Coroner's Report: Ton (2001)

This interview originally appeared in Metal Union Fanzine #1, which was released in 2001. It was my first go at publishing a fanzine. I was never great at it. It turned out ok, and I moved about 500 copies through trade. Never sold shit. It was a newsprint 'zine, not photocopied, because it was economical and I had seen pretty decent results in the other 'zines I had obtained that had also been done on newsprint. I never kept one, and I recently had to buy this fucker back on eBay and that shit cost me dearly, although I waited for it to be reduced. Seems it never sells, even 18 years later. Anyhow, little did I know it, but my future alongside the members of Ton was to be a good one, and this was the first real contact I had with Dan Gates (guitars), upon the re-release of Plague on Seething Records, Dan's label back then.

There is perhaps one band in Ohio that a great deal of attention is centered upon. This band is Ton, of Canton, Ohio. They are one of the most brutal bands in the scene here, and they have been very active in the underground all across the world. Their name has appeared in many fanzines, and their new album, Plague, is receiving press everywhere. Below is the interview I conducted with Dan Gates, Ton's guitarist.

The Coroner: Ton has become a small institution in the underground death metal scene over the last few years. What is Ton's key to success as an unsigned band?

Dan Gates: I think staying active in the underground is the most important thing. Over the last year we haven't been able to stay as active as we would have liked due to the fact that we had problems with labels putting out our CD. But we're past that now and we are trying to make up for lost time.

The band has increased the levels of brutality it delivers over the years, especially on the last two recordings, Blind Follower and Plague. Was this a conscious decision on the part of the band, or was it natural progression? What led to this new, devastating sound?

I think it was a combination of the two. We're always trying to make the music more brutal, but at the same time it comes naturally. We've been together for a long time, and we just want to keep making the most brutal music possible.

How does Ton fit into the scene in Ohio? Would you say that you have a following? What are some other great death metal bands in the Ohio scene that readers should be more aware of?

There are definitely some die hard death metal fans in Ohio. I think we fit into the Ohio death metal scene just fine. If you like brutal death metal, then you'll probably enjoy seeing us play. If you don't like it brutal, then you probably won't. We have some fans in Ohio. When we play, there are usually some people there to see us. We don't draw big numbers, but if the people that are at the show are into it, then that's enough for us. I would have to say Regurgitation is my favorite death metal band in Ohio.

Have you found it difficult to find gigs in NE OH due to the nature of your band (especially in the Canton/Akron area)? You are easily one of, if not the, heaviest and most brutal band in the state. What clubs and bars in the area are accepting of the kind of music you play?

We used to play at Sadie Rene's in Canton, but they only let metal bands play on Sunday and Tuesday, and that sucks. If you headline you don't get to start playing until 12:00 or 12:30, and by then everybody is ready to go home because they have to work in the morning. So we don't play in Canton any more. We do like playing in Cleveland, though. There is a better scene up there anyway.

Plague was originally released on United Guttural Records, only to be released the following year on Seething Records, an imprint associated with Ton. What is the story behind this? Did the record label not want to carry it any more? Did all the copies sell?

Shortly after United Guttural pressed the CD we had someone come along and offer us what we thought was a deal that we couldn't pass up. We told United Guttural not to press the CD any more. The new label did nothing but waste our time for about nine months, so we decided to move on. After it was all said and done, about a year's time had gone by. After all the bullshit we decided to put it out on our own label and start to move forward again instead of waiting for other people to do what we could do for ourselves.

Tell me about Seething Records & Distribution and how readers can get in contact. How did it start?

Well, I think the previous answer tells how and why we started the label and distro. Everything is going real well. We're trying to put together a good distro with a lot of different titles. It's a real good way to distribute our CD and hopefully make our money back by selling our CDs as well as CDs by a lot of other bands. You can get in touch with Ton or Seething at (redacted due to old information -ed.).

What response has Plague garnered so far? Has it been positive? Have there been any criticisms aimed at the band?

The response has been great. We have received a lot of great reviews. Most people seem to think Plague has a high level of brutality, and that's what we go for. No matter who you are or how good your band is, there is always someone that really isn't into what you do. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions so it doesn't hurt my feelings if someone doesn't like what we do.

