Interviews 2002-2004

Inside, March 2004
Handful Of Fate, December 2003
The Crown, December 2003
Tidfall, October 2003
Destruction, October 2003
Old Man's Child, September 2003
7th Nemesis, March 2003
Honey For Christ, February 2003
The Gathering, February 2003
The Betrayer, February 2003
Dark Tranquillity, December 2002
Mourning Beloveth, December 2002
How Like a Winter, November 2002
Lacuna Coil, November 2002
Dipnoi, November 2002
Dein Schatten, October 2002
Red Harvest, October 2002
Septic Flesh, October 2002
Nattas, October 2002


Inside - Marzo 2004
Inside - File under: new death metal gods. Quando la rabbia della musica estrema si unisce all'intelligenza di un suono vario e curato nascono gli Inside. Intervista con Ago e Vitaliano. Read on…

Iniziamo con una breve storia del gruppo…
Ago: Gli Inside nascono dalla fusione di diversi gruppi. Ad esempio io (alla chitarra ritmica) e Vitaliano (batteria), già vari anni fa suonavamo assieme in un gruppo death metal, molto, molto tecnico. Io inoltre suonavo in una cover band Metallica/Megadeth ed in un altro gruppo di Caserta, gli Ossian, orientati sul power progressive. Poi i tre gruppi si sono sciolti, mi sono messo in testa di formare una band seria e pian piano abbiamo trovato altri gli componenti che ci interessavano per mettere insieme gli Inside. Che suonano?
Ago: A detta di parecchi suoniamo un death metal abbastanza particolare, perché c'è il power e il progressive. Power per la voce acuta (qualcuno dice Nightwish altri Control Denied), ritmiche death alla Schuldiner e death metal più in generale, visto che ascoltiamo dagli Iron Maiden a Burzum passando per i Dream Theater. Io, oltre ad essere il chitarrista solista sono anche la prima voce assieme alla cantante. La mia è screaming.
Influenze del gruppo?
A detta di molti: Death, Children Of Bodom, In Flames…qualcosa dei Dark Tranquillity…con la voce mia.
Quali sono i motivi che vi hanno spinto ad unire le vostre forze negli Inside?
Innanzitutto perché proveniamo da conoscenze ed esperienze musicali diverse. Il bassista studia anche jazz e fusion, oltre al metal che gli è sempre piaciuto. Ognuno di noi ha le proprie "fisse" musicali, ma per non suonare sempre lo stesso genere (brutal, black, power, progressive), abbiamo deciso di mettere insieme tutti questi stili.
I can't scream è il vostro primo demo?
No, è il secondo. Tra l'altro, abbiamo avuto intervista e top demo su Metal Shock e buone recensioni su diverse fanzine. E' andato abbastanza bene quindi, il primo era più di impatto.
E' cambiata la vostra formazione rispetto al primo demo?
No, è sempre la stessa e sarà la stessa anche sull' album. Ovviamente ci auguriamo di non dover registrare defezioni in futuro, ma se purtroppo accadrà andremo avanti lo stesso. Se hai le idee chiare puoi fare tutto, sia nella musica che nella vita.
Come è andata sino ad oggi la vostra attività dal vivo?
Ago: Abbastanza bene. Anche se purtroppo, come ben sai, in Italia non si suona tanto se non con conoscenze e puntini puntini. Ultimamente abbiamo suonato di spalla ai…
Vitaliano: ...Death SS.
…sì con i Death SS (in Agosto), con i Novembre, nonché con gli Enemy Inside.
Un gruppo con cui suonereste dal vivo ed uno con cui non suonereste mai.
Vitaliano: vorrei suonare con gli Extrema.
Come mai?
Vitaliano: Perché secondo me sono il gruppo metal italiano per eccellenza, correggimi se sbaglio.
Ago: io invece, dato che ora i Death purtroppo non esistono più, suonerei con i Children Of Bodom.
Vitaliano: Io suonerei con chiunque.
Che significa la parola metal per voi?
Ago: Il metal è nel DNA, il metal non è per tutti.
Da quanti anni suonate?
Vitaliano: Io da circa dieci anni, anche se ho studiato soltanto negli ultimi quattro.
Ago: Io qualcosa in meno…circa dieci anni.
Siete autodidatti?
Ago: No, nessuno di noi lo è.
Età media del gruppo?
Ago: Dai 19 sino ai 27, la cantante è la più giovane. E speriamo che la sua voce farà cambiare opinione rispetto all'età.
E' più importante il feeling o la tecnica?
Ago+Vitaliano: Tutte e due.
Ago: Forse più il feeling che la tecnica, che usata eccessivamente rovina…anche se non la penso così. Il gruppo non è solo tecnica. Dipende se tu sei un amante della tecnica oppure no…
Diciamo di sì, se ad esempio ci riferiamo a un gruppo come Cynic, no se ci riferiamo all'ultimo Malmsteen, che poi di tecnico ormai ha ben poco…
Ago: vero, ha inventato certe scale e le continua a ripetere. Anche se le ha inventate e per questo è importante. Hai detto niente.
Vitaliano: Se parliamo di chitarristi tecnicamente direi Steve Vai.
Ago: Io no, sono un amante dei Cacophony…Jason Becker…Marty Friedman. Steve Vai è un mostro ma non mi ispira. Meglio Satriani.
Vitaliano: MA torniamo agli Inside…che è meglio.
Come componete i vostri brani?
Ago: In linea di massima porto lo scheletro del pezzo in sala. Lo faccio vedere a lui, lo insegno agli altri e gli altri arricchiscono il tutto, diamo spazio a tutti.
Vitaliano: Di solito comunque quando proviamo il pezzo in sala prove spesso ci siamo solo noi due più il bassista.
Ago: Io non sono il dittatore, ma essendo in sei, è necessario però che ci sia qualcuno che prende le redini della situazione…
Vitaliano: Poi, a livello compositivo, io spingo di più per il potente…
Ago: …e io per il tecnico.
Vitaliano: …e Andrea (il bassista) frena entrambi.
Ago: Comunque ognuno ha il suo spazio. Tutti amiamo i Death di Chuck Schuldiner, dei Cynic…
…anche la cantante?
Ago: Lei è una patita dei Death.
Che ne pensate della scena italiana?
Ago: I concerti ormai ci sono…
Vitaliano: Purtroppo i metallari italiani spesso impazziscono solo per i gruppi esteri e non per quelli nostrani…
Ago: Mi fa rabbia quando vedo che davanti al gruppo estero pogano da matti e davanti a quello italiano non si muovono. Mi dovrei portare un lanciafiamme sul palco…
Vitaliano: Molti vanno a un concerto di un gruppo italiano pensano più a fare critiche…aspettando che qualcuno sbagli…
Testi o musica: quale dei due è più importante?
Ago+Vitaliano: Musica.
Vitaliano: La musica, perché è lei che dà l'impatto.
Death o black metal? E, a proposito il death metal è finito?
Vitaliano: Il death metal non finirà mai.
Ago: Concordo. Per quanto riguarda il black metal…apprezzo molto i gruppi estremi come Burzum, Mayhem, Dark Funeral, Marduk …Nemesis divina dei Satyricon…che disco!
Vitaliano: …Immortal. I nuovi gruppi invece sono solo degli illusi.
Ago: Io però sono contento delle loro convinzioni…se sono vere.
Che ne pensate di Internet?
Abbiamo un sito (http://www.inside.3000.it/) e iscrivendosi alla mailing list si può anche scaricare gratuitamente il nostro primo demo.
Progetti immediati?
Abbiamo in mente di autoprodurci l'album. Dovremmo registrarlo a breve nello studio dei Novembre e poi mixarlo in America, a Los Angeles, con Fabrizio Grossi. Inoltre, al momento stiamo cercando un distributore. Abbiamo fatto, stiamo facendo e probabilmente faremo ancora sacrifici (economici e di ogni genere) enormi ma noi continuiamo ad andare avanti.
On the web: http://www.inside.3000.it/ Mail: insideteam@libero.it
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2004 All Rights Reserved


Handful Of Hate - December 2003
Italian Black Metal Armageddon… that's the way I would like to introduce Handful Of Hate… Interview with the drummer Gionata Potenti

First of all congratulations on an excellent new album, but why the hell did you make us wait for it so long?

(Gionata) Thank you. Well, the reason is quite simple: we got thousand troubles concerning line ups as well as labels. You have not idea of how many idiot we found on our path during all these hard years… We changed around 5-6 musician during period 1999-2003 and our previous label failed on summer 2001. In fact we didn't get promotion, neither support or everything else. We fought to survive playing live and trying to do our best to find a suitable label but failing until autumn 2002 when we got signed with code666. They have been hard years also because our genre (Black-Metal I mean) slowly faded out from magazines and general people's interest so it's a miracle we're still here. Luckily me and Nicola are two die hard metal maniacs and our band will survive for a long time, you bet.

What were you trying to achieve with "Vicecrown"?

(Gionata) Surely first off we're trying to achieve our finest and personal satisfaction. During all these hard years too many times we got in troubles and too many times rip-off labels tried to sell us out… "ViceCrown" represents our revenge we spread with vengeance upon the music business… we are still live and we are here to stay.

Does "Vicecrown" follow a lyrical concept or does each song have its own sick story?

(Gionata) Each songs have its own sick story but the topic treated within the entire album is always the same: the sexual perversions inside everyone of us. Maybe a song talks about a snuff/murder, one talks about a rape and another can talks about fetishism but the whole idea is always the same: talk about the sickness deep inside your own.
The cover artwork is very obscure... in which way is it linked with the whole album concept?
(Gionata) Well, I've just explained the lyrics so the connection with the cover should be clearer now. The cover represent a chained girl turned as her backs in a very dark place… the whole idea is really dark and the figure in black really suggestive and sick. We are really satisfied about it and I think it's a great artwork indeed, far from usual Black-Metal standards.

In 2001 you released 7'' "Death from Above" through Downfall Rec. it contains 2 songs from your Promo 2000 if I'm not wrong... could you spend some words about it? Any differences with the new material?

(Gionata) Yes, that 7"-ep is a pure cult item at the time being because it was limited to 666 hand numbered copies and it should be considered sold out now… we have at least 5-6 copies left just to be sold to our closest fans during live shows. Swedish Downfall Records got surprised about a 3 tracks promo tape we recorded during September 2000 just to find a new deal and they asked to publish it on limited Vinyl… we of course agreed to their proposal and the result is "Death From Above EP" that contains just 2 of the 3 tracks recorded at that time. Downfall Records rules and the guy behind it (Mikael) is a totally underground supporter they way everyone should be. The songs included are our natural evolution from the "Hierarchy 1999" period (our second album) to the "ViceCrown" era. Our Swedish based influences were still within the tracks themselves but the whole work is much more well recorded and played than our second album. Actually we have some Death-Metal influences indeed but those tracks are still pure Black-Metal so basically I can say they are a bit different from the newest stuff. Anyway for everyone who don't have a Vinyl reader or who was unable to get "Death From Above EP" when it have been released, we're actually waiting for the complete promo 2000 reprint on MCD still through Downfall Records. That MCD will be called "Blood Calls Blood" and will contain the 3 tracks promo plus an intro and a bonus song coming from 1999 and never released before. Release date is supposed to be during late December 2003.

The band went through some personal changes since your early days, what happened? Any particular reason for this?

(Gionata) As I've previously said, since the beginning Handful Of Hate have been afflicted by continue line-up changes… From the initial combo just Nicola (Guitar/Vocals) remained so you can easily imagine also the reason why the sound changed too. Every recording got a different line up so I think it was natural to get a different sound release by release. Anyway also time changed us as people… We grew up a lot during these years and our listening changed too with us.

Does Handful of Hate work as a team regarding writing music and lyrics or is there a one person handling most of the work?

(Gionata) Nicola write the most of the stuff but we arrange everything as a team during the final process that will fix the definitive song version. In the past also other guitarists wrote something but the most of the work has always be done by Nicola itself.

How much do you think Handful of Hate changed over the last years? Is there same enthusiasm as when you started it in '93?

