1. Can
you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
We just
came back from Berlin, where we had our releasegig on saturday. It was fucking
crushing! Up next is rehearsing our asses off to present some good shows in the
UK, where we'll be playing 5 dates together wit Occvlta. Actually, our main
focus is pretty much rehearsing at this time. The album is just out and we got
quite some shows to pull off next year. Me and Ced already got some new riffs,
but at the moment there is not much time for songwriting, which can be a fuck
up from times to times, but I think after the UK Tour we'll definitely get
started with that as well. At the moment we just have to organize ourselves a
bit, since this is our first full length release and it's getting a real cool
amount of positive feedback... Something new for us.
2. How
would you describe the musical sound of the new album?
To me,
we've achieved exactly what we wanted with "Summoning Black Gods".
The album is holding on to that old school spirit at the end of the 80s and
early 90s, yet it doesn't sound like we are ripping off or only want to
reproduce what we think sounds best. Furthermore there is an own sound to it,
something to characterize the band. You hear and should be able to say "thats
Chapel Of Disease" straight away but at the same time you should be able
to realize your listening to some plain old school death metal.
3. What
are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new
release?
Our
lyrical themes are strictly based on ancient horror or phantastic literature.
It is pretty much worshipping authors long gone, that have created something
shocking to their time, or something new.
4. What
is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Hehe, we
get asked that a lot and every time we have to admit, that we do not truly
remember how it came up. All I can say is, that it doesn't have some sort of
deeper meaning, it just sounds perfect as a name for an old school death
project. I am pretty sure that the first Morbid Angel had something to do with
the creation of the name as well...
5. What
are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you
describe your stage performance?
Berlin
on saturday was really fun! We always try to keep the same level during a gig
and are not the kind of guys who just all like to stand around, stare at their
instruments and bore off the ones in front of the stage. Meaning, we always try
to give it our best and deliver something like a show to the crowd, without
fucking up the playing of our instruments. I for myself am quite critical after
leaving stage, I hate mistakes, even if no one noticed. Even tho' we're talking
about rough old school sounding metal, I still think it is important to present
a more or less professional show to your audience. Meaning that a band has to
keep the level it has on its' records on stage and still go fucking nuts on it.
6. Do
you have any touring plans for the new release?
We're
doing the UK Tour with Occvlta from january 29th up until february 2nd. We're
really looking forward to it, it will be our first time in the home of the
queen. After that we will be playing a minitour for two days in Germany
together wit Deserted Fear and Lifeless. When that is done we will be playing a
good amount of individual gigs but are trying to not overplay ourselves. There
is nothing more boring than being able as a fan to go out every weekend and see
one of your top bands play at every single club you can think off. We dont know
if there is a bigger tour to come yet. It's quite difficult to organize
something since we all have regular jobs or are still in our studies.
7. On a
worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death metal?
So far
so good, really. Up until now I have not read a single negative review and we
are getting some really cool messages from people all over the place giving us
a thumb up (more or less literally). We can only say that we are more than
happy about the last 10 months. After the demo came out in April, it all went
really quick and one thing led to another without the band losing its' quality.
We wouldn't have thougt that it would all kick off in such a dramatic
speed.
8. What
direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
I have
no clue, seriously. Like said before, we haven't had the chance to be working
on new material yet, but I think Chapel Of Disease will always be a band
sticking to its' sound but still be evolving from album to album. What way that
evolution of our sound will turn out we don't know yet. But we would never
start to go in a complete different direction, since we all know what that
feels like as a fan. Meaning, if we would have the idea to start a progressive
fusion metal band, it sure enough wouldn't be called Chapel Of Disease anymore.
We'll stick to old school death, but throw in some interesting elements here
and there to keep it interesting over the years. That's my vision for now,
let's just see how it will turn out.
9. What
are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what
are you listening to nowadays?
It's
pretty much all about that early death and thrash metal stuff. A time where one
could not really say what the definite difference between real aggressive
thrash metal and simple death metal is. That was the plan in 2008 and it more
or less still is, although we really do listen to quite a lot of stuff
nowadays, doesn't matter what genre it is as long as it fits our ears. I'm
really enjoying the last Witchcraft record (Legend). It doesn't sound like
those typical 70s bands that are going around at the moment. A lot of songs on
it could be spinning in the radio, but I really admire their songstructure. It
feels like you're listening to 3 different songs in only one song, yet it
harmonizes just perfect. Mogwai is spinning in my room quite often these last
weeks, Ced recently showed me stuff from Joy Desaster and I'm really impressed
by it. When winter kicks off, I always gotta listen to the last 3 Solstafir
albums, a pure must for me.
10. how
would you describe your views on Occultism?
I have
none. I don't know anything about it and don't feel like learning anything
about it. Not because I truly have something against it, I simply can't stand
any sort of religious thinking. All I'm noticing, is that "occult
metal" is becoming a very, very trendy thing to be called nowadays. Many
people have called our music occult death metal. It seems as if it's the new
word for "satanic". Satans Metal was 80s. Now it's Occult Metal. It
gets me pissed from time to time, since it is hard to be taking one seriously
by now who calles himself occult and on the other hand, bands are being labeled
the same that never wanted to be called that way. But as long as the music fits
my taste and the band is not going into some extreme shit, I dont give about
what one might call them.
11.
Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Hard
one. It is incredible what kind of a huge amount the music can have on one's
life. But beside of it, we all have our own stuff we like to go along with.
Since we're not only a band, but also just real good friends, we meet up quite
often to check out some classy movie, freak out on stupid internet videos or
just drink a few beers.
12. Any
final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
First of
all, thanks a lot for having me. I can only salute to all those dudes and
ladies who have supported us in such an amazing way in less than a year... We
hope to be hitting some different roads next year and have the chance to meet
some cool people along the way. Cheers and let the rotten times roll!
