Ave TEMPLE OF DECAY! On September 20, 2024 your second album "Anti Deus" will be released by Godz ov War Productions and Black Death Production. As the title suggests, it is a blast of honest black metal, death metal. When you left the studio, what were your feelings? Please introduce to the fans a little bit the new album and actually the band.
Ave Jakub. First of all, thank you for your interest in Temple of Decay and for supporting the underground metal scene. Temple of Decay is a solo project that was created in 2019. Since then, I have released in 2020 mini album Last Manifestation of Life and a full album Rigor Mortis in 2022 This year also, in September, the second full album Anti Deus was released. As for Anti Deus, I completed the material in the late summer of 2023. Due to reasons beyond my control, it was released a bit later. As for my feelings about this material, some time has passed since I finished it, so I've cooled off a bit, haha. At this point, I would probably change and improve a few things, etc. But overall, I am very satisfied with the final result.
You're a band, a one-man project called Mortt. How did TEMPLE OF DECAY come about? I guess a good pub and a lot of beer or a visit to a cemetery? When and how did you first get the idea to start playing death/black metal?
Haha, I definitely drank a lot of beer while the idea of creating the project came about. But seriously, I can't hide the fact that the name was inspired by a certain band from Sweden. Hail Mighty Marduk!! As for the idea, the inspiration to play death and black metal started a long time ago. I was involved in several death and black metal bands in the past. Unfortunately, they all came to an end naturally. Unfortunately, I had to wait a bit to finally realize what I had wanted to bring to light for some time. But now I’m finally here and can bring my sick visions and projects to life.
I admit that your new album "Anti Deus" got me on my ass. What I really like about it is that you are not only orthodox and real, but you don't forget about cold and dark melodies. How do you actually compose and create new songs?
My main intention with the music is to knock you in the face or the ass—call it what you want However, I’m not sure about using the term 'orthodox' in relation to myself, as I am open to generally most music genres. But I definitely believe in the principle that when I am creating and expecting from other artists, black and death metal should convey a negative message. There’s no room for mercy here! When it comes to the process of creating melodies and song structures, I do a lot of improvising with ideas. The „COLD“ you mentioned comes naturally, there's no calculation or anything like that involved. But I also fully realize that it’s not something groundbreaking. It’s just me, nothing more nothing less.
What really caught my attention on the new album is the very raw and "dusty" sound. Where did you record the album, mix it, who is signed under the production?
Anti Deus, like my previous materials, was created and mostly recorded at Terror Studio. It’s my home cave that was created specifically for the purpose of crafting black art. The mixing and mastering, if you can call it that, haha, is also my work. It’s great to hear that you liked.
I was also interested in the album cover. If I understand correctly, there's a demon on it. The cover is elaborate, a bit mysterious, but it fits the music perfectly. What is this theme supposed to represent? Who is the author and how did you get together and why this particular theme?
You’re right, there’s a demon on the cover, haha, created by the demon himself Qras from Mental Porn. Piotr is responsible for all the covers and layouts of Temple of Decay. I don’t think he needs much more introduction, as he has done some really incredible work. As for the cover of Anti Deus, it was created a bit differently this time, as it didn’t use computer graphics; instead, Piotr created it by hand. Creating the sketch and everything else. As you said, the cover fits the music very well and carries a strong message.Anti God! Anti Deus!
In your lyrics you deal with dark fantasy, anti-religion, death. What are they about on the new record? What is the main theme and idea behind "Anti Deus"? Where do you get inspiration for the lyrics?
I think the lyrics of ToD are not something complicated or intricate. The message is simple but powerful, which is why I believe the Polish lyrics this time complement and emphasize the essence of this material. I’m even more surprised that people who don’t know Polish can still feel the message and sincerity of this music. In general, the lyrics are very anti-clerical and anti-Christian. The hatred I feel towards this institution and the restrictions it imposes is the main inspiration behind the existence of Tod. Stupidity fuels my hatred!!
I can't help but ask. You play a metal style that's extreme. You live in Poland. How are black death metal bands perceived by the general public? Do you have any problems with that? Do you get any space on TV, in newspapers? How is life in your country influenced by Christianity, religions in general?
I can’t say too much about Poland at the moment since I spend most of my time in Dublin, Ireland. However, a lot has definitely changed over the years. I think Poland is slowly moving away from stereotypes; there is definitely more tolerance for certain things. However, we are still very far behind other countries in Europe. I'm speaking generally about culture and music. Unfortunately, the church and the state are still the biggest plunderers. As I mentioned, everything is slowly changing, but I wouldn't want metal to be everywhere and for everyone. I personally prefer metal to remain underground, inaccessible to everyone and dangerous for a certain group of people.
TEMPLE OF DECAY have only been on the scene for a while. How far do you want to go? Big festivals, long tours? Are you just a project or do you want to be a regular band that will work classically? Are you even considering a live show? I think it could be interesting.
As for how long I will continue with Tod, you will definitely hear something new. However, to be honest, there’s a lack of time and the right people, which rules out the possibility of concerts for now. I really enjoy being a studio project, but I don’t rule out performing live in the future.Time will tell.
Do you use modern technology? Everything has changed over the years - technology, sound, recording studios, we have the internet, downloading music. How have these changes affected the way TEMPLE OF DECAY operates? Have you had to adapt a lot?
Yes, I use and take advantage of technology. It’s thanks to this that I can realize myself as a solo project. It has its pros and cons. When it comes to the internet, downloading, etc., I miss the times when there was less of it and more attention was given to one thing. Today, there’s definitely too much for my old head, ha,ha. But in reality, there’s probably nothing to complain about.
I have the feeling lately that as far as extreme styles are concerned, it's really alive in Poland. Especially death and black metal bands are great! I've been coming to review new records, doing interviews and I feel that your scene is very strong. But that's my perspective as a person who lives outside Poland. What is your opinion? What about gigs, promoters, clubs, extreme metal music shops?
Absolutely, you’re right—the Polish black and death metal scene is one of the strongest in the world. I take pride in how incredibly our scene is developing. When it comes to concerts, festivals, and the promotion of this music, I think it’s really good. If you’re looking for something, you can easily find it. We have a few good labels and decent distribution. I think it’s not bad at all. But it can always be better.
Thank you very much for the interview and I wish not only the new album great sales. I wish you all the best in your personal lives as well. May the power be with you! TEMPLE OF DECAY!
Thank Jakub, and I wish you all
the best as well.Cheers.
Recenze/review - TEMPLE OF DECAY - Anti Deus (2024):
Ave TEMPLE OF DECAY! 20. září 2024 vám vyšlo u Godz ov War Productions a Black Death Production vaše druhé album „Anti Deus“. Jak už sám název napovídá, jedná se o smršť poctivého blacku, death metalu. Když si šel ze studia, jaké jsi měl pocity? Představ prosím fanouškům trošku nové album a vlastně i kapelu.
Ave Jakub! Především vám děkujeme za váš zájem o Temple of Decay a za podporu undergroundové metalové scény. Temple of Decay je sólový projekt, který vznikl v roce 2019. Od té doby jsem vydal v roce 2020 minialbum Last Manifestation of Life a v roce 2022 plné album Rigor Mortis Letos, v září vyšlo také druhé plné album Anti Deus. Co se týče Anti Deus, materiál jsem dokončil na konci léta 2023. Z důvodů, které jsem nemohl ovlivnit, bylo vydáno o něco později. Co se týče mých pocitů z tohoto materiálu, od jeho dokončení už uběhl nějaký čas, takže jsem trochu vychladl, haha. V tuto chvíli bych asi pár věcí změnil a vylepšil atd. Ale celkově jsem s konečným výsledkem velmi spokojen.
Jste kapela, projekt jednoho muže, který si říká Mortt. Jak vlastně vznikli TEMPLE OF DECAY? Tipuji nějakou dobrou hospodu a spoustu piva nebo návštěva hřbitova? Kdy a jak tě poprvé napadlo začít hrát death/black metal?
Haha, rozhodně jsem vypil hodně piva, když vznikl nápad vytvořit projekt. Ale vážně, nemůžu zastírat, že název byl inspirován jistou kapelou ze Švédska. Zdrávas mocný Marduk!! Co se týče nápadu, inspirace hrát death a black metal začala už dávno. V minulosti jsem se podílel na několika death a black metalových kapelách. Bohužel všechny přirozeně skončily. Bohužel jsem si musel chvíli počkat, abych si konečně uvědomil, co jsem chtěl už nějakou dobu vynést na světlo. Ale teď jsem konečně tady a mohu uvést své nemocné vize a projekty k životu.
Přiznám se, že mě tvoje novinka „Anti Deus“ posadila na zadek. Mně se na ní hrozně líbí, že jsi nejen ortodoxní a opravdoví, ale nezapomínáte ani na studené a temné melodie. Jak vlastně skládáš a tvoříš nové skladby?
Mým hlavním záměrem v hudbě je nakopnout vás do obličeje nebo do zadku - říkejte si tomu, jak chcete. Nejsem si však jistý, zda mám používat termín „ortodoxní“ ve vztahu k sobě, protože jsem otevřený obecně většině hudebních žánrů. Rozhodně ale věřím v zásadu, že když tvořím a očekávám od jiných umělců, black a death metal by měl nést negativní poselství. Tady není místo pro slitování! Pokud jde o proces tvorby melodií a struktury písní, hodně improvizuji s nápady. Ta „ZIMA“, kterou jsi zmínil, přichází přirozeně, není v tom žádný kalkul nebo něco podobného. Ale zároveň si plně uvědomuji, že to není nic převratného. Jsem to prostě já, nic víc nic míň.
Na novince mě zaujal opravdu hodně syrový a „prašivý“ zvuk. Kde jsi desku nahrával, mixoval, kdo je podepsán pod produkcí?
Anti Deus, stejně jako mé předchozí materiály, vznikl a byl z větší části nahrán ve studiu Terror. Je to moje domácí jeskyně, která byla vytvořena speciálně za účelem tvorby černého umění. Mix a mastering, pokud se tomu tak dá říkat, haha, je také moje práce. Je skvělé slyšet, že se vám líbilo.
Zaujal mě i obal desky. Jestli to dobře chápu, tak je na něm démon. Cover je propracovaný, trošku tajemný, ale perfektně se hodí k hudbě. Co má tento námět vyjadřovat? Kdo je autorem a jak jste se dali dohromady a proč právě tenhle motiv?
Máš pravdu, na obálce je démon, haha, vytvořený samotným démonem Qrasem z Mental Porn. Piotr je zodpovědný za všechny obálky a rozvržení Temple of Decay. Myslím, že ho není třeba více představovat, protože odvedl opravdu neuvěřitelnou práci. Co se týče obálky Anti Deus, ta byla tentokrát vytvořena trochu jinak, protože na ni nebyla použita počítačová grafika; místo toho ji Piotr vytvořil ručně. Náčrtek a všeho ostatní. Jak jsi řekl, obal se k hudbě velmi dobře hodí a nese silné poselství. Anti God! Anti Deus!
Ve svých textech se zaobíráš temnou fantazií, antináboženstvím, smrtí. O čem jsou na nové nahrávce? Jaké je hlavní téma a myšlenka „Anti Deus“? Kde pro texty bereš inspiraci?
Myslím, že texty ToD nejsou nic složitého nebo komplikovaného. Poselství je jednoduché, ale silné, a proto si myslím, že polské texty tentokrát doplňují a zdůrazňují podstatu tohoto materiálu. O to víc mě překvapuje, že i lidé, kteří polsky neumějí, dokážou vnímat poselství a upřímnost této hudby. Obecně jsou texty velmi antiklerikální a protikřesťanské. Nenávist, kterou cítím vůči této instituci a omezením, která zavádí, je hlavní inspirací pro existenci alba Tod. Hloupost živí mou nenávist!!!
Nedá mi to a musím se zeptat. Hraješ metalový styl, který je extrémní. Žiješ v Polsku. Jak jsou black death metalové metalové kapely vnímány běžnou veřejností? Nemáš s tím nějaké problémy? Dostaneš prostor třeba v televizi, v novinách? Jak je vůbec život ve vaší zemi ovlivněn křesťanstvím, náboženstvími?
O Polsku toho momentálně nemohu moc říct, protože většinu času trávím v irském Dublinu. Za ta léta se toho ale určitě hodně změnilo. Myslím, že Polsko se pomalu vzdaluje od stereotypů, rozhodně je tam větší tolerance k určitým věcem. Stále jsme však velmi pozadu za ostatními zeměmi v Evropě. Mluvím obecně o kultuře a hudbě. Církev a stát jsou bohužel stále největšími drancovníky. Jak už jsem zmínil, všechno se pomalu mění, ale nechtěl bych, aby metal byl všude a pro všechny. Osobně bych byl radši, kdyby metal zůstal undergroundem, nedostupným pro všechny a nebezpečným pro určitou skupinu lidí.
TEMPLE OF DECAY jsou na scéně teprve chvíli. Kam až se chceš posunout? Na velké festivaly, na dlouhé turné? Jsi jenom projektem nebo chceš být regulérní kapelou, která bude klasicky fungovat? Uvažuješ vůbec o živé prezentaci? Myslím si, že by to mohlo být zajímavé.
Co se týče toho, jak dlouho budu s Todem pokračovat, určitě uslyšíte něco nového. Abych však byl upřímný, chybí čas a ti správní lidé, což prozatím vylučuje možnost koncertů. Opravdu mě baví být studiovým projektem, ale do budoucna nevylučuji živé vystupování, to ukáže čas.
Využíváš moderní technologie? Za poslední roky se změnilo všechno – technologie, zvuk, nahrávací studia, máme internet, stahování hudby. Jak se tyto změny promítly do fungování TEMPLE OF DECAY? Musel si se hodně přizpůsobit?
Ano, používám a využívám technologie. Díky tomu se mohu realizovat jako sólový projekt. Má to své klady i zápory. Co se týče internetu, stahování atd. chybí mi doby, kdy toho bylo méně a více pozornosti se věnovalo jedné věci. Dnes je toho na mou starou hlavu rozhodně moc, ha,ha. Ale ve skutečnosti si asi není na co stěžovat.
Mám poslední dobou pocit, že co se týká extrémních stylů, tak to u vás v Polsku opravdu žije. Obzvlášť death a black metalové kapely jsou skvělé! Chodí mi na recenzi nové desky, dělám rozhovory a mám pocit, že je vaše scéna velmi silná. To je ale můj pohled člověka, který žije mimo Polsko. Jaký je tvůj názor? Co třeba koncerty, promotéři, kluby, obchody s extrémní metalovou hudbou?
Rozhodně máš pravdu - polská black a death metalová scéna je jednou z nejsilnějších na světě. Jsem hrdý na to, jak neuvěřitelně se naše scéna vyvíjí. Co se týče koncertů, festivalů a propagace této hudby, myslím, že je to opravdu dobré. Když něco hledáte, snadno to najdete. Máme několik dobrých vydavatelství a slušnou distribuci. Myslím, že to není vůbec špatné. Ale vždycky to může být lepší.
