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Hails to
you Don and Jim you sick fucks – how are you and is it okay if I stick my
hands in your guts to see what I might be able to reveal? I really
appreciate you guys taking the time to do this monster interview and first
things first, could you tell me what your favorite food is, which is better
big tits or small and what is the sickest thing both of you have ever seen
with your own eyes?
DON
- Greetings
Dale. Thanks for the chance to do this huge interview. I eat Pizza about 4
times a week. It seems that even if you get a bad Pizza it is still good. I
like small ones. The reason being is that I do not know what to do with
much more than a handful (Oh I do!! <A devilish Jim Sadist style
demon grin spreads across his face> - Dale). Just about the sickest
thing I have ever seen was this de-fleshing pit where I collect bones. Now
normally none of this bothers me but I went one day and there were lots of
fresh kills there and it was summertime. The stench was unbearable but what
disturbed me was that there was a fawn that was pregnant and the fetus was
being pushed out of the womb. It was complete gore!
SADIST
- HAILS TO YOU O’
METAL BROTHER. THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AS
WELL. MY GUTS ARE FILLED WITH A HATRED FOR THIS WRETCHED EARTH AND THE BLOOD
AND MEAT OF MY LATEST KILL SO BE CAREFUL - HAHAHA. MY FAVORITE FOOD IS STEAK
OR ANY KIND OF BLOODY MEAT. I LOVE BIG TITS, BUT SMALL IS COOL TOO. I ONCE
WITNESSED THE BIRTH OF A DEMON FIRSTHAND. IT WAS VIOLENT AND GROTESQUE. I
LOVED IT.
Recently
I was on a Von tribute website, the only one I know of...it refers to the
drummer on
the “Impale the Soul of Christ on the Inverted Cross of Death” demo,
credited on the demo as “Von”, is this the enigmatic main member of the
great band Von? Don, what do you know of this mysterious band?
D
- I know lots of the band VON. I am a huge fan but now the band is becoming
so fucking popular it is taking away for the mysteriousness of VON. I heard
that Hammerheart is now going to re-re-re-release the VON demo. WHY? If you
are into the underground scene then you already have this demo. If you do
not have these demos then fuck you. They just want to make a quick buck and
commercialize it so all the Slipknot kids can buy it and feel like they are
listening to the underground. It is a shame that everything good must come
to an end and this is no different with VON.
One of
NunSlaughter’s most sought after releases, as far as I can tell, is the
“Killed By The Cross” 7”, do you have a copy as I believe this was a bootleg
wasn’t it? What exactly was on this 7” and why is it so sought after by
underground maniacs everywhere? Who released it and when?
D
- That is the unholy grail of NunSlaughter 7”s. It was an official release
by Whisper in Darkness from Germany that came out in 1990. The record is one
sided and it was released on 2 colors of vinyl 300 red and 18 white. I have
one copy of each color myself and Sadist has one copy of each color and
Duaniac has a red one. All of the tracks on this release were on our
“Rotting Christ” demo that came out in 1989. The 7” is missing one track
titled “Cataclysm”. I am not sure why this has become a collectors item. The
sound is utterly horrible and everything about it underground. I have been
told by a few people that this is their favorite NunSlaughter release. Seth
Putnam / A.C. loves this record. But then again he has problems. Ha ha
I,
myself, have a bootleg of the “Ritual of Darkness” demo which is on 7” vinyl
with the credited label being The Black Vomit and it says “Made in Brazil”
on it....what can you tell us about this 7”? Do you have a copy and what do
you know about “The Black Vomit” who released it?
D
- Now that one is a bootleg 7”. I had to buy it myself back in 95 when I
heard about it. I think BLACK VOMIT did an excellent job with the cover but
the sound is very low on this one as well. If he would have written me I
would have given him the demo but I do think this is better this way because
it is totally UG and I like the fact that someone thought enough of
NunSlaughter to do a bootleg. Hail the mighty bootleg.
Were you
not in talks at one point around ‘91/92 with the infamous Seraphic Decay
records – what happened with that and what was going to be on that?
D
- Yes that is way back. I was talking to Steve O’bannon about releasing the
Ritual Of Darkness demo on Seraphic Decay. That was about the time that 7”
records were huge on the UG. I provided him with some artwork that was
unacceptable and then he never contacted me again. That is the long and
short of it.
Speaking
of Nunslaughter bootlegs, I interviewed you Don back in 1992 for issue 6 of
my zine Eternal Darkness, I thought you had the greatest approach of any
band I have ever seen when it comes to bootlegs, you encourage them and ask
the bootlegger to send you a copy so you can enjoy it yourself! That is the
TRUE underground spirit if you ask me...what I would like to know is do you
guys still encourage bootlegs and could you perhaps tell us of some of the
better ones we can be on the lookout for in the ensuing years since the
“Ritual of Darkness” and “Killed By the Cross” bootlegs?
D
- Without bootlegs most of the underground would crumble. It is essential to
the continuation of underground metal music to have bootlegs. YES
NunSlaughter encourages bootlegs of any kind. Shirts, records, patches,
stickers but please NO CD’s. As far as I know only the RITUAL OF DARKNESS
bootleg exists. I have also seen a few bootleg demos out there. I would like
to see a bootleg LP sometime but LP’s cost some serious money to put
together.
What kind of child were
you? Get in a lot of trouble? Were you a loner or outgoing? Ever spy on your
sister naked or ever bang any of your sisters’ friends growing up? Were you
ever molested by a priest and the nun(s) knew about it and did nothing? <Raises
eyebrow in Sigmund Freud fashion>
D
- My childhood was normal (as far as I know). I was raised in a Christian
household and forced to attend religious classes until I was 13. I believe
that is where my distrust and distain came for the Catholic Church. I was a
bit of a loner. I kept to myself and my metal. It was better that way
because when I tried things like sports or social events I felt awkward but
I never felt that way at a metal show. As for the molestation….. No those
fuckers did not lay a hand on me.
S
- I WAS A BASTARD.
I WAS NOT THANKFUL FOR WHAT OTHERS WOULD CALL THE GIFT OF LIFE. I REMEMBER
AS A CHILD ALWAYS SEEKING MORE OUT OF EXISTENCE. I HAVE VAGUE MEMORIES OF
GOING TO THE EDGE OF A NEARBY FOREST WHERE LIVED A DEMON. HE WOULD TRY TO
COAX ME INTO THE WILDERNESS. I WAS BOTH INTRIGUED AND FRIGHTENED. IT WASN’T
UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD WHEN I FINALLY ACCEPTED HIS OFFER. THIS
JOURNEY TOOK ME PLACES THAT I CANNOT QUITE DESCRIBE IN MERE WORDS. I WOULD
GO TO HIM SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. THEN, ONE DAY, I MADE A MISTAKE. I BROUGHT
ALONG ANOTHER CHILD. THIS ANGERED THE DEMON SO MUCH THAT HE NEVER APPEARED
TO ME AGAIN. TO THIS DAY I REGRET THAT ACTION. NOT ONLY DID IT SEVER MY TIES
WITH THE THIS BEAST, BUT IT ALSO MADE ME OUT TO BE A LIAR AND AN OUTCAST
FROM MY PEERS. I ALSO RECALL NOT BEING ABLE TO GO INTO CHURCHES OR CATHOLIC
CEMETARIES WITHOUT BECOMING VIOLENTLY ILL. SO MY INVOLVEMENT WITH PRIESTS
AND NUNS HAS BEEN MINIMAL. I HAVE FUCKED A FEW OF THE GIRLS THAT I WAS ABLE
TO BRING INTO OUR DEMONIC CIRCLE. THEN THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOUND OUT AND I
HAD TO RELOCATE.
How many
songs have NunSlaughter recorded over the years? Any old “devil hymns” in
the vaults that you never did record but would like to? Ever record anything
and later decide not to release it?