Ton's lyrics aren't the typical brutal death metal fare (blood, guts, Satanism, etc.). They seem to instead be about justice, moral retribution, and sometimes revenge. Are these important themes to Ton? What are some other themes important to the band that work their way into the music?

We don't really follow any guidelines when we write lyrics. We just write about things that interest us. We don't feel the need to write certain lyrics just because we are a death metal band.

Do you think death metal (and metal in general) is on a return wave? Being in the scene since 1993, you may be able to answer this question better than me. Even though I have followed the scene for years, I was 13 in 1993!

I don't really know. But I do know that the underground has always remained strong. People and bands will come and go, but there are a lot of people that always stay true to the scene and that's why the scene is always alive.

Now, for the question I ask of every person I interview, would you like to share any final comments?

Thanks for the interview. Don't hesitate to get in touch or to check out the web site. If you're not familiar with Ton download some mp3s and judge for yourself.

https://tonohio.bandcamp.com/

Coroner's Report: Backstabber (January 2019)

I had a feeling when I read the promo information on Quebecois death metalists Backstabber that I would dig their material, and I was correct. Their new album drops on February 15, and I must say that anyone into the 1990s Florida death metal scene, or just good solid death metal in general, would be an asshole to miss out on this album. Read on for an interrogation with mainman Christian, who gave me some killer answers to a short list of questions.

The Coroner: Greetings from Ohio! Introduce the band for those readers who haven't stumbled upon your work yet.

Christian M. Theriault: Backstabber is a Death Metal trio from the unpronounceable town of Rouyn-Noranda in northern Quebec. Formed in 2012 as a solo project by Christian M Theriault (Ex. Cryptik Howling, Depths of Hatred), it's only in 2015 that Backstabber started playing shows. We've put out a demo in 2016 called Revenge (is a meal best served cold) which consisted of 3 songs from the solo project era. Then we started playing shows in the local scene as well as a couple shows throughout Ontario (Long story short, Ontario is closer to us geographically speaking).

I hear a lot of 1990s Floridian death metal in your sound - can I assume this style plays a big part in your sound? What else goes into Backstabber's style?

This is a call that hits home with the Floridian Death. It all started with 80's Thrash & Heavy Metal; As I was a young teenager, I used to listen to bands like Megadeth, Metallica, Black Sabbath, then Sepultura came as a revelation to me. I spent a whole year listening to Sepultura only, they literally dragged me into death metal. After them, I went into bands like Deicide, Deeds of Flesh, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse, Death, etc.. At the time, our group of friends was divided into 2 camps; the Death Metal fans, and the Black Metal fans. So I ended up listening to bands such as Marduk, Dissection, Emperor, Immortal as well. I started playing in bands soon after that then my musical horizons exploded but they are essentially the spark lighters for me! 

Your lyrics deal with a lot of issues - government overreach, conspiracy, big data, etc. Why not go the stereotypical route with your lyrical content like a lot of other bands? What was the inspiration for this direction? Was the band name intentionally chosen to fit this material?

I always loved reading about all kinds of conspiracies or theories regarding history, science, etc.. and I wanted to talk about the subject on a broader sense, so I had to basically scratch the surface of many topics. I left a lot of open doors for anyone interested in digging down the rabbit's hole of these stories. As for the decision to talk about these issues, it came naturally as it is all entertainment to me or theoretical material for what is science worthy and a little guilty pleasure of mine reading on these topics. I also can't deny the influence of albums such as Hypocrisy's the Arrival on this album. The band name, however, can be traced down to the very beginning of Backstabber, as I had just left Cryptik Howling, certainly not without some bitterness, and wanted to let the rest of the band know it! I also think its a pretty good and typically "Metal" band name, as it can be interpreted in different ways, such as the whistleblower of a conspiracy. 

What's death metal in Quebec like these days? We all know the bigger bands that have come from there but are there any up and comers like yourselves we need to know about?

