EXHUMATIONS FROM THE CRYPT OF TERROR - ACEPHALIX INTERVIEW

Here is an interview/feature I did earlier in the year for the Terrorizer Magazine website, an edited version appeared there. 


Many bands in recent times have started blurring the genre lines between punk and metal, and some crust punk bands have started to infuse very strong death metal influences into their music for example, but this band have taken it a step further and more or less totally dropped their original raging punk sound for a full on old school darker death metal approach. This week I have gone back across the other side of the pond to choose my band of the week which is Acephalix from San Francisco, USA who formed originally as more of a straight ahead crust punk band but over recent years have evolved into more of an old school/Swedish sounding death metal outfit but one which still retains a certain crustiness to their sound. Acephalix thesedays sound like they could be some forgotten gem from the Stockholm underground scene who's old recordings have been finally released properly after being buried by years of dust and obscurity such is the authenticity of their sound.

My first introduction to this band was the "Aporia" full length album which was released by the USA DIY Punk label Prank Records and was more of a full on Motorcharged Crust Punk affair with some slight death metal influences, I really like this album but I am loving the full on old school Crusty punked up Swedish Death meets Bolt Thrower assault which their sound has morphed into, the crust influence is still evident but the most prominent influence in the newer material which they first unleashed via the "Interminable Night" demo in 2010 is that of old Stockholm Death metal such as early Entombed, Nihilist, Carnage, Grave, Crematory etc.

I had read about them taking on more of a death metal sound but  wasn't expecting such a full on death metal direction so I was quite surprised when I first got to hear tracks from that demo and was met with a sound that wouldn't of been out of place in a suburb of Stockholm in the late 80s/early 90's, but I love their newer style and they do it VERY well.

It is not just the music and riffing that has gone more death metal sounding, the vocals have also developed into more of a Bolt Thrower/Sanctum style growl compared to the more typical crust punk style vocals on "Aporia"

Recently the "Interminable Night" demo along with another recording in this newer style has been re-released both on CD ( by Southern Lord) and vinyl (by Agipunk in Italy).

I like the newer direction so much aswell as the other band which features most members called Vastum so fired off some questions about both bands and here is the answers I got back from vokillist Dan.

I recommend checking out both their earlier material and the newer output. But fans of the old school Stockholm sound definetly should pick up a copy of "Interminable Night".

I first came across you guys the other year when I got hold of "Aporia", I really like that album but it is quite different from your newer stuff, its more straight ahead crust punk sounding....what do you think of this album now looking back on it?

AX: I think it’s great. It’s strong musically, energetically, conceptually, aesthetically. That said, I don’t want to play any of those songs. They’re not from the gut in the way the newer songs are...

I started reading last year about you guys changing more towards a full on
death metal direction but with crust overtones still and I was blown away
when I first heard a couple tracks off the "Interminable Night" Demo, it
sounds very much like old Stockholm death metal a la Crematory, early Grave,
Nihilist/Entombed..what instigated this quite drastic change in musical
direction?! How have people in the punk scene recieved and responded to the
new more death metal direction? Has the response been mixed?

AX: We were drawing inspiration from death metal on Aporia to some extent. It just started to take precedence over other influences. I think more traditional death metal bands do a lot of what crust bands do but just do it with more power. Death Strike, for example, do d-beat better than most d-beat bands! Aside from the music, I think we feel an affinity for death metal philosophically and spiritually.
So far it’s been a positive reception. We released the tapes ourselves not knowing if any labels would be interested and not really caring because we were doing what we felt, in line with our desire.

Your "Interminable Night" demo has been released on vinyl by Agipunk in
Italy and is also due to come out on CD via Southern Lord. How did both of
these deals come about? I read that there is another demo recording tagged
onto these releases called " Flesh Torn In Twilight please tell us abit
about that recording? What were your original intentions with both demos??
You must have been a little surprised when both labels wanted to re-release
them in such formats?

Our original intentions with these demos was to create death metal with the ideas circulating between us at the time. “Interminable Night” has a darker feel, influenced by Abhorrence (fin) and Grave while “Flesh Torn...” has a more punk feel influenced by bands like Divine Eve and Autopsy. We didn’t expect to have labels offer to release the tapes. That was definitely a surprise.

When can we expect another full length album from you guys in this new
direction?? Do you have much new material written?!

We just finished recording a new album. It’s death metal, dark, punk, heavily rotten, and sort of a synthesis of the two demos with some new elements as well.

