"In brutality we show no
mercy..."
The
Finnish Death Metal special - Part 1.
Featuring interviews with Carcase Inc., Death du Jour,
Deepred, Exit Wounds, Luciferase, Scent of Flesh,
Slugathor, Sotajumala, Source of Demise, Torn and
Torture Killer.
All Interviews & Intro by Luxi
Lahtinen
Tell us something about the releases your band has
done so far and what is coming up from your band in the (near) future?
Immu (Slugathor): Our first demo (2000) is called DELICACIES OF
THE CADAVER and we did it first on CD-R and soon got 7" EP offer for
this release from German label Perverted Taste. This label also released
our second demo FABRIC OF THE MULTIVERSE on 7" EP. Besides that we've
done split 7" with Deepred that was released by Snuff Records from
Czech Rep. A promo-CD was done in 2002 and also a live tape titled CRUSH
SKULLS & BONES (2003) by a Polish label Time Before Time. Another
Polish label Agonia released our debut album UNLEASHING THE SLUGATHRON
last year. It was just released on MC- version by Finnish Northern Sound
Records and will also be released on 12" vinyl by Agonia this year!
We don't have much plans to record in near future. Perhaps a new track for
compilation or something. We'll see…
Janne (Source of Demise): So far we´ve done one self-titled
demo in 2002 and one song of that demo will be release in DEMONSTRATION OF
PENETRATION collection. We´ll start recording a new promo-CD probably
within a few weeks, so it should be ready before summer.
Aki (Torn): Thus far we've recorded one full-length album called
VIOLENT ECSTASY (on Severe Music in 2002) which was also reviewed here at
Metal-Rules.com. Thanks Luxi! We're rehearsing new material all the time.
Our next recording will be 3-4 tracks for a promo-CD.
Mikael (Carcase Inc.): We have got 2 demos out and a song for a
compilation CD titled VOICES OF DEATH that it will be released in
September by a Swedish label. We are going in studio in summer to record
our 1st full-lenght album that will be released by Embrace My Funeral
Records from Mexico."
Hell (Luciferase): We're planning to record our new material at
our current rehearsal place as soon as we get the opportunity to steal
proper equipment to build a reasonable recording environment
Laine (Torture Killer): The only release we have so far is an
album called FOR MAGGOTS TO DEVOUR which is out through Karmageddon Media.
It was released in October 2003, so I don´t think there will be another
one coming in the near future. We have the basic material ready for the
next one, but we are taking our time with it and it´ll be worth it at the
end. I feel very relaxed about it, but of course we have to see what are
the label´s release schedules for their other releases.
PB (Death du Jour): So far we haven't released anything but our
debut mini-CD GAMASHINOCH. For I do not think I can act like a harlot of a
proper attitude I'll simply recommend you to download this bastard from
our webpage. It's Death Metal with some variations.
Probably we'll record some kind of release before this summer though we
still don't have a clue in which form or by whom it will be released.
Antti (Deepred): The two first demos were quite ok for their
time. Can't really stand them today though. After those we recorded the
PROPHETIC LUSTER full-length CD for Blunt Force Records/Forensick Music. 9
tracks of Suffocation worship!! Still a cool release to these ears and for
a lot of maniacs around the world, too as it seems... Then there is two
different split 7" EP's, one with Dying Fetus (on Relapse) and the
other with Slugathor (on Snuff Recs). Both quite ok releases though the
Dying Fetus one was a bit too rushed, I think. Latest release out is a
split CD with Loathing from France. A kind of "semi-official"
release with our '03 studio promo session and some live bonus tracks. Also
a vinyl version of this one should be out any day now on French Undecent
Records. The next one should be finally the new full-lenght album.
K.P. (Exit Wounds): Our first release was a demo-CD called
PLEASURES OF BLOOD AND CARNAL SIN. It has a drum machine since we couldn't
find a drummer who was skilled enough to play the songs. But fortunately
it ain't that bad. Some has even asked us who played the drums for that,
ha-ha!! The style is quite old-school Death Metal. It has fast parts, but
also some mid-tempo stuff quite much.
Our second release called DEATHPOINT was originally meant to be
released as a demo-CD, but we never released it by ourselves. A Finnish
label Onyxia got interested in us, and they wanted to release it as a
split-CD with Luciferase. It has more technical stuff and it's a bit
faster in general than the previous release. Both of the bands have five
songs on the split.
We have written new songs now and are planning to release a new
self-financed MCD or something. It'd be cool to release 7" someday.
I've always adored 7", ha-ha!!
Otsala (Sotajumala): A self-financed MCD titled SOTAJUMALA was
the first one that we made and it resulted in a deal with Woodcut Records.