Děkuji moc za rozhovor a přeji nejen novému albu skvělou prodejnost. Přeji vám vše dobré i v osobních životech. Ať vás provází síla! TEMPLE OF DECAY!
Děkuji Jakube a také ti přeji vše nejlepší. Na zdraví!
Recenze/review - TEMPLE OF DECAY - Anti Deus (2024):
Ave WITCHTRAP! Greetings to Colombia, hope you are well! I am, because I just got back from work where I spent the whole day listening to your new album "Hungry as the Beast". I'm working on the computer and my headphones were still in my ears. I'm literally fascinated by the energy I feel from the record. I don't think you can tell me the recipe for where it comes from, but I'm sure you'd be happy to describe how the new record was made? Has the way WITCHTRAP composes changed in any way compared to past albums?
W/ Hey Jakub, I’m glad you like our last album “Hungry As The Beast” and let our music gets blow your brain in pieces by the energy we spread on it. There's not actually a recipe or so, we just want to do the music we like inspired by the great music form 70's and early 80's and let play it at 78 RPM with enough fury and anger as we can. About the About the recordings session it was totally differentc in comparisson to the previous albums. I mean, in the past albums, Eps and so, we always had all material written and composed, but this time we only had some guitar riffs and guitar structures. So, we took them to make a sketch with no idea what would be the drums, bass, solos, and lyrics and we started to compose every arrangement on each song during or while we were starting to record them. We thought that it was the right time for the band to have a new album out, due to the good things we realize it was happening with the feedback from fans and live performance about the band. So, we took this idea to begin the recording sessions, besides we were thinking that it would be like great bands like Judas Priest or Iron Maiden made it in early 80's when they rented the studio without any idea what to record. And let me tell you something, this experience was absolutely enriching and full or leaning for us. Now we know we know each other as we have been for more than 20 years together making Metal from the heart and the feeling we have at the heart of the band.
Personally, there's one thing I like most about "Hungry as the Beast" and that's the melodies. Clear, distinct, relying on interesting riffs, the songs gradually graduate, they have drive and power. To me, these are the things that make good music great. I wonder how you know when a song is finished? Who has the final say? And then how do you feel about their live presentation? Does there have to be chemistry between you and then the fans? Do you also have ideas that you then scrap?
W/ Well, it’s kinda hard tough, basically all is based only on we (B. A. Ripper and me) each contribute with 50% on the album music, for example on this “Hungry As The Beast“ each put 4 songs, once we share the riffs and guitar structure, we start to make arregements and a writting lyrics after the music is fixed and done, but the song ends when Ripper & me think the structure is done including arregments, about production and mixing it takes what it derserves until it sounds great for us, we try to make that our music sound like each isntruments sound clear but enouhg rough and the take has gotten the essence we wanted in our music,you know, not over produced at all but enough clear as 80's or 90's was for the listeners and fans.
By the other hand, performance it’s other thing different, we wnat to give a lot of energy and make our fans enjoy the show, leaving on their faces a big smile and satisfaction with the good fury and desplicent evil show we do at stage, you know fans and the band must have a sinergy on live performance just like a love relationship, I absolutely agree chemistry its a fact between band and fans.
I know a lot of bands that have lyrics to songs just to sing something. What I always liked about WITCHTRAP is that they have an idea, a meaning, an opinion. How do they come about? When does the inspiration come and how do you fit them into the music? Personally, I think writing lyrics is an insanely difficult discipline and on the new album "Hungry as the Beast" in particular, they're great. I often think to myself, yeah, that's exactly right, that's how I feel too.
W/ When we write a song, we first create the main riffs, and depending on what those riffs make us feel we start to have the ideas for the lyrics.
On our early records, writing lyrics was difficult because our English was lacking, and most of those where constructed with dictionary language. However, with time we got better at it.
It can be a hard process and it will alway require a new level of dextertity and mastery, because you shouldn’t just write for the sake of having a rain of words to fill the song, it needs to be artistic.
On „Hungry as the Beast“ we tried our best to give to the lyrics that poetry touch, and the results were very satisfying. One thing that inspired us and led us to create those type of lyrics was studying those created by excelent lyricists such as Rob Halford and Ronnie J. Dio.
You're from Medellin. I found out that 90% of Colombians are Roman Catholic. Wikipedia even states that 21% of Catholics have witnessed an exorcism. Here in the Czech Republic, where we are almost all atheists, this is almost incomprehensible. How has the Church influenced you? Have you ever been banned from concerts? How is black thrash metal perceived by the mainstream society?
W/ I think all Colombians are catholic indeed hahaha. I have never knew about an exorcism or so, you know google has a lot of bullshit on the web.
Well, in someway the fact that I have stidied in the primary and high school in a catholic college, was a point of growing up in kinda way rebel against to that religious statement, I rmember I use to be against all the bible teachings and in the high school, I have to validate at the end of each scholler year about that matter year after year, so those Incoherentic theories written in that book mades me question agsint the teacher at 9th grade, that's why I was fired from that school hahahaha. So at the same time I was got hocked into Metal and realize the Metal music, it was according of the plenty ideas I had in my mind against religion since some time ago. In 80‘s and 90’s the society wasn’t the real problem although it was too, but specially in some part of our family , and the cops that persecuted metalheads all days, and later the stupid factories' manners, that it was impossible for a Metalhead to find a job due to our way of dressing and long hair.
Our scene we use to hung out in some corners and parks of the city to share and home taping and trading the few records of Metal, or talking about how society, religion and politics were against the people and us, this shit that made us feel kind of agry and feel a lot of rage and courage, I think that’s the real fact that made us stay stronger into Metal.
Today, things has changed, in one way now we aren’t like a drugs addicts from their point of view, anyway they see to us like a good people that only enjoy extreme music, although still a small part of the society keeps all tha crappy shit against us, but being honest in early years it was a real pain in the ass for each metalhead here in Colombia.
A long time ago, when I was still in primary school, a friend of mine once drew the logos of metal bands in a notebook. It was during socialism and I was in detention because of it. Still, it was a beautiful time, you were young and discovering new bands at the turn of the eighties and nineties. VENOM came to me then and then of course our TÖRR. How did you experience your beginnings? Can you tell our readers a little bit about how albums were recorded in your country back then and what it was like in Colombia? Please reminisce.
W/ oh man those years were amazing and wonderful times for sure, I remember how hard was to find a Venom, Sodom, Slayer, even Metallica or Iron Maiden record to do a home taping, you know Colombia isn’t the Rock’n’Roll culture at all, here is Vallenatos, Cumbias, Salsa, and all that crapy music that I actually hate so much, this shit sounds in everywhere, in the downtown streets, the buses, the taxis, the neighbor in their high speakers on high volume, it’s absolutely boring and frustating, So, for example: in the whole city were like 4 or 5 copies maybe less of each album that some maniac got it beacuse their families traveled to USA and brought some copy of any Metal band, and that record could run around the whole scene to each one can do a home recording. So we used to trade records for some few time or days to spread the voice of any good great album or Ep when it arrived to the scene.
About how we recorded our own albums of bands from Ultra Metal I mean bands such as Parabellum, Astaroth, Reencarnacion and Danger amog others, actually it was a pain in the ass for all of them even to us, we use to handcrafted our drumkits and even to build our own distortion pedals with some friends that has some few electronic knowledge done by our self and beleive me or not in some cases we built our onw guitar as well same as we did with the drumkits, about the studios were so expensive to pay but some of those bands tried to find economical resuerses to pay these recordings, unfortunately in Colombia at the recording studios the sound enginneers of that time had nothing of knowlege how to record Metal and that's why those bands sounded like raw and nasty, so it was as it was done, and all this stuff has his enchantment and high value not only for us as patrimonium of our music even for international undeground scene as well.
