DIABOLIC Interview

Juxtaposing the lethal arsenal of a death metal band with the ominous aura of black metal, Tampa, Florida?s Diabolic have the tenacity and the requisite skill to become extreme metal legends. During the touring and promotional campaign for their last effort, ?Vengeance Ascending,? Jay Gorania caught up with guitarist Brian Malone via email to understand what drives Diabolic to commit such acts of musical barbarism. Since that time the band has undergone a facelift, leaving Malone as the sole original member who was determined to continue the unholy vision of Diabolic. In the face of adversity, Malone recruited guitarist Eric Hersemann (ex-Lord Blasphemer), drummer Gael Barthelemy, and vocalist/bassist Ed Webb (who actually appeared on Diabolic?s ?Supreme Evil? demo) to record ?Infinity Through Purification,? an album that actually ups the ante in every department. ?Infinity Through Purification? will be released through Olympic Recordings, a subsidiary of Century Media, on October 24, 2003.




The Gauntlet: In your own words, how would you describe the band? And what is it that distinguishes Diabolic from the rest of the ?fish? in the vast sea of extreme metal?




Brian: We push the boundaries of extremes, redefining the term. The main thing is the extremes in dynamics. Sure, we definitely push the speed barrier over the top, but that is just one aspect. We?re much deeper and concentrate on writing well structured songs, interesting journeys that don?t lose the listener with unnecessary show-off parts or technical fluff.




The Gauntlet: Juan ?Punchy? Gonzalez, who handled your previous effort, was enlisted to produce once again? Were you satisfied with the final product? I love the sound. Paradoxically, it?s dirty and rough, yet clear enough to hear every fine detail.




Brian: We?re satisfied. ?Vengeance Ascending? is definitely the best production we?ve had: very clear without losing the heaviness.




The Gauntlet: What bands have influenced you?




Brian: Kreator, Darkthrone, Bathory, Slayer, Dark Angel, Destruction, Sodom, Coroner, Rigor Mortis, Satanic Slaughter, Venom?to name a few.




The Gauntlet: What inspires you to create your music and lyrics?




Brian: This evil music flows out of us! Everybody in the band contributes, and that combination is the magic of Diabolic.




The Gauntlet: The presentation of the band, from the cover art to the lyrics to the feel of the music itself, includes traditional and dark metal archetypes. Are these included to carry the metal torch into the future, or does the band align itself with a particular religious philosophy (and thus express itself through these symbols)? Do you have anything to say regarding religion?




Brian: We?re going to continue to deliver real fucking metal to the real metal underground. They?re starving for it, and we promise to deliver. As far as religion: Do what thou wilt! Obviously we?re satanically inspired, but that is just a foundation for advanced philosophies, as it was meant to be. Worship thyself, and strive for success.




The Gauntlet: If you are following a ?dark? path, at what point in your life did you choose to do so?




Brian: Personally, I was enlightened to reality when I was very young.




The Gauntlet: What is the meaning of ?Vengeance Ascending??




Brian: Though we always cover a variety of topics, the overall concept of ?Vengeance? is overcoming obstacles, advancing in life and crushing any that get in the way!! It?s a very personal album for us, and our vengeance is our continuing success and ascension in the metal world!




The Gauntlet: I sense a war motif running throughout the album, lyrically and musically. For example, the title track?s second verse reads, ?With desperate visions / we fight until death / and banishment of cursed souls / this battle for survival / in eternal war!? I believe that war is the perfect metaphor for the ongoing struggles of life.




Brian: Yes. Diabolic is an unrelenting war machine, and we?ll battle any that stand in our way. It?s our personal battles that inspired the album, and our enemies know who they are!!!




The Gauntlet: Do you feel that this dark style of death metal, if you want to call it that, is catching on in the US (in tandem with the increasing momentum of US black metal)? It seems that stateside fans aren?t exclusively clamoring for the nineties style of brutal American death as they did not so long ago.




Brian: I think that in general there?s a preference for darkness. I believe that the lines of death and black metal are not as defined as they once were, and a blending of the styles is the next wave that defines extreme metal.




The Gauntlet: What can we expect from Diabolic in the future? Recording-wise, will you continue to include various tempos and interludes (i.e. ?The Inevitable?)? Do you have any final comments?




Brian: Diabolic?s music will always have dynamics in speed. That?s the way it?s always been with us, and we never limit ourselves. (Brian?s a man of his word, folks. ?Infinity Through Purification? is an outstanding, dynamic release that?s already made my top ten list for the 2003. - JG) Thanks for the interview, Jay! Hail the underground, we?ll see you on tour!!!




DIABOLIC
PO BOX 9689
TAMPA, FL 33674
USA




http://www.diabolicblastmasters.com
http://www.centurymedia.com
http://www.olympicrecordings.com

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Tags:  Diabolic  , Brian Malone, interviews

J Gorania    November 30, -0001