Through this label we have released a mini-CD named PANSSARIKOLONNA and
full-length album which is being shipped into stores right now as we
speak.
Scent of Flesh: Our first release was a demo-CD
titled DROWNED INTO THE DARKNESS which was released in beginning of the
year 2001. It was recorded at Digibone Studio because it was the
cheapest possible studio that we could found, and the sounds were
absolutely terrible. We sent it all around the world in hope for a
recording deal. There was some interest from few labels, but none of
them offered us deal, so we decided to record another demo in the end of
the same year. That demo was titled TOWARDS ETERNAL LOST and it sounded
much better because it was made at a much more professional Music-Bros
Studios. This demo in question got more attention around the world and
actually two labels offered us a recording deal. We made contract with
Black Lotus Records for a three full-length albums, and our debut album
ROARING DEPTHS OF INSANITY was released in the end of 2002. All our
releases so far have got mostly great reviews which feels great, of
course!
How do you see your band on the map of the current
Finnish Death Metal scene? Alongside with Speed/Thrash Metal, it´s seems
that Death Metal is making a relatively strong comeback in the Finnish
metal scene as its own separate metal genre which feels great in my
opinion. Your thoughts about this?
Mikael (Carcase Inc.): Yeah, I think we are getting some respect
from people and bands in Finland. Death Metal is really getting stronger
in Finland and that's a really good thing. Soon I hope we could be more
gigs with these bands 'cause there still lots of bands/people that don't
know us and there still lots of people that don't know Deepred that were
one of the 1st really brutal Death Metal bands from Finland. Seems like
people like to stay more in the mainstream side in this country as far as
some certain bands are concerned.
Laine (Torture Killer): I see it standing firmly on its own
feet. The guys in the band are 100% hardcore Death Metallers and I know
there will be a lot of murdering Death Metal coming from Torture Killer in
the future. I´m glad to see a few more bands than a couple of years back,
but if that´s enough to call it a comeback... I don´t know. The thing is
that I´m starting to think a bit different than I did some years ago.
Back then I could get pissed if somebody said they didn´t like Death
Metal... ha-ha!! I felt like everybody should have listened to it. Now
it´s totally different, tho. I´m proud of playing and listening to music
that is too much for most of the metalheads to handle. Kinda like having
your own personal favorite band. I think we have a few really good Death
Metal bands in Finland and of course it´s cool.
TF (Death du Jour): I'm very pleased with this Death Metal scene
and how I have been accepted into it, if you put it in such a way. I don't
that much wonder why people get bored for example to the Black Metal scene
since in some point, some concepts appear as completely ridiculous.
Participating with these people you can be yourself playing Death Metal,
not some creepy goblin from Satan´s dark depths. This didn't actually
have anything to do with the question, great.
PB (Death du Jour): So far I feel quite comfortable with this
new Finnish Death Metal scene even it feels like this 'spirit' of
underground has changed quite a lot from the beginning of 90's to this
day. Can't complain the situation even though this post modern attitude in
Death Metal scene ain't a good thing if comparing to the "old and
good days". Still this is definitely much better than slumbering or
non-existential scene, tho.
OM (Death du Jour): When you grow up to a certain age, you begin
to get more "inside" to the scene. Then subjectively you of
course think now it's the upraisal and climax of Death Metal. It's really
difficult to evaluate national state of Death Metal. A decade backward
since we're still rather young. Therefore I'd modestly say there has been
a strong Death Metal scene all the time from Oulu to Helsinki, but not a
band like this in it, though.
S.M. (Exit Wounds): That is true that nowadays there are more
Death Metal bands emerging to the field of the Finnish metal that is a
positive thing. I see Exit Wounds as a young band among others and it's
relatively amazing to see how we have already gained some reputation
around here.
K.P. (Exit Wounds): Yes, it's nice to gain some feedback from
your work at some point. I wish we would gain a bit more name in the
future, so we might get some gigs more easily. Now the gig situation is
crappy. But I agree we have got some name already in Finland which is
nice. And I agree on that too, that Death Metal seems to raise its ugly
head more over here in Finland once again.
Hell (Luciferase): As we are not a Death Metal band… ;) To
answer the first part with a strong dose of self-irony, I think we are the
vilest leeches in the Finnish metal scene since we managed to play our
first gig as support to Mayhem only because I knew the club owner,
hah-hah!! But since that was more than two years ago, I think most of the
´scene polices´ have already forgiven or forgotten us. But what can you
do if people want you so much… dead.