I keep telling everyone and it's clear that once upon a time there was rock and heavy metal and then thrash and black metal. Without the basics there is no evolution. Staying in the past, what musicians actually brought you to music? Is there anyone you still admire today that you'd like to meet and thank for inspiring you?
W/ Acutally I‘ve hung out with couple of Metal icons such as Schmier, Mantas, Abbadon, Katon, Dolan, Tom Angel Ripper and they are so humble and kind to me and really nice guys for sure, total respect and I really love these guys. But about the musicians I would like to hang out for at least to share a beer are passed away: Lemmy, Cliff, Wendy Orlean Williams and Dio. Maybe In Hell I will meet them, if there is a existance after life.
I always take each band as a whole. Not just their music, but their performance, how they treat their fans. Honestly, a band can play like gods, but then I come to a show and they're arrogant and a few slaps and that's it for me. What I've always loved about WITCHTRAP is that you guys are civil, laid back, heartfelt, go-getters. How do you perceive the fans? It seems to me (from what I've seen of the videos) that you enjoy every show immensely. Am I right?
W/ Fuck Off Rock Star attitude, first of all we consider to each one of us as just a Metal fan, we love to go to metal clubs or bars, we go to Metal gigs and festivals to see emerging and local bands and fo course some of the greatest bands we love, so having said this, we think we are just like you or each Metalhead overthere is, we buy physical stuff vinyls, CDs and tapes, and we know we are exactly as a Metalhead that listen and enjoy of our music. So, being among the Metal crowd that come to see us, to share some words, to drink some beers and talking about Metal and so, that 'is one of my favorites times. I mean, when I have had while I'm touring or playing, it's absolutely amazing to feel the love from them to our music but at same time we (they and me) are starting a new frienship, that's something I love to the core even all members in Witchtrap do on every gig.
A band it's something, beacuse the fans give all their support to the music that they do. So the fans deserve to be as closer to them, no matter what happens, fans are everything. I mean, thje fans are loving the music you create for satisfying your self, that's more than enough to understand that the fans are the bigest thing happens to an artist.
How do you perceive contemporary metal? Do you have any favourite bands? I don't know about you, but lately it seems like everyone is playing faster and faster, crazier, more incomprehensible. You stand under the stage, nod your head for a while, what great musicians they are, and then you don't remember anything. Then he goes home and prefers to listen to good old Saxon.
W/ Yeah, Yeah, I like some good bands from nowadays indeed and specially bands from my country they are still trying to keep the real feeling in Metal alive.
I have some similar thoughts about that, although I would like to add something more, the real problem is the trend nowadays is create music with high levels of techninsim, You know, the drummers are playing hihg metronome bits on blastbeats but the groove have been lost in some way, I think they seems being competing betweem them of whom is playng faster to uncrest other musicians, I find this boring and stupid to be honest, I think they are satisfaying their egos and it goes against the musicality, the feeling or the groove in Metal, that's why there so great bands and musicians, but there aren't great songs.
You're a memory now. Times have changed a lot since the '80s. You're kind of a legendary band, you have a lot of fans, you get invited to gigs. Still, there's a lot that's different. Nowadays you have the internet, new technologies, a lot of people listen to music in the style - download, listen and then either forget or delete. How do you look to the future? Will metal be just for old people anymore? And how do you see the changes as a musician? And where is WITCHTRAP heading at the moment?
W/ Certainly, we don't know what is gonna happen, but in our way to see the movement, probably the Metal scene will turn slowly to only local bands and all the bands while the time is running will stop of touring around the world, but maybe only if a new band with enough charisma to make to all of us and the scene around the world rejoin, just like the early days, besides with no the intervention of main stream labels trends, then the Metal scen will raise again, like a New Renaissement.
About WITCHTRAP, you know we're not pretencious at all, we just will keep doing what we do since the begining, although right now we have found our mature about how keep doing as we wanted to sound and create our music. So, new material of course, it will come and try to spread and playing in other countries as much as we can to all the die hard Witchtrapmaniacs and new Metalheads that hans't still listen to our music that we know there are thousands, this way they can take their chace to hear the Metal noise from Colombia.
I'm sure you still have some dreams, goals, milestones you want to achieve as a band. Can you reveal them to us? You're black thrash veterans, you're recording great albums, you can still hear the enthusiasm for the music. You tour, you play festivals. Is there anything else missing from the puzzle?
W/ Nah(no), there is no missing nothing, we are living our dream, we have gotten more than we ever thought in our lives about having a band, we have even played in many countries, more than many bands in South America have done, this is something that we infintely appreciate deep inside in our minds and heart. Our music is listened by some underground maniacs all around the world, we know they are not a million, but they are truely Headbangers and it means all. So, if the success of being recognized come to our band, it's welcome for sure, but is not our main target, we are gonna keep doing as it goes and it is perfect for us.
We're coming to the end, so I'd like to try a more philosophical question. How would you define the style called black thrash metal? What is this music for you and why did you choose this style?
W/ To tag a band or giving a style it’s a big mistake that many of us into Metal do, but if can define Black Thrash Metal, I think it could be like this: Speed music, Catchy riffing, Aggressive voice, Evil lyrics, and No trendy music, Keep it as classic as it was done 40 years ago.
About WITCHTRAP we play Witching Metal.
If you would merge in a boiling cauldron a band with the following characteristics: NWOBHM together some Punk and Satanic lyrism then you would have Witching Metal, we are not Black Thrash Metal, we are Witching Metal.
What is WITCHTRAP going to do in the next few months?
W/ We have been palning some locals shows and showing to the witchtrapmaniacs our recent album “Hungry As The beast“ besides we have being looking for some tours in South America, US and probably Europe ofr next year 2025, we will see what happens. And of course we are conmposing new song, you know, this madness never stops.
Thank you very much for the interview. You don't even know what it means to me. A boyhood dream come true. I wish you many more great ideas, sold out records, sold out shows and may your private lives prosper as well. See you at the concert! WITCHTRAP RULES!
W/ hey Bro, we are tottaly thankful on you to provide us this space to show something about our band and we have been doing throuhg the years. So, belive me this means a lot to us as well, having in mind our words will runs throught the Metaheads overthre in ou country and area because of you, that’s fucking awesome.
Thank you for your good Metal wishes and of course we will meet again.
Stay Evil, Stay Ugly, Stay Metal.
Hugo “Witchhammer“ Uribe & WITCHTRAP
Recenze/review - WITCHTRAP - Hungry as the Beast (2024):
Ave WITCHTRAP! Zdravím do Kolumbie, doufám, že se máte dobře! Já ano, protože jsem se právě vrátil z práce, kde jsem celý den poslouchal vaší novou desku "Hungry as the Beast". Pracuji na počítači a sluchátka jsem měl pořád na uších. Doslova mě fascinuje energie, kterou z desky cítím. Recept na to, kde se ve vás bere, mi asi neprozradíš, ale určitě mi rád popíšeš, jak novinka vznikala? Změnil se nějak způsob, jakým WITCHTRAP skládají oproti minulým albům?