You seem to be a quite an active live band, how many shows have you played
since taking on them ore death metal style sound? You have a tour coming up
with Danish Death squad Undergång...what are your expectations for this
tour??

AX: Undergang are one of the best death metal bands around right now so we’re honored to tour with them. I expect the tour to be crushing.

Why the name Acephalix?

Acephalix is taken from the early 20th century French journal Acephale. Some interpretations of it are no head, no leader, no self, etc.

What do your lyrics deal with??

Desire, violence, patricide, mysticism, grief, animality, eroticism, embodiment, etc. In general they deal with the shattering of the self through practices of immanent violence. Much of the lyrics are inspired by Bataille or literature somehow related to Bataille. This literature ranges from St. John of the Cross to Leo Bersani to Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy. Philosophers, mystics, psychoanalysts... These kinds of thinkers serve as primary inspiration.

Some of you guys also play in Vastum, please tell the readers a bit about this band and your "Carnal Law" recording which will soon be released by Nuclear War Now!

Vastum is more of a death/doom band three of us are involved in. The emphasis is less on attack and more on mood than Acephalix. While both bands have a mystical element conceptually, Vastum draws from this element sonically more than Acephalix. This mystical aspect of Vastum brings bands like The Chasm, Tiamat, and Mystic Charm to mind. Undoubtedly there are other elements and other influences, but in general Vastum is meant to be simple, dark, primitive, meditative death metal. 20 Buck Spin is releasing the CD and Contagion Releasing and Deific Mourning are releasing the LP.

Tell us a little bit about your local underground scene, any bands you can
recommend to the readers to check out?

There aren’t many death metal bands akin to us (Mortuous, Bruxers). Perhaps more will rise (Necrot). There is some black metal (Dispirit, Pale Chalice, Black Fucking Cancer), a lot of good hardcore (No Statik, Yadokai, Vacuum, Permanent Ruin), some death rock (Alaric), and some punk (Livid) bands. Can’t think of any grind bands right now (In Disgust R.I.P.).

The last words are yours, many thanks for answering my questions!

AX: Thank you for interview.

GIDEON SMITH AND THE DIXIE DAMNED INTERVIEW.

Now I would like to introduce you to GIDEON SMITH AND THE DIXIE DAMNED who hail from North Carolina USA and are a band that I have been aware of since the late 1990's (they have been around and active since 1997) but never heard properly until last year, I really liked this bands great mix of southern rock, classic rock,  blues, soulful stoner/doomrock, they are a band with many musical layers and are lead by frontman Gideon Smith who comes across very much like a true southern gentleman from my experience and who possesses a great bluesy baritone singing voice which just conjures up such vocalists as Glenn Danzig, Jim Morrison, Ian Astbury etc. It is always a pleasure to come across such a vocalist who sings in such a way and whilst obviously drawing from some clear influences Gideon very much has his own style of singing and has an impressive depth and richness to this vocals which he uses to full capacity.

The band have just had their latest album "3O Weight" released recently by equally long running American label Small Stone records who have been dealing in all things rawkin' and heavy since the 1990's aswell. This album is a great powerful recording, full of diversity and emotion and they also throw in some great covers of Saint Vitus and the notorious GG Allin aswell. This album has everything from more laid back mellow style parts to full on hardrawkin' Sabbath esque Doom parts and everything inbetween and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who is a fan of good hard heavy and rockin' music and there is definetly a dark streak running throughout Gideons outlaw musical veins and embedded deep within his soul...at times coming across like some swampy southern fried hybrid of Samhain,  early Black Sabbath, classic Danzig and a more doomier The Cult and Circus of Power for want of comparisions, I could also throw in some comparisons to newer bands such as Five Horse Johnson, Sixty Watt Shaman, Dixie Witch but with a darker outlaw country rock 'n' roll twist but essentially what Gideon and his band are creating is just great timeless music that could have easily been recorded in a decade now gone by. This album would be best paired with a few cold ones with the volume cranked high and just imagining yourself in some darkened deserted old western graveyard surrounded by undead skeletal animals roaming the dusty plains with only the sound of undead howls echoing in the distance for company.

so pick up this album and get on your iron horse and ride on!!

I sent some questions to Gideon and here is what he had to say:-

Hails, please give a quick background history on band and who does what?

