Interview with death metal band from Germany - TRIAL OF DEATH.
Answered Sebastian ‚Czebo‘ Bähr (guitar), thank you!
Translated Duzl, thank you!
Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.
Recenze/review - TRIAL OF DEATH - Creating Monstrosities (2023):
Ave TRIAL OF DEATH! Greetings to the underground. I hope everything is fine with you. It should be because this year you have released a first 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 work? Where did you want to move and in what are these two records different?
As a band we always try to improve and define our sound. So we try to write and use different song structures and melt them with deep and heavy riffs. Actually we always like to create and play death metal we also like to hear ourselves. Furthermore we also try to find new ways to incorporate our feelings and thoughts into the lyrical themes and to reflect what has been and is still going on in the world around us. And there have been some monstrous years between the release of 'Exorcism of the Goatman' in 2018 and the finishing process of 'Creating Monstrosities'. And we ain't talking about the motherfucking desease.
„Creating Monstrosities“ includes all attributes of good death 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 TRIAL OF DEATH?
Thank you for your kind words! Great to hear you like our record and enjoy listening to it.
Production of our work always starts with songwriting and is very diverse. Sometimes we jam and collect riffs and vocal 'melodies' or parts, sometimes bandmembers bring ideas and inspiration to rehearsals. We then work on those parts, catch the inspiration they give us and work out everything else to make complete arrangements out of them.
I have to confirm that I like the production of the album. It still makes me turn up the volume on the hi-fi tower. Who made you a sound that is cruel, raw and dark and animalistic at the same time. How did you find working with him and why him? What studio did you record in and how did it all work?
We love the outcome as well. There are several people who contributed to it. Recordings have been done by Ferli from 'Milking the Goatmachine' and our rhythm guitarist Czebo who also did some editing and production work. All recordings besides Vocals have been done in our very own rehearsal room. For Mixing and Mastering we gave it to Michael Kraxenberger from 'Sick of Sound' in Munich. He gave our record this great and intense sound and power we enjoy as much as you do!
The album has a dead cover. Who is the author? How did you choose the theme and how does it relate to the music on the record?
Thanks man, we're also very happy with it. The work has been done by Roberto Toderico who is well known in the death metal scene. We had the album title early on, inspired from several tracks from the record. Many scenarios are related to individual song parts, for example 'Blessed by Blasphemy' or 'Wreck of Humanity', just to name a few. Our vision was to include those in the artwork. We discussed those with him, but left room for Roberto's own ideas, inspiration and overall style.
I have been wandering the underground for over thirty years and I still go to Germany 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?
The complete metal scene has a long tradition in Germany. A lot of great awesome bands started to make great metal music from the 80s onwards. There are also a lot of clubs and festivals of all sizes where the scene can come together and enjoy their shared taste of music.
We are thankful for all of those death and metal-heads in Germany and elsewhere on the globe. Especially our fans and supporters. Very special thanks go to Martin Quast, who supports the undeground with his death metal label 'Neckbreaker Records'. There are a lot more of those small record labels, as well as show promoters and bookers who make the scene a living and evergrowing organism. Since decades this tradition goes on and on.
You play 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 TRIAL OF DEATH 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?
Most people just see us as a band, but in fact we are five individuals with different musical backgrounds and taste. Of course we all love extreme metal and death metal, but there are hundreds of bands and sub-genres in many varieties within those styles. In TRIAL of DEATH's music we bring togheter those preferences and make it our very own mixture and style.
So there are several idols and influences. Too many to be named here. To dig into this topic in detail, we would need a full night of metal talking with lots of drinks.
Regarding booking, we always look for chances to play live and present our music to the audience. Until now we mainly performed in Germany, besides one trip to 'Schonebeek Deathfest' in the Netherlands in 2019. If we got the chance to play anywhere else in Europe, we would love to do it! No matter if it's festivals or clubs.
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?
Your doing a great job Jakub, keep up the good work! Any support is important.
Regarding promotion, we as a band live a pretty good DIY culture. We try to be present on social media and be in contact with our fans and followers. Also we enjoy the support of our label and everyone related to it. With our album coming out, we reached out to several people and zines to give them early access to our record for review purposes.
We also get support from befriended bands and also support them actively in any possible way. Everyone in the band still buys CDs, LPs and merch from bands we like.
On the one hand, today new bands have 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 TRIAL OF DEATH? What do you think about downloading music, google metalists, streaming music, etc.?
We cherish the metal scene, their support spirit and especially the great help via word of mouth. The internet offers of course many possibilities and opportunities to promote our music or discover new bands from countries from all over the world. Countries for example Indonesia, where none of us have ever been to, have the chance to hear our songs. Bandcamp and YouTube are always a big help. As we all know there is of course a dark side to the story. However in the end the postives overweigh the negatives. Plus you cannot a download a sick band T-shirt.
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?
To be honest it all started when we first listened to Black Sabbath. But of course we all dig the raw energy of 90s death metal and the 80s horror and splatter movie vibes. We all listened to death metal since we were teenagers.
Finally, a classic but important question. What is TRIAL OF DEATH planning in the upcoming months? Where can we see you at the stage and when will you visit the Czech republic?
We would definetly love to play in the Czech Republic as soon as possible, perhaps you can help us out. Right now we are actively looking for opportunities to play live shows in Germany and all over Europe. A few are aleady confirmed and will be announced soon. Don't hesitate to get in touch.
DEATH METAL VICTORY
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 „Creating Monstrosities“ into my head again!
Recenze/review - TRIAL OF DEATH - Creating Monstrosities (2023):
Recenze/review - TRIAL OF DEATH - Exorcism Of The Goatman (2018):
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