Godless Rising
Wywiad przeprowadził Wouter Roemers
Providence, Rhode Island death metallers Godless Rising are rapidly becoming the primary contender for bringing old school sensibilities back into modern day brutal death metal. Godless Rising is here to stake their Satanic supremacy with their full length debut "Battle Lords". Modern black/death muscle meets old-school filth and ancient blasphemy, a churning maelstrom of perpetual evil. Having a lineage in the legendary Vital Remains and having credits in such genre classics as 1992's "Let Us Pray" and 1995's "Into Cold Darkness", no time was wasted when the chance arose to have a brief conversation with original Vital Remains vocalist and Godless Rising founding member Jeff Gruslin.
First off, I'd like to thank you for taking time to speak with me today.
It's my privilege, brother. Great to be able to do this for you.
What is presently going on with the band? What new things are happening for Godless Rising right now?
Well, our new CD "Battle Lords" is finally released worldwide. At the moment, I'm in the process of re-grouping the entire band. Me and Justin [Flynn, guitars] remain, we got new musicians we are working with.
In 2005 you formed Godless Rising, in 1995 the majority of the band featured on Vital Remains' classic "Into Cold Darkness" album. What made you take such a long break from the scene after that album got released?
Well, actually "Into Cold Darkness" came out in 1995 and I continued active with them until I left the band in 1996. I needed much time away from certain individuals and the human population, in general. For the record, I was never out of the scene, just not going to any local shows here - as this area is all drama. Fuck, I've been into metal since 1977 or around that time frame.
Tell us something about your split from Vital Remains. What led you (and the other guys) to decamp? Were there internal/artistic differences or business related problems? Did the split happen on amicable terms?
I only speak for myself and no one else. I quit the band, no one fired me or told me to leave. I left the band on my own terms and probably not in the best of ways. I just split and put it all behind me. It was some of the best times I had in my life, but it was time for me to move on.
Have you followed their subsequent albums such as "Forever Underground" and "Dawn Of the Apocalypse"?
I have heard them, that's all.
With their last two records the magnificent "Dechristianize" and its recent follow-up "Icons Of Evil" Vital Remains have grown exponentially into the mainstream consciousness of the death metal genre. Do you like were Tony Lazaro and Dave Suzuki have taken the band?
They are doing what they need to do. I wish them all the best.
What have you done in-between the split with Vital Remains and the forming of Godless Rising in 2005?
Worked, went back to college and collected metal and muscle cars.
At which point of time did you make the decision to form the Godless Rising concept and how did things develop from there?
The growing urge to play live again and create some old school metal. Nothing more than wanting to play metal live again for the fans.
What's the reason for parting ways with Pathos Productions? How's the deal with your new record company Moribund Cult Records faring - are they promoting the new album properly?
No comment on Pathos. He's got a good distro there, that's about it. Moribund Records has done nothing but support us and continues to support and help us grow.
Were there any other labels interested in Godless Rising? What were the aspects that made you go for Moribund Cult Records?
Had a few smaller labels interested. Myself and Odin have been good friends for many, many years and share the same cravings for evil music.
How long have you been working on the new album, "Battle Lords"?
We are working on new material every day, so it was sort of a collection of tunes.
The album's artwork is an eye-catching depiction of your war-based themes - how did it come about and how did the cooperation with Chris "Thorncross" Moyen work out?
Me and Chris Moyen have stayed friends since the late '80s. He's a master of the dark artwork. I gave him some ideas of a modern day battle movement to conquer and dethrone modern world Christianity.
What are the main musical and lyrical differences and improvements on "Batte Lords"? What has changed compared to the EP "Rising Hatred"?
"Battle Lords" is a mixture of subjects, but all leaning towards the evil side of modern day life and its horrors of organised religion.
How do you feel about terms like depth as far as songs are concerned? In other words, are you more concerned with a song having an immediate impact or would you rather it "grow" on someone?
We write to material the way we would to hear it as fans and pleasing to our ears. Hey, can't always please everyone… You either like it or hate it.
What influenced your lyrical work on "Battle Lords"? Are there any books, movies or personal experiences that had an impact on the Godless Rising lyrics?
All ideas come straight from my head. Always a collection of blasphemy and hatred filled songs. I don't like many people or society in general. So, lyrics come to me in sick fashion.
"Battle Lords" is a powerful statement of classic early-to-mid '90s death metal. A lot of newer bands don't have the same sense of dynamics, variation and oppressing atmosphere. What makes death metal of that decade stand out in comparison to its current counterpart?
Well, music was well thought out then and not over processed. It was heavy as fucking hell. But everything goes around in circles, so we shall see.
What does death metal mean, or stand for, to you?
My bloodline. It keeps me going and keeps me focussed.
When you compare the early days of death metal with the scene of today, what has changed to the better and what has become worse since then?
I miss the tape trading days and the urge to go out and see a new band. Not like today, when people can go online and pass judgement on a band before even seeing them perform live. No one goes out and supports, unless its some overproduced MTV band.
Times have changed a lot and today new and technical bands like Hate Eternal, Behemoth, Nile and Krisiun are in rage of the international death metal throne, do you think that there's still room for more old fashioned death metal bands like yourself to leave a mark successfully?
All the above mentioned bands are brutal as fuck and yes there's room for old fashioned metal bands, as you call them. But in the end, metal is metal and metal never bends!
Do you have lots of live activities in the pipeline the coming months?
We sure do! Hope to see you all very soon on the road.
Thanks for the interview! Good luck with all your future endeavours. Anything you wish to add to conclude this interview?
Thanks again for your time and support. Metal till fucking death!
Booking: steelcurtain1974@aol.com
Site: www.godlessrising.com
