Interview with Lelahell

Some time ago, I made the review from the first album of this Algerian band. The recording is called "Al Insane... The (Re) Birth of Abderrahmane" and is the first full album of the band (had previously recorded an EP). What most struck me, in addition to the ferocity of his music, is the fact that they come from a country to which I was unaware of in the field of extreme music. Thanks to Lelahell and Devast, I could get close to that particular scene. Recently, I interviewed Idir, the leader of Devast (band established in Argentina). Now it is the turn to another very representative Extreme Metal band made in Algeria: Lelahell.

Puro Ruido: Hello, Redouane. Greetings from Cordoba, Argentina. How is everything there?

Redouane: Hi first of all thanks for your support! everything is well here!

PR: Well, let´s go to the main reason why we agreed to do this interview. You have made a documentary called "Highway To Lelahell: An Algerian Documentary". Whose was the idea of making this documentary? What we will find when we see it?

R: In the beginning I got the idea to make a documentary about all the Algerian Metal history, but I realized that is need a lot of time and a lot of work, so I decided to start first talking about my 23 years of career as a metal musician which was much easier and it took only 4months to do it!

PR: Beyond Lelahell, the documentary allows us, to those who know little or nothing about the metal scene in Algeria, learn more about the history of the movement in that country. But in what context was born the Heavy Metal scene in Algeria?

R: The first generations of metal bands were formed in the late 90’s (before the black decade) like Rascass and Neanderthalia . We started as young teenagers who wanted to play music and have fun!  We were big fans of Metallica, slayer and such bands; we wanted to live from music like them!

PR: Redouane, you lived an infamous era in the history of your country: the so-called Black Decade. How difficult it was to start a band, organizing concerts and go out and play in the middle of this chaos where people die every day? The violence amid which you lived, which fed back to create increasingly violent and extreme music?

R: As I said before we started playing metal before the black decade in the early 90’s, but some years after it wasn’t as difficult as you imagine we were young and unconscious but we were passionate by the metal music so nothing was able to stop us!

PR: You played on some of the most important bands in the history of heavy music in your country: Litham, Carnavage, Neanderthalia. Even you played on Devast band that today is based in Argentina. Do you evaluate your career over all these years, having played in all these bands? How much you think that you have given to the Metal scene in Algeria and how much you gave this scene to you?

R: I think that those experiences were very helpful for me as person and as musician, and it helped me a lot for my band Lelahell. I wasn’t realizing what I have done during those years until I made this documentary, and I I made it for all the metal scene in general and especially for the Algerian Metal scene to show people how it was hard to play metal during those years!

PR: Let's go to the present. In 2014 released the first full album Lelahell "Al Insane ... The (Re) Birth of Abderrahmane". How good was the response of the public and the press?

R: The album got very good responses worldwide, we got very nice reviews in one of the biggest metal magazines and webzines: Metallian (FR) 5,5/6, Tubera (Cz) 9/10, Extreminal (TR) 8,9/10, Metal Revolution (DK) 8/10, Truemetal.it (IT) 80/100, and more … and when we played in Malta in the death fest and in our previous tour, the people loved our music and gave us a strong positive reaction!

PR: There are already plans for the future of Lelahell? New songs? Tours? Enter the studio to record a new album?

R: We are going in a mini tour in Austria and Switzerland next week (03/03 to 05/03). And after that we’ll concentrate on our second full length and for that we are launching a crowdfunding campaign in few weeks! We need your support! So stay in touch here for more news: http://www.facebook.com/lelahell

PR: I wonder how was your turning point, the moment when you decided you were going to play Metal. There was a disco or band made you make the decision to do so?

R: I just started to listen to Hard Rock stuffs of my brother when I was young, with bands like AC/DC, Scorpions and Motorhead.  After that I started to listen to some let say more metal stuffs like Metallica and Slayer, and after that I started to take some classical guitar courses in order to learn playing and later found a band.

PR: Most Death Metal bands speak of death, in all its forms, in their lyrics, something that is quite logical. However, as I've read, Lelahell write and sing about other issues. That leads me to the question: what topics speak  the lyrics of Lelahell?

R: In general we write about everything, most on time about society, our personal experiences and philosophical concepts. But sometimes we can deal with serial killers like the song “Voices Revealed” which is inspired by the Philip Garrido, we can also talk about the nature like the song ‘Hillal’ which means the moon in Arabic.

PR: Ok, brother, let's nearing the end. What would you say to someone who never approached to the Algerian Metal? How you convince that person to listen to Lelahell and all the good bands there were and are in your country?

R: If you like the melody and the brutality at the same time you should listen to Lelahell!

About Algerian metal there are some good promising new bands that deserve your attention! Support Lelahell, support the Algerian metal scene!

PR: Well, that's all. It was a pleasure to interview you, Redouane. You want to add anything else?

R: Thanks a lot for your great interview!  And stay brutal

Interview with Leather Leone from Chastain

In the second half of the 80s, there was a duo that brought very good material to the singular world of Heavy Metal (musical genre which at that time was experiencing a great moment). That duo was formed by the virtuoso guitarist David Chastain and great singer Leather Leone. At the beginning of 90s, the musical relationship between both was cut and each followed a own way. But, as expected, their paths would cross again sooner or later. That's why I interviewed Leather Leone, to speak to us about her return to Chastain (the band), the new and good album recorded ("We Bleed Metal"), her past, present and future.


Puro Ruido: Hi Leather! Greetings from Cordoba, Argentina. It is a pleasure for me to interview you. How is everything there?
Leather Leone: Hey Manel…All is well. I have made new music . I have prospects for some solo shows and I have my health ...
PR: Well, you're back in Chastain, have recorded a very good album (the second since you came back to the group), are receiving very positive reviews. What else can you add to this? Are you on tour?
LL: Yes , the reviews and acceptance of "We bleed metal" are extremely positive.
We are blessed that we have our metal family that continue to believe in us and spread the word after all this time. We have incredible support through radio and press...I thank all of you.
David Chastain is no longer interested in the adventure of the road. It is disappointing to me being that the large excitement is in the both of us, But I am exploring avenues of doing solo shows....So stay tuned.

PR: I wonder how it was that you returned to be part of Chastain (the band). You kept contact with him during all the years you were away from the band? Or you preferred to pass the time away from him and the band and let everything happen naturally?
LL: Chastain and I have always been in touch some what. There was never an abrupt decision to end of the band. It somehow happened naturally. I really don't remember the exact situation. It was amicable I assume.. I would have remembered otherwise.

PR: “We Bleed Metal" sounds very powerful, modern and classic at the same time, and sounds dynamic. It seems that you worked hard to create it, but really enjoyed doing it. How was the songwriting process?
LL: Yes it is strong material. I felt it from the moment I started working on it. I was excited , and it shows. Chastain has always basically been the mind of David Chastain. I was more involved with the writing of "Surrender to no one ", So I wanted the new music to go back to his mind. I think my job in Chastain is to interpret his word. I wanted to go back to that place. I am glad we did. You can feel the energy through whole record. I love it. I'm proud of it.

PR: There is something I always wanted to know: how is it to work with David Chastain? I have the feeling that he must be very demanding, perfectionist and full of ideas.
LL: Yes , Chastain is a true perfectionist. He pushes and challenges me. But that's what doing music is all about. To do the absolute best of your ability.
It still amazes me that he wanted ever work with me back in the day. I was unimaginably green and had no idea what I was doing....but we do work well together in our own way. We have created some cool music.....I have no complaints ......

PR: In an interview to a Brazilian website, you said when you recorded the first albums with Chastain, you were very inexperienced. Tell us about those early experiences, about going into the studio for the first time, the first rehearsals. You find your voice right from the start? Or was it a gradual process until you find your own style to sing?
LL: I was at home about going in a big studio at first. I was confident about singing metal , I thought....Then I got there!,! I was unprofessional , immature and I'm sure a pain ass. But again, I had a great team that stuck by me. I don't think I really found my voice until "7th of Never". Something all of a sudden clicked during that time. Although as I say that, I feel I have found a new voice on the last 2 records. For me , always the same style but different if that makes any sense!

PR: In 1989 you released your solo album, a great album called "Shock Waves"? What things motivated you to release a solo album? What memories do you have of that particular album?
LL: I have been told it was Chastain's idea due the fact I was not happy with my lack of press. I certainly can believe that. It was a happy creative time. I got to write more than I usually do. I still love the record, although not that different from anything Chastain ....I should have stepped out of the box a bit, but I took the opportunity given to me....