Janne (Source of Demise): Well, we are pretty much an
underground name in the Finnish Death Metal underground scene, for the
time being at least Hopefully there will be some chances on that after we
get our next release out. We really didn't make such a big noise with the
last demo and it was basically done for ourselves only.
Aki (Torn): Torn is one of the most brutal & one of the
first "Neo-Death Metal" bands on the map of Finland. We´re
devoid of melodic influences… Keep in mind that many of these Finnish
Death Metal bands are quite different musically; some are more into the
old-school Death Metal sound, some a bit more melodic and some more US
Death Metal influenced. But everyone's got its place for sure.
Antti (Deepred): On the Finnish metal map we are probably the
band whose records are maybe hard to track down but who is known for
putting up an extreme brutal show whenever you see us. Our
"status", if we can call it that way, is earned by being an
active live band so it's good to see it hasn´t been for nothing. When we
started we thought nobody would give a shit, but that was never the reason
anyway. But there´s definitely more and more people all the time at gigs
and more Death Metal bands around, too since few years. Honestly I don't
like most of what I hear, but it's a good there is some kind of
"scene" anyway, I guess.
Immu (Slugathor): Do you really thing so? The Finnish Death
Metal scene is fucking weak these days in my opinion. We don't have so
many good bands that I could mention. I only like Deepred, Devilry and few
others. I think Death Metal is still the strongest thing in the States
(with Sadistic Intent, Funebrarum, Morbid Angel, Incantation, Immolation,
etc. etc.) and in the South America too… Mortem! Also some old Swedish
bands still rule like Grave, Dismember… and some new comers like Kaamos
and Repugnant. Just FUCK the Finnish metal scene these days!!
Otsala (Sotajumala): Yes, we agree. In Finland we have lots of
great bands within the Death Metal scene, like Torture Killer, etc.
Scent of Flesh: Of course it´s a good thing to see Death Metal
raising its ugly head in Finland. Within a few years we´ve seen many
bands releasing new albums and it´s good that they sound different. We
think that we fit into this particular scene quite well.
How much has the Internet been helping to get your
band name to people's lips? What are some of the advantages and
disadvantages of the Internet in your opinion if we only focus on your
band activities?
TF (Death du Jour): Internet has made it possible for us to get
the music widely spread all across the world, basically acceptable to
anyone. Disadvantages, well I guess someone could try to steal the rights
or so but after all, it's still our music that would get for more people
to hear.
Laine (Torture Killer): Times tend to change and there´s no
going back to b/w fanzines, tape trading or flyers. Internet has given a
small band a chance to get more attention basically for free and
possibility to get their music available to more people than let´s say 10
years ago. Disadvantage is that the spirit of the underground is gone
totally. I just don´t feel anything when I download a 30 sec mp3 sample.
When I was a small kid I waited weeks to get a demo that I bought from
abroad and when it finally arrived I really felt I was a part of the
underground... like a cool club for men... ha-ha-hah!!
Mikael (Carcase Inc.): Internet has helped us a lot! People from
everywhere in the world can check us out through our website. One of the
advantages is that our guitarist Markus is our webmaster, so we don't have
to pay anyone to do our site, you know? As far as disadvantages go, we
haven't experienced any yet while using the Internet to spread the name of
our band.
Antti (Deepred): I don't know how much exactly it has helped us,
but obviously it has anyway since it's the name of the game nowadays. We
took a pretty long time before having a band website since none of us was
that interested in those things back then and we started promoting the
band first the old-school way, mailing out demos, printing flyers, etc.
and it worked out just fine. Honestly I don't care much about the
"internet underground" though things like email are great for
fast communication, of course. At the same time it has its shitty side,
too... all this worthless fucking spam, people from certain countries
bombarding every email address they find with those "send your free
brutal stuffs and I will support you in my country" - messages that
just need few clicks when some years back you actually needed to take the
time to write a letter, put a stamp on it and take it over to the office,
so the correspondence was more with some meaning in it, if you know what
I'm trying to say here? Not to even start speaking of all those shitty
bedroom internet project "bands" with no effort at all
everywhere around nowadays, argggh...!!!
Aki (Torn): I don´t know, but some advantages are that people
get to hear your music more easily. But it also makes you somehow lazy...
Immu (Slugathor): Internet is quite shit in the end. I only use
it to keep a fast contact through e-mail. Of course you can search some
information about some interesting bands and especially history. I never
listen to mp3s and I don't understand why I should in the first place? If
some band wants to give some mp3 -samples to me, I tell them to send their
promo tape or CD instead. For us the Internet is sometimes useful to
spread message about our new releases or coming gigs… but what the fuck,
I really don't need the Internet that much besides e-mail that is a very
good and fast way for contact people.
