1)I can't believe it has almost been 20 years since I first received a copy of the crush the cenotaph demo in 1990. How does it feel to have achieved a sort of longevity?
Bob:It makes you feel old. I remember that we recorded the Crush the Cenotaph demo in June 1989....but it feels like yesterday.
2)Do you consider this a reunion, being that martin is the only member from the old glory days? Or is it more of just keeping the old school flames burning?
Frankly, Martin didn't start the band, but joined Asphyx after leaving Pestilence. Bob Bagchus is the only founding member who's still in the band now.
Bob:Know your sources and know the history man.....
3)What was the reasoning at reuniting the band as every previous attempt had failed?
The Party San festival did several offers in the past, but the band didn't reunited because former guitarist Eric Daniels didn't want to play the six string axe again at that time. And so a couple of years passed by until Martin and I talked at a Hail of Bullets drinking session in November 2006 about Asphyx. I kept on asking about the band and we came with the idea to give it a shot when I would handle the guitars. The reunion was mend to do an one time only show at the Party San festival, which was special for the band because Asphyx split up 3 days before their show in 2000. So it was to make it up and put things straight.
We never thought about doing more shows and writing songs but we have so much fun in playing live that quitting wasn't an option.
4)You are in 2 other bands THANATOS AND HAIL OF BULLETS, the latter really achieving a level of success with the debut album of frost and war. How do you find time for all 3 bands?
I wasn't suppost to be active in 3 bands. Thanatos should be put in ice for a while to focus on our new band called Hail of Bullets two years ago. Thanatos had the idea to release a new album in 2006, but when the label went broke we were unable to finish the recordings. And so the band marches still on.
With Asphyx, we thought to do only 1 reunion show, but that turned out very different. It is sometimes hard indeed to combine all bands and a full time job. But all bands aren't rehearsing every week. We are writing songs by recording them at home with a drumcomputer and send them to the other bandmembers. When we have enough songs we're rehearsing them and so we try to be efficient with our time.
Hail of Bullets for example only did for about 6 a 7 rehearsals before entering the studio.
5)Do you consider it hard to get inspired considering all 3 bands are very similar in style?
For myself speaking... I don't consider my 3 bands similair in style. It wouldn't make sense for a musician to play in 3 same bands. Especially Thanatos is playing a complete different style; it's thrash/death. Hail of Bullets is different (compared to Asphyx) in songstructure and feeling.
6)The new single is the bands best and harshest material in years. A prelude to the upcoming album?
The new Asphyx songs remind us of the first albums. Played intensely, raw to the bone, including with all typical Asphyx elements. We all had in mind that the upcoming album should be the successor of 'Last one on earth'. I guess we succeded in that.
7)How far into the process of the new album are you? When is it going to be released?
New songs are coming up, in total 8 songs are written. In fact, we already recorded the drums and guitar of 6 songs at a small studio called "Sonic Assault" of our soundman Frank. We want to write one more song to have an album with 9 songs. After completing the recordings we will mix the songs at the Harrow studio's. Harry Weijering mixed and mastered almost every Asphyx album and so he knows best how to get this Supreme Brutality on tape.
8)You guys are back with century media. Was there alot of interest in you guys or was cm the obvious choice as you worked with them in the past.
Asphyx still is in contract for two more full length albums. The contract is very old, so we will have to rewrite it. Century Media is still a major label in the scene. Asphyx was one of their first signings, so there's a special bond between Asphyx and CM.
9)You guys have been playing festivals this summer and will do some spot on gigs the rest of the year. How has the crowd response been at these shows?
The reaction of the crowd was overwhelming. We didn't expect this huge response. Probably there are more people who still like to hear the old classic songs. It's very cool to get this appreciation. It gives the band the push to write new material and do more shows.
10)You'll be appearing at the maryland deathfest next spring. Will this be the only appearence in the states for the band or will there be a possible tour here?
At the moment we aren't planning a US tour or something. The band will not tour anyway. Wannes and Bob are fathers now and with my job it's hard to get days off. We all prefer doing weekendshows instead of long touring.
11)Did you ever think that after this long asphyx or your style of death metal would still be relevent?
At the mid 90's old school metal wasn't that hot anymore. Action = reaction they say. So probably this metalstyle came back as reaction at the hectical technical (US) deathmetal. Old school deathmetal is for me the essence how metal must be: raw, to the point, brutal and hard.
12)How do you feel about all these new bands who seem to be reduplicating old school style death metal?
'Reduplicating' sounds a little disrespectful. I'm glad the interest for old school death metal returned and people want to play it. I guess that's why Asphyx received a large welcome back.
13)What are asphyx's plan for the rest of the year and what does the future hold for the band?
Besides doing some shows we'll focus on the new songs. Martin is now writing lyrics and probably some songs will be arranged. Hope to release a brand new album in May 2009, maybe together with a dvd, but we don't know that yet at this time.
14)Well this concludes our session.It was great talking with you. Any final words or comments.
Ok man! Thanks for your time. Hope we'll meet eachother to cheers. Check out www.myspace.com/officialasphyx for more info and new. See ya!
No comments:
Post a Comment