GRAVLUND INTERVIEW - TRUE NORWEGIAN BLACK (THRASHING) METAL!

NAME: Gravlund
THEY ARE: Raw, Primitive Thrashing Black Metal
FROM:  Tromsø, Norway
FOR FANS OF:  Dark Throne, Aura Noir, early Mayhem
LATEST RELEASE: 'Goat Funeral Night' (Unborn Productions)
SONGS TO CHECK OUT: 'Witches Tit", "Mark of The Beast", "Goat Funeral Night"

WHERE TO FIND THEM: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gravlund/188100721214031?ref=ts 

Gravlund hail from Norway and deal in raw, primitive sounding thrashing black metal, they take their cues from bands such as Darkthrone and Aura Noir and the end result is a caustic mix of Norwegian black metal and blackthrash, these guys keep things very simplistic and straight to the point throughout, there is no fancy bullshit and their debut EP titled "Goat Funeral Night" (released in 2011 via Unborn Productions) is a fierce aural attack which hammers it's way through 4 tracks of true Norwegian black metal with such crudely christened songs as "Witches Tit" and "Encrusted Wounds Laced With Salt"

The band remain somewhat of an unknown and mysterious entity, but are one the best I have heard from Norway in the black metal style in a long time and don't be surprised if Fenriz has this band featured in one of  his "band of the week" blogs. The band were the subject of one of my most recent blogs for the Terrorizer Magazine website, Here is the interview in full.

Please give me a quick background history on the band and who does what in the current line up?

Hails!

The band started in October/November 2010,but the idea of starting Gravlund is a bit older.

We recorded our first demo late 2010.

This demo was,in my opinion,not very good.But the few people that heard it thought it was great.

This,(unexpected),reaction inspired us to write and record the songs found on "Goat Funeral Night"(GFN)

We uploaded two songs on youtube,and made a thrad on the forum for the oldest,and biggest metal magazine in Norway:Scream Magazine.

We got a great response from the people there,and a week later we got signed by Unborn Productions.

The line up for Gravlund in the studio is:

Stian:Guitars,bass,Vocals

Kjetil:Drums

We are currently putting together a a line up for playing live shows,but its not 100% decided who will in the live band.

We will continue to record with the two members,though.

(No need to fix something that isn't broken.)

  

Your debut EP "Goat Funeral Night" was released last year, please tell the readers abit about this release and what they can expect from it, is this release still available? If so where can people pick it up from?

The tracks for "GFN",was recorded January 21-23 2011.

The only ambition with Gravlund,was to record some metal we could enjoy while drinking beer.Getting the stuff was not considered an option.

But as soon as I was done with the vocals,I realised  it would be stupid not to let people hear this.

So we put the songs "Witches Tit" and "Mark Of The Beast" up on the Scream Mag forum, just to  see what people thought about them.

The response was great,so a week later we had a deal With Unborn Prod.

Its released as a limited cd(250 copies)

Available at:   http://www.unbornproductions.com/

"Goat Funeral Night" consists of 4 tracks of primitive  Black Metal,combined with a healthy dose of equally primitive/ugly Thrash Metal.

Simply constructed riff patterns and hateful screaming vocals.

I always loose my voice,when doing vocals for Gravlund,and actually ended up coughing blood the morning after the vocal session .

The way we record is very fast.

I send the drummer the riffs 2 weeks before we are supposed to do the session.

Then we record basick guitar and drums live.

Then I take the recordings home and flesh out the rest of the stuff,in the course of the next two days.

To make the recordings sound as if it was a live band,I will record the rest of the stuff as fast as possible.

We think this gives the music a "nervous energy",that people interpret  as enthusiasm,or something.

We've tried to do it more thoroughly,but it immediatly sounds boring.

So we'll never do that again.

(1'st take is almost always the best)

   

Musically I hear some Dark Throne and blackthrash influences but also some doomier aspects, which bands would you say fuel and shape the sound of Gravlund? Did you have a clear idea of how you wanted the band to sound when you first formed?

 
Theres no denying there's a huge Darkthrone influence in Gravlund.

Actually me and the drummer were listening to Darkthrone and Aura Noir,when we came up with the idea of forming Gravlund.

Also we've been massive fans of the classic Thrash Metal stuff from the 80's for years,so I guess its only natural that Thrash Metal Became a part of the sound.

Doom??

Well I've been a fan of the "Forest of equilibrium" album By Cathedral since it was released,so when it was time to do the song "Witches Tit",it felt right to include a kind of doom part in there.

As for what excactly make up the sound of Gravlund,I'm not quite sure.

Almost all people who have written about Gravlund,has got a different perpective as to what bands we sound like.

(Apart from the obvious Darkthrone/thrash angle)

No we did not deliberatly set out to play BM.

Its one of my favourite subgenres of extreme metal,and when we formed the band I clearly stated that we would NOT play BM.

We knew it would be primitive and raw,but not necessarily BM.