(Gionata) I wasn't into the band at its beginning… I've been into the band since 1998 so I can talk just for my period. Well, I can say that when I got into the band I was really excited to be a part of it because Handful Of Hate have always been one of my favourite band at that time so you can easily imagine how I felt when Nicola asked me to join them… lately things went a bit complicated because there were lots of problems concerning line ups and organization in general so we passed really bad periods… Actually things are going really fine and I can say this is the best period I've ever seen as a band member. We finally got our third album after a 4 year silence and finally our work has been released by a serious and professional label. What can I ask more? When I got into the band I was young and inexperienced, now after lots of live shows, recording sessions, delusions but also satisfaction, I can define myself as a man able to do his work. We are some kind of veterans and we know how things goes on.

What's the most important thing to Handful of Hate? Emotion, atmosphere, musicianship, originality, or is it something else?

(Gionata) Violence, aggression and musicianship with the right mood. Our songs are extreme and powerful… I'm not sure they are emotional or atmospheric just in case you don't listen to it with a different view. What is original out of there? Everything has already been done by others before you… it's very rare to do something can be considered original… anyway I think that a band should think to personality, that's doesn't mean originality though. There are a lot of things that could be done to become interesting as a band… so you just need to be as skilled as you can to reach your goal.

What kinds of change have come to you after changing to a bigger label, Code666?

(Gionata) Code666 is really professional, they respect and support each band and of course work really well concerning distribution and promotion. Code666 is definitely what we were looking for since a long time… we've always been unlucky concerning labels but code666 is of course the best thing happened during our entire life as band. Changing? Lots of reviews all around the globe, intensive promotion and distribution, interviews on the most popular magazine and lots of contacts from people who just want to see us on stage… I think it's enough, or doesn't it?

What do you think of the other bands on Code 666?

(Gionata) Some of them are really interesting other a bit less, you know it's a matter of musical tastes. I personally love Unmoored, Manes, Void Of Silence, Bloodshed, Konkhra and Negura Bunget… all great releases. Personally what I really like from code666 is the high quality standard they usually set for every release… Everything is perfect, from the production to the packaging… Every code666 release is a special one and I really appreciate a label that takes care of their bands (but mostly of the customers) like that. That's great!

What recent album made the biggest impression on you? Are you pleased with the quality of today's releases?

(Gionata) I've always been a big Death-Metal/Grind-Core follower and I have to say that today's releases are surely the best one can get from the extreme metal scene… take for example the new Aborted, Inhume, Regurgitate, Severe Torture or Nasum ones… all big quality stuff! I'm proud to see that mostly of the big and famous label out of there are starting spending much money on Death-Metal again because there are a lot of great bands towards the scene nowadays and it would be a mistake don't support them. Yes, I'm really satisfied about today's releases! You can say it loud!

What do you think about Italian scene? According to me it is growing always more and more.. but in the right way?

(Gionata) Italian scene is one of the worst I personally know. People here seems to be more interesting in talking instead of playing seriously at all. A band means "music" and "music" should remain. I don't care about band's ideas, people's tastes or band member's "true" attitude… Just music interest me and what I hear is mostly bad. Of course fortunately there are also several exceptions and I'm proud to be Italian also thanks to them.

Well, I'd like to thank you for your time. Any comments?

(Gionata) Thanks to you for your support! Take a look to our official website at: http://www.handfulofhate.com/ where you can find infos, photos, mp3 and also up-dates regarding our live campaign… Feel free to write us for everything. Give "ViceCrown" an opportunity, you won't loose your time. See you on stage.

Interview courtesy of http://www.tragenda.net/

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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2003 All Rights Reserved

The Crown - December 2003
Another extreme metal band coming from Sweden…here are The Crown…

Hello and thank you for another great piece of extreme metal you offered with Possessed 13...it seems to be a kind of summa of your whole career...do you agree?
Yes! Bang on target pal! It is the sum up of our 13 year career.
You used many riffs from your early songs, who did come up with this idea? Why you never used those parts before?
It was my idea. But we have always been recycling old riffs, because sometimes you have a great riff in a bad old song that you don´ t use anymore. So that has been done ever since the Eternal Death days. There is a time and place for everything. Now was the time to sum up and use up all the old magic unforgettable riffs. But it is done in an updated way I think. It sounds fresh and new but the old-school dudes can still recognize the old classic way of riffing and rocking but in the year 2003.
I've read for sure you have just to re-record "Crowned In Terror" with Johan vocals...why do you do this? How the album has come up?
Metal Blade asked us if we wanted to do it, and we said;- why not? It would be stupid not to grab this opportunity to do it. It will feel good to have all our albums with the same true line-up. I don´ t know anyone who have done something like this before, but we don´ t care. If you don´ t want it - Don´ t get it. But we were never satisfied with the mix of the original album either, so now everything will be like we want it. We have already recorded the vocals and it sounds so much better I promise you, Johan is the man! We have also changed a lot things and details, sound-replaced the drums and recorded new bass tracks as well. We will be mixing it the beginning of 2004. - Crowned Unholy!
How did you get Johan back on the band? I remember that he seemed a bit fed up...
Yeah, he needed a break, but then the hunger started to grow again. Marko just asked him if he was up to it at a pub and he was just like: "hey I´ m always ready to get back in THE CROWN again!" So it was nema problemos.
Did this line-up change have an influence on the song writing of Possessed 13? Maybe the reason why musically you back on your early days on this album...
Well I think we had all the songs ready before he returned, but sure, the original line up back in business made the whole summing up thing a very natural thing to do.
Which are the main differences between Crowned in Terror and Possessed 13, sung piece apart?
It is two completely different albums. But it is the same band. I think possessed 13 is more controlled, more focused and more complete as a whole. While Crowned in Terror has a lot of really good ideas but doesn´ t really pull it off. But that´ s what we will try to fix now with the re-recording.
What have been your influences for this new album? Through the lyrics, is there a personal message?
It is more a universal message than a personal I guess. The lyrics has been very influenced by the classic death metal way of writing, plus the rock way of lyrics. I also was influenced by the thinking of Aleister Crowley and Carlos Castaneda. Plus I did some whole stuff subconsciously.
I suppose the album is a concept...was it thought as a concept since the begin of the composing process? I read you have came up with this idea after had seen the cover...is it true?
No, not true, there was never thought as a concept album more than the concept of doing the ultimate Crown album. It had nothing to do with the cover.
Possessed 13 cover is really great! what do you think about it?
I love it! I am actually behind the concept. It was an idea I had about a classic horror cover, with the girl I found in an old horror comic and the bloodstained white/black look. I gave this and told the idea to some friends of mine who did the whole thing. It was the first time that they did an album design, and now they´ve started locust constructions. It is all good.
The Crown have always been working like a team...was also composing the new album?
Yeah, during rehearsals we all have a saying and eveyone put their signature on it. And everyone must be happy with a song until we are satisfied. But we still write songs separately. It may seem like we co-operate a lot, but it is just me stealing Markos riffs and putting them in my songs. He! He! He!
Is The Crown only a death metal band? how would you define your music?
Yes, we are a death metal band, but I think we have developed our own sound, which is a bit more rocking and ass-kicking than your average death metal.
You said recently "With "Possessed 13" we really feel we have closed a chapter in our career" so you are supposed to move from extreme metal...is this correct? Will you use The Crown as monicker or you go to change it?
Yeah, we don´ t really know what will happen in the future. Right now we are concentrating on promoting Possessed 13, the rest is unknown.
Do you think your fans will understand your longing for changes or they will be narrow minded? I don´ t know, metal fans can be more open minded than you would expect. But on the other hand metal fans want you to stay forever and never change.
It seems for Metal Blade you've become a priority, it seems you're growing more and more with time passing by...which are your feelings about that?
Yes it is true, we have constantly been growing since day one. And all our albums have sold more and more for each release. Of course that feels great, to still be on the rising wave. It has pushed us further all the time. It must be horrible to have peaked on your debut album and just go downhill ever since.
Which is the relationship between The Crown & Swedish death metal scene? What do you think about it? [musically/personally]
We have always been very independent of the Swedish scene, and thanks to that I think that we have our very own place in the scene. I think that the Swedish scene used to be great and still has a lot of high-quality but I am not very much into it anymore.
Was it hard recording your albums? Or did you enjoy doing it?
We enjoyed it very much. There were no troubles and everything was just smooth and nice. and it sounded just great since day one. And Patrick was a natural born entertainer. A highly pleasurable experience.
Are you planning touring all over Europe?
Yeah, just come home from 20 gigs in Finland and central Europe actually.
Feel free to say whatever you want to your fans...
Thanks to everyone who have been supporting us, buying our albums, coming to our shows and listening to our music. You have kept us alive!
Interview courtesy of http://www.tragenda.net/
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2003 All Rights Reserved


Tidfall - October 2003
Abraxas speaks…interview with Norvegian black metal act Tidfall…

It's more than 1 month that your new album is out...which kind of feedback are you receiving?
We are receiving a really good response with great reviews almost everywhere! It seems many liked the album!
You changed a lot with this album...which kind of reaction has the album get from blacksters?
Well...maybe many in black metal scene will not like Nucleus, but I think a band has to evolve to improve itself.
Are you satisfied with how it came out?
Yes, totally... After Instinct Gate we made a European tour, a tour which made us even more determinated! It took about 8 months to compose the music and we spent much more time in the studio than our previous albums.
Which are for you the more remarkable aspects of it ? I've much appreciated your different attitude that let you improved following other guideline than usual black metal bands… Yes we have a different approach than other black metal bands, because we want to explore new things in our music without repeat ourselves and I think we manage to do it with Nucleus.
Do you agree when someone file your music under cyber black metal? Do you think your music can be yet filed under black metal?
I don't care much about how people label pur music...maybe industrial black metal...or something like that...
You recorded the album at Akkerhaugen Studios...
Yes and we are very satisfied with the sound we get...really powerful and clear. It's a cool studio!
I think your style can be defined as a well done mix between And Oceans, Dimmu Borgir and Samael plus some electronics inserts...what's your opinion about that? What do you think of these bands?
Well…all of them are really great bands so any comparison with them is a honour...I like them very much and maybe something in our music can remind to that bands but not so much according to me.
Is the cover linked with the album concept? I think it really fit with the whole concept...
Yes, the cover really capture the Nucleus in an excellent way. Jens Karlsson did it, he's a great designer. We also have a brand new website with a great design and I think it worths a visit!
What's about the album title? I read that the Nucleus is intended as the innerself inside every man...can you spend some words about this matter? Lyrics got also a futuristic touch...do you agree?
Yes, they are kinda futuristic. Nucleus is dealing with the concept that you are what you are, no matter how much someone is trying to change you, alter you, or to squash you in that tiny "box" where they want every "healthy individual" to be. Whatever what norms or rules the society lays out for you to follow.
But don't you think environmental issues can manipulate the core of a person?
I don't think so...maybe on the surface but the true core remains still.
How important are for Tidfall the lyrics?
They are very important I think on the same level of the music.. We spend much time to compose lyrics , almost the same to compose the music!Did you have a certain concept when writing your songs? What are your greatest influences.
This is your second album released through Nuclear Blast. Are you satisfied with them? Why did you part with Nocturnal Art?
Yes we are very satisfied with them...they are a really professional label...we aren't a top priority, but anyway they take care of us very well. We part away with Nocturnal Art just because to be on Nuclear Blast was a great opportunity for us. Also Nocturnal Art is a very cool label anyway.
What do you think of the future of black metal? Or better...Is there any future for black metal how it was intended in the '90?
I don` t know what the future brings. I think that is has the change to let new elements raise, electronics might be one of them. But at the same I like bands like Darkthrone that are coherent with themselves offering that kind of music.
How about the tour in 2002, did you get success ? Do you plan a tour for this album?
Yes I will say it was a success, we met our fans in Europe. A lot of problems during the tour anyway. but we had a great time with Dark funeral and Occult. And most important we finally had the chance to play for a crowd outside Norway!!
Can you imagine how the Tidfall' sound will develop in the next future?
As now I don't know but I hope we will evolve in an original shape improving our skills.
Interview courtesy of http://www.tragenda.net/
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2003 All Rights Reserved


