrinated Reborn". And who knows if the future holds some other surprises for the Instigate crew;)
Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?
BORCIA: We live very far from each other, so each of us has developed their own ideas independently (obviously exchanging opinions, etc.), some at home and some in the studio. For example, I (Borciani Stefano) recorded the voices at the Art Distillery Studio in Modena. Then Stefano Morabito thought about mixing everything, in his 16th Cellar Studio, and the result really thrilled us!
How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?
BORCIA: For now, "unheeded warnings of decay" has been printed on cd and cassette, but I don't know how many copies have been printed. I know the album will be out on vinyl in the next few months, and we're really looking forward to hearing it!
Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?
BORCIA: All the lyrics were written by me, Borciani. Being the sole author of the lyrics gave me the opportunity to write a concept album for the first time in twenty years. Through the 9 texts of the album, I retrace the cycle of beginning, self-destruction and rebirth of a civilization that ignores, precisely, the unheeded warnings of decay.
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?
SRC: The logo was made it myself. Usually I take care of all layouts, social artwork etc. About website, we use Bandcamp as our official store and I took care about all the art. I love do it! We have Instagram and Facebook band pages and everyone in the band take care about it. Social medias are really important in the music scene, people can take a listen to your music if they found it on it.
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?
BORCIA: "Everlasting Spew" is a label much appreciated by fans of extreme music, guarantor of the quality of the bands that we care for and of which we are users first. We were satisfied with previous experiences with Giorgio and Tito, through our other projects, so relying on them was a natural choice, which gave us the opportunity to best present our proposal to the public.
Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?
BORCIA: I could make a long list of the bands and genres I like, but not to get too bored I'll just raise the horns to Immolation, Vile, and Dying Fetus.
SRC: In the last few years I changed my playlists. Usually, I used to listen to some brutal death metal like Decrepit Birth, Vile, etc… but, since I’m getting older, I refocused my musical preferences in something different like Misery Index, Dyscarnate, Criminal Element, more “groovy”. Some of Instigate’s riffs are influenced by this music, of course.
Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?
SRC: To be honest, I still can’t remember how many and which because we sent a ton of emails. Labels usually don’t reply to you if you are a new band or if you are not well known in music business; anyway, we received a lot of replies with some proposal. We decided to sign a deal with our bros in Everlasting Spew because we know them from a lot of years and because they gave us one of the best proposal.
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?
BORCIA: Unfortunately, even though we have had many live experiences overall, we are all very busy with our work, so our lives will be sparse. We plan to play in some festivals, unfortunately we cannot anticipate anything yet, but we have some big news ready!
I personally love tours, in those 10/15 days all worries fade into the background and there is only the music, the band and the ever-changing audience in front of which you have to do your best possible performance. It is really exciting.
What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?
BORCIA: We can't wait to announce some news, but for now we can't say more. We are working on the new material, so for sure there will be a sequel to "Unheeded Warnings Of Decay".
How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?
BORCIA: You can find Instigate on Facebook, Instagram and all those online channels for which I feel a healthy distrust. But don't worry, Stefano (Rossi Ciucci) loves them!
Na některé knížky je potřeba klid. Jsou totiž více propracované a v běžné hospodě nebo ve vlaku jsem se na ně nemohl soustředit. Mívali jsme v devadesátkách s mojí budoucí ženou vždycky zvyk, že si dáme klídek na knihy. Každý si zalezl jinam. Já k lampičce do rohu, protože mám raději chlad a ona ke kamnům. Venku hodně mrzlo a chalupa byla zasypaná sněhem. Místnost se pokaždé vytopí tak za tři dny a Hyperion jsem četl hned první. Zabalen do spacáků jsem se nechal pozvat ke konci světa. Armageddon si představuje každý čtenář sci-fi asi trošku jinak, ale zde je vykreslen velmi uvěřitelně. Na cestu se vydává sedm poutníků a každý vypráví svůj příběh. Jeden by mohl mít recept na zastavení konce. Od autora skvělý nápad, který spolu s tím, jak je celý příběh vystavěn a napsán, řadí tuhle knihu mezi nejlepší v žánru. A nejen v něm.
"Dáš si něco k jídlu?": ptá se mě blondýnka. Nevnímám, musí ke mě přijít, obejmout mě a nahlédnout do knihy přes rameno. Ne, promiň, jsem moc zmrzlej. Odmítám ji. Ale já nechci do postele, ptám se na jídlo. Působím zmateně. Koukám, že tebe to fakt hodně baví, co? Diskutujeme pak u lunch meatu o kapitolách, které jsem přečetl. Zpočátku na mě vše působí trošku zmateně a nepřehledně, ale to je možná zimou, která je dnes nějaká vlezlá a otravná. Dáme si ruma, jen trošku, na zahřátí. Pak si ještě chvilku čtu a někdy kolem půlnoci se zabalíme do peřin. Tělo na tělo, jsme mladí a já pak nemůžu zamhouřit oči, protože musím pořád nad knihou přemýšlet. Jdeme také každý svoji cestou? Jaký bude náš cíl? Je to smrt, rozhřešení, láska? Nevím, jsem mladý, pořád se ještě trošku hledám. Blondýnka se odkope. Opatrně ji přikryji, ale ještě předtím se na ní chvilku dívám. Je nádherná.
Stejně je to zvláštní nebo vlastně ne, na chalupě toho vždycky přečtu nejvíc. Mám tam svoje dávno vysezená místa. Už od dětství. Cítím se na nich dobře. Teď už je to rituál, zvyk, co je opravdu železnou košilí. Jezdím na ní pořád, teď už s dětmi a pořád s tou krásnou a milou blondýnou. Tak nějak spolu pomalu stárneme a klid je pro nás čím dál tím důležitější. Odpočinek na louce, schovaný ve stínu, tam je pro mě nejlepší dovolená. "Hyperion" jsem si sehnal znovu v antikvariátu v Jablonci nad Nisou. Knížka mi padla ihned do oka. Hele, to jsme kdysi četli, pamatuješ? Dělám teď každý pátek takový svůj čtenářský deník a sci-fi bylo a je mojí nedílnou součástí. To si musím znovu přečíst. Děti nevědí, která bije, ale my se spokojeně usmíváme. Jasně, že je to o prioritách. Většina lidí dnes "projebe" neskutečnýho času na sociálních sítích nebo v diskuzích, kde ze sebe dělá tupce. Jsem rád, že to máme jinak. Manželka nemá žádné socky a já jen ty, které "musím" kvůli stránkám. Ale moc je nežeru, jestli mi rozumíte.
Vydal jsem se znovu na cestu. Užíval jsem si jednotlivé příběhy, tentokrát již poznamenaný více zkušenostmi, snad i vědomostmi. A všechno jsem vnímal jinak. Víc mě oslovily zcela jiné pasáže. Zajímavé je, že si je pamatuji opravdu hodně. Pořád jsem běhal do chalupy, když žena vařila a neustále ji předčítal některé kousky. Hele, tohle je zajímavý. Nepřipomíná ti to něco, co se nedávno stalo? Tohle je fakt neskutečný výlet do lidských myslí. Souhlasím asi s ostatními, že nejlepší je Sola, to jsem byl opravdu naměkko. 500 stránek uteklo za několik večerů jako voda v nedaleké Nise. Bavil jsem se, usmíval, i mi bylo chvílemi smutno. Díval jsem se na Ještěd, když zapadalo slunce a nechtělo se mi dovnitř. Zvuky lesa, klid a pohoda. Co náš svět čeká? Filozofovali jsme u pivka a vína, probírali, co kdo jak a kdy četl. Potřebuji si občas odpočinout, dát svému životu další směr. Urovnat si myšlenky. A v lesích mi to jde nejlépe. Mimo společnost, která je poslední dobou nějaká chorá, nepřipadá vám?
Dan Simmons je mistr ve svém oboru. Akce se střídá s emocemi. Každý příběh je jiný, kněz, voják, básník, každý je odlišný ze své podstaty. A jako v běžných životech má své radosti i trápení. Jenže brzy bude konec světa. Je třeba také něco udělat, nejen kecat (co jen mi to připomíná? Že by současnost?). Autor se dotkne všeho, od politiky až po zabíjení, někdy je citlivý a vnímavý (básník), jindy krutý. Každý je originál a dohromady bylo stvořeno dílo, které nemá obdoby. Je to opus, který má i pokračování Pád Hyperionu, díky němuž budete mít celý děj více ucelený. V určitých momentech mi kniha připomíná Dekameron (Giovanni Boccaccio) nebo Dantovo peklo. Je to složité čtení, které vám nedá nic zadarmo. Pro někoho to může být opravdu výzva, ale nezoufejte, zároveň je čtivé, zajímavé. Budete mít chuť pokračovat. Nejsme přeci žádní hlupáci, ne?