PR: In 2012 you released an album under the name of Sledge Leather, after 11 years away from the scene, if I'm not mistaken. That return was something that was maturing in your mind?
LL: The "Sledge Leather Project" came out of the loss of Ronnie James Dio. I needed to and had the opportunity to express myself with members of his musical family . It was a learning experience in many ways.

PR: Leather, how did you get started in music? I read that you sang in a church choir, but you better tell us how did you start to sing and what bands marked you as a singer.
LL: It was church that got me into singing . I didn't do it well, but had the balls to always try. I got into musical theatre through a music teacher named Mary Flick. I just keep singing in cover bands through college , then I moved to California and eventually was introduced to Ronnie James Dio musically and personally. My little world of singing , phrasing, and vocal tone changed forever!!, His work still inspires me.

PR: Last question, Leather. What follows from now on? There is something prepared for the near future of the band? And what about the future of Leather as a singer?
LL: I am working to got on the road as Leather Leone. I will be playing The Metal Apocalypse fest in Chicago in May 2016. I have got a band together with David Harbour from (Chastain, King Diamond), Jim Dofka, (Dofka). I will see how we gel and take it from there. I am planning on returning to Brazil this year with my incredible band in Brazil.
I'm healthy....Life is good.

PR: Ok, Leather, thank you very much for your time. If you want to add something, just do it freely.
LL: Thanks so much to all of my metal friends. Stay in touch at LeatherLeone.com
Check out The new Chastain at webleedmetal.com or leviathanrecords.com
Love and Dio.

Interview with Shaxul from Manzer

Few months ago, and thanks to my friend Kunal, from Trascending Oscurity, I had the chance to listen to Manzer for first time. I enjoyed (and enjoy) so much to listen that kind of BlackMetal of the first wave, with influences from genres like Thrash, Speed and dark Heavy Metal. From the first time I listen to this band, the idea of doing an interview with Shaxul (drummer, singer and leader of the Group) was around in my mind. Raul, from the label Memento Mori, and, again, Kunal, helped me with the contact (the e-mail address of Shaxul), and Shaxul not only responded to my email in Spanish, but he proved to be a great, charismatic and intelligent guy. This interview is the best proof of this.



Puro Ruido: Hello, Shaxul. Greetings from Cordoba, Argentina. How's everything over there?
Shaxul: Infernal Hails from Pictavian Hell! Busy with MANZER as always, which is great.

PR: You have been very active, Shaxul! So far this year you released a compilation, a split with Nightwolf and a live album. Tell me, what's next from now on? The second full lenght of Manzer?
S: You're absolutely right. The mastering for our second full length album is now ready and I hope to release the CD in late January 2016 if everything goes well. It will be available on LP (on my label as well) and tape (on INFERNÖ Records) later. Before this, I will release a split 10"MLP with our brothers from HEXECUTOR. A limited live tape will be out in early 2016 on OLD AXE CULT Records, it should be a very special release for die-hard MANZER maniaks only. You see, we always have projects under our belt!

PR: Let's go to the beginning of this story. What motivates you to create a band like Manzer? It was something you had in mind for some time?
S: MANZER was born in 2008. Indeed I wanted to create a band like this a long time ago but it's always difficult to find suitable members. I really enjoyed playing the drums for BARBATOS in 2001 and since then, I had this idea in mind. I got more involved in the local Pictavian scene later on and that's how I could meet maniaks who joined forces.

PR: Not only that you are very active with Manzer, but also have your own labels: Armée de la Mort Records and Legion of Death. Why two labels? There are different goals or proposals to work with each label?
S: LEGION OF DEATH Records has been created in 2001. The idea is to support bands from underrated or unknown regions on this planet, I mean not from the so-called western world. On vinyl format only! Then in 2009, the label became my daily job. I wanted to release CD's as well, and support bands from the French regions, but I didn't want to change the LEGION OF DEATH concept which is so important to me. Thus ARMEE DE LA MORT Records was born. But well, basically it's all the same.

PR: I know you like to know new cultures, take your music to different countries and share with maniacs from around the world. What is most outstanding of these experiences in different parts of the world, with people from different cultures?
S: Yes, this is something we really enjoy. It's not that easy to explain. But well, when you're used to a certain daily life and you discover the one that others have, it's always interesting to compare and you always learn something out of it. Life is short so that's great to keep on learning constantly. It's especially exciting when you meet friends you're in touch with for years, and you finally happen to share great moments in real life, you know. And then it's also about food, architecture, landscapes, etc... It's just fascinating to us. As for the gigs, it's always a tremendous experience to perform for other maniaks, most of times they are much more crazy than in Europe hehe.

PR: Speaking of this topic comes to mind next topic: the growth of xenophobia and racism in practically the whole world, unfortunately. And the world of Metal music is not out of the question. What do you think when you read or hear of your colleagues insulting people from other cultures for the simple fact of being different? Do not think that musicians should be (we should, because I am musician too) away from these conservative ideas?
S: I don't know if it's growing or not, I have the feeling it has always been there and always will be. Well, racism just shows how little scientific, historical and social knowledge people have. Those idiots can fukk off but you know, they hate what I do so I have no relationship whatsoever with such people. So let's say I "naturally" stay away from these morons as my label is completely opposed to their stinking ideas. But yeah, music is so universal that it can't be compatible with retarded theories like racism, no matter how hard some people try.

PR: Shaxul, has played in French bands like Deathspell Omega, Arphaxat (indeed, still playing in this band because you are one of the founding members), Annthennath, etc. I.e., you are a person who knows the French extreme Metal scene. What is the current situation of the extreme scene in France today?
S: Sorry to say but ARPHAXAT is dead. ANNTHENNATH may release a second full length album then stop, time will tell. As for the situation in France, it is similar to many European countries. There are a lot of trendy bands that want to belong to the mainstream world, but this is not my world so I don't give a shit. Fortunately there are some good underground bands in some regions (except Paris which is full of shit on all levels). But to be honest, I tend to grow away from that "extreme" Metal scene you're talking about as we have more and more great Heavy and Thrash bands in France, they have a much more sincere attitude and music in my opinion. France has always been full of arrogant trendy assholes when it comes to Black Metal especially. So now to the bands worthy to mention hehe : KILLERS (gods), MERCYLESS, PERFECTÖ, GOATVERMIN, NUCLEAR ABOMINATION, TENTATION, INFAMY, TORTURE THRONE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, SKELETHAL, THE LAST TOMB, SILVER MACHINE, DESILLUSION, HSN... Obviously I can mention some on my label : IRON SLAUGHT, HEXECUTOR, PERVERSIFIER, ACARUS SARCOPT, VALUATIR, BREIZH OCCULT, ANGMAR, HYPOKRAS, KLOOTZAK...

PR: Let's go back to what interests us: Manzer. They have been touring recently? Kunal, of Trascending Obscurity, told me about the bestial shows that you gave in Malaysia and Singapore.
S: Our last tour was in India and Nepal, December 2014. Incredible tour and trip. We first met Kunal at the Mumbai gig by the way. We toured Israel in March 2014. Before this, it was Malaysia / Singapore in May 2013. And our first tour in Asia was in November 2010 : Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. We had some bestial shows indeed hehe but it's mostly thanks to the crowds, we've witnessed some fukked up ones!!! When we come back from such tours, we release a live CD to keep these memories alive and MANZER maniaks can travel with us thanks to them, at least that's our aim with those live releases. We hope to play in Turkey in 2016 and tour Japan in 2017, we're working on that already!

PR: For anyone who does not know in depth the work of Manzer, I'd like you to tell us about something recurring in the lyrics and titles of works of Manzer and that can be summarized in one word: Pictavia. What an inspiration you get from that region, its culture, etc?
S: Our region Pictavia is a huge influence indeed. We have songs in Parlanjhe, a local language that is unfortunately dying. But there are also tons of stories and legends so it will be an inspiration for years to come! It is a part of our identity, and I think that we succeeded in putting Pictavia on the map so to speak. People know we are "Pictavian Bastards"!

PR: Well, Shaxul, go with the last question. What things do you mobilize when composing, playing your instrument, writing lyrics? You need to be in a certain mood to make music? Or any time and any mood may inspire you to create a song?
S: Damn, that's a really interesting question. But so hard to answer! I can't explain why I want to keep on writing and playing music. It is what I like most in life, but I guess there's much more to that. Because you know, writing a song is a difficult process but sometimes it's a real pleasure, and sometimes it's a real pain. Though this is one of those things keeping me alive actually. So I don't need any special mood but the mood I'm in can have an influence on the song for sure. Sometimes I feel good and / or drunk, and I'll write on booze and sex. When I'm in a period of depression, I tend to write about life and death, with references to Satan here and there as it's such a great Rock'n'Roll symbol, a neverending source of inspiration, and well, we're a Black Metal band after all. Same goes with the music, that's also why you can hear different influences in our songs coming from Heavy Metal, Rock'n'Roll, Punk... But I believe it's pretty homogeneous at the end of the day. I enjoy playing our songs very much and that keeps me going!

PR: Ok, this is it. Hopefully one day we can see you in South America and receive your discharge of Extreme, filthy and evil Metal. If you want to add something, do it freely.
S: We really dream to tour South America so let's be patient and it may happen one day! OK, all the beAst with your blog. To all readers : support the underground or go fukk yourselves!!! Anybody can feel free to write. A çhés fàetes!

Contacts :

E-mail : shaxul@orange.fr

LEGION OF DEATH / ARMEE DE LA MORT Records : www.legionofdeathrecords.com

Snail Mail : LOD Records / BP 21 / 86210 Bonneuil-Matours / France.

MANZER Pictavian Black Metal : www.manzer.fr





December 2015.

Interview with Vacivus

In the world of Death Metal music there is a variant that I find particularly exciting. It's that kind of Death Metal that dispenses worldly horrors (serial murderers, virulent diseases, torture, etc.) or fantasy in the vein of Horror Films class B (zombies and other imaginary monsters) and which embraces another kind of horror: the horror that Lovecraft engendered through his great works, which comes from the other world, a world that we don't know objectively, but also finds inspiration in the hidden, the unknown. That Death Metal, which has in bands like Necrovore, Morbid Angel and Incantation its root, I find it very attractive because it is musically absorbing, it is like being eaten by a black hole. It's like traveling (violently) into a black hole. In the UK have appeared many good bands that lie within this particular underworld and Vacivus is not only one of the bands which belong to this branch of Death Metal: It is one of the most interesting out there today in that universe. That's why we did this interview. Welcome to the void.



Puro Ruido: Hails from Cordoba, Argentina. I am Manel , responsible of Puro Ruido blog (Pure Noise). How is everything there?
Vacivus: Hails to you Manel, and to all South American death metal maniacs!

PR: I must admit that I met Vacivus thanks to Pawel from Hellthrasher Productions. The truth is that I love the band, have a brutal, dark and deep sound. What motivated you to create the band? How and who formed the band?
V: In regards to the band's formation, most of us had played together in other bands previously and knew that we wanted to continue making music together. Our vocalist, Nick, was a good friend who shared our passion for old school death metal, and was the obvious choice to complete our lineup. Vacivus was formed out of our mutual desire to create dark, intense, sinister music and pay tribute to the glory of the all-consuming void.

PR: "Rite of Ascension" is a work that deserves to be heard from beginning to end, but that requires a particular state of mind of the listener. That is, it is not music to listen to at any time of day, anywhere; you need to find the right time to plunge into the darkness full of horrors that live inside the music Vacivus time. You seek to affect the listener in some way? Or just want to express yourselves, do what you feel, without worrying about the people think?
V: While we have never concerned ourselves with what others may think about our music, we definitely try to achieve an atmosphere of decrepit death and terror. We want to convey the majesty of the abyss and the fragility of the human race as we spiral, inevitably, towards absolute extinction.

PR: England has become fertile ground for bands like you. Besides Vacivus are Abyssal, Vorage, Cruciamentum, among others. This move of Dark Death Metal bands, born spontaneously? That is something that had been brewing slowly and exploded in a precise moment?
V: There are definitely a lot of great bands coming from the UK at the moment, although this is not to say that this is necessarily a new phenomena. Bands like Grave Miasma, Scythian, Ghast, Indesinence etc have been keeping the flame of old school death metal burning for years.

PR: What things inspire you when creating so hellish music? Vacivus music is influenced by other things that are beyond the merely musical?
V: Our main influence comes from the omnipresent force of entropy which slowly unravels all creation. We try to pay tribute to the great nothingness from which all things came, and to which all things will eventually return. We serve a power greater than death, older than the universe and more powerful than it is possible to comprehend. To this end, we draw inspiration from other artists who have channelled the Todestrieb in their work such as the writings of H.P Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, the artwork of Gustave Dore as well as the music of Dmitri Shostakovich. Obviously, our influences also include the masters of sinister old school death metal such as Incantation, Morbid Angel and Sepultura etc.

PR: Many of you were part of a band called Dawn of Chaos, with which active from the year 2000 to 2013. Can you say that Vacivus is a continuation of Dawn Of Chaos? Or is it a completely different entity?
V: Vacivus was formed after Dawn of Chaos had already split up, and the only connection between the two bands is that we shared a number of members. Vacivus are a completely separate entity to Dawn of Chaos.

PR: As I listened to the EP, I felt the feeling that it was recorded live. I mean, the atmosphere, violence, intensity, is as if you playing live and recording in real time. But you better tell me. How it was recorded "Rite of Ascension"?
V: You are correct! As it was initially intended as a demo recording, we decided to record live in order to capture the intensity of our live performance. We overdubbed vocals and solos only, and we're very happy with how the recording turned out. We have since recorded some new material, which we are hoping to release in 2016, and have recorded these tracks more traditionally which has allowed us to add more depth to our sound, while still retaining the savage energy.

PR: In Encyclopaedia Metallum "Dawn of Chaos" figure as the first album of the band. However, if I did not read wrong, "Rite of Ascension" is the first official Vacivus recording, because the previous work is a demo recorded during a rehearsal, or am I wrong?
V: You are correct. There are a number of factually inaccurate things on that website regarding Vacivus, and it should certainly not be considered a reliable source of information.

PR: Ok, last question. What is the goal, the purpose of Vacivus music? When I hear you, I imagine that it comes from cosmic chaos, a huge vacuum that becomes more and more dark. But to where will all that chaos, the great vacuum?
V: Our purpose is simply to continue making music that glorifies the black depths of oblivion. All else is futile in the face of guaranteed destruction.

PR: Well, that’s all. Of course, thank you very much for the interview. If you want to add anything else, feel free to do so.
V: Thanks to you for the interview! Worship at the temple of the abyss!

Hellrad: Things Never Changed + Entrevista

Año: 2015
Sello: Independiente/Autoproducido
País de origen: USA


Si te gusta la mugre, las fumadas y el rock bien duro, te gustarán estos Hellrad que vienen de Filadelfia (USA). Riffs a tope de maría y mala actitud. Mala pa los malos. Metal-punk-tarugo ¡Con todos mis respetos!
Suenan a ratos a Slayer (Streetzombies) y mucho a Eyehategod (escoge la tuya) pero con más gancho. Con una voz saturada de humo y obliteración.
También tienen momentos más a lo "Conan el bárbaro" ("15 years and counting"). Y destaco como single total la última, "Smokemorecrack" de clara temática infantil pero apta para el disfrute de toda la familia.
Como creo más en que la banda y la música hablen por sí mismas, escúchalos
https://hellrad1.bandcamp.com/releases
mientras lees lo que tienen que decir:


PR: ¿Con qué grupo os gustaría tocar lo más?
Hellrad: Demasiados para nombrarlos...pero estoy bastante seguro de que Mike Hook estaría encantado de tocar con Ghost

PR: ¿Qué grabación estais promocionando ahora mismo y qué más teneis preparado?
HR: "Things never change" es nuestro Lp de siete canciones que podeis encontrar en: https://hellrad1.bandcamp.com/releases y estamos escribiendo canciones para un nuevo Lp que seguramente grabaremos en el verano de 2016.

PR: ¿Qué cacharros usais (pregunta freak)?
HR: dw drums, ampeg, gibson, guild, altavoces emperor, pastillas custom blk/tri , etc.

PR: ¿Nos puedes contar algunas locuras que os hayan pasado tocando?
HR: Hicimos un bolo en Lawrence (Kansas) en la sala Replay, un sitio perita (cool). Llegamos y encontramos que The Sword tocaba un poco más arriba en la misma calle. Nos quedamos planchaos.
En fin, empezamos a tocar y de pronto aparece un loco "bailando" pogo él solo. Coge un mesa realmente pesada con bebidas encima y la estrella contra el suelo.
Las bebidas salen volando, la mesa se parte y el tipo corre hacia la puerta, le dice al de seguridad "dile a este grupo que pienso que son cojonudos" y se va corriendo por la calle. Noche completa.