Destruction - October 2003
German thrash metal legends Destruction doesn' t really need a long prologue. Every metal fan should know about what they created in the 80s and re-created after the reunion of the late 90s. So let's listen to guitarist Mike talking about the new album and more…

Hi Mike, first of all, thank you very much for "Metal Discharge", a real killer album. How is it going? Are you glad about the response you are receiving?
Hi! Thank very much! Yes we are very satisfied with the album and with the feedback it's receiving!
The sound is quite different than the previous albums...
Well, you know the first two reunion albums have been recorded in Sweden at the Abyss Studios with Peter Tagtgren, all with digital equipments, while this time we went to a little studio in Switzerland, with a smaller equipment, and everything has been recorded analogically. we didn't use a pro-tool program like we used with Peter Tagtgren, modern productions smell like plastic too much. That's the main difference I guess.
Do you think stylistically there are differences between this album and the last one?
We hadn't so much time to compose the songs this time, we had to play in so many tours you know, we've always been on the road and we are people that cannot write music on the way, Lucky the ones to manage in doing it! (laughs)I need the quiet of my room to do that, so we had two-three months to compose the songs, moreover we have a new drummer that comes from Berlin that is almost one thousand kilometres faraway from where I live and so it's not so easy to practice each day, and we have been quick this time, we worked on a tape using a drum machine and then passing it to Mike...the studio work has been very fast especially.
How much have you changed in almost twenty years of career? What are the differences between?
Not much...we have always been listening to different stuff in the past and still today. I think that if you don't change yourself you're kind of a stupid, getting older you become more intelligent and open your mind much more, if you don't you're only so boring!
Anyway, is there some kind of message you like to communicate or some philosophy you feel to follow as a band?
We want the ones listening to our music think of their own without to be influenced by the environment.
What do you listen to today? Is there a group that captured your attention lately?
Well, I like technical stuff, Watchtower, Fates Warning, Dream Theater.
Which are the main differences between to play heavy metal in the '80, in the '90 and in the new millenium?I think you are one of the most suitable person to answer this question!
Uhm... according to me there aren't so much differences, maybe the main difference is in your head! When you grow hopefully you change your mind so you see things with different perspectives... Apart that today is even better than the old days, there's more people into metal now!
As usual promos don't got lyrics, what do they talk about?As always they deal with our daily lives...
So your background in your daily life influenced you also artistically?
For sure! both lyrically and stylistically!
What happens when your come-back album was released? Fans have been waiting for this reunion and how was the support from the magazines and the crowds? Was it a great welcome?
It seems so! We had very surprised of the reaction we had for the reunion album...it was overhelming! Now we're visiting so many different places, like for example Australia, Japan, Turkey, South America.
Do you have any other influences today . . . do you feel like you have to prove something, or have something you want to accomplish?
Well...I think I have something to prove but just to myself...I want to be satisfied with the things I do without regrets...
Till 3-4 years ago years it was difficult to get thrash metal albums released when in the last years there are being released thousand of albums, bands playing other genres change their music becoming always more close to thrash way to play. Why according to you is all this happening?
Actually I've talked with many people and they are showing more and more interest for thrash metal even in the USA.. there's much attention for the old bands and this is a great thing for us!
Website: http://www.destruction.de/
Interview courtesy of http://www.tragenda.net/
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Old Man's Chil - September 2003
Galder of Old Man's Child / Dimmu Borgir"In Defiance of existence" it is the sixth opus by founder, vocalist, guitarist, producer Galder (also guitarist for Dimmu Borgir).

This album seems to be the definitive Old Man's Child album…new fresh (and blood) for the extreme metal scene ?
CM: To begin, how do you consider the previous Old Man' s Child albums?
Galder: When I was making "The pagan prosperity" I knew that this form of black metal was completely new and I was a bit concerned how people would react to it just because of that. People certainly had mixed feelings about it; the album seemed to be more appreciated in the States, for example, than in Europe since, at that time, most people were still hanging on to that old school black metal thing.These days everybody seems to be mixing different styles into the music -- heavy, thrash, death, etc.That was exactly what OMC was all about since the beginning.
CM: "In defiance of existence" starts with the most furious song of the whole album ("Felonies of the Christian Art"). Why did Galder you decide to put it as the opening track?
Galder: This is the album where I had the most problems when deciding which songs to put where, so I suppose that it was more of a coincidence than on purpose, but I also like to start off the albums of with a heavy song.
CM: In your opinion which links "In defiance of existence" and "The pagan prosperity"?
Galder: Actually, I think that all my albums can be connected in one way or another, but you're right about one thing -- there are many ideas on this album dating back to "The pagan prosperity" days, especially with the acoustic guitars.
CM: Could we consider this album like a solo project from Galder or a whole group effort?
Everything in Old Man's Child goes through me in one way or another, I' m very open-minded, so if the other guys have some cool ideas, then, of course, I'm always willing to listen to them. 99% of everything involving the band is done by me, however.This is not something I want it to be like, it' s just the way it' s been over the years.
CM: Did the frequent line-up changes increased Old Man's Child background?
Galder: I don' t think they have hurt the music in any way, since I'm always looking for the right musicians for each album, but, of course, having line-up changes also has its downsides sometimes.Generally it is a good thing for us since it gives the music a fresh input.
CM: It seems that mixing the harsh style of black metal with keyboards and atmospheric tunes captures the real darkness of your band...
Galder: I agree, I think it' s a combination of the different styles I grew up listening to when I was younger. I have never really stuck in one direction and that is very easy to hear in OMC.
CM: You often worked with talented drummers like Gene Hoglan, Grimar, Tjodalv and Nicholas Barker all as sessions members…
Galder: Old Man's Child would never work without a high class drummer. I have tried out many different, very good drummers, but not with a very good result.I really don' t know why that is, but there must be something in the music that, for some reason, many drummers find hard to play or something...being a good metal drummer is more than just the ability to play fast on bass drums -- you also need the "groove", which many drummers lack.And that' s definitely a quality that Gene (Hoglan) and Nick (Barker) got.
CM: You're also a player for Dimmu Borgir. Why did you decide to join them and which your contribution to DB songwriting is?
Galder: I have done a lot on the album, but that' s the good thing with Dimmu -- everyone has ideas, so making music in this band is far easier than anything I have done in the past.We did have a strong bond even before I joined the band, growing up together and listening to the same music, etc. (Please note that at the beginning Old Man's Child and Dimmu Borgir shared a split cd).
CM "In defiance of existence" latss with a super track ("Life deprived"). Why did you choose this song?
Galder: I wanted the album to open hard and close really hard.That' s the main reason for that choice. I also think that song was the one that separated itself the most from the other songs on "In defiance of existence".I really didn' t know where to put it.Those songs always end up last for some reason.
CM: Final thoughts…
Galder: Well, first of all thanks for the interview; we hope to come over your country for a few weeks."
Old Man's Child website: http://www.oldmanschild.tk/
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7th Nemesis - March 2003
New breed for high quality technical Death Metal from France…here is 7th Nemesis...

What about the name of the band means to you? Does it appropriate to the music you bring (in your opinion) or does the name has an influence for/in our life or kinda like that?
Well, in Greek mythology, Nemesis is the goddess of divine justice and vengeance. Her anger is directed toward human transgression of the natural, right order of things and of the arrogance causing it. Nemesis pursues the insolent and the wicked with inflexible vengeance. It also means a vengeful opponent and an implacable punishment.The 7th is a direct allusion to the octave law, which represents universality to us. The 7th note (B) that is, as each note, an impulse is the ultimate one before the return of the C (the original one).Thus, the 7th note is the ultimate impulse leading to the return to the original note as well as the 7th NEMESIS is the ultimate punishment, vengeance or disaster leading to the return to the origins. As Nemesis also represents the opponent, the enemy, this impulse or advent shall only come through adversity and by a founding violence.Beyond this generic definition, this name definitely incarnates the general concept that we will develop during the next albums at least within the first four as we are creating a first cycle that will take the form of a tetralogy (violence, chaos, reification and existence). So, that name is clearly about what our music shall be. It doesn't have any influences in our life as 7th NEMESIS is "merely" a musical, conceptual and intellectual process.
Give us some bio notes about the band.
Well, in December 2000, Mat (Bass), Pascal (Guitars) and Sargon (Vocals) joined their forces with Alex (Guitars), from Inward Mind, and Andrew (Drums) after the split of Sarganas (Black-Death Metal) to create a more Death Metal oriented project with some 70's influences.As Pascal left the band during the Summer 2001 for personal reasons, Xavier, also from Inward Mind, replaced him in September bringing more techno-death influences in the band's way of composing. The line-up definitely dealt with, the band was baptized 7th NEMESIS.
You recorded an LP plus a promo. Which were the reactions from the press?
The LP is being recorded right now, indeed. When we recorded our Promo CD, in April 2002, we've already composed the songs that will appear on our forthcoming LP and we decided to record 3 of them as a demo to promote ourselves. The press reaction was quite nice really, we didn't expect such enthusiasm for our work but it seems that our music really appeals to many. According to many reviews, we bring something refreshing.
Who always (de)composed your muSICK and lyrics in every song significantly? How you made muSICK (which I mean the process) and also what have influenced the lyrics too?
MuSICKally, the basis always comes from the guitar work. Alex or Xavier produce something from their tortured minds and then we all empoison the muSICK with our instruments until we are all satisfied with the result according to both the musical and conceptual point of view. And I (Sargon) write all the lyrics but I never really understood what I was writing… I'm some kind of autistic guy, you know… So I'm probably influenced by my own sickness…
When the band write lyrics and muSICK, what would you like to get from the listeners and fans? What do you want from them for example: a mental reflection, murder, make it fun, emotions, just bang the head or enjoy the lyrics with muSICK? How important are for the lyrics for you then?
If we manage to arouse mental reflection and emotions, we would say then that we've reach an objective but I think that as soon as a work is published, it doesn't belong to its creator anymore. If people only bang their heads and really enjoy our music that's ok with us.About the lyrics, they are definitely really important, as we are creating a conceptual work in four pieces.
Do you really want to become a real musician as a life or have a band just for fun or maybe just to express the skills/ideas you have? Is that possible to make a living out of muSICK in your country especially for heavy metal muSICK 'coz I see some bands making tours there outside of your country which that needs some lot of money, right?
Well, we mainly consider music as a passion and honestly we don't want to make any compromise with it. We don't think that Heavy Metal is a possible way to make a living in France, so we merely consider 7th NEMESIS' music as an art not as an occupation. And we also don't care about what other bands do.
What are your fave bands, 'zines and labels today but especially for your fave bands, have they influenced your music and style's characters? If yes, how did they influence the band?
Well, our fave bands are MAGMA, PINK FLOYD and BLACK SABBATH for most of us and they influence us, I don't know how, but they do…
What do you think about the Underground publications such as magazines/fanzines and webzines/netzines for the band's itself ? Are they still needed and necessary for the bands in the (Underground) metal scene and what Underground means to you?
Any zines are necessary to support the underground, for a young band as us it represents a great mean of promotion.
What do you think about the metal of the new millennium (nu metal and similar)?
I do not consider any Nu Metal band as a Metal band, this is just something different, some kind of Hip-Hop played loud and heavy, but this is not Metal. So I can't consider that this so-said Nu Metal is the new millennium Metal.
Many extreme metal bands express racist ideologies. Which are your thoughts on that?
Racism is the petty-minded people's hatred. 7th Nemesis has nothing to do with this kind of bullshits.
Can you describe us a typical 7th NEMESIS live show?
I'll tell you when we'll perform one.
Which are your future plans? Have you found a label? Are you going to release a new full length album?
Well, we will release a split CD with the Austrian Death Metal Band Punishment in April/May. We'll start to perform some gigs in April and then we'll try to find a label to release our album later this year.
That's all! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to add?
Thanks for this interview and for your support. All Hails to Italy. Don't hesitate to check our website http://www.7thnemesis.fr.st/ and download the mp3s (for free). Stay fuckin' brutal!!!
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Honey For Christ - February 2003
Hard & honest Heavy fucking Metal. That's what Irish HONEY FOR CHRIST play in their own words. Surely a perfect description for a true band. Guitarist Andy gave us some interesting answers…enjoy it.

