Pessimist
Wywiad przeprowadził Marcin HilarowiczPESSIMIST
is slowly working on their thrid album, but in the meantime I asked Kell about the previous ones, demo days, being pessimistic and all the other shit I found interesting. Hope this interview would make you, dear readers, even more hungry for their high quality death metal.
Hello Kell! How are you doing dude? Let's start it with a little history lesson, if you don't mind. So you've recorded two demo tapes under the same title "Dark Reality". Why was that? Was it really so damn hard to invent different one?
Hails Marcin! No...we had originally recorded the "Dark Reality" demo in 1993. This was our first recording with a complete lineup, although the very first Pessimist demo "Tunnel Vision" was recorded in 1989. "Dark Reality" included 3 songs, "Open Wounds", "Dungeonlorde", and "Violator". But because of the recording (mainly the vocals), it was never released. We decided that we would re-record it at a later date. By 1994 we had some new songs, so we recorded them and re-did "Dungeonlorde". Well this recording did not turn out as brutal as we
had planned, and so there was no artwork and it was never released. Later we decided to re-package both demos for release as "Dark Reality I & II" since they were both recorded with the same lineup at the same
time period ('93/94) and since both tapes included versions of "Dungeonlorde".
I know that before, in 1988-9 I believe, you also recorded some 5 (?) tracks demo that was published in no less than 3 copies, he, he, he... was it really so horrible?
Haha, yes it was truly a horrible recording, that was a long time ago! We had recorded the drums and 1 guitar track live in the studio, and I had to overdub the 2nd guitar and live solos with a cassette deck and a
distortion pedal!! But the songs were really cool: "Utter Darkness", "Laughter and the Slaughter", "Punishment Deserved", and "The Greater of Two Evils". I was listening to a lot of thrash back then, Slayer, Possessed, Dark Angel, Destruction, etc. This "demo" had hand-drawn cover art, one of the first versions of the Pessimist logo and the Nonagon....it was brutal and very underground!!! I possess one of the only remaining copies in existence.
It was called "Tunnel Vision" - same as the live video, you've released lately. Is it a coincidence?
Not really...since this is our first official releases of Pessimist video footage...the name "Tunnel Vision" seems appropriate...also because it's "vision" like "Television".
After recording highly acclaimed "Absence of Light" you've had big problems with "big underground hero" called Richard C. of infamous Wild Rags. Did he rip you off badly?
Yes it's true he ripped us, but it's a long story really...I'd rather not even discuss the details of that. We had always heard that he was a rip-off, now we know! Not like anything he did could hold us back, because look at Pessimist now, then look at Wild Rags! I hear that he's out of business now, bankrupt or something... But in the long run I gotta say that Richard C. did a lot to help Pessimist in the early days, and we did get a lot of press in the Wild Rag!!
Is it true that he was informing everyone that Pessimist split up, when - in fact - Pessimist was still alive? Have you had any troubles with that?
Yeah well he printed some shit like that, he was getting his information from the wrong source! Pessimist was just taking some time off, but the band was still together! At the time, I was filling in on guitar for Horror of Horrors. We're really not concerned with any of that now...Pessimist is focused on the future.
"Absence of Light" was different from what you did on "Cult...", wasn't it? Why did you quit using clean vocals for example? Basically, "Cult..." was far more brutal, correct?
Yes, "Cult..." was far more brutal than "Absence of Light"! It was not a conscious decision to change, but we hated Rob's "clean" vocals on earlier recordings a la "Stench of Decay", and we knew we wanted to get
heavier! So gradually we started using more "raspy" screams, and sicker, lower death growl vocals. By the time we re-recorded "Stench of Decay" for the "Cult" CD, we had another 2nd guitarist (Tom "Missing" Persons) who sang the high screams. I did additional sick vox on "Let the Demons Rest", "Drunk With the Blood of the Saints" and "Unholy Union".
The new Pessimist album is out since a few months now, so tell me, what was the response to it? Do people like it more than mighty "Cult of the Initiated"?
The response to "Blood..." has been great!! I think a lot of people were concerned that it could not compete with "Cult of the Initiated" but it has sold more copies than "Cult..." already!! We got lots of airplay on underground radio, and hit the top #20 on the CMJ charts in the US!! Also dozens of great reviews in magazines all over the world, and the fans really seem to like it a lot!! Of course people say they will always love "Cult of the Initiated" as well...
How would you compare these two albums? Obviously, the song writing is better, the production is better, the front cover is better (this for the "Cult..." was horrible by the way, he, he, he), and the music itself is a bit more influenced by black metal, do you agree? Shit, I basically answered this question myself, ha, ha, ha...
I would agree that some aspects of the "Blood..." recording are better, but we were very rushed because of deadlines and limited budget and studio time. We recorded in a different studio, with producer Drew Mazurek (recently did mix work for GWAR) which resulted in a powerful recording, but was more expensive than our previous recordings. This left very little time for editing, and most of the tracks are on the first take. The drum tracks for example, had to be played slower and very carefully, because we didn't have time to do re-takes. Even the guitar solos were 85% improvized in the studio on the first take! With "Cult" we had plenty of time to fix mistakes, and the material was played faster, the recording more raw and underground. For the "Blood" CD we had a larger budget for artwork and packaging, and so the end result was overall a more professional product. The material on "Blood" is definitely more brutal. I really don't consider either of these albums to be largely influenced by black metal at all, except for some of the vocal styles.
Let's talk about Pessimist lyrics for a while. They seem to be very important, and clever. Firstly, was "The Stench of Decay" your vision of today's America? You are very pessimistic (!) about the future of your country, aren't ya?
The lyrics for "Stench of Decay" were written by our ex-vocalist Rob Kline. I always hated those lyrics, although they were pessimistic, it is not our interest to sing about political issues. That's not what this band is about.
Was "Cult of the Initiated" based on the real story? Tell me about this unholy circle?
Basically long ago there was an elite sect of psychologists who were experimenting with psychological tests, including the Rorschact Test. Their knowledge was closely guarded and the information was only for a priveleged few...they were very secretive about who could join their society...this inner circle became known as the "Cult of the Initiated".
What you mean by saying that "Wretched of the Earth" was written by God?
The lyrics for "Wretched of the Earth" are taken directly from the Bible, the Book of Revelations. Incidentally, these are the same scriptures that were used in "Drunk With the Blood of the Saints" from
the "Cult..." album.
Who's "Boy God" in "Century of Lies", and who's Jesse Channell?
"Boy" is a slang word or street name for Heroin. Jesse Channell is an aquaintance of Rob's who is a recovering drug addict and who had been clean for two years when we recorded "Blood For the Gods".
Is Bob Bowen you close friend? Did he really came through the Vietnam War? By the way, don't you think that this stupid war wasn't worthy of almost 60.000 dead American soldiers?
Bob Bowen is a long-time friend of Rob's...I don't know him that well but I have met him...he was really honored that we wrote the song and played it for him. I have so much respect for American veterans and particularly of the Vietnam War.
Do you agree with me that watching what's going on in Russia now, we can expect the III World War soon?
You never know...
After recording "Blood..." you fired all the band members, who did it with you, why? Was that a sign of your tyranny, ha, ha, ha? I can understand that Rob has no time for a band because of the studies, but I thought you was satisfied with Pernia brothers...
Actually that's not the way it happened, although it may appear that way. Over several months, each person left or was fired for their own reasons...Tony Pernia (bass) had already decided to leave the band even before recording "Blood For the Gods". He was more interested in jazz/fusion style of bass, and had agreed to only do the remaining shows we had scheduled, and record part of the album. In fact, I played bass on 3 songs for the "Blood" CD, because Tony didn't know the parts! Anyways, about this same time (Feb. '99) we had found a replacement bassist (Eric) and also a 2nd guitarist (Gary). After recording the "Blood" album we did several shows and some fests including Milwaukee Metalfest '99, St. Louis Slaughterfest, and our first European Tour with this lineup. However after the tour due to increasing personal and musical differences of the band, Tony's brother Chris Pernia (drums) left the band in August '99. We immediately found a replacement (Joe), and did a couple more shows, in NY and WV. Just a couple of weeks later we played "November to Dismember" TX Metalfest...Not long after that it became apparent that in order for this band to tour, we would have to part ways with Rob. That's too bad because he had become such a talented vocalist and had been a part of Pessimist for such a long
time!! But in the end he really showed no loyalty to the band, and was not the least bit interested in playing shows or even practicing. Rob really never even hung out with the band. He had basically told us he was going to quit anyways, after his graduation...se we decided that if he was holding us back, to go ahead and sever it. Basically I am still on really good terms with everyone else who has left the band except for Rob, who made it know to everyone that he would prefer to "no longer continue any relationship" with the band.
Gary Daniels already recorded a solo on "Blood...", but who's Eric and Joe?