I think that Quebec's Death Metal scene is in one of the best moment we've seen in history. It reminds me a lot of the Swedish scene that we've seen through the '90s, minus government's money! The Pioneers such as Voivod, Kataklysm, Cryptopsy, etc. are still crushing it and there are a lot of up and coming bands on quite big labels such as First Fragment and Unbreakable Hatred on Unique Leaders, Beyond Creation and recently Deviant Process with Season of Mist. Plus there is PRC here which has a very good rooster with bands like Obsolete Mankind, Vortex, Soothsayer, Saccage, etc. 

What's the songwriting process for Backstabber? How does the band put together a song? Your songs are quite musically diverse within the confines of death metal, with melodic solos and lots of thrash.

On Conspiracy Theorist, there is a vast inspirational palette and also a lineup change during the composition process which had an impact on the songs. Basically, I used to lay out a rhythm guitar & drum track on a sample title then after we have the drums & bass settled, we get to work on vocals and solos. I have also put a great emphasis on the pacing of the album and, as you pointed, the diversity of the music. I wanted this album to be pure Death Metal but accessible at the same time by respecting some musical codes and tapping into as many elements as possible.

Where did you record the new album? The sound is impeccable and doesn't suffer from what call "overly digital" production values - some modern death metal is hard on the ears because it doesn't sound organic or "human" enough. Backstabber seems to have pulled off a warm yet heavy, clear sound.

I think that it's very important to aspire to a clean and powerful production but at the same time, it's also important to make the music "live" through the recording so I handled the recording process at home and we managed to get the best of the digital tools that are available to us and still pay attention to the personality of our playing. If you break it down to its essence, you want to capture the energy within the music that is played so, of course, you want to keep the playing as real as possible but also the production as clean and good as possible, we also wanted to work with people that are close to us, both personally and geographically, so Francis Beaulieu (Archons, Evil Prevails) mixed the album at Woodwalls Studio in Rouyn-Noranda and Yannick St-Amand (Despised Icon) handled the mastering at Northern Studio in Trecesson. 

Seeing as your lyrics have a political bent - what do you think of our situation in the US with Herr Trump and his shitbag cronies?

I'm kinda ambivalent about Trump, not that I doubt that he is a clown but once Bernie was out of the primaries what could you do? Even with Bernie? At least he is way funnier to watch than Hillary and maybe has fewer skeletons in the closet or should I say bodies in the casket. I think we are at a crossroad and need to rethink our democracies to better suit the reality that we live in. 

What do you think needs to be done to reign in the corporations that are eating away at the core of our society?

There you put your fingers on it and we all know what it is, the problem is at the foundation of our interrelations as societies; resource-based economy or, money. We all use different words to explain it but it always comes down to this. There are a couple avenues that are being talked about more and more such as a knowledge-based economy but the fact is that we need to find a basis for our interactions which not only glue our societies together but also makes us thrive in harmony with the world around. 

Asking this one based on your cover art for the record - do aliens exist?

The more we advance technologically, the more we understand the reality and try to philosophically explain it and represent it. Now, with quantum physics and mechanics, we are starting to understand that reality exists only when we observe it and that the simple observation of something has an impact on the very definition of that thing. That would mean there is no objective reality but rather a "commonly assumed" reality so Aliens would exist, in the same way, that Santa Claus exists, or Superman, or basically anything that we can think of. I do think we have made contact though, but it is a personal belief and can be subject to change at any time. 

This was just a short one guys, so fire your last salvo at the readers! Thank who you want to, talk shit if you need to, and just generally pimp your shit!

If you've made it this far thank you very much for reading this, that means a lot to us! Thanks to all of you at Twenty Red Nails! Get in touch with us through social media for updates and info, we're easily available. 

Music is at http://backstabbemetal.bandcamp.com 

Videos at www.youtube.com/backstabberqc 

Death Certificate: Whoretopsy "Take My Breath Away" 2018 Self-Released

When I learned there was a new Whoretopsy album out, I was all ears. I've liked this band for a long time, ever since I happened upon them on the internet with their 2012 effort They Did Unspeakable Things. The band still brings their patented mix of brutal technical death metal with elements of deathcore (mainly dissonant riffing occasionally and big breakdowns), but the playing is even better than before. The drumming, especially, caught my attention this time around, really commanding my attention from time to time due to the high level of musicianship and some of the things he's pulling off on this record. The change of vocalist is also welcome, and the new guy is a monster and has a diverse range of growls, from high end to pig squeal gutturals. Also still present is the strange lyrical content, written almost in a flow-of-consciousness style - they don't resemble song lyrics if you just read them, they resemble a story instead. All manner of sick and misogynistic subject matter is covered, just as in the past, with gratuitous use of the "c-word" and lots of perverse sexuality. The band's insanity is finally complete on this album, but I know they have more to offer, and I can't wait to hear more with their next release. This is brutality at its finest, and Whoretopsy will stand the test of time among other sick bands. 