Brief us on the band history. Which are the most significant moments in the band's life? And, mostly, what the HONEY FOR CHRIST moniker means?
We formed in 1998, November I believe. Me and Jason met at a party, got pissed and realised we both had the same passion for metal and decided to make some metal together. I had been jamming with Chris for years so he was obvious for drums, then we managed to sucker Paul in on bass.
Most significant, mm tricky. Probably recording our first CD. You really can't imagine that ever happening when you're starting out, that was a real land mark for us. It also brought to light the fact that people actually liked what we played, besides us! Very cool. Supporting MDB was a major moment for me cause they're my favourite band of all time. The HFC moniker has many different meanings, I like people to draw their own conclusions. To me it sounds like a paradox, which is what HFC is - a bastard creation of all things metal, no specific route or genre, just a mixed bag of everything!
Love/hate question for every musician: how would you describe your music?
Really I can only say, "100% raw, unclean, uncut, hard & honest heavy fucking metal!!!" Sorry, but that really sums it up.
What are your lyrics talking about? What gives you inspiration?
Jason does all the lyrics so I can't really comment to be honest. I know he is deeply impacted by the rest of us. He write about things that are happening to us or one of us. It's very much based on human emotions through personal experience, which I like, something everyone can relate to. Well, that's what I hear anyway!
How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you always follow?
More times than not I would have a couple of riffs or Paul would come up with a bass line, and I would try to get a melody of it or vice-versa. Jason would pick the kinda riffs he liked singing on and we'd create the song around that pattern. There's no direct formula. Sometimes we can write a song in a night if it's flowing, others can take up to a year to get right. We played Forging Iron Will the song for about a year before we were totally happy about it. We don't use any material unless all 4 of us are really into it. In practice I can tell when a songs working cause we'd all be head banging and getting totally sucked into the music, cool when that happens. We're very critical of our stuff and it does take us a long time to get the songs the way we like them. Often we kinda go too into it and have to scrap a song cause we get too close and then maybe use the riffs later on.
What kind of feelings do you have when you play your music?
It varys. Sometimes I get totally happy and enthused by the whole thing. Playing with 3 other guys I'd die for feel the real bond between us. Other times, especially live, I get really wound up and almost angry. I've often left stage with blood spilling from somewhere. Then in practice I would get totally into the melancholy of some of the songs, like Movements Below The surface, or Orion Dust. It's very moody.
Can you describe us a typical HONEY FOR CHRIST live show?
Chaos! We're very unpredictable live. Jason is a maniac sometimes! Him and I really feed off each other live, we're a bad combination. We really wind each other up, give each other more energy to give it everything! Performances are very explosive, full of energy, always something to look at!
How do you consider the Underground of your country?
It's very varied. In the North, where we're from, there are many bands playing many different styles. It is pretty healthy numbers wise, but personally I feel there are only about 6 main players in the underground scene. A lot of bands don't hack the pace, cause it's tough in such a small country to play different places, especially with all the bands sounding so different from each other.
Are you in touch with some label for a possible deal?
Nothing as yet. We haven't started labels with the new CD, we were waiting on the mags reponses first, which have been very positive so far. I'll keep you informed!
Which represents the cover of "Forging iron will" ?
HONEY FOR CHRIST! It shows what metal is to us. You have the blood on the page on the background, which is really Jason's actual blood scanned in from a bloodied page! It's my own bullet belt which is totally metal!!! Every one should wear bullets! Then behind the burned edge is a passage from Aleister Crowley. It really just demonstrates HFC - totally metal, passionate about what we do, but there is an important message in there too.
Are you usual to play some covers with HONEY FOR CHRIST?
Nah, not any more. We used to do a great cover of "Mandatory Suicide" when we used two guitarists but when we went to one we stopped. It was good fun though! Chris was especially on the ball when it comes to Slayer!
Which are your occupations besides the band?
I'm working in a factory at the moment on a production line, Paul drives a fork lift in an off license warehouse, Jason works in a warehouse doing fuck know what and Chris is on sick benefit cause he has a bad back!
Which are the future plans for HONEY FOR CHRIST?
Try and get gigs outside the UK, hopefully Europe. I have been in touch with a guy from Belgium which is looking pretty promising. Also record another EP, probably just another 3 new tracks, but spend a little more money and get a better production. A deal would be nice too!
That's all. Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to add?
Nope. Thanks very much for your time and don't forget to mention the website! Oh, and tell everyone to buy our CD - we also just got T-shirts done as well!
All for now, stay in touch!
Check out HONEY FOR CHRIST website: http://www.honeyforchrist.co.uk/
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The Gathering - February 2003
Dutch "trip Rock" masters The Gathering are finally back with an amazing new album called "Souvenirs". Drummer Hans Rutten gave us some interesting answers about various topics. Read on…

Which are in your opinion the main differences between "Souvenirs " and "If_then_else" ?
We had more time with Souvenirs, so we worked more on the song material, we demo-ed way more, and the recording process was way much longer then if_then_else. Besides that we didn't tour that much, so we had more time to make the best album we could. Souvenirs is more dark, gloomier and more a unity, as if_then_else was more a mix of influences. Good, but I think Souvenirs is more balanced.
You worked with a producer like Zlaya Hadzich. Did he engineered "Souvenirs" only or influenced your songwriting too? And which are the differences between his studio skills and your previous producers (Waldemar Sorychta & Siggi Bemm)?
He wrote things, played some side instruments like guitars and percussion, and was a 6th band member the whole period. He was a real slavedriver sometimes, but he got the best out of us. Waldemar and Siggi were more recorders, they didn't influence the songs so much.
How and when did you get in touch with Trickster G.? Which are the artists that you would like to have as guests on a (future) The Gathering' LP?
I send him an e-mail, as a huge admirer of his work with Ulver. He was polite to send me an e-mail back, and one day I asked him to work with us. I asked Piggy from Voivod too, but we never had some space to work out a song with him. Maybe the future? Besides Piggy we would love to work with bands such as Mogwai,.. Well, we will see...
How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you always follow?
No, we always try to make a unique new atmosphere as it comes to writing. Sometimes We strip a song totally, or throw it away, rerecord it again, whatever. Someone comes up with an idea, and we all fill in the colours of the song. But it differs from song to song. We don't have a formulae...
This is your first full lenght after your split from Century Media.Which were the reasons why you leave them and what about your new label (Psychonaut Records)?
Because our contract was fulfilled, and we wanted to give our label a push. Now we have total creative freedom, and we can do whatever we want, good or bad,.. But we have the freedom ;o)
6) Which represents the cover of "Souvenirs"?
A girl who makes a beautiful leap forewards, like the band.
Can we consider "Souvenirs" a concept album?
No. Not at all.
This time Anneke's lyrics seem to be gloomy more than ever. Which inspired her?
Our personal and social lifes of the last 3 years, and our youth, our innocent beginning of the strange thing called life. Everybody has to figure out the lyrics by themselves!
What do you remember about the days of your beginning ( "Always"era)?
Beautiful days! A new world opening.
I consider your music very cinematic and I think that the "Souvenirs" LP could be the perfect soundtrack for a Lars Von Trier movie. Did you consider the chance to write something for a movie or similar?
Yes, this would be a great thing for us, and we hope some day we can work with a cineast to work out some film-music.
Currently can a band like The Gathering live by their music only?
We already live from TG already for 8 years. With ups and downs..
With the "Mandylion" LP, you were the first band to use a female lead singer in a gothic/heavy context. Actually, what do you think all these bands playing (often) the same things that you wrote in 1995?
A pity, because it is so much fun working out your own niche. I can imagine needing a starting point, but at a certain point you have to grow, to stand on your own feet. But it is a compliment in the end!
Thank you! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to mention?
Give Souvenirs some spins! It's worth it!Thanks for the nice questions!!!
Cheers!
Hans Rutten
Check out the Gathering website at: http://www.gathering.nl/
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The Betrayer - February 2003
A new metal band coming from the States. Just imagine a crash between old Megadeth & Iron Maiden and you’ll get BETRAYER. New blood for the American Metal…

