Masterful Magazine - Death Metal and Black Metal Magazine

Immolation

Wywiad przeprowadził - Bartosz Donarski

There are many good and adorable bands worldwide, but merely a few of them are capable of staying in hearts of fans longer then a season. New trend-settlers and their plagiarists copulate each other making a total mess is heads of the unconscious flock. Fortunately, there is a kind of metal music only die-hards can truly admire. Death Metal, especially American one, has been marking out the uncompromising and ultimately brutal manner of attracting people towards audible hell placed in red-hot Florida. IMMOLATION is the band that constantly put a lot of effort into it, as it's one of the greatest death-acts I've ever had a chance to listen to as well as see on stage. Dark, blasphemous, utterly proficient. Maybe they've never gained a position ascribed to Morbid Angel or Deicide but the excellent music they create is undoubtedly something I'm not able to walk by indifferently. Their newest album "Close To A World Below" proofs all I wrote above - furious deadly insanity focused on hatred to Christianity itself and its treacherous scriptures. I'm simply amazed at the awesome record, just as I presumed. Love it or stay aside, for we won't keep you out of harm's way. Looking for heaven? So, do not gaze at the skies Masterful: As you promised we weren't forced to wait for new Immolation's album that long as it was in a period of time between "Here In After" and "Failures for Gods". I have to confess that I did not believe in it, and that's what I'm holding right now in my hand is "Close To A World Below", and I'm really happy with it, really. So, I guess this time you did not want your fans to wait for the next Immolation's release that long as it was previously?

Robert Vigna: "That's right. Don't loose faith in us yet (laugh). A lot of people say - "yeah, yeah, you'll have a new album this year, yeah, right" - you know? This year we did a tour in The United States as well as Canada, we also did a headline tour in Europe, after that. And at the beginning of this year we want out on a road with Six Feet Under, for January and February. After that tour we had Milwaukee Fest, and it was great. Basically after that we just decided what to do at the summer time, and it was either to go on a headlining tour in the US again or to get another album done. So, being that, the way the track record in the past has been, when we had the first album come out and then five years later the second one, and like three year after that the third one (?) We knew what we had to do. You know, we didn't wanna wait, we didn't wanna our fans wait. We didn't wanna have that long period of time between albums any more. We just felt that there was time to get the new material out there. So, what happened is that in March we decided to go on to the studio in June. We recorded eight songs, that was it, and I think it's the best thing we've ever done. We pushed hard, we were very ambitious and more determinate than ever before. We just wanted to get something very strong, heavy, dark. You know, something more innovative, something what takes this music further. We ended up, I think, succeeding in all that. I think the album has a lot to offer not only for black or death metal people but also for the people in extreme music in general. The album really flows from beginning to the end, non stop, it takes the whole view. We are really proud of this one. It came out really? basically, it's the best thing we've ever done."

M: What could you say comparing "Close To A World Below" to the other albums of yours, like to former one "Failures For Gods", for instance?
R: "With each album we always expend and move things forward. I think that "Failures For Gods" was an album we've started really fine tuning thing a little bit and getting the more darker elements. The production brought out more what we're really going for. You know, we were really happy with that one. Going into the studio I think not only the music was that much more intense and stronger, and not only did I think we perform better in the studio. But at the same time going in there we knew what to expect. We'd already been in the studio, we knew how Paul was, and he knew us. It was like - ok, now let's just go - and shortly after that the great record was done. We all seat down and do what we have to do. And it really came out phenomenally. The production is very heavy and dark, it has the power, but it also has the atmosphere. So, we're really happy with it."

M: Some time ago you had some line-up problems, as well as I remember John McEntee was helping you during the tour. Is everything in order present-day, and what were the reasons of those problems back then?

R: "It's not really a problem, but it still exists till the day. John McEntee came out, did some live shows, actually tow tours with us because Tom can't come out on a road right now. You know, he runs his own business, it's his business so he has to stay and keep an eye on that. He haven't been on a road for a long period of time. So, locally we have John McEntee to help out, he was more than happy to do so. He's basically just like one of us, pretty much. We are on the same scene together, we've known him for years, so it was really great having him out with us. But he's involved with Incantation obviously. And in January and February when we toured with Six Feet Under in The United States we did it as a three piece, and we make it. It worked out very well too. It was little stranger first, but after the first two shows we had it done and me and Ross just had fun with it, and it actually went out very well. But now we are gonna be doing probably a lot more touring this year coming. Probably we'll be doing more headlining stuff. You know, we're gonna get someone else because John can't do it either. Actually right now we have Bill from Angelcorpse coming up by the end of the week. He will be probably with us next year for the most part of the tours we're going to do. Although we can do it as a three piece without a problem, but it's always nice to have an extra guitar back there, to feel the space, to obtain the bigger sound. You know, Bill was interested and right now it's gonna come up and we gonna see how the all thing goes. The line-up is still the same. Tom obviously has a lot to do with Immolation and has a music comes out. There is no line-up change at all."