whoretopsy666.bandcamp.com

Coroner's Report: Inoculation & Abraded (January 2019)

I've been a fan of Inoculation for quite some time, but recently they've stepped up in a pretty amazing way, and the band has dropped a great album on their own called Pure Cosmic Dread. It takes their sound and elevates it to new levels, and I was completely blown away. Also, Anthony and Nick of Inoculation are also in a fledgling band called Abraded that is playing some seriously sick old school death metal. I wanted to get Anthony's thoughts on both bands, especially in light of recent lineup changes to Inoculation. Read on, and don't let the aliens probe your anus.

The Coroner: Greetings Anthony! Tell the devoted metalists who read this a little about yourself personally.

Anthony Allen: Yo ! I’m a 25 year old alien obsessed dude from Cleveland Ohio, just trying to riff on sick death metal.

You recently told me that Inoculation is performing as a 3-piece now – what led to the changes? Is it better or easier than having 4 or 5 different guys trying to all get on the same page? What’s the official lineup as of right now?

The lineup is Charlie Winters on drums and Nick Nedley on bass and vocals and then I do guitar and vocals. It is so much easier being in a band as a 3 piece just organizing shows and agreeing on things is so much easier. The changes actually happened throughout the recording process of our album Pure Cosmic Dread. It’s just how it goes sometimes. I’m glad we are a 3 piece now.

You’ve branded Inoculation as “alien-infused death metal” – tell me a little about that and the history of the concept within the band.

Well that all started just because I love aliens, outer space, and anything sci-fi. So when the band started in like 2011 I was writing the lyrics at the time so it just felt natural. Ever since then we just kept with it and people seem to dig the theme.

What do you try to capture when you write a song? What’s your writing process like? What bands form the core influences for Inoculation?

I don’t try to capture anything when I write a song I like writing music with no preconceived notions of how I want it to turnout I feel like that holds you back in the writing process I like just going where the riffs take me. I usually come to the guys with a couple riffs together and hash it out with them, then slowly build from there. Core influence without getting too deep in the classics: Death, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation as well as newer bands like Revocation, and aliens.

What bands in the Cleveland area do you love sharing a stage with? Are there any up-and-comers we need to know about that we don’t yet? What’s important to you about Cleveland metal?

Self-Loathing, Limbsplitter, Embalmer, Bloodtusk, From the Hellmouth, Pillars, Mogar, Ton, Mutilatred. All those bands are sick and should be checked out, some been doing it for a while, some just getting going. What’s important to me about Cleveland Metal is being gritty, nasty and disgusting and giving Cleveland a good name through metal. I love this city and like to do its name good.

Are you writing any new material yet, or just focusing your effort on other things now that the album has dropped? What’s next for the death-monster of Inoculation, and what aims or goals do you have going forward?

Yes, we are! We just started writing new music again, got two new songs going right now, but we are also trying to do everything else working on a playthrough video and music video, more merch, a 7” ep is in the works for 2019 as well as a possible west coast run and trying to play a bunch of new cities on the east coast

You and Nick also play in Abraded, correct? I just heard the demo Descendants of the Swamp and it kills! That’s heavy-ass death metal done right. Tell me how the band came about.

Yes! It actually came from a brief hiatus with Inoculation last year when we were on hold trying to find out our singer situation. Me and Nick just wanted to make some disgusting music.

You’re definitely shooting for an old school vibe with Abraded – what are some of the biggest influences that go into that sick-ass soup?

Swamps, mud, dirt, mud smeared into open wounds, alligators, crocodiles, big chugs and slow heavy riffs.