But the first demo sounded like primitive BM,and thats excactly what the few people that heard those songs said:"This is old school Black Metal!"

I would describe your music as raw primitive thrashing black metal would you think that is an appropriate description? How would you personally  describe the bands sound?

I think youre absolutely spot on in youre description.The sound of Gravlund is an ugly bastard combination Thrash and Black Metal.

primitive riffs with intense drums combined with hateful shrieking vocals.

Why the name Gravlund? What does it translate into exactly? 

When you drive along the main roads of Norway,you will sometimes pass roadsigns  that says "Gravlund",whitch means you are driving past a graveyard.

The drummer was driving along with me,drunk,in the passenger seat,when we passed such a sign.

I drunkenly bursted out:If we ever form a metal band,we should call it Gravlund."

We've actually   had the name of the band for years.

"Gravlund" is of course the Norwegian word for cemetary/graveyard.

We thimk its a great name for a metal band.Theres a long tradition in metal with graves and cemetaries,and since we concider the band to be a tribute to the older styles of extreme metal(Black/Trash),we found this name to be appropriate.

What is the lyrical concept behind the band? Where do you find inspiration from to write lyrics?

Everybody knows what the lyrics in Bm are about.

The lyrics to Gravlund are written like this:I write down words and sentences on a piece of paper,over the course of ,say a couple of months,and when its time to record I listen to the track and write out what the lyrics should be.(Often changing what I have completely)

Then I just press "record",and basically just belt it out.

The vocals are always improvised,or semi-improvised anyway,so what ends up on the track is not always what is written down on paper.

This is a very rewarding way of working.We never know how a song will sound,until it is completely done.

But hey:If it sounds good,it IS good.

I find inspiration to write both lyrics and riffs,from hangovers.

Those moments of anxiety filled nervousness,from drinking  the night before are interesting.

Also Gravlund got a "secret" member:NEMESIS MAXIMUS.

He sometimes send us lyrics. 

Have you written much new material since your debut recording, what can we expect from the new songs, are they in the same vein? What releases do you have in the pipeline next?  Can we expect a full length in the not too distant future?

We have recorde a lot of new material.

The next release will be a splitt of some sorts.

We have played the material intended for this release,for a selected few friends.

They said it most deffinetly sounds like Gravlund,but a bit weirder,almost psychedelic even.

I personally think there is a little less Thrash Metal in the new stuff,compared to "GFN"

A full length is the next logical step,but first:The split

I think it will contain 4 or 5 songs by Gravlund. 

Are you an active live band? Have you played any shows yet or is playing live not an important thing for you at this point in time? Would could people expect from a Gravlund live show? What would be your ideal stage show/concept with the band?.

Gravlund has not plated live yet.

As it was impossible for us to do any shoes last year,we didnt even bother to put together a full line up.

But this year its a lot more convenient for us to do this.

Also in our part of the country,the conditions for metal are terrible,but I was recently made aware of how many people are in to the band.

There is actually a demand to see us live,so why not?

All the members of the band got family obligations.So I dont think its possible to do a lot of shows,just the occasional gig

We'll have to make those few shows we do,very special.

The ideal concept for a Gravlund show,will be 4 guys hacking away at their instruments,while svreaming their heads off.

I'm convinced the music will suffice.

After all the music is what got us signed anyway.

We have released very little info about the band,we haven't even released any band photos,so the the music is the only thing people have related to. 

    

What is your opinion on the current Norwegian black metal scene, are there any other BM bands or metal bands in general from your country that you currently feel an affinity with and would recommend to the readers out there? 

In my opinion the best Norwegian BM right now,comes from the Nidrosian BM scene.(Mare,One Tail One Head,Kaosritual,Dødsengel etc)

I have yet to hear anything less than fantastic from the people involved in the Nidrosian scene.

We also have the allmighty Faustcoven.Really looking forward to their new album,witch should be out soon.

Also looking forward to the new album from the evil thrashers Deathammer.

2012 stated with a bang with the fantastic new album by Nekromantheon,but I guess you all that one.

We are also massive fans of the bands from the Oslo death metal scene:Obliteration,Execration,Lobotomized and Diskord.

Oh and the doom rocking booze hounds in Devil(Eternal hails!!!)

We would like to stress the fact that we dont know any of these people personally,but we own their records.

Black metal has developed into quite a popular music style since the early-mid 90's getting a lot of mainstream attention etc, but you guys are going back to a more raw, stripped down and basic sound, what personally made you want to form a black metal band in the style as Gravlund? What inspires you personally to play "black metal"?

As I said before,the only reason for us to make this kind of music,was to make something we could listen to ourselves.

Its a boring answer,but its the truth.

I'm not going to say that we are on a mission to "make things right" or "save BM" or anything like that.

People can listen to what they want,we honestly dont care.

This is our version of BM,take it or leave it. 

 In your opinion how should a real black metal band sound? 

Those who have ears to listen with,will know. 