Táta se s vámi půjde projít a vykoupat asi až večer, copak nevidíte, že je mimo? Ve svým světě, v jiném vesmíru? Slyším z dálky, jak se moje skvělá žena směje. Je to tak, dejte mi ještě chvilku. Pár stránek, dočtu kapitolu, jo? Mám to takhle pořád. Rád se ztrácím mezi písmenky. Možná utíkám, možná taky ne? Kdo to ví? Já ne. Je léto, určitě máte také dovolenou. Tak vám přeji, abyste si ji pořádně užili, odpočinuli si. Třeba vám k tomu pomůže i Hyperion. Mě ovlivnila hodně. Štír čeká...
Opatrujte se, ať jste kdekoliv. Hezký den přeji! A děkuji.
Na planetě zvané Hyperion, mimo dosah zákonů Hegemonie Člověka, čeká bytost zvaná Štír. Někteří ho uctívají. Někteří se ho bojí. A někteří přísahají, že ho zničí. V údolí Hrobek Času se obrovské Artefakty s neznámým obsahem pohybují proti proudu Času. Štír čeká...
V předvečer Armageddonu, kdy se celá Galaxie připravuje k válce, se sedm poutníků vydává na poslední Pouť na Hyperion, aby nalezli odpovědi na nevyřešené hádanky svých životů. Každý v sobě nese zoufalou naději - a strašné tajemství. A jeden z nich možná drží v rukou osud celého lidstva...
Interview with death metal band from USA - OBSCENE.
Answered Brandon (drums) and Kyle (vocals), thank you!
Translated Duzl, thank you!
Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.
Ave OBSCENE! Greetings to catacombs! First, let me express my appreciation to you. I follow your band since 2017 since you released your first EP “Sermon to the Snake” and you belong to my most favorite bands. Here in the Czech Republic, you are not very known, but this is a very small country with a tiny underground community. How exactly the OBSCENE was founded?
BRANDON - Obscene was founded in 2016 by me, our former guitarist Ryan Green, and Kyle. Ryan and I had been playing in a more technical death metal band at the time and for years prior, and wanted to do something more in the HM-2 vein, similar to early Bloodbath, Dismember and a myriad of other Swedish classics. I wanted something different and new to the area. Vocally, I thought of Kyle, because I believe around that same time he mentioned wanting to front a band again, and I’ve always enjoyed his presence and performance as a frontman. Fuckin’ wild pipes on that guy. He didn’t hesitate to reply and agreed to check it out. I initially had a bunch of ideas for songs sitting around, basically the entirety of the “Sermon to the Snake” demo, and we recruited our good friend and bassist Erik Lund (Recently passed and eternally missed, RIP), and other buddy and guitarist Josh Kappel. We jammed the songs I had ready and written, played a few shows with them, and after a while Ryan had to step down from his position. We went under Blood Chasm at that time, too. We then changed our name, recorded the demo tape, signed to Blood Harvest, and played some more gigs before Erik and Josh had to do the same. After all of that, we picked up Mike Morgan on guitar, who I also played with in that same technical death metal band mentioned earlier - and Roy Hayes on bass, he had history with all of Kyle’s old bands and we knew him well in the scene and knew of his tone and talents. Since then, it’s been an unstoppable freight train of riffs! Couldn’t be happier with the current state of Obscene. We’ve only been growing stronger with every release.
KYLE- Hey, thanks for being with us since the demo! Always cool and validating to hear people who have supported us since the jump.
Recently you released the new record "...from Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon", which is again full of pure real death metal. With which feelings did you enter to the studio? For example, did you have a plan, where and how do you want to move from the last album? In my opinion, the new record seems to be darker and at the same time colder. I have to admit that the atmosphere of the whole album literally captivated me.
BRANDON - We do enjoy pure and real death metal. That’s why we do what we do. We went into the studio with pretty much the same intent that we had during the “Inhabitable Dark” session. Guns blazing, no bullshit, straight to the point, raw tracking, and fin. We did Inhabitable over the span of a weekend. With the new album, we had a week booked in Mercinary with Noah. A little more time to really experiment with stuff, and make sure we were thoroughly satisfied with the end product. Darker and colder is definitely the vibe we were shooting for. I’m glad it served you well!