There seems to be a prevailing theme of slime, disease, swamps, and general ickiness about the song titles – what provokes these themes in Abraded’s lyrics?

We just wanted to play gross riffs and put a lyrical theme to go with it.

Are there bigger plans for Abraded going forward? What’s next?

More shows, possible Inoculation/Abraded west coast tour. And we are currently writing a full length right now we have 7 songs written for it. Also Maggot Stomp Records is re-issuing our demo on 7” vinyl in spring of 2019 so we are stoked on that.

The label the Abraded tape came out on is Aggressively Uninterested – can you tell me a little about the label? It’s not one I was familiar with before I came across your demo.

It’s our drummers label actually. Lots of grind and disgusting stuff

Are any shows still held at Taxidermy Palace? That place was insane, and I loved every minute of it. That’s the only place I ever saw that much shit being broken while a band was playing. I damn near got decapitated by a flying step ladder!

Hahaha sadly not, I loved that place though it was one of the wildest places you could ever play, I remember breaking tvs in the middle of the show space and building full fires inside the tv while bands were playing. It was a mad house - tires, chairs and mattresses flying everywhere people shooting off fireworks while bands are playing. Great times. (He’s telling the 100% truth – shit was crazy there. -Coroner)

Give me an insane story from playing out. I know you have one. We all do!

Pretty much what I just talked about hahah! I remember one time at the palace I was playing and someone there a chair at me while I was playing so I stopped playing for a second, picked the chair back up and threw it right back at them, hahah.

Do you have any musical heroes? Musicians you just can’t get enough of?

Oh yeah Rush, Chuck Schuldiner, Steve Vai and I’ve always love Dave Davidson of Revocation’s guitar playing it’s truly amazing.

Time to pimp your shit – tell us how to find the new material from both bands, and give thanks, gratitude, or fuck-offs to anyone you want!

Word, well first thank you for the interview and thanks to anybody reading it. But check out Inoculation on everything - Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Spotify and iTunes, we just put our first album out in the fall called Pure Cosmic Dread, you should check it out. We have a music video that premiered on Decibel. Instagram inoculation_band, our Bandcamp is inoculationmetal.bandcamp.com. Abraded has all our stuff on Spotify and iTunes as well and we have a 7” coming out on Maggot Stomp Records in the spring so look out for that! Thanks!

Death Certificate: Warkunt "Of Ruins and Agony" 2018 Great Dane Records

Needless to say, the name got my attention. Warkunt hails from France, but they're playing a style of death metal made famous in Florida in the 1990s. I've seen a few reviews that compare them to Malevolent Creation and Bolt Thrower, but neither of these comparisons even comes close to being correct. For my part, it reminds me a little bit of Encabulos, Sinister, or occasionally later Morbid Angel. Warkunt delivers 1990s death metal, yes, but they've infused it with enough originality, technical skill, and memorable songwriting to stand alone. The rhythm section pounds away and works very well together, bass and drums frequently playing off each other, as they should. The guitar playing is full of catchy riffs, interesting structures, and generally are heavy as shit. For me, though, the standout performance is the vocal work (but I am biased since I am also a vocalist). The vocals are strong and throaty roars, accentuated in certain songs by switching out to deep gutturals, but the delivery is always impeccable. Each word is delivered with purpose, quickly, rhythmically, and intensely. This is worth your time to track down. Real death metal fans will not be disappointed.

Death Certificate: Inoculation "Pure Cosmic Dread" 2018 Self-released

Finally, I get to review something from my general geographic area. Hailing from the dismal pits of Cleveland, OH, Inoculation has improved substantially over the last several years, becoming both more accomplished and more fetid. I hadn't heard anything from them since their demo in 2014, and since then they have really refined their songwriting and chops. Even though I am a fan of their former vocalist Tim Shauver (ex-Shotgun Sodomy), their newest monsters on the microphone are Anthony Allen (guitars) and Nick Nedley (bass) which are damn fine replacements. They've always taken a decidedly old-school approach to technical death metal, but on this album they really do remind me of the old guard - bands like Hellwitch and Insanity came to mind, but mixed with a very modern-sounding assault reminiscent of Floridian death metal from the 1990s as well as modern brutal death metal. They obviously have some newer influences, being young and not a old grizzly bastard like me, but they retain a solid feel for the old styles. If it's a fix of musically competent and complex death metal that you need, this could be what you're after if you don't want to be dazzled by some of the other needlessly and nauseatingly complicated tech wizardry that exists in the scene today. This is song-focused and tastefully executed, as well as remaining utterly savage. It should be mandatory for death metalists.

