Interview with death grindcore metal band from France - FATAL.
Answered Skull (vocals), thank you!
Recenze/review - FATAL - Apocalypsis (2025):
Ave FATAL! Right at the beginning I have to give a bow to your latest album "Apocalypsis". It's been a long time since I've heard such a tight and crazy record. I have it at home, in my car and at work, in various formats and I listen to it every time I need a boost of energy. In hindsight, how happy are you with the album and what's the reaction from fans?
Skull:** Hail Jakub! Hi to all Deadly storm readers!
I'm extremely pleased with your first comments, and I have to say that I have the same reactions as you. In my opinion, this is our most accomplished album to date, and we're very proud of it. So far, everyone who's listened to it has really enjoyed it, with melodies and phrases already stuck in their heads.
I think the new album is a perfect album in all aspects actually. The sound is great, the ideas, the cover art. How did FATAL compose and how was the new album created? It seems to me that you have a different set of musicians for each album. Who has the main say in the band and is the one who says - this song is good, let's leave it?
We put a lot of work into Apocalypsis. Composing the songs well in advance enabled us to step back and hone them finely to arrive at this final result.
John and Damned, the guitarists, wrote 12 tracks. We listened to them at length and only 9 were retained for the album. Then came the lyrics. And we consulted each other regularly as soon as a new idea surfaced.
The process was the same for the album cover, for which Damned was responsible.
The line-up is subject to change by force of circumstance and personal life choices. However, most of the time, we make decisions after a collective consultation.
There isn't really a leader as such.
"Apocalypsis" has a harsh, brutal sound. Raw and uncompromising. It's punchy at the same time. Where did you record the album? And who is the mastering engineer? I really like that the sound is organic, so real, you avoided "artificiality" and "overdone", as unfortunately some bands have the habit of doing nowadays.
The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in Damned's own studio. He did a remarkable job of delivering a powerful, massive sound, drawing on the sources of old-school metal with the quality of today's sounds, without falling into sanitized compression without identity.
It's clear that in death metal, lyrics are often an afterthought. How do you perceive the content of the lyrics and how are they created in FATAL? What are they about on the new album and what were they influenced by?
In Apocalypsis (which means Revelation), the texts deal with themes of suffering, anger, hope and love. In this opus, the subject is childhood suffering: innocence abused, tortured and destroyed for no reason, as only evil beings can do. The anger stems from the fact that these true demons enjoy too much impunity, are sometimes even protected, if not encouraged, and also benefit from the prevailing unhealthy hypersexualization (the “Daisy Destruction” affair).
And out of this disgusting cesspool emerges hope, the hope that delivers and gives meaning to life, and for which love is the nourishment, the guide of our heart. Without love there can be no life.
Going back to the beginning... What was the first impulse that made you put the band together? And why death metal?
FATAL was founded by John and André (now deceased) in 1997 from the ashes of NOMED, a thrash band that toured extensively at the time. André wanted a new thrash metal band combining originality and power. The first EP, “L'émissaire”, was therefore released with horn and cello sections that same year.
The change of singer in 2001 gave FATAL this death metal tinge, a style he is particularly fond of. So there's always a touch of that thrash metal influence to spice up our music brutally.
If I'm not mistaken, FATAL dates back to 1997. How do you perceive that time? You and the other bands were at the birth of something new. Your history is full of changes and interesting albums, which rightfully belong in every fan's golden collection. I just wonder why there aren't more of those records? Three long-playing records in 28 years isn't a lot. What's your explanation and what's the reason for that?
It's true that the metal scene from 1980 to 2000 was very rich indeed. The different styles of metal were created at that time, and the anthology albums come from that period.
FATAL played a lot of concerts until 2010, when the band decided to stop. Until then, it was rather the financial means that we lacked to be able to produce more albums.
It was in 2018 that we decided to get back into the swing of things, with the desire above all to compose again, with a different approach, more resources and still the same drive!
How did you get started in music and how did you get into death metal? What about the first gig you attended, what about the first time you were on stage? Who was your role model?
As for me (SKull/vocals), I started playing guitar/vocals in 1991 with Nirvana, then discovered Maiden, then Megadeth, Slayer, Sepultura, and then BOOM Napalm Death, Cannibal, Entombed!!!!
In fact, it was my first concert, 1997, Entombed on the ''To Ride, Shoot...” tour, it was crazy, in a small, packed venue, then a few months later it was a date with Cannibal Corpse and Krabathor, it was huge!!!