G: "Hail Kat how are you? I started Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned in 1997. We did the first self titled ep in 1998. We did the ep in two days and it was an explosive time in my life, great fun days. I got a distro deal with Game Two Records and then signed to Small Stone in 1999. We recorded the Southern Gentlemen album in 2000. We played a lot of killer shows for the new album and I was going at it like a man with a mission. We appeared on some compilation cds and had a song on the Sopranos television show. Tragedy struck in 2002 when Boo, my drummer and one of the best friends I ever had passed away. It took a good while to get the music going again and of course to deal with the loss personally. Even though I began playing again a few months later to throw myself into my music, it took awhile to really get back on the ball. Many adventures and line up changes later, I did the South Side of the Moon album for Small Stone as the second full length released in 2008. South Side was a monumental monster of a record, and it gave me an incredible new start to get back to the people who had waited for more and to turn new listeners on to my music. Last year a disc came out with other artists covering my songs, I was really honoured. Now this year, I did the third album 30 Weight, and it's rolling wicked and strong. As for who does what: I sing and play guitar, and my band members have most recently been Phil Durr, an incredible guitarist, Eric Hoegemyer, who is a brilliant drummer and multi talented instrumentalist. Sue Lott sang background vocals on the song'Ride with Me'.  We had few other guests too. All great players and good friends."

 

You have just had your 3rd album "30 Weight" released, please tell the readers a lil about this album and what they can expect from it? Are you happy with how it turned out?

G: "I think this album is a little darker in that it's definitely a 'night time' album, something you would listen to laying down in the dark and that will take you a lot of places, or one you could crank up in your car and burn the night away. It has a bigger punch than the other albums, an edge that is a little more striking. I’m really happy with the new album. I think 30 Weight is a dark hard rock album, but still very diverse. It’s faithful to the sound people would expect but also has an sonic edge to it that makes it mysterious and interesting. It’s an uninhibited soundtrack and encouragement to engage in Dionysian revelry. When I started, people called my music psychedelic biker rock. In 2011 they still call it that, and so the new album is in the same tradition. When some people describe it as being easily recorded in the sixties, seventies or now, that kind sums it up. It’s a hard rock album influenced by the classic traditions. It’s the most focused and maybe the most powerful record yet, with a lot of mystery and magic laid within the songs.”

You have been in a working relationship with SS for a while now, how did you hook up with them originally? What labelmates would you recommend to readers? How can people get hold of your previous albums? Are they still available?

G: "In 1999, the main man Scott had heard my first ep and he gave me a call one day and offered me a deal. I was really excited to work with them and I've been with them ever since, yeah they signed me again just last year so it's been over ten years. As for what artists I'd recommend, there are many cool bands on there. I'd say check them all out. As for my older records, or should I say cds, they are available on Small Stone's website and through the distro websites. Yes the albums are still out there but the eps are out of print now. I'm proud my work with Small Stone, it’s a great label.”

What does the band name mean and represent?

G: "The name Dixie Damned is more of a vibe than a group name. It is the introduction to the vibe of the music, the sign on the doorway leading to the sound. That sound could be bluesy, southern, dark, mysterious, ghostly, otherworldly, supernatural, mystical, shamanistic, etc. It represents the eclectic themes of the music. My name, yeah that’s my real name, so it all came together like that when I started it in 1997. I was determined to just be me, be Gid, and follow what I had to do and never look back. The band name is like a cool extension, a vibe. The musicians who have played with me, and I have had many line up changes in all these years, are people who could get in sync with the vibe."

One of my fave songs by you guys is "Indian Larry" who was he? And why did you dedicate a song to this person?!

G: "Thank you very much. Indian Larry was a bike builder, a stuntman, an iconic figure in the world of custom bike building. I had followed his work through the years and always thought he was a cool guy. Indian Larry died after he had an accident while performing a stunt at an event in North Carolina. I was not there but when I heard he passed away I was really sad to hear the news. So the song is a salute to his legacy. I did not know him personally. I'm a fan of his work and I thought he was a very cool individual, an iconic figure."

What bands would you say fuel and shape the sound of GS & TDD? How would you prefer to describe your music? I would say you have a great mix of southern rock, classic rock,  blues, soulful stoner/doomrock going on.

G: "I think you described it pretty well! What a listener hears within the music is how it speaks to them and that’s what it should be. As for what bands fuel and shape the sound by being my influences, I would say The Cult, The Doors, Black Sabbath, Steppenwolf, The Allman Brothers, Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Pentagram, Hendrix, Vitus,

Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Sisters of Mercy, Exile on Main street-era Stones, there you go."

Who are some of your vocal influences?