D
- NunSlaughter only has about 60 songs or so. NunSlaughter has a few things
in the vault. Nothing very good though. I am a fiend when it comes to
recording. I try to record almost everything NunSlaughter does. You never
know. We have not recorded any metal that did not make it to a record. We
have some different versions of SATANIC and BURNING AWAY but nothing
exclusive. Lots of material is sitting on the shelves of labels that they
are waiting to release. Most of our metal is recorded and takes about 1 year
to eventually come out.
Give
us your general thoughts on vinyl – would you agree with me the warm sound
on this format is perfect for raw metal and of course I don’t think anyone
could deny the artwork and liner notes look better larger!! Do you hate
CDs?!
D
- Vinyl is the king of met al.
You will never hear a better representation of your metal band than on
vinyl. I still
remember when I got “Reign in Blood” on CD. It was my first CD and I was
thinking that it was gonna
rip my ass off but instead it disappointed me. It sounded like shit so I
pulled out my LP and cranked it up. I do not hate CD’s. I think they are
excellent for storing information. They also serve the purpose of releasing
a recording that
is to long for an LP. You do miss out on the pops and cracks that come with
records. I do not like to clean sound after all metal is about distortion
and filth why would you want to clean it up?
You’re
probably tired of this question but could you briefly tell us what happened
with Repulse records and how you ended up on Revenge Productions? I remember
when I heard you signed to Repulse, it was in the middle of a big glut of
awful bands they were releasing and I thought finally they have some good
taste signing NS!!
D
- Oddly enough Dale that is what I thought as well. Repulse was releasing
shit like Gothic Sex, Ouija and Jesus Martyr. That shit is horrible, cheese
ball metal (kinda). Repulse was trying to expand it’s listening audience. I
am glad it backfired. I am thinking that NunSlaughter was part of that
expansion because we did not fit into there regular music releases. But they
had decent distro and we needed a label. In the end it was a huge mistake.
Dave Rotten continued to LIE to me and delay the record. Hells Unholy Fire
sat on the shelf for almost 3 years before it was released. We will not deal
with him again. REVENGE was good enough to pick up where Repulse dropped the
ball. They did both the LP version and the CD version. In the end it was
rushed but I think it came out well. Revenge has been very good to
NunSlaughter.
Nunslaughter formed in 1987, if I am not mistaken, the same year you
released the “Ritual of Darkness” demo...those were the days of politically
correct thrash metal ruling the scene, how was an unholy abomination as
Nunslaughter taken in that day in age? The thing I have always respected
most about Nunslaughter, especially gratifying now that you are becoming so
successful finally, is that you went against the grain, especially in the
beginning when Satanism and death in metal was considered passe to all but
the truest of underground hordes...like myself! HAHA! What were the reviews
like in those early years? Were they half good and half bad or what was the
percentage approximately of good to bad? Have you ever seen any of those
early critics crawl back and ask for an interview or tape in later years?
How was Nunslaughter received at first compared to how they are accepted
now?
D
- Yes NunSlaughter was formed sometime around the beginning of 1987. Maybe
earlier I don’t remember. The first release was basically laughed at by the
people in the Pittsburgh metal scene. I was known as the kid that was at
every show and listened to satanic metal. People largely ignored
NunSlaughter. You are right, around the late 80’s early 90’s satanic lyrics
were frowned upon. Most of the bands that started out doing great satanic
lyrics began to wimp out and try to become more commercial. Let’s see here
is a list of bands that wimped out: SODOM, DESTRUCTION, RUNNING WILD,
POSSESSED, CELTIC FROST, DEATH, ENTOMBED, ONSLAUGHT and the list goes on.
This disappointed me greatly and I swore that would NEVER happen to
NunSlaughter. Most of the reviews for NunSlaughter was negative. There were
a few good ones but most people did not like the raw sound quality on the
demos. I guess they thought we were rich or our parents were going to pay
for these demos. I started the band when I was like 16 years old. I had no
job so we did the best we could. The great thing about the underground and
people that hate NunSlaughter is that those people that were around last
year won’t be around next year. That is the UG. Kids get into it for a year
or 2 then cut their hair and start listening to rap/metal and talk about the
crazy shows they went to when they were young. NunSlaughter is now becoming
more accepted. Not that I think we have gotten any better or even that more
people like us. I think it is getting to the point that people are throwing
up their hands and saying “That is just the way NunSlaughter is and no
matter what I say they are not going to change”. I think it is finally
sinking in that we are not making music for people to listen to we are
making music that we want to listen to and if you want to join in fine if
not NunSlaughter does not care we are going to continue to make our metal.
I
know Gregoroth and Jer the Butcher rejoined the fold for the “Face of Evil”
demo in 1995 (I think that was the year), why did they leave in the first
place and what made you want to bring them back (other than their obvious
talents), are you still on good terms with them? Jer the Butcher is the
same Jerry from Mercenary here in Coraopolis isn’t he? What are these guys
doing now, musically?
D
- Damn you have done your homework. Yes they rejoined for that demo in 1995.
Jer went into the army and was in Colorado for quite a few years and Greg
went and got married so he was involved with family life. We all just
started talking again and I made the suggestion that we get back with the
original line up. They were up for it. I am still in contact and I am still
great friends with Greg and he is still very much into UG death metal. Jerry
floats in and out of contact. He did do a band called Mercenary for a bit
but he had a difficult time keeping it together. Musicians and work + a
place to rehearse were all problems. Mercenary was great. Heavy thrash with
Hetfield vocals. Good metal.
Don
would you agree the older material you wrote tends to be a littler faster as
opposed to the new songs written by Jim which seem to me to be a bit slower,
a touch more classic metal influenced and definitely written with a thought
toward headbanging and crowd reaction live? I fucking love both old and new
stuff so please do not take this the wrong way!
D
- Without a doubt the songs are a bit more headbanging. In the past I was
the primary song writer for NunSlaughter but since Sadist joined he has
taken over the song writing duties and I stick to handling the other aspects
of the band. It is difficult for one person to do it all. I think Jims song
writing abilities are great. The newer songs are faster but I do not know if
we can go back to the blast of songs like Hells Unholy Fire. That one is
over the top.
Jim how
do you see your style of writing for Nunslaughter as opposed to Don’s? I
like both but your stuff seems a little more geared towards standing up
front with the devil and headbanging and thrashing – agree? Are you writing
the bulk of Nunslaughter stuff now? You must get a hard on listening to your
stuff on vinyl whenever you first get back a new release?!
S
- I HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN A PROPONENT OF A GOOD FLOWING SONG. THE SONG THAT MOVES AT A CERTAIN
PACE AND THAT IS FLUID IS MY THING. THE OLDER STUFF BY NS IS GREAT, DON’T
GET ME WRONG, BUT IS A LITTLE UNSTRUCTURED. WE ARE PLANNING TO GO BACK TO
THAT STYLE ON SOME FUTURE RECORDINGS, HOWEVER. THIS SHOULD BE A CHALLENGE
FOR US. I WILL TAKE YOUR DESCRIPTION OF MY WRITING STYLE AS A COMPLIMENT,
BECAUSE I LIKE TO SEE METAL BANGERS THRASHING AROUND TO NUNSLAUGHTERS MUSIC.
WE WILL NOT FORGET THE PAST AND WE WILL ALWAYS PLAY THOSE SONGS LIVE. I AM
CURRENTLY WRITING ALL OF NUNSLAUGHTERS MATERIAL. IT ALL MUST BE APPROVED BY
DON AND THE OTHERS BEFORE IT IS CONSIDERED FOR AN ACTUAL SONG. I HAVE BEEN
DOING THIS FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE PREVIOUS GUITARISTS HAD A LITTLE MORE
INPUT, BUT IT STILL WAS MOSTLY MYSELF AND THEN DON. TO SEE THE FRUITS OF MY
LABORS IS THE MOST SATISFYING THING EVER. TO ACTUALLY HOLD THAT RECORD AND
THEN SPIN IT, BRINGS ME IMMENSE JOY. THANKS TO ALL OF THE LABELS WHO HAVE
MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
When did
you become friends with Sharon of Derketa? (I actually went to the same
school with her back before I left for AZ) Many years later you released
the very great split 7” with Derketa, how was that received and whose idea
was it to do the split and encourage Sharon to resurrect the name Derketa?
