Thanks Satan, the awesome blasphemy-spitting machine Grave Desecrator is ready to launch a new album, which is so much expected by the thirsty death/black metal audience around the world. “Dust to lust” will be released soon by the mighty Season of Mist and contains the usual combination of ferocity, antichristianity and ultranoisy blasting extreme metal, formula that turned Grave Desecrator into one of the most worshipped band of the last decades in the underground. So, we talked to El Necrogoat to know about this new release and some other interesting aspects of this fuckin’ cult act!

 

1. Hello, Necrogoat! It’s a great pleasure to be here talking to you again! How do you do?

“El” Necrogoat – Hell-o Cristiano and OSMM! Good to be featured once more in this superb Metallic magazine! Thanx a lot, bastards!

2. Of course, my first question is about your upcoming release, “Dust to lust”. Is it finally ready to be launched?

Yeah, it was recorded from July to August 2015 in Rio, and it was already sent off to be launched in the middle of 2016 by Season of Mist!

3. It took a long time for the recording of present release. I think you told me it was going to be released in 2012, but some problems postponed the date. What happened in this long period?

A lot of things!! Actually, we went through a second European tour back in 2012 and it retarded some time for us. But it´s true that we took a very long period of 6 years since 2010 to have a new full length album done. I don´t know why! I think that sometimes we like to be very perfectionists…to be sincere, much more by the part of the two guitars and vocalist (Butcherazor – vocals and guitars and Black Sin and Damnation – guitars). I´m not that much, since I think there´re some details which have no importance to have attention to. But that´s how GD works! We eventually argue about it, but ever for a greater work!

We were supposed to release the new album by Pulverised rec. But we broken the deal in a friendly way with them and signed to Season of Mist. Anyway, during this long hiatus, we released some stuff, like 7 inches, a live album, a compilation etc. And we performed some cool gigs in Chile, other states in Brazil and so on…

4. How is your impression about this new record in comparison to the two first full-lengths? Is it more brutal and heretical than before?

I think that we have been developing a typical sound but this doesn’t mean to bring a new GD direction or a kind of evolution. New “direction” or “evolution”, those are very dangerous statements that certainly I used to hate when I read it in the interviews of my fave bands. It means in fact that our sound is what it is naturally and undoubtedly “red” and savage as ever! But maybe some aspects may claim some attention with “Dust to Lust”, since we have more midpaced songs, a more technical structure at some parts, more abstract lyric conception, that´s “fighting” with the essential mundane ambient where GD stands in! It´s an abyss of chaos outlined by a mass of Metal of Death! I must ask your attention also for the artwork! You will ALL get astonished by the magical and the tremendous entire masterpiece, developed by the Polish genious Zbigniew Bielak, depicting salient features of our perceptions! Watch out!

5. And in terms of experience? Do you think you were all more well prepared to make the album sound exactly the way you wanted?

No…we´re never well prepared hahaha…but we fucking like the threat! It´s such a cliché, but it´s true that we´ll probably never have an album exactly the way we wanted to, whereas we´re limited by the amount of money and time we have left. But I have to be honest that the entire band has become satisfied with the acquiring result. By the contrary, we would kill ourselves…and the recording guy!

6. Well, I’ve heard some new songs in their raw mix and it seems that you are preparing to fuck the whole world and definitely enthrone the chaos as its main force. How did you get to this result?

We´re fiery souls with sulphuric blood engulfed in our entrails!!! Translating: we are Brazilian! Hahahahaha...this rage is made in wild lands! No place else.

7. Can you tell us anything about the lyrical content of “Dust to lust”? Do you still keep the blasphemous aura that you have shown in the previous releases?

I think the way that GD expresses their emotions aren´t too surprising, since everybody thinks on us like a band into lustful, blasphemous content. But I dare to say that this new album is our most conflicting so far. I mean, we´re a band that sometimes don´t share the same thoughts regarding a subject. We have a formless structure that carries us to a level where the terrestrial flirt with the obscure, that which cannot be tangible.