https://inoculationmetal.bandcamp.com/

Coroner's Report: Nicatas Drumer (April 2003)

Old shit from 2003 and the first issue of CULT. I miss emailing these guys. They were fun. I sound like such a kid in this one.

Once in a while, a 'zinester comes across a band from the most unlikely of places - in this case, South Africa.  I was sifting through all the bands on the Metal Hordes website and the name NICATAS DRUMER caught my eye.  I saw they were a black metal band in the early nineties tradition that I love so much, so I checked them out.  I wound up emailing Morg, who handles drums, bass, guitars, and what little keyboards there are in their songs.  I found Morg to be a true metal brother in every sense of the word, even sending me a NICATAS DRUMER t-shirt!  I decided, after a very short time, to interview the band's two current members, Morg and Longinus.  Read on for a little exploration into the mind of the South African black metal phenomenon.

ANDREW:  NICATAS DRUMER has a very old-school black metal sound, not in the way VENOM does, but in the way old EMPEROR, IMMORTAL, MARDUK, and DARKTHRONE do. How did you decide you wanted to play this sort of black metal?

LONGINUS: It came quite naturally to us as that is the type of music we were and are influenced by.

MORG: Well, because it sounds better!! HA HA!!!  But no, honestly, I'd have to say it's because of influences from old-style black metal.  Bands like Darkthrone, Early Marduk and Bathory etc...  Even though Venom defined the term Black Metal, that does not mean that they are the starters of it all!!  Nor are they fucking Black Metal!!!  It really came naturally I suppose.  A lot of influences in a small way, but we have our own style really.

Why has the band gone through so many name changes in the past? Around 1997 you were called HERRENVOLK, correct? Then that changed to STYGIAN? Now we have arrived at NICATAS DRUMER - what does your name mean, and why does it fit your current style?

L: We only found out later that their were bands already with these names and didn't want to bu fucking mixed up with them. The name Nicatas Drumer suits our music perfectly as our current material we're working on is Full on Black Fucking War Metal, similar to Marduk, Dark Funeral etc...  Nicatas Drumer means (RedRum, Red Rum) HA HA HA!!. Well it means Satanic Murder. I wonder how many poeple thought it was Latin?!

How is the scene in South Africa? I remember telling you before that the only other South African band I know if is the grind band GROINCHURN. Are there any other notable bands there? Do you have a lot of metal shows in South Africa?

L: It is a very small scene! Most of the bands dont take the music very seriously, and there are basically only shows at club level.  No international acts yet.

M: Well, it's dead but not entirely fucking dead!!  There are a few black metal bands that we've heard before, but nothing special.  The special or good ones tend to hide away in their fucking troll holes!!  But that can change, maybe we could be a sign?  HA HA!!  Groinchurn...hmmm, well,never really heard to much about them, except on radio some time back, cant really remember much about them.  Like I said, there are most probably a few notable black metal bands out there, but they just wont break loose from the pathetic "Lets only do it for the S.A. metal scene", such loose ended attitudes will get you nowhere!!  (Not talking about everyone, just incase a few feel offended HA HA!!!). We must join!! And so grow Strong!! STOP HIDING!!  No!!  We have absolutely fuckall metal shows in S.A., and that's one of the contributing factors to why poeple wont break free of the chains that have them shackled down!

People often mistake South Africa for the more wild regions to your nation's north. Do you find that most people are ignorant of how South Africa was founded and how it lives on today? Does it irritate you that a lot of people consider Africa in general uncivilized?

L: I think most poeple think we just popped up out of nowhere.  S.A. is like the United States and Australia.  Our Ancestors are from Europe and settled.  Most South Africans come from Germanic ancestory.  I think most of Africa is uncivilized like most of the world.