Are you pleased with her new material? I for one am VERY glad she didn’t go
in the goth/metal direction (not that Sharon ever would) as she was being
encouraged to by former band mates, what do you think?
D
- I have known Sharon for about 15-16 years now. We lost touch for a few
years but for the most part we have kept in touch. The split 7” went very
well. In fact it is now being made into a pic 7”. People still did remember
Derketa and we wanted to do a record together. Derketa / Sharon has her own
unique style of playing and song writing. She has not been influenced by
modern music and she goes about writing music that she wants to hear not
what is popular. I think I was instrumental in encouraging Derketa to
reform. I do not think they got the exposure that they needed. There seemed
to be more talk about Mythic than Derketa and I did not think it was fair.
Her music is solid and I am a fan of Derketa.
S
- WELL, THANKS A
MILLION FOR THE COMPLIMENT REGARDING THE SPLIT. I ACTUALLY MET SHARON BACK
IN 1990, BUT WE WEREN’T CLOSE BY ANY MEANS. WE WERE ACQUAINTANCES THROUGH
MUTUAL FRIENDS. SHARON CONTACTED ME ONE DAY FROM DONS RECOMMENDATION TO HELP
HER RECORD SOME STUFF. SHE HAD EXPRESSED A DISINTEREST IN THE DIRECTION
DERKETA WAS GOING. THIS WAS RIGHT AFTER DON HAD SUGGESTED DOING A SPLIT WITH
THEM (WHICH ACTUALLY BECAME THE NS / DEKAPITATOR SPLIT). THERE WERE
DIFFERENCES IN OPINION AMONGST THE GIRLS AT THAT TIME, WHICH DELAYED THE
RELEASE PROCESS, SO WE WENT WITH DEKAPITATOR IN LIEU OF DERKETA. SHORTLY
THEREAFTER, SHARON AND I MET AND RECORDED WHAT BECAME THE NS / DERKETA
SPLIT. I REALLY LIKE SHARONS WRITING STYLE. IT IS CERTAINLY DEATH METAL AND
YES, I AM GLAD THAT SHE HAS STAYED TRUE...
Jim, I
know you help Sharon on her newer recordings with drums don’t you? What is
planned next for Derketa? Do you know if she is contemplating getting a
full line up together to do shows?
S
- YES, IT IS TRUE
THAT I ASSIST HER WITH THE NEW RECORDINGS. THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE WHERE SHE
RECRUITED THE SERVICES OF THE GUY FROM DETHRONED TO DO A COMP TRACK. THERE
IS A CD TO BE RELEASED BY NECROHARMONIC CALLED “GODDESS OF DEATH” WHICH
INCLUDES OLD DEMOS, THE OLD 7”, THE SPLIT WITH NS AND A BONUS TRACK FROM
THAT SESSION AS WELL. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE ARE MORE PLANS TO CONTINUE
RELEASING MATERIAL. WE HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A LIVE SHOW
ONE DAY. WE NEED A DEFINITE LINE-UP FIRST. IT IS COMING ALONG, BUT WITH ALL
THAT EVERYONE IS INVOLVED WITH, IT IS MOVING AT A SLOW PACE. GOOD PEOPLE ARE
HARD TO FIND, AND GOOD METALLISTS ARE EVEN HARDER TO FIND.
As of
late you guys have been quite prolific with regards to new releases – do you
think you’ll pass bands like The Meatshits, Agathocles & Sabbat in overall
7” volume? Do you prefer releasing vinyl on a lot of different labels as
opposed to one label releasing a bunch of stuff? I guess most labels
couldn’t handle that load so to speak?
D
- We have been releasing lots of vinyl lately and there is lots more to
come. I prefer the 7” format over any other. I do not think we will catch up
to AG but we are in the running with Meatshits and Sabbat. Although this is
not our goal to release as many things as we can. All of the records are
released for specific reasons. None of the labels that we work with are
trendy or commercial. NunSlaughter works with the UG. We also try to spread
out the distro by using different labels all over the world. This not only
helps NS but we get to correspond with some very cool people all over the
world.
Being
that you are almost solely dealing with vinyl do you see that as a pro or
con to your fans that the releases are generally pretty limited? Are you not
worried that all these kids who love candy coat production and studio
trickery will not be able to hear your records beyond taking it to their
grandparents place to listen?
D
- Ha ha ha. Releasing records is done solely for our enjoyment. I like to be
united with other bands on vinyl. NunSlaughter is not really worried about
selling lots of records or having everyone listen to NS. I realized long ago
that I would rather make music a hobby that I enjoy rather than a business
that I hate. NunSlaughter will never be accepted by the mass UG metal
audience and I don’t care. I would not want to be lumped into the same
category as Dying Fetus or Deeds of Flesh. They make their kind of music and
NunSlaughter makes Death Metal. That is fine if our paths do not cross.
I know
you, Don, are a BIG Black Sabbath fan from way back! In fact we traded about
12 years ago for my “Live Evil” shirt! What is your collection of Sabbath
stuff like? It must be absolutely immense by now!!! What are some of your
most prized items? What do you think of the Nu Metal abomination known as
Ozzfest? Do you think Ozzy and the boys are sort of beating a dead horse?
D
- Black Sabbath was the band for me that started my love of music. It was
satanic and heavy and people that heard it were frightened by their sound.
Over the years I have steadily collected more and more BS material but they
have so greatly disappointed me that I do not care very much anymore about
acquiring more Sabbath material. I gave up on Sabbath after Never Say Die
and Ozzy shortly after. I can not even listen to Ultimate Sin with out
laughing. His voice is so fucking ridiculous anymore. He has got harmonizers
and chorus all over his voice it is silly.
You
moved to Hawaii about 5 years ago now right Don? Why did you move to Hawaii
and was that expensive? During this period you also released many of the
now legendary split 7”’s that Nunslaughter did in the late 1990’s, how did
you get back to record them? What was the scene like in Hawaii?
D
- It has been a little over 3 years since I left Hawaii. I went out for a
job and stayed. If I could I would move back but the cost of living is
killer. We did record several 7”s while I was living in Hawaii. The
NunSlaughter / Crucifier and the NunSlaughter / Dekapitator 7”. The music
was written through the mail and over the phone with Sadist doing most of
the work. The music was recorded in Cleveland and then the reels were sent
to me. I rented a studio and recorded to vocals and I think I may have mixed
out there as well. It was difficult but we had to do it. There are a few
bands from Hawaii that are still doing metal. 8 mm Overdose, Crucible,
Broken Man just to name a few. Not much of a metal scene mostly punk.
In
Hawaii you did a CD with a band called Tondra that I thought was excellent,
whatever became of Tondra or was that just a one shot project? Is the CD
still available?
D
- TONDRA was a band that was comprised of me, Robb from a band called
Machine and Stan from Crucible. Robb and I were talking for a while about
doing a small project together. When I told them I was leaving we got
together and TONDRA happened. It was not meant to be a one time project. We
have other songs in the works but the distance and both of us being involved
in other bands takes precedence. The band was HEAVY. No doubt the guitar was
over the top. The ideas and lyrics just seemed to flow and happen very
easily. No one had any pre conceived ideas and what ever happened was good.
We only did a 50 copy run of the CD. I tried for a bit to have it pressed as
a 7” or do a split CD but people are not interested in HEAVY anymore. They
want grind.
Jim your
in currently or have been in the past in a number of bands like Spawn Of
Satan, From The Depths, Minch, Blood Of Christ, All That Is Evil etc… Can
you tell us a bit about all the current ones you are in? I went to the
website of your band Schnauzer and downloaded all the mp3’s and that is
pretty cool stuff, it looks like from the live pics like you have a sick
live show with Schnauzer and a pretty solid following – tell about that? Any
thoughts of ever playing a double bill with Nunslaughter and one of your
other bands?