G: "My style comes from the blues influenced singers I grew up on like Jim Morrison, IanAstbury, David Allan Coe, Gregg Allman, singers like that. Ronnie Van Zant.  Mostly vocalists that were baritone blues or soulful sixties type singers. Sometimes I sing a little rougher but in general like most singers you follow what inspired you when you started and then your own style becomes a blend of your influences. That's what came naturally to me so that's what I do. I always tell people to sing in a style that’s natural to them, not a strain, and that’s the kind of singer they're supposed to be. Once I found my own style,singing's always fun and it flows the way it should. Also singers that inspired me as far as work ethic, iron in the blood type stuff were people like Henry Rollins and Phil Anselmo, the intensity. I might listen to and discover inspiration from many kinds of music different than my own, but when you pick up a mic and it flows clearly from your spirit, that's what you’re supposed to be doing."

You did a very unique cover of "I Bleed Black" why this Vitus song? I also really dig theGG Allin cover...why did you choose that song?

G: "I always loved Vitus. I am a huge doom metal fan, even if my music is not pure doom metal it is one of the influences in my writing.  I always wanted to cover "I Bleed Black" and this album was the chance I had to do it. If you really love a song and have the chance to record it or play it at a show, like most bands or music fans in general, you'd jump at the chance to play one of your favourites. It's a tremendous amount of fun to kick one of your favourite songs around and have at it. I had no intention other than to pay tribute to a band I love very much. Playing the song live you can always play it like the original. If you are going to record your own version of it, it's good to do your own take on it to make it interesting for the listener. I wanted it to be faithful to the original and at the same time do something cool in my own way.  I am glad you dig it and hope fans of the original enjoy my version too. I love Vitus so it was my honor to respectfully play my own version. As for the Allin song, I had heard his original acoustic version which is more rough and raw. When we sat down to record it, we went for a traditional outlaw country style version to make it sound like old classic country with the lap steel guitar and more ghostly vocal approach. What I said about the Vitus song could also be applied to the Allin song, which is that they’re both great songs were covered on this album out of love and appreciation for the originals. I met Allin a few times in the early 90’s when he came through North Carolina. Honestly he was a very mellow, soft spoken guy. I never saw him act any other way the few times I met him in person. I never saw him perform. When I met him he was sitting on the couch or front porch of my friend's house and he was one of the guys. So in my mind and memory, he was a guy I met who was a laid back mellow person.  I separate that from his legacy of mayhem because of my own experiences being around him. I knew he was a crazy guy, but I never saw him act up. He was always a pretty mellow guy when I met him. He was a unique individual for sure. I can’t endorse or deny everything he said or did because I am my own man with my own music and life's history, but he was a good guy when I met him. That's how I judge people, with my own eyes and experiences."

Do you play live often? What can ppl expect from a live show by you guys? Do you think you will ever hit Europe to tour?

G: "In the year before the new album, I played only a few acoustic shows which were very successful and a lot of fun. Those shows were a real pleasure.  I hadn't played shows with the heavy band line up in awhile. So now I am working with a new line up and ready to get out there again and tear it up. As for what to expect I approach every show as a sonic ritual manifesting, and look at each one as if it's a high celebration. The people who come are there because they are drawn to be there for that celebration. When I get onstage, it's my stage, the venue is my house, and you are a guest in my house. I treat my guests very well and it's like passing a torch around as it builds. The performance is our time together. I never look at it as a band and crowd, product commercial, whatever. The shows are when I pull the songs that were captured in the air by a microphone and put on a recording, back out into the air again, and it circles the room where they visit the listener in a more active form. There are no plans for Europe right now, but I hope one day soon.” 

 Lyrically what main themes do you touch upon?

G: "My songs are about universal themes of the experience of life.  Passion, love, freedom, power, frustration, finding positive inspiration, lust, fury, dreams. Being in touch with beauty. Prevailing over the hard times of life. Any songwriter gets out what they need to get out. They are tales from the great adventures of being who you are. Maps of heroes, footprints on your journey, tales of the good and the bad, sharing experiences. My songs are like shaking hands with somebody. They are a strong handshake and an eye to eye connection. There’s a nod and a recognition to each one from me to you. Each of my songs say ‘Come on inside…’ and wave to you with an invitation. What’s behind that door depends on who you are.”

 

What connection do you have with ANTiSEEN? Were you a roadie for them at one point?

G: "I met those guys around 1989 or 1990. I had seen them play, because we are from the same city in North Carolina. In 1990 started to I hang out with Clayton, Joe Young and Thomas O Keefe, various band members, mutual friends over the years. I sang back ups on a few of the records, and I appreciated them letting me do that. I helped out at many shows and some recording sessions. We had a lot of fun for sure. I really love that series of vinyl records that came out during those years. Antiseen is a powerhouse of a band and there are many good memories of the intense live gigs, recording sessions and hanging out socially that I will always remember. We had loads of fun. Those were good days.”