What other bands are members involved with? 

Me and the drummer got half an albums worth of unfinnished material for another project in a totally different style of music.(Not metal)

Also one of the members from the live band,is involved in something I think could be labeled as traditional heavy metal,but I haven't heard the material as

this is a fairly new project.

What things do you hate and despise about the modern extreme music scene, there must be some things that you hold on contempt? If you would see any aspect of the modern scene disappear what would it be?

I honestly dont know too much about the modern extreme music scene.

I spend a lot of the money I make on records,and buy mostly underground metal.

Since we released "GFN",We've been contacted   by people from the underground scene,and I have to say that these people are great.

We would not loose any sleep if people stopped using triggered drums though.

What things do you miss about the older days of extreme music?

The quality of the music,and the feeling that every album was grounbreaking and something new.

What are the future plans for Gravlund for 2012 and beyond? How can people check you out/get hold of your music? Many thanks for answering this short interview! Time to plug available merch.

We're starting rehearsals for playing live very soon.

I'm already preparing the members of the live band now,so that the rehearsals will be as effective as possible.

All the members live far apart,so this involves a lot of planning.

I know a split release will come soon,and I guess this will be on another format.(not cd)

We will play one local festival in July(I think),and a maybe one warm uo show before the festival gig.

Then we will continue to work on what I guess will be our full length album.  

People can buy "Goat Funeral Night" from  http://www.unbornproductions.com/

Check us out/join us: http://nb-no.facebook.com/pages/Gravlund/188100721214031

http://www.myspace.com/gravlundband

Thanx for the interview,Kat

Excellent questions

GRAVLUND

NECROWRETCH INTERVIEW - PUTRID FRENCH DEATH METAL!

NAME: Necrowretch
THEY ARE: Old School Putrid Death Metal
FROM:  Valence, Rhône-Alpes , France
FOR FANS OF:  early Death, Repugnant,  Grave, Morgoth
LATEST RELEASE: "Now You're In Hell" 7" (Detest Records 2012)
SONGS TO CHECK OUT: "From A Hideous Summoning", "Sadistic Exipation", "Putrefactive Infestation"

WHERE TO FIND THEM 

http://necrowretch.net/ http://www.facebook.com/NecroWretch?sk=wall

France is not exactly the first country that springs to a lot of peoples minds when talking about death metal, the country has produced a few notable bands in the past who left a mark on the wider scene outside of their home country such as Loudblast, Mercyless, Massacra and Aggressor but since those early 90's days when Loudblast were touring with such influential genre heavy hitters as Death the country hasn't really produced a death metal band that has captured the imagination of a lot of people in the worldwide death metal scene but there is a new french death metal beast on the prowl and they are called Necrowretch and this young band have firmly put France back on the death metal world map in recent years by unleashing a slew of demos and a powerful 7" "Putrefactive Infestation" via leading Belgian underground label Detest Records which were very well recieved by death metal fans across the worldwide scene.


Necrowretch deal in a style of death metal that pays a lot of homage to the late 80's/early 90's death metal masters aswell as more recentbands such as Repugnant who influenced a whole new generation of death metal musicians/bands and mainman Vlad has a very charasmatic and energetic vocal style, akin more to that of the horrifying demented evil screams of a man possessed! 
My first introduction to the band was the song "Sadistic Expiation" which was on a CD sampler sold with Mystical Music Magazine (a long running German death metal zine) and I was blown away by the sheer ferocity and the caustic ear ripping sonic torment that exploded out of the speakers at me and a song which culminated in probablys one of the most downright insane sounding screams I have ever heard!.


The band were recently signed to legendary long running German label Century Media who were very much at the forefront of the early 1990's death metal boom and who helped to make bands such as Unleashed, Grave, Asphyx and Morgoth well known names within the extreme metal scene. Necrowretch are currently working on the debut full length album but they have a new 7" again on Detest Records titled "Now You're In Hell" ready for imminent release which features a new song "From A Hideous Summoning" and a cover of the Death classic "Zombie Ritual" aswell as a prominent support slot opening for Dutch death metal legends Asphyx in Germany on March 10th. So I decided now was a good time to fire some questions at mainman Vlad and get the lowdown on the new 7" and the forthcoming debut album amongst other things.


Please give me a quick background history on the band and who currently does what in the band. What made you decide to pick up an instrument and from a band in the first place?


Vlad : Necrowretch is a putrid abomination born in 2008 who puked out two demos Rising From Purulence & Necrollections and one EP Putrefactive Infestation.
I was obsessed with playing something in the vein of Scream Bloody Gore since I was a little teenager, so it was just natural for me to start learning the guitar in order to play that putrid kind of music.
In late 2011 our former drummer quitted the band due to a total lack of motivation, so now it's just two of us: Vlad (Guitars & Vocals) and Amphycion (Bass).