The blasphemous intent is there as ever! We must to be fierce on it, as we´re testifying an insane increasing of the protestant christians dealing side by side with the foolish nationalism here in Brazil. We can´t stand it! In my interpretation, as far as I know, freedom is one of the banners for those into the left hand path! Nevertheless, returning to the topic, sometimes you´ll have difficulties to understand my lyrics, since they´re too intangible and surrealistic. Like a fecundation of a libidinous formless phallus in an ethereal vagina, breeding a new born child, human, full of anger and fear, to strike this land of vice and anguished nights. Butcherazor´s lyrics are much more straight and diabolical, but now he has gotten more other elements, legends and special touches to create his own atmosphere. He lives by the rusty gates of death and its ultimate legacy! We do have definitively something strange to offer, but in a very positive circumstance!

8. By the way, why did you choose religion (or blasphemating against it, indeed) since the beginning. Is it a kind of obssession?

At the point that is very important in our society, and as you can perceive, taking other people´s mind, by purest political or domination impulses, I think that´s something we´ll be in touch for a long time yet. But take a look at our lyrics, and you´ll notice there´re a few others vomits towards the human hypocrisy, metaphoric wars, insanity, magic and so on… We´re very real band, but we think that´s something out there which is bounding us to much more than flesh and blood! Death is the key and the mysterious veil that immaculate the energies which surround us.

9. Your lyrics explore the idea of Satan and all kinds of demons, a satanic imagery as well as high level of negativity. So, how do you see the figure of Satan? Is he real or a kind of metaphor to identify the evil inside human race? Could I say GD’s members are Satan worshippers or would it be better to call you atheists with an anticlerical attitude and a blasphemous view of Christ and all kinds of religion?

During the current of this interview, you will determine that I talk about the ways that we distinguish when writing lyrics, concepts etc, and I said that there´re different sides in our interpretations, one´s more even metaphysic and the other hand basically terrestrial. Well, the final revelation of Satanism may not belong to us, and we absolutely don´t want it, but I prefer to admit that the bible is strongly in league with our western reality and cultural aspects. That´s too much personal I guess. The way that we share our views about the “Satan” that we appeal are probably different from a guy from Sweden, or Somalia or whatever. We don´t like to break or criticize the other´s works, but our relationship with Satanism, like a figure, are immediately misunderstood as a limited rebellion. Maybe it was, as our first steps towards this subject were probably from…Heavy Metal, or maybe Horror movies, books etc. I myself could write some lines about my personal thoughts and experiences with the occult, but I think it´s a waste of time. But if you ask about the relationship with GD, I can barely explain; we have a feeling that this “word” used to describe the so-called “forces of evil and nature” is suitable to express the negativity from where we live, the essence of the night, its traps, murders, prostitution, drug dealers..this reality that surround us and it´s real!!! It pulses and lives on! But I really believe that there´s not a horned god leading the people to this scenarios, by the contrary, the man is the only representation of chaos in flesh and blood! Maybe, we´re the central star! There´s energy on it and it´s powerful! Only those who live in orbit with the danger can drain this energy that I’m talking about!

10. Particularly, how do you see this negativity present in your lyrics? Why did you choose this path?

I don´t think it´s negativism. We call it reality! Reality is the inverse of positivism. It may hurt as hell! Energies which are channeling will affect reality. Death is real! Death is not only negativism, by the contrary. Most times is the balsam of suffering. Reality is not, in our opinion, only what you see, but what you feel, or what you project in mind!

11. “Temple of abominations”, one of these new songs, has a keyboard part. Who played it? Is it the first time you use keyboards?

Yeah, it´s a track all composed by Butcherazor, and he has been so well succeeded with his experiences, and it could not be different this time. He ever liked the pleasant keyboard touches from bands like Mystifier for example. And he did it so. I think it got a very cool result! He did play by himself!

12. Well, we all know that Season of Mist is, if I may put it like that, a big label in terms of underground. How is it to GD to be working with such a big label? Do you think that there are many advantages?

Everything is new for us. Unfortunately, not many bands outside Europe and USA are able to get the chance of a contract with a “bigger” label in Metal or underground as you said. You know the things are hard here! Perhaps, we´re lucky! But I don´t think it´s a motive to celebrate, but a motive to work even harder than ever! The exposure may be much wider than before, so we expect to correspond to the label, and first of all, for ourselves.

13. And how are they supporting Grave Desecrator concerning promotion? Are they preparing promotional stuff and merchandise too, including t-shirts and stuff like that?

