Diabolic
Wywiad przeprowadził Wouter Roemers
Determination, willpower and discipline are words that come to when describing Tampa, Florida's hard working disciples of infernalism Diabolic. After a 3 years hiatus, an all new re-vamped line-up with 2 original key members and an album's worth of devastating material recorded and ready for release, Diabolic are claiming their rightful position in the genre's upper echelon. Talking to us is drummer/band leader Aantar Lee Coates, who after his departure from Unholy Ghost in 2004 hasn't been resting on his laurels and has tirelessly put the wheels and machinations in progress to resuscitate his primary and career band, Diabolic. Possess the Strength and get ready to become Marked for Banishment!
Hi Aantar! Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule to talk to us again. I reckon you're glad to have Diabolic up and running again?
Hell yeah!!! We are finishing up the album next week now that Punchy is back from touring with Morbid Angel. We want to add sound effects and maybe re-master a few songs but for the most part the album is done. We are practicing every night adding the classic Diabolic songs to the new set list. We won't be playing any songs off the last Diabolic album.... ever. We would play Unholy Ghost songs before ever playing those songs. We have support from the worldwide death metal underground. First show with the new line up will include Jesse Jolly (bass/vocals), Raymond "R.J." James (guitars) and Kelly McLauchlin (guitars). We have been playing a show with Monstrosity, Dark Faith on 9.2.06.
Has touring been working out well for you guys since reforming? I saw you are regulars the Brass Mug and recently you played a show with veteran Florida death metal combo Monstrosity. I understand Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel), Jack Owen (Deicide) and Krisiun were in the audience. Tell us something about that.
Tampa Florida death metal godzzz!!! We will tour with our friends again after "Shellfire and Tombstones" is released. We are shooting the first Diabolic video soon for the new song 'Possessed By Death'. I'm really looking forward to that.
What kind of reactions have you noticed from people regarding the reformation of Diabolic?
Blasphemous death metal head bangers from hell are loving it and are very happy that the Diabolic legacy is continuing. We have support from the worldwide deep death metal underground. First, Lee Harrison [Monstrosity drummer/founding member - ed] gave me the motivation to get the band back together. Then seeing the fans come out to the show with Monstrosity last weekend was awesome!!! After the show Trey Azagthoth walked up to me and said "killer show, man"!!! Krisiun drove up from Miami, Florida and they are very happy that I'm moving forward with the band. It's all about playing music and Satanic Death Metal at Blasphemous Speeds!
From what I heard Brian Malone copyrighted the Diabolic brand name some years ago. What has led to reforming the band in its current line-up – was it a simple case of acquiring the name or is there more to it than that?
Copyright? I did that years ago. In the USA you need to trademark your band name and continue to play and use the name. Brian abandoned the Diabolic trademark years ago. We have completed work for the upcoming album titled "Shellfire and Tombstones". DIABOLIC will continue writing Satanic death metal at blasphemous speeds!!!
A question that needs to be asked. Did Blastmasters form a part in a grander scheme in order to facilitate the resurrection of Diabolic at some point? I guess this sounds a bit far-fetched, but people might be wondering.
Yes, Blastmasters did and it all came together perfect. Kelly (Ex-Unholy Ghost), Jesse (bass/vocals) and Raymond "R.J." James (guitars) play a big part in resurrecting DIABOLIC. But Lee Harrison (Monstrosity) told me I should be doing DIABOLIC!!! He really inspired me to re-form DIABOLIC. He signed the 1st DIABOLIC album "Supreme Evil" to his record label Conquest and helped produce "City Of the Dead" back in 1997. He introduced me to Paul Ouelette, Brian and Rutger.
We came up with a set list and we are rehearsing songs like 'Marked for Banishment', 'Possess the Strength', 'City Of the Dead', 'Extinction Level Event', 'Vassago', 'All Evils Inside', 'Ancient Hatred', etc just to name a few. The new songs will fit into the set perfectly. We are even jamming Unholy Ghost songs! Diabolic has always been a live band. We just want to get the new album released and tour!
With the entire Blastmasters line-up partaking in Diabolic now – does this mean the end for Blastmasters or will it be more of an indefinite hiatus?
Blastmasters will be on more of an indefinite hiatus.
Kelly is one of the original Diabolic band members! I really need to make it clear that Kelly played lead guitars on the Diabolic demo with Buddy Buell (Horror Of Horrors, bass/vocals). Kelly – lead guitars. I will be releasing the demo soon, but for now we you can hear it on www.myspace.com/diabolic666 . I made all the songs in one long mp3. This is proof that I formed DIABOLIC before the "City Of the Dead" demo.
In the band's current incarnation guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (Pessimist, ex-Unholy Ghost) is once again on board. Which is kind of a surprise to me - in November 2004 when we last interviewed you here – you mentioned there was a big fight between the two of you and you threw him out of your rehearsal studio. I guess there's no bad blood between the two of you anymore at this point?