What have you got in the pipeline for rest of 2011 and into 2012? 

G: "One piece of recent news is that I started working with Seventh Circle Artwork

in London who make custom band jewelry for bands like the aforementioned Saint Vitus, Kirk from Crowbar, Candlemass, and others. They are making some rings and pendants for my music now too, with an awesome iron cross design. I was honoured they asked me and the rings look really bad ass. Back onstage soon and recording soon. I have been writing like crazy and feel like I'm pulling back arrow after arrow to release with fierce determination at the bull's eye of my mission in life. Bringing down the hammer with more focus and drive than I have ever had. To get a feel crank up the new album and let it storm you away for a taste of things to come.”

RUINEBELL INTERVIEW - WINTER 2011

Ruinebell is the "dark apocalyptic metallic crust" project band of two of the current extreme music scenes most prolific musicians, namely Lasse Pyykkö ( the driving force and mastermind behind such bands as Hooded Menace, Claws, Plegethon etc.) and Dopi ( Machetazo drummer/vocalist and also currently in female fronted Doomrockers Deadmask and the deadly Generic Death aswell as being a founding member of the now defunct Dishammer). The music of Ruinebell is heavily influenced by the classic dark British 80's crust of Amebix and Axegrinder laced with strong dissonant elements of classic Voivod and with a nod to the heaviness of "Streetcleaner" era of Godflesh.

The bands debut offering "Demise In Disgrace" featuring 2 songs was released a little while ago by the Doomentia label and seriously impressed these ears so I sent some questions to gain more knowledge about this project and it's origins and for them to talk about this collaboration in their own words and recieved answers from both Dopi and Lasse:-

Hails guys! Please give us a quick background history on Ruinebell, how did this project between you both first come to discussions?! How quickly did it take to come to life musically after you first talked about it?

Dopi:  We already knew each other from doing mail and trading records, then one day Lasse told me about some new songs he had, and asked me to join on vocals and drums. As soon as I heard the demo he sent me, I was totally shocked, so I had to join! I always wanted to play something like this, old industrial and metallic stenchcore are some of my fave musical styles.  

Lasse: Hi there! I wanted to write dark and metallic crust songs inspired mostly by the likes of Amebix and Axegrinder . Originally I had plans to find members for the band here in Joensuu, Finland but it turned out a bit complicated. A month or two passed before I contacted Dopi about the project. We have been in touch for some years already and I knew he´d probably like this stuff. Ruinebell turned out to be a perfect project to start the hopefully longlife collaboration as it was something neither of us haven´t exactly done before. So for us this was more exciting and reasonable idea than say a death metal project.

Your 7" " Demise in Disgrace" has been released by Doomentia and features 2 songs of dark apocalyptic heavy metallic crust which brings to mind classic Amebix, Axegrinder with some hints of Voivod for the sake of comparisons, are you guys totally satisifed with how this recording turned out?

Dopi: Of course, I think it came out perfect. We put a lot of effort and concentration in this recording. 

Lasse: Yeah, it turned out excellent but the next offering, whatever and whenever that will be, is going to be even better. Yeah, I know bands always say that but I mean that.

Please tell people in your own words what they can expect from this collaboration and debut joint recording?

Dopi: Musically, people will check out our potential in different areas than our usual death metal/grindcore bands. And ideologically, people will see how pessimistic and dark is our view of this fucked up world we live in.

Lasse: Yeah, Dopi nailed it very well. I´d like to add that this is not just some random Amebix worship band by two metalheads but we have our own approach to it. We bring nothing unprecedented to the table but then again we don´t sound exactly like any other band. This should be good reason enough for everyone at least a bit interested in metal/punk to check us out, and for us to keep doing this.

How have the reactions been to the bands music so far in terms of reviews and general feedback?

Dopi: By the way I haven’t seen too many reviews, but I traded and sold a few copies already and everybody got a good surprise.

Lasse:  So far so good. I have read only one review and it was mere praise.

How did you initially hook up with the label for this release?

Dopi: I think Doomentia was interested in it before the recording was done, when Lasse just told him about the idea. Both Hooded Menace and Machetazo work with Doomentia, we know this record label kicks ass. 

Lasse: Lukas at Doomentia loves the bands that Ruinebell is influenced by so it wasn´t a brainer that he was interested to hear the demo tracks when I told him about it. The next thing I knew we were recording the 7".

What was the writing and recording process like for this recording, please tell us abit about that. Was it quite strange living so far away from each other? I guess the internet makes the world a much smaller place thesedays and it is very easy to send music files and ideas back and forth via emails etc.. but did the distance between yourself and Lasse cause any particular problems at any point?. Who is responsible for the majority of music writing for this project or do you both contribute your fair share of ideas for riffs, arrangements etc..?

Dopi: We are veteran and conscientious recording freaks, so distance didn’t cause big trouble. It was a fuckin’ awesome experience, we never practised the songs together but anyway it was funny and very satisfactory to work in the distance. Lasse wrote everything, I practised for a couple of months over demos he sent me, adding some details and my style to it.

Lasse: It´s not necessary to see eye to eye to pull it off. I´d say it can be more efficient to work this way as the focus is in the work and nothing else. You don´t get to chit chat and hang out as much fun as that would be. Of course it would make us more powerful unit if we could meet up and invoke this stench in the rehearsal room and take it to the studio but working with a distance is good enough. It still sounds like a a real band playing together and raising hell. I had written all the music before Dopi joined the project but next time Dopi will write something too I guess.

    LASSE -GUITAR/BASS

Have you only wrote/recorded 2 songs so far or have you done more? Is there new material and ideas in the pipeline/ What can we expect next from the band release wise?

Dopi: Only that couple of songs. No idea about next releases, to record a full length abum would be great but maybe too much to work in the distance, but I’m sure we’ll join forces again, maybe another EP, or split?

Lasse: Yeah, those are the only songs we have so far. I have a couple of riffs but it´s way too early to talk about the new material. 

 I take it this is not just a one off collaboration but something you will both be working on again in the not too distant future?

Dopi: Yes, really hope so.

Lasse: Yeah, we are determined to keep thing thing alive. Hopefully it won´t take too long to unleash the next 7", 12" or whatever.

How did you initially get in touch each other, are you big fans of your other musical projects? Have you both actually met in person or is this project just born out of internet - mail communication?

Dopi: We started to trade our bands records some years ago, and I already knew previous Lasse’s work with Phlegethon since I got “Fresco lungs” MLP, back in 1991.

I’m a total Blind Dead fanatic too so gotta love Hooded Menace. We met this year at Maryland Deathfest in the USA, but it was short, festivals use to be crazy places to meet people, you know. 

Lasse: Yeah, Machetazo owns! I came across the band only something like six years back or so. You see, I was so behind of everything in the underground metal scene when I "woke up" from my 14 year slumber. Yeah, we met briefly at MDF. That was cool.

Please tell us a bit about the bands name? Who came up with that?

Dopi: Shit, can’t remember about it right now, I know we shared a few names before this one, but don’t remember if finally Lasse came with this name or it was a combination of two ideas.

Lasse:  The bell of ruin. The gloomy sound you´ll wake up to at the dawn of the apocalypse, haha! I remember we brainstormed the name for quite a while. As far as I recall I think it was me who came up with Ruinbell and Ruinebell. I introduced the idea of using "ruin" in French as "ruine" because  it looked somewhat cooler that way.

DOPI- DRUMS/VOCALS

Lyrically where does the inspiration come from?

Dopi: Lasse wrote them, surely not inspired by the beauty of this world.

Lasse: Yeah, basically the lyrics are a big apocalyptic feast. Turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper…it´s a deranged, dark world and it´s not gonna end nicely.

What bands fuel and shape the sound of Ruinebell?

Dopi: Good stuff from the old 80’s like Voivod and Amebix, together with the amazing “Rise Of The Serpent Men” LP by Axegrinder, and the heaviness of that masterpiece by Godflesh named “Streetcleaner”. These are obvious influences, but guess that subsconciously we put lots more, cos’ I’ve heard so many different comparisions from people.

Lasse: Yeah those are the obvious ones. It would be cool to read more comments and reviews especially as this is our debut. It´s interesting to hear how people see it.

Do you feel any musical affinity with any other current bands in a similar style? What is your opinion on bands such as Morne and Filth of Mankind who also have a strong Axegrinder influence? What is your opinion on the current crust scene in general?

Dopi: To be honest I don’t know many bands in a similar style to Ruinebell. But I like Morne a lot, I saw them live months ago and they killed me. 

Lasse: Yeah, I agree with Dopi. I guess you can spot out like "this riff sounds like Voivod! This one brings Amebix to mind!"" and so forth but the entirety is our own. I don´t follow the current crust scene that much but I love Morne. Filth of Mankind are great too.