En inglés:

PR: How many years have you been playing in bands by now? do you consider yourselves "lifers" of it?
HR: we’ve all been playing in various bands for 20+ years. we are lifers, yes.

PR:How did you put Hellrad together?
HR: Mike hook (eat the turnbuckle) asked Robert Lepor(brain candle) if he would like to start a band with slower songs that had a more Black Sabbath feel. This was july of 2014. They got together in early August and started writing songs, Herb Jowett(Javelina) and Dirty dave(Warsaw) came into the group in september and they have been writing and playing shows since november 2014.

PR: Have the name any "hidden" meaning?
HR: The name is a play on the “lrad” - long range acoustic device. It is used by police and military for crowd control. it is a very loud speaker that can break your eardrums if you are too close to it.

PR: Name the bands that start it out for you.
HR: Laughing hyenas..Motorhead..Black sabbath..Brutal truth..the Damned..Bad brains

PR: If you work day-jobs, which one are they?
HR: Too many to list here, we all work different jobs in Philadelphia and NJ.

PR: How has been the recent tour? How many cities did you visit?
HR: Our first tour went very well, 14 shows in 14 cities. The response has been very good, and we met and played with many great bands like Shai hulud, Disappointed parents, Death of kings, Nervo chaos, Formulus, Suppressive fire and Thieves.

PR: Which one band you would like to play with the most?
Too many to list here, but i’m pretty sure Mike Hook would love to play a show with Ghost.

PR: What recording are you promoting right now and what more have you "in store"?
HR: “Things never change” is our seven song lp that can be found at this link: https://hellrad1.bandcamp.com/releases
and we have been writing songs for a new lp that will most likely be recorded summer 2016

PR: What gear (geek stuff) do you use?
HR: dw drums, ampeg, gibson, guild, emperor cabinets, blk/tri custom pickups, etc.

PR: Can you relate some crazy happenings that you got through with the band?
(instances: akward moments during tours, crummy rehearsal rooms and venues, weird blokes at gigs)
HR: We played a show in lawrence kansas at the replay lounge, cool venue. We get there and find out The Sword is plying about a half a block up the street. We’re kinda bummed. Then we are playing our set, and this wild man comes in and strats basically slam dancing with himself. Then he picks up a very heavy table with drinks on it and smashes it on the floor. Drinks go flying, the table breaks, and he runs out the door, says to the door guy “tell that band i think they are awesome!” and runs up the street. Night made.

Reseña y entrevista a cargo de Gaspar Hache Eme (de las bandas VidaGuerrilla y ProductO)

Interview with Maahlas

If I remember correctly, at the end of last year did the review of the first disc of this very interesting band called Maahlas. From that moment, I had in mind to do an interview with this band. Why did not this interview before? Why do we do now? The answer is simple: Maahlas are working on their new album, so I thought this is the right time to do the interview. And, considering the final result, I think I was right. With you, Levent Ultanor, singer of Maahlas.

Puro Ruido: Hello! Greetings from Cordoba, Argentina. How is everything there? Here Manel, from the blog Puro Ruido (Pure Noise)
Levent: Hello Manel and Puro Ruido. Love that name! All is well here in Oslo; we are having a lovely autumn and heading towards a blistering sub zero winter again… and we can't wait.

PR: Well, let's get down to business. "Nightmare Years" is a great album, so I do not find it strange that have harvested many good reviews worldwide. But what follows from now on? From what I read, you are composing and rehearsing for a new album entitled "Cypher", right?
L: Thank you so much. We are very satisfied with Nightmare Years. And the attention it has gotten from around the world has surprised us. Its such a boost to get such reviews from people who obviously love but also know music.
What follows is as you have gathered; CYPHER. Thats still a working title but i'm starting to feel more and more that it will stick.

PR: Through Facebook, we can read and know when and where Maahlas formed. But why was born the band? What was it that motivated you to create this group so singular?
L: Well… there was really no conscious intention behind creation of Maahlas. As you probably know, Cuno is the mastermind behind the project. And he can't help but produce ridiculous amounts of ridiculously excellent riffs. I mean.. I myself AM a fan :)
As to how we got together… Cuno first invited me to do vocals on a song; just for fun. I agreed to do it; but i hadn't written lyrics for the song (writing is a very long process for me), so he just gave me some old lyrics one of his old friends had written; “Wizard and the West Passage”. Not my kind of topic nor style of writing but anyway, long story short; we had a fun time recording it and thought it turned out quiet good considering next to no rehearsals. After that Cuno put together most of the material on Nightmare Years and convinced me that we can make it a monster together. And it did take time, plenty frustration and many long nights, but we did it.

PR: How is the songwriting process? That is, how do they work when creating new songs? They start with a basic idea, and from there made everything together? Or Cuneyt made music, and Levent  the lyrics and vocal melodies? 
L: Yes, Cuneyt makes all the music… he writes the drums and the bass lines too… Hell, If he could sing he would do that too, then i wouldn't be writing this interview :)
Sometimes he writes a song in one night (for example… Nightmare Years), other times a song will take days and days til perfection. Towards the end of the process we sit down and listen and play with details together… He is a very humble musician for his talents and abilities. He is so far the only one i have worked with who 100% pushes the music forward and not his ego. If a suggestion from me or his wife or his cat would be better for the song he would say “man thats better, lets do that” and trash his original idea.
At the same time he really knows exactly what works and what just doesn't and could hear and torture me with a 1/64th timing error til i got it just right :)
On the other side i torture him for months with my obsessions about the story and lyrics, the syllables and the phrasing fitting a particular pattern i want… Its pure hell. And at the end not many know what i'm talking about anyway :)

PR: I have read reviews where the critic finds it difficult when classifying Maahlas music. But I like that there is no definitive tag for the music that you make. Was that the idea from the beginning? Create extreme music, but not to be Black Metal, nor Death Metal, and be all that at the same time?
L: Not really… there was never a written down rule with our musical thinking. Cuno has his particular style but its really not a formula like many other bands… he really does meld with his musical inspirations and create something quiet unique. We don't even think its extreme music; there is some blast beat roughness on the album but we really feel that its actually very mild and melodic. I think that might have a lot to do with our choice of the mastering style. The first master we got was so sharp and rough; we just turned to each other with raised eyebrows, and with no words said, “woow, thats way hard” to each other. So after we went through many, many mixes, many written guidelines for our mastering engineer and 3-4 rounds of mastering we managed to mild it down and got the final sound we wanted.

PR: Continuing with the previous question, limits are self-imposed to create songs? Or prefer feel free and do what you want to do without worrying about the others?
L: I can honestly say that we just do this for ourselves… We couldn't function like this otherwise… Don't misunderstand, we love it that people like what we do, we really enjoy that and it does give it all a meaning. Its all about communication; if you like our work, we feel heard. That means a lot.
For example; I hope you have noticed that there are no repeating choruses on the album. Even though the lyrics have the same melody and rhythm, the words are always evolving with the story… My thinking is that i have just so many words to convey my story in a song and I don't have time for catchy repeating, easy to sing choruses which people will jump up and down singing… Business wise, and strategically its a very bad idea… but we really are not good strategists :)

PR: Question regarding the line-up. Lucass has become a full time member of Maahlas? Or record the drums on the new album and then continue as a duo?
L: We are still a duo as of today; but Lucass has been putting in a lot of good work for Maahlas and seems to really want to be a full time member; so we will see what time will bring. In the meantime after having, unsuccessfully, auditioned many guitar players, we have also met a guitar player to match Cuno; we are very excited with this new line up and practicing for a gig in Oslo in January as well as writing the new songs for the next album. The single is not far away ;)

PR: You define yourselves as an independent band. What are the reasons why you choose to be independent? Artistic freedom? Manage your own time?
L: Both. But also remember that we are a relatively new band. We realize, thanks to reviews as from Puro ruido and others, that we create good music, but we are lousy at self promotion… We need to get more material out; music and other media, play a zillion concerts and get noticed. If we get the attention of a powerful label, theres no reason why we won't consider what they can do for us. Oh we have a vision for a Maahlas live show that will make you think you died and went to metal heaven :)

PR: Well, last question. Many fans of the old school are complaining because the current music is not like the Metal from 30 or 40 years ago. But it should not be so? I mean, do not believe it is healthy and positive that Metal music has diversified and varied with over the years?
L: Well i'm with you Manel; I truly don't get those guys… I mean, seriously, don't they evolve? Doesn't their ears want a fresh beat or melody? I do still love some of my childhood favorites but theres just so incredibly much great music out there now, it would be a crime to just listen to one style…

PR: Ok, that's all. Thank you very much for your time, and above all, thank you for your music. Do you want to add anything else?
L: Your welcome Manel but, thank you. You guys really do give us independent (yet undiscovered ;) bands from the frozen edge of the world hope in this jungle of noise.
Please keep in touch with Maahlas and follow us on facebook for updates, previews and release dates.