S.M. (Exit Wounds): I think the Internet has been a huge
advantage for us this far. There are lots of web magazines that share
interviews and reviews and etc. This has been the main way that has helped
us in the promotion of our band. I can't find out any negative things
about the Internet…
K.P. (Exit Wounds): The Internet is a huge help for bands
nowadays. You can promote songs on your website and people can get some
information concerning your band from there, easily. There are so many
places where one can get into net, so it's a possibility for everyone.
Also I agree that webzines and forums can be a very good way to promote
yourself! Only negative thing I find is that most of the albums that
aren't even released end up in there, and people download them there. I
think it's not good thing for the band if their album end up to the
Internet, let's say a month before its release date. Then some people
won't even buy the album. I personally need always something physical like
sleeves, etc.
Miika (Source of Demise): The Internet is helping us very much
because we were too lazy to promote our latest demo, but in the future
this thing will change. When we get the new promo out, we will start
promoting it immediately.
Janne (Source of Demise): I think no one can deny the benefits
of the Internet when it comes to promoting new bands. It´s so much easier
to put a few clips to be downloaded to your web page than if anyone who is
interested in your stuff, have to contact you via letter and then order a
copy. It´s a different thing with bigger bands who try to earn their
living with music and some jerks leak their promos to internet…but yeah,
as you said lets not get into that so this won´t go into writing novel…
Hell (Luciferase): Internet is cancer. It makes you lazy before
you notice anything. It's so easy to spread your band's name and music via
virtual ways that sometimes in the end the easiness of promotion causes
the lack of promotion, so to say. You think you can achieve something by
sending info about your band to 50000 random metalloids around the globe.
Well, 49980 of them delete your e-mail immediately, 10 of them tell you to
fuck off with the spam and 10 want to trade your band's brilliant release
to their Anal Cunt-inspired nonsense noise/grind band's rehearsal vomit
video on CDR which doesn't work on your computer anyway. Now I slipped
from the original subject. Fuck.
Of course, when used properly and wisely, the Internet is a strong
instrument to quickly spread the band's name.
Risto (Luciferase): I think the Internet is the best way to get
band known after doing gigs. Advantages… it is quite cheap way to
promote your band worldwide. Dis… nowadays you must have sooo nice
looking and fast opening sites that people want to visit (and stay for a
while) there. If you don't buy services to build and update sites you
might be in trouble.
Tuomas (Luciferase): More perhaps for the local people, live
dates might be interesting. After they've downloaded some mp3 clips and
decided whether they like the music or not. A disadvantage might be the
large number of other band pages etc., so it can be hard to jump out.
Otsala (Sotajumala): The Internet has indeed helped us and we
can think of nothing negative to say about this medium in question.
Scent of Flesh: The Internet has been a great help. It´s an
easy way to be in touch with media, and people around the world can read
our interviews and hear samples of our music through our website. A
massive piracy is of course a big problem even if it hasn't affected us
yet.
Band homepages... Could you introduce some detailed
things from the homepage of your own band like what you have already got
there and what it will possibly contain in the near future? Do you have
that vital ability and know-how to build your own homepage and to add
stuff in there by yourself?
Laine (Torture Killer): We have extremely talented webmaster
ourselves, so we don´t update our pages personally. It contains the usual
basic info and stuff, but the graphics are fucking great. Just take a look
at the webmaster´s page at www.babalongraphics.cjb.net.
No special plans for the website really since we think it´s good enough
for now as it is.
K.P. (Exit Wounds): Yes, I've created our website since I've
studied that kind of things. So I can update it by myself. It's a lot
easier that way. Some people who have a webmaster outside a band, might
have problems with updating. The things get delayed and so. Some people
are very lazy what comes to updating websites. I find it very annoying if
there's about a year since the last update at some websites. People get
bored and they don't visit your site anymore. Or at least that often…
Our website includes biography, discography, images, reviews,
interviews, etc. etc. Quite normal stuff I think. I'm working on a new
layout at the moment. It'll look much better since the last layout is so
old. I think that I wasn't so good at web designing back then. Our website
can be found from www.exitwoundsweb.cjb.net.
At the moment we don't have any songs online since we don't have a host
for our songs. Mp3.com was the earlier place, but they went down
unfortunately. I've also designed some other websites, for example
Sotajumala's website at www.sotajumala.com.
Hell (Luciferase): www.luciferase.net
is maintained by our bass player, so let him defend himself.