M: Well, I think poeple down here are fucking ignorant about how it was founded!! The wild regions are barbaric and uncivilized, but that's just how it is.  It would fucking irritate the living shits out of me if people thought we are uncivilized!! Well we are uncivilized barbarians within the music scene, and a few loose screws in pupblic, KILL!! KILL!! KILL!! But...alltogether, were civilized and caring...hehehe!!

I see you have your South Africa-based website, and you now have a website based in Chile. How did that come about?

M: I guess that happened when I met Jorge Reynaud from Chile, over the internet of course.  From what I can remember, he e-mailed me first telling us that he liked our band.  Since then we've been in contact, he's been trying to spread our disease up in South America and he's built us a website out of it all as well.  We're very thankfull to him, he's really been trying to help us with promotion up that side.  He's also got a band called Spectrum.  Years ago I think they were called A.D.N. Spectro or something like that, and then Unicrom.  But they are now Spectrum, I'm sure.

Does NICATAS DRUMER have plans to play live any time soon?

L: Yea we do!  We are.  Busy rehearsing a live line-up at the moment.  And are arranging some gigs for probably the middle of the year (due to the fact that we will be recording in March/April).  But only locally in S.A. at this stage.

How have the responses from labels been to your demo CD? Would you settle with a dedicated underground label or are you after something bigger? What are NICATAS DRUMER's goals as a band? What do you hope to one day accomplish?

L: The responses have been O.K.  We'll see how it goes after our next demo/promo, which will be killer.  Really Fast and Harsh Black Metal.  We love the underground, but we are always after something bigger and better, remember the more listeners the more like minded poeple.  We want it all!  Lets spread the darkness to a bigger audience.

M: Well I think it's been pretty O.K. so far, nothing like getting signed or anything like that, but a some have shown heavy interest.  Like Peaceville for instance.  And Osmose were pretty interested when we sent our first demo out.  So I'd say, overall, not to bad.  We've had quite a few responses.  And we've had responses from Nuclear Blast and all.  Look, we'll settle for any dedicated underground label as long as they can do their fucking job!!  And ofcourse going for a big label is crucial, we also want to get big and all that, just like any other band would like to!!  Obviously not turning out all shity!! Look at Gorgoroth, they are on fucking Nuclear Blast for fuck sake!!!  But they have not gone crappy, watered-down or faggety yet!! THE TRUE ONES SHALL PREVAIL, AND THE POSERS WILL FAIL!!!  Well, hopes and goals, are to fucking wake poeple up down here, get somewhere in fucing life and do what we do best, playing AggressiveSatanicFueledBlackFuckinMetal!!!  And to get lots of Chicks and shit like that HAHA!!!  Basically, to prove a point, that even if your from a worm infested stink hole like this place, anything could be possible!

Tell me a little bit about what the song "Penetrate Desecrate Annihilate" is about.

M: All I can really say is...hmmm, Well!!  The title speaks for itself!!  I can tell you that it's not about fucking teddy bears and aliens!!!  HEHE!!! Im sure youll get the Idea soon enough!

Will NICATAS DRUMER ever change styles? I hope not!

L: No not really, we can only write better and more extreme songs.

M: No!! If you mean change from black metal to jazz, HA!!  I dont fucking think so!  But obviously with progression comes change, I think we're headed for a more Brutal Black Metal style at the moment.  Think Dark Funeral or Marduk, something like that.  Allthough, I must stress that Nicatas Drumer will ALWAYS be Nicatas Drumer, Forever True!! So fear not!! The Answer is NO!!

Do you remember how I got in touch with you? I mailed you about my website Burst Command Til War asking for promo material. That wasn't too long ago now, but I feel as if we've made a metal alliance, would you agree? Are alliances important in your view of the metal underground?

M: Yes, I remember, indeed we have made an alliance!!! METAL BROTHERS FOR EVER!!! Ofcourse alliances are important in the metal underground.  Tell me...what would we do if there was no one else to help you, and everyone kept to themselves?  I guess it would be pretty fucking lonely and boring!  Imagining a country at war without allies? Doesn't sound to good, does it!!!?