No bad blood between us anymore. My manager contacted Kelly and we worked out the details, so there wouldn't be any problems. Having a manager really helps us focus on the music. When Kelly and I formed Unholy Ghost, we got along really well then things would change after drinking and partying too much. It destroyed our friendship. Hopefully that doesn't happen again.
McLauchlin supposedly also re-activated Pessimist a while ago. Is Diabolic his priority at this time or will both bands' activities eventually trigger scheduling conflicts?
DIABOLIC is the reason Kelly moved to Tampa. DIABOLIC is his priority. With DIABOLIC he won't have time to re-form and play shows with any other band. At this time Kelly has 100% dedication to DIABOLIC.
Talking about involvement with other bands. The entire line-up seems to have a lot going on, musically. If memory serves, you are also behind the drumkit for cult Maryland death metal act Exmortis with guitarist Brian Werking. Jesse Jolly and RJ are also in Promethean Horde, an atmospheric death/black metal formation featuring prominent members of Metal Blade act Paths Of Possession. Update us on the workings of those bands.
Exmortis would never tour so I knew it was a dead end. Jeff and Jesse did the Promethean Horde as a favour. We, DIABOLIC, are dedicated to DIABOLIC. We can all be in different bands but our time is best spent working together in DIABOLIC. I know people are wondering what we will sound like and the image the lyrics. We have so many people supporting the new DIABOLIC. Thanks to the friends and fans for your support!!!! It's all about the music
In 2003 Brian Malone issued the "Infinity through Purification" album through Century Media under the Diabolic moniker with an (almost) entire new line-up. How do you look back at that particular album, not being involved in its writing and recording etc?
"Infinity through Purification" was a wild and crazy record. It sounded like they where trying really hard to break the ground. Brian and Eric wrote the whole record then broke up the band. I guess they weren't happy with the album. It really sucks to see all the killer songs I helped write from "Vengeance Ascending", "Subterranean Magnitude", "Supreme Evil" and "City Of the Dead" go to waste. Unholy Ghost's "Torrential Reign" came out better, I think. In my opinion the new Diabolic blows away the last Diabolic album. Go to www.myspace.com/diabolic666 . All the people are very supportive and want to see DIABOLIC live and hear the music. It's all about the music.
"Shellfire and Tombstones" is a bit controversial for the very same reason. It has yourself as sole original Diabolic member at this point. Why is it validated, in your opinion, to operate as Diabolic again after the short stint with Blastmasters?
Kelly and I formed Unholy Ghost. Kelly and I played on the 1st Diabolic demo back in 1996!!! I wrote a lot of music on the Diabolic albums so I'm moving forward with the band name. I know how the drums are supposed to be played and I know the way the riffs are to be played on guitars because I wrote a lot of the music. I was on every Diabolic album except for the last recording. Unholy Ghost "Torrential Reign" was on Century Media, Blastmasters never officially released "Twisted Metal". I have every right under the US Federal trademark and copywrite laws to apply and acknowledge the responsibility it takes to have a band. Anyone could have used the name and its pathetic to see my music die all because someone doesn't want to be in a band. Even before DIABOLIC I was playing drums on the original Exmortis demos and recorded with Necrosis (Black Mark Records) .I recorded a rare demo with Gene (Palubicki, Angel Corpse guitarist) called Impiety. That's another demo that was never officially released.
At one point Brian Hersemann (guitarist on "Infinity through Purification", ex-Lord Blasphemer) was rumoured to have secured the second guitarist slot in Hate Eternal. Has anything definitive come out of that as far as you know?
Who? You must mean Eric Hersemann. I'm not sure what he's doing these days. Last I heard he was jamming with Hate Eternal. I like Hate Eternal! I remember playing a show with Ripping Corpse when I was in Exmortis back in 1988!!! Exmortis also opened for Ripping Corpses very last show back in 1994 and they KILLED!!!! I have a lot of respect for Eric Rutan. I remember touring with Hate Eternal and God Dethroned on the Cannibal Corpse tour 2000. Eric told me it would be the biggest tour of my career and he was right! In 1996 I remember trying out for Hate Eternal on Pete's kit. I wasn't use to jamming on Pete's drum set 
but it was an honour to jam with Eric Rutan! Back then DIABOLIC was just my idea. Lee Harrison (Monstrosity) introduced me to Brian, Paul and Rut. Lee produced a demo with a drum machine for them - I heard it and thought it could be a lot faster!!!! They had (15 min) long songs and didn't have a name or drummer. I thought the best name for the band was DIABOLIC. Next thing you know Brian trademarks the name.
Nobody from the first two line-ups (the ones of the classic "Supreme Evil", "Subterreaneal Magnitude" and "Vengeance Ascending") are featured on this album. Are you still on speaking terms with ex-Diabolic/Unholy Ghost members Jerry Mortellaro and Paul Ouelette? Are you still in touch with any of the band's many ex-members - people like Brian Hipp, Ed Webb, Brian Malone, etc?