Your debut EP "Putrefactive Infestation" came out via the prominent underground Belgian label Detest Records in 2011, which features 4 songs on it, how was the overall response to this recording? Are you still satisfied with it looking back on it now? Is it still available, if so how can the readers get hold of it and what can they expect from those 4 tracks? Who did the artwork for that release?


Vlad : This EP got a lot of good unholy words concerning the dark feeling of the music.
We've worked very hard to write, rehearse and record those songs, by putting the maximum of energy into it to make something morbid and twisted.
Due to some problems of communication with the sound guy, the final mix was not a 100% as good as we wanted, but however, the final result is putrid as fuck, and that is the important !
The artwork was brought out by our usual bestial and talented artist, Milovan Novakovic, who made the former releases' covers. 
I think this EP is now sold out, but Detest Records is gonna repress it later this year.
Order that shit if you want some pure infusion of putrid death !!


You are about to have a new 7" released via Detest Records, please tell the readers abit about this recording/release and what they can expect from it, how did you initially hook up with Jerry a while ago...he seems to be very much at the forefront of the current underground death metal scene and is putting out some great releases. Did he contact you first about a collaboration?


Vlad : Jerry was in touch with us since our first demo. We've met him at a gig, and, convinced by the power of our rituals, he proposed to us an EP release on Detest Records. He's a death metal maniac, musically and professionally.


Now about the new EP, it's gonna be called Now You're In Hell.
It will contain a new song named "From A Hideous Summoning" and a cover of DEATH "Zombie Ritual".
The drums have been recorded by Mörkk as a session drummer, and he's without a doubt much better than our previous drummer.


 I know he was involved with selling a demo cassette tape of the band called "Necrollections", please tell us abit about that tape.. 
Is that demo still available? What was the overall response like to your last demo, there seems to have been abit of a buzz surrounding the band from what I have seen, so you have obviously impressed quite a few people out there in the death metal scene since a little while ago even with your earlier recordings.!  


Vlad : The recording of this demo was quite horrible !
We didn't have any good gear, the guitar used was just a piece of fucking shit... And the vocals were recorded into a cardboard box !
The tape was released in early 2011 by Aural Offerings Records, but the 100 copies were sold-out in two days, so Jerry decided to repress 50 tapes for the Kill Town Deathfest, that's why there are two versions of this tape, both sold-out now.
Obviously, the first demo Rising From Purulence, which had a studio recording, was a lot better than Necrollections.

You covered a Nihilist song on that recording, I assume its safe to say those Swedes have had a big impact on your sound?! Necrowretch is still a fairly new band to the scene and you guys are pretty young, what made you want to form such a band in this style, what bands fuel, inspire and shape the sound of Necrowretch?


Vlad : We don't give a fuck about sounding like a band, we just want to sound as death metal !
Of course the swedish death metal has a lot of impact on me, but I don't think that it influenced the sound (here I mean the way of recording) of Necrowretch.
We've always played and recorded the songs with the amp at full volume, no other shit !
And I think that DEATH and CARCASS and closer to us than NIHILIST or GRAVE.


Why did you choose to record a cover of "Zombie Ritual" by Death for the 7", what is it that appeals to you so much about that song in particular?


Vlad : We've recorded this song the 13th of December 2011, exactly for the 10th doomsday of Chuck Schuldiner.
DEATH early releases Reign of Terror, Scream Bloody Gore and Leprosy had a huge impact on me when I was younger, it really showed me the real music, attitude, spirit of death metal.
From my point of view, Zombie Ritual is the pure essence of death metal, everything is just fucking morbid, and listening to this song always drowns me into a world of crawling chaos.
We've tried to make a necro-version of this song, I think it's darker and more opressive, but the main evil spirit is still present.


What is the reason behind the name exactly?


Vlad : The Necrowretch embodies the conception of an evil priest from hell ! This creature is also named the repugnizer or the anthropomancer.
Back from the dead, it thinks that everything is unholy and impure, so it   brings the expiation upon the livings.


You recently signed with Century Media Records, how did this deal come about, I guess it must be quite a surreal feeling signing to such a legendary label who have released many death metal classics in the past!? What do you hope this deal will do for the band in the near future and beyond? What are your expectations?


Vlad : Yes, of course it was unexpected to have that proposition, and we've never tried to contact them before that.
It's an honour to see that our previous material and all the efforts we've done put us into Century Media !
This legendary label is the better way to play more and more gigs, to record in the best conditions and have the opportunity to work in a professional way.


Do you have much new material written for a full length album, when can we expect you to hit the studio to start recording your debut full length for CM? Do you have a possible title for the full length album? Any new songtitles you can reveal? Will the new material be following in the same vein as the 7" material? What can people expect from the debut Necrowretch album?


Vlad : The full lenght is almost written, I'm finishing the last songs.
It will be recorded this summer, and we will probably work with a session drummer, such as on the 7".
The new material will be FUCKING better that everything we've done before !!!
The morbid is hitting the top on certain parts and the bestial songs will be speeder than ever.
Expect nothing else than putrid, death and sorcery !!!