S
- WELL,
FOREMOST I MUST SAY THAT I AM FLATTERED BY YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF MY PAST. JUST
WHEN I THOUGHT NOBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION -HAHAHA. I HAVE BEEN IN A NUMBER
OF BANDS FOR A LONG TIME. THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE CLEVELAND AREA HAVE BEEN
WITNESS TO OUR LIVE SHOWS. EACH BAND IS DIFFERENT IN ITS APPROACH, THOUGH
THEY ARE ALL EITHER METAL OR HARDCORE. IF YOU PLAYED THEM ONE AFTER ANOTHER,
YOU PROBABLY WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO TELL THAT IT’S THE SAME PEOPLE IN EACH
PROJECT. EACH BAND ALLOWS ME TO EXPRESS MYSELF ARTISTICALLY AS A METAL
DEVOTER. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CERTAIN BANDS DO AND THINGS THEY
WOULDN’T DO MUSICALLY AND THAT’S MORE OR LESS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM
ALL. THE FOLLOWING BANDS ARE BANDS THAT I HAVE PLAYED WITH OR THAT I AM
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH. MINCH IS MY NOISE PROJECT. IT BEGAN IN 1990 AND IS
STILL ALIVE TO SOME DEGREE. WE HAVE SIX 7” EPS OUT TO DATE. SCHNAUZER IS
MY DEVIL MAY CARE KIND OF WACKY METAL BAND. I AM THE DRUMMER / SINGER AND WE
HAVE 8 RELEASES OUT - FIVE 7”S, TWO CDS (A SPLIT CD) AND A SPLIT 10”. THE
LIVE SHOWS HAVE EVOLVED FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THROWING AROUND TOYS TO
COMPLETE FUCKING BEDLAM. I AM SOMETIMES ACTUALLY SCARED OF THE ENVIROMENT WE
ARE CREATING WHEN WE PLAY. IT IS AT AN INCONCEIVABLE LEVEL NOW. ALL THAT IS
EVIL CAME ABOUT IN 1997, SHORTLY AFTER I WAS FIRED BY THE MEMBERS OF FROM
THE DEPTHS. WE WEREN’T IN AGREEMENT WITH SOME THINGS AND MY DEPARTURE WAS
FOR THE BETTER. I GO BY THE NAME OF MALCOLM JUDAS ANTHONY IN ALL THAT IS
EVIL WHICH IS THE SAME NAME AND CHARACTER I ASSUMED IN FROM THE DEPTHS. THE
MUSICAL STYLES ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT BETWEEN FROM THE DEPTHS AND ATIE. THE
VOCALS AND LYRICAL CONCEPTS ARE THE ONLY THING THAT BEARS A RESEMBLANCE.
SPAWN OF SATAN IS MY SATANIC THRASH OUTFIT. I HAVE BEEN CHASING THIS METAL
DREAM FOR A DECADE. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MANY LINE-UP CHANGES AND SO MANY
SET BACKS THAT I AM SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE FINALLY OPERATING ON A LEVEL THAT
WE ARE SATISFIED WITH. WE HAVE PLAYED TWO SHOWS THUS FAR AND I WILL TELL YOU
THAT IT IS A HELLISH PERFORMANCE. TOTAL FUCKING THRASH. OUR FIRST RELEASE
WILL BE A SPLIT LP WITH THE DEFUNCT BLOODSICK. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I
AM ALSO INVOLVED WITH SOME GRIND AND HARDCORE BANDS AS WELL. NINE SHOCKS
TERROR AND SCARVERS CALLING ARE THE NAMES OF THESE. MOST OF THE BANDS THAT I
HAVE PLAYED IN HAVE RELEASES OUT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET INTO ALL
OF THAT NOW. AS FAR AS THE SCHNAUZER FOLLOWING IS CONCERNED, WE HAVE A GOOD
SIZE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ATTEND OUR SHOWS AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE
STUPIDITY. IT’S FUN TO SEE IT ALL UNFOLD. WE HAVE PAIRED BANDS TOGETHER ON
BILLS BEFORE. ONE INSTANCE THAT COMES TO MIND IS WHEN ALL THAT IS EVIL
OPENED FOR NUNSLAUGHTER. IT WAS NO EASY TASK, BUT MY METAL MIGHT ENABLED ME
TO PULL IT OFF.
 Jim, I
fucking love the voice you use between songs live and of course on the
“Radio Damnation” disc! Any chance you will use more of that in ns stuff? It
is kind of a bit like old Impetigo style vocals - would you agree? You used
them in the older Schnauzer stuff and it sounded fucking sick - why did you
stop?
S
- I AM GLAD TO HEAR
THAT YOU LIKE THAT VOICE. I LIKE TO USE IT WHENEVER I CAN, EVEN AT LIKE JOB
INTERVIEWS AND STUFF. IT IS MY PRIMARY METAL VOICE TONE. I USE THAT VOICE
FOR SPAWN OF SATAN. WE HAVE OLD REHEARSALS OF ME SAYING COMPLETELY STUPID
STUFF. THE ONE BASS PLAYER USED TO STAND THERE AND LOOK BEMUSED WHEN I WOULD
TALK ABOUT EVIL THINGS IN THAT VOICE. IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY. THE SIMILARITY
BETWEEN STEVO AND MYSELF HAS BEEN POINTED OUT A FEW TIMES PRIOR TO YOUR
DOING SO. I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS A RESEMBLANCE FOR SURE. JUST BEING TOLD
THAT MY SINGING REMINDS THEM OF STEVO’S VOCALS IS CERTAINLY A COMPLIMENT TO
ME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT IN NS AS WELL. WITH ME BEING
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE MUSIC WRITING, I THINK THAT THE OTHER
GUYS (MAINLY DON) SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO IN THE WRITING PROCESS. I CAN
WRITE LYRICS AND WOULD LIKE TO FOR NS, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY DOESN’T ARISE
THAT OFTEN. I WILL CERTAINLY USE YOUR INQUIRY AS AMUNITION FOR THE
DISCUSSION WHICH WILL PROBABLY TURN INTO AN ARGUMENT. THE SCHNAUZER
SITUATION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THOUGH. I MUST ADMIT THAT I HAVE
UNCONSCIOUSLY FAZED THAT STYLE RIGHT OUT OF THE MIX. WE GO FOR AN ANGRY,
MORE ENRAGED SOUND AND THAT LOW VOICE DOESN’T REALLY CONVEY THE MESSAGE WITH
THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF AGGRESSION AND FURY. IT WILL POP UP AGAIN I’M SURE.
Don,
Nunslaughter has been around 15 years now and granted of corpse nostalgia
puts on rose coloured glasses but what are some of your best memories for
NS’s early days? Do you have any old rehearsal tapes from back then lying
around you might let someone release?
D
- Well I do not dwell on the past. Right now is the best time for me and the
best time for NunSlaughter. We are at the peak of writing and recording. Our
releases just keep coming and the live shows are over the top. I still like
some of the old stuff that NunSlaughter has done. Those days were a blast. I
have a few tapes from back in the day. But most of the quality is low or the
recordings lack vocals. Back then we were not on top of that stuff. Now I
record almost everything. Some of the old recordings were actually released
already. A picture 7” from a reh back in 1987 came out about 5 months ago.
There was only 100 pressed and only close friends knew that it came out. I
might think about releasing some older stuff but right now we are looking at
the future recordings.
What do
you think of all these old bands returning from the dead after having “grown
up” and turning their back on the scene for 10 years then are welcomed back
with reverence and respect right off the bat? I have more respect for bands
like Nunslaughter that stay true to their roots and never give up!
D
- I think very little of these bands. I must admit I do like the newer
Necrophagia stuff but all the other bands I feel lost it. If they did not
lose it a long time ago then they would have never given up. Most of the
bands that reform are only doing it for money and that is sad. Destruction
is a joke. Kreator is ridiculous. Even though those bands made many a shitty
album but the time they broke up I still had some respect for them but now I
just feel pitty. I also despise bands that are newer but have one old guy in
the band that used to be in a semi known band. Also, what about bands that
put one thing out 10 years ago and then reform and call themselves old
metal? These are posers and time will weed them out. Now the last I heard
some guy is releasing a Necrovore LP on Necropolis records….. What the fuck
is this? Please just let the band go. There is NO WAY the record can match
the fury of the demo. Why do this? MONEY and or notoriety trying to ride the
coat tails of someone that actually did something creative.