M: As everybody knows you are not followers of Christianity what we can experience on every album of yours, that's obvious. But I want to ask you is the belief still a real danger in nowadays world which is, whatever we say, all the more interested in consuming all the goods they overproduce? You know, a lot of people don't care at all what all kinds of preachers and churches are trying to hand down to them in their teachings? Manyhunt that's the new and overwhelming religion I observe in present-day world. What do you think of it?
R: "Well, a lot of them don't but a lot of them still do, believe me. We see it all around us. It is still playing the major part, you know, the whole catholic church and Christians. I forgot people coming up to my door now and than, throwing the stuff on my face. You know, there is a lot of influence, this religion is one of the biggest in the world. It has a place, a lot of influence, a lot of everyday-stuff, politics and everything. We just look at the darker side of it. We still see a lot of it between, in our families, in people that we know, what we see around us each day. Although we speak about religious topics and doing it such way it dose relate everyday life as well. Like a song "Father, You Are Not A Father" which deals with a priest in a church who sexually abused young children. Such things still go up till this day, so someone has to bring attention to it. But in the essence it's really become a song, a

strong song against child abuses, it's a domestic issue in general. Although, our songs deal with one thing on the top, if you look deeper into them you can get more meaning. We are not Satanists, we don't really hate Christians either. We don't hate anybody, we respect everyone around us unless they give us a reason not to. You know, when it comes down to certain beliefs that we feel, we put them in our music, and that's it. And if you choose to listen to it? you know, everyone is gonna get something different out of it, whether what's on the surface, the deep meaning inside or just for the music alone. Music can be taken in a lot of different ways, it's really up to the individual."

M: Don't you think that Immolation's, excellent for me, music isn't for every metalhead because of it's complexity and ultimate technical proficiency not all are capable of appreciating? You know, you create a bit different kind of death metal comparing to Cannibal Corpse, Deicide or late Suffocation just to hint at the well-know names and not mentioning of European death metal which is completely different and more accessible in my opinion?
R: "No music is for everybody. I think that our music is very accessible to a lot of different people. Even if someone is into metal music in general could find something in this. I think that the way we play our music is very unique and very different. We do have our own sound, style and way of doing things. I don't think our music is somehow complex. It's definitely different where we do things that people don't expect, but that's what makes the band special. I don't think it's something people can't get into. This album, more that any other, is the most strict and forward we've ever done. Maybe it's not something you gonna listen to for the first time and say - wow -, but then you wont to listen to it again, no doubt about that. The more you listen to it you kinda catch the stuff. On this album there is a lot that might get your interest and it makes you gonna come back taking you a little bit deeper, a little bit more. I still think that people who are not into this kind of music, could hear this and find some interesting thing about it. Our music is, in a way, straight forward but it's very multi-dimensional as well. It can grab your attention, it has a lot to offer and, you know, it doesn't get you tired quick."

M: Who's responsible for the music in your band? Is there any leader in composing, how does this look like?
R: "Well, I mean, it's pretty much as a band effort. Personally I do a lot of the music, I do most of the music, but the end product is ours. I think everything that we do is between the lyrics, the music, the vocals. I think that's what's special about this band. The fact is that we have a lot of influences from a lot of different kinds of music, over the years, from listening to metal and a lot of non-metal stuff. It's just a desire to make something fresh, new, innovative, that hasn't been done before, something that has the potential to take things forward and not just repeat what has been done already. So, not only can people in the underground totally appreciate it and be proud of it but I think we can still access people like really haven't even heard the stuff before. The people could find something in it. There is a lot of heaviness and brutality but at the same time it's very musically conscious. It really hits the best of both words. It's not just a bunch of noise but it does have a very brutal and powerful feel, it's a very unique sound we're really happy about. It took us years and years to create it, but you know, we've been out for a long time and it shows through the music without a doubt."

M: How can we understand the words which are exposed on the album "Didn't you say, Jesus was coming". Is this addressed to all the blind-folded who are awaiting the so-called second coming?
R: "Pretty much, it's kinda like looking him died. You know, you pretty much hit it on the head there."

M: Andreas Marschall's works have become like a trademark of your albums. It would be hard to imagine Immolation's records without these splendid paintings. That's why I suppose you've never thought of changing it, although it might be a new experience for you?
R: "We've never been disappointed. He only made us extremely happy each time, so there is no reason to look for someone else. Andreas has a way of taking the ideas that we come up with and just making that come to life. Every time we give him details how we want things to look and what we want going out,how we want the feeling to be. The new one is almost like a camouflage, you are not quite sure what you're looking at when you first see it, and then the more you look at it the more details you perceive. He totally made that happen, it's exactly what we wanted. When someone first sees the thing in the store or sees the picture of it, you know, at first it looks like a bunch of flames, then he sees the crucifix, then he sees the images within the flames. It's kinda like our music. We wanted to try something different, a little more abstract, and he did it, he made it happen, it's amazing thing."

