Fornication
Wywiad przeprowadził Tomasz Osuch
I must admit I really like Brasilian death metal scene - there are so many interesting brutal bands. Fornication is one of them, and I was truly impressed with their latest release "Descendants Of The Degenerated Race". Currently, these guys from Curitiba, are working on their second effort so I asked their drummer Johnny about that as well as about many other things concerning Fornication. Enjoy!
Johnny, you joined Fornication a few months ago and now you are the new drummer. What are the relations inside the band, are you satisfied with what you play with these guys?
"Yeah, they are great guys, we were friends before I have become a Fornication's member. Our relationship is really cool, we get along with each other. We have a great time playing together and I am really satisfied with the band."
You also play in death metal Hecatomb, and for a long time you were drumming in death/grind/gore Flesh Grinder. Do you still play in this bands? Could you please add a few words about these bands please...
"I released "Empire of no Emperor" with Hecatomb and it was great, but I don't play in the band anymore. Flesh Grinder was my main band, but now I am just giving them a hand. The guys of both bands are still my friends and we have a lot of fun when we see each other."
I know that the other members of Fornication are/were involved in some other bands. Can you introduce us the related bands, projects with Fornication's members?
"Gerson (g) plays in a grind project called Horrific Disturbance and Mauricio (g) plays with two Death Metal bands, Scorner and Insane Devotion."
Fornication is currently working on a second album. How is it going with working on the new stuff? What can we expect, what would be the best recommendation?
"We are working hard on our second full-length "Unleashed wrath", to be released around June. I think this album will be a little bit different, because new members always bring new influences. So I believe the next album will sound more brutal and coarse, probably 'less American'."
How can you describe progress in Fornication's music since "Descendants Of The Degenerated Race"? Will your new album will in the same vein, will it be a countination of the debut?
"The band members are instinctively improving. Fornication's style will always be Death Metal. But we still cannot jump to any conclusion if it will be a continuation or a different kind of album. Actually, it has been being a natural process but as I said you may expect a more aggressive album."
In some of the reviews I read Fornication is compared to Deicide. What do you think about that? I can agree that on your debut album there are some similarities and some parts were characteristic for Deicide... but not too much...
"I would say that "Descendants of the degenerated race" has American Death Metal influences and that does not really bother us. But I guess our identity is arising naturally."
When I listen to bands such as Abhorrence or Ophiolatry for example, I know that they are from Brasil, it's something you feel in their music and you can hear that at once. Fornication doesn't play in specific brasilian way and doesn't sound like other bands from your country... you sound more 'american' ... will you agree?
"I agree with that, Fornication is not a typical Brazilian Death Metal band. We try not to be tied to labels, we just want to play Death Metal on our own way."
There aren't any pentagrams and stuff like that on the cover and inside the booklet of "Descendants Of The Degenerated Race". This theme is very popular in brasilian death metal bands, but it seems that you do not enjoy writing about it?
"You are right, this theme is really popular among Brazilian Death Metal bands, but I don't care about that stuff... It is not that we do not enjoy writing about it, we just do not believe in it.. We do not think that symbols will make any difference."
You signed a deal with brasilian Black Hole Productions. Didn't you want to search for a label, for example from States? I think that you will not have too many problems with it, your album is very good, and many other labels from US and Europe might be interested in Fornication.
"Black Hole Productions has been doing a great work for us. I believe Fornication and BHP are gradually growing and for now we have overcome all the expectations. We still don't know if BHP will release our next album, that means we are not discarding other opportunities."
Fornication was the only brasilian band participating in 'Together As One - A Tribute To Death'. Do you feel privileged? Do you like other Death's cover included on that tribute album?
"We really enjoyed to play "Regurgitated Guts". It was a privilege for us. There is no doubt Death was and will always be a reference to Death Metal. I appreciate the tribute very much, specially "Torn to peaces" by Depression, "Born dead" by Green Fly, "Zombie ritual" by Profanity."
Brasil is a very exotic and distant country, but it happens to have one of the strongest death metal scene. What do you think about the current situation in your country and what is said about it?
"Death Metal scene in Brazil is very strong, with a lot of great bands. But our worst problem is Brazil's economical instability, where a few people make a lot of money while the rest barely have what to eat. Therefore, it is hard to keep a Death Metal band when one of the biggest problems you have is to maintain a stable life."
Is there a band in Brasil that can have a chance to become famous all over the world, just like Krisiun are? Do you have a band which is be able to do it?
"In Brazil, there are a lot of bands with great potential to become famous. Unfortunately, that is not enough. As I said, it is hard to a Brazilian Death Metal band survive. It seems a little dramatic but it is true."
Tell me, is it true that gothic music and melodic metal are very popular among Brasilian fans? So far I thought that you enjoy only extreme music...
"Man, how I wish that Brazilian fans enjoyed only extreme music (he,he, I am joking). Actually, I don't like just extreme music, I hear a lot of stuff from other styles. As you said it' is true there is a lot of gothic and melodic fans. Brazil is a very big country, with space for all Metal genre."
Fornication plays very often in your area, but I heard that you are planning a tour through Europe for this year ...
"Actually, there is not too many Death Metal concerts where we live. And as Brazil is huge, it is very expensive to drive through. We are planning to go on tour in Europe from September until December this year, I hope we can get some gigs in your country. If that happens, we can drink some beer together!"
For sure! Some people say that smoking pot and stuff like that is very popular and something normal in South America. Is it true? Do you enjoy in it, or maybe there are other addictions that you have?
"Oh man, sometimes it seems we are in Jamaica or Amsterdam, hehehe, I'm just kidding. But it is true that there is a lot of people who smoke pot around here. It is a little bit normal, although not legal. I think I'm fucked when on tour... Actually, not that much, I just realized you guys have great beers!!!"
Yes, that's right! Thank you for this interview. What should I wish you for this year?
"Thanks a lot Tomash for the interview. Good luck to you and Masterful mag. And thanks to keep the underground alive. I hope we will see you some day, maybe when playing in your country."
