Interview with death band from Germany - REVEL IN FLESH.
Answered Haubersson.
Translated by Markéta, thank you!
Recenze/review - REVEL IN FLESH – Death Kult Legions (2014)
Ave REVEL IN FLESH! I listen to your new album “Emissary of All Plagues”
over and over again and I cannot stop it! I really believe that the album is
great. How do you feel about it when it has been released for some time now?
Would you change anything? How are fans´ feedbacks? How about reviews and
critics?
Haubersson: Glad to read that our 4th album manages to
remain in your playlist for long time! It's a good sign, because usually we
live in times where everything runs dry fast, u know! Well, the album was a
huge process in production work; we worked more than a year on that album in
our guitarist's own studio and the whole release process from August till
December was really stressful and suffocating! There has been a lot of
organisation work in the backround (preparing videos, press/media works etc.),
but let me say it like this album truly had a happy end for us! The scene,
media resposnse was amazing. We've got excellent reviews and also features in
bigger medias than before. CYCLONE EMPIRE and our promotion agency did a good
job in pushing and we were there at the right time with the right album!
Furthermore I think it's the first time that we've got a lot more response from
outside of Germany, too! About the album itself, when you are deeply involved
into the whole process you always know what you could do better or which
compromises are involved. Reaching final satisfaction is nearly impossible, but
the challenge of “doing better” keep the motor moving. I think “Emissary of all
plagues” is to us the next good and logical step forwards; it still represents
REVEL IN FLESH in a true way, but also offers some new breaths of death, too.
The new album has
a great cover which was made by Juanjo Castellano. You have always have great
motives on your covers. Are you precise about how your covers should look like?
Haubersson: Yes, we have always worked with Juanjo Castallano on our
full length albums for artworks thus far! He is in some way the man who gave
this band a sort of visual face. To me the whole combination of music,
production, artworks and lyrics must go hand in hand! Of course I have a strong
vision about how a possible artwork could look alike. For “Emissary of all
plagues” the idea was to have a main central figure that more or less takes
action about the whole happening on the artwork. Special to us was that Juanjo
had that artwork on hold so to say! It totally fulfilled our demands; it was
actually supposed for a personal project of the artist, but since we were good
customers and he is as well truly convinced about REVEL IN FLESH, so he offered
us to buy that one for our 4th album! There's a also a sort of
concept story behind the artwork, but let's talk more later about that!
How REVEL IN FLESH
compose new songs? How does the whole process of making a new material go? Who
is the author of your music?
Haubersson: We are blessed with the fact that our guitarist Maggesson
has an own studio and since we are not a regular rehearsing band we more or
less write the music directly in the studio! It's to us the best way to capture
the ideas and to keep that whole process as productive as possible. In Metal
music it's the guitarist and the fuckin' riff which is the main element in
songwriting, so main contributors are in first line Maggesson and some stuff
like “Casket ride” or “Servants of the deathkult” was contributed by
Herrmannsgard, too. The main thing is that you need a sort of vivid team
thinking in that process, especially to keep the satisfaction for everyone in
the band alive!
Who did the lyrics
on “Emissary of All Plagues” and what are the lyrics about? Where do you find
inspiration for your lyrics?
Haubersson: The lyrics are based on the concept of the coverartwork,
means a sort of evil priest, possessed in mind returns after being buried alive,
among the living! He is the “Emissary of all plagues” and brings vengeance
upcon mankind! It's a sort of concept that works really well for a Death Metal
album; all songtitles / lyricas gather in some way more or less under that
banner!
You chose mix of
Dan Swan again for your album “Emissary of All Pragues”.I really like that you
sound cold, mangy and readable at the same time. It looks like Dan´s signature
is great for you. I would like to know how did you made the new album? How was
the process? Were you able to change something about the final sound? Did you
record the album in Dan´s place or you were sending already done songs to him?
Haubersson: Yes! Swanö is our No.1 sound guru! Thus far we worked with
him on all releases done by RIF in terms of mix, mastering or both duties. Our
co – operation has grown and developed throughout the years and I think
“Emissary of all plagues” is the sound highlight in that process, thus far! All
communication is handled via e – mail and the files got simply transferred on
the interent, so it's unfortunately not anymore about meeting in person and
drinking beers together in the studio while sitting behind the mixing table;
Ha! But it's still god and a vivid push to our music! Thanx a lot to Dan!
You play typical
classic Swedish death metal. You are “orthodox” because you have never done
anything else. Personally, that is one of the reasons why I like your music so
much. However, have you ever thought about playing something a little bit
different, to spice the music of REVEL IN FLESH up?
Haubersson: Yeah, the Swedish thing, Ha! Well, we us the BOSS HM2 pedal
for the guitar sound and this and will always be the main tool for a Swedish
sounding weapon of Death Metal mass destruction! But after close to 50 own
REVEL IN FLESH tracks we do not think that much about how we could be compared
etc.! I think nowadays we sound like REVEL IN FLESH do. I know that we've had
that sort of “tribute thing” on the first album, but the whole styled
developed, BUT without breaking with the roots of the genre. REVEL IN FLESH is
deeply bound in the classical way of Death Metal, also in terms of lyrics, arts
and the whole way of expression. If you compare each RIF album starting with
“Deathevokation” up to the new one you will recognize that we developed slightly
into something own. The 4th one is probably our most melodic on thus
far, but it's still REVEL IN FLESH! So we don't miss the spice, but on the
other hand we still stick to our guns! This band was formed to deliver DEATH
METAL in the 90ies style and that's what we are here for!
I have your split
with Polish THE DEAD GOATS (2014). You both did a great Swedish job! The
records was released on vinyl. How did you manage to work with this band? What
brought you together?