Out of curiosity who are your fave new "labelmates"? Which CM albums have had a huge impact on yourself?


Vlad : I didn't have the chance to meet other artists from CM yet, but we're honoured to share the stage with ASPHYX !
My favorite releases on CM are definitely MORGOTH – Ressurection Absurd and The Eternal Fall.

Will you be planning to tour extensively in support of the debut album, which countries would you especially like to visit/play in? Which bands would be ideal/perfect touring partners for Necrowretch?


Vlad : We're hungry to play a maximum of lives in a maximum of places, it's really on stage that the Necrowretch is evil and bestial !
It would be fucking incredible to play in Europe with MARDUK or ASPHYX, but the dream would be to play in South America Hell with ANAL VOMIT or our friends of ECUADOR CADAVER !


You are due to support the legendary Asphyx in Germany soon..what are your expectations for this show?


Vlad : A chaotic epic crusade !!! What else can you expect from a 1000km trip and an ASPHYX gig at the end ?


Have you played live outside of France in the past? Is Necrowretch a very active live band? What can people expect from a Necrowretch live show?


Vlad : We've played something like 17 gigs, most of all in France but also one gig in Denmark at the Kill Town Death fest with ANATOMIA, BURIAL INVOCATION, MIASMAL... And another one in Holland with KRYPTS, STENCH OF DECAY, ENTRAPMENT...
What you can expect from a live ritual of Necrowretch is bestial possession ! We're playing at our maximum, putting all our energy to bring chaos everywhere ! Most of the time we barely pass out on stage !


Lyrically where do you get the inspiration to put pen to paper?


Vlad : Death metal, books, movies... but mostly from a famous OST written by Matt Uelmen.


What is your opinion on the current death metal underground scene, there seems to be a lot of great new bands out there that are embracing the "old school" style and approach, which other death metal bands out of your peers do you like and feel you have a bond/affinity with?


Vlad : I don't really like to talk about "old school", it's just fucking death metal in the way it has to be played !
Young death metal bands that often blow my mind are : MORBUS CHRON, REPUKED, NECROS CHRISTOS, KRYPTS, BURIAL INVOCATION...

In your opinion what should REAL death metal sound like? What feelings and visions do you think death metal should evoke in people?




Vlad : The stench of death surrounding you at every fucking second !
It doesn't matter if the voice is cryptic or screamed, if the guitars are tunned to E or to B... The only thing is the atmosphere !
You have to feel something creepy, something chilling your veins...something from beyond and something definitely not played by normal humans !
If you don't feel that, it's not death metal !


Is any of the members of Necrowretch involved with any other bands/projects currently or are you just focusing all of your attention on one band?


Vlad : To be clear, I'm the only brain in the band, I'm doing all the writting... including drums, bass, lyrics and arrangements.
I don't say the line up is me and nameless zombies, but I'm the essence and the soul of Necrowretch, and that's why I'm putting all my attention on this putrid abomination !
Apart from that, Amphycion is the leader of a heavy metal band called SANCTUAIRE, they sing in french, so you definitly have to check'em out !


If you only had 5 words to use to describe Necrowretch what would they be?


Vlad : Putrid, Bestial, Death, Cryptic, Sorcery !


What is your local extreme music scene like? Many places to play or are there any cool bands from your area that you would like to recommend to the readers out there? What is your opinion on the French Death metal scene both past and present?


Vlad : There is not so much bands in France who play death metal in the right way, but I can strongly recommand you EVISCERATION and RITUALIZATION !
Moreover, there are not so much places to play in, and it's really hard to catch people by playing death metal without blast and sweeping shit !
I don't know how was the scene before, I wasn't there !
But apparently it was the same shit, the bands are more known outside the country than inside.
To name some excellent bands who don't exist anymore : MASSACRA, MUTILATED and BLOODY SIGN.


What are the concrete plans for 2012 and beyond? 


Vlad : The new EP, the full lenght, gigs in Europe !
It's already a lot of work and it will bring enough unholy essence to bury your soul !


What merch is currently available? How can people check out your music and purchase it? Many thanks for answering this small interview Vlad, the last words are yours!.


Vlad : There are shirts, patchs, pins, tapes of the demo and vinyls of the EP.
One only way to the crypt : necrowretch.net
The material will be distributed by Century Media and Detest Records.


Thanks a lot for your questions, and thanks for promoting death metal with your putrid rag !

SATANIC RITES :- BLASPHERIAN INTERVIEW WITH WES WEAVER.