Long live Puro Ruido!
Levent, Maahlas.

Interview with Temple of Void

Almost 2 years ago we have been working together with Mike McCoy of The Metal Detector. He brings a lot of the material then we review on this blog. Days ago, came the chance to do interviews with some of the bands that made us know. However, the list had a name I knew before that they released their first album, and I like from the first time I listened to in 2013: Temple of Void. As soon as Mike told me"they are available for interviews", I began to work on the questions. Questions wereanswered in a fast manner, and who responded to my questions was Alex Awn, one of theguitarists of this excellent band called Temple of Void. And, as it was to be expected,the interview turned out to be very good. Don't believe me? Come and read.

Puro Ruido: Hello. How is everything there? First of all, thank you very much for agreeing to the interview. Let me introduce myself: I am Manel, from the argentinian blog Puro Ruido (Pure Noise)

Alex Awn: Everything is great, Manel. Heading off to band practice. Working on some new tunes for our second album tonight. As well as drinking a little beer, of course.

PR: Last year you released your first full album, which was, in my opinion, one of the best albums of 2014. How good was the response of the fans and the press?

Alex Awn: Thanks! The response has been humbling and very much appreciated. A lot of people really understood where we were coming from. The underground has been very receptive to our mix of death and doom. At the end of the day we only write music for ourselves, but it's great when it really resonates with others, too.

PR: I was lucky to meet Temple of Void through MMXIII Demo. At that moment I thought they were a good band. With Of Terror & The Supernatural I confirmed: Temple of Void are a very good band. That was the premise from the beginning, to create a group that is truly good? That is, there are too many bands saturating the scene, and it's hard to stand out among so many groups. You managed to stand out from the beginning

Alex Awn: Death/doom is a relatively small scene. It's a sub-sub-genre. So I think when a new band enters the mix it doesn't take long for other death/doomers to check it out. Our goal will always be to write music for ourselves. Music that we fucking love. But Temple of Void the entity definitely exists within the confines of Death/Doom and we have to make sure we honor that tradition and that vision, while still putting our own stamp on the genre so we can move it forward in our own way. When the band was forming we hand-picked a bunch of guys that we knew were all strong talents. To me, I'm on a Detroit dream team of players and I'm very lucky to jam with these guys every week. We have a passion for death and doom and so you enter the Temple of Void.

PR: According I read, you have participated in the tribute to Celtic Frost called "Morbid Tales: A tribute to Celtic Frost". There is no doubt that you are fans of CF, but I wonder how you came to participate in the tribute.

Alex Awn: We've known Mark Rudolph for a long time now. Our singer, Mike, had a piece in Mark's previous book tribute to Mercyful Fate. And Mike also got asked to draw a piece for the Celtic Frost book. When Mark decided to partner with CorpseFlower Records (from Detroit) to do a vinyl accompaniment to the book, he asked us if we'd like to participate. He's been a fan of the band since the demo and we were excited to be on the comp. I think the Evoken track is going to be monstrous! We covered "Os Abysmi Vel Daath" from Monotheist and recorded it at the same place we did the demo. I think it sounds huge and it really suited our style. We didn't want to cover an 'obvious' choice.

PR: Have been on tour presenting the album? I know that some weeks ago played on the Shadow Kingdom Riot, with Iron Man, Coven, Tombstalker, among others. Still on tour?

Alex Awn: No extensive touring for ToV. We're all old bastards with careers outside of music. We're playing Chicago this week with Cattle Decapitation, but no full tours on the books. We'll see what we can line up for the winter. If you know someone in Argentina who can help bring us down, get in touch.

PR: What was it that inspired you to create a band like Temple of Void, something so damn heavy? Today, it is easy to access certain information due to social networks and the constant flow of information. But what interests me is not knowing when or where Temple of Void was born, but how and why this band formed

Alex Awn: My other band used to train in Krav Maga together once a week. It's a military fighting system that borrows from a bunch of martial arts. Anyway, one day Eric came to train with us. Then we started lifting together. And we just struck up a friendship. We'd lift, listen to metal, and eventually we decided the time was right to join forces. We're very different types of guitarists and that yin/yang is what created an initial, successful, seed for the band. Then we recruited friends that we knew would make for a killer line-up. Brent on bass, Jason on drums, and Mike on vocals. Each person has an integral impact on the sound and the vision of the band. It definitely would not be the same entity if it wasn't for each of the five of us. Our demo came out in May 2013 and we probably started rehearsing in late 2012. The album came out in late 2014 and here we are in 2015 writing for the second full-length.

PR: There is something I love about Temple of Void: the sound is terribly heavy. Many people think that sound so heavy it is something that is achieved with suitable equipment and instruments. But extent to which is that more important than the attitude with which you play this kind of music? So, you can have the right equipment, but if you don’t have the right attitude, you will not sound heavy even if you try. But you better tell me. What is it that impels you to sound so fucking brutal?

Alex Awn: Music is catharsis. It's heavy as fuck mentally, physically and sonically. Heavy music is visceral. And if the people playing it are 'real' then they can channel that heaviness into almost any music they play. I'm in a band with four other heavy fucking dudes. We spend weeks or months crafting each song. We put a a lot of ourselves into it and it shows when it's time to hit the studio or hit the stage. And it doesn't hurt that we bring a lot of amps, too.

PR: How is the creative process? Is anyone to provide more ideas than others?

Alex Awn: Eric and I write most of the riffs themselves, but the band as a whole does the arrangements. You can't fall in love with something because the band can change it at any time in the creative process. So you bring a riff into this world and let the band take it from there. Mike is the only one who writes lyrics.

PR: Ok, we're getting to the end. What follows from now on? Take a break? Create new material to record a new album to follow decapitating people?

Alex Awn: We're actively working on our second album. It takes time to write these songs, though. It'll be ready once it's ready. We'd like to play more out of state shows while we're working on the new record. So we'll be reaching out to promoters across the US to see what we can line up.

PR: Ok, that’s all. Of course, thank you very much for the interview. If you want to add anything else, feel free to do so

Alex Awn: Manel, thanks for the great questions. Shout out to Encoffined from Argentina! Hails!

Interview with Godhole

Listen to the debut album by this Scottish band (entitled "Double Self Titled EP") made me feel like I had been beaten. After finishing fifth time to listen about, I said "I have to interview this band." So, taking advantage of the good connection that I have with Jamie, guitar / voice of this bulldozer, I requested an interview. And Jamie, as cool as ever, accepted and this is what he told us about this great band that all fans of styles like Powerviolence, Crust and Noise should listen.


Puro Ruido: Hi Jamie, how everything is out there? First of all, thanks for accepting the interview
Jamie: Yeah things are going good here, just back from our last practice before recording our side of our next release. It’s a collaboration between us and a Harsh noise/Power electronics artist from Scotland called Crozier. He runs the Vile Noise netlabel, there is SO MUCH awesome stuff on there, everyone should check it out.

PR: Let’s begin. Have a new and good band band called Godhole, with which released a great album called "Self Titled Double EP". Tell us, how good was the response from the public and the press?
J: Yeah! The initial response was cool, just like 'yeah this band is heavy as fuck and a cool mix of different stuff'. But it was a little bit after the release when I started getting emails from people and stuff saying that the release had really touched them and they could identify with what it was about that was really amazing. That’s all any musician can ask for really and I think its pretty cool that even though our music is so heavy its still emotive, which is exactly what I was going for. Then we also got a pretty good review from my favorite magazine 'Zero Tolerance' who called us 'Powerviolence, with actual songs' haha! I do love a catchy chorus!