Does it
ever bug you all these bands claiming to play death metal are playing all
technical with every studio trick in the book on their productions and
singing about social issues and about how their girlfriend left them and
someone kicked their dog?
D
- AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! This kind of shit is
what has just about killed DEATH METAL. Poser production facilities like
Abyss Studios and metal guitarists like Eric Rutan have just about soiled
everything I loved about UG DM. Lets get one thing straight the Florida
sound has always sucked. A few bands like Massacre have managed to make
something worth while out of the shit but for the most part the Florida
sound was is and ever shall be shit! Anyone that say’s “the Swedish sound
is great” is also a poser Death Metalist! Technical Death Metal is a joke.
Death Metal is NOT technical is raw, offensive and dirty. It is ugly and
evil. I do like a lot of other metal music that is not death metal but right
now we are talking about DM.
While on
the subject how the fuck do you juggle your time with that many bands you
crazy demon?! Had any mental breakdowns due to this overload? Being that you
are in so many bands you must rehearse a ton, do you even bother to practice
on your own any longer? Who are some drummers you would call an influence?
S
- THE SECRET TO
MULTIPLE BANDS IS TO KNOW YOUR MATERIAL WELL AND DEVELOP A CHEMISTRY WITH
THE OTHER MEMBERS. A LOT OF THE BANDS FROM HERE ARE DONE BY THE SAME PEOPLE.
IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT THAT PARTICULAR BAND HAS GOING ON AT THE TIME. IF
SCARVERS ISN’T DOING ANYTHING FOR 6 MONTHS, THEN WE DON’T PRACTICE. BUT
BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE RELEASES COMING OUT, IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF THESE BANDS
ARE ALWAYS WORKING. I ONLY MEET WITH 2 - 3 BANDS DURING THE WEEK. IT IS NOT
THAT HECTIC. THE ONLY TIME I EXPERIENCE ANY KIND OF OVERLOAD IS WHEN I HAVE
THIS RELEASE AT THE PLANT AND THAT BAND IN THE STUDIO AND A SHOW FOR YET
ANOTHER BAND IN ONE WEEK. THAT CAN GET A LITTLE TENSE. I HAVE NOT PRACTICED
TO IMPROVE MY DRUMMING IN ABOUT 11 YEARS. THE TRUTH IS THAT I DON’T REALLY
CARE ABOUT DRUMS AND REALLY DON’T EVEN ENJOY PLAYING THEM THAT MUCH. THERE
ARE DRUMMERS AND THOSE WHO PLAY DRUMS. I JUST PLAY DRUMS. THE BEST DRUMMING
ON ANY METAL RECORD EVER WAS DONE BY PETE SANDOVAL ON THE TERRORIZER LP.
THAT IS THE ULTIMATE DISPLAY OF SPEED AND GRACE. AFTER THAT RECORD CAME OUT,
I WAS LIKE “WHY BOTHER?” THIS IDEA KIND OF REVERTS BACK TO A PREVIOUS
QUESTION. THE SPEED THING HAS BEEN DONE, PERHAPS OVERDONE IN METAL AND MOST
OF THE TIME IT ISN’T DONE THAT WELL. I WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO “ABOMINATIONS
OF DESOLATION” THAN “ALTARS“. SLOWER PARTS ARE OFTEN MORE MEMORABLE AND
HEAVIER. WITH REGARDS TO PERFORMING, I AM MORE INTERESTED IN PLAYING METAL
MUSIC AT WHATEVER POSITION I CAN. DRUMS ARE JUST THE PATH I CHOSE AS A
CHILD. I AM MORE INTERESTED IN FRONTING A BAND AND JUST SINGING. ONE DAY YOU
MAY SEE ONE OF THE OTHER PROJECTS WHERE I AM SINGING AND YOU WILL SEE METAL
LIKE IT HASN’T BEEN IN A WHILE. SOME OF THE GREATEST INFLUENCES TO ME FOR
DRUMMING ARE: JOHN BONHAM, BILL WARD, PETE SANDOVAL, DAVE LOMBARDO, KIRK
ARRINGTON, BOB ZEIGER, STEWART COPELAND AND THE MIGHTY KIM RUZZ.
Don and
I used to tape trade back like 10 or 12 years ago, even back in 1990 you had
the BIGGEST list! I came over to your house that time to watch Necromantik
in 1990 or 1991 and you were packing for college; you had a fucking TON of
REAL demos going back to 1984 and 1985...I mean garbage bags full! Are you
still such an advocate of tape trading? Do you still tape trade or I
imagine the time constraints of Nunslaughter and “real life” tends to impede
on that sort of thing? What did your list top off at, about how many
titles?
D
- That is a long time ago. I was obsessed with demos. I traded and bought thousands
over a period of 5-6 years. I quit tape trading back in 90 or 91. That is
when a lot of
well produced and well marketed demos started to come about and that is how
I knew I had to get out. I topped out about 2000 demos or so. I do not have
a list anymore. I know what I have in my collection. I keep the list in my
head. Most of my original demos Sadist got. He had the space and the desire
to keep the demos so he was more than welcome to them.
Keeping
in mind Keith’s question above I must ask you your views on probably my fave
horror flick of all time and your namesake Dawn Of The Dead?! Is it true
King Fowley of Deceased dubbed you with your name?!
D
- Yes that goes back to about 88 or 89. Deceased used to come up to
Pittsburgh and hang out and play shows with Dream Death so one time they
come up and I took them out to Monroville Mall. That is the mall Dawn of the
Dead was filmed at. They seemed to dig it. Being that it was one of my
favorite films King sent me a tape with the title Don of the Dead. My
friends at school thought it fit very well as I was a huge horror flick fan
at the time. The name stuck and all these years later I am still using it.
I’ve
given you guys copies of my zine so you know my thoughts on & disgust toward
glossy productions, fancy studio overdubs/looping, and the incorporation of
soft wimp instruments and influences like synth, techno, goth, violins, etc…
Can you tell me your opinions on this and feel free to tell I’m a dickhead
if you disagree?!
D
- Dale I could not agree more. I do not listen to metal bands with flutes
and violins. It is OK in moderation and when it is done with sincerity but
so many bands think if they want to sell records they gotta get a
keyboardist. I guess that it is all up to whatever you like. I personally
never did enjoy hearing anything other than guitars, bass and drums. That
seems like enough.
S
- I REALLY ENJOY
YOUR ZINES. IT IS NICE TO SEE AN UNDERGROUND APPROACH NOWADAYS. WITH MUSIC,
I LIKE BOTH REALLY BAD PRODUCTION AND GOOD QUALITY RECORDINGS. TO ME, IF A
BAND IS USING THOSE ELEMENTS IN THEIR APPROACH FROM THEIR INCEPTION, THEN IT
IS ALRIGHT. IT IS WHEN A GOOD BAND CHANGES THEIR SOUND AND IMPLEMENTS THESE
NEW OR DIFFERENT SOUNDS INTO THE MIX THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH. YOU ARE NOT
A DICKHEAD FOR EXPRESSING A DISLIKE FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE HEARD AND
DON’T LIKE. MY OPINIONS ARE STRICTLY MINE. THEY ARE NOT BETTER OR WORSE THAT
ANYONE ELSES.
It seems like around the
time you released the 2 split 7”s with Dekapitator & Bloodsick was the
starting point of a more active Nunslaughter all around – what happened
during this period to precipitate this?
D
- In 1995 Sadist joined the band. That was when I found a partner in crime.
He writes very well and has unmatched enthusiasm. Sadist had experience
with releasing records on his own and that is when he suggested putting out
the Bloodsick split 7”. After that we went nuts releasing records and we
have not stopped.