How do you like being a member of the great Heavycore organization, and their first South African members?

M: Fucking good, closing in on 666 members Pete!! HEHE!! And yes it feels fucking great being the first band from South Africa to be a part of the Heavycore Organization! Pete does a great job, and is a true brother in metal!! Many Hails to all the commandos at Heavycore, especially Pete, for helping us out in a certain not to be mentioned case!! We hail you brother!!!

How do you feel about keyboards invading black metal over the years? Are the primitive stylings of DARKTHRONE, BEHERIT, IMPALED NAZARENE and BLASPHEMY better than the gothic influence of a band like DIMMU BORGIR - they are more of a regular metal band than black metal, wouldn't you agree? What does black metal mean to you?

L: It takes all types.  Just imagine if all metal sounded the same. Fuck!!  But dont get me wrong, I do think keyboards are getting a bit to much.  But Dimmu Borgir have earned their money.  They had keyboards in their music when they started playing, long before it became a trend.

M: I really dont have anything against keyboards, but it is definately turning the black metal, underground black metal scene, into a fucking joke!!  Look, like I said, I have nothing against keyboards, as long as the person who is playing them knows how the fuck to play it, and if it's incorporated into the music minimally, only where it will sound good or just for an added effect, but not drowning the entire fucking song!!  YES!! They are a better influence than Dimmu Borgir, Darkthrone and all other old-school black metal bands.  I would say that Dimmu Borgir are good at what they do, but the unfortunate part is them being more of a infuence than the older bands such as Mayhem and all that!  Cause you get these fucking Dimmu Borgir wanna-be's, starting up a band overnight, sound completely fucking crap, and getting signed very quickly!  Unfortunately Dimmu Borgir has paved the way to a new genre in black metal, and people are following it, to bad, I suppose.  Black metal to me means Spikes, leather, blood, blasphemy, satanism and playing what comes truly out of the mind of a psyco!!

Do you worship the old thrash bands like I do? Bands like DESTRUCTION, KREATOR, SODOM, SLAUGHTERLORD, SLAYER, DARK ANGEL, or POSSESSED? What bands are you listening to currently?

L: Yea, Sodom and Slayer, and lets not forget Judas Priest.  Dissection (Godz! Hail mental Jon!), Marduk, Mayhem, Satyricon, Darkthrone, Bathory, Dark Funeral, Setherial, Hypocrisy, King Diamond, etc...

M: Ofcourse!! Slayer, Sodom, Destruction, Kreator etc..., but also Old Maiden and Judas Priest etc...  This is difficult to answer, theres a lot, but I suppose I'd say Darkthrone, Satyricon, Immortal, Marduk, Dark Funeral, Setherial, Dissection, Swordmaster, Hypocrisy, Burzum, even some Dimmu Borgir hehe!!, Naglfar etc...

Do you think that people in the metal scene today are more worried about getting a good-sounding album than writing good songs? Isn't it true that a good-sounding record is shit without a good set of songs to go with it?

L: You hit the nail on the head!! (Or through the wrists!!) HA HA HA!!!.  But I also think that a band should strive for the best sound they can get, to do justice to their music.

M: Yes, I think poeple are concerned about getting a good sounding album than writing good songs today.  It also seems to sell a lot nowadays!!  A polished and absolutely sqeaky clean fucking album means nothing if theres no good material on it!! What a waste of fucking money and time!!

Have you heard of my favorite band, NUNSLAUGHTER, from Ohio? If not, you'd better go find some of their stuff, hah hah!

L: Havnt heard their music, only their name.  But I like the name, HE HE HE!!!

M: I've heard the name Andrew, but never really heard any of the material.  But I'll make sure to find some of their material!

I really like the songs you guys have on Mp3.Com and I can't wait to hear the CD you just sent me! I send your band Massive Metal Hails! Feel free to say anything you want to end this interview.

L: Look out for the new material coming soon.  Fuck Christ!!  Hail Darkness!!  Hail Andrew!! thanx for the interview and support!!  Blood and Metal Forever!!!!

M: Metal Forever!!!  Black Fucking Metal!!  And to all those who oppose us, you are only fueling the fire!! SEE YOU IN HELL!!!