GRAVEHILL INTERVIEW:
1. Lets start this off with a little bit of background of the band.
GRAVEHILL originally began in 2001’ as a project band by me and Mike Apokalypse of GEHENNA fame. We both have an undying devotion to being assholes, and pretty much hate most “metal” bands in the previous decade and the dawning decade; this was our way of shitting on all trendwhores! At the time we didn’t really intend on this being much more than our way of paying tribute to Cronos, Tom G. Warrior, and Dave Lombardo… obviously we are not paid professionals but at the same time we didn’t (and still don’t) care about being the best, just an uncompromising, entertaining and utterly brutal band. We chose the name GRAVEHILL since it was the original name of HELLHAMMER; we thought it was just too good a name to lay dormant. We recorded one demo “Practitioner’s of Fell Sorcery” in 2001 and pretty much disbanded not too long afterwards.
GRAVEHILL originally began in 2001’ as a project band by me and Mike Apokalypse of GEHENNA fame. We both have an undying devotion to being assholes, and pretty much hate most “metal” bands in the previous decade and the dawning decade; this was our way of shitting on all trendwhores! At the time we didn’t really intend on this being much more than our way of paying tribute to Cronos, Tom G. Warrior, and Dave Lombardo… obviously we are not paid professionals but at the same time we didn’t (and still don’t) care about being the best, just an uncompromising, entertaining and utterly brutal band. We chose the name GRAVEHILL since it was the original name of HELLHAMMER; we thought it was just too good a name to lay dormant. We recorded one demo “Practitioner’s of Fell Sorcery” in 2001 and pretty much disbanded not too long afterwards.
2. The new album RITES OF THE PENTAGRAM has been out now for a little bit. How has the reaction been so far??
It’s been a slow ascension, we were hoping to see the album in far more places but it has kept a slow yet steady momentum. As long as those who get it… honestly get it… and those who don’t… don’t… we separate the real metalheads from the trend fags.
3. When the band reformed in 2007 with you being the only original member, was it hard to find the right people to put it all together?
I never really consciously tried to reform this band, it happened on its own accord… Mike Abominator came to me to start a band; he and I are old farts here in the Los Angeles/Orange County Metal community and decided to join forces after 18 years of supporting each other but never working together. He liked the idea of re-forming GRAVEHILL and with the blessing of Apokalypse it became a reality. Bodybag Bob came from Mike’s former band and Zyklon-A came from Bob’s other former band. (Confused yet?) J. CorpseMolestor passed out in our Jam Room one night buried under empty Natural Light boxes… we haven’t been successful in getting rid of him and still don’t know which asshole brought him to our jam room, but he does bring coke and hookers to rehearsals, so we decided he might as well play bass so Mike has more freedom to start fights with the crowd.
4. With 2 EP’s, one which is to re-released soon if I understand correctly and a demo, what was the bands goals when you began to create ROTP?
Well we have 2 demo’s “PRACTICIONER’S OF FELL SORCERY” AND “METAL OF DEATH”, we re-recorded “METAL OF DEATH” with 2 bonus tracks (or a bonus EP “ADVOCATION OF MURDER & SUICIDE” just to confuse you more…) for ENUCLEATION records. Our goal with ROTP, was to create our own version of “OBSSESSED BY CRUEL MENTAL FUNERALS IN SEVEN CHURCHES WELCOMING APOCALYPTIC RAIDS IN HELL AWAITS”… we wanted a better production so we entered an actual studio instead of self recording, we also wanted to locate a bigger label to get us better gigs and introduce us to a wider audience so we can spit blood on them and drink all their beer!
5. Only a fucking dumbass couldn't see that you guys are all old school goats. Was GRAVEHILL ever anything but that?
If we change, I sure as hell hope we become an REO SPEEDWAGON cover band… nothing is more satanic(k)/extreme than that ancient & griMM “Kvlt”.
6. You guys are currently with Enucleation records. What led you to sign there; I for one knew you guys had a huge buzz going from the Metal of Death/Advocation of Murder and Suicide ep. How has that partnership been going?
Neil of FATALIST had recommended us to Greg and vice versa, the original plan was to do a split 7” EP w./ FATALIST. That fell through but we both wanted to work together so we started with a re-recording/release of “METAL OF DEATH” and it became a natural decision to do “ROTP”. Greg has been very supportive of us; the buzz you mentioned is greatly due to him and his label, and I’d say the partnership was a very good one.
4. With 2 EP’s, one which is to re-released soon if I understand correctly and a demo, what was the bands goals when you began to create ROTP?
Well we have 2 demo’s “PRACTICIONER’S OF FELL SORCERY” AND “METAL OF DEATH”, we re-recorded “METAL OF DEATH” with 2 bonus tracks (or a bonus EP “ADVOCATION OF MURDER & SUICIDE” just to confuse you more…) for ENUCLEATION records. Our goal with ROTP, was to create our own version of “OBSSESSED BY CRUEL MENTAL FUNERALS IN SEVEN CHURCHES WELCOMING APOCALYPTIC RAIDS IN HELL AWAITS”… we wanted a better production so we entered an actual studio instead of self recording, we also wanted to locate a bigger label to get us better gigs and introduce us to a wider audience so we can spit blood on them and drink all their beer!