Is it
true that Nunslaughter’s first studio recording was the split 7” with
Bloodsick from 1996? What was the recording arrangement on the earlier
releases, was it on a 4 track or just a boom box or what? DO you like to
use a big studio set up now or do you like to keep things simple and to the
point in the studio, much like Nunslaughter’s music? Could you tell us of
the studio you recorded the “Hell’s Unholy Fire” CD at?
D
- Yes that was the first time for NunSlaughter in a “real” studio. But I say
make metal where you can. If you only have a basement then record there.
Most of our recordings have been on either a 4 track or a boom box. I
actually like that way. It is analog and you have the time to do what you
want. It takes a while to get the hang of recoding that way though. I think
our FACE OF EVIL demo sounds excellent. That took us a while to get things
right. Most of the NunSlaughter 7”s are done in our friends bedroom. No big
studio sound just dirty metal. I like to go to a studio when we have the $
but usually we are broke. Hells Unholy Fire was recorded in 2 different
studios. In Cleveland the music was laid down at Prime Time studios and the
vocals were done in Hawaii at Rendezvous studios. Then we mixed in Cleveland
and then Mastered back in Hawaii at Aloha Sound. Back and forth across the
Pacific and it still sounds great.
You guys
have some of the greatest covers ever!! Is this something you spend a lot of
time on or do cool things kind of just fall in your lap so you use them?
Does overseeing the artwork and layout on all the releases consume as much
time as I might imagine (remember I do a fanzine so I know how you feel haha)?
D
- Thanks we try to do cover songs that we feel might have escaped some of
the metallers. They usually just kind of happen. We just start talking about
songs that made us what we are today and a cover song seem easy. Dale I tell
you I have yet to be completely satisfied with the layout a design of any of
our releases but fuck it what can you do. I try to oversee all of the
layouts but it becomes difficult when working with so many labels. People
have different ideas on how they want to present the release and then you
have the record plants and printers. There are so many factors to try to
control it becomes overwhelming at times.
You seem to change up your
logo a lot, is that intentional or are you just poorly organized and keeping
losing the originals of the old logos?J
Do you accept fans drawn logos for consideration for future releases?
D
- NunSlaughter started using different logos since day one. On every release
we try to put a different logo. I think it is unique. There is no other band
that has used so many logos on so many releases. We encourage people to send
in logos. I have a collection of ones that we have not used but I can always
use more.
 I always
thought you guys had the great ideas for intros and outros especially on the
early demos “Ritual of Darkness” and “The Rotting Christ”, for those of us
reading this who may have never heard them could you tell what you did, as
you will do a much better job of describing them than I could...
D
- On the RITUAL OF DARKNESS demo we really did not know what we were doing
but the guy recording it had some sound effects and we put them together
with some sounds of a storm with Greg making some sinister laughing sounds
and that was how the first one was created. On the ROTTING CHRIST demo we
took the intro to a Hellhammer song and and intro to the Sepultura split LP
and put them in reverse on the demo. We wanted people to understand where we
were coming from with that demo. Not sure that it turned out like we wanted
it to but that recording has become somewhat of a legend. Since the sound is
so bad it is good. If anything it was a pre-cursor to what people today
consider “modern metal”. The vox were over the top even by today’s
standards. Nothing like it until Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation decided to
do that kind of vocals.
The
third demo “Impale the Soul of Christ on the Inverted Cross of Death”, the
sound was pretty low...did you notice that problem? Did reviewers ever
complain about that?
D
- Hummm you might have gotten a bad tape because that was one of the better
sounding demos of that time. I admit there were problems with the recording
mainly our drummer VON. He had problems playing fast stuff well. All in all
when that demo is re-released on vinyl you will hear it in all its glory.
That demo was odd because not many other people helped with the songs. I had
free range to do what I wanted.
Don, how
you do you usually work a 7” EP deal with a label? Do you ask for something
like 20 or 30 copies to sell/trade? Surely keeping in mind how expensive
vinyl is to press and how low the re-sale value, not to mention it usually
being limited surely you don’t ask for royalties from 7” EP releases?!
D
- Usually we come up with the idea to do a 7” or a split with another band
then I go out and find a label that can do it for us in a timely manner. Our
usual deal is 15%- 20% of total pressed. That just about covers our
recording costs for a 7”. We do not ask for royalties or anything like that
because we retain the rights to all the music and all the recordings. I am
not going to sell the music to some label for anything.
Don,
I’ve read in interviews where you said “Guts Of Christ” was your favourite
NS demo. Yet on your album you re-recorded a bunch of demo songs but nothing
from this demo – why? Can you still play the songs on that demo and do you
play any of those live?
D
- Yes you noticed this…….. Well I was always disappointed by bands who
“mature” and then when they record an LP they do not record all the demo
songs. I think this is bullshit. All bands re-record some demos songs on
their first LP but you have to keep in mind that NunSlaughter has MANY
songs. To many for just one LP so we decided early on to hold onto those
songs and we will be recording the trks for the next full length LP. Almost
all if not all demos songs will come out on LP’s. We do play a few of the
Guts of Christ songs live. The song Ritual of Darkness will be released on a
live 7” later this year.
I know
you guys are not terribly fond of digital recordings and such but do you
think free mp3’s kind of are as close as you can get to the old underground
ways when technology and digitization are involved?! I mean I know you have
mp3’s sites for most of your bands including Nunslaughter and personally
even though I dislike digital recordings this can be a great thing and
having them up there to download free is sort of in a way an equivalent to
tape trading for the new millennium – what do you think about that?
S
- WELL, I MUST SAY
THAT YOU HAVE CERTAINLY GIVEN THIS THING MORE THOUGHT THAN I EVER WOULD
(That is what doing a zine and thinking of interview questions will do to
you!! – DALE). I AM NOT BIG ON TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES OLDER METHODS MORE
EXPENSIVE OR EVEN OBSOLETE. IF YOU LIKE A BAND - FUCKIN WRITE THEM. YOU CAN
EMAIL THEM TO, I GUESS. I WOULD RATHER TALK ON THE PHONE THEN SIT HERE AND
TYPE FOR SIX FUCKIN HOURS. THE INTERNET AND MP3 IS A GREAT AVENUE FOR BANDS
TO GET EXPOSURE AND FOR PEOPLE TO GET YOUR MUSIC, I JUST DON’T HAVE THE TIME
TO DO IT. WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY THOUGH, SOMEONE CAN GET YOUR MUSIC AT THE
BEST QUALITY AND NOT HAVE DESIRE TO THEN OBTAIN THE ACTUAL RELEASE. WHEN
SOMEONE TAPES YOU SOMETHING, IT MAY NOT SOUND THAT GOOD SO YOU MAY SEEK OUT
THE ACTUAL RECORD OR TAPE. ANALOG TAPE TO VINYL IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST WAY TO
GO. I HAVE NO USE FOR MUSIC ATTAINED BY ANY OTHER MEANS.
Tell us
about your recent debut European tour with Centinex?! How was the food, beer
and goat sex over there? Which were the craziest shows? Would you go over
again if given the chance?
D
- Centinex were excellent to us. Even though they had some problems they
stuck with the tour and did not disappoint NS. Some of the best shows were
Zaragoza, Spain and Gent, Belgium. Those people were over the top. If given
the chance we will return but right now no plans are being made. Most
promoters do not have the courage to bring NS over to the European
continent.
Your
releasing a lot of live releases (7”s & full lengths) as of late, is this
due to high demand, just happening to get some good live stuff down on tape
or do you use it to keep the fires stoked so to speak because I am sure with
studio costs you cannot continue to release all studio stuff in steady
streams?!
D
- Well the live 7”s were a plan of mine since we first decided to go over to
Europe. I wanted to record every show that we did and release those 7”s. It
has worked out fine and in the end we will have 5 live 7”s from our European
tour of 2000. NunSlaughter is best heard live anyway. We are alright in the
studio but live I think people finally get the true sense of what
NunSlaughter is about. We do not play very many live shows but when we do it
is an event for all of us including the people watching.
How
badly (assuming you pay for all the studio sessions released on seven inch)
does studio costs hold back the process of NS and how about in the past?
