I was introduced to The Chasm after
reading reviews for Deathcult, and I was familiar with your work on Diabolical
Conquest, but Procession... was the first time I actually heard the band.
Needless to say, what I heard was like nothing that I had expected.
I can't even describe what the sounds I hear are, all I want to do is bang
my head and listen some more. What forces come together to make an
album this intense, this emotional?
Since the conception of the band at the beginning of 1993, I have Always
wanted to create a different and more experimental form of death metal.
The influence to create our songs comes straight from our minds and souls,
the primal urge to recreate the turmoil that I feel inside through music
is a priority for The Chasm. Our style is not very usual, and I have
to say that this has given us some problems in getting a better record
deal in the past years. We are not for the masses, The Chasm is a
unique and unstoppable force of heavy metal of death that is not for everybody.
It not exactly "news" anymore that you relocated
to Chicago for the band, but I wanted to know how you felt about the decision
now. Chicago is also now touted as the "city of metal" in the U.S.
now, do you see it that way? What is the local scene like to you
in terms of support for a now hometown metal band? You had mentioned that
The Chasm didn't actually have a huge Mexican fanbase while you were living
there, has that changed at all? Now that you're in the U.S. are you
more popular back in Mexico?
I think that the decision to move here has been one of the best we have
made in a long time. Things are turning out much better for us here
than in Mexico, we don't have any regrets, we do not miss our country.
The Chicago underground metal community has treated us great. The support
and response from people over here has been excellent, the scene here is
good. It could be better, but that happens everyplace, but also I
have to say that [Chicago] is one of the best [scenes] in the USA, no doubt.
When we were in Mexico the support wasn't really there as I mentioned.
Our style was really advanced for those times and people couldn't handle
it. Right now I don't really know our status/situation in Mexico,
but for what I've heard from some friends a lot of people are praising
"Procession..." which kinda surprised me. I guess we are more popular
now there, since all the things we have done here have never been done
before by any Mexican band.
Most album intros do the exact opposite of
what they should and detract from the work as a whole, making them kind
of a risky venture sometimes. You chose to use one here, but not only does
it make perfect sense, it does exactly what it was supposed to do and elevates
the mood of the album. Was that track written to be an intro/lead
track initially, or are you going to tell me that "It's not really an intro"?
Because for me, it really sets the tone for the entire album.
Yes is a fuckin' intro, but is a complete and destructive song at the
same time that prepares you to the utter decay and destruction that is
about to begin. We created that song specially to start the album.
We did the same thing in "Deathcult...", maybe not as oppressive and dark
as "Spectral Sons..." but still it gives you a warning for things to come;
that the listener better gets ready for something different and still heavy,
extreme and dark as hell. Once again, we are against the rules of
what are called "intros" today: stupid keyboards or just plain movie samples.
Fuck that, the creativity in the Necrocult can do more than that, just
like the old masters did. Remember "Hell Awaits", "Nightfall" or
"The Upcoming Terror"? Classics!!!
There are some of the most killer guiter work
and solos that I have heard in a long time here, obviously creativity is
key, but what else influences playing like this? Why is thiis element
missing in so many bands today? You also manage to put longer songs
together that are incredibly technical with numerous tempo changes, yet
flow together seamlessly. Are these songs that are so thoroughly
practiced that you can play them in your sleep, or recorded with more of
a "jam" feel to keep spontaneity in the studio? What do you feed
Antonio, and could I get some?
You said the word, creativity. There's no point in playin' a certain
style or maybe riff that has been done already! The mind, ideas and
feelings that flow in our gray spirit are immense. We take the inspiration
from the golden era, the 80's,and we mix 'em with our identity and personal
touch. We compose the songs with pure riffs that gives chills and
fill our souls, then when we feel they are ready we just practice 'em as
much as possible to have them ready when we go to the studio. It's
hard shit to play, and it has to be as tight as possible. Sometimes
there are one or two mistakes in the studio, but if the feeling is strong
enough we say fuck it and just leave it like that. We are not fuckin'
machines. Unfortunately we are human beings and that has to show
in the recording, metal played by individuals with emotion and hunger for
victory and death. The thing with Antonio is that he never took any
lesson, nor did anybody in the band, he just growa and improves his style
along with the band. His style is really unique. I can tell,
and some people can out there too. He's the master of doom and he
has been a very important piece in the building of our own style.
What is the secret formula to all of this?
Some bands have one central figure who is the "visionary", leading others
along the path, while other bands have four leaders that pull in four different
directions... Are you all on the same page in terms of musical vision,
or do all of you have separate ideas that meld into what becomes the final
sound of The Chasm?
In the past I wrote all the music and did the arrangements with Antonio.
"Procession..." was written mostly by me, but Julio had a great input in
the songs. The new album is going to be more like a 50/50 of cooperation
between Julio and me. We came from the same days and we have the
same musical tastes and we both know what we really want to create with
our music. We are working together so fuckin' good... I mean, Antonio
and myself are the founders of The Chasm, but Julio has been playing even
a little bit longer than me! He started Tormentor around '87, which
later became Shub Niggurath. He's a pioneer in the death metal
scene in Mexico. I started Cenotaph in 88, and we are like the only
people from that first generation of death metal in Mexico that are still
active. Since those years we were friends, and after all this time
we finally got the chance to play and compose metal together. Believe
me, it has been the best line up for the cult, and that shows in "procession..."
I think.
Taking myself as an example as someone who
had yet to hear The Chasm due to a combination of my location (Hawaii)
and somewhat limited availibility of your past albums, how would one get
a hold of these past works, and what could one expect if they were looking
for more music based on what they'd heard on Procession...? For older
albums that may be out of print, are there plans to re-release them, or
is all energy being put towards the future for The Chasm?
Well, I think there's a lot of past The Chasm elements in "Procession...".
The real problem with those albums is the production, they were really
weak and empty... Of course there are some totally different aspects
in those CD's that you can't hear on "Procession..." For example,
our first CD "Procreation of the Inner Temple" is a grotesque piece of
progressive death metal, really, really unique, but the sound there is
the worst we ever had. I'm proud of all our past recordings, but
I think we're going to concentrate in the present and future of the band,
to become a more destructive and original (always keeping in mind and respecting
the rules of true heavy metal) every time we compose something. No
plans for re-releases.
Along these lines, how has the move to Dwell
records been so far? There must be more promotion and tour opportunities
now? Who are you planning to blow off the stage this year?
I just have to say that it would be just criminal if this album didn't
get into the hands of every metalhead in the world, what can we do to make
this album as well known as it should be?
Thanx for those comments and support. Well, Dwell is doing a great
job with the promotion and distribution, I just wish they could give us
a little more of a tour support, that would be killer. People that
have experienced our live attack know of the potential that we have.
We are going to do our best to tour, if that doesn't happen, well, it will
suck, but we will continue with our crusade.
One negative to promos is that lyrics aren't
included. I usually don't care, but here titles appear to keep away
from the Lucifer/gore areas, making me more interested in what you have
to say here. What's the main lyrical focus for The Chasm? Are
the lyrics (or songs as a whole) inspired by what you see, what you read,
what you live through daily?
The lyrical concept of The Chasm is a pure gathering of my more inmost
feelings, a wide spectrum of ideas and thought that flow in my inner self.
I'm not inspired by anything else but myself and my inner temple, utter
victory, hatred, depression and death, a philosophical way of seeing my
life,past ,present and future, in this world and mainly in the other.
You are said to be incredibly active in the
underground scene, and a dedicated metalhead. Through time, how do
you think that the underground scene has changed with regards to technology
(e.g. the internet)? How important do you think that the festivals
in the states are to the underground. Do they accomplish what they're
supposed to do, or is everything muddied in the politics of the whole thing?
I just do what I feel [like] doing, metal is the meaning of my existence.
This music has give me a lot, it has help me pass through hard and dark
times. I'm part of an elite, the elite of real warriors of metal
of death and defenders of the traditional and majestic power of heavy metal.
Times has changed a lot in this so called 'scene'. I think everything
is worse now, there is a lot of bullshit goin' on. New bands have
to worry about playing from their hearts instead of trying to sound like
their 'heroes'. The only hero I praise right now is the album of
the same title by "Cutty Sark", hail!!!! The festivals have good
intentions to help metal, but when 100 bands are playing in 2 days
things kinda got out of control. I don't care really, as long as
we can play for the real followers of the Necrocult we'll do it in a festival
or in a basement.
Why do think that the mainstream seems to pick
up on certain metal bands at different times (like every seven years)?
How long do you think this current trend of heavier music being popular
will last, or is this a sign of increasing tension and anger in the world?
Ultimately, does the ludicrous popularity of a band like Slipknot help
or hurt the entire metal scene, in your opinion?
All those so called 'metal bands' are just a pathetic sign of how stupid
people can be. That is supposed to be the metal of the year 2000?
I puke in that garbage. I'd rather stay in the old years, taking
strength and inspiration from those warriors, and create a devastating
form of real metal of death for this times. I do not care about success
or fame or money, obviously, after all this year of non stop fighting it's
pretty clear that we are playing music for ourselves, and then for those
interested and hunger for something authentic and fresh attached to the
real metal rules. Hopefully death metal will be unpopular really
soon, and only those that really feel and understand this music will stay
standing and proud, living in the underground, like it was supposed to
be...
Here at the end of this interview, what have
we missed? What else does the metal populace need to know about The
Chasm? Any last thoughts?
I think this interview was really, really good. We appreciate
your support Evan. Good luck with the 'zine, just spread the word
about "Procession...' The real deathmongers will pick it up and comprehend
it. We don't care about anybody else,just those that believe and
feel the total power of real death metal!
