Answered Lachy.
Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play , etc.?
- Contaminated was formed in 2013 by me (Lachy) as a solo project. Originally, the intent of the band was to channel early 90s Finnish death metal demos by the likes of Abhorrence, Demigod, Depravity etc. as exemplified by the first demo, Pestilential Decay. By late 2014, we’d expanded to a full lineup and a few months later recorded a second demo tape, Promo 2015, where influence from Dead Congregation, Morpheus Descends and Immortal Fate crept in. Just recently our full length album, Final Man, came out on Blood Harvest Records.
Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?
- We recorded guitars, bass and drums at Goatsound with Jason Fuller and vocals and some guitar overdubs ourselves at the place we rehearse at, Bakehouse Studios. Xavier Irvine handled the mix and Jason finished off the master. I couldn’t recommend those two any more – Goatsound is the best place in Melbourne to record at and Xavier can mix up an absolute storm.
How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?
- 500 LPs (300 black, 100 silver and 100 orange) and 500 CDs. We had the option of doing a cassette version but I just don’t see the point in releasing a full length death metal album on cassette in 2017, they’ve long out-lived their purpose.
Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?
- I’ll let Zev have his input here...
I wrote most of the lyrics except for Forlorn and Desolate, which Lachie wrote. I usually come up with a title and write around that. The notable exception is "Mired in Shit". I called it "Castle Deadshit", but the powers-that-be (ie Lachie) deemed that name "too stupid" to print on the back of our record, despite the fact that the album art looks like zombie Grimace waving a grabber hand. The songs are mostly about acknowledging that something rotten is going on, while simultaneously acknowledging the reality of being an unimaginative, fatalistic deadbeat who'd prefer to squander their energy on a preposterous fantasy like death metal instead of actually trying to fix or change anything.
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?
- Stewart Cole designed all graphics, layouts and the logo on the album. As for social network presence, while no means the only method, it is an excellent and very easy way to get the word out about your band. The power of putting a flier into someone’s hand cannot be understated, though, and combining a decent social media presence with traditional fliering really gets the word around about shows and results in decent attendance.
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?
- Blood Harvest has an excellent roster both past and present (as well as Rodrigo‘s past work on Putrid Filth Conspiracy) and he‘s very professional to work with. So far we are very happy working with him and I can’t see that changing anytime in forseeable future.
Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?
- Most of the inspiration and influence for Contaminated is drawn from old Finnish bands like Abhorrence, Demigod, Depravity etc. and also dark US death metal, so Incantation, Morpheus Descends, as well some more grinding DM like Immortal Fate, Rottrevore...
Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?
- I only sent a couple of copies of the Promo 2015 tape to Blood Harvest and Dark Descent. Blood Harvest answered saying he’d be stoked to release a full length by us and that was it really. Dark Descent didn’t get back to us. We had offers from other good labels but I felt that Blood Harvest would be the best for us in terms of distribution and quality of the actual CD and LP releases.
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?
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?
- I’d say we’ve played around 30 or so shows in the 2 and a half years that we’ve been an active live band. We’ve played a whole bunch of different types of shows – DIY punk houses, storm water drains, community-run DIY spaces in addition to the usual pubs. I usually enjoy playing small band rooms with no stage the most as they always sound loud as hell and you’re always right in people’s faces. Our best show so far was our album launch show on April 28th – killer lineup (us, Incinerated, Faceless Burial, Kutabare and Christcrusher) and we really smashed it that night. The mix was also spot on, massively heavy but clear.
What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?
- We’d love to tour the US and Europe sometime – provided we can make it happen and work around money, work, family etc... as for new releases, nothing is set in stone yet but we’ve got 3 new tracks that would probably suit a split or EP.
How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?
- The best way to contact us is either by email or the Facebook page... here are some links:
pestilentialdecay@hotmail.com
Thanx for the interview.
- Cheers for getting onto us!