NAME: Blaspherian
THEY ARE: Raw Satanic Death Metal
FROM: Houston, Texas USA
FOR FANS OF: early Immolation, Incantation, Imprecation
LATEST RELEASE: 'Infernal Warriors Of Death' (Deathgasm)
SONGS TO CHECK OUT: "Desecration Eternal", "Exalted In Unspeakable Evil", "Invoking Abomination"
WHERE TO FIND THEM 

http://www.myspace.com/blaspherian, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blaspherian

American death metal to me has always been very hit or miss, back in the early 1990's I worshipped at the altar of Autopsy, Florida death metal and the eastern USA tri state scene (the PA-NY-NJ area of USA which was the breeding ground for bands such as Immolation, Suffocation, Incantation, Mortician, Rottrevore, Goreaphobia etc..) and would later give birth to bands such as Funebrarum, Disma etc..) but since the mid 90's onwards the American scene got swamped with too many death metal bands who in my opinion lost the whole original concept of what death metal was supposed to sound and look like but since the mid 00's I have started to come across newer bands that uphold and stay true to the fine tradition and dark morbid aesthetics of old school late 80's/early 90's death metal such as Deathevokation, Funebrarum, and more recently Blaspherian a self proclaimed  "old school satanic death metal" band from Houston Texas, a region not exactly famous for producing world class death metal but it is the same region which spawned the legendary Imprecation, another texan death metal band dealing in the darker, evil, satanic side of the genre and who have a strong connection with this weeks featured band as Wes Weaver the guitarist was also a member of the original Imprecation line up who produced a couple classic demos and a 7" EP before splitting up although all of their work was promptly documented on the now classic "Theurgia Goetia Summa"  compilation released by Repulse Records in 1995.

Wes helped found Blaspherian back in 2004 and since then the band have gone from strength to strength unleashing a series of demos, splits and also a couple of full length albums upon the extreme metal scene, the latest of which being the absolutely devastating "Infernal Warriors Of Death" album which bulldozes it's way through 8 tracks of prime evil death metal, equal parts early Immolation, Incantation and of course there is some strong hints of Imprecation in there full of dank, murky, oppressive atmosphere akin to that of a flooded grime infested ancient crypt that stinks of damp rotting corpses and with a crushing heavy sound/production which perfectly matches the bands old school approach. I sent  guitarist Wes some questions and here is some of what he conjured up in reply :-

Your latest album "Infernal Warriors of Death" is a fine slab of brutal satanic death metal, are you happy with how this album turned out overall, or is there any things you would like to change?  Please tell the readers abit about this album is your own words? What are your fave tracks on the album and why?

WES- YES!!! WE WORKED HARD ON THE SONGS. I THINK IT CAME OUT VERY GOOD,CONSIDERING THE TIME WE HAD IN THE STUDIO...SO I GUESS IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I WOULD CHANGE, MAYBE TO HAVE JUST A LITTLE LONGER IN THE STUDIO,BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT CAME OUT GREAT.AS FOR FAVE TRACKS,THAT'S A HARD ONE.THEIR ALL LIKE MY KIDS, WE WORKED HARD ON ALL OF THEM,SO TO PICK A FEW AS FAVORITES IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO....LETS JUST SAY I'M HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCTION ALL THE WAY AROUND, ESPECIALLY THE GUITARS....

The album artwork is awesome, I am sure you have heard this so many times already but it does totally remind me of the "Dawn Of Possession" cover by Immolation, did you have that cover in mind when thinking of a concept for this album cover or is it just a striking coincidence? How much did Juanjo come up with himself for this piece and how much was interpreted from your initial concept?

WES- WELL OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING FOR...THAT VIBE,FOR SURE.BASICALLY I GAVE MY IDEAS TO JUANJO, HE SENT A ROUGH DRAFT...WE MADE A FEW CHANGES,AND THAT WAS IT...BASICALLY MYSELF AND JUANJO WORKING TOGETHER. DUDE IS AN AMAZING ARTIST, I REALLY LIKE THE COVER HE DID FOR THE NEW HEADHUNTER D.C. C.D., FUCKIN SICK!

The production on the album is great too, very HEAVY, what made you choose that particular studio for this album?

WES-WE'D WORKED THERE TWICE BEFORE, SO IT WAS VERY COMFORTABLE FOR US.BASICALLY WHAT YOU HEAR IS EXACTLY WHAT WENT DOWN IN THE STUDIO, WITH JUST A BASIC MIX, THE RECORD ISN'T REALLY EVEN MASTERED,JUST LIGHT COMPRESSION TO RAISE THE OVERALL VOLUME,THATS IT! CAME OUT VERY HEAVY AND KINDA HARSH, WHICH TO ME IS THE WAY DEATH METAL SHOULD BE, FUCK ALL THE OVER-PRODUCED, CLEAN, WEAK PRODUCTION. I HATE THAT.

How can people over here in the UK /Europe get ahold of your latest album? Are you happy with the promo your American based label has done for this album so far?

WES-YES...DEATHGASM HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB, ITS ALREADY BEEN REPRESSED BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND.IN EUROPE YOU CAN CONTACT DEATHRUNE RECORDS, ITS AVAILABLE ON C.D. AND VINYL THROUGH THEM.

Lyrically the band deals with satanic topics, much like your old band Imprecation, please tell us some concepts for songs on the latest album, who is responsible for the lyrics?

WES-BASICALLY APOLLYON WROTE THE LYRICS, ALL SONG TITLES AND CONCEPTS ARE MINE. I WANTED TO KEEP IT BASIC SATANIC ANTICHRISTIAN THEMES, WHICH TO ME,FIT THE MUSIC VERY WELL. BLASPHERIAN IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE SATANIC DEATH METAL.

How seriously to do you take the whole satanism aspect of the band? It seems like the driving force lyrically and imagery wise but what about personally? What is your personal concept of real satanism?

WES-LETS SAY THAT BLASPHERIAN IS A WAY FOR ME TO VENT MY HATRED OF THE WHITE LIGHT RELIGIONS,THROUGH MUSIC AND LYRICS.I CONSIDER MYSELF A SATANIST, BUT I WOULD NEVER ADHERE TO ONLY THOSE PRINCIPLES, I TAKE SOME THINGS FROM OTHER SOURCES AS WELL AND APPLY THEM TO MY DAILY LIFE. SO FOR ME, AND WELL REALLY..US, ITS A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES.WE ALL AWAIT THE TIME WHEN ALL RELIGIONS CRUMBLE, ALTHOUGH ITS HARD TO IMAGINE THE SHEEPLE IN THIS WORLD EVER WAKING UP TO THE REALITY THAT THEY'VE BEEN LIED TO FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

Can people still get hold of any of your past releases, if so how? What are your thoughts when comparing the new full length album to past efforts, do you think "Warriors..." has seen the band fully hone and craft its style and musical vision?

WES-YES WARRIORS IS DEFINITELY OUR PINNACLE THUS FAR.OUR FIRST C.D. 'ALLEGIANCE TO THE WILL OF DAMNATION' IS STILL AVAILABLE, THROUGH EITHER DEATHRUNE IN EUROPE OR DEATHGASM IN THE U.S.A....WE FEEL WARRIORS CRUSHES ALL PAST EFFORTS,AND REALLY SHOWS WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF, WE'RE WORKING ON MORE CRUSHING MUSIC AS WE SPEAK AS WELL.

speaking of musical vision, which bands fuel and shape the sound and musical vision of Blaspherian?

WES- THATS A HUGE LIST,BUT HERE ARE A FEW...IMMOLATION, INCANTATION,OLD MORBID ANGEL, OLD DEICIDE, ALL THE OLDER FIRST WAVE OF DEATH AND BLACK METAL,TONS OF UNDERGROUND DEMO'S, 7" ETC....

You have personally been involved in the underground death metal scene for years (even being mentioned on the "Altars of Madness" thankslist!), via your radio station and previous band Imprecation, who also deal in satanic death metal. What changes for the better (or worst) have you seen throughout the years in the death metal scene as a whole?. What is your opinion on the current underground death metal scene both in USA and worldwide?

WES:- THATS A LONG ONE THERE. I 'LL KEEP IT SHORT BY SAYING THAT I'M GLAD DEATHMETAL HAS MADE A COMEBACK.NOT TO SAY IT EVER WENT ANYWHERE FOR US UNDERGROUND DIEHARDS,BUT IN THE OVERALL SCOPE OF THINGS ITS MADE A COMEBACK AND TO ME THATS A GOOD THING. SOME WHINE ABOUT TO MANY BANDS,WELL I REMEMBER 5-10 YEARS AGO,WHEN YOU COULD COUNT THE QUALITY RELEASES PER YEAR ON ONE HAND...SO FOR ME ITS GOTTEN BETTER OVER THE LAST 5 OR SO YEARS. I THINK HOWEVER THE DEATH KNELL WILL OF COURSE BE WHEN A SHITLOAD OF D.M. BANDS BEGIN GETTING PICKED UP BY THE BIGGER LABELS, THUS FAR ITS BEEN PRETTY MUCH AN UNDERGROUND THING WHICH IS GOOD, THAT KEEPS IT PURE.

In your opinion what should death metal sound like? What would you consider to be "FALSE" death metal? I guess you have a hatred for all that deathcore that is plaguing the extreme music scene currently!? 

WES-WELL....OVERPRODUCED, CLEAN,TECHNICAL,SLAM, THOSE ARE ALL DESCRIPTIONS TO ME OF FALSE DEATH METAL.AND OF COURSE NOT FORGETTING DEATHCORE WHICH IS THE WEAKEST OF THEM ALL.

What other current death metal bands do you feel an affinity with? current faves?

WES-CRUCIAMENTUM, GRAVE MIASMA, OUR BUDDIES HOD, GRAVE RITUAL, GRAVEHILL, THERE'S SO MANY REALLY. THE SCENE HAS GOTTEN MASSIVE, WITH SO MANY KILLER BANDS WORLDWIDE...ITS ENDLESS.

