Heart of Steel: Interviews

"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

Do you believe in the old and well known phrase: "Practice what you preach..." if we could refer this particular phrase to your background in some other bands as a member?

Laine (Torture Killer): I don´t think I´ve ever been in a band that preached about anything...

Hell (Luciferase): I can't say I'm totally proud of my participation in the local band Primitive, in which I did vocals for about two years. The songs were ok, but not so much into the kind of direction I'd like and there was too little variation and imagination in the songs and the overall composing process. Also my lyrical efforts were more or less tongue-in-cheek type of shit or just plain bullshit. Maybe because of subconscious un-seriousness that I most likely felt towards this band. Also, the shitty noise before Crimson Midwinter that we did together with the CM guitarist in his garage was pretty lame and worthless, but we were quite young at that time anyway (excuses, excuses…). Otherwise I can say that I am and have been a member in band(s) in whose material I've been personally satisfied with.

Antti (Deepred): I believe more in "drink ´till you barf blood" by Beherit. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this question, but of course if you're dedicated to your thing you should also live by that. If not absolutely literally (no, I don´t go around fucking corpses even if I have made songs about it) then somewhat along the lines. I mean, who the hell can take something like for example "Christian Death" - or "Black Metal" (!) seriously?? I have no such skeletons in my closet whatsoever.

PB (Death du Jour): For what I have learned in my previous bands is that the chemistry between band members is relevant. Also from my personal aspect I have noted that I can't be just a bass player, if I'm in a band I need to affect the situations within a band, maybe a big ego or something.

Aki (Torn): Yeah, in the middle of the nineties I used to play Black Metal in Nightside and doing some melodic stuff in Shadows of Sunset. But even before that I played a raw Death Metal in Imposed Silence. If this question is about ethics, content of lyrics etc, you're pissing in the wrong bush. Torn has a clear anti-christian (among other subjects) message that anyone can notice just by reading the lyrics. So this band is less about "gore".

Mikael (Carcase Inc.): I don't if I could refer this to any band, but referring this to lots of hardcore and a few metal bands like Ansia de Vomito from Brasil for instance, Dying Fetus, Agathocles and lots of Hardcore, Punk and Grind bands might make some sense in my opinion.

Juhani (Carcase Inc.): The way I see this question, is like are we in this band because of a whim, or for fun, or for some other non-serious reason just to have a Death Metal band around? The answer is of course: We're not in it for the money or fun. We deeply believe in the music we make and I believe in the lyrics I write. If someone out there feels that they are in any band whose music they don't like to play, or whose image they cannot seriously take, leave at once! I personally once left the first actual band I was in because of this reason. Even though that band got signed for an album released in 1998, I eventually grew tired of their music. As I said, my lyrics in Carcase Inc are not as personal as in my other projects, but I stand behind them and mean what I say. The previous vocalist made rather good and interesting lyrics, so I have no problem performing them publicly. But I would never write gore lyrics or even perform such text containing songs onstage. I personally find the ugliness as a praising attempt to cause nausea of such lyrics just fucking stupid and not very funny either. My lyrics in Carcase Inc are about hate and purification of filth with cold precision. Form is beauty, matter is ugliness. Ugliness must be destroyed with burning hate!

Immu (Slugathor): Too hard question! I don't know English well enough…

Otsala (Sotajumala): Of course that phrase is true but one can´t really apply it in our case.

Janne (Source of Demise): Yes, definitely!

How would you like your band to be remembered amongst the Death Metal community when your band has ceased to exist? As a band that was always one step behind the current trends, but still survived and made it big... (-heh!)

Laine (Torture Killer): I think we chose our destiny long before we even had a real band... ha-ha!! I don´t mind really, but the fact is we will always be remembered as "the band that ripped-off SFU and Obituary"... -ha-ha!! I would like it to be remembered as a good tribute band but these things have the tendency to be the same.

Juhani (Carcase Inc.): It would be great if there was someone thinking about us some day: "Hmm… Carcase Inc.? They were the ones that came to the Finnish metal scene, showed what's wrong in it, and corrected it!".