Yes, Season of Mist is very well known for their very great promotional agenda! T-shirts, vinyl edition etc… high quality stuff, indeed. You´ll be noticed!

14. Talking a little bit about the past, as you are one of the founders of Grave Desecrator, can you tell us what you had in mind when you decided to create a band like GD?

I was ever trying to play some kind of infernal music back then, but it used to be very difficult to put people together with the same ideas as I did. I mean, many people around used to listen and even play Metal, but they didn´t have a trend to criminal music! Just when we met (me, F. Mordor, the first vocal and one week later Butcherazor), the things started to take form. But during all this time, many, many things changed, many things came up wrongly, many harsh discussions, problems etc. But I think that we´ll have our name branded with ember in the history of Brazilian scene.

15. What were your main influences in the beginning? And nowadays?

Back in the early days, since we had the influences of our first vocalist (F. Mordor), we were aiming to have a more singular aggressive sound, mixed with old Thrash and Death Metal, but he was really narrow influenced by the old Scandinavian Black Metal scene, so it was natural that in our first demo tape “Demo 01” from 2001, he´d sing like a desperate Burzum clone, and it fucked up our minds a lot, as it would not distinguish GD from anyone else band. I have no complains about having influences from these European bands during that time, since they were really great! But that wasn´t what we had in mind. Actually we despise that demo even though we know many people really like that shit. I think that the real path of GD started with the release of our first 7 inch, “Cult of Warfare and Darkness” in 2003, as this stuff is really rawer and crudest than the demo, and much more related to what we were trying to sound like for the future. Even that F. Mordor is singing in this release, the things got much better and the evil could really find the real track!

16. At that time (1998), there were not many bands playing your kind of music, right? So, how was the reception to GD, since your music is raw and brutal, much more than the bands which were popular in the beginning of the 2000’s?

Our reception was totally imperceptible. Haha...we were nothing in the scene, nobody paid attention on us. We were working like a project for an unknown future. You see, we didn´t have a drummer!! ! We did record our demo with the help of a session drummer, and after that, the things remained the same; in a stalemate! The only thing to do was to feed our mind with the joys of the night, that ever were part of our lives, as well as absorbing all the essence from these outlaw mysticism to bestow over our compositions and imagery. We were not interested to be another soulless copycat of mainstream Black Metal bands. We felt that we have an inherent fury to explore and to unleash, so we were patient enough to wait for the right time to pull the trigger!

17. Nowadays, however, this kind of music has become stronger in the underground. Can we say that this is good for GD or it hasn’t changed anything for you?

I dare to say, that at least in Brazil, our debut album “Sign of Doom” was a very necessary album to be released that time. By the way, we don´t think that we are exactly a band into “old Brazilian death/thrash sound” as we every time read in mags, posts etc, but take a look at the bands from the early 2000 in Brazil, and I think we didn´t have a so prolific savage scene here, regarding Black and Death Metal, since we testified too many bands slaves of an eurocentrism in relation to aesthetical, sonority, production wise, artwork etc. Actually, we were absolutely a raging attempt to bring back that savagery, intrinsic and why not sometimes flawed, but like a true way to expel the sulphuric Metal music, and of curse, with the enthusiasm and intent to still sounds a bit “Brazilian” as most are used to refer to us, even that we have no arrogance to deny the immense parcel that Slayer, Venom, Bathory, Morbid Angel, Blasphemy, Death, and others have been reflecting on us.

18. What about live gigs? Have you been doing any live shows? I’ve lost your gig here in my state (Death Kult War Festival), unfortunately. How was it?

Well, it´s ever a great pleasure for us to play at any place in our immense Brazil! Problems happen, but in the end, the fest was cool. Pity, that we didn´t get a massive presence, but it was really great to meet old friends from Southern Brazil, to play at the legendary Curupira, as well as meeting the guys from good bands that shared the stage with us. Thanks for the Osculum Obscenum t-shirt!!! Send greetings to Diego”Carnifex” and his brother in my name (Note: Diego Carnifex is better known now as Catáströfe Nuclear, vocalist of Antichrist Hooligans, band in which I play.)! Hope to drink with you all very soon!

