Interview - DIABOLIC - I like to change up the structure but keep the demonic evil formula in the riffnotes. ~ DEADLY STORM zine

Interview with legendary death metal band from USA - DIABOLIC.

Answered Aantar, thank you!

Translated Duzl, thank you!

Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.

Recenze/review - DIABOLIC - Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost (2020):

https://deadly-storm.blogspot.com/2020/05/recenzereview-diabolic-mausoleum-of.html

Ave DIABOLIC!

Greetings to Florida. I hope you're well. At the beginning let‘s start with a question that everyone is interesting about. You released your last album "Excisions of Exorcisms" in 2010. The split with COMATOSE was also great, but you recorded the full-length album again finally this year. Why? I have to say that the waiting was endless for us - fans and I didn't really believe that you would release anything else.

Aantar - Thank you Jakub and Deadly Storm Zine for supporting Diabolic thru the years. The Diabolic demo CD split with Comatose is a demo for the under ground Diabolic Deathbanger fans. It’s a dirty raw brutal pre production sound. We re recorded the same tracks with a fresh new production. Im very happy with the new production. Over the past 10 years we have kept busy playing live.

I'm probably a little confused about who plays in the current DIABOLIC. Aantar and Paul are the old foundation of the band, but if I'm not mistaken, Matt Barnes from MONSTROSITY and CHAOS INCEPTION and Matt Roberts joined to the band. Are the newcomers full members of the band and participated in the recording of the new "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost"?

Aantar - We teamed up with Matt Barnes with Matt Robrets to complete "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost"Album much respect to them exceeding our expectations. Matt Barnes is welcome to play live with us. He is a full time Monstrosity band member. Matt Robert’s is the new full time guitarist bringing fresh new energy to Diabolic

Let’s go to the new Diabolic album "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost"… How did the album come about? Some songs were already on the split with COMATOSE. Were the songs re-recorded?

Aantar - July 2019 . With Juan Punchy Gonzalez DOW Studios we recorded the drums and scratch guitars at his legendary DOWstudio here in Tampa Florida. Paul recorded the vocals and we needed the right people to complete the album. I called Lee Harrison (Monstrosity) asked him if he knew a guitarist to play the tracks. Lee recommended his guitarist Matt Barnes Monstrosity) Matt and I rewrote the all the songs off the rails!!! He is Super motivated and professional. Just listen to album. Matt Roberts plays lead guitars. I sent him the tracks and gave him a very short 1 week notice deadline . He sent over lead tracks 1 day early beating the deadline.

I decided to start a Record Label because we didn’t get any offers from the demo. So I started Witchhunter Records to monitor Diabolic digital sales activity. After Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost" was released on all Digital platforms Virgil Palazzolo from Tentacles Industries contacted me. He was 100% dedicated to releasing "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost" by 6/6/20.

Surely you know the feeling when you hear some new music and you say to yourself, damn, that's exactly it! The first thing that came to my mind while listening to "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost" was the word HELL. Real dark, crazy Florida hell. You have your wild signature and I wonder where you recorded? Who is signed under the sound?

Aantar - We differently hit the bullseye on this album. We re recorded the songs at DOW Studios Juan Punchy Gonzalez here in Tampa (The Death Metal Capital of the World) with Juan Punchy Gonzales. We where trying to record the album ourselves and with other studio’s but it just didn’t work. I saw Punchy at the Morbid Angel show downtown here in Tampa and asked him to record the new album.

I haven't received the original CD and T-shirt yet, but the metal encyclopedia states that the cover was made for you by Zbigniew Bielak, I really like the work of this Polish artist. For example, his cover for the latest DEICIDE album is excellent. How did you actually choose the motif and how did you get together with Zbigniew?

Aantar - Diabolic has been friends with Zbigniew as long as I can remember. Zbigniew sent the sketch for "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost" back in 2014. Once the new album was recorded he finished his incredible work to complete "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost”. ….”Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost" cd’s and merchandise will be available 6/6/20 cd’s and merchandise will be available 7/7/20 Vinyl will be available https://tentaclesindustries.bigcartel.com/

Before the interview, I played all your albums from 1998 - 2003 and I say to myself that I've always really liked a certain darkness of you. A lot of bands are fast, crazy, often very technical, but they miss atmosphere in their songs. DIABOLIC is synonymous of darkness for me. Where do you draw inspiration for the songs and tell us something about composition process?