Mikael (Carcase Inc.): I guess as a band that did something for the Death Metal community not only in Finland, but everywhere, hope that we become inspiration, not only musically but in every way to some people/bands. If we survived playing Death Metal it would be great, but we don't wanna become this band that people might think: "Oh, they still exist? I thought they stop playing long time ago..." you know?

Immu (Slugathor): I would like us to be remembered as a band that started when there was not as many Death Metal bands around as we have now and as a band that never cared about some trends or changed their style to any fagshit, but instead of that kept it always brutal!

Hell (Luciferase): As a band that made an extensive world tour with Morbid Angel and Satyricon as supports.

PB (Death du Jour): Eh, maybe it's enough if our cenotaph hasn't carved with a text 'if you play like Death du Jour, kill yourself!!'.

Aki (Torn): Haven't thought about that too much. A band that always got most of the free booze & chicks, hah!

S.M. (Exit Wounds): It would be cool when ten to twenty years were passed after a breaking up of our band, some Death Metal fanatic would be dying to get our stuff that would then be rare and highly valued amongst all Death Metal collectors.

K.P. (Exit Wounds): I think it'll be great if people remember our band for some reason. Or some people can enjoy our music after a very long time. It'd be nice if our name could somehow remain in history of DM.

Antti (Deepred): I just hope we will never "grow up" and sign to Spinefarm or Century Media. That's pretty much it, I guess. Hope to be remembered as the one who did NOT turn to ´gay´. No fucking compromise.

Otsala (Sotajumala): It would be great if people remembered Sotajumala as the first band that started performing Death Metal with completely Finnish lyrics.

Janne (Source of Demise): I´d prefer a few steps ahead, but never make it big… I mean, you gotta be true to yourself. If you´re playing Death Metal just for money and fame you´re in the wrong game for sure!

Scent of Flesh: Scent of Flesh will be remembered as a band that never got tired playing Death Metal. It´s sad when you have listened to some bands for years, and then they suddenly release an album full of “elevator music (would someone mind explaining me what THE FUCK is that?! – Luxi wonders)”.

Finally, as a last thing I would like to ask from each of you to list your all time TOP 5 Death Metal albums for the readers of Metal-Rules.com. Let us know hat they could be and your short comments for each of your picks, too. So go ahead dudes...

Laine (Torture Killer):

Monstrosity - IN DARK PURITY: I´ve no idea why Monstrosity aren´t the biggest Death Metal band on the planet. My pick could have been the MILLENIUM album or the new RISE TO POWER as well, but this album was the thing that blew me away totally. It´s a perfect combination of technicality, speed, brutality and most of all the riffs...!! One of the most innovative bands that used triplets long before Morbid Angel made all Death Metal bands to play ´em... -ha-ha!! Definitely the best musicians in Death Metal!! Even the lead guitars are one of a kind.

Dying Fetus - KILLING ON ADRENALINE: This album is a manual how to play heavy, brutal and bombastic Death Metal. Dying Fetus is the master in build-ups. Every single riff is followed by even a catchier riff and it just keeps on building up until they break into a brutal neck-breaking moshfest.

Deicide - SERPENTS OF THE LIGHT: Deicide is the whole essence of Death Metal to me. The vocal rhythms, the riffs... everything in this is just 100% perfect Death Metal.

Cannibal Corpse - LIVE CANNIBALISM: The Cannibals are a band you just simply cannot pick one album from. I like Corpsegrinder´s vocals more than Barnes´ and they have 4-5 great albums that all have a number of killer songs and a few mediocre ones, still leaving them being one of the best bands there is. This live CD is a collection of those killer tracks with a mind-blowing live sound.

Obituary - THE END COMPLETE: My favorite album for years. An unique approach to Death Metal with a malicious groove others cannot touch.

Miika & Janne (Source of Demise):
Our overall comment is that the following 5 albums are all classics and without those albums Death Metal scene would be something else that it is today. That's our opinion at least. Here they are:

At The Gates - SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL,

Obituary - CAUSE OF DEATH

Entombed - LEFT HAND PATH

Carcass - NECROTICISM: DESCANTING THE INSALUBRIOUS

Dismember - LIKE AN EVER FLOWING STREAM

Antti (Deepred):
Only 5?? How about more like 50?! So much to let out, I hate it. Well, to pick few classics, in no particular order:

Autopsy - SEVERED SURVIVAL or MENTAL FUNERAL: Sorry, I still can't pick one over other from one of these two classics. Simply the most sick, morbid and twisted tunes ever put on vinyl.

