E-ZINE - Raw & Wild - '80 heavy 'zine / Web

:: INTERVIEW TO THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT

PRESENT YOURSELVES OUR READERS...
"We are the Monolith Deathcult from the Netherlands. We started the band in 2003. Since then we acquired a record label for our first album (The Apotheosis) with the promo we then recorded (Obliteration Of The Despised). After the release we did two European tours supporting The Crown. Our label decided to call it quits so now we have a new CD out through Karmageddon Media called "The White Crematorium"."

WHO ARE THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT AS BAND MEMBERS?
"We have the traditional line-up: Two guitar players (Michiel Dekker also vocals, Martijn Moes), bass player (Robin Kok also lead singer) and drums (Sjoerd Visch). After the first album we recruited an additional member (Carsten Altena synths) to do our studio and live sampling. I think that's a very important aspect of the more modern death metal sound."

WHEN DID YOU HAVE FOUNDED THE BAND?
"We started the band in 2003. I had the idea to form a brutal death metal band. When I ran into Michiel Dekker we both wanted the same. One week later we found ourselves in a rehearsal room with a complete line-up. The line-up is still consistent with the difference of the later addition of Carsten."

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE VERY FIRST BEGINNING OF BAND...
"When we started the band we didn't knew exactly how we would sound, but we knew we wanted extreme death metal with some sampling. We soon had written some songs en decided to record it to try to get ourselves a record deal."

WHAT'S ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS RECORDING-EFFORTS?
"All members have previous recording experience. That really helped us in the studio. We recorded four songs to get ourselves a record deal. We re-recorded these four songs and added four more. Our debut album was greatly received. We had the chance to do two European tours on this album."

WHAT'S ABOUT YOUR FOLLOWING?
"Our second album is a logical follow-up. More time was on our hands to write this album and to record it. I think that's a big difference with the previous one. The songs' intensity is the same. The production also took more time. At first we were quite satisfied with the pre-mix but our producer (Pascal Altena) told he could do better. So we postponed the deadline for the final mix en when we heard the new one we were astonished by the result. We are very satisfied the way this album was created and its final result."

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS IN YOUR HISTORY?
"2002 - Obliteration Of The Despised (MCD)
2003 - The Apotheosis (Coldbloodindustries)
Two european tours supporting The Crown And Skinless
2005 - The White Crematorium (Karmageddon Media)."

COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOUR ALBUM TITLED 'THE WHITE CREMATORIUM'?
"The White Crematorium is set to be released in March. So far reviews and responses are great. The listener can expect brutal music with groovy parts and unexpected changes. We are very pleased how the production and the artwork worked out."

SATISFIED WITH THE SUPPORT OF KARMAGEDDON MEDIA?
"We just signed with Karmageddon Media, but so far everything is very promising. We heard their promotion is very good. We experience the label is very close with the scene and contacts. When we look at the number of reviews / interviews we can say we are very satisfied. And we're only just starting with Karma."

WHAT'S ABOUT THE PRODUCTION OF ALBUM?
"We recorded the drums in the studio. All the other instuments, vocals and sampling we recorded in a home studio. Therefore we could try new and different things without the pressure of studio time. The final mix was again done in the studio."

ANY PARTICULAR CONCEPT CONCERNING THE ALBUM?
"The lyrics are very important to us because that's an aspect we differ from other bands. We don't sing about the usual stuff but we use different historical events in our lyrics. The concept can be seen as different historical events through the ages. Our guitar-player /singer studies history so he writes most of our lyrics. We explain them in the booklet as addition to the lyrics."

WHAT'S THE MOOD OF IT?
"We want to leave an overwhelming impression to the listener. I think we have very intense music with hysterical and chaotic aspects."

THE SOUND IS VERY DEATH/BRUTAL METAL ORIENTED, RIGHT?
"That's correct. We wanted to sound very brutal but also modern. I think we have accomplished that with the addition of synths and samples. The production sounds transparent enough for the listener without not sounding brutal."

THE MOST SALIENT ASPECTS OF YOUR NEW ALBUM?
"I think the doomladen track at the end of the album, people didn't expect that style of music on an extreme death metal album."

WHAT'S ABOUT THE FEEDBACK?
"The feedback is great as you can see on our review section: http://www.monolith-deathcult.com/detail_review_album_twc.asp."

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR SOUND?
"As mentioned before we want to leave an impression with the listener, in our case overwhelming and intense."

TOURING PLANS?
"Hopefully we are able to play for you in the nearby future. Tours are yet to be planned so check out our website www.monolith-deathcult.com."

YOUR LIFE'S PHILOSOPHY?
"Live life to the max and enjoy every moment by grabbing chances and oppurtunities."

THE FUTURE OF THE BAND?
"First we want to promote this album to the max by interviews and extensive touring. After that we will start writing new material for a follow-up."

ANY LAST REMARKS?
"Thanks for the interview on behalf of the Monolith Deathcult: Sjoerd Visch..."

For more infos: www.monolith-deathcult.com or www.karmageddonmedia.com

EMANUELE GENTILE

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