Sepsism
Wywiad przeprowadził Wouter Roemers
American brutal death metal outfit Sepsism have been around for 16 years now. With two strong albums under belt - of which their debut "Purulent Decomposition" is by many considered an underground death metal classic - the band is still fairly unheard of. Although their latest album "To Prevail In Disgust" has been released quite sometime ago through Displeased Records sublabel From Beyond Productions. An interview was in place here since Sepsism receives far too less press coverage than it actually deserves. After a host of minor setbacks and delays, I was able to contact drummer Phillip Hernandez.Hi. Thanks for taking the time to answer our interview. What are the latest developments in the Sepsism camp?
Phil: No problem! Right now we are just writing music for the next record and playing some shows.
After doing a couple of demo's, in 1999 you ended up signing to Spanish label Repulse Records - that later would go bankrupt - which were responsible for the release of your "Purulent Decomposition" album. Can you tell us something about how you came in touch with Dave Rotten and how the deal came to be?
Phil: Oh fuck! That was a long time ago. I think it was Leon [Morrison, guitars] who sent Dave a tape of shit we had at the time, so he liked it and was interested.
Repulse Records dissolved and only to arise again as XTreem Music. At that time you were still completing material for a new album. Did this impose any problems for the workings of the band? On one hand, I can understand how it was somewhat beneficial as it gave Sepsism more time to further hone their skills and perfect its new repertoire. Do you agree?
Phil: We never try to write songs in a certain way. We come up with shit and if we think it fucking crushes then we keep it, and if not we throw it away. As for Repulse we knew it was going to die, so we moved on. In no way did this hurt the band.
Many consider your debut album as a death metal classic, if not a slightly underground one. In retrospect, are you - as a musician, composer - satisfied how "Purulent Decomposition" came out in its final form?
Phil: When I listen to it now, yeah. But back then I thought the sound of it could have been better.
From Beyond Productions, a subsidiary division of Displeased Records released "To Prevail In Disgust" - the much-anticipated follow-up to "Purulent Decomposition". Are you satisfied with the work they put into marketing, distributing and promoting the band and its release?
Phil: Absolutely! No complaints.
If I'm not mistaken you have the option to release a second album through From Beyond Productions. Now that "To Prevail In Disgust" is out for the better part of a year and got positive reviews all over the globe, have you received any interesting deals for future Sepsism releases or will your next album be issued by From Beyond Productions as well?
Phil: We are not even thinking about that right now. We just want to finish writing the next album, but I don't know right at this moment. But our options are open.
On all aspects "To Prevail In Disgust" has surpassed its predecessor. I consider the title particularly well chosen, since it perfectly rounds up Sepsism's history of continuing line-up changes but always coming out stronger and more determined. Anything you want to comment on this?
Phil: Yes, we had our share of nothing but fucking bullshit, that seems like it will never end. But that's just another reason to continue... Fuck it all! What it seems to be our 12th bass player (Raffi), has left the band for maybe some gay reason. I don't know but now he is replaced.
The album also indicates some small stylistic changes, overall. The artwork isn't just plain gore for gore's sake anymore - it seems more the artwork has matured alongside the lyrics and has become increasingly mysterious. Also, the lyrics are written from a different perspective this time around. Were you tired of writing just cliché, nonsensical gore lyrics? I personally like this deviation quite a lot, while still brutal and offensive, it puts the subject matter in a whole different light. Whose idea was it to write the lyrics on a different - almost psychological level?
Phil: In the past we did have gore and ripped up bodies and shit like that on our demo covers, but on the cover of "To Prevail In Disgust" we wanted something different. As for the lyrics: it was totally unintentional, after the album was complete we noticed the lyrics were a lot different than our older songs, except ‘Morbid Consumption'. That was a song we took from the first demo and changed some parts of the music.
Particularly the lyrics and underlying narrative for ‘Concealed In Flesh' demanded my attention. The track in question deals about smuggling drugs in children's bodies. I mean, it's not everyday that a death metal delivers a significant social commentary through their lyric sheet. I feel ‘Uterocasket' on your debut shared this similarity as well. Was this done intentional?
Phil: I doubt it, Fernando [Avila, vocals] wrote the lyrics to those two songs and I don't know what he was thinking or what point he was trying to make.
Now that we're talking about the lyrical content. "Purulent Decomposition" featured one Spanish track ‘Veneno En La Sangre' (‘Poison In the Blood'). Any particular reason why "To Prevail In Disgust" didn't feature any Spanish tracks? Was this done to avoid being associated with a certain trait or gimmick? Please clarify this for our readers.
Phil: That was a song written by an old member of Sepsism. It was a good song so we put it on the album. In the future I don't think it will happen again but who knows, maybe?
As far as tours go, "Purulent Decomposition" was supported a full scale European tour. Is From Beyond Productions able to give any decent tour support? Can we expect to see Sepsism through out Europe in the nearby future or will you focus on the US instead?
Phil: From Beyond tried to get us to do some shows opening up for bigger acts after "To Prevail In Disgust" was released. At the time we were having fucking stupid problems again, it just wasn't possible. We have been playing here and there in other states but no full on tour yet, we will return to Europe soon and fucking rape.
A problem that has plagued Sepsism since the beginning has been the revolving door concerning bassists and second guitarists. Has the storm calmed a bit on that side and have you managed to keep a stable line-up?
Phil: Fuck no! That shit never ends, Lenise is our new bass player now after Raffi [Roumdikian] left, so we'll see what happens with him.
The current wave of brutal death metal bands, both in the States and abroad, have introduced rather unconventional aspects into death metal. Things such as logical song structure supposedly were thrown out of the picture, in favor of all-out brutality. From what I see myself, I reckon the old school way of writing brutal death metal is steadfastly returning. As one of the veteran bands of the genre yourself - what is your take on this?
Phil: Yeah, I know what you mean. But that's what makes this music so brutal, you can do what ever the fuck you want with it! I think a lot of bands don't really have a certain formula to song writing, I think they do what comes natural to them.
Do you think that it is still possible to become a "big" act (like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide or Morbid Angel) within the death metal scene? If not, how do you motivate yourselves to keep going?
Phil: I do think it is still possible. We do it because we love the music, it makes us happy. We love the rush when we play live and people dig what we are doing. We have been around for 16 years and we are not gonna stop now and I take pride in that.
Thanks a lot for answering our interview. The last words are all yours. Cheers!
Thanks for the interview, best wishes.... Phil
Site: www.sepsism.net
Info: philliphernandez@hotmail.com