What do you like most and dislike most about the recording? If you had more
than enough money to pay all your studio & pressing costs would you release
everything yourself or would you tire of the day to day
distribution/trading/order grind?
D
- The cost of recording is minimal. Finding the time to write and rehearse
is really the deciding factor for NunSlaughter. Back in the day $ was a
problem but now everyone has jobs and we have made the commitment to metal
so money is not a problem for recording. I like to release our music but
being a distro sux. I do not like have to deal with the day in and day out
bullshit that comes with being a distro. Everyone wants to trade and that is
good for some things but when your band is shit or when you want to trade 4
7”s for one CD then fuck you. A 7” costs just as much to make a CD. Plus
who cares about a CD vinyl is king.
I always
wanted to know why you, Don, left our fair city of Pittsburgh! (HAHA!) IS
Cleveland a better place to live? And why exactly did you move the band
from Pittsburgh to Cleveland? How is Nunslaughter accepted at shows in
Cleveland nowadays? I notice you play here once in a while to, how do the
shows go in Pittsburgh? Is it kinda like returning to Pittsburgh as the
metal warrior heroes, meaning do the crowds get pretty large and fanatic? I
always find out about the shows one or two days after they take place! ARGH
D
- Well you live in Pittsburgh so you should know why! Ha ha. That city is
horrible and I never liked it. The sun never shines and it rains everyday.
It is difficult to get around and there is NO scene. To some people it
might seem like there is a music scene but not compared to Cleveland. This
city digs music and metal / punk music at that. NunSlaughter does well at
shows here in Cleveland but we do not play very often here. In fact it has
been well over a year since we last played in Cleveland. I moved here
because of the metal music scene and because this is where Sadist was. I
knew that if NunSlaughter ever wanted to do more than we were I had to move
here. That was about 3 years ago. I am not sure how much longer I will stay
here but I can guarantee you that NunSlaughter will continue to record as
long as I think we are making good metal music. We have played Pittsburgh 3
times now and there are lots of people that keep missing the shows. So far
the crowds seem to be growing. We get a few old timers coming out but mostly
I see people that I do not know and that maybe just got into NunSlaughter in
the past few years.
I heard
that your first show was in 1999? IS that true? Come to think of it I had
never seen you play in the 5 or 6 years after I returned to the east coast
from Arizona but what was the real reason that you didn’t play a show until
1999 if that is, in fact, the case?
D
- Yes and No. We did some mock shows back in 1989 and 91 but they were not
full blown shows. We just borrowed the equipment and did one or two songs.
The first real show was in 1999. NunSlaughter did not have a line up in the
past that was able to play out. Meaning, that the time was not there. People
were going in all different directions so we did not have a set together. It
took some time before I felt comfortable with the line up. That line up
ended up going to Europe. It was one of the strongest that NunSlaughter has
ever had.
S
- YES, THAT IS
THE CASE. NUNSLAUGHTER WASN’T REALLY A FULLY FUNCTIONING BAND UNTIL THAT
TIME. DON WAS RATHER NOMADIC IN THE LATE 90’S. I WAS THE ONLY OTHER REAL
MEMBER SINCE JOINING IN 1995. IT WASN’T UNTIL DON MOVED TO CLEVELAND THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO EVEN THINK ABOUT PLAYING SHOWS. FOR A WHILE IT WAS JUST ME AND
A GUITARIST WRITING AND RECORDING THE MUSIC HERE IN CLEVELAND AND THEN
SENDING THE TAPES OFF TO WHEREVER DON WAS LIVING AT THE TIME SO HE COULD DO
VOCALS. THE SPLITS WITH DEKAPITATOR, CRUCIFIER AND THE “HELL’S LP WERE ALL
WRITTEN AND RECORDED TRANSCONTINENTALLY. WE HAD SOME LINE-UP CHANGES SINCE
THAT FIRST ACTUAL LIVE BAND LINE-UP. WE ARE ON OUR THIRD SET OF GUITARISTS
AND BASSISTS. THIS IS THE LOW-POINT OF BEING IN A BAND THAT PLAYS SHOWS.
Keeping
in mind the “Radio Damnation” CD did you ever trace back the origin of that
pedal to see if a filthy Christian made it or placed a curse upon it?! Has
it now been fixed and did you have to resort to having a practitioner of the
black arts perform an exorcism upon it?
S
- THERE IS A
STRANGE STORY BEHIND THE PEDAL PROBLEM. RIGHT BEFORE WE WERE ABOUT TO START
PLAYING ON THE RADIO FOR THAT RECORDING, I NOTICED THAT MY PEDAL HAD BEEN
REPLACED BY WEAKER ONE THAT WAS DECREPIT IN STRUCTURE. IT WAS TOO LATE TO
REMEDY THE PROBLEM THEN. SO AFTER THE SESSION, I WENT TO A MYSTICS COTTAGE
TO FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE MYSTERY. SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A DEVOUT
CHRISTIAN WOMAN INVOLVED WITH THE RADIO STATION THAT WAS ALSO A PROMINENT
MEMBER OF A CHRISTIAN SECT. THE WOMAN COULD SENSE BY MY DEMONIC AURA THAT WE
PLAYED SATANIC DEATH METAL. SOMEHOW SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE SWITCH,
PROBABLY THROUGH SOME WHITE MAGIC OR SOME SHIT. WE WERE STILL ABLE TO GET
THROUGH MOST OF THE RECORDING AND EVEN FINISH IT, SO HER PLANS WERE FOILED.
THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER, THROUGH THE CHANNELS OF OUR DEVILISH NETWORK, WE
LOCATED THE VILLAGE WHERE STOOD HER CHRISTIAN RETREAT CENTER. SO LATE ONE
FOGGY NIGHT, A BAND OF GHOULS AND MYSELF RAIDED THE HAMLET RIDING GOATS AND
OXEN. WE SPORTED RED CAPES AND HOODS WIELDING AXES AND PITCHFORKS. OUR
ASSAILANTS STORMED HER QUARTERS, KILLED THE THIEVING BITCH AND THEN FOUND
THE PEDAL OF HELL COVERED IN RUST FROM THEIR ATTEMPTS TO PURIFY IT. THE
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SECT WERE DRIVEN FROM THEIR ABODES AND CHASED DOWN LIKE
RABID DOGS. THEIR SCREAMS OF AGONY ROSE ABOVE THE SOUNDS OF THE PILLAGE.
TOTAL HELL ON EARTH. JUST BEFORE OUR DEPARTURE, WE SET THE CAMPUS ON FIRE
AND WATCHED IT BURN TO THE GROUND, DANCING LIKE BANSHEES IN THE LIGHT OF
THE BLAZING RUINS.
What’s
the connection with the band Gravewurm? You and Don appeared on their recent
“W.A.R.B.E.A.S.T.” 7” and I think even wrote some of the music – how did
that come about and was it a one time thing?
S
- DON KNEW KEVIN
FROM GRAVEWURM FOR SOME TIME AND GOT WIND OF KEVIN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO
RECORD SOMETHING NEW. DON SUGGESTED THAT HE USE OUR PEOPLE. THEN DON FURTHER
SUGGESTED THAT HE THEN RECRUIT MY SERVICES TO PLAY ON THE RECORDING. UPON
ACCEPTING OUR OFFER, KEVIN ASKED DON TO DO THE VOCALS. KEVIN CAME DOWN AND
WE WENT OVER THE SONGS IN A FEW HOURS THEN WE CAME BACK TO THE STUDIO LATER
THAT NIGHT AND LAID DOWN THE TRACKS. WE DID NOT ASSIST IN THE WRITING OF THE
MATERIAL, BUT I DID OFFER ALTERNATE DRUM BEATS TO SOME OF THE ONES HE USED
ON THE DRUM MACHINE. WE JUST SORT OF HELPED OUT WITH SOME OF THE
ARRANGEMENTS. THERE IS ONE SONG LEFT OFF OF THE 7” THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
RELEASED ONE DAY, BUT THAT IS NOT MY CALL. I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN
ANOTHER GRAVEWURM RELEASE SINCE THAT ONE. I AM READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO DO
ANOTHER ONE. ALL I NEED IS A PHONE CALL AND IT’S ON.