Tuomas (Luciferase): Basic home pages are quite easy to build
and maintain. The front page has the latest information about stuff in
general. Then there are pages for biography, line-up, releases, gigs, and
an image gallery. Pictures are always interesting, so I'll try to add them
as much as possible. Maybe some new mp3s as well.
Immu (Slugathor): Our homepages are done by Tuoppi who is the
guitarist in Slugathor. He did them quite simple and primitive way - and
that rules! We just update news about our releases and coming gigs. We
really don't update them that often. We should put some new samples there,
but we are too lazy… ha-ha! Fortunately we have a member who is able to
do those sites as it's easier like this. You can find them at: fullspeed.to/slugathor
Markus (Carcase Inc.): You can find from our website: The latest
news, biography, gig dates, discography, reviews, samples, etc. There is
quite much stuff actually there in our website and it is very often
updated, so if you want to know what is going on by time to time, news
will be certainly first informed in our website (www.carcaseinc.cjb.net).
The reason why we can update our pages so often is that I have ability to
build websites and put them on the web anytime I want.
PB (Death du Jour): Still there's only the basics in our
homepages what every band should have; news, live dates, contacts,
background information of the band and all tracks of GAMASHINOCH free for
download. Not any idiotic Winamp skins, etc. Who the hell would want a
winamp skin of Death du Jour anyway? For my opinion I think homepages
should be simple and straight enough with only the necessities. So, only
the useful stuff will be added into the pages in near future.
We have our own webmaster, Helgorth of Babalon Graphics who does all
this work for us.
OM (Death du Jour): I totally agreed with PB. What is more
frustrating than webpage intros and tingle-tangles made by e.g. Flash?
There's some know-how among us as I work in IT business and nowadays
almost everybody is aware of principles (how to get access and how pages
are made), at least in Finland. But I hope there's never gonna be a Death
du Jour - Portal…
Ile (Deepred): I have made our homepage and the pages have
always been more like for information to people what is happening and have
to say that last year have been very very lazy with updates and things, ´cos
I didn´t have computer until now, so that part will be fixed. About
details, if you can find out that that there are no colors in the page
layout, if that can be considered a detail in the first place? There are
not any special things in our homepage, but in general I like to keep
pages look as simple as possible and not too many things in it, just that
you can find the most important things from the band there. Near future
there´s certainly going to be more updates more often, and maybe there´s
going to be link page, some Deepred related links as well.
Aki (Torn): Yeah, I´m the webmaster of Torn and Maggottholamia,
too. In the Torn´s site there's lots of photos from almost every gig
we've played and mp3 -tracks from the album plus some live tracks that are
not available on our any official release.
Otsala (Sotajumala): Our website contains the usual elements
such as pictures, info, downloads and yes, we are able to maintain them by
ourselves. www.sotajumala.com
Janne (Source of Demise): The current page is more informative,
there is just one song for download and contact infos, etc., but we are
planning a new page at the moment. Our friends will take care of building
our homepage as we don´t have that strong knowledge how to make them.
Scent of Flesh: It´s a regular band homepage with biography,
news, picture gallery, samples and so on. We don´t know how to do these
things, so Helgorth (www.babalongraphics.cjb.net)
made our homepage and we have our webmaster who keeps it updated. In the
future there will more news of course, more photos will be added into
the gallery and samples from our upcoming album VALOR IN HATRED will be
available when the time is right (they are there already – Luxi adds!).
Would you call your music pure ´Death Metal´ or are
there some other hints in the sound of your band from some other metal
genres being included as well? What do you think are some of these
so-called ´key elements´ of your basic sound from your own standpoint?
Immu (Slugathor): Yes…!! Slugathor IS Death Metal! What other
way can you describe our music really? It's simply brutal, straight,
twisted, skull-crushing and mind-fucking DEATH METAL! No words like
romantic, gothic, melodic, Black/Death are needed here to describe our
music any better!
Laine (Torture Killer): Yes totally. Death Metal is what we do
and we don´t play with other genres genitals... ha-ha!! The key elements
for Torture Killer´s sound are: 1. Heavy and groovy riffs. 2.
Rhythmically arranged and brutal vocals. 3. Lyrics so disgusting that it
actually becomes funny. 4. Dirty and raw sound so powerful it´ll make
your testicles drop.
PB (Death du Jour): I'd rather call our music some kind of
'Death Metal hybrid' since it's not only that monotonous distorted ´hoover´
-stuff. Maybe some 'key elements' would be the quite wide variety of
differing vocal styles and you can even hear bass in our tracks that are
quite a rare thing in your typical Death Metal combo.
TF (Death du Jour): From my standpoint I guess they would be a
blast beat, double bass drumming and unpredictable timings.