Please note: CM = Chris Mastrangeli - Obscuritas LatebrarumNM = Norm Michaud & SH = Shawn Hebert both from BETRAYER
CM) Brief us on the band history. How was it created? Which are the most significant moments in the bands so far life? Did the Kreator song “Betrayal” inspire the BETRAYER moniker?
NM) Brief us on the band history. How was it created? Which are the most significant moments in the bands so far life? Did the Kreator song “Betrayal” inspired the BETRAYER moniker ? Well, the band was first formed when Shawn Hebert (drums) and Jeff Klingbeil (lead vox, guitars) met in the summer of 1996. Various members came and went until Norm Michaud (backup vox, bass) joined in 1999 and Bill Lozon (guitars) completed the current lineup in 2001.
In my opinion the most significant moment was the response we received during radio interviews, and the great crowds we played to at the Playdium Band Fest.The band's name, BETRAYER, was not inspired from Kreator's song (but they're still a great band). The name reflects how our music 'betrays' the current trends in music and how we play the metal we like.
CM) Usual love/hate question for every musician: how would you describe your music?
NM) I'd say that if you were to combine Megadeth during the Countdown-era and mix it with the Iron Maiden, around Peace of Mind, and that's a rough idea of Betrayer. The members all add subtle influences ranging from Iced Earth to Guns N' Roses to the Scorpions. Vocally - Dio, Ozzy, Bruce all come to mind. To us, the melodies and harmonies in a song are equally as important as the riffs and solos.
SH) I describe our music on a Spiritual level. We take the time with our music cause we know it’s going right back to the people, it’s important to have solid messages behind each song. I believe if you record a song and don’t spend the quality time that was needed, it was a waste of everyone’s time. Music is an art that should always be passed on through the love, dedication and pure devotion it speaks and not hate.
CM) What are your lyrics talking about? What gives you inspiration?
NM) Personally, I'll just have an idea and write about it. 'Waiting' is inspired from how some sick asshole didn't leave my sister allow after they broke up. 'Tribulation' is about the pressures about playing in a metal band. 'Rusted Icons' was written after Metallica's issue with Napster and Megadeth's new direction in music disappointed me. All of our lyrics just follow a story or send a message.
SH) Our lyrics are about the every day situations of life. I look at them as a solution to the problem. We aim at giving the listener a level of self-confidence in our lyrics. “Rusted Icons”, our first album really didn’t get the chance to really hit what we really wanted out of our songs, though some songs do speak full truth. I believe that we weren’t grown up into a musicianship, into our full creation as we are now, now we can expand on our true feelings.
CM) How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you always follow?
NM) A song will usually have a few parts created by one member, who brings it up to the band at practice. We'll jam too it and add our own individual parts and get a feel for the general arrangement. After we agree on all the parts and the song's structure, the vocal melodies and solos are planned. Lyrics are added the vocal parts and then we finish up the loose ends.
SH) We all sit down and work on the music itself. Each band member will have an idea that eventually adds to the song. The writing part of our songs normally comes from the singer and I. We really map out the song so that it fits in away that it can make you feel many emotions. That is very important to the band and to the listener.
CM) What kind of feelings do you have when you play your music?
NM) A huge rush of energy. Pure adrenaline, for sure. I love the heat of the stage lights, feeling sweat drip while I'm head banging, having the music pounding around me - it's awesome!
SH) I personally have feelings of joy, feelings that give me tears of happiness. There have been many occasions where we’ve played gigs and I’ve felt myself wanting to cry, wanting to give even more to the music. When the crowd feels what you feel, you just want to explode with the power that music generates.
CM) Can you describe us a typical BETRAYER live show? How is the reaction from the audience?
NM) At most shows we get a great response. We have a tremendous following of great fans and we always manage to make new ones. For the live show, we like to be as entertaining as possible, making as strong stage show and having fun.
SH) BETRAYER gives you a show, in every song and in every movement that we make upon the stage. The crowd always reacts as if this band is something so new, so powerful that they need more. I’m serious; our audiences have blown me away, time and time again.
CM) Which is in your opinion the differences and the similarities of all the material you recorded till now?
NM) I like the different styles of songs we have on 'Rusted Icons'. The new material is in the same vein, that each song is different from the last. On 'Icons', each song had a different vibe and feel. We don't have a specific goal of how we MUST sound; we just try to write the best songs that we can. If we like them, we're hoping that others will too.
SH) The differences show that we’ve really grown into our music. We can do a lot more with it and not be limited. The similarities are that we haven’t backed down from our true name “BETRAYER” … we betray trends and stick to the heart. People out there want to hear traditional metal and you can see it in every member of the crowd. The similarity to our music is still the driving force of BETRAYER.
CM) Are you in contact with some label to put out your stuff?
NM) Well, there aren't any heavy talks yet, but we are always finding new contacts and sending out our promotional material. It would be awesome to be able to do what we're doing at a larger level.
SH) We’re trying to find a label at the moment. We were in one label but they really couldn’t support the dedication of getting the music out. It was really hard for them and we both decided to go our own ways. BETRAYER, to continue their search and the label to continue their research. We wish them all the best and we know that all music is never forgotten, it just takes a lot of patients and good people to find the right label for your band.
CM) Did the September 11th events influenced your songwriting?
NM) Our songwriting hasn't been affected by 9/11, but with our band located so close to the Detroit, MI., we felt the impact of the tragedy. It did affect our ability to play in the States.
SH) BETRAYER hasn’t written anything on the events of 9/11. Though that time was added to the tragic events of history, I’m sure we will have a lot to write about. Right now we’re trying to cover what other mistakes have been made in history, sad events from hate to pain… trust me, when you think about it, you can write a book.
CM) What do you think about the Heavy Metal underground in the States? Which are the bands you're most in contact with? Do you know some metal band from Italy?
NM) We haven't enjoyed a tremendous amount of success from the US underground. The best Metal scenes right now are in Asia and Europe. I've spoken to a band from Italy, but I can't remember their name. I'd like to make more contacts in Europe.
SH) I don’t really know the situation with the underground metal music from the States. I only follow the heavy metal chain of Europe. We haven’t had the honor of meeting any bands from Italy, though we have ran into many other bands from many different countries trading CD’s and contact info.
CM) Which are your occupations & hobbies besides the band?
NM) I help manage a computer and video game retail store to help pay the bills and such. I like to karaoke, play video games, paintball, play pool, tattooing and camping.
SH) The band is enough. The dedication and full time commitment that it takes to just rip a hole in the industry is never ending. I am so happy with music that it’s not just my full occupation but also my full hobby. Music is my life…it’s what I bleed.
CM) What's the future for BETRAYER? Which are your plans?
NM) Our main plans right now are to finish writing our newest material and record it. We are hoping to have a breakthrough summer in 2003 and make as big an impact in the metal community as we can. In the meantime, we will play as high-energy shows as possible and work on making the best music we can.
SH) The plans for BETRAYER are simple. With every band’s dedication there is always a will, our will is to give our music to the world and change so many hearts and so many faces. Who wouldn’t want to write positive material and watch so many people get an awesome reaction from this. Music is an art that has been around for ages and ages; we’re only doing what is right. CM) Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to mention?
NM) Well, I'd just like to say that it's great to have the opportunity to answer these questions. We've been very fortunate to have some of the most wonderful people on our side. Our fans are amongst the most loyal that I could ever think of and the response we get from first time listeners always motivates us to do more. Thank you for taking an interest in us and we hope to hear from you again.
SH) No you haven’t. The questions were perfect and I hope you enjoy my answers. God Bless!
Check their cool website: http://www.betrayer.ca/
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Dark Tranquillity - December 2002
Well, a band like DARK TRANQUILLITY really doesn't need along introduction.They just wrote the best pages of the extreme Metal history during the 90s.Swedish pioneers had just released their latest opus, the amazing "Damage done". We had an interesting chat with Niklas Sundin. Enjoy it…

Which is in your opinion the main difference between "Damage done" and your previous recordings? Which is the meaning of "Damage done"?
It's hard for us to analyze our own music, but I guess that "Damage done" is something of a logical continuation of "Haven", containing clear traces of our older stuff. As for the meaning, it's up to the listener to come up with a fitting explanation if the need occurs. Musically speaking, the new album is more intense than the previous two albums, and we wanted this to be reflected in the title. Something direct, harsh and not too poetic was needed, and "Damage done" seemed to fit perfectly. For the first time you recorded an instrumental ("Ex nihilo"). Which led to you to this (brilliant) decision?
It just felt like the right part in our career to have a proper instrumental song on an album. The purpose of "Ex nihilo" is to sum up the rest of the album in a good way, to re-enact it without words.
I really liked your new videoclip for "Monochromatic stains". Who directed it? And what about its filming?
The video was done by a Greek friend of ours, Achilles. He approached us with the idea when we were writing the material for the album, and since we liked the concept and have always been very impressed with his artistic skills, we desided to give him totally free hands with the video. He even designed the clothing for the characters himself, and we're really pleased with the result. Our old videos have been a bit boring, since we've had really low budgets to work with, but the "Monochromatic stains" clip really feels like something different that represents us well.
How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you always follow?
Usually, all members of the band contribute with music and ideas, and the songs are assembled in the rehearsal room, with everybody having their say and expressing their opinion. We're pretty pedantic, so most songs get re-arranged a couple of times before everything's perfect. When the music is finished, vocals are added and the final changes are then made. If there is time, we usually make a rough demo recording of each song before going to the studio for an album recording.
You recorded "Damage done" with Fredrik Nordstrom. Which was the funny thing happened during these recordings?
I can't think of anything funny that happened in connection with the recording. Recording an album usually means a lot of stress, anxiety and frustration since it's a very important situation where you have to give 110% all the time. Don't get me wrong - the atmosphere was relaxing and we always enjoy recording at Fredman, but to me, the studio is a place of hard work and nothing else.
What do you think about the re-release of your older albums from Osmose? Don't you think that their "tech trick" (PC cannot read the tracks) is a bit exaggerated?
I want to make it clear that we, the band members, had nothing to do with the copyright protection mechanism on the recent pressings of the Osmose albums. We didn't even know about it before people began emailing us about it, and I'm personally against this particular move since people that listen to their bought albums on a computer or an mp3 player won't be able to play them - it's ridiculous! A lot of people listen to CD's on computers when at work and so on. Also, apparently it isn't even mentioned on the albums that they feature this copyright protection, which is a big rip-off in my opinion. I fully understand why the labels are concerned about pirating, but in my view this isn't the right way to solve the problem.
Which are the best and the worst things of being an underground musician?
I can't think of many bad things right now. Being in a band is nice, and there isn't much to bitch about at this moment.
Can DARK TRANQUILLITY live by their own music or have regular jobs?
Ha ha, we're not even close to making a living out of the music. The band is a hobby for us; we all have other jobs and obligations to support ourselves.
You released lots of very good artwork & covers. Which is the one do you prefer and why?
I don't have any particular faves among my own work. The important thing is that the artwork and design reflects the musical and lyrical content and that the style corresponds to what the band needs. I think that the last In flames cover turned out really good, but I'm generally very self-critical and tend to focus on the things that could have been done differently if there was more time and resources.
What do you remember of the tour with In Flames, Arch Enemy & Children Of Bodom? If I'm right in the concert you played in Rome most of the band was ill.
That was a great tour, but I never was satisfied with the choice of songs we played. Some of the "Projector" material didn't transfer very well to a live situation. The Rome gig was totally great, as gigs in Italy usually are, and I'm sure that we all were ill or near the brink of insanity since it was one of the last gigs of the tour. It's impossible to avoid getting ill and feeling like shit after a couple of weeks on the road.
Are you planning to release a live CD?
Not right now, but there will actually be a live DVD released early next year. The details aren't confirmed yet, but we are trying to get as much interesting stuff as possible on it. I guess it's not impossible that the show, which took place in Krakow, Poland, will be released as a live CD too, but we'll see what happens.
What kind of feelings do you have when you play your music?
Wow....it's impossible to give a good reply to this. It can be just about anything, from being totally absorbed in the music to being completely bored thinking about what you'll be having for dinner later.
What do you remember of your early days (when you released a 7inch with a mexican label, if I'm right)?
Yes, we did a 7" EP with Mexican label Guttural records, and we also put out another one on a very small German label. Things were very different back then. We were 17-18 years old and spent many hours every week writing letters, trading tapes and generally promoting the band. It was a very interesting period in many ways.
Thanks a lot. Do you wanna add something more?
Well, I can't think of anything right now - so thanks a lot for the interview and sorry for the delay in replying. Things have been very busy and we haven't been at home so much.
Check out the DARK TRANQUILLITY website at: http://www.darktranquillity.com/
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Rights Reserved


Mourning Beloveth - December 2002
From Ireland an amazing Doom Metal band comes: MOURNING BELOVETH. A must for every suffering soul of this twisted Earth. Let's discover what's the emerald isle hides…