For so
many years you seemed to do no live shows and now you guys are quite active.
Has your situation changed or just your attitude towards playing live? Is
the long hours of driving and grind of travel worth the meager pay (often
barely enough to pay off your gas and hotel right?)? It must be for the fans
you do this or is just that valuable towards promotion of the band?
D
- Well we are active in releases but still not playing live. We go in
spurts. One month we might do 3-6 shows then nothing for a few months. I
still do not enjoy playing live that much but I like to travel to the other
cities and hang out with friends and other bands. The driving is not that
bad but we have a difficult time booking shows in the US. I mean we have had
chances to play shitty fests or drive many hours to get treated like shit
but no more. All of us do not have time to put up with that bullshit. I have
terms that NunSlaughter goes by and if a promoter can not adhere to those
terms we do not go. We are old fuckers and we all have rent or a mortgage so
we gotta do shows on our terms.
Now that
you have released an album are you still going to be releasing some demo
tapes in the future? Don’t take this wrong but for me as long as you keep
releasing sick vinyl and demos I don’t care at all if I have to wait another
10 years for the next album!! Are you signed for more full-lengths with
Revenge Productions?
D
- Fuck yes. In fact we released a reh/demo about a year ago. It was entitled
“Waiting to Kill Christ”. Only 113 copies were made but that demo has been
picked up by a label and it is being released on double LP and CD. I do
agree with you, I wish we were not recording another LP but that is what
Revenge wants so that is what we will give them. After that it might be
another few years until we do another full length. I do not like to do them.
I prefer 7”s!!!!!!!!
Have you
been working on any material lately? Can you give us some new song titles?
Does writing come easy to you and do you ever hit the wall where pieces of
bodies…er…songs just lay around until you get the inspiration to finish them
up?
S
- WE ARE ALWAYS
WRITING NEW MATERIAL AND EVEN MORE NOW SINCE THE NEW LP IS COMING OUT. SOME
OF THE NEW TITLES ARE: SHE LIVES BY NIGHT, AS THE CACODEMONS FEAST, IMMUNE
TO POISON AND RAID THE CONVENT. WRITING FOR ME COMES EASILY SINCE I AM
ACTIVE WITH ALL OF THESE BANDS. I AM ALWAYS HUMMING RIFFS IN MY HEAD AT WORK
OR AT HOME, SO COMING UP WITH MATERIAL IS NOT THAT HARD. THE PROCESS OF
WRITING IS A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH WRITING A COMPLETE SONG ON THE SPOT OR
COMPILING RIFFS ON TAPE TO BE REVIEWED OR CONSIDERED LATER. EITHER WAY IT IS
MOST OFTEN PRODUCTIVE FOR US.
At one
point there was supposed to be a split 10” EP with NS and Strychnos but
somehow turned into a split 7” with Grand Belial’s Key instead, what
happened there? Did the split with Cianide on Merciless ever come out or did
I somehow miss it?!
D
- Yes there was going to be a split with Strychnos but they were unable to
record in a timely manner. We planned the record about 7 or 8 months ahead
of schedule and we agreed on a time for both bands to record. NunSlaughter
recorded our side and sent everything to Horror Records. Strychnos had
problems with the studio they wanted to use so we waited MONTHS for them to
record but it NEVER happened. I became frustrated because I figured “just
record somewhere else” but……. In any case Horror records and NunSlaughter
decided that it would be best to put another band on the other side and I
always wanted to do a split with GBK. They had a song sitting there so we
went a head and pressed it. No hard feeling between NS and Strychnos but we
had to put those songs out, ya know. Well the NunSlaughter / Cianide split
is recorded and is sitting at Merciless Records in Germany. Volker is
waiting until this summer to release it as a picture 7”. According to him he
is very busy with many labels and bands so that is the earliest he can put
it out. That is ok because Cianide is a timeless band and they will still be
here when the record comes out.
I miss
the old days when you could stand at the very front of the stage and
headbang and thrash like mad and never have to worry about being run into
from behind by some fucking “tough guy” wife beater in training, muscle
shirted homo!! Your thoughts on this?
D
- Ha ha that is a long time ago. Not many people head band anymore because
long hair is not ‘in style” for the metal heads. What you need nowadays is
big pants a chain wallet and facial piercings. “Whats up wit dat” is an
expression you must use and you gotta listen to slipknot. These people are
nothing but targets. Aim your hatred and anger towards them.
S
- CERTAIN SHOWS AND
CERTAIN MUSIC WARRANT DIFFERENT RESPONSES. OLD METAL SHOWS ARE HEADBANGING
SHOWS FOR SURE. MAYBE HARDCORE OR NEWER METAL HAS MORE OF THAT STUFF GOING
ON. WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, SLAMMING AROUND TO METAL AT SHOWS WAS POPULAR. I
HAVE DONE IT, BUT ONLY WHEN IT WAS ACCEPTED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
AUDIENCE. THOSE MORONS THAT RUN INTO YOUR BACK DON’T HAVE A CLUE. THEY MOST
PROBABLY AREN’T MUSIC FANS. I WOULD RATHER SEE SOME METAL HEADS THRASHING
THEN PEOPLE RUNNING INTO NON-PARTICIPANTS ANYDAY. BUT SOMETIMES, CHAOS
ARISES AND I HAVE TO DIVE RIGHT IN.
On a
closing note, another one for Don...I have seen this live show I think it
was at City Limits from 1987 or 1988 with Bird of Prey and Eviction or
something like that, and you’re on there yelling “I buttfucked Joe
Franklin!”. At least the guy whose video it was told me it was Don of
Nunslaughter, this question can be off the record if you want and you
probably don’t even remember this but were you speaking of Joe Franklin from
Goatlord?
D
- I remember that video well. I think NunSlaughter did a song or two at that
show. I am not sure if it is on the video you saw but we were horrible. I
need this video. If you have it or can get it for me let me know. In any
case it is me and Greg (the first NunSlaughter vokillist). We were asked
something about saying something sick or perverted. We were listening to the
first Goatlord demo at the time and that is what came out. I NEVER
buttfucked a man. Ha ha That was about 87 or maybe 88.
Intense
thanx for taking the time to do this loooonng interview - I appreciate it
more than you will ever know!! I raise goat horns in your direction my
utmost respect, loyalty and gratitude for all the great music and support
you have given the scene over years!!! THANK YOU!!!
D
- Thanks Dale it is you and people like you and Keith that keep the
Underground Metal movement going. People must remember that metal music is a
life choice, or at least it should be. METAL IS DEATH DEATH IS METAL
NUNSLAUGHTER DEATH METAL
S
- INTENSE THANX TO
THE BOTH OF YOU!!! WE WERE HONORED TO DO THIS INTERVIEW. YOUR KNOWLEDGE,
INTEREST AND SUPPORT IS OVER-WHELMING!! THANKS ALSO TO ANYONE WHO HAS
SUPPORTED NUNSLAUGHTER IN ANYWAY. IF YOU WISH TO REACH US, PLEASE REFER TO
THE WEBSITE WWW. NUNSLAUGHTER.COM. THANKS. AND FINALLY TO ALL METALLISTS
EVERYWHERE, STAY NEAR TO THE FLAME THAT BURNS BRIGHT IN YOUR METAL HEARTS,
FOR ITS LIGHT WILL NEVER DIM AND IT’S WARMTH WILL NEVER FADE. IF YOU CAN BE
ANYTHING AT ALL IN THIS LIFE, BE A METALHEAD. THIS JIM SADIST SIGNING OFF
“FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB... IT’S DEATH MOTHER-FUCKING METAL....” THANKS
GUYS AND WE WILL…(Somehow
this last sentence was lost in Email cyber purgatory abyss - Dale),
LET'S JUST END IT
WITH...
http://www.nunslaughter.com/
https://myspace.com/nun666slaughter
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