M: Don't you think it's a highest time for you to release a live album, what without a shadow of doubtfulness would be greatly appreciated by all Immolation's followers allover the world? I saw you in Poland like a year ago and one thing I can say is that it was one of the best metal gigs I've ever seen in my mundane life. Pure audible holocaust I was crashed by!
R: (laughs) "Well, we just want to get out there and perform personally, really, right now (laughs). But maybe we'll do something like that in the future. Our main thing right now is to get out there and perform for them live and in their face. Live album is a great thing, but right now our main focus is really to get the new material out there and keep the new stuff coming. We want to play some music, that's what the band is about, we're a live band, there you can get the full experience of us. Maybe in the future we'll do something like that on CD but right now we just want to get out there personally. We always have a great time on stage, when we see the people are relating to it and that's what's all about, we love it. I think people can see that in our eyes because we are into in a 100%. We'll definitely make a back to Poland, for it's always been a great place to play, so we really looking forward to it."

M: "Close To A World Below" is a third full-length album for Metal Blade, therefore I guess you're content with the conditions the label has been offering you so far. How many materials does the agreement contain, and what the future will bring to you in the issue?
R: "They seem to be better with each album, I mean, Europe does a great job. We're still proofing ourselves to the label in some respects. I think that the more we get out there, the more we do, the more they realize the potential that we have. We want to keep the new stuff coming, the label's been doing pretty good job with album, they do more and more. I hope they really push the band. So far with this album they've been doing the most they've done for any album."

M: Is any tour-schedule schemed yet according to promotional activities of "Close To A World Below"? What can we expect?
R: "We're going out in The United States in March, and pretty much after that we plan to tour Europe. Hopefully either in the summer time or shortly after that. We will be over there next year. Keep an eye on our web site for details"

M: Immolation was born over 12 years ago what gives you an indisputable position of one of the founders of the style of metal music people have used to call death metal ever since. Do you feel like that, I mean, as forefathers of the blasphemous institution?
R: "We were definitely there at the beginning, there is no doubt about that. When our first album came out there where bands like Possessed or Kreator, Destruction and stuff like that, then Sepultura, and we pretty much came out right after that. We've definitely been there from the beginning, following those bands and being into them. We started doing things even in '86 with our other band which was called Rigor Mortis. It was pretty much what we're doing today, it was only far more basic version of it, but it was pretty much death metal. So, we've been doing it for quite some time now. We've still been around all this time but we never sound old. So, we are not like an old band, an old sound, we have a fresh new sound and we always bring something new at the table. And that's what keeps the band so strong. We come out with new record, with new music, that's what keeps that going."

M: How do you look upon the contemporary American death metal scene? We've lost some bands lately, like Obituary, Suffocation or Angel Corpse. Such news are like nails in our backs. Are the newcomers like Nile or Hate Eternal able to fulfil the gap the aforementioned great bands left?
R: " The scene is definitely growing now. We had a little downfall in the middle 90's, that's because death metal got so big, there were so much bands that really didn't that good and I think a lot people lost interest. Now all kinds of metal are in a better situation, even the commercial music has something to do with it, the radio has more metal edge. It's a great thing, and we just do our part of it. We just want to take metal forward, that's all I know."

M: Do you still listen to the music as a fan of it?

R: "O yeah, of course! We listen to all kinds of things, you know, I listen to all non-metal stuff, all different kinds of music and I get inspired by all kinds of music. We just like music in general. But when it comes down to the band we're metal full force all the way (laugh)! We are ready to carry the torch into the new decade (laugh)."
M: The new album ,as the previous one, was recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios? Why the studio, and how is to work with Paul Orofino - the man behind the console?
R: "With "Failures For Gods" we worked with Paul Orofion for the first time. He's really great producer. That was the first time for him to work with this kind of music at all. It was an experience for him too. And I think he did a great job with it. So, with this album we took things a bit further, we decided to use Paul Orofion for the second time what was the first time we've ever used the same person twice."

M: Is there anything you want to hand down to Immolation's fans in Poland which had been anxiously waiting for "Close To A World Below"?
R: "If they haven't heard it yet than they have to know it's Immolation a 100% and they have nothing to fear for you'll hear the darkest, heaviest and most unholy music you've ever heard. And we'll continue to do that for years to come. We appreciate the support and we just can't wait to get back to Poland really soon. I'm sure we'll be there next year and we're looking forward to seeing everybody there when we'll come through."

Immolation

Wywiad przeprowadził - Bartosz Donarski

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