Brief us on the band history. How was it born? What did you want to achieve with your band? Which are the most significant moments in the band's life? And, mostly, which the Mourning Beloveth monicker means
The band was born in 1993. The main idea was to create heavy, slow torturous and melancholic music. The first demo was released in 1996 and after this I joined. The 2nd demo "Autumnal Fires" was released in 1998 to critical acclaim throughout the underground. After this we set a date to record our first album in Academy studios in 2000 . We self-released it due to the face we couldn't find a good label and this was re-released last October by my label Sentinel with an extra track taken from our 2nd demo and a new song from our "Sullen Sulcus" recording session. We recorded our new album last April/May ,again in Academy with the Doom god Mags on recording/production duties. This is being released by aftermath records from Norway next week for the whole of Europe and licence deals are being worked on for USA and Brazil.
Love/hate question for every musician: how would you describe your music? Am I wrong if I label your proposal as "catatonic for the soul"?
That would be a good analysis I guess. It is a release for the pent up emotions from within. It is a tonic for all that ails us and you can say " This music to calm the savage beast" .
What are your lyrics talking about? What gives you inspiration?
Darren writes the lyrics and his inspiration comes from his own personal shitty life experiences and the demons from inside his own mind. I think the title he picked for the new cd "The Sullen Sulcus" has a very personal touch to it and I really like it. If you can understand what the title and the lyrics mean as a whole you should be able to grasp once again what Mourning Beloveth are all about.
How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you always follow?
The way we write can usually be one of 2 different ways and I suppose most bands are the same. Either each one of us bring in something we have come up with on our own at home to the rehearsal room or we have a good jamming session in rehearsal and see what comes out from that. The latter is where the strongest of our material emanates from as we are all in there free styling if you can say that and it's the full band gelling together as one and everything feels just right. This is my favourite way or writing.
Which the word doom means for you?
Misery-darkness-torment-reflection-heavy-melancholic-uplifting.
Can you describe us a typical Mourning Beloveth live show?
Mostly people would stand there and watch our meandering stage presence whilst reflecting on their inner sadness that our music stirs up in them as the music flows over them.
How the Celtic culture is important for you?
I am proud to be a part of the Celtic culture-one of the oldest civilisations in the world. It's what sets people apart I suppose but we are all skin and bone at the end of it all. Some of us have tits and some don't he he. But seriously, I don't go and preach my Celticness or whatever. In the words of Doro "All we are ,all we are, we are ,we are all , all we need." I must say though that we recorded a track last weekend for a split 7" and the engineer said there was a slight celtic touch to it, whatever he meant!
The "Dust" cd was re-mastered by (ex?) Cradle Of Filth member Stuart. How and when did you get in touch with him? And what do you think about the major step, I mean the Sony deal, they went?
Stuart is a good friend of Brian who does the Sentinel record label with me and when we were thinking about releasing the In Unison 19 band Irish Comp we approached him to do the mastering. He wasn't long after leaving Cradle and he had set up his own home studio with a mastering suite. We knew he had done some mastering so we got him. And then when the Mourning Beloveth thing came around we asked him again as we knew of the good work he could do. He has also mastered the new Mourning Beloveth cd too. Regarding their move to Sony. I don't really care. COF for me doesn't really rock my coffin. Their first cd was and will remain their best as far as I'm concerned. Big Label=Big money. And then again, all of Dimmu Borgir have day jobs so a big label won't pay your rent will it ?
Tell us something more about your forthcoming cd?
We went back to Academy again as we were very happy with Mags work on the "Dust" cd and it is better to be with a producer you are comfortable with too. The artwork was done by Paul McCarroll who did some stuff for Sentinel (Abaddon Incarnate) and some other Irish bands (Waylander). He has a very warped sense of creating images and produces very abstract but strong pictures. The first 2 reviews we got for the new cd were from Scream in Norway with 5/6 and 6/7 from Hammer Mag in Germany, both magazines being the biggest in their own respective countries and we have just completed interviews for them this week. I have done 25 interviews for magazines in the last 6 weeks alone and they have come from promotion for the "Dust" re-release so there should be plenty more on the way. Myself and Darren share the band work between us with the other 3 guys doing a bit here and there. The music on the new cd hhmmmmmmmm…well it's a lot more heavier and in your face I would have to say. The long riffs are still there and the haunting melancholia intertwined with the dark and brooding vocals and rhythms still breath the sense of despair that we as a band have now gripped and made our own.
Lots of good band came from the emerald isle, what do you think about the Irish (heavy metal) underground ? Which are the bands that you're most in contact with?
The Irish Metal scene is a lot better than it was 3 to 4 years ago. It was pretty bad then with hardly any foreign bands coming here as a part of their tours until Emerald stepped in, Horray! But it was crap all the same. The Irish band scene was pathetic with fuck all underground gigs and not many people to go to them. Now there is some infrastructure with the Metal Ireland website, 3 Metal labels, some more venues and more bands to play.
Which are your occupations besides the band?
I have a normal job doing air conditioning which is pretty boring and non-metal. Besides the band I do the label and promotion company I have mentioned I help out as many bands as I can with gigs, contacts etc and anything else I can. I used to play in a Black/death band called Kingdom but left as I had not enough time for them with the rising force of Mourning Beloveth.
What's the future for Mourning Beloveth?
Well to get our new cd out and support it with our European tour in February 2003 is priority now. This weekend we are recording a song for a split 7" we are releasing through Sentinel and it will be with another Irish band called Lunar Gate. That should be out in the Spring and will be limited to 300 copies.
Thank you! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to mention?
Many thanks for the interview. I hope I have made enough sense for people to go and order our cd. If you could please print these websites for anyone interested in us and the Irish Metal Scene too it would be great. I hope to meet you sometime and the best of luck with Obscuritas Latebrarum. We are scheduled to play in Milan as part of our tour so be there!
Check out these web pages:
http://www.mourningbeloveth.com/ - Band homepagehttp://www.aftermath-music.com/ - Mourning Beloveth' s record labelhttp://www.sentinelireland.com/ - My label, We re-released the "Dust" cdhttp://www.metalireland.com/ - Irish Metal website-lots of info on the Irish scenehttp://www.emeraldpromotions.8m.com/ - Ireland's leading extreme Metal promoters
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Rights Reserved


How Like A Winter - November 2002
New ways for Gothic metal. Forget the usual clichés because Italian How Like A Winter are a band here to stay, as Jonathan Davis says. So, let's discover their world in their own words…

Brief us on the band history. How was it created?
Dust: "I began writing the first phrasing and melodies (that later became part of the song "The beauty, the beast") between the year 1994 and 1995, but at that time what I had in my mind was something more doom. I came out from an experience - that I shared with Emiliano (Mist) - in a prog band, where I've played as keyboardist, is there that I knew him; and there, playing that music, I've understood to deserve something else, something more "personal", something that was not just move my hands on a keyboard and make sounds. When we decided to create the band, it was not so easy: we've changed a lot of time our line-up and it was needed years before we arrived at the present one. It was hard but, with a lot of patience and trust, here we are...and I'm very proud of it!" Which are the most significant moments in the band's life?
Bane: "All the time spent all together playing before into our garage and then in Dust's home, a place where we easily find tranquillity and inspiration…the record sessions…all the time spent in Rome (getting drunk, of course!)."
What did you want to achieve with your band?
Dust: "I don't like to look forward too much, I never point at a precise goal in my way: I just walk, looking and listening what surrounds me."
Love/hate question for every musician: how would you describe your music?
Hlaw: "It's difficult put our music into a label or definition…we mean, you could say we're gothic, doom or something like that…our music is simply something coming from ourselves, from our different experiences and attitudes…when everything amalgamate becomes what you listen to." I think that that you sound close to bands like the old Solitude Aeturnus and Anathema. What do you think about this?
Dust: "Well, it's very usual...a lot of people associate us with other bands, and I think it's natural that in our music you could find traces of bands like Anathema, My Dying Bride, etc. ...maybe just because we are grew up listening those bands. Sincerely I'm not afraid to admit that My Dying Bride gives me a lot, I believe is not a bad thing...in the life everyone teaches you something, and everyone has a master."
What are your lyrics talking about?
Dust: "Of Love and Death: the most important things in life for me, because Love paints the life with vivid colours, makes the life itself lives; while Death, or better, the AWARENESS of Death, fill it with darker shades. The sight of the end makes us live with passion... so, in that way, we can't waste a thing. And when this two concepts join together, they take on an incredible charm."
What gives you inspiration?
Dust: "Inspirations may come from everywhere: from something whispered me by the eyes of the woman I love; by a scene saw in a book or in a movie... anyway, everything that touches the inner part of myself and makes it vibrate."
How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you alwaysfollow?
Dust: "I start by a first idea (that can be a lyric or a melody, of piano or guitar) and on it I begin to build a kind of "musical framework" with a rough draft of drums. Then I show it to Emiliano and he begin to spin a web around it; then comes into play Massimiliano (Bane) and, also following his ideas, the drums-line is completed. At last, with the whole structure finished, I begin to work at the keyboards, at the violin harmonies and the vocal plait."
What kind of feelings do you have when you play your music?
Hlaw: "Playing something that took shape from what you have inside gives you back a lot of different things…deep emotion, recollections…Sometimes it happens that when we play a song every of us looks the others noticing that they live the same feeling…that's absorbing…
Can you describe us a typical How Like A Winter live show?
Hlaw: "How like a winter are still working for their first live show, however what we have in our minds it's something more "theatrical" than a music show. We hope that our ideas become reality".
Next year will be released your debut CD. You signed a deal with American label Martyr Music. How and when did you get in touch with them?
Mist: "Simply doing what, I think, all emerging bands should do: promoting themselves. We sent our music around and around, from the biggest label to the smallest one, of course to magazines and webzines. Maria Abril from Martyr Music wrote us sometime during April 2002, she was interested in How Like A Winter after having listened to "The winter's near" and we started our negotiation with her.We were excited for her enthusiasm, we felt very highly honoured that she liked so much our music…of course Maria trusted us from the beginning and we hope to pay her back for she has done for us.
Did you get different proposals from any other label?
Mist: "Yes, we received other proposals, but since the beginning Maria and Martyr Music paid a lot of attention to Hlaw and we made a profound friendly relations. We thank her for the patience and her serious work."
Tell us something more about your forthcoming debut. It will be a concept?
Hlaw: "No, by the way there's a guiding principle that links all the songs in a kind of concept. Musically speaking, the sound it's more full-bodied than in "The winter's near" demo, especially for the guitars.
What do you think about the Italian (heavy metal) underground? Which are the bands you're most in contact with?
Bane: "We didn't play concerts around so we are in contact with few bands. The Italian underground offers a lot of really good bands, but you know how is difficult to emerge.The most important thing, however, is playing for ourselves, for passion…"
Which are your occupations besides the band?
Hlaw: "Dust studies dubbing, works in an advertising agency and acts in a theatrical company; Mist runs a pub; Bane studies at university (turistic matters); Misery works in the motion-picture industry; Agony and Tragedy study at school."
What's the future for How Like A Winter?
Dust: "I believe it's a little early for answer this question... I'm still walking..."
Thank you! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to mention?
Dust: "Mmm no. I think that's all. Thank you Chris and farewell!"
Give a chance to How Like A Winter also visiting their website: http://www.howlikeawinter.com/
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Right Reserved


Lacuna Coil - November 2002
There's no need of a long prologue to introduce a well known band in the Gothic/Metal scene like LACUNA COIL. These Italian goth rockers recently released "Comalies", their third full length CD. Surely their best one. So, relax yourself and read what LACUNA COIL muse (Cristina Scabbia) told us…

Which the word "Comalies" means? Which are in your opinion the differences between "Comalies" and your previous records?
The word "Comalies" represents the mood surrounding us during the songwriting, months ago. We were composing in a sort of another dimension, completely absorbed by the music, forgetting every other thing around us. Nobody could have been enter this dimension with us. We were closed in a sort of "coma", that's why, when we had to chose the title of the album we went back in time and we remind that weird atmosphere in these days. Then we wanted to play more with the words and we chose "Comalies" instead of "Comalized" (by the music).Now, compared to the previous albums we are able to write good music avoiding to overload the songs with too much stuff, too many melodies and vocal lines. Probably the main component in "Comalies" is the elegance. Sometimes is better to go straight to the point being very simple but taking a very big care of "details" like the choice of every single sound and the arrangements. Waldemar Sorychta produced all your releases and could be almost considered LACUNA COIL seventh member. Have you ever thought to use another producer instead of him?
Why? Just to be proud to show a new name in the booklet? As soon as we still have fresh and new ideas and we have clear the result we want to reach we don't need another person that maybe could change our sound. Waldemar cannot be considered a member of the band (note from Chris: I said almost a member, not a real one…) as soon as he doesn't compose the songs but just helps us to record everything in the proper way. Some people seems to think that just changing the person who direct your work you can create something new, and that's the biggest lie ever. We co-produced this album and we are totally satisfied about the final result.
What kind of feelings do you have when you play your music?
We are expressing our deepest feelings and sensations, we are translating with notes and world our vision of life.
How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you always follow?
It depends from the song. Usually we start from a riff or a melody and we build the whole music around them. Then we meet each other in the practice room and we play for hours changing structure millions of times until we get the result we like the most. then we go for the vocal line and the lyrics are coming at the very end.
Usual love/hate question for every musician: how would you describe your music?
Is an hybrid between rock, gothic and metal with a modern touch. Basically is an artistic expression nobody could give a name to, because is too personal.
You toured the States with Moonspell. Which is in your opinion the difference between the European and the American audiences?
The whole tour has been absolutely great. The people at the shows had an unexpected reaction, they were simply going crazy!They were able to sing the songs, to scream with us and they could feel the good vibe on stage. We gave and we received energy, pure energy. To be honest I didn't really find differences between the American audience and the European one.
Which were the best and the worst experiences happened to LACUNA COIL on stage?
Luckily we've never had bad experiences on stage! I have a big collection of good experiences indeed, from the various festivals like Wacken, Dynamo, Rock Machina...then the gigs in America and Mexico and all the tours we did...so many cool moments, is too difficult just to mention few of them.
Which band would you tour with and why?
Maybe a very big band, I cannot really tell you a name. We did so many tours that the best thing would be to play in front of very big audiences.
I think that sometimes your deep vocals are close to Garbage's Shirley Manson. What do you think about this? Which are your fave singers?
She's not one of my fave singers, even if I like Garbage music, in some cases, but just because I don't have a favourite singer. Basically I prefer black vocalists, no names in particular. They can be very emotional and intense, even if they don't care about the supertechnical parts. That's what I like.
Did you listen to the debut cd from Cayne (formed by ex guitarists of yours)? If you did, what do you think about them?
I don't think anything in particular.
Can L.C. live by their own music or have you regular jobs?
We are gaining more than in the past but when we are at home we have some free periods we can use to do part time jobs. Of course not real jobs as soon as in any place you couldn't say "Ok, I'll stay for two weeks and then I'll be away for two months…"
What's the future for LACUNA COIL ? Which are your plans?
We just finished 2 days ago a very successful co-headliner tour in Europe with Sentenced. Now we'll have a short break, in the meantime I'll be doing some promotion and the next year will be very busy, talking about tours and festivals. Everybody who's interested in our dates all around the world can check our Web page http://www.lacunacoil.it/ . As soon as a gig is confirmed we post it.
Thank you! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to mention?
Well, that "Comalies" is a great album and the people has to listen to it ;-)Thanks for this interview!
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Rights Reserved