Noah Buchanan, the "metal guru" took care of the mix and mastering of the album again. Why exactly him? Personally, I like his handwriting, which really fits your music. Generally, the sound is great, it reminds me of the old records from the nineties. Was this a purpose?
BRANDON - We chose Noah for multiple reasons. One, we wanted to try out a new place, new sound, etc. Two, we all enjoy Nunslaughter, and know how talented the dude is as a musician and behind the board. Three, Mercinary has the original board that was used in Morrisound studios, as well as the early days of Mana. Endless amounts of classic records that influenced us all were tracked, mixed and mastered through that thing. It was surreal to think that ours would be, too. I’d consider that a definite selling point, ha!
KYLE- Brandon pretty much nailed it all, but I’ll add that we wanted to také a chance on upside. We’re not a band that’s going to experiment too much or step out of pocket so it’s important for all of us not to put out the same record twice. It’s a big reason why besides the band itself, we all worked with new people on ‚…From Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon‘. We think the gamble paid off.
I pay a lot of attention to the graphical part of the CD and I like your cover arts. Who is the author of the monster on the new record "...from Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon" and what is it supposed to express? I had to order a T-shirt immediately, I really like the motif, just please tell us how it relates to the music, how they are thematically interconnected?
KYLE- When working with artists, we like it to be more of a collaborative effort than us dictating what we want. We told Skadvaldur to pretty much go nuts with just wanting a revenant scouring a field filled with corpses. We also sent some lyrics and rehearsal tracks. This sort of policy has served us well and there’s no reason to alter this approach as of yet.
I would be interested in the process of how the new songs of the OBSCENE are created. Are you like traditional musicians who are closed in a rehearsal room and simply play, or do you use modern technology and send ideas to each other on the internet? Do you go for a beer together?
BRANDON - I’d say traditional, for sure. We shut the basement door at Mike’s, and we just start playing. There are plenty of riffs that are written and recorded via voice memo on our phones and sent to one another, but we do the bulk of it from scratch. Random improv riffs always turn into something cool when we’re all involved, it seems. We’re all great friends and have known each other for years. Unfortunately work and home life generally keeps us apart until we find times to jam and hang out. The last tour we did with Morta Skuld was great, and an absolute blast being able to be around everyone for more than just a few hours. I miss it already.
All members of the band are also members of other metal groups. I believe, OBSCENE is important to you, but how do you deal with it when you have duties with your main bands? Is OBSCENE a classic band or only a side project for you?
BRANDON - Obscene is our main band at this point, and generally the main focus with everyone. I also front a death/doom band called Mother of Graves that is about to release a new record, which is equally important, but I manage my time with both of them properly and cherish them the same.
When I look at Metal Archives, the number of bands, where you play or you played in the past is really impressive. But do you earn your living? Or do you have to have a classic job? And can you tell us what fields you work in?
BRANDON - I have never used music as my way to sustain myself financially, unfortunately. Never been on that level to where I can keep my bills paid and not work a mundane shift. Outside of music, I manage a pretty sizable distribution warehouse. I stare at part numbers all day and receive/organize/ship inventory. Home appliance stuff. Parts. It’s exhausting, but it keeps me going and also allows me good PTO to use for band life.
KYLE- That’s something I’ve had a bit of an internal grapple with. I’m sure making a living playing extreme music is cool and all, but I’m not sure I’d want to be in a position where I feel like I *HAVE* to do this. I’m here because I want to be. And I don’t think it’s all that difficult to také time off work to accomplish your goals. I mean, if your job won’t allow you a week or two off to tour or record; that’s a shitty job and you need a new one. I’ve also been fortunate and lucky to have an incredibly supportive and patient wife where having to leave for a bit isn’t a domestic issue.
You are old experienced dogs who play in their own way. You have your own handwriting, which is something that is sometimes forgotten today. A lot of bands just sound like copies of others. I am sure that you had some idols. Who influenced you as a musician and who was your main idol? When and how did you actually start to play? What was the first impulse to grab the musical instrument?
BRANDON - Of course. I’ve always looked up to the works of people like Chuck Schuldiner, Dan Swano, Dio, Klaus Meine, a ton of others around all spectrums of music and genres. Drum specific, I’d say Dave Lombardo, Pete Sandoval, Vinny and Carmine Appice, Scott Rockenfield, to name some. All are phenomenal and forever unrivaled in their musical wizardry and power. I was probably freshly a teen when I first strived to learn guitar, then after that wanted to try out drums, and here we are today. Took some years to really take it seriously and progress, but it all paid off in time.