5. Only a fucking dumbass couldn't see that you guys are all old school goats. Was GRAVEHILL ever anything but that?
If we change, I sure as hell hope we become an REO SPEEDWAGON cover band… nothing is more satanic(k)/extreme than that ancient & griMM “Kvlt”.
6. You guys are currently with Enucleation records. What led you to sign there; I for one knew you guys had a huge buzz going from the Metal of Death/Advocation of Murder and Suicide ep. How has that partnership been going?
Neil of FATALIST had recommended us to Greg and vice versa, the original plan was to do a split 7” EP w./ FATALIST. That fell through but we both wanted to work together so we started with a re-recording/release of “METAL OF DEATH” and it became a natural decision to do “ROTP”. Greg has been very supportive of us; the buzz you mentioned is greatly due to him and his label, and I’d say the partnership was a very good one.
7. You guys gig quite a bit. Are their any specific goals you have for the band? How far do you want to take this?
We do pride ourselves on our live performance and playing as much as possible does help us become a better live act. We play as many worthwhile gigs as possible in our locale and we DIY tour but in small doses (for now) until a better opportunity comes along. As far as I’m concerned we’ll take it as far as we can push it, before it becomes a caricature of itself or we drink our livers into a coma… whichever comes first!
8. A friend of mine saw you at the NJ Deathfest and said that you guys fucking killed it. He also mentioned the crazy stage gear. How important is the live aspect of the band and what do you want the audience to take away from a Gravehill show??
Well, I came from the olden days when bands cared about being entertainers as well as musicians… the stage gear, the blood, the attitude is apart of that begotten era. We want to stand out from the rest of the herd and make them take notice, but also kick their ass with our decibels at the same time. The whole visual package confuses some people; even at the NJ Metalfest we were labeled “Black Metal” because of our image. That’s fine, but before the panda faced bands… the likes of POSSESSED, SLAYER, and HELLHAMMER were doing exactly what we are doing… and at the time it was labeled “Thrash”, but is it? Then you have the dawn of bands like MASSACRE, DEATH, OBITUARY, and MORBID ANGEL, they we labeled “Death Metal”, but are they? Basically a label is a loaded opinion… we call ourselves “Death Metal” but others call us Black/Thrash or Black/Death etc and so on… As far as we’re concerned we play what influenced the dawning of Death Metal, whatever label you feel best helps you understand it… so be it.
9. You guys already have a few shows lined up for 2010, but they seem to be pretty spread out. Any plans for a full on tour of the U.S., Europe? Maybe an appearance here in Cleveland? Is it difficult for the band to play out alot especially outside California?
We are just beginning our plans for 2010’, we do have another CD to record in early 2010’ so we are starting the year small and plan on doing as much as possible in the summer, fall and winter of 2010’. We have signed to IBEX MOON RECORDS as of October 09’. The new partnership is working on tour ideas for us, and helping us cross some boarders we cant quite do on our own… doing DIY Tours are difficult and expensive, but that hasn’t stopped us. We have played up the and down the West Coast twice now; we played 3 gigs in the mid-west last year and now one Fest on the East Coast this year, we soon shall head down south to play 3 gigs in Texas for the beginning of 2010’. We do what we call guerrilla style touring where we hit a specific scene for a short run and then head home.
10. Other then some shows in 2010, what can we expect from you guys next year? A new album in the works perhaps?
We have 75% of the next album written and should be ready for the recording process with John Haddad again at the helm in mid-March. We have requested artist Kris Verwimp for this record but he is very busy and might not be able to do it, we are still deciding on a secondary... we are calling the release "PRAVUS TYRANNIS" which means "Perverse Tyranny". Titles (so far) set to appear are “Unholy Executioner”, “When All Roads Lead to Hell”, “Devil Worshiper”, "War Prayers" and “Suffer No Man to Live”… the album to me feels a bit more on the "Black" side of metal but we still have kept the melody and the AUTOPSY vibe. I think we just dig the bands CRAFT & INQUISITION way too much as of late! HA HA!
11. You have played in several other noted bands. Where does GRAVEHILL fit into that spectrum?
I have always been the most “metal minded” than anyone else in all the previous bands I’ve been in… GRAVEHILL is what I’ve always wanted to achieve it just took 18 years to find the right people, and it’s been much more rewarding by all accounts. I guess GRAVEHILL fits where all the other bands didn’t for me, covered in blood and shitty beer! HA HA!
12. Well I want to thank you for the interview. Any departing remarks?
Your welcome Sir, my pleasure! Look for RITES OF THE PENTAGRAM at www.Relapse.com & www.Ibexmoonrecords.com… GRAVEHILL merch is available through us on myspace www.myspace.com/gravehill666. FUCK, SHIT, SATAN, RAPE!!!
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