You are probablys sick of hearing this question, but why are you not involved in the current incarnation of Imprecation? You spent many years in the band initially.

WES- I'VE JUST BEEN ASKED TO REJOIN.AT THE MOMENT I'M NOT SURE I WILL,I 'M VERY BUSY WITH BLASPHERIAN. ALSO,YES I WAS INITIALLY WAS ASKED AS WELL,BUT AGAIN BECAUSE OF BLASPHERIAN I DECLINED.THEIR NEW MATERIAL IS REALLY KILLER, SO IF I DO REJOIN I LOOK FORWARD TO PLAYING THE NEW TUNES.EITHER WAY...I'M GLAD THEIR BACK!

Is Blaspherian a very active live band? Do you play out a lot both locally and nationally in USA? Have you had the opportunity to do any cool tours? Any chance of you making a trek across the pond to Europe/UK at some point? Is that something you would like to do? If you could tour with any 3 bands who would they be and why?

WES-WE DO NOT PLAY LIVE VERY OFTEN....WE ARE PICKY ABOUT WHO WE PLAY LIVE WITH...AS AN EXAMPLE,IN ALL OF 2011 WE PLAYED LESS THAN 5 SHOWS...BUT THE ONES WE PLAYED WERE KILLER,WE SHARED THE STAGE WITH IMPIETY, WE PLAYED RITES OF DARKNESS 3 FEST,ALSO THE EMPERORS OF THE BLACK ABYSS FEST HERE IN HOUSTON THAT WAS KILLER!
WE WOULD LOVE TO PLAY EUROPE...ANY REAL DEATH METAL BANDS WOULD BE GREAT TO PLAY WITH! NARROWING IT DOWN TO 3 WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE,BUT I WILL SAY IF WE COULD PLAY WITH ASPHYX OR  BOLT THROWER THAT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR SURE!

What can people expect from a Blaspherian live show?

WES-SATANIC RAW DEATH METAL!

Describe Blaspherian in 5 words only

WES-RAW, BESTIAL, UNHOLY ,DEATH...DOOM

What is your local scene like? Any local bands you care to recommend?

WES-THE SCENE HERE IN HOUSTON HAS GOTTEN BETTER. COMPARED TO A FEW YEARS AGO, ITS ALOT BETTER REALLY.FAVE BANDS LOCALLY WOULD BE OUR BUDDIES IN WARMASTER, AS WELL AS NODENS,BOTH KILLER BANDS!!!!!!

What do you have planned for 2012? Is there much in the pipeline?

WES- WE ARE WORKING ON SPLIT RELEASES....RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SPLITS CONFIRMED WITH IMPRECATION,ALSO GODLESS FROM CHILE, AS WELL AS A SPLIT WITH CRUCIFIER[U.S.] WHICH WILL BE TITLED 'THE POISONERS OF YAHWASTE'.....

Are any of you involved with other bands/projects?

WES- WELL AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,ITS A POSSIBILITY  OF REJOINING IMPRECATION.OTHER THAN THAT BLASPHERIAN IS MY ONLY BAND.

What keeps a death metal veteran like yourself motivated to keep on creating such extreme music? Has there ever been a time when you have just felt disillusioned with everything and felt like like "retiring" from the scene? You are in my opinion a death metal lifer!!. Can you see yourself continuing to play such music for a long time to come?

WES-I'M A METAL LIFER. THATS WHAT IT IS! DEATH METAL IS ONLY A PART[A BIG PART!] OF THE EQUATION.METAL IS FOR LIFE,I USED TO TELL FRIENDS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT ALL THE TIME,NEVER QUIT NEVER GIVE UP!THERES ALWAYS KILLER MUSIC COMING OUT, AS WELL...THAT FEEDS THE BEAST...THE HUNGER FOR NEW KILLER METAL.EVEN WHEN DEATH METAL WAS SLOW BACK IN THE LATE 90'S OR EARLY 2000'S THERE WERE STILL SOME KILLER RELEASES COMING OUT....AND NOW ITS EVEN BETTER.
AS FOR HOW LONG I CAN GO,THATS A QUESTION OF HOW LONG I CAN DEAL WITH THINGS PHYSICALLY,EVENTUALLY I WILL GET TO OLD TO PARTICIPATE, BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE A COLLECTOR, AND A SUPPORTER OF REAL METAL!!!!!!1

Please tell us how people can contact you, check our your music, buy merch..the last words are yours, many thanks for answering this short interview Wes! Hails!.

HAILS AND THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!!!!!!!
YOU CAN GET OUR STUFF IN EUROPE THROUGH DEATHRUNE RECORDS WWW.DEATHRUNE-RECORDS.COM
OR IN THE U.S.THROUGH DEATHGASM RECORDS  WWW.DEATHGASM.COM
ALSO BLASPHERIAN@HOTMAIL.COM IS OUR PERSONAL EMAIL.HAILS TO THE TRUE UNDERGROUND WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!