Exclusive interview with brutal death metal act, Immolation prior to their album ‘Shadows In The Light’ release.
Hello, How are things at your end? You must be busy with the post production work for your new album ‘Shadows in the light’ , tell us how this album has shaped up and what can the fans expect from the new release? Also tell us your post release tour plans? You are also about to release a CD + DVD titled “Hope and Horror” .What have you included as a part of that release?
Things are good here. The new album and DVD are out and we are currently on tour in Europe until June 10th. Shadows in the Light is definitely a powerful dark album that I think our fans are going to love! The ep also has 3 great songs on there including our first instrumental, plus a dvd from a NY show, so there is a lot of Immolation out this year!
Talking about slight history, when you guys started out in the early 90’s there was an extreme upsurge of Death metal bands in US, which eventually turned out to be a survival of the fittest situation, without considering any competition, tell us what kept you going ? What kind of hardships and roadblocks did you face as a band during your formative years?
It definitely hasn’t been an easy road, but we love the music and the touring. Every new record is exciting for us, so it keeps us going. We have had a really strong line-up the past few years and the fact that every member is into it 100%, it makes things even better for us.
Your first release ‘Dawn of possession’ came out on Roadrunner in 1991 and follow-up to that ‘Here in after’ was released in 1996, why did it take so long for that release? Moreover you have changed 3 labels during your career, what’s the reason behind that? How has it helped you musically and professionally? Do you think your producer needs to a have very good and precise understanding of your unique sound?
The time between the first 2 records was just due to finding a label and really figuring out where we needed to be and what we were going to do. Once the first record was done and released things with RR didn’t work out so it took time to prep the new material and find a label which eventually became MetalBlade. We did our 3 albums with them and then we later signed w/Century Media & Listenable as they were interested. Our producer had gotten to know our style & sound and now working with him is very easy and that helps a lot in the recording process.
Post ‘Dawn of possession’ there has been a change in your sound, which is now darker and more sinister. What led to a shift in gear? And how easy or difficult it is to create that distinct sound with each passing album?
We always wanted a dark and sinister sound and the more albums we do, the better we get at creating that feeling in the music. For us its gotten easier as you learn something new with every album. Now we know quicker what works and doesn’t work for our music and we are able to get the songs together much faster.
Many fans would agree with me when I say, Robert Vigna’s signature guitar sound is truly one of the overwhelming features behind Immolation’s sound. How important have been his contributions to the Immolation legacy? I would like to know from Robert himself how he comes up with those doomish atmospheric build ups and those mean, twisted, guitar patterns which we have come to expect so naturally from Immolation?
I just brain storm and come up with riffs and eventually put them together to form the songs. It just comes naturally, whatever sounds good emotionally and that has dark feeling is what we go with. I think it is important to try and create material that is different and unique. This genre has a lot of similar stuff so I really try to do new ideas that take the music a bit further each time yet does not take away from the integrity of the original concept.
A lot of immolation fans including myself have observed that the last track on each of your albums stands out the most, is that a deliberate move to put such songs right at the end?
We like to go out with a bang on each record. It doesn’t take long for us to realize which song is the ending track, we like to have it go out with a lot of emotion and have a somewhat epic feel. I think our fans have come to expect that from us too, it just seems fitting to us to have each album go out on a very dramatic note.
Your lyrics have predominantly been anti-Christian and nihilistic. How do you relate to it and who does the writing? Although we have observed a little phase shift in your lyrical ideology on your last album ‘Harnessing ruin’, was that a deliberate change?
You can only write about a similar subject for so long. And considering that we have done this for so long I would say we did a pretty good job of this on our earlier records. These days we focus more on what is going on in the world today, what is more relevant to this time. On “Shadows in the Light” we cover everything from the war, terrorism, personal struggles, depression, drug abuse, leaders building our fate, religious extremism and what it leads to, sleeper cells, assassins, how we are abusing the earth, and our own existence and eventual end.
Unlike Immolation, most death metal bands after a point of time start sounding more or less the same, how important is it for you to create new and diverse song structures with each subsequent album of yours? What according to you do most bands lack today, to create a diverse sound?
We just know that for us we need to keep the songs interesting and the ideas fresh. With each new record we are always trying to push things a bit further and make the music more broad. We like to progress in such a way that keeps the feeling strong and dark, but add new elements each time. I think that’s why we’ve been able to last as long as we have. For us new material must be new, its pointless for us to do the same things over and over.
You are one of the biggest death metal bands in the scene, interestingly we wish to know out of the current scene what bands do you prefer listening to and the bands that have inspired you over the years?
We are inspired by all kinds of music, metal & non-metal. I am inspired by so many different things. This genre is gaining momentum again and its good to see that it is once again getting some good attention.
In the past there has been an increasing inflow of bands in death metal sub-genres especially Brutal death metal and technical death metal, why do you think more and more musicians are wiling to experiment with these forms than conventional death metal?
I think as the genre gets popular people want to be a part of it. It also has to do with the need for people to get into more extreme kinds of music, it is a natural progression.
Have you toured extensively outside the U.S.?Do you have any plans of playing in Asia, given that there is huge extreme metal scene in South East Asia, have you heard any bands from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore & Japan?
We definitely want to tour Asia one day. We hope to do so on this record. We are long over due!! We are now on tour in Europe and will be touring the US in November. We are also playing a few big open air fests in Europe in August. We have a heard of a number of bands from Asia and we see that there is a strong following over there. We cant wait to do some shows there!
Just to break the momentum, on a lighter note, I would like to know what do you guys like doing in your spare time. And what’s the reason behind Robert’s decade old baldness, haha?
We like to light our farts on fire, and dip my head in acid.
What according to you will be the shape of death metal 5 years from now, do you expect the fans and bands to grow? Any other forms of extreme music which you admire and would like to see growing?
I think extreme music in general will continue to grow, it always has and always will. There is always a need for more extreme and new music.
To sum up any special message you want to give to all your fans worldwide particularly in India? When can we expect to see you live in this country?
We just appreciate all the great support and we look forward to playing in Asia soon!
It’s been a privilege to interview you, thank you for your time!
Thanks a lot and we hope to see all the dark extreme fans soon!!!!
Official Website : http://www.everlastingfire.com