TK (Death du Jour): Ain't those drumming things pretty average
elements in Death Metal?? I guess some of our riffs contain something
´jazzy´ which makes it interesting to play all those hooves and grooves.
Aki (Torn): The so-called key elements of our sound are
low-tuned guitars with fast & sometimes heavy riffing with solos,
excellent technical drumming with "US" Death Metal blast beats,
double bass parts and guttural growls from my throat. Also what´s very
important is a tight interplay. That's what I think is "brutal"
Death Metal is supposed to be all about... There's not much room for
different influences if you want to make your music to hit a listener
straight to his/her face. We all have our favorite bands that have
influenced us in different ways, I think.
Miika (Source of Demise): There are some influences of Thrash
Metal and the guitar solos are quite technical. I think when a song has an
aggressive, groovy feeling it's perfect to our band. Those are the key
elements.
S.M. (Exit Wounds): I would say that we perform Death Metal
spiced with little Black Metal elements. It gives some kind of variety to
our songs.
Antti (Deepred): Pure brutal Death Metal or something like that
maybe. The PURE orthodox DEATH METAL to me is more bands like Incantation,
Immolation, Autopsy Asphyx, Nihilist, Grave, Order From Chaos, Angel
Corpse and so on... though our main musical influence Suffocation is
definitely total Death Metal, too. Well at least our influences are Death
Metal and no hardcore mixed in with stupid "mosh parts", etc.
like it's so fashionable especially with the American bands. On a lyrical
side the newer material is more in the Death Metal direction which came
along when Rodrigo took over the vocals.
Hell & Risto (Luciferase): We play a hybrid of
Death/Doom/Dark/Heavy metal with a touch of Satriani's wildest grindings.
Markus (Carcase Inc.): Well, at least we consider that our band
is very pure-blooded Death Metal band. All the necessary Death Metal
elements are very well to be founded from our music, but of course you can
also find some hints from other metal genres like Black Metal, for
example. Anyway we don't think that some of those hints any effect on that
at all how pure Death Metal band we are. It only makes us a little bit
different. For example we don't use this typical deep and low guttural
vocals in any circumstances, we want to keep our vocals more like the
"old-school" way. We consider that so-called "key
elements" in pure Death Metal are fast, technical, aggressive and
grinding ´drumfire´ which should beat the brains out and low tuned
guitars with complicated and very powerful riffs, etc. In other words, if
your music sounds like a war zone, it must be Death Metal.
Juhani (Carcase Inc.): The current evolutionary stage of Death
Metal serves as a starting point, but there is no telling where and how
far we get when we evolve ourselves. It has been throughout the metal
history, that the bands are pushing the envelope a little bit further than
their contemporaries, and that has resulted in a great quality of extreme
metal today. For me, to regress without progressing means failure. Markus
mentioned the vocals being "old-school". Well, the simple reason
for the vocals not being this super low rumbling against cupped mic, is
that we all, especially me, think it sounds just shitty. I would never cup
the mic, or use any vocal character changing effects. I'm able to reach
both relatively low growling and really tight shrieking naturally after a
little warm-up. If you're a vocalist, learn to produce voice that sounds
good and feels comfortable without any cheap tricks. That way the natural
emotional energy in the vocals can be heard clearly in the music.
Otsala (Sotajumala): The right definition for us is a brutal
Death Metal and we think that everything essential can be concluded from
it. So-called ´key´ -elements in our music are technicality, brutality
and intensity.
Scent of Flesh: No. This will probably piss off some people,
but "pure" and "true" are just words that put limits to our music. We
just make songs and we don´t give a shit if they´re true or not. You can
hear melodies and guitar harmonies and also some Black - and Thrash
Metal elements in our songs. This is the way we give our music its own
specific personality.
How do you feel about this melo-Death Metal genre
a.k.a. ´Gothenburg Death Metal´ in which a huge amount of certain melody
parts play an important role in song structures (Death Metal meets NWOBHM)?
Now I´m referring to bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork,
Gardenian, Eucharist, Sacrilege and the likes...
Otsala (Sotajumala): We are not that big of fans of such genre
and therefore no comments on this one.
Laine (Torture Killer): I like some of those bands...In Flames
and Soilwork, they´re both pretty good, but I think they´ve moved in a
direction where you could leave the Death Metal title off. Everybody knows
them by now so why should they even have a term to describe them in the
first place? Like I said I´ve no problem with it. It´s good to have that
Gothenburg word to describe those bands´ music, so everybody knows what
it´s all about. The thing is that those melodies usually tend to be
"happy" sounding and I have a hard time thinking happy sounding
Death Metal.