PR: Are you playing live to present the album? Have made or will make a tour to promote it?
J: Yeah we are really into playing live, we love small DIY gigs with no stage, I like to scream right in peoples faces and have them feel what I'm feeling while playing. If the band are sincere, its pretty hard not to empathise with them when its in such a closed setting. We are starting to put more and more of the noise stuff into our set aswell which is cool. Hopefully after our next release comes out we will do a VS set with Crozier. First though we are doing a bunch of gigs around Scotland then off to tour around Finland with our grindbastard brothers Cut To Fit who play brutal Pig Destroyer type grind in June.

PR: Jamie, I first met you as part of another very good group: Fifteen Dead. You still with them? Or are you only in Godhole now?
J: Ah no, Fifteen Dead has now split up, but its for the better, the band had really played itself out and we were all ready to move onto different things. I think Godhole and Rosses new band Scumpulse (everyone check them out!) are much better than Fifteen Dead. Godhole isnt all I'm doing though. My noise stuff is obviously tied up into Godhole, but I'm also doing a distorted, evil, brutal hiphop project with legendary Dirtcore Rapper from Northern Ireland, Roysta. We call it THE FEAR but as yet has not had a formal release.

PR: Godhole: Why that name? It is a strong, flashy name, but why decided to put that name to the group? There is a concept, a timely idea behind the name?
J: Haha! At Godhole HQ we are MASSIVE fans of the american tv show Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In it a character talks about how he feels like he has a gaping hole in his soul. A hole that most people fill with religion, but he fills with alcohol, drugs and women, he calls it his GODHOLE. So that’s really where we got it from but it does have kind of a deeper meaning in that I personally have struggled quite badly with exactly those things in the past. I have more of a handle on it now, but it doesn’t mean that those feelings are gone. I still have self destructive impulses on a daily basis but I'm much better at controlling them now.

PR: I had the opportunity to watch the video you did for the song "Glorious Rotten". I must say that is a really powerful, shocking video. What inspired you to make this video?
J: I just wanted to make something that looked like how we sound... Totally horrible. haha. There’s the obvious link in the decomposing animals to 'Rotting' but a lot of work went into the style of filming and the editing to make it as difficult to watch as possible.

PR: Jamie, also you own a record label. What can you tell us about it?
J: Yeah, it’s something I had always wanted to do and when I needed to find a way to release the Godhole EP I was like FUCK IT! I'll just do it myself! My friend Graham, the singer in Endless Swarm (amazing Powerviolence from Edinbrugh) was also needing to do the same for his band so Mind Ripper Collective was born! We have a compilation of SPAZZ covers coming out soon with most of the best powerviolence bands in the world on it soon so that should be awesome!

PR: Something that I love from the album of Godhole, is that there are 2 mutually distinct personalities. On the one hand, it is the Powerviolence/Crust/Hardcore personality. And, on the other hand, we have the Noise side of the group, as if Merzbow inherit Godhole songs and transformed them into another kind of chaos. How was that you came to create these two personalities, different but complementary to each other?
J: I have been into noise and electronic music for a long time, basically just as long as I have been into punk. I used to be in a digital hardcore band so mixing punk and electronic music isn’t anything new to me. This release ended up the way it did because I basically had the idea of re using the lyrics and sort of re imagining the songs as a whole. Its not all noise though, some of the B-side is actually really chilled out. Emerald Youngster is probably my favorite track from that side. For that song I wanted to make a song that sounded like the peace and calm immediately after death. I like the juxtaposition of QUIET/LOUD and SOFT/HARD

PR: All donations you receive with every download of the album are donated to the Scottish Association Of Mental Health. In bandcamp there is a text allowing to know why made this donation. But if you want to use this space to tell us everything necessary about that topic, feel free to do so.
J: Well really its said best on the bandcamp/insert of the release but the short version is that I lost my brother to suicide when I was 19, he was just 17. I know people always say this after people die but he really was an amazing person and he really was my best friend. It’s taken me years to get to some sort of state where I could finally make a piece of art about him that I could be happy with. That piece is GODHOLE.

PR: Well, Jamie, we nearing the end. What are the plans, immediate or otherwise, for the future of Godhole? A new album? Compose new songs? More sound experiments?
J: Yeah the next release is going to be really interesting. Obviously everyone is going to say we are copying Full of Hell. But really The Endless Blockade did it YEARS before them anyway. I’ve wanted to make something like what we are about to do for ages but its just now that I am really in a position with such creative freedom and the right people to help me do so. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I am also having a circuit bending noise instrument maker make me a megaphone with an oscilator in it, that also links in chain with my guitar and pedals. So I can manipulate my voice using controls on the megaphone as well as all my guitar pedals, should be pretty awesome and will work great in the live show.

PR: Ok, bro, that's all. Again, thanks for the interview. If you want to add something, do it freely.
J: 'Some people never go crazy, what truely horrible lives they must lead.'

Interview With Death Toll 80k

Since I listen for first time their fabulous record of the year 2011, called "Harsh Realities", which I have in mind to interview to this explosive Grindcore band from Finland. As often happens with most Grindcore bands, Death Toll Boys 80k are very friendly and approachable people. That became clear when Tomi, guitarist, accepted the interview. And the interview is here. Enjoy it

Puro Ruido: Hello how are you? Greetings from Córdoba, Argentina

Tomi: Hello! Thanks for asking, we are mostly doing fine here. Firstly we would like to apologise to you that it took so long to answer this interview. We hope you can still find use for this.

PR: Question, without exaggeration,that  make all fans of the band: there are chances to release a new full lenght soon?

Tomi: Yes. We are planning and making material for an LP at the moment, but it is a slow process and there is no guarantee when it will come out.

PR: Honestly, I think "Harsh Realities" is one of the best Grindcore albums of the 21st century. How was the process of creating and recording that album? For some reason, I have always believed that it was created and recorded in minutes. It sounds so natural, so spontaneous!

T: Thank you for the kind words. Making Harsh realities was actually a very long process. The songs were made during a three year period. The oldest songs can be found on the 2008 demo cd-r and the newest songs were merely finished for the studio. After the album was recorded it took about a year before it was out, because we had some misunderstandings concerning the artwork etc. We also took very special care for the mixing of the album and for the song arrangement and the spaces between songs. We wanted it to hold the tension from start to finish.

PR: Let's talk about the present of the group. Are on tour? Have played in other European countries in 2014?

T: We are making a one week tour in England and Scotland this summer (2015), but besides that it has been a bit quiet. In 2014 we played at the Maryland Deathfest and in 2013 we had an excessive Eurotour with Perikato (hc/punk fin). For me being on tour is one of the best things about playing grindcore: going to new places, meeting awesome people, playing live every day and getting a really good touch to it. You live in a bubble that consists of the tour van and the venues, it is very care-free life.

PR: This year you played at the Maryland Death Fest. Tell us that such a positive was that experience

T: MDF was absolutely awesome. All the arrangements  worked fine for us and we got to see lots of bands that come rarely to Europe. My personal favourites were Dropdead, Unholy Grave and Archagatus. It was great to meet the guys from Archagatus since we have made split with them and all. Seeing Unholy Grave was very special for me since it has been one of my all time favourite bands and I had never thought I could see them live. And now did it twice! Our own gig went smoothly and we sold all our records so I guess someone must have liked it.

PR: Let's go to the beginning of the story. How, when and why Death Toll 80k born?

T: Death Toll 80k was formed by me and Oula in the spring of 2005 after our earlier band Grotesk (Jori played in it too!) had split up. We wanted to continue to write and play our own music. In the beginning we didn’t have very clear vision what kind of songs we wanted to make. There was grind elements mixed with Celtic Frost style riffs and some thrashy stuff. The band evolved into what it is now, when Jori (2007) and Ville (2009) joined the band. I think that right now we have a very clear vision what our sound is and how we want to develop it.

PR: You have anti-war lyrics, lyrics that show you as a guys really committed with the situation that the world is experiencing today: war, capitalism, pollution, etc. You think the Grindcore is protest, as taught us that teacher named Jan AG?

T: To me grindcore is a protest, but it is up to every band to decide what it means to them. You can state your protest in many different forms. Some do it very straight leaving no room for listener to interpret the lyrics. Others take more complex approach and the message can differ from people to people. However, to me it is very important, a requirement, to have lyrics with meanings. It doesn’t matter how you put it, but at least try to make a change, otherwise it is completely pointless.

PR: Continuing with the previous question, I tell you that here in Argentina, I have met people involved with Grindcore bands, and have right wing ideas; fascists, to put it more clearly. I don't know if in Europe that happens, you will tell me if that happens there or not. What go is that it seems an incongruity playing Grindcore and be fascist. But better give me your opinion on the matter.