KYLE- I had played guitar a little in high school but I sucked and never got any good. I’ve always been a passionate fan of underground and extreme music for as long as I can remember. I pretty much weaseled my way into my first band, and it’s been a lot of trial and error to get to where I am vocally. I prefer the more tortured and acidic sounding vocals to the standard gutturals (nothing wrong with those tho!) so guys like Martin van Drunen, John Tardy, Tomas Lindberg, Killjoy, Marc Grewe, Chris Reifert, Scott Ruth, Tom G. Warrior and Chuck Schuldiner were all key. Also, guys like Edgy 59 from Burning Witch, Johnny Morrow from Iron Monkey, and Blaine Cook from The Accused played a role as well.
I think the biggest reward for each band is the reaction of the fans. I like smaller clubs, where musicians and fans are close to each other. How often does OBSCENE perform? Do you go on tour sometimes, for example? I made a search on the internet and I didn't find too many live videos from your performance. How about OBSCENE and concerts? How about a tour in Europe with INCANTATION? I would love that.
BRANDON - Small clubs are always fun. Pack them up with people, give everyone some beers, and it’s bound to be a great time. Well, we had tour plans in 2020 right when the Inhabitable Dark came out. This was also the time that Covid struck the earth and everything shut down. So, needless to say, our plans were canceled. We had just bought a new van and everything. Prior to that, we did a bunch of local gigs, a few weekend tours around the midwest, and that’s really about it. Now that everything is opening up again, we plan to invade many more towns and venues. We’ve done a few one off gigs and some fests since. We just got done with a 10 day tour with Morta Skuld. Went through Missouri, Oklahoma, 4 days throughout Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. It was great. I’d love to get this band out of the country for something like that! It’s been talked about, for sure. It seems the new record is reaching tons of new ground.
KYLE- Shit, a tour with Incantation would be a dream come true! We’re hoping to get overseas next year and hit up one of if not both the American coasts by then too.
I've always wondered which kind of music do musicians actually listen to. Do you have any albums that you like to listen to again and again? And what about some new records from recent years? Did some record impress you enough to buy a CD?
BRANDON - Depends on the mood! I have a pretty large collection of records, tapes and CD’s here ranging from death metal, to doom, to heavy metal, to black metal, to classic rock, to hair/glam/shred stuff. I take influence from many different genres and combine all of them into what I do. I try my best to keep up with new bands and records, but man, there are just so many bands anymore that it kind of overwhelms me. Not necessarily a bad thing, but in the end I generally stick to a lot of older stuff!
KYLE- I try to keep it balanced with new and old. None of us exclusively listen to death metal, but we obviously know our shit. I’ll give ya a good old fashioned playlist:
Holy Moses-Finished With The Dogs
Lucifer’s Hammer-The Burning Church
Samhain-November Coming Fire
Cerebral Rot-Excretion of Mortality
Phobophilic-Undimensioned Identites
Deep Purple-In Rock
Witch Vomit-Abhorrent Rapture
Satyricon-Dark Medieval Times
Wraith-Undo the Chains
Apostle of Solitude-Until the Darkness Goes
Death metal is my favorite musical style. I am mainly fascinated by its darkness, or by a dusty smell from old graves. However, strength and pressure are also important. When I listen to a good record, I'm literally full of energy. What does death metal mean for you? How does it affect your life, your view of the world, how do you perceive death metal as a musician/composer/author?
BRANDON - Death metal will always be held near and dear. It’s the rawness, the power, the anger, the horror, the macabre, the intensity, the speed, the pent up aggression released and manifested via scorching riffs, maniacal vocals and pummeling drums. I don’t know what I’d do without it, honestly. It’s the best outlet there is.
KYLE- Gotta be the vibe and atmosphere. Once you know, you know. I mean „caveman riffs and blast beats‘ are cool and all, but death metal is a lil bit more than that. On the other hand I don’t think masturbatory noodling and pissing contests about how fast one can do a gravity blast means anything. We wanna hear songs that makes ya feel something.
Thank you very much for the interview! I wish not only to the new album "...from Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon ", but also to the whole band OBSCENE a lot of success. I'm going to listen to the album again! It's really great. Additionally, I wish you good luck also in your personal lives.
KYLE- Hey, thank you, Jakub! We appreciate the support. Keep it obscene! OUGH
