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!!!!!!!!!