Poisonous Interview

1.      Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

Michael Hellriff - We are a Death Metal band from the Brazilian city of Salvador - Bahia. We began our pact with the darkness in 2008. Since then, we are buried alive with Poisonous. We have a self titled demo, released in 2009 by Genocide Prods. Also in partnership with Genocide Prods. it has been released our debut album "Perdition's Den" on CD version in 2010. The same has just been reissued through the U.S. label Metalhit on a digipack issue with a new cover artwork. Poisonous aims to reach the valley of shadows and making echo the dark mutterings of death. Rage for chaos! To maculate victims with nasty sex, vomit forth hate, defecate in the book of lies, practice dirty orgies dirty, dull the veins with alcohol and drugs and defend the precious Death Metal severely.

2.      How would you describe your musical sound?

Michael Hellriff - Our sound is morbid, violent, primitive and lethal. Sounds like if the black venom of death became the sound from the depths of hell. Darkness is the core of our art. All of our most intense and impure feelings are present in our music.

3.      What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Michael Hellriff - We like to talk about death, hatred, terror, darkness, pestilence ...

4.      What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

Michael Hellriff - The band's name came when we made the black pact. Naturally it has been revealed before us manifesting itself at first place in the sick mind of our brother Alex Rocha, the man behind the drums. The name describes exactly what we are in life. Where there is faith we take sickness!

5.      I know that the band started out as Impetous Rage, what was the decision behind the name change?

Michael Hellriff - We have not changed the name Impetuous Rage to Poisonous, but renounced Impetuous Page to give life to the venom of black death called Poisonous! They are two different bands.

6.      What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Michael Hellriff - For us, all the dark appearances of Poisonous are significant and have the same level of importance. But in fact there are shows that make us a little more satisfied with respect to structure and organization. I can mention the gig in March 2010 sharing the stage with Benediction, Into the Corpse and Inside Hatred.

7.      Do you have any touring plans for the future?

Michael Hellriff - Our only plan is to continue playing DEATH METAL, recording rites of death and keeping ourselves in the dark side. Most of the tours underground bands are doing nowadays have the costs covered by themselves, and it is not in our plans actually. We look for something more worthy for us. We are willing to do gigs around the world, but with a structure at least honorable.

8.      Recently Metalhit.com re-issued the album with a Sarcofago cover, what was it that made you want to pay tribute to this legendary band?

Michael Hellriff - Yes! We love Sarcófago, and for us covering “The Black Vomit” couldn’t have been a better choice! Sarcófago has left its mark, showed the world the energy and power South American Metal delivers!

9.      On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death metal?

Michael Hellriff- We have had a very positive response on the part of the maniacs who have had the opportunity to listen to our DEATH METAL. We keep good contacts with zines, bands, labels, and diehards around the world. We support activities of the underworld, enjoy doing trades and we are people really dedicated to this wonderful way of infernal life!

10.  What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

Michael Hellriff - We are preparing to enter the studio again later this year to record an EP. Subsequently the recording of this EP, we'll start working on recording our next album. There are some rites being prepared for the second album.

11.  I have noticed that the bands music is more rooted in the early classic death metal sound, what are your opinions on the more modern death metal bands that have came out in the last few years?

Michael Hellriff - I do not like overly elements in modern Death Metal. My school is the old one. I like things from the 80’d and 90’s in the case of more extreme metal and death metal. But I cannot but recognize the value of bands that are relatively new yet very good around there. for example Dead Congregation, Cruciamentum, Grave Miasma, Impetuous Ritual (USA), Blasphemic Cruelty, Godless, Unholy Lust, Blaspherian...

12.  What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Michael Hellriff- I'm a Metal addicted, and it has to be strong and dark. I try to be selective. I like violence, chaos, atmospheres and dense sound ... So I enjoy various Metal styles that provides me these elements. My preferred style is Metal of Death due to its mind-blasting ferocity. I will mention just some of the many bands I enjoy, they are: Samael (Worship Him) Morbid Angel (Altars of Madness), Possessed, Obituary, Sadistic Intent, Engrave, Infamy, Coffin Texts, Massacre, Diabolic, Exmortis, Nihilist, Angel Corpse, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Venom, Sodom, Brutality, Absu, Napalm Death (Harmony Corruption), Morbid, Dissection, Headhunter D.C., Shub Niggurath, Sanctifier, Morgoth, Slugathor, Godless, Sinister, Monstrosity, Pestilence (old), Cancer, Cadaver, Bestial Warlust, Ad Baculum, Impetuous Ritual, Inside Hatred, Sepultura (Old), Hell Light, Amen Corner, Black Dawn, Nihilistic Kaos, Nyktalgia, Verminous, Cryptborn...

13.  How would you describe your vies on Satanism, Occultism and Anti Christianity?

Michael Hellriff - To me any kind of religion means prison! I am totally against any kind of action or organization that obstruct the freedom of being. I believe in individual evolution, the self-reflections, attitude and strength. For me it is not necessary to serve a kind of doctrine to bear stance. The term Satanism for me symbolizes the freedom of being. It exists as the opposite, to rebel against the utopia. Fuck the slaves of lies! Occultism for me means seeking knowledge, to investigate theories, uncover secrets, to enrich the self existence so that it does not become empty. Anti-Christianity represents intelligence and power over oneself!

14.  Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Michael Hellriff - Professionally I am interested in music production and computer. In everyday life I like to read some books, watching horror films, medieval battles, serial killers, martial arts, documentaries on wildlife and on natural phenomena. I also like bars, barbecue with my brothers to the sound of some old stuff, too much sex, drugs, madness, chaos, terror, violence, blasphemy, among other madness. That’s my life!

15. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Michael Hellriff - Absorbing knowledge is the way! Strength, insanity and darkness!