Morbid Angel - ALTARS OF MADNESS: This is as essential as it can get. One of all time favorites of real Death Metal. They seem to never top or even match this album.

Deicide - S/T: Stupid me, thought I had heard it all in advance much before when this officially came out. I was way beyond amazed when I heard and taped 3 songs off from this album from a Finnish metal radio show and when getting the album itself. I don´t think I listened to anything else for months. As above, sadly they haven´t released an album after this classic Deicide album that could have matched with their debut.

Possessed - SEVEN CHURCHES: The originators. Flawless in my ears even with that sloppy playing which just adds to the sick atmosphere.

Grave - INTO THE GRAVE: Just to mention something from Sweden. My personal favorite album from our neighbor.

Immu (Slugathor):
That's really damn hard to pick up just 5 albums, but I try anyway:

Morbid Angel - ALTARS OF MADNESS: Because all the songs are killers!!! They had been around since '84 before they made this album; they are Gods, they have the best riffs, best solos, etc. Just perfect!!

Deicide - Their self-titled debut: It's a timeless ´sataniclassic´!!!

Autopsy - MENTAL FUNERAL: Because it's sooo dark, doomy and ´necro´ album as you can get! Autopsy's music is really too brutal for wimps!

Grave - INTO THE GRAVE: It's just heavy as fuck, ´nuff said!!

Bolt Thrower - IVth CRUSADE: Just listen to it! It's like a fuckin´ bulldozer driving over you!

I think I would also choose some of these for various reasons:
Blasphemy - FALLEN ANGEL OF DOOM, Sarcofago - I.N.R.I., Suffocation - EFFIGY OF THE FORGOTTEM, but I don't now... I would like to mention Mortem's DEVIL SPEAKS IN TONGUES, too. As you can see, it's really damn hard to just name 5 classic Death Metal albums for me. Oh well… However, in order that the other members could be happy with the list of some classic Death Metal albums, too, I could have listed albums like SEVEN CHURCHES and NONE SHALL DEFY as well. Perhaps they even would have added one of the Cannibal Corpse's albums to the list, too…

TF (Death du Jour):
Oh god, well here it goes:

Cannibal Corpse - THE BLEEDING

Deicide - ONCE UPON THE CROSS

Morbid Angel - DOMINATION

Edge of Sanity - CRIMSON

Sinister - DIABOLICAL SUMMONING.

Okay, so don't count them as Death Metal, fine. These were one of the first Death Metal albums I became possessed by and they have proved to be worth it.

TK (Death du Jour):

Morbid Angel - COVENANT

Hate Eternal - CONQUERING THE THRONE

Sinister - CROSS THE STYX

Necrophagist - ONSET OF PUTREFACTION

Pestilence - TESTIMONY OF THE ANCIENT

These are the bands that I think everyone should hear and simply worth the listening.

PB (Death du Jour):

Carcass - SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS

Morbid Angel - COVENANT

Brutal Truth - EXTREME CONDITIONS DEMAND EXTREME RESPONSES

Terrorizer - WORLD DOWNFALL

Deicide- LEGION

Simply these albums taught me what Death Metal is.

OM (Death du Jour):

Carcass - NECROTISM DESCANTING THE INSALUBRIOUS

Cannibal Corpse - TOMB OF THE MUTILATED

Entombed - LEFT HAND PATH

At The Gates - THE RED IN THE SKY IS OURS

Origin - INFORMIS INFINITAS INHUMANITAS

Just a fistful of ass fucking, but I think they're timeless classics.

Aki (Torn):

Suffocation - EFFIGY OF THE FORGOTTEN: This is absolutely one of the best pieces of music ever!! Everyone who disagrees is a poser...

Possessed - SEVEN CHURCHES: One of the most important records.

Death - HUMAN: I think Chuck really achieved something on this; it really has an awesome "flow" from beginning to end. This record proves that you can play Death Metal and still be respected as a skilled musician.

Cannibal Corpse - TOMB OF THE MUTILATED: Maybe not the best or innovative Death Metal record ever, but important for me personally. There's a really nice "serial killer" atmosphere on this album that doesn´t appear so good on later albums.

Suffocation - PIERCED FROM WITHIN: This record shows that you can play brutal Death Metal, having killer songs and a dark atmosphere. Frank Mullen sounds a bit different on this one as in EFFIGY because of leaving the "cupped mic" technique and you can actually distinguish the lyrics quite well.

Hell (Luciferase):

Death - SCREAM BLOODY GORE: One of the first brutal stuff I heard after the Hard Rock/Speed Metal period in my youth. Has a special place in my arse, I mean heart.

Morbid Angel - DOMINATION. The most perfect sounds on a Death Metal album, ever. Totally impressive vocals as well. I'm jealous.

Obituary - SLOWLY WE ROT. Amazing vocals (I'm more jealous) and excellent brutal´n´dirty feeling overall.

Carcass - SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS. Catchy song structures despite of a bit primitive production (I consider REEK OF PUTREFACTION more of a Punk album, though it's a masterpiece as well). I have always admired the lyrical geniousness of Carcass' three first albums.

Deicide - Their self-titled debut album. Fast, uncompromising, in-your-face Satanic Death Metal. Cornerstone of the darker side of Death Metal.

Tuomas (Luciferase):
I'm not really that Death Metal oriented. In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and Hypocrisy are good.

Juhani (Carcase Inc.):
You'll find my all-time favorite albums of various genres on our website, but I'll focus on Death Metal here. Furthermore, I'll restrict this list to only one album from each band, otherwise it would be Morbid Angel the whole list...

Morbid Angel - DOMINATION: Disrespected by some, but I get unbelievable vibes from this one's atmosphere. Trey's leads are at their most elegant and mesmerizing peak here. Listening to this and especially "Hatework" sends lightning bolts down my spine and sets ablaze fiery whirlwind of transcendental pleasure inside my chest.

Immolation - CLOSE TO A WORLD BELOW: The musicality of Immolation is outright amazing. Balanced and just perfect mixture of talent, discordant chaos, darkness, emotion and elegance.

Hate Eternal - CONQUERING THE THRONE: Erik Rutan is a mad genius. And by "mad" I mean particularly pissed-off. Also the songs courtesy of Doug Cerrito are top quality. This never gets boring.

Nile - IN THEIR DARKENED SHRINES: Astounding complexity of sheer symphonic measures meets exotic emotions. What more could you possibly want?

Myrkskog - SUPERIOR MASSACRE: Feeling angry? Try this one out! As well as serving satisfaction to occasional murder-lust, it's also packed with quality.

Mikael (Carcase Inc.):

Krisiun - APOCALYPTIC REVELATION: A true masterpiece of Death Metal. They created a whole new gender in Death Metal, they are gods to me.

Dying Fetus - KILLING ON ADRENALINE: They did it! Perfect mix between Hardcore and Death Metal! I love this album, it´s so fuckin´ brutal...!!

Exhumed - GORE METAL: Not totally Death Metal, but these guys kill! This was sick, guttural, brutal... now they lost a bit focus and direction, unfortunately.

Terrorizer - WORLD DOWNFALL: A true classic! Jesse kicks ass, a very big influence on me personally.

Obituary - WORLD DEMISE: A hated album by the most Obituary -fans, but I love it! Lots of grooves!! AND...
Brujeria - MATANDO GUEROS: This album is the most Satanic Death Metal ever! Totally evil and brutal…!!

Markus (Carcase Inc.)

Cannibal Corpse - BLOODTHIRSTY: Definitely a masterpiece of Cannibal Corpse, a totally killer album! They are definitely gods of Death Metal to me!!

Deicide - LEGION: I will never stop loving this evil one, absolutely fantastic album!!

Decapitated - NIHILITY: Wanna some technical stuff? Try this one! A fucking great album!!

Morbid Angel - DOMINATION: Disrespected, but not by me. The atmosphere in this album is absolutely stunning!

Vader - DE PROFUNDIS: A great entirety of amazing songs. They kick ass!!