W/ Ahoj Jakube, jsem rád, že se ti líbí naše poslední album „Hungry As The Beast“ a že ti naše hudba rozmetá mozek na kusy energií, kterou na něm šíříme. Vlastně na to nemáme žádný recept, jen chceme dělat muziku, kterou máme rádi, inspirovanou skvělou hudbou 70. a začátku 80. let, a nechat ji hrát na 78 otáček za minutu s dostatečnou zuřivostí a naštvaností, jak jen to jde. Co se týče nahrávání, bylo to úplně jiné než na předchozích albech. Chci říct, že na minulých albech, Eps a podobně, jsme měli vždycky všechen materiál napsaný a složený, ale tentokrát jsme měli jen nějaké kytarové riffy a kytarové struktury. Takže jsme je vzali a udělali si náčrtek, aniž bychom tušili, jaké budou bicí, basa, sóla a texty, a začali jsme skládat všechny aranže na jednotlivé písničky během nebo v průběhu toho, jak jsme je začali nahrávat. Mysleli jsme si, že nastal ten správný čas, aby kapela vydala nové album, vzhledem k tomu, že jsme si uvědomili, že se to děje díky ohlasům fanoušků a živým vystoupením o kapele. Takže jsme se chopili tohoto nápadu a začali nahrávat, kromě toho jsme si říkali, že by to mohlo být jako u velkých kapel, jako byli Judas Priest nebo Iron Maiden, když si na začátku 80. let pronajali studio, aniž by tušili, co budou nahrávat. A něco vám řeknu, tahle zkušenost pro nás byla naprosto obohacující a plná nebo nakloněná. Teď už víme, že se známe, protože spolu už více než 20 let děláme metal od srdce a pocit, který máme v srdci kapely.
Osobně se mi na "Hungry as the Beast" líbí nejvíc jedna věc a tou jsou melodie. Jasné, zřetelné, sázíte na zajímavé riffy, skladby postupně gradují, mají drive a sílu. Podle mě to jsou věci, které dělají z dobré hudby tu vynikající. Zajímalo by mě, jak poznáte, že už je song hotový? Kdo má poslední slovo? A jak vnímáte potom jejich živou prezentaci? Musí mezi vámi navzájem a potom i mezi fanoušky fungovat chemie? Máte i nápady, které pak škrtáte?
W/ No, je to docela těžké, v podstatě vše je založeno pouze na nás (B. A. Ripper a já) se každý podílíme 50% na hudbě k albu, například na „Hungry As The Beast“ jsme každý dali 4 písně, jakmile jsme si rozdělili riffy a kytarovou strukturu, začali jsme dělat aranže a psát texty, až když je hudba hotová, ale píseň končí, když si Ripper a já myslíme, že je struktura hotová včetně aranží, co se týče produkce a mixování, tak to trvá, dokud to nezní skvěle, snažíme se, aby naše hudba zněla tak, že každý nástroj zní čistě, ale dostatečně drsně a záběr má tu podstatu, kterou jsme v naší hudbě chtěli, víte, vůbec ne přeprodukovaně, ale dostatečně čistě, jako to bylo v 80. nebo 90. letech pro posluchače a fanoušky.
Na druhou stranu, vystoupení je něco jiného, chceme dát do koncertu hodně energie a přimět naše fanoušky, aby si ho užili a zanechali na svých tvářích široký úsměv a spokojenost s dobrou zuřivostí a jednoduchou zlou show, kterou děláme na pódiu, víte, že fanoušci a kapela musí mít při živém vystoupení synergii, stejně jako milostný vztah, naprosto souhlasím s tím, že chemie je mezi kapelou a fanoušky důležitá.
Znám hodně kapel, které mají texty ke skladbám vlastně jen kvůli tomu, aby něco zpívaly. Na WITCHTRAP se mi hrozně vždycky líbilo, že mají nějakou myšlenku, smysl, názor. Jakým způsobem vznikají? Kdy přijde inspirace a jak je napasujete na hudbu? Osobně si myslím, že psát texty je šíleně těžká disciplína a konkrétně na novince "Hungry as the Beast" jsou skvělé. Často si říkám, ano, to je přesně ono, takhle se cítím i já.
W/ Když píšeme písničku, nejdřív vytvoříme hlavní riffy a podle toho, co v nás tyto riffy vyvolávají, začínáme mít nápady na text.
Na našich prvních deskách bylo psaní textů obtížné, protože nám chyběla angličtina a většina z nich byla vytvořena slovníkovým jazykem. Postupem času jsme se v tom ale zlepšili.
Může to být těžký proces a vždycky to bude vyžadovat novou úroveň obratnosti a mistrovství, protože byste neměli psát jen kvůli tomu, abyste měli déšť slov, kterými písničku vyplníte, musí to být umělecké.
Na písni „Hungry as the Beast“ jsme se snažili dát textům ten správný nádech poezie a výsledek nás velmi uspokojil. Jednou z věcí, která nás inspirovala a vedla k vytvoření tohoto typu textů, bylo studium textů vytvořených vynikajícími textaři, jako jsou Rob Halford a Ronnie J. Dio.
Pocházíte z Medelinu. Dohledal jsem si, že 90% Kolumbijců se hlásí k římsko-katolické církvi. Wikipedie dokonce uvádí, že 21 % katolíků bylo někdy svědkem exorcismu. U nás v Čechách, kde jsme skoro všichni ateisté, je to až nepochopitelné. Jak vás církev ovlivnila? Měli jste třeba někdy zakázané koncerty? Jak vnímá black thrash metal většinová společnost?
W/ Myslím, že všichni Kolumbijci jsou katolíci, hahaha. Nikdy jsem nevěděl o exorcismu nebo tak, to víš google má na webu spoustu keců.
No, tak nějak skutečnost, že jsem byl na základní a střední škole v katolické koleji, mě ovlivnila v jistém smyslu a stal jsem se rebelem proti tomuto náboženskému studiu, vzpomínám si, že jsem byl proti všemu biblickému učení a na střední škole, musím potvrdit, že na konci každého školního roku, jsem ty pomýlené teorie napsané v této knize zpochybňoval a asistent učitele v 9. třídě si stěžoval, což byl důvod, proč jsem byl vyhozen ze školy hahahaha. Takže ve stejné době jsem se dostal rovnou do metalu a uvědomil si, že metalová hudba, to byla podle mě spousta myšlenek, které jsem měl v mé mysli proti náboženství už nějaký čas. V osmdesátých a devadesátých letech nebyla skutečným problémem společnost, i když ta byla taky, ale speciálně v některých částech naší rodiny, a policajti, kteří metalisty pronásledovali po celé dny, a později ty hloupé manýry v továrnách, že pro metalistu bylo nemožné najít práci kvůli našemu způsobu oblékání a dlouhým vlasům.
Naše scéna se scházela v některých zákoutích a parcích ve městě, kde jsme vše sdíleli a doma nahrávali a vyměňovali si těch pár metalových desek, nebo se bavili o tom, jak je společnost, náboženství a politika proti lidem a proti nám, tyhle sračky v nás vyvolávaly pocit agrese a spoustu vzteku a odvahy, myslím, že to je skutečný fakt, který nás přiměl zůstat v metalu silnější.
Dneska se to změnilo, na jednu stranu už nejsme z jejich pohledu závislí na drogách, každopádně se na nás dívají jako na dobré lidi, kteří si užívají jen extrémní hudbu, i když stále malá část společnosti proti nám udržuje všechny ty sračky, ale upřímně řečeno, v prvních letech to byla pro každého metalistu tady v Kolumbii opravdová osina v zadku.
Kdysi dávno, ještě na základní škole, mi jednou nakreslil do sešitu kamarád loga metalových kapel. Bylo to za socialismu a byl jsem kvůli tomu po škole. Přesto to byla krásná doba, člověk byl mladý a objevoval na přelomu osmdesátých a devadesátých let nové kapely. Dostali se ke mně tehdy VENOM a potom samozřejmě naši TÖRR. Jak jste své začátky prožívali vy? Můžeš našim čtenářům trošku přiblížit, jakým způsobem se tenkrát nahrávala u vás alba a jaké to bylo v Kolumbii? Zavzpomínej prosím.