If it wasn't for Jerry re-forming DIABOLIC would have been impossible. He saved all the art work and logo files and gave me everything. He said: "you came up with the name, so it's your band and you should have the tools to continue the band". Paul and I are still really good friends. He one of my best friends and I'll never forget what he sacrificed for this band. I remember after touring with Dimmu Borgir, he was homeless for a along time. His voice never went out on tour. He wrote the coolest lyrics and I'm lucky to have ever worked with someone with his talent. Our last show was in Hollywood, California at the Demon Fest and we took pictures with Jeff Becerra (Possessed). Robert Cardenas (Coffin Texts, bass/vocals) toured with Diabolic in Europe. We are still really good friends! When I announced I was reforming Diabolic, he was very supportive. He's another guy who sacrificed everything to be in Diabolic. I have a lot of respect for him. As for Rut, I know he's moved back to Indiana and is in school. I saw Gene (Palubicki, Angel Corpse guitarist) at the Morbid Angel show a while back. He played 2 shows in DIABOLIC , 1 show in Tampa and 1 show in New York City at CBGB"S. Brian Hipp I saw at the Vader/Destruction show. I'm sure he's still playing guitar. I know Ed Webb has a band called Contorted. Unholy Ghost played a show with them! That was cool to see Ed playing! I'm sure he's doing well. Touring with Gene, Ed, Bryan, Brian, Paul, Jerry, Bobby and Eric was a big test for us. We had to work together to make it to the next show. We didn't always get along, but on stage it was fire raging, head spinning death banging at blasphemous speeds every night!!!
"Shellfire and Tombstones" was originally self-released as the Blastmasters debut album "Twisted Metal". Did the material when through any cosmetic changes when McLauchlin joined?
Yeah, we went back and changed the lead guitars for the songs we decided to keep. We wrote 3 new songs. Here are the song titles: 1.Devour the Subconscious 2.Possessed By Death
3. Evolution Of The Soul 4.Catastrophic System Failure 5.Shellfire And Tombstones
6. We, The Treacherous 7. Artricial Meta-Genesis 8. Putrid Future 9.Twisted Metal
10. Shockwave Undertow
Following your impressive track record, D.O.W is once again where you recorded the new Diabolic album with Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez at the production helm. What keeps you going back there for every consecutive record?
Thank you!!! Punchy did a killer job producing the new DIABOLIC album. We are blown away with the way it came out. He has a lot more experience now and it really shows .Punchy just finished working with Terrorizer!
Your latest release "Shellfire and Tombstones" definitely finds your band honing in on the full-on American death metal sound, it's well played and basically well-thought out. Are you completely satisfied with your offering this time around?
DIABOLIC is better than ever before!
Lyrically, "Shellfire and Tombstones" is righteously abrasive and less head-on anti-religious as past efforts, were the lyrics written from a collaborative standpoint?
The lyrics for Diabolic have always covered a wide rang of different topics. From porn to torture devices, natural disasters, etc.
In the past your efforts have been released through Olympic/Conquest Music, Season Of Mist and (finally) Century Media. I guess it's a safe bet to assume that Century Media have shown a healthy interest towards the rejuvenated Diabolic?
This album is already complete. They don't have to pay for anything but promotion and tour support. All labels interested do contact Andrew Cox at desertcoremanagement@hotmail.com .
For the "Shellfire and Tombstones" artwork you acquired Swedish artist Mathias Norén, who also did the magnificent artwork for Unholy Ghost's stunning debut record "Torrential Reign". Diabolic seemed to have a resident artwork painter in Joe Petagno – why did you choose him [Norén] in particular?
We paid a lot for Norén's art. We had to out bid another band before starting to work with that painting you see on our website. We paid $1000 for it, so I would really like to use it for the new DIABOLIC album. Blastmasters never officially released the album "Twisted Metal". I think they are only 300 ever pressed - so it a real collectors' item. I came up with the name BMX records to get the music out to the die-hard fans who love extreme brutal death metal. Now that DIABOLIC is back in action, I just promote the new DIABOLIC album "Shell Fire and Tombstones!!!
As far as your knowledge goes, Unholy Ghost went through a number of line-up changes since you and Kelly departed. Their website is down and their touring activities have been nonexistent as well, are Unholy Ghost in serious trouble?
As you can see with out me and Kelly Unholy Ghost is done. Kelly and I formed UNHOLY GHOST. If we ever wanted to play those songs live or reform that band, we can. We taught RJ and Jesse a few songs. I'm sure if we ever wanted to do UNHOLY GHOST, no one could stop us.
Thanks a lot for your time to answer these questions! If there's anything else you would like to add to conclude, here's the place. Cheers!
Thanks for the interview Wouter and everyone at Masterful Magazine, you rule!!! To all the die-hard DIABOLIC fans: our new album will crush mountains!!! Satanic Death Metal at Blasphemous Speeds forever!!! See you on tour in 2007!!! DIABOLIC contact: Andrew Cox desertcoremanagement@hotmail.com and check out our site www.myspace.com/diabolic666 and our website www.diabolic-officialsite.com .
Site: www.diabolic-officialsite.com
Info/booking: desertcoremanagement@hotmail.com (Andrew Cox)