Aantar - Thanks a lot. We play what we feel. As for the process …we work together to get the job done. Hellish Vocals mixed with demonic double kicks/ blazing off the rails guitars and you get…"Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost"

The lyrics to "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost" do not deviate particularly from your tradition. Hell and death are the main themes of the new album. Who actually writes the lyrics and how? Is it Paul like a singer? And how lyrics come up for the new album? Did you read books or watch movies? Please tell us which ones...

Aantar - Paul’s been writing our lyrics since 1996. He’s inspired by his environment. He’s been homeless before and seen the world in a very dark way. Even back in 1996 he’s alway wrote the crazy demonic lyrics Paul can watch a movie,read a newspaper, walk down the street. It was fun working on this album with Paul because was really focused.

DIABOLIC have always been an orthodox death metal band, you actually continue on the new album where you left last time. A lot of bands do that, but most of the time they find themselves in a certain circle, when they can no longer bring something new to their music. Is it difficult for you to not repeat yourself? Today, when everything has actually been played, to write a good riff must be very challenging. Do you think about it when you are composing? And aren't you tempted to enrich the music with new elements in the future?

Aantar - When it comes to writing songs we use a few different formulas and structure’s. I like to change up the structure but keep the demonic evil formula in the riffnotes….To write evil sounding riffs I get into a mind set. When I think of evil riffs I think of Possessed The Exorcist will always be a track to inspire me. I usual start picking fast and I just feel the notes. And yea we have a surprise for you guys coming soon. will be adding more effects to this old-school style.

How do you actually remember the old days? I think you had a nice start of your band back then. Sometime in the year 2000, everyone who was interested in death metal knew about you. For example, I remember from that time that I really wanted to see you live. It never came true for me. Then came family, children, work, and I had completely different worries. But I was still waiting for you to come on Europe tour for example with DEICIDE and PERDITION TEMPLE (which I also haven't seen live). And nothing. What about DIABOLIC and concerts and are you planning some tour to support your new record?

Aantar - Diabolic first show in Tampa FL opening for Vader/Monstrosity then we opened for Exodus on the Binded By Blood reunion with Paul Baloff Saint Pete Theater FL. Form 1996-2003 Touring with Cannabal Corpse / Morbid Angel/Behemoth/Deicide(in -europe) Amon amarth /Dimmu Borgir/ Krisiun all with in the first 6 years together was a truly incredible accomplishment.The Diabolic band house was perfect for writing Death Metal. We would get a tour every 6 to 9 months. It was never consistent. Im surprised you didn’t see us on tour with Behemoth / Deicide back in 2002.

Underground (and especially death metal) has always been about support, about fans. How do you perceive the current situation? How it is going at Florida? And did things like social networks, music downloads, the internet affect the functioning of DIABOLIC? For example, there is a relatively large group of people who constantly comment on, share, criticize, but you don't see them at the concert, they don't buy CDs. You know, a mouth full of bullshit and no acts. How does it work there?

Aantar - Im sure the downloads and closing of record stores around the world didn’t help our record sales. And yes as you see the criticizers /haters post there opinions. write shit .It’s way too easy to write a bad review and post. Its simple …if you don’t like a cd don’t review it We are the one’s that have to really play these song live. and thats whats real…playing live . Anybody can type a negative review …thats EASY!!!! But playing and touring a sacrificing your life to traveling driving thu Blackice /Snow Blizzards,Tornado RainStorms to play your next show is real.

Sometimes I don't think about death metal like about music, but like about lifestyle, maybe a philosophy. How do you perceive death metal? What does it mean for you and how should you define it, for example, to a person who is out of the scene?

Aantar - Like I said..Driving thru torrential rain storms and Ice storms and driving on black ice to play the next show is how we lives our Death Metal way of life. Of corse we are older now and have our family’s and kids. With there support we move forward.

What are the upcoming plans for DIABOLIC? Will there be a tour for a new album? Is there anything you would like to say to the fans?

Aantar - Thanks for this interview and you supporting Diabolic!!! We can’t wait to play live and see Deathbangers together again. Right now we are doing a lot of interviews. We will make a video soon. Keep in contact with what Diabolic is doing at https://www.facebook.com/diabolic.deathmetal/ now The world can buy our new CD and Diabolic merchandise at https://tentaclesindustries.bigcartel.com/

Keep Headbanging at Blasphemous Speeds forever!!!

Thank you so mucch for the interview. I'm going to get the "Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost" in my head again. It's a great hellish record! I wish you the best possible sales and sold out gigs. Also all the best in your private lives. DIABOLIC FOREVER!

Recenze/review - DIABOLIC - Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost (2020):

https://deadly-storm.blogspot.com/2020/05/recenzereview-diabolic-mausoleum-of.html