T: We are definitely against all forms of racism, fascism and inequal treatment of people. I think the problem here in Europe is more common with gore grind and (black)metal bands than grindcore bands. With gore grind it is usually chauvinism cloaked in “humorous” lyrics, but the black metal scene is quite openly racist.

PR: Let's talk about music. Last year released a split with Sete Star Sept. There is a Split in mind for this year, or next?

T: There will be splits in the future, but right now we are concentrating on the LP. We can train so rarely that it makes making new songs a very slow process. That is why we rather concentrate on the LP than splits at the moment.

PR: Tomi, you play in any other bands? I read that you play, or you played in a band called Grotesk, band of which I could not get information.

T: Grotesk was a death metal band we had some ten years ago. We recorded some songs, but they were never released. There’s really not much to say about it. At the moment me and Oula play in a mincecore band called RUST. We have made a split LP with Agathocles. It was released by Bringer of Gore records. Oula also has two noisecore bands Meatwash and Beerterror. Jori and Ville play in heavy/speed metal band Speedtrap. Ville is also involved in Perikato which plays hardcore punk and Kohti Tuhoa which plays d-beat and Hard Action that plays hard rock.

PR: At the end of the 90s, early this century, Grindcore lived a great time with bands like Nasum, Rotten Sound, and Insect Warfare living their best moments, releasing unforgettable albums. In the current scene, you see a Grindcore band capable of doing something as fabulous as what those bands did at the time? I think you are going to be one of the best bands in the history of the genre, but the question is for you to give us your opinión

T: Thanks again for the kind words. It is always hard to predict the future. To me Insect Warfare has been a big milestone in grindcore’s history and their 2007 LP has had a really big influence on us. I have never personally listened very much either Nasum or Rotten Sound but, I recognise that they have made grind more well know around the world. My personal favourites from the past are ROT, Fear of God, Unholy grave and Warsore. From the more recent bands I’d like to mention Sakatat, Violent Gorge, Six Brew Bantha and Arroyo.

PR: Tomi, the last question. Is the music industry dead? I ask you because you have put your full lenght in free download through your Bandcamp account

T: Music industry has changed a lot, but I’m not sure if have ever really been part of it. So far we have released all our records through small DIY labels that specialise in grindcore music. We have been planning for a long time to put all our past releases to bandcamp so that people who are interested can download them for good quality. That way people who don’t have the option to buy the records can also enjoy them.

PR: Well, that’s all. Thank you very much for your time, bro. You want to add something?

T: Once again, sorry that it took this long to answer and thank you for the interview.

Interview with Burn The Army

Long time without interviews on our blog. Well, it's time to change that. This band I've been following since the first heard at the end of last year. I was offered to do an interview with them and immediately accepted, because it is a new group, fearless, with a great future and more interesting ideas in several respects. So let's put aside the twists and go to what really matters: the interview. With you, Burn The Army, an interesting Post Metal / Sludge / Doom band.

Puro Ruido: Well, for anyone who does not know, how it was born the band? In what circumstances came together to give shape to Burn The Army?

Dyllan Nace: Dyllen lost his ride home after a house show in Corey’s basement, so he slept there. Jordan showed up the next day for the first Burn the Army practice with Corey. Their drummer didn’t show up, but Dyllen was already there and there was a drum set in the basement. It all just sort of fell together and hasn’t stopped since.

PR: In another interview I read that the band name was taken from the lyrics of the first song you wrote. What I want to know is what inspired the creation of this lyric?

DN: I will smash this fist upon the skull of your now fallen father / burn the army / bury them all / sift through their ashes / show them no mercy (purge yourself) / I am the earth ender / the wave that crashes down to suffocate the masses / to uphold the crown

Those are just words to fit something Corey thought or felt when he wrote them. They’re open for interpretation.

PR: According to what I read, "The Tide to Sink the Summit" is based on aspects of Greek Mythology. Perhaps that same mythology inspires the music of the group?

DN: It definitely influenced the thought process behind the music we wrote for the record, and especially our use of dynamics. We made sure to envision Greek gods battling over Olympus before each writing session.

PR: Speaking of music, talk about the compositions. How do you work? There's a creative driving force behind the birth of the most songs? Or work collectively?

DN: Corey already had about six minutes of material coming into writing TTSTS, and Jordan had a lot of riffs he’d saved up over a few years, so we started out with something to work with. Since then, we’ve brought forward whatever ideas for parts we have and seen what works out. We keep adding parts until the song feels like its done. The first one ended up being right at thirty minutes, and the second one is quickly approaching that and almost done, so it seems like half an hour’s our sweet spot. We break them up to make listening to it in your car and making set lists easier, but still consider each song one piece.

PR: How would you describe the experience of playing live? What can we expect from a performance of Burn The Army on stage?

DN: We put a lot of effort into shows and like to think that people can connect with that and appreciate the hard work put into all the things that lead up to the show. We just want people to enjoy themselves as much as we do.

PR: You keep moving independently? Some Label has shown some interest in the group?

DN: Unless an irresistible opportunity comes along, we plan to continue releasing music independently. We’re just going to keep writing music and getting it out however we can.

PR: I understand that Corey is a full time tattoo artist. I guess you all have jobs and activities outside of music, through which you get the money to live. It is difficult to balance work and shows, with the activities carried out as a group?

DN: Between the three of us, we have six jobs and one kid. We all just find the time to set aside for practice every single week and for shows. We just stay motivated to keep showing up every time.  

PR: What's next in the life of Burn The Army? There are new songs on the road?

DN: We’ve been playing pieces of the new material live since about when TTSTS was recorded, and aren’t far away from recording the next release. To hear any of it before that happens, you have to catch us live.

PR: Ok, let's ending. There are goals you have aims to achieve as a band? Where it is going Burn The Army?

DN: We just want to keep doing what we’re doing for as long as possible and putting our music in as many hands as possible.

PR: Well, that's all. Thanks for the interview. Do you want to add anything else?

DN: Just keep listening to the record on bandcamp and telling people to check it out.

Interview with Torture Killer

For a long time wanted to interview this band. For one reason or another, always postponed essential to do the interview: ask the band if they wanted to do the interview. The issue is that one day I wrote, and who answered it, nothing more and nothing less, Jari, whom I admire from Adramelech times. Jari is who was responsible for answering my questions, and doing this interview somewhat unforgettable.

Puro Ruido: Greetings from Cordoba, Argentina! How is everything over there?

Jari: Hey brother, its quiet and easy going...normal daily life i suppose."

PR: Let us start. Are you  working on new songs? There's a new album on the way? How good was it for you this year is almost over?

J: "We´ve been taking a break since the previous summer so its been over a year of hiatus. I felt I needed a break from writing and the band. I´m recharging the batteries so to speak. For that reason nothing has really happened for us - I have been slowly starting to write some new ideas again for the past few months. I have one song pretty much ready musicwise that i like, and thats pretty close of being finished and one that im working on when time allows. Writing of "Phobia" was exhaustive, its a tough job to write one good song, not to mention a full album. And even if im fairly satisfied how it all turned out, it did show signs of exhaustion towards the end. When you spend so much time on working with every detail, music and lyrics - its pretty much inevitable. I was really really happy with "I chose death" EP, and wouldve wanted to keep on releasing smaller releases and focusing on the best ideas - but we owed one album to the label and there was no way around it. Now were free from all contracts and can choose what to do. But like I said, i do have some ideas coming together...not sure when we are ready to work on those as a unit yet, but we are in no hurry - it will take as long as it will take. We just want to make sure the new things we come up with are interesting to us and worth peoples time to take a listen."

PR: Let's go to the beginning of the story. As I read in Encyclopaedia Metallum, Torture Killer started doing covers of SFU. However, as far as I know, the reality is that did covers of SFU and Obituary. At what point did you decide to write your own songs? What prompted you to do it?

J: "Yeah thats right, we also did a number of Obituary covers too. The first show we ever did was only with SFU songs though. A friend of ours arranged a concert and asked us to play a set, he knew we were doing covers, so we figured since we have the lyrics available it would be best to do those instead of Obituary where you have no lyrics available and have to make up most of the vocal delivery. It was after that show we felt we should try to come up with our own songs with the same kind of groove oriented approach and see what would come out of it. One song turned into two songs, then three..and now here we are."