Haubersson: Well, we’ve got introduced to THE DEAD GOATS by SELFMADEGOD
Records, who have been responsible for that split 7”EP we’ve did back then in
2014. Both bands provided their material for the split to the label and it
ended up on a nice collector item 7”EP. It was limited to 500 copies, pressed
on different colours! I heard that THE DEAD GOATS had a lot of line – up
changes recently. I’ve been in contact with one of the guys back then and we’ve
traded some stuff! I really like their style; it has a Swedish sounding vibe,
but they have a more punk/crust like influences. Furthermore they have a damned
cool way of visual expressions in terms of artworks, titles etc.! Good luck
dudes, hopefully we can share the stage some day!
You released
“Emissary of All Plagues” by Cyclone Empire and Defying Danger Records
(cassette). Both labels are known as a good ones in the underground and they do
a really good job. But still, have you thought about publishing an album by
some other and bigger label? Did you try to talk to other labels?
Haubersson: Well, at the current state we are free of any contracts.
“Free bird”, so to say! I don’t have an idea about future label co – operations
at the currently! Our main concern at the moment is playing live, doing the
bookings and organisation work. Then the next step would be writing new
material before thinking of any label matters! To me personally I think working
with dedicated and honest people is much more important than the business size
of a firm!
The new album
“Emissary of All Plagues” was published as LP version. How do you feel about
vinyl? Are you a collector? Do you have a great collection? There are some
bands who sell more vinyl than CDs. How about you?
Haubersson: “Emissary of all plagues” had a limited to 500 copies vinyl
edition, which was sold out inr 2 weeks after the release date at the label’s
and band’s stock, so we can say that we have some real vinyl lovers among our
supporters! Also I know that there are some “die hard” collectors of our 7”Eps,
fans that want all colours of the vinyls, which is freaking awesome! Personally
I collect vinyl, but not on a constant basic since I prefer listening to CD
when I’m at home since I’m a lazy turntable user, Ha! But for the Metal collector
heart nothing matches a vinyl; especially 7”Eps are like a sort of “Kult”
format!
Nowadays, a lot of
young bands play “old school death metal”. The majority of them is not really
good but there are some new bands who understand what is it about. Do you have
any favourite band who would be able to “enliven the old days”?
Haubersson: The term “Old School” is highly overused these days! To me
Death Metal needs a certain kind of spirit and a strong vision also in terms of
the combination of music, art & lyrics. From latest release of so called
younger bands I’m currently really impressed by BLOOD INCANTATION and
HORRENDOUS. But there are still tons of good Death Metal releases poping up
everywhere; actually it’s too much for the scene to swallow! Nobody has the
time nor the money to check out all the stuff, Ha! From the German scene I
really like newcomers like GRAVEYARD GHOUL, CRYPTIC BROOD or CARNAL TOMB, who
deliver a sort of stylish and raw type of old fashioned Death Metal. Also keep
an eye on SACROSCUM from Germany!
How do your fans
perceive you (in Germany)? Do they see you as “just some guys who play like Swedish” or are they actually
deeply interested in your work? Today in death metal there are more famous the
bands who play technical and brutal music.
Haubersson: We have a sort of “die hard” following in Germany, but
REVEL IN FLESH has never been a sort of media hype band, so we worked hard with
releases, shows etc. to get the band to the next level! It’s a process that
needs bloody dedication and we are really thankful to those who helped and
supported us on that path thus far! About BRUTAL & TECH DEATH: I don’t give
a shit! Death Metal for me needs a headbanging drive and not a math lesson
feeling!
Let´s look at the
beginning again…What was the first impulse which made you create the band? Why
did you choose Swedish metal? That is not the kind of music which would bring
someone “fame”.
Haubersson: Yeah! You won't get laid by playing Death Metal, but fame
etc. is not what we are here for! We play the music we like to and what feels
good to us! When others like it – fine! When they doesn't we will still stick
to our guns.
I think we still have in some way a same attitude like in the beginning
since it's still about passion, the band is still mainly based on a DO IT
YOURSELF level, it's still about the way how we see our concept of DEATH METAL.
Personally I always prefered Swedish or let me say “old” European Death Metal
instead of the US style. I still love the old Florida and 90ies stuff from the
US, too, but I'm absolutely not into this faster, more brutal, more technical,
more gore etc. competition!
How about REVEL IN
FLESH and concerts? I looked online and it looks like you do not have many of
those. I know that it is expensive but have you thought about a European tour?
I would like to see you for example as a pre-band for INTERMENT on a small
tour.
Haubersson: Don't forget that everyone of us has a sort of “shitty
daily working life”, too. So playing shows and keeping this band going is
always a compromise between your daily duties, too. Actually we play as much as
we can, but the main factor is that we are lacking in serious bookings outside
Germany! Shows and offers that would really make it reasonable to take a few
days vacation and to let all hell break loose. For example we never play Czech
Republic thus far; but I still cross my fingers that the 4th album
will guide us to your country, too.
What are REVEL IN
FLESH´s plans for the next few months?
Haubersson: We have 2 small scale tours coming up. One with FACEBREAKER
in June and one with FLESHCRAWL in September. In between we play single shows
and festivals; but mostly on German soil! We have new merchandise in progress
etc.! Simply check our facebook page for regular updates. Furthermore we now
have a new and really working offical homepage, too! Check: www.revelinflesh.com
Thank you so much
for the interview and I wish you a lot of sold albums, hundreds of crazy fans
and tons of great ideas. I also wish you luck in your personal lives.
Haubersson: Thanx a lot Jakub for your “die hard” support and for
supporting the scene with DEADLY STORM! We hope to come to Czech Republic soon
for some shows and of course as well for drinking a whole swimming pool of
Pilsner Urquell!!! Cheerz & HAIL THE DEATHKULT!!!
https://www.revelinflesh.com/