Do you plan to ever take Ruinebell onto the live stage? Is that something you would personally like to do with this project?

Dopi: I never thought about it really, it would be hard to plan, also we would need more people involved.

Lasse: It doesn´t seem realistic nor necessary. The idea doesn´t even interest me much.

What is up with your other bands right now? You are busy guys!! How do you find the time to create so much music?

Dopi: Guess I am addicted to play a few different kinds of music. Anyway Machetazo is the main one, right now we’re decomposing a new album. Deadmask and Generic Death will release new vinyls soon. Dishammer split up seven months ago.

Lasse: When the inspiration strikes things can happen quite fast. You just find time and use it efficiently. Hooded Menace is gonna start recording the new album "Effigies of Evil" (out 2012 on Relapse) any time soon. We also got Teemu Hannonen, my old band mate in Phlegethon, in the 2nd guitar for Hooded Menace´s live line up, so we´re been busy practicing a bunch of old and new songs.  

What plans do you have for Ruinebell in 2012? plug available merch! many thanks for answering by questions!

Dopi: Haven’t talked about any plans yet, by the way I think we need to focus in those Hooded Menace and Machetazo albumes for 2012. You’re welcome Kat, thanks for the support! Anybody into buying the 7” go to www.facebook.com/ruinebell or Doomentia.com

Lasse: Yeah, gotta get the main bands´ new albums out of the way first and see what happens then. Thanks for having us!  

MAIM INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIAN "CHRILLE" SANDBERG

Sweden has produced some old school death metal gems this year, and Maim are another band to add to the list alongside the likes of Miasmal, Morbus Chron, Bastard Priest, Bombs Of Hades, Repuked and Entrails.

The band's first release, the 'From The Womb To The Tomb' debut album, which reeked of old Autopsy influence. The band followed up that with an even stronger second record, released this year via Soulseller Records, titled 'Deceased To Exist' which is one of the strongest new wave of Swedish death metal albums since Repugnant unleashed 'Epitome Of Darkness' upon the underground scene in 2006 - appropriate, since Maim do have a sound strongly reminiscent of Repugnant in places.

I sent some questions to guitarist Christian "Chrille" Sandberg about their latest album, their live UK debut at the Fenriz-curated Live Evil Festival.

Hails Christian, Please give me a quick history on the band and who does what currently?!
 

Hello! We started out late 2006, with the purpose to play some serious deathmetal. Me and Scott had played togheter before,so we started to look after more members.Then we hooked up with Rikard and Henric. We recorded our first demo and began to play gigs. In the spring of 2009 we released our full-lenght album ”From the womb to the womb” and played abroad for the first time.In 2011 we released our second album ”Deceased to Exist” and have been playing around europe on really cool festivals and tours. Now we are focusing on new material and a mini tour in sweden in december,together with Vanhelgd and Miasmal.Scott has also joined Morbus Chron as live guitarist. 

My first introduction to the band was the "From The Womb To The Tomb" album, a great album which has everything I love about death metal in it, please describe this album in your own words to the readers? Are you totally happy with how it turned out and the response you have gotten to it so far?
 

Thanks for the sweet words! From the womb… was not acctually supposed to be a full-lenght album. It was originally a demo wich we wanted to release, but after some discussions with the record company(Soulseller Records) we decided to re-record the album and add some tracks.I still think the demo sound is better(of course..) but we are totally satisfied how it turned out. I think we really have that old grimy/mouldy sound on that record, wich we aimed for.And the response have been great! We got some really good reviews and a lot of gigs.

How did you hook up with Soulseller originally was it a case of you just sending them a demo? Are you happy with the work they have done for you so far?
 

It was a friend of us, Andrés Furukawa, who plays in Darkcreed. Soulseller was going to release their mini-album and he mentioned us. We sent our demo to Soulseller and they signed us. Soulseller has been really good to us, making sure that we can release albums the way we want it.

Is your debut album still available? If so where can people get hold of it from?
 

I actually dont know, we have sold out everything we have. And I think Soulseller have sold everything as well.We are doing a re-press of both albums in the beginning of next year.If you want to get hold of it, send an email to Soulseller. Or check Ebay and amazon haha.

Your 2nd album "Deceased to Exist" is another fine slab of old school rotten death metal and to my ears is one of the best newer Swedish death metal albums to come out since the Repugnant album. I am actually reminded of Repugnant in places when listening to Maim, I guess that is because they have the same influences or maybes they are also an inspiration on Maim?
 