Aki (Torn): Basically, nothing against it because I´ve also
listened to that kind of music (At The Gates, first Dark Tranquillity)
sometimes. But please, don't call it Death Metal....
Miika (Source of Demise): Yes, I like many of these bands, but I
think there is too much of them in these days.
Janne (Source of Demise): True. I like those
"original" ones like In Flames, but listening to all those
copycats is rather annoying, like that Divine Souls!! I couldn't believe
my ears when I first heard it… goddamn what a piece of shit!!
S.M. (Exit Wounds): I like very much these ´Gothenburg Death
Metal´ bands, for example Soilwork, At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity
(one of my favorite bands).
K.P. (Exit Wounds): I don't like these bands at all. Sometimes I
can listen to Dark Tranquillity's GALLERY, but not often. In Flames makes
me puke! I just can't stand those kind of melodic bands. And when some of
the melodies are 'happy' it's even worse. But let them do what they want.
I don't care since I don't have to listen to them.
Immu (Slugathor): It's rubbish!! Simply crap…! Just listen to
the latest Bodom CD and it's exactly as "brutal" as some In
Flames stuff. I say: NO nice melodies, NO keyboards (except the Nocturnus
-vein), NO female vocals (except vocals done a brutal way like Derketa´s!),
NO Abyss Studios sounds, etc. in Death Metal!! Why do you call that shit
"Death Metal" anyway?? …because it's your Death!! Fucking let
DIE!! NWOBHM is one of the best music in the world and has absolutely
nothing to do with this. The best Death Metal band from Gothenburg is:
Karnarium!! They are REAL Death Metal!!
TF (Death du Jour): I actually like In Flames, but it must have
something to do with me liking generic types of music in metal basically.
Guess I should say here that they are pussies and suck big time.
PB (Death du Jour): For myself being a neo-puritanist with Death
Metal I don't have any warm thoughts for adding such acts in Death Metal
genre. For those bands are mainly all okay but they simply aren't Death
Metal so they shouldn't be described such.
OM (Death du Jour): They have managed to create own kind of
style and that's great. I listen good music and don't separate it by the
means to which sectional cluster or category it belongs.
Mikael (Carcase Inc.): Personally I hate this kind of music. In
my opinion it shouldn't be called Death Metal in the first place at all. I
don't know about the other guys in the band but I hate these bands. I have
nothing against people who like this kind of music, but it´s definitely
something not for me.
Juhani (Carcase Inc.): The whole original starting point for
Finnish Death Metal in the early 90's was kind of unfortunate. I am
talking about this polluting cloud of Gothenburg melodies that swept over
Finland and ruined many young musicians' minds probably forever. Or then
it could be, that all these Finnish people just have narrow minds and
crappy taste for music. It has been subject of talk in media that
"Finland is the most metal country in the world! Just look at the
charts!". That's just bullshit! The same pop music laws apply here
just like everywhere else. That law goes like this: The more stupid, easy,
and emotionally void the music is, the more popularity it will get. Who
cares if there's distorted guitars or not when the riffs and melodies are
nothing but utter idiocy? The sounds don't make music metal. It's the
relentless attitude of creating powerful art without wasting any thought
on teen girls that does.
Hell (Luciferase): In my opinion some parts of this scene
were/are great: In Flames' debut, Dark Tranquillity's GALLERY + MIND´S I,
Ceremonial Oath´s CARPET, first Eucharist, Gates of Ishtar, 2nd Ebony
Tears album, The Everdawn + three latest Soilwork albums. However, the
amount of "melo-Death" bands like these certainly reflected to
the demise of the genre and very few of them play that basic Gothenburg ´döds
mettal´ anymore. I enjoy the thrashy drum stuff most of those bands use a
lot.
Risto (Luciferase): I like melodic guitars and the changes
between clean and not so clean vocals (like In Flames and Soilwork). That
fits with my musical roots.
Tuomas (Luciferase): I really like the melodic stuff. The partly
clean vocals are also very nice, as long as the song arrangements don't
get out of hand. Melodic parts after melodic parts can get pretty boring.
Antti (Deepred): They can really fuck off. Well ok, they can do
whatever they want and compose as sweet ass melodies as possible, but
Death Metal?? To me it just reeks of homosexuality all over while Death
Metal needs to reek of putrefaction and it's pathetic to see kids thinking
that shit is what Death Metal is about. Death Metal or NWOBHM.. It´s a
disgrace for that classic genre, too. I enjoy some early works of
Dissection, Liers In Wait/At The Gates (spawned from the godly Grotesque,
of course!) and the demo/7" days of Dark Tranquillity, but that was
pretty much totally different thing back then before this In Flames
disease.
Scent of Flesh: Most of us think that the problem with these
bands is that they´re just boring. They don´t have anything to offer.
But this is a matter of opinion of course.
Could you say that you are proud to be a part of this
band, what you do musically, and the kind of impact you have already had
through your music?
Laine (Torture Killer): I´m definitely proud to be in this
band. We know we sound good, but we are not that desperate in order to get
our name to the lips of every metalhead in the world. That´s the cool
thing about Death Metal, there´s no need for fame so that you should
pretend to be something as you´re not. I don´t think we have made any
impacts on anybody really. You´re talking about things you should ask
from Metallica or Iron Maiden, not a Death Metal band from Finland,
ha-ha!!
Otsala (Sotajumala): Of course we are proud. We hope that we
have delivered some fine tunes to drink to… J
S.M. (Exit Wounds): Of course I'm proud of being a part of this
band. Everything we have done this far has been a result of hard work and
that can be heard from our material. It seems that besides us there are
people who like our stuff, too.
K.P. (Exit Wounds): I personally like our songs very much. And I
often listen to our own material because I think it's great, ha-ha!! Yes,
I've got a quite positive feedback from some people. Some even say that
they're fans. It's nice, but somehow a weird thing to hear. I'm not sure
if I can explain it well enough.
Aki (Torn): Of course I'm proud to play Death Metal. As for
impact… I don´t know, I think everyone's been very supportive in the
scene about Torn, and even Bill Zebub liked out stuff!
Markus (Carcase Inc.): Of course we are proud of what we are
doing. There is no point to do or be a part of anything if you can't be
proud of it someway. It is a very rational guideline in general, isn't it?
We have got a very positive feedback from people and that has encouraged
and inspired us to work harder.
Juhani (Carcase Inc.): I remember when Markus asked me if I was
interested in trying out the vocal duties in the band because the previous
vocalist had walked out. I had to think about it whole 3 seconds before
saying yes... And there has not been a single thought of regret or
suspicion ever since. This is the most motivated band with the most
professional attitude I have ever been part of. When I have made any kind
of music, I have always wanted to make that "one person" blown
away, whomever or wherever it might be. Making music for as many people as
possible is the road I despise. Promotion is only to give people who might
not otherwise know about us, the possibility to check us out and then
decide whether they like it or not.
Miika (Source of Demise): Of course I am.
Janne (Source of Demise): Sure, what kind of question is that
anyway. Impact? I think we are wrong people to answer that, you should ask
people that listen to our music.
TF (Death du Jour): Yes. I think I have caught on quite nicely
to the music even though the others have played their instruments much
longer than I have mine.
TK (Death du Jour): Yes.
PB (Death du Jour): Yes, I wouldn't be a part of this if I
wasn't proud of this. I am not in this band by the meanings of affecting
others.
OM (Death du Jour): Yep, I inflame in this band. As usual the
impact of people varies, but: "You're with us or against us…",
as G.W. Bush would say.
Antti (Deepred): Sure. At least we can honestly say we didn't
start this band along with some trend (you only have to look few years
back when nobody here seemed to have a slightest interest in this kind of
brutal shit), but only because we wanted to play Death Metal. I'm not
following so much things like this "internet underground" for
example to really know about what is this "impact we have
caused..." if anything at all, but it's great of course to see people
going crazy at gigs, so we must be doing something right here. As for
recorded works, maybe it´s a little cliché to say, but we do our best to
first satisfy ourselves and if people like it, cool. And if they hate it,
then that´s fine, too. It's not the first thing at least in my mind at
all.
Immu (Slugathor): Yes I'm proud to be in Slugathor and I'm happy
with the music we make!! Sometimes I wished some more old-school
-influences into our sound, but I think the way we do now is natural for
us. Perhaps we will add some more chaotic leads and solos in future. We
like everything that we do as long as it´s as chaotic and fucking brutal
as possible! Some people say that we are one of their favourite
underground bands, some say that we suck totally… like I would care.
Risto (Luciferase): I am proud because I write and arrange
nearly all songs. If you are not proud of what you do, don't do it. My
songs are kind of hybrid metal and traditional ´Death Metalloids´ may
not always like such things mixed with brutal metal, but I've heard lots
of nice feedback from the audience.
Tuomas (Luciferase): Sure. A positive impact.
Hell (Luciferase): "I hate myself and I want to die."
Scent of Flesh: Very proud indeed!! It wasn´t easy to get this
far in this genre, but with a hard work we made it happen. Feedback has
been mostly good, and people have praised the original sound of our
music.
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