W/ Ach jo, ta léta byla určitě úžasná a nádherná, vzpomínám si, jak bylo těžké sehnat desku Venom, Sodom, Slayeru, dokonce i Metallicy nebo Iron Maiden, abychom si ji doma nahráli, víte, v Kolumbii vůbec není rock'n'rollová kultura, Tady je Vallenatos, Cumbias, Salsa, a všechna ta mizerná hudba, kterou vlastně tak nesnáším, tyhle sračky zní všude, v ulicích v centru, v autobusech, v taxících, u sousedů v jejich vysokých reproduktorech ve vysoké hlasitosti, je to naprosto nudné a frustrující, takže např: v celém městě bylo tak 4 nebo 5 kopií možná méně od každého alba, které nějaký maniak dostal, protože jejich rodiny cestovaly do USA a přivezly nějakou kopii nějaké metalové kapely, a že deska mohla běžet po celé scéně, aby si každý mohl udělat domácí nahrávku. Takže jsme si vyměňovali desky na pár dní, abychom se dozvěděli o nějakém skvělém albu nebo desce, když dorazila na scénu.
O tom, jak jsme nahrávali naše vlastní alba kapel z ultra metalu, myslím tím kapely jako Parabellum, Astaroth, Reencarnacion a Danger a další, vlastně to byla pro všechny osina v zadku, dokonce i pro nás, vyráběli jsme si bicí soupravy a dokonce jsme si stavěli vlastní zkreslovací pedály s několika přáteli, kteří mají pár znalostí elektroniky, a věřte mi nebo ne, v některých případech jsme si postavili vlastní kytaru, stejně jako jsme to dělali s bicími soupravami, ale některé z těch kapel se snažily najít úsporné způsoby, jak si ty nahrávky zaplatit, bohužel v Kolumbii v nahrávacích studiích neměli tehdejší zvukaři žádné znalosti o tom, jak nahrávat metal, a proto ty kapely zněly jako syrové a hnusné, takže to bylo tak, jak to bylo uděláno, a všechny tyhle věci mají své kouzlo a vysokou hodnotu nejen pro nás jako dědictví naší hudby, dokonce i pro mezinárodní undegroundovou scénu.
Pořád všem tvrdím a je jasné, že kdysi dávno byl rock a heavy metal a teprve pak až thrash a black metal. Bez základů není vývoj. Když ještě zůstaneme v minulosti, jací muzikanti tě vlastně přivedli k muzice? Je někdo, koho obdivuješ dodnes, chtěl by ses s ním třeba setkat a poděkovat mu za inspiraci?
W/ Vlastně jsem se stýkal s několika metalovými ikonami, jako jsou Schmier, Mantas, Abbadon, Katon, Dolan, Tom Angel Ripper, a ti jsou ke mně tak skromní a milí a určitě jsou to fajn kluci, kteří mají můj respekt a já je mám opravdu rád. Ale muzikanti, se kterými bych si rád vyrazil alespoň na společné pivo, už jsou pryč: Lemmy, Cliff, Wendy Orlean Williams a Dio. Možná se s nimi v pekle setkám, pokud existuje nějaký život po životě.
Vždycky beru každou kapelu jako celek. Nejen jejich hudbu, ale i vystupování, to jak se chovají k fanouškům. Na rovinu, skupina může hrát jak bohové, ale pak přijdu na koncert a jsou arogantní a na pár facek, tak u mě končí. Na WITCHTRAP se mi vždycky hrozně líbilo, že jste civilní, pohodoví, srdcaři, co do toho jdou po hlavě. Jak vnímáš fanoušky ty? Mě připadá (co jsem viděl videa), že si každé vystoupení neskutečně užíváte. Mám pravdu?
W/ Fuck Off Rock Star přístup, především považujeme každého z nás za fanouška metalu, rádi chodíme do metalových klubů nebo barů, chodíme na metalové koncerty a festivaly, abychom viděli začínající a místní kapely a samozřejmě některé z největších kapel, které milujeme, takže když jsme to řekli, myslíme si, že jsme jako vy nebo každý metalista, kupujeme fyzické věci, vinyly, CD a kazety a víme, že jsme přesně jako metalista, který poslouchá a užívá si naši hudbu. Takže být mezi metalisty, kteří se na nás přijdou podívat, podělit se o pár slov, vypít pár piv a popovídat si o metalu a tak, to je jedna z mých nejoblíbenějších chvil. Myslím tím, že když jsem během turné nebo hraní, cítil od nich lásku k naší hudbě, bylo to úžasné, ale zároveň my (oni a já) jsme začínali nová přátelství, to je něco, co miluji až do morku kostí, dokonce to všichni členové Witchtrap dělají na každém koncertě.
Kapela, to je něco, protože fanoušci dávají veškerou svou podporu hudbě, kterou děláme. Takže fanoušci si zaslouží být nám co nejblíž, ať se děje, co se děje, fanoušci jsou všechno. Chci říct, že fanoušci milují hudbu, kterou vytváříte, abyste uspokojili sami sebe, to je víc než dost na to, abyste pochopili, že fanoušci jsou to největší, co se umělci stane.
W/ Jo, jo, mám rád některé dobré kapely z dnešní doby a speciálně kapely z mé země, které se stále snaží udržet ten pravý metalový feeling naživu.
Jak vnímáš současný metal? Máš nějaké oblíbené kapely? Já nevím jak ty, ale poslední dobou mi připadá, že každý hraje čím dál tím rychleji, šíleněji, nesrozumitelněji. Člověk si stoupne pod pódium, chvíli kývá hlavou, jaký to jsou super muzikanti a pak si nic nepamatuje. Potom jde domů a radši si pustí staré dobré Saxon.
Mám na to podobný názor, i když bych chtěl ještě něco dodat, skutečný problém je, že dnešní trend je vytvářet hudbu s vysokou úrovní techniky, víš, bubeníci hrají high metronomické kousky na blastbeaty, ale groove se nějakým způsobem ztratil, Myslím, že mezi sebou soupeří, kdo bude hrát rychleji, aby se zbavil ostatních muzikantů, upřímně řečeno mi to přijde nudné a hloupé, myslím, že si tím uspokojují své ego a jde to proti muzikálnosti, pocitu nebo groovu v metalu, proto jsou tam tak skvělé kapely a muzikanti, ale nejsou tam skvělé písně.
Jsi už dnes pamětník. Doba se od osmdesátých let hodně změnila. Jste svým způsobem legendární kapela, máte spoustu fanoušků, zvou vás na koncerty. Přesto, jiné je toho opravdu spousta. Dnes máš internet, nové technologie, spousta lidí poslouchá muziku stylem – stáhnout, poslechnout a pak buď zapomenout nebo smazat. Jak se díváš do budoucna? Bude metal už jen pro starý? A jak změny vnímáš jako muzikant? A kam v současnosti míří WITCHTRAP?
W/ Jistě, nevíme, co se stane, ale podle našeho názoru se pravděpodobně metalová scéna pomalu obrátí pouze k místním kapelám a všechny kapely, dokud běží čas, přestanou koncertovat po celém světě, ale možná pouze v případě, že se znovu připojí nová kapela s dostatečným charismatem, aby nás všechny a scénu po celém světě přesvědčila, stejně jako v prvních dnech, navíc bez zásahu hlavních trendů vydavatelství, pak se metalová scéna znovu zvedne, jako nová renesance.