Thank you! Repugnant’s Epitome of Darkness is an amazing album. It inspired us and a lot of other bands I think.But the main influences for us is the old stuff from the late 80s/early 90s.Mostly the american scene. Bands like Death, Morbid Angel, Autopsy and Obituary has been a huge influence to us.

Are you happy with how the 2nd album turned out? Did the writing process come together quick after the debut? And are you happy with the overall response so far and work done by the label?
 

 We are very happy about the release of ”Deceased to Exist”.It turned out exactly as we wanted. We already had songs for it during the release of our first album.And the rest we wrote for like half of a year. I think the songs are more structured and balanced than the songs on ”From the Womb to the tomb”. And people seems to like it very much. The sounds of Napalm death and Brutal Truth was a serious influence to the overall sound. And the artwork is just amazing.It fits well to the filth 
inside.Soulseller did a great job putting the vinyl and cd release at the same date.Vinyl is important, this album is mixed and mastered for vinyl.

Who designed the artwork for it?

A great friend of us, Mattias Frisk. An amazing artist! Check out his band Vanhelgd.

What bands fuel and shape the sound of  MAIM?
 

Many different bands, both punk/thrash/death and rock n roll bands! But if I had to say the main influence it would be bands around late 80s/early 90s. Like Entombed and Death and all them classic bands.

Lyrically where do you draw inspiration from?
 

Mostly old obscure horror movies.

Love the bands logo, who designed that?
 

Inventor from Bastard Priest designed the logo! 

Describe MAIM in 5 words only
 

Rotten-Dirty-Fucking-Death-Metal

Do you play live often/ What can people expect from a MAIM live show?
 

Yeah,from time to time.Some months we have several gigs, and sometimes we dont play for like months. But it varies, we cant play every weekend even if we wanted.We have jobs,studies and other things to do in life.If you come to a Maim show,you can expect some serious rotten deathmetal, headbanging, beerdrinking and hellraising! Thats what it’s all about!

Do you have many shows planned? Any tours on the horizon?
 

Not for the moment, just a mini-tour with Miasmal and Vanhelgd in december! (FUCK YEAH!- KAT!) We will play in Gothenburg,Stockholm and Linköping.Then we will see whats happening. Book us and we will come!

You played the Live Evil fest in London recently, how was that experience for you? What other Fenriz approved bands made an impression on you there? How did your set go and were you pleased with the response you got from the London crowd?
 

Live Evil was a fucking blast! Best festival ever,with loads of good bands and free beer! It was nice to come to england for the first time to play. Fenriz has really good taste in music, so almost every band on the bill was just amazing.We went there with our friends in Morbus Chron, wich is an awesome band. Antichrist and Nekromantheon crushed us to fucking death as always. I think our set went really well, good sound and and an incredible audience!Nice to get togheter with all our friends and raise hell!

Talking about Fenriz, what was your reaction to being chosen as a band of the week, are you big Dark Throne fans?
 

We were fucking stoked! I have listened to Darkthrone since i was like 14 years old, Transilvanian Hunger and Panzerfaust made a huge impact on me.Lying alone in my boyroom with these classic albums in my freestyle is really good memories.

 
What other bands are you guys currently active in that you would like to tell us about?
 

Were just into Maim for the moment.Scott plays live guitar for Morbus Chron.I did some guitar solos for Bastard Priests album ”Ghouls of the endless night”, but thats it.

What is your local scene like? Any cool bands you could recommend?
 

The local scence here is pretty dead in my opinion. But you really should check out Vanhelgd .The new album Church of Death is killer! Also check out Skogen Brinner, sounds like a Swedish Black Sabbath!

What is your opinion on the current death metal scene both in Sweden and worldwide? Current fave bands?
 

Sweden has a lot of good bands for the moment, such as Morbus Chron,Vanhelgd, Miasmal and Bastard Priest. More and more good death metal bands are coming out worldwide. One of my favorites is Obliteration from Norway. Great band with a really killer sound! Nekropsalms is like a modern Mental Funeral!

What are your current plans for rest of 2011 and into 2012??
 

We are just focusing on our mini-tour in sweden for now. And we also have started rehearsing new songs. We will focus on getting a 7” out next year,before next full-lenght album.In 2012 we will go underground to just listen to good music and create new deadly Maim-tunes.

The last words are yours, please plug available merch and websites etc. cheers Chrille!
 

Thank you Kat! See you guys out there!  For contact, bookings and merch you can write to maimmusic@gmail.com, also check out Soulsellerrecords.com  Cheers! / Christian