Yeah man, Gary had joined the band just as we were finishing up the recording of "Blood..." and he played one of the solos on "Tunnel Rats"! Joe Roffeld is our new drummer. He played previously in Dwelling Madness, which is Gary Daniels' former band as well...so that made him a natural choice when it came time for a replacement. Eric Little is our current bass player, he has been with Pessimist for over a year now, he joined right after we recorded "Blood..." and after Tony left.
What's the meaning of the Nonagon? What's its connection with numerology?
I had been studying the occult and books such as the Necronomicon...The Nonagon is a symbol I designed to represent the strength of evil and negativity, as it occurs in the natural world. The three interlocking equilateral triangles show the strength and negativity, 5 of the 9 points downward. This is entirely based upon sybolism and numerology. The circle represents eternal existence, the eye looking outward reflects the "Pessimist View" of the world, that all things were created in the name of evil, and that all things ultimately tend towards evil. On each of the 9 points is affixed the name Pessimist, (also 9 letters), spelled counter-clockwise to represent negativity and darkness. So The Nonagon ultimately represents a pessimistic view of the world. This symbol has also been used on the (inside cover) artwork for the "Cult" and "Blood" CDs and had first appeared on the cover of the 1989 demo "Tunnel Vision", complete with Viking Runes. I have a tattoo of it on my right arm, that looks real cool, The Nonagon is surrounded by flames and blood dripping off of it. We once met a fan in TX that had a Nonagon "scarred" (cut with a surgical knife repeatedly) into his back!!
Do you feel responsible for damaged face of Jeremy from Broken Hope when you invited them to the show in Baltimore? Why he and King hate each other?
No, I don't feel responsible nor do I know whose fault it was, I don't know why they hate each other. The show was to be Broken Hope, Monstrosity, Vader, and Pessimist. Jeremy had told me before the show that King might start a fight or something. We alerted security but somehow....it happened while we were on stage, in the middle of our set. All I know is that sometime during our set, the two had an argument, and King punched Jeremy right in the nose! Afterwards, Broken Hope informed me they would not play the show.
Are there more that kind of fights between American bands? I've read somewhere that you're not very pleased with your country's scene.
I don't know of any other fights between American bands, I mean I've heard rumors of certain bands talking trash about other bands, but nothing serious. Certain people just have a bad reputation...we don't spend our time talking shit about other bands...we have many friends in different bands around the world. I think that the metal "scene" here in the USA is a lot stronger now than it was 3-4 years ago. There are so many new bands, labels, zines, many more "festival" events around the country catering to death metal, hardcore, grind, and heavy music in general!! Even locally, it seems like there are more death metal bands around than there were in '96. A lot of clubs closed down back then...there still aren't very many cool clubs here for Death Metal...but it does seem to be getting better.
As far as I know, you had a contract with Lost Disciple for 2 albums that you already made, but as you seem to be very friendly with Rich I guess that the next album will be also release by LD, am I right? Have you composed any new songs yet? In which direction will they go?
We are currently in the writing process for our 3rd full-length CD, which I promise will be our most devastating ever! The trademark Pessimist sound - dark, evil and technical but blazingly fast, truly extreme vocals and of course sheer brutality and heaviness!! Song titles so far include "Tundra", "Stripped of Immortality", and "Malevolence Incarnate". We plan to record some demo tracks in the coming months that we will send to several labels who have shown interest in signing our next release!! It will really depend on what offers are made to us...all things being equal we will re-sign with Lost Disciple, but we are really looking for better distribution and tour support.
What about the nearest plans of Pessimist apart from being more and more pessimistic each day, he, he, he?
Well as I mentioned we'll be recording some new demo material very soon! In the meanwhile, we have a couple more shows coming up including Ohio Death Fest 2000 and "Mayhem in May" Metalfest in Los Angeles, CA. After
that, we'll take a couple months off to finish writing the album, and by that time we should have secured a deal for the next release. By August we should be hitting the studio for CD #3. We plan to return to Europe in September/October for a tour with Godless Truth (Cz) and Prophecy (USA). After that, we plan to do a small tour of Brazil in 2000, and a full-scale N. American/US tour by Feb/March 2001. After that, who knows...of course we will constantly strive to make our music even heavier, darker and more extreme...
Thanks for the interview brother!
Thanx for your support and for the interview!!! Good luch with Morbid Noizz and Masterful Magazine!!! Fans, bands, labels, zines, distro, everybody get in touch! For merchandise info write or visit our web site, KEEP THE UNDERGROUND ALIVE,
www.pessimist.com