Dipnoi - November 2002
Psycho Metal Core from Brazil? Yes. That's what DIPNOI play. An emerging band from the land of Ronaldo…and Sepultura. Talking with their guitarist Mario Izzo about music, the Underground scene and more…

What about the name of the band means to you? Does it appropriate to the music you bring (in your opinion) or does the name has an influence for/in our life or kind like that?
Mario Izzo: DIPNOI is definitely an "alternative" name for a metal band. That's what we were going for when we named the band. In the beginning, we just thought that if the band wanted to have its own style, we should also try a different name. And that's what happened.
Give us some bio notes about the band. Mario Izzo: DIPNOI is a Brazilian band from Sao Paulo, formed in 1994. One year later, we released our first demo, called "A good Moonza/A better Moonza", which contains songs from the beginning of the band, such as "Gimme some beer", "Underneath" and others. In 1999, the EP "FKDDD" came out with 6 new songs and taking a turn for Heavy/Thrash metal, as you'll notice if you listen to the song "FKDDD". Finally, we had some problems in the line-up of the band, but in the middle of 2002 we finally released the single "Torn", which is the CD we' re promoting right now around the world. Just 3 songs right in your face!
Usual love/hate question for every band: how would you describe your music?
M.I.: Psycho Metal Core.
Who always composed your music and lyrics in every song significantly? How you made music (which I mean the process) and also what have influenced the lyrics too?
M.I.: The band always composes all the music, we work as a team. That seems to be bullshit, because all the bands say it, but that's the true. I come out with the guitar riffs, C.I.C. with the drumming, Andrea with his bass lines and, after that, he tries to put everything together. In the end, Matsumoto adds the vocals and writes the lyrics. About these, they only express our experience in this planet.
When the band write a lyric and music, what would you like to get from the listeners and fans? What do you want from them, for example: a mental reflection, murder, make it fun, emotions, just bang the head or enjoy the lyrics with music? How important are for the lyrics for you then?
M.I.: Well, I expect from the listeners at least any reaction. Excepting murder, which is not our goal, I believe all reactions you mentioned are acceptable and desirable. The lyrics are important, but for me the music is always the main thing in a song.
If I'm right, on the "Torn" cover there's a locust. Which this means?
M.I.: It means nothing in particular, it's just an image we liked a lot, a friend of ours put it together for us. We decided to use it as the cover to "Torn", because it's aggressive and unusual like our music.
What are your fave bands, 'zines and labels today but especially for your fave bands, have they influenced your music and style's characters? If yes, how did they influence the band?
M.I.: My fave bands are, in this order: Black Sabbath (1970-74) and Metallica (1983-87). But I also like a lot Dead Kennedys, Faith No More, Helmet, AC/DC, Randy Rhoads' Ozzy era, 70's King Crimson, Focus, Beastie Boys, Elvis, Sex Pistols, Anthrax, etc...Adding a little of Death Metal and Jazz, we're close to all the influences of DIPNOI. All the bands I mentioned influenced us somehow, but I don't believe the individual influences are so visible.
What do you think about the Underground publications such as magazines/fanzines and webzines/netzines for the band's itself ? Are they still needed and necessary for the bands in the (Underground) metal scene and what Underground means to you?
M.I.: These publications are essential to the band, we're looking for them all the time. We don't have any means to get in the mainstream media, so that's what we got. Without webzines like yours we certainly wouldn't be talking right now. We're very thankful to all the people that supported us all these years, it's just like a family. Underground for me is everything and it's essential to DIPNOI's life.
What do you think about the metal of the new millenium (nu metal and similars)?
M.I.: There are good and bad bands, just like in every genre. I like System Of A Down very much. Soulfly is a good band too.
What about the Brazilian band Underground?
M.I.: The Brazilian underground is growing and it's better than in the past years. But we suffer from the same problems that exist everywhere, I guess: lack of support, not too many places to play, etc.
Can you describe us a typical DIPNOI live show?
M.I.: It's an orgasmatic party with naked girls and lots of booze.
Which are your future plans? Have you found a label? Are you going to release a new full lenght album?
M.I: We intend to record a full lenght album until the end of 2003, and we're searching for a label to support us. If we can't find anyone to do it, we'll release our next album by ourselves anyway.
That's all! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to add?
I guess that's all. I thank you very much for this opportunity and your support. Anyone can download our entire new single from www.mp3.com/dipnoi. If you wanna talk to us: dipnoi@uol.com.br . We try to answer all the emails that people send to us, so don't be shy, we want to make friends all over the world. If you want to contact us by regular mail, our address is: Caixa Postal 2313, CEP 01060-970, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. And visit our site: http://www.dipnoi.com/ .WOWWWWW
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Rights Reserved


Dein Schateen - October 2002
A must for every fan of Dark/Pop music: from Germany the one man band DEIN SCHATTEN comes. Let's hear what Born Zero told us about some interesting topics...

Brief us on the band history. How was it created? Which are the most significant moments in the band's so far life?
Musically is D.S. a one man show. I still work alone.DEIN SCHATTEN wass born out of a coincidence. It began in the summer of 1999 when I went on vacation in the Netherlands with my wife and children. In this place we met Ussama "Ussi" Christian Absi an ex "Gruftie" and his family. Two months after we met again in Marburg and Ussi asked me: "Come on Dieter make one dark song for me, just for joke". I have never played the sound of gothic, and I have thought, this is a chance to try a new thing. The song "Er kommt zurück" was the first result, and Ussi said: "Hey Dieter it's great, you must write more songs of this kind of music, you have a very good talent for this sound". At this time I was working for a German hip hop artist from Hamburg and I had always problems with these guys. "Make the lyric more mainstream or give the bass drum more kick, and too much melodies" and bla bla bla. I think a little bit of hip hop is okay, but always it's a torture. Ussi said: "Okay Dieter, I will help to promote this music together with you".
Usual love/hate question for every musician: how would you describe your music? I think my music it is dark pop. It's kind of gothic, dark wave, but also pop, rock and a little bit of jazz. What I do it is a mixture from little stories about the inhuman civilization and pure entertainment. I've played and also written many kinds of music styles in my life. I can't make only one music style, and I'm so happy about this, so I can put all I my experience in the new project DEIN SCHATTEN. Playing guitar writing lyrics and the song-writing stuff. Every music has a special chords pattern, melody and sounds arrangement if you play jazz, rock, new wave, classic, country or gothic. Many years ago I've studied jazz guitar-players like George Benson, John Abercrombie, John Mc Laughling and also many country, classic, latin and rock guitar-players. I've written lyrics in German or English (that's very strange for me) whether rock or chanson or hip hop and now dark wave. I mixed all the styles in my new project and I believe that it got a new sound in the scene.
What are your lyrics talking about? What gives you inspiration?
I sing about many things as the dark side of life, about depression ("Traenen der Seele") or bad sexuality ("Geister in mir"), about the dead ("Abschied") or vampires ("My name is LUC-if-A"), ("Er kommt zurueck") and about psychotic freaks ("Das Tier"), ( "Hallo?"). Also about the beginning of the end of human race ("Ewiges Eis") and many more. Let me put this way: the lyrics are a mixture of sophisticated and social things with a drama humour.The inspiration it is in the air, and I think in the past I hear many radio dramas. It is good for the brain.
How do you compose your music? Are there some specific steps you always follow?
Mostly I sit in my practice room and play guitar and jam with myself. Or work on the drum machine to form new grooves. Everyday spirituality in the air. Many ideas ending however in the trash. However every idea it is a piece for a new song in the future, nothing is without a reason. To play guitar and making samples or play the other instruments it is very simple for me. Not so for the lyrics. However to create the lyrics it is the hardest work for me.I need absolutely silence when I write or compose. The best ideas for the lyrics come at night before I sleep and in the morning I must remember the ideas. Also many ideas come with rhymes when I'm riding my bicycle. Many lyrics I write on the playground or at coffee shop and the tech to touch up in my little studio. The first ideas to the composition to originate through jam session with myself. I worked two years on "Ewiges Eis". At this time I was looking after my daughter, since my wife was still in her education. My biggest achievement was to have Anna Lina sleeping tightly when I'd reach my practice room so I would have around two hours when I could work.
What kind of feelings do you have when you play your music?
I feel very, very good. I believe, when I stopped my music career, there was a change in my life to 180°. I cannot never stop to play guitar and composed. I need the music like my heartbeat.
Can you describe us a typical live show of yours?
No, I can't. DEIN SCHATTEN never played live in the past. But I can say something about the show in the future. I will be really playing live like a fury on the guitar on "Ewiges Eis" I got no time to practice on my instrument.
Which the word dark means for you?
Sorry, I don't know. I don't understand some of your questions. (It's my own problem, I have never learned English in the school). Okay, I make a test. Dark and gothic I believe is the biggest game of the world. Right? No? Okay next question!
When the band write a lyric and music, what would you like to get from the listeners and fans? What do you want from them for example: a mental reflection, murder, make it fun, emotions, just bang the head or enjoy the lyrics with music? How important are for the lyrics for you then?
I hope a little bit of all things that you tell me about what the listeners like.
What's the future for your band? Which are your plans?
Next year I'm planning to make a European tour. I have a fantastic drummer from Hamburg. He played with the international pop band Heathhunter and I got a contact with a great guitar player from London. He plays in the bands Meeker Seeker and Bliss.I gathered experience by more than 3000 concerts around the world in the past. I think this is a very good basic for shows in the future. I'm very satisfied. More than 100 excellent reviews is good for the start. But first time I must promote "Ewiges Eis", and also very important is the "Vision Europe - Vision Peace" thing. I'm the founder of this anti war organisation. Many bands all over the world building now together a peace front.The Ramones, No FX, Donots, Massive Attack, Retrosic and more than 70 bands . Okay, and than I'm gonna to play with my band in Europe. I need new impressions, new cities, new peoples about whom write new songs. It's crazy but "Ewiges Eis" will first be published in Russia at the Irond Record label. The times it's coming when more light is falling on the project DEIN SCHATTEN.
What do you think about the underground goth scene in Germany? Which are the bands you're most in contact with?
I don't know. Never imagine to making dark wave and gothic. I'm my own source of inspiration in the last 10 years and I'm not going in the clubs. I'm not really especially interested what the other guys and girls of this planet are playing. I know Juergen Engler since we made a record with "Guru Guru" at his studio in Düsseldorf. Today Juergen lives in Texas/USA. Last year I fold Juergen the story of DEIN SCHATTEN, and he said that he would like to make a remix of the songs "Respekt" and "Woanders sein". Mostly I work alone and I don't like to be influenced by another mind.Today I have a little bit contact with the band Retrosic.
Which are your occupations & hobbies besides the band?
Nothing. Yes I like cooking, and make a little bit sports.
We're writing you from Italy... so if you got the chance to meet the Pope what will you ask him?
I would ask him: "How do you do? Are you feel good? Okay, good, hey have a nice day, and salute god for me".I have no questions on the pope. The father of my wife is pope and professor in Malawi/Africa.
Thank you! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to mention?
Thank you very much for your questions, and I hope my answers are a little bit interesting for the readers. I wish you and the readers health and peace and I hope to see you on my tour in 2003.
Check out DEIN SCHATTEN at: http://www.dein-schatten.de/
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Rights Reserved


Red Harvest - October 2002
RED HARVEST: dark industrial paranoia Metal. Let's discover Norway's most hidden and wicked secret with Ketil...