My first stage was in high school, with my first death metal band, Heretik. I really liked Max Cavalera's style back then. Then, being only on vocals with FATAL, I live the songs so much that I'm almost in a trance ☺ it's really my inner being that pops up, the angry one.
What was and is the death metal scene in Le Havre like? Do you guys meet up somewhere? If I come to your place, do you have a club, a place you would recommend?
The metal scene in Le Havre has been undergoing a revival recently, and it's pretty exciting, even if there's not a lot of death metal, the public comes out and appreciates the bands when they give off something strong.
The Irish pub, Mac Daid's, is the perfect place if you're passing through Le Havre, you'll be very well received, there's a great atmosphere and the beer is unfortunately delicious. See you tonight?
I love your country, the culture, the sights, and the beautiful girls. But for the last years France has also been a literal well of good metal music. You go about music in a slightly different way than others. I like SVART CROWN, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, BENIGHTED, but also veterans MERCYLESS, newcomers RITUALIZATION, SKELETHAL... there are a lot of great bands - how is that possible? Is it the wine?:). Do you have any other tips for us? Do you see any differences between concerts elsewhere in Europe and here?
Thanks for the compliments, there are a lot of very good bands in France, and indeed some very good wines, maybe there's a link between all that ☺ . You also have good beers, very pretty ladies, and good bands in the Czech Republic, FATAL had actually covered Orthodox by Krabathor a few years ago. A superb song!
I don't think we have any advice to give anyone, there are no secrets, you just have to enjoy yourself, love what you're doing, and if you're not satisfied, start again, and so on.
Unfortunately, we don't know the Czech public, and we'd be delighted to come and play on stages in your homeland, like at this monstrous Czech Death fest!
What about you and concerts in general? Are you a band that goes to as many gigs as you can or do you pick and choose a lot? Do you have a dream, like a band you'd like to tour with or a festival, a city you'd like to perform in?
FATAL played a lot between 1997 and 2010, and in all sorts of places: cellars, squats, houseboats... Since then, we've been trying to play in places where the conditions are right, but above all it's out of respect for the audience. Our music, however violent and brutal it may be, demands a certain standard of ourselves, and therefore of the venues that welcome us.
We'd like to play everywhere! with a preference for Wacken Open air, Brutal assault, and Maryland death fest!
Death/grind metal isn't really a style that is in the spotlight for fans. It's all the more important to have support. From the old days, I have it fixed that you support your favourite band by buying a CD, a t-shirt, going to a gig. But times have changed. The internet rules the world, downloading music. How do you, as a band, perceive these changes? Have you had to make any adjustments to the way you operate? What about the fans, are they different too?
We don't find this digital domination disturbing, it's an evolution. Anyone who wants to listen to their favorite band in magnificent sound will buy a CD or vinyl LP, and we can only encourage that. Even if the media change, the main aim remains the sound, the music.
The whole planet will be able to download the latest FATAL album, while only 200 people will be lucky enough to have the LP ☺.
There are positives and negatives in all this with regard to the fans. They find themselves today with a multitude of bands to listen to, to discover, some becoming demanding and others bulimic...
It's been 28 years since FATAL was founded. You are a concept on the scene, you have loyal fans, you perform at concerts. Is there anything else you want to achieve as a band? What are your goals for the future?
Our main objective is to continue having fun by sharing our energy. To commune with our listeners. And to think about what's next for Apocalypsis.
Every time I interview a band, I always have to ask. What does death metal mean to you, how do you perceive it and how would you define it? I mean now more in terms of its philosophy, mood, atmosphere. For example, I think that death metal must always be played from the heart, otherwise it's not the same.
Anything undertaken with the heart is good for the person doing it. Death metal is an exciting and fascinating music that brings out the dark beast that lurks deep within us. It allows us to unleash violence that doesn't hurt, and like an outlet it makes us even more ALIVE (death makes me love life).
Ludwig Van Beethoven said: To play a bad note is insignificant, to play without passion is inexcusable.
Thank you so much for the interview, for your great music and I wish FATAL to have all the sold out shows and crazy fans who will rip your arms off with merchandise. I also wish you much success and well being in your personal lives.
May the Gods hear your words...
AMEN
Recenze/review - FATAL - Apocalypsis (2025):
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