 

19. I’ve heard you are going to play with Destroyer 666 in May. What are your expectations to play with such a fucking good band?

Well, it´s good. Good to play again in São Paulo as ever, to meet lots of friends, abuse of alcohol etc. Destroyer 666 is a very good band. That´s cool to share the stages with them.

20. Do you have plans to record other live album just like the “Live in Breissure”, released in 2012 by Sun and Moon rec.(Rom), in vinyl by Death Noise Prods.(Bra) and tape by Goat Prayer rec(UK)? By the way, do you think that album shows the power of your band alive?

Actually, we don´t have in mind to record another live album for a while. By the way, this album was up to be a kind of bootleg. We were supposed to have a live recording done in the Transylvanian area of Romania, by our friend from Sun and Moon rec. But the final result was crappy and inaudible. But few days later in our 2012´s European tour during our gig in Bressuire, France, Shaxul from Manzer told us that they recorded a cool sound from the local soundboard, and it got really good for a kind of bootleg. Sun and Moon accepted to release it in cd, but we solved to baptize this album as an Official Bootleg. So that was done. This album has been a great feedback, even more than we could imagine. The cover was done by the fantastic Daniel Corcuera (also bassist of the mighty Slaughtbbath from Chile) and about your question, well, sometimes we play even faster alive than in the album, so you must take a listen to have your opinions, haha.

 

21. What about the live video with Archgoat, Black Witchery and Impurity? It seems it was a great achievement for the band to feature with all these cult underground bands, specially the old legend Impurity, am I sure?

Well, this DVD was really cool for being our first DVD record so far, but I must confess you that it was not one of our best performances! Things got wrong, there were some problems, because a stupid guy interviewing another band inside our private backstage, that lead us to an inevitable delay and few time to play, as we had to reduce it. Anyway, the organization was cool and the important is that the crowd could please bestial bands in a bestial night, and a great Hail to all! But our best DVD from a much better performance is about to come in a future. Let´s see!

22. Considering this is a Polish mag, can you tell us what do you know about the Polish underground scene? Do you have many contacts in Poland? Any chance to play live in Poland or any country from Eastern Europe?

 

Yeah, I know that Poland is a very strong country into Metal! I thank Leszek for sending me a killer double cd of the mighty KAT! You know, it´s very hard to find their stuffs in Brazil, and it´s probably my favorite band from Poland! Zig Bielak brought me a t-shirt directly from Poland for me! Unfortunately they´re very unknown in Brazil. I like very much of old Vader, and I personally know about their story. Their problems with the communist eras and difficulties may be similar to what older Brazilian bands had to pass by (or still do, isn´t it?)! Back in their demo tape days, I read a review of maybe “Morbid Reich”demo at the defunct Rock Brigade magazine(used to be the biggest Brazilian Metal magazine)and then I wrote to get my copy and I still do have it! Glorious times!!! Imperator is another old killer band from Poland that I like very much in their special personal style of Death Metal, at least in my opinion. I mean, I like that strange mixing in “Time Before the Time”. But shit, I had some monetary problems back then and had to sell my rare vinyl copy of the LP. It´s really sad situation…I know many Black and Death Metal bands from Poland, but I think those three above mentioned are my faves so far! And this magazine Old School Metal Maniac is a “must have” for all proud metalheads in this cursed and infamous world!!! I really love this mag! Of curse, that we´ll reach Poland very soon. I hope that with a better promotion, things can be possible, and it will be a great pleasure for us!!! Let´s see if it can happen late 2016 or 2017. We hope to be alive till then!

 

23. Well, man, I think it’s enough for a while! Is there anything you would like to say? The final words are yours, my friend! Thanks a lot for your kind attention, as usual!

I just want to thank you very much, Cristiano and Leszek, once more for being part of this cursed artifact! I really wish a long live for Old School Metal Maniac. The world needs a magazine like that!

Please, if you´re European, North American or worldwide inhabitant (less Brazil), buy “Dust to Lust” and merch at the Season of Mist webshop.

And watch out, we´ll have a new split 7 inch alongside Slaughtbbath(Chi) by Hell´s Headbangers, titled “Música de Nuestra Muerte” for still this year!!!

Fuck you all!

www.gravedesecrator.com

www.season-of-mist.com

Cristiano Passos