Co se týče WITCHTRAP, víte, že se vůbec nepřetvařujeme, prostě budeme pokračovat v tom, co děláme od začátku, i když právě teď jsme dospěli k tomu, jak pokračovat v tom, jak jsme chtěli znít a tvořit naši hudbu. Takže, nový materiál samozřejmě přijde a pokusíme se ho rozšířit a hrát v jiných zemích, jak jen to půjde, pro všechny zaryté Witchtrapmaniaky a nové Metalheads, kteří stále neposlouchají naši hudbu, o které víme, že jich jsou tisíce, a tak mohou využít své šance slyšet metalový hluk z Kolumbie.
Určitě máte jako kapela ještě nějaké sny, cíle, metu, kterých chcete dosáhnout. Prozradíš nám je? Jste black thrashoví veteráni, nahráváte skvělá alba, pořád je z vás slyšet nadšení z hudby. Jezdíte turné, vystupujete na festivalech. Chybí vám do skládanky vůbec ještě něco?
W/ Nah(no), nic nám nechybí, žijeme svůj sen, získali jsme víc, než jsme si kdy v životě mysleli, že budeme mít kapelu, dokonce jsme hráli v mnoha zemích, víc než mnoho kapel v Jižní Americe, to je něco, čeho si hluboko v našich myslích a srdcích nesmírně vážíme. Naši hudbu poslouchá několik undergroundových maniaků po celém světě, víme, že jich není milion, ale jsou to opravdoví Headbangers a to znamená všechno. Takže pokud k naší kapele přijde úspěch v podobě uznání, určitě to uvítáme, ale není to náš hlavní cíl, budeme pokračovat tak, jak to jde a je to pro nás perfektní.
Blížíme se k závěru a tak bych zkusil jednu více filozofickou otázku. Jak byste definovali styl zvaný black thrash metal? Čím pro vás tato hudba je a proč jste si vybrali právě tento styl?
W/ Označit kapelu nebo styl je velká chyba, kterou dělá mnoho z nás, kteří se věnujeme metalu, ale pokud můžeme definovat black thrash metal, myslím, že by to mohlo být takto: Rychlá hudba, chytlavé riffy, agresivní hlas, zlé texty a žádná módní hudba, ať je to klasika jako před 40 lety.
Ve WITCHTRAP hrajeme Witching Metal.
Pokud byste ve vroucím kotli spojili kapelu s následujícími charakteristikami: pak byste dostali Witching Metal, my nejsme Black Thrash Metal, my jsme Witching Metal.
Co chystají WITCHTRAP v nejbližších měsících?
W/ V posledních dnech jsme hráli na několika místních koncertech a ukázali witchtrapmaniakům naše poslední album „Hungry As The beast“, kromě toho se chystáme na nějaké turné v Jižní Americe, USA a pravděpodobně i v Evropě v příštím roce 2025, uvidíme, co se stane. A samozřejmě skládáme nové písně, znáte to, tohle šílenství nikdy nekončí.
Děkuji moc za rozhovor. Ani nevíš, co to pro mě znamená. Splněný klukovský sen. Přeji vám spoustu dalších skvělých nápadů, prodaných desek, vyprodané koncerty a ať se vám daří i v soukromých životech. Uvidíme se na koncertě! WITCHTRAP RULES!
Díky brácho, jsme ti moc vděční, že jsi nám poskytl tento prostor, abychom mohli říct něco o naší kapele a o tom, co jsme dělali po celá léta. Takže věř mi, že to pro nás hodně znamená, protože naše slova se díky tobě budou šířit po celé zemi a všude, což je kurva úžasné.
Děkujeme vám za přání dobrého metalu a samozřejmě se ještě setkáme.
Ave DECAYED EXISTENCE! Greetings to California. Hope you're doing well. I'm just listening to your new release "The Beginning Of Sorrows" again this year and I'm thinking how great it is that after so many years on the scene you can put together such fresh and interesting material. How did the new record come about and what were your feelings going into the studio?
Harry Rocco - Well the new album came about with writing from two of my favorite writers Jeffrey Ke and Jason Davis. We threw some ideas together and it was a great collaboration and we felt really confident going into the studio with Andrew Giordanengo.
Jeffrey Ke - I felt like we were pretty confident going into the recording of this album. The tracks were solid and I think we had some unique songs going in.
I guess like any fan, I have it set up so that I listen to the album a few times first and then either come back to it or not. This year it was a bit more complicated with you. I feel like there are more layers to the record and that some of them come out after a longer period of time. The sound contributes a lot to that. The Beginning Of Sorrows strikes me as a dark record. Where did you record the album and who is responsible for the mastering? How do you perceive the shift in sound?
Harry Rocco - Yeah it's somewhat of a dark record but we are definitely in dark times with a lot to write about. We recorded the live stuff just in my garage in the jam room throwing around ideas. For the five songs we went to Andrew up in Yreka and threw those five songs down, the ones I like the most and he did a very good job! The sound shift you know it all sounds like Decayed. Decayed has different eras, we've been through many players and had to say the first five sound more modern. The last three songs which were live in the jam room are more of the old school Decayed back in the '90s hence Jason Davis being thrown into the fold as he was one of the original members. I thought it would be fun to have him write a couple songs.
With my favorite bands I buy the CD and the t-shirt straight away. "The Beginning Of Sorrows" has a classic cover. It's got undead floating around an old church. Is that a reference to a horror movie? How did the cover come about and how does it relate to the music itself? Who is the author and how did you guys get together? Speaking for myself, I have to say that it makes me uneasy, it's interesting.
Harry Rocco - Well if you notice on the cover of “Eulogy” there is a corpse outside the church and as in the cover of the new one The Beginning of Sorrows the same concept. You see, a lot of little lyrics I write comes from being a Protestant Christian. In fact I don't really go to church, I believe that we're two or more gathered in his name that is the church. I think the world trivializes church and religion whereas I would rather preach from a relationship standpoint through music. There's no references to any horror movies and Blast Art did the cover but yeah relates to the music as we try to write outside division or denomination we just write from the Bible and from our life experiences.
Please take us through the lyrics on the new record? Who is their author and how were they created? I'd also be interested to know where you got the inspiration for them.
Harry Rocco - Most of the songs like “Mind Wars” are about you know the struggle that we're going through as a country. What to believe, what's the truth… where there's a bunch of fact checking where the truth is lost in the sea of content. You can find whatever it is you think the truth is which to me is very scary. I Harry Rocco the author of the lyrics and since I'm the drummer it's a lot easier for me to place the lyrics as far as timing. Majority of my lyrics I get from life experiences and the Bible because the Bible has got me through so many things in life. I should have been dead a hundred times over but here I am in my 50s playing music doing what I do so there's some merit to that and above else. I thank Jesus and I hope that you can see the message by faith through grace there goes I not any denomination or anything that divides but by faith.
What I like about you is that even after all these years I still feel an enthusiasm for your music, a kind of hard to describe tingle. Your death metal has an old patina to it, but also energy and power. How do you compose new material? What process does a song have to go through before it is considered final?
Harry Rocco - Well we record everything we write on a Tascam, and if it hits on the Tascam then I'll write lyrics and you know it kind of has a mind of its own. I couldn't tell you really there's no process if I feel it and it inspires me then lyrics come quick, that's how we do it.
Jeffrey Ke - I would have to say on my end I do not do any lyrics and to be honest don't consider myself that good at it. Haha!. But I do a lot more of the riffs and ideas for beats. The songs “Beheading the Colossus” and “Escape the Dead” I wrote by myself with the big help of Harry Rocco doing the lyrics. So for me my process is I just come up with a beat in my head, could be random and then record that beat on my computer using a drum machine as filler and more of an idea of what I have in mind. Then I build off of it until eventually I get the basis for a full song and then present it to the band. We decide “yes we want to learn it” or no “we just don't feel it” but if we do all agree that we like it then we will build off it together switch up the drum beats if Harry has something better in mind and same thing with our rhythm guitarist Kyle Blasiger and bass player Ryan Brown. Early on when I first joined the band when I was 17 I had a lot more free time so me and Harry were able to hang out a lot and just write and write, now I'm like 31 working a full-time job and have a lot more responsibilities in my life and so I don't have as much time as I would like to do what we used to do, but I try to compensate with that by making music on the side and presenting it to the band.
The only original member of the band is drummer and vocalist Harry Rocco. The others have been added gradually. Is it hard to find like-minded musicians in California? DECAYED EXISTENCE has gone on hiatus several times. Why? How did you get together with the current lineup?
Harry Rocco - Yeah it is hard to find like minded musicians in this area for sure, some of them might not even be like-minded they just want to play music so they'll step in for a project here and there but they don't want to be long-term as they don't agree with the the Christian thing. I guess let's hope some of it rubbed off on them while they were with us is my hope. The current lineup is that I just looking into the past and try to pull up guys that I enjoyed writing with, Jeffrey Ke is one of the best, Jason Davis is a close second so I just wanted to get those guys and with my writing and throw it together and see what happened and I was very happy with how things turned out. I have an autistic son and I have to take time out to develop him as he is severely autistic and takes a lot of time but when everything gets settled I usually go back into the studio and throw down.
Jeffrey Ke - I would have to agree with Harry and say yes it's kind of hard to find like-minded musicians, I actually joined the band back in 2010 when I was 17 years old and still in high school. Around that time Me and two people I grew up with were like the only people that listen to Death Metal in my town. There were musicians but not a lot that liked metal and especially the extreme type of metal that I was into. So when I joined up with Harry in Decayed Existence it was awesome find someone that played a music style that I also played.
The formation of DECAYED EXISTENCE dates back to 1990. You remember the beginning of death metal in California. What were they like? How do you remember the old days? Who was actually your role model in the early days and how did the idea of playing death metal come about? Please reminisce for us.
Harry Rocco -Yeah do you remember Death Metal in the old days, I think some of it's called Thrash now but back in the old days Sepultura was Death Metal, now they're considered Thrash. A good example, everything for me I base off of the late '80s early '90s Death Metal as I lived in Santa Rosa and would frequent the Oakland's club The Omni as well as San Francisco's The Stone and I caught a gig at The Stone and it changed me I realized that's what I want to do. I was there to go see a band called DEATH and they had canceled but there was a band called Pestilence that filled in and the singer was a guy named Martin Van Drunen who I hung out with before the show and got to converse with. Then I saw them play and it blew my mind! Then I went home and bought the new DEATH which was an album called “Leprosy” and it fueled me and anything that came from Chuck Schuldiner after that was what I wanted to do. There was another guy with equal influence on me. It was a guy called Steve Rowe who's the front man for a band from Australia called Mortification, he had the best lyrics in all of metal! I really liked Mortification as they didn't just use one form of vocals they used the death growl as well as the thrash style and I liked that with each new mortification album I did not know what to expect. Is it going to be Thrash? Is it going to be Death? You didn't know and it inspired me to use both
Jeffrey Ke - I myself can't really comment on what it was like in the early '90s during the rise of death metal since I was born in 1992 haha. But I would have to say that early '90s death metal is what really got me into extreme metal and to this day Chuck Schuldiner from DEATH is still my hero / role model. The way he changed Death Metal and showed people that it can be more than just Cookie monster growls and singing about murdered. Kind of jealous of Harry in some aspects because I wish I could have seen some of the shows he saw back in the day! I was lucky enough to see Bolt Thrower on their last US tour in 2013.
A lot of my older friends (I'm also part of the older generation of metal fans) complain about today's times. Downloading music, impersonal attacks on the internet, lots of ballast, chaos, everything is faster but also ephemeral. How have these things affected you as a band? Have you had to adapt in any way?
Harry Rocco - Well it has affected me, I'm an analog old school analog guy. If I had the money I would prefer to record on 2 or 1/4 inch reel to reel analog the old school way. But now everything's digital and I've seen the light and I've turned that corner but I still have a learning curve with all this internet stuff, I'd rather spend the time writing music than learning what a PDF file is and I really miss spending hours at record stores that now no longer exist. As far as how it affected us we just make music whether we got to uploaded or you know recorded on a tape doesn't matter as long as we're still playing.
It's not all about the internet, which has changed the whole world, but also about new technologies. Analog versus digital. The new processes, the equipment, the studios look very different today than they used to. How do you perceive these things? Is it hard for you to keep up with the times? Or do you like to use different innovations?
Harry Rocco - I do like the innovations and I do like all the things that technology has brought however there is a fallback and I think when you get into guitar tone they're all kind of getting similar whereas in the old days if you had this mic with that amp or you know any combination of things you can get a drastically different sound and if you get a good formula you kept it to yourself in the old days. Where now there's tutorials and everything you know I don't know if that's innovative or not but the technology definitely is, it's hard to keep up with the times when you were so in love with the old ways but like with everything you know you got to change with the times. Now I'm not saying write a disco song because disco goes big, we will always be Decayed Existence but we are now in the digital world and we have switched and it's surprisingly good so far “knock on wood”.
Jeffrey Ke - Since I grew up as a teenager in the digital age I can't really comment on analog music equipment but I can say I believe that with it all being digital nowadays and music equipment and recording software being a so accessible, it's made it a lot easier for people to write music and get their ideas out there.
I don't want to flatter you unnecessarily, but from the promo photos you seem like a nice bunch of guys. There's an air of detachment in your music, a chemistry between the musicians. Is it really like that in real life? Do you sometimes go out for a beer, party together, meet families, etc.?
Harry Rocco - I think we get along fairly well but you know I'm a lot older than the other fellas I prefer to hang out with my grandkids. I'm sure they like to get rowdy at times. I can only speak for myself but you know. We're all friends, we all hang out and go to concerts together and we all like the same music.
Jeffrey Ke - Yeah we hang out! I actually grew up with our player Ryan Brown since I was in middle school. As I've been getting older and having more responsibilities like working along with becoming a first-time father I don't have as much time as I would like to spend with everyone. But we are all friends and we all do hang out with each other and have a beer or two. Haha
Every time I interview an older 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.
Harry Rocco - I do I too, I think that death metal should be played from the heart. You know growing up in the '80s and '90s I hated a lot of things. MTV everything that was commercial just made me want to puke, I kind of still feel the same way even though metal has come to the forefront since then. You know I can't really be critical of the people, I definitely know what I like and what I don't but I have to say all these different genres are divisive in my opinion and it keeps the music from spreading. For instance I'm not a big Deathcore fan but I do like some Deathcore bands. Just because I didn't know there was a different genre I started listening to a band called Impending Doom. I like them they're great, like their message and everything but since they've been genre-ized into Deathcore I think it did them a disservice. I would have just called us Death Metal but that just me as far as my philosophy of Death Metal just keep it true keep it real.
Thank you very much for the interview. I really hope to see you live somewhere soon. I wish your new album as many true fans as possible and may you do well in your private life. And you know what? I'm gonna go play "The Beginning Of Sorrows" again!
Harry Rocco - Right on man we appreciate all you do and thank you for spinning our new record. Hails from California! much love and respect!
Jeffrey Ke - Thank you for your time! Hails and Cheers!
Recenze/review - DECAYED EXISTENCE - The Beginning Of Sorrows (2024):