What about the name of the band means to you? Does it appropriate to the music you bring (in your opinion) or does the name has an influence for/in our life or kinda like that?
RED HARVEST doesn't have a specific meaning, but I guess it reflects visions of blood and manslaughter. Or just an extremely brutal autumn.
Give us some bio notes about the band.
RED HARVEST is a Norwegian band, based in Oslo. We are true veterans of Norwegian metal music, along with such bands as Mayhem, Cadaver and Darkthrone. We have never been part of the controversial Black Metal scene, yet our music contains more than enough energy to burn down churches by its sonic impact alone. We have been touring both domestically and abroad, but I guess you can say that we still are something of a rather well kept secret among connoisseurs of dark, driving metal music.
Usual love/hate question for every musician: how would you describe your music?
Sick, dark industrial paranoia metal. RED HARVEST is hopefully like being strapped to an electric chair in front of a nuclear freight train while Al Jourgenson and Tom Warrior have a growling contest.It's cold and dark, with much energy and some floating parts.
Who always (de)composed your music and lyrics in every song significantly? How you made music (which I mean the process) and also what have influenced the lyrics too?
We all contribute when it comes to creating the music. It usually starts with a riff and an idea about a vibe or state of mind/situation you want to pass on to the listener. Usually a feeling within yourself. The music is made basically from what we live through every day, what we see, hear and read.Where some people see the roses, I see the thorns. "Sick Transit Gloria Mundi" is about all the paranoia in the world and in our heads. A mixture of ideologies of various deathcults and a plain, objective observation of the world and its humans dying.
When the band write a lyric and music, what would you like to get from the listeners and fans? What do you want from them for example: a mental reflection, murder, make it fun, emotions, just bang the head or enjoy the lyrics with music? How important are for the lyrics for you then?
Lyrics is very important of course, but you don't have to know the lyrics to enjoy the music.I want people to feel the way I felt after I had seen David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive".Totally confused and exhausted. Or like you have taken an overdose.
Do you really want to become a real musician as a life or have a band just for fun or maybe just to express the skills/ideas you have? Is that possible to make a living out of music in your country especially for heavy metal music 'coz I see some bands making tours there outside of your country which that needs some lot of money, right?
Music has always been important for me and I have always enjoyed playing guitar. We make a living playing in RED HARVEST, cause we're the biggest industrial Black Metal band here in Norway and we have been around for more than ten years.
What are your fave bands, 'zines and labels today but especially for your fave bands, have they influenced your music and style's characters? If yes, how did they influence the band?
I am an all eater when it comes to music as long as there is some kind of quality in the music.I think Neurosis, Isis, Ministry, Godflesh, Slayer, Voivod have been important to all of the guys in Red Harvest. I guess it sounds in the music we play. I read Abyss Magazine from Portugal, Eclipse magazine from the US. Relapse is a cool label.
What do you think about the Underground publications such as magazines/fanzines and webzines/netzines for the band's itself ? Are they still needed and necessary for the bands in the (Underground) metal scene and what Underground means to you?
It's always nice to have something solid, printed on paper, so zines is great, even though the internet has taken over a lot of the propaganda function I guess. It's great tools for the underground. Underground music is music you don't hear on national radio stations.
What do you think about the metal of the new millenium (nu metal and similars)?
I don't like NU-metal. Metal with credibility will hopefully grow more extreme and push the limits to the max.
Many extreme metal bands express racistic ideologies. Which are your thoughts on that?
RED HARVEST is non-political. I leave shit like that to Bono.
Can you describe us a typical RED HARVEST live show?
It depends on if we headline or not. On a good night it's loud, brutal as fuck and with lots of energy.
Which are your future plans?
Play gigs and make a new album next year.
That's all! Have I forgot to ask you anything and you'd like to add?
Stay sick, stay dark and stay true!
You can check out RED HARVEST at: http://www.redharvest.com/
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Rights Reserved


Septic Flesh - October 2002
A true original metal band from Greece. After so many years of Underground career SEPTIC FLESH are ready and willing to expand their dominion. Let's talk about it (and more) with Sotiris…

Next year your new album will be out. Will it be another concept? And what will differs from your previous recordings?
In "Sumerian Daemons" I preferred to write about a variety of thoughts and dreams of mine rather than following a specific concept. You can say that it has a more timeless and spiritual direction in contrast with "Revolution Dna" that was more down to earth, portraying themes about the present and near future. The basic difference between our new album and the previous releases is that it is definitely the most heavy, brutal and dark album we have ever released.
Why you left your longtime label Holy Records? There were rumors about the chance for you to sign with Emi Greece... Indeed, we were very close in releasing our new album from the Greek department of Emi Recs. The problem with the giant multinational labels is that your contract depends highly on the specific local manager that is in charge in your country (Note from Chris: I know, I work for a major…). Unfortunately in our case, this person that was positive about a collaboration and was entrusted with the fate of our contract, quit his office for another label. We didn't managed to obtain a decent communication or a concrete timeline about our contract from the new man in charge, so we closed that chapter and went on. Finally, we decided to sign to Hammerheart Records because simply we felt a lot of potential behind this label and honest support, in good terms.
Can Natalie Rassoulis be considered a permanent member of your band or is she just a guest?
Your question is reasonable as Natalie is an artist with great talent and personality and stands out from the lot. However she is not an integral part of SEPTIC FLESH. Her voice is considered from the band as an exquisite instrument and we use it when we feel it is needed on the songs and not on a permanent basis.
When the band write a lyric and music what would you like to get from the listeners and fans? What do you want from them for example: a mental reflection, murder, make it fun, emotions, just bang the head or enjoy the lyrics with music? How important are the lyrics for you then?
We write our material in order to express our emotions and thoughts. That 's why the lyrics are important for us. Of course we realize that the reaction of the fans depends on their own personality and way of thinking so some will enjoy the full trip, getting to bottom line of the lyrical content and others will be happy with the music and rhythm without further exploration. That's OK. The most important rule for us is to be true to ourselves.
How your country background (culture, tradition etc.) influences your music?
Our ancient inheritance has made a high impact on our mental state and taste. You can find many ancient Hellenic elements both musical and lyrical in all our albums and especially on "Esoptron" as its title suggests. However, we simply hate the present "evolution" of traditional Greek music.
After so many years of career which are now the goals of a band like yours? How changed your musical perspective from the "Temple of the lost race" era?
Every album is different from its predecessor as we like to experiment in new ideas rather than repeating our selves over and over. But our goal is always the same, to make intensively emotional music that will give something special to the listener.
"The future belongs to the brave": who's the brave for you actually?
The one that realizes that the future is here and now. The one that dares to think and act avoiding the warm lure of passive hope that his dreams will come true and his nightmares will just vanish all alone.
"The Arctic Circle closed its arms around our fate", which means this line from the "Arctic Circle" song ?
Well, this song is about an old scientific expedition that sailed near to the pole and never came back. From their journal, that was found years latter from another expedition, their ship was trapped from moving barriers of ice that formed a deadly icy ring on the arctic ocean, blocking their exit. They were stuck there until the rough environmental conditions broke their spirit and finally ended their lives.
Visual expect (LP covers, inlay etc.) seems to be very important for SF, Spiros always did it. Which is the relationship between art and the SF camp?
We definitely enjoy paying attention in all details of our releases including the artwork and the covers of our albums. Spiros is a student in the Greek university of art so he is naturally the mind behind the visual representation of our music. That gives us absolute control on the final result.
I loved the clear and powerful production of your previous "Revolution DNA" album. What do you think about the Pro Tool thing and new studio technologies in general?
The new studio technologies among other things allow the bands to experiment with the structure of their songs without loosing precious time. You can ultimately alter the arrangements of the songs following very easy steps in order to have comparison between the different combinations of ideas. It is very helpful to make decisions listening to the alternatives than imagining them.
The harmonies of the "Revolution" track reminds something about the old Queensryche stuff. Are they one of your fave bands ?
I really like the first four albums of Queensryche. I listen also to a lot of known and not so very known Heavy Metal bands like Anvil, Cirith Ungol, Raven. So maybe I have some heavy metal influences to my songwriting.
That's all! Would you like to add something more to the dreamlords?
Open the gate to the Daemon in you...
You can check out SEPTIC FLESH at: http://www.septicflesh.com/
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Obscuritas Latebrarum Copyright © 2002 All Rights Reserved


Nattas - October 2002
A new (evil) force from Sweden rises: NATTAS. We had a chat with them, talking about Black Metal, the underground scene and the Pope...

Let's start with your biography.
OK. In this incarnation (Mickey-vocals, Helvetet - drums, Darkwing -guitar and myself, Ed on the bass) we've been around since the year 2000, but NATTAS has actually existed long before that.
Which the NATTAS monicker means? Are you into the satanic thing?
Yes. From a philosophical point of view. Or humanitarian, perhaps. You says that you play black metal. What black metal means for you? And what do you think about the black metal scene in general today?
Black metal to us will always mean raw music with black lyrics. There is no law that the music has to be played in 120 mph, which in my opinion is the main problem with the Black Metal-scene today. Venom and Mercyful Fate are good examples on how it should sound. And we would' t be here today if it was not for Black Sabbath, right? Other good bands which I think are worth mentioning are Rotting Christ, Siebenbürgen and Christ Agony.
Why NATTAS did not sign a record deal with anyone till now?
I must say I really don' t know! In the beginning we were not that interested actually, but as time has passed we must say that is our main goal. The possibility to release the plague all over the world would be very nice indeed. Any serious label willing to show the interest and determination to put out and promote a NATTAS - album is certainly welcome. Unfortunately small labels often deals with delays, possibilities of bankruptcy and lack of promotion, and to us that is unacceptable.
Which is most important for you: lyrics or music?
The music. The lyrics are also an important matter, but if you in your lyrics presents the truth of all truths and play shit, nobody will listen to you.
What about your live gigs? Is a European tour planned?
We could have gone on a European tour in October, but unfortunately that did not work out. We are eager to tour and as soon as we get a chance we will do it right away!
Which band would you tour with? And which are your main influences?
We can tour with any band, I think. Main influence must be Venom, so to tour with them would of course be an absolute killer.
Do you prefer the songwriting/studio recording thing or the live one?
Both parts are actually extremely satisfying. We haven't done that many live performances since there are not that many places to play in Sweden. It is hard to get a gig if you' re not mainstream, and as we all know…
What about the Underground scene in Sweden? It seems that lots of bands are very willing to help each others, is it correct? Does your government help bands (with funds etc.)?
The government at least haven't done anything for us! The underground scene in Sweden is quite vivid, but I don't know about the helpful thing there…of course, most of the bands are great (since they are musicians, they must be OK, right?), but there is also a lot of jealousy going on, and rumours of other bands that they aren't "real" or "true" or so. That is quite boring.
What about your life extra NATTAS (jobs, hobbies, etc)?
There is no possible way of living on this kind of music so we all have to do our share of work. As for hobbies, I must say beer-drinking is quite common in the NATTAS-camp (note from Chris: I absolutely agree with you).
In your opinion the new metal thing could save or destroy the HM tradition?
I really think that new metal have destroyed more than it have saved the whole idea of music. How many of these people are actually into metal? I can't tell. If jazz would be what sold most records they would surely be playing jazz.
Which are your future plans?
We are always working on new songs, and we are planning for a lot of gigs, so let's say that world domination is a plan of ours…
We're writing you from Italy...so if you got the chance to meet the Pope (shame on him!) what will you ask him?
He-he…that's a tough one. One thing that could be quite interesting to know is the thing with the American catholic priests and the sex abuse matter. When forgiving them, he might have done more for the anti-religious movement than he knows! He could be on our team!
If you're looking for a real, old style Black Metal band check NATTAS at http://crash.to/nattas

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