Toni (Carcase Inc.):

At the Gates - SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL

The Haunted - MADE ME DO IT

Entombed - WOLVERINE BLUES

Hypocrisy - HYPOCRISY

Zyklon - WORLD OV WORMS

Jani (Carcase Inc.):

Cannibal Corpse - TOMB OF THE MUTILATED

Decapitated - NIHILITY

Deicide - LEGION

Cryptopsy - WHISPER SUPREMACY

Vader - DE PROFUNDIS

Otsala (Sotajumala):

Obituary - THE END COMPLETE

Morbid Angel - COVENANT

Cannibal Corpse - BLEEDING

Deicide - LEGION

Nile - IN THEIR DARKENED SHRINES

S.M. (Exit Wounds):

Morbid Angel - FORMULAS FATAL TO THE FLESH: Something unique with a raw production. Morbid Angel really "renewed" their style after DOMINATION…

Deicide - ONCE UPON THE CROSS: Just a classic…

Carnage - DARK RECOLLECTIONS: Simply a killer classic from this Swedish death squad.

Morbid Angel - DOMINATION: Another favorite from M.A. It just sounds good...

Cannibal Corpse - BLOODTHIRTS: All of the Corpse albums have been good, but this has been totally awesome with its relentlessness and brutality.

K.P. (Exit Wounds):

Morbid Angel - ALTARS OF MADNESS: Just a classic release. Very brutal and harsh, unique sound.

Cannibal Corpse - TOMB OF THE MUTILATED: C. Barnes's vocals make up everything…

Monstrosity - IMPERIAL DOOM: This is so aggressive. The sound is top-notch on this album, especially on drums.

Deicide - ONCE UPON THE CROSS: Contains a real classic 'hit' song.

Obituary - SLOWLY WE ROT: Very groovy riffs with really rotten vocals.

Matti (Scent of Flesh):

Deicide – DEICIDE: Nothing will ever be as devastating as this one...

Nile – BLACK SEEDS OF VENGEANCE: Wrath, incredible speed and weird atmosphere.

Cannibal Corpse – TOMB OF THE MUTILATED: Some could call this album ugly and disgusting, but I don´t. Sounds and Chris´ vocal parts are just perfect.

Luciferion - DEMONICATION (THE MANIFEST) - Very brutal, very fast, excellent riffs and good melodies.

Deicide – LEGION: Sounds aren't very good, but they can´t weaken this chaotic evil album either.

Niko (Scent of Flesh):

Nile - AMONGST THE CATACOMBS OF NEPHREN-KA: A fascinating atmosphere and my favorite album from Nile.

Deicide – ONCE UPON THE CROSS: Brutal as hell...

Cannibal Corpse – THE BLEEDING: An excellent album, nothing more to say.

Suffocation – PIERCED FROM WITHIN: A technical and brutal masterpiece.

Morbid Angel – FORMULAS FATAL TO THE FLESH: Morbid Angel at their best.

Herkko (Scent of Flesh):

Vital Remains – DECHRISTIANIZE: Excellent melodies. Benton makes it "bad".

Cannibal Corpse – EATEN BACK TO LIFE

Cannibal Corpse – TOMB OF THE MUTILATED: These two albums both make me wanna mosh...!!

Deicide – DEICIDE: An old faithful album for me...

Luciferion – DEMONICATION (THE MANIFEST): It just sounds awesome and contains great riffs.

Sofian (Scent of Flesh):

Cannibal Corpse – TOMB OF THE MUTILATED: Best Death Metal album ever...!!

Deicide – DEICIDE: This album tears you apart...

Deicide – ONCE UPON THE CROSS: Great sounds and a brutal attitude...

Nile – BLACK SEEDS OF VENGEANCE: Original sound and full of hatred.

Nile – IN THEIR DARKENED SHRINES: They´re getting better with each of their new album...

Antti (Scent of Flesh):

Deicide – LEGION: Excellent Death Metal!!! Great riffs through the album, technically best of Deicide. Absolutely the best album of Deicide and one of the best Death Metal releases ever!! Only minus in the album is the sounds.

Nile - IN THEIR DARKENED SHRINES: It bangs me for the first time when I heard it and every next time just more and more. You can just listen to this album and never get bored. An incredible brutalism from the start to the very end!! Also, their drummer is just amazing...!!

Morbid Angel – COVENANT: Versatile and technical Death Metal. There are no weak songs on this album at all!! Mosh...!!

READ ON...