PR: Speaking of SFU, how did the possibility of working with Chris Barnes on the album "Swarm!"? Barnes traveled to Finland and entered to the studio with you? Or worked on using the internet to send songs to each other? That album was released by Metal Blade, so I guess that Chris had some influence on this

J: "No he didnt come over, we sent him demoes of the songs and he worked with those and recorded em separately in Florida once we tracked down the music here in Finland. It was one of those surreal moments in history, a script of a hollywood movie if you will - one day you just get an e-mail from him offering his help with the band. He had read somewhere about us and our problems with the line up and just reached out to us... I guess he felt flattered about the history we had up until that point, being a tribute kind of thing and felt this was the right thing to do. He has worked with Metal Blade all his career and that came along as a bonus... you just couldnt do an album with Chris Barnes and put it out on some small label we were signed at the time. All in all, we had our feet on the ground during the whole duration of his visit - even at that point we didnt give too much thought where all this would go, if anywhere...we knew booking tours or shows would be pretty much impossible - we just took things as they came. I dont know if people expected us to blow up in fame and fortune or not...we were just happy we could do an album with him. It gave us exposure for sure, and he was really cool and humble with us during the whole time. It was flattering to co-operate with a high profile scene icon, i jammed his tapes when i was a teenager so getting to do something with him was definetily something none of us were prepared for. "

PR: Jari, I must confess that I am a fan of Finnish Death Metal for many years. As such, I'm a fan of Adramelech. Well, I know that you are part of Adramelech since 1999, so I'd like to know if there are chances that Adramelech back into the ring or not

J: "Yes i was involved with the last years of Adramelech. I joined in 1998 and was with Jarkko, the main guy until the end. I´ve asked Jarkko a few times over the years if he´d still be interested in doing it but he´s an isolated person with a family to take care of. I feel bad about how it all ended, i think the band deserved better. The sound of the band had changed from the early recordings which i consider the true spirit of Adramelech - it wasnt because i joined, even if i did write something with the last album...Also Jarkko wanted to explore different approaches. His writing style is very unique. Like i said he is a weird personality and that comes across in his writing, you cant replicate that. Also he switched from vocals and bass to drums because he couldnt find a drummer, which resulted new vocalists who were really good, but different from the real Adramelech sound. I really wished he would come back and do something, but it would have to be his ideas, not mine... Ive told him if he ever wanted to do something, Im here to help. Despite all what happened, my early years in the band were one of the best times of my life. Me, him and Ali had a vicious fire in us, too bad it didnt manifest into something that wouldve stand the test of time as well as the early albums did. Back in 98-99 Death Metal wasnt doing too good, other forms of metal had more exposure and bands played a different style which made us even more hungry. The 1999 album Pure Blood Doom did have some really good ideas, but maybe the album production was a bit too modern and didnt have the right "feel" to it. Im still hoping one day Jarkko would change his mind and do something to give the band a final release that would embrace the athmosphere of the early albums."

PR: Speaking about Finnish Death Metal, always I have thought that the Death Metal that is done (and it has been done) in your country is something absolutely brilliant. The sound, the style, the atmospheres, all that does that the Finnish Death Metal is something unique. There is some motive especially for which the way that you have of doing Death Metal is so special?

J: "I know what youre talking about... to me too it always had a weird, mythical appeal, which is very hard to explain. You can "feel" the atmosphere, the eerieness. I dont have an answer where it comes from, theres some dark melancholy in our people, and that comes out in music. The use of unconventional chords, time signatures, murky vocals, deranged melodies, the right kind of production...that is what signifies the finnish death metal sound."

PR: Jari, in an interview you said you do not have high expectations for TK Albums, the greatest pleasure in being satisfied with the end result. TK is a band made to have fun playing Death Metal, without worrying about all that is outside the music itself?

J: "Exactly. I think the most bizarre things have already happened to this band, so we have no expectations whatsoever with our future. The thing is, this is what i enjoy playing. If you like hunting or fishing, you feel good when you go out and do those things. Its the same with writing death metal for me. I have lots of other interests but i would be lying if i said this wasnt something beyond that. It is a huge part of what i am as a person. If i wouldnt do it, i would feel miserable - like something was missing in my life. All the other things come as a "bonus". The people i talk to, the shows we play, the interviews like this i get to do... theyre just the icing on the cake. When you really do something you like, and manage to come out with songs that you honestly think are good...there will be people who will pick up things in the music that they enjoy aswell. We are very fortunate to be recognised like this, even if we are not a big name in the scene. And Im grateful to the other guys theyre sticking around, enabling us to play those ideas on a good level."

PR: Continuing the previous question: where does the inspiration come from to write new songs? That is, each New album from TK maintains the essence, but there are always new things, showing that you enjoy doing what you do, but always looking to outdo yourselves. So I wonder if the inspiration is essential for you to choose the songs that will be recorded.

J: " Writing this kind of music is food for my soul, and it gives me happiness. Thats the first and foremost reason i play guitar... the feel when you first track down a version of a song you really like and listen to it...thats the exact moment i feel most rewarded. I think we have the right amount of criticism to realise that MOST ideas we come up with are NOT good, the song and the riff needs to have something that grabs you, some small little detail that makes the whole riff come alive...it needs the right pulse, so that it unvolunterily makes you want to nod your head or stomp your foot on the ground. I think you get better at it when you get older, a sense that says there is something to this idea i should work with...or and instinct that says that "its ok, but nothing special". I dont love hearing myself playing just any riff that we may have come up with...i want to play a riff and a song i really like. I think that way it really comes out in the music, not just playing through the motions - but really have an idea, a soul of the song, why it is written. About the feel when I write...Im definetily a "riff-guy", always loved the juicy riffs and the groove my favourite bands had...also some more moody, athmospheric passages within songs to give "soul" to the song is what i like hearing so thats what we try to compose in our own songs too. Im really glad you noticed that there are things changing in the sound, nothing too dramatic but still new ideas to try keep it "fresh" and interesting. We have had a number of songs that have turned out really good: Forever dead, Funeral for the masses, I bathe in their blood, I chose death, Phobia, Written in blood... but you just cant "over use" a good idea once you´ve done it already. The carbon copy of the same idea just wont be as good as the first one. Usually i start with a drum beat that i think has the grip and the groove i like, then just toy around with the guitar and try to come up with an idea that i think would sound good, try to close my eyes and "feel" where the riff wants to go. When you have a solid, good basic idea - in most cases the song pretty much writes itself to a certain point...then again you come to a part where you will need to decide if the song would require a new section totally, or bring it to the end with the existing main idea."

PR: You have always been a band with more Groove than  speed. Do you think that way you can sound more heavy and brutal without the need to play insanely fast rhythms?

J: "To a degree yes, the thing is that with modern production i feel that whole purpose of having a blastbeat is kinda lost...when the drums are triggered and balanced so that every drumhit sounds as loud as the other one, we´ve reached a point when you go into a blast beat nothing actually happens in the music. In fact the basic drum beat sounds for somereason heavier than the blastbeat? For me, the blast was invented to give that huge push of violence, like an explosion in music - and now its quite the opposite? Late 80´s and early 90´s production didnt do that...you felt when it was time to be aggressive. "Harmony Corruption" may not be the fastest album on the planet, but to me - it is the most brutal one. You can also get lost with the rhythm thing really fast when playing with insane speeds. In some ways I think the essence of actual songwriting is a bit lost. You can do this insanely fast crazy shit basically up to no limit, but you loose the "song" in the process, i mean i kinda respect the technical talent involved but in the end - i dont see what it does. You might get a 10 second thrill out of watching it going "wow, that was impressive" but dont remember jack-shit after the song is over. Thats just my take of it though and people have different views about it - im not saying our way is the right way to do it - its just what we enjoy more. You might think playing slower, groovier stuff would be easier and in a technical sense it is - but in a way thats way more challenging aswell because you really need a good idea to come up with something even remotely fresh and interesting."

PR: Well, come to an end. You all played in different bands. Tuomo and Tuomas play in Demigod, for example. How to manage time not to overlap the duties of each one in bands where you play?

J: "Were good friends with all the other bands so that really isnt a probelm, none of the bands are hyper-active anyways, apart from Archgoat... We have a healthy respect for eachother i think...we know when some band books something so we know not to over-lap with that and just work that way..that has never really been a problem for us at any time."

PR: Ok, I think this is it. Of course, thank you very much for the interview, and hopefully we can enjoy a new album soon! You want to add anything else?

J: "Gracias for the interview brother, i really liked doing this one - really good, thought out, questions. All the best."