Interview with thrash death metal band from Florida - INTOXICATED.
Answered Erik (vocals, guitars), thank you!
Recenze/review - INTOXICATED - The Dome (2026):
Ave INTOXICATED! Greetings from the Florida catacombs! When I wrote a review of your album “Walled” six years ago, I thought to myself, “Damn, this band would be worth an interview.” I was listening to that album on repeat. A massacre in the morgue exactly how it should be, I told myself. Could you please start by introducing INTOXICATED? How did you get together? I’d be interested in hearing about your very beginnings. Could you please walk us through your band’s history?
Erik: I started the band in 92, it took a good year to get the right guys to do something of substance. When the original lineup was finally in place, we were on fire immediately. All we did was jam, and for a few of us I truly believe it saved us. We were all either state raised or with a fucked up home life. We were a mess. Heavy music brought us together, and gave us a purpose.
Let’s move on to the new album “The Dome”… I’ve had it at home for a while now for a review, and I’ve been listening to it on repeat. I’m absolutely loving it! It’s the perfect resurrection of old-school Florida death thrash metal! How did the album come together, and what’s changed in the six years since your last release?
Erik: We did release our first full length in 2022 titled “Watch you Burn“ After “Walled“ we never stopped writing. Everything was flowing and we’re super proud of the record. We added a long time friend,guitar player John Sutton to the band right after Walled was released. We write well together and adding another guitar thickend up the sound for sure. Organically the tunes are getting faster and heavier. A few challenges also happened with our bass player and great friend Gregg Roberts having complete kidney failure and our drummer no longer being able to tour. It took a few months to get the right guys to complete the line-up but we could’nt be happier. Shawn Clarson on Bass and Colin Vaccaro on Drums. PS Gregg just got a transplant and is healing well. We are all still the best of friends
I’ve been listening to death thrash metal since its inception, and you know what still fascinates me about it? The sound yes, that gritty, moldy sound. You sound like a mix of the early albums by SOLSTICE, DEATH, OBITUARY, POSSESSED, MALEVOLENT CREATION, DEMOLITION HAMMER, and MASTER. How did you manage to achieve such an amazing sound on the new album? It sounds very analog!
Erik: Thats cool you noticed and while we didnt record to tape we did only use real amps,drums, ect..Of course we want it to sound as good as it can but It has to sound real. We recorded in Tampa Florida at Candor Recording studio with a great friend of mine Ryan Boesch. It’s the old Morbid Angel spot. Ryan and I completley rebuilt the place and honestly thats how we could afford to record there. I love working and growing with the same people. Ryan understands the vision Intoxicated has. He’s great!
What is the theme of your lyrics? Where do you get your inspiration, and who are your favorite authors? Are there any movies you can watch over and over again? How did the lyrics come about, and who wrote them? Do you read books? Which one has influenced you the most?
Erik: I write the lyrics, I enjoy the process. Writing lyrics is trippy! I usually have an idea but almost always the final outcome goes a completly different direction. Playing guitar and singing is also a factor but I don’t cut myself any slack. I write the lyrics and then have to learn how to sing and play each tune. It has to be intresting and not over rhythmic. For “The Dome“ the running theme is mostly my view on the current state of the world and also my strong belief we’ve all been lied to. I’ve come to the conclusion i don’t know anything and I’m ok with that. My education only went to 8th grade so i don’t do a ton of reading but I feel like i’m fairly street smart.
How are things going with INTOXICATED and live shows? Do you enjoy playing, and do you play often? Do you prefer festivals or smaller clubs? And are you willing to travel far? Are you interested in a longer tour?
Erik: We love playing live, it’s where we find ourselves at our best. We just finished a US tour with Obituary and were able to play a ton of the new album. We’re going to EU at the end of this year to continue supporting the new record. We’ll go anywhere!
You’re from Altamonte Springs and play extreme death thrash metal. Our readers would definitely be interested in hearing how the metal scene works over in Florida. To be honest, I’ve been hearing nothing but great bands coming out of there lately. Does that mean the scene is really strong there right now? What about concerts how many people show up?
Eriki: The scene is strong and it’s a great mix of young and older people. Even local shows will bring out a bunch of heads. There are alot of touring musicians from this area and everyone comes out. Shows are exciting and full of energy
You can tell from your music that you’re influenced by both the American metal scene and old European bands. What about you as fans? Do you prefer classic ’90s metal, or do you also draw inspiration from new albums? If so, I’d be curious to know which bands have had the biggest influence on INTOXICATED.
Erik: I’m a big fan of 90‘s metal for sure. I think you can tell we love Death, Obituary, Raped Ape.
I’m sure we pull from all decades of bands.
When you started out, it was 1992. I read somewhere that Chuch Schuldiner from DEATH himself was behind your formation. Is there any truth to that? And how do you remember your early days? Hey, and why have you actually released so little on physical media?
Erik: Chuck was great; we had already been friends awhile. He'd done some guest vocals on our second EP "Scars". He just came in and slayed it. Those sessions were so much fun. Obituary’s Ken Andrews played bass on that entire EP as well. Chuck and Gene drove up and hung a few nights, I believe they were doing pre-production for Symbolic. Recording at his house happened organically. He had just bought a bunch of recording gear and started what became Black Diamond Studios. I think we were the guinea pigs, but his work ethic was impressive, and the vibe was sick. Chuck played a solo on one of those tunes and we got Trevor Perez to do some guest vocals as well. Trevor came to all those sessions, and ended up doing to cover art for that one "Drain" and our next one "Metalneck" Chuck had a great way of getting the best out of you, while keeping the vibe sick. "Let the metal flow” he always said.
Every musician had to start somewhere. How was it for you? Do you have a classical music education? Who was your role model? Do you still remember the first concert you ever attended? Your first time performing on stage? Please reminisce for us… What was it like in Florida in the nineties?
Erik: My uncle gave me a guitar when I was 11 and I learned a few cords and loved it, but like I said I spent most of my youth state raised. I’d say I started really late as far as playing seriously. Definitely self taught, but have always been really lucky to have friends that shred. Guitar didn't come naturally to me, I’ve always and still do really have to work at it and practice. I’ve always played with dudes better than me but vowed never to be the last in the band to learn something. That mindset has served me well. My favorite players are mostly all right from my home town. Ken Andrews of Obituary, Bobby Koelble of Death. Definitely Chuck Schuldiner Death, and I've alwas been heavily influenced by the vocals of Chuck and John Tardy. I genuinely feel lucky to come up in Florida.
What does death thrash metal mean to you? Is it a lifestyle, a hobby, a way to relax? How would you define it? Feel free to get into some philosophical musings as well.
Erik: I like the term but I also don’t think to much about it. We just play heavy music we enjoy. I don’t want to be so worried if it’s death metal or thrash, or death thrash. If it’s good it’s good. That’s just my take on it.
One final question. What does INTOXICATED have planned for the coming months? What can we fans look forward to? If you have a message for fans, labels, or promoters, this is the place…
Erik: We just got home from a US tour with Obituary that was amazing. Those shows were crazy! We’re getting ready to have a celebration of our new record here in Orlando. We’ll be supporting Gatecreeper and we’re super excited to celebrate this in our home town. Intoxicated will be going to EU at the end of the year. We have a ton of sticks in the fire!
Thank you very much for the interview. I’m heading to work in a minute. I’ll be walking past the cemetery. It’s clear what I’ll be playing on my player - “The Dome.” And really loud. I wish the album the best possible sales and hope it reaches as many listeners as possible. All the best to you in your personal lives too! True metal forever!
Erik: Thank you for having us, we really appreciate the opportunity to share our take on heavy music.
Cheers! Erik/Intoxicated
Recenze/review - INTOXICATED - The Dome (2026):
Recenze/review - INTOXICATED - Walled (2020):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sledujte nás na sociálních sítích - follow us on the social media:
instagram:
facebook:











