I´m hangin´ in there, thanks.
Within the last seven years the line-up of DEICIDE has changed a little bit. Would you say that the band is musically stronger than ever nowadays?
Yes, I would say that. The line-up thing, we have to do what we have to do to stay working, you know. We needed a great talented line-up to continue to write a Record after the split with the brothers. And we also need a solid line-up to do shows with when Ralph can´t join us on the road. So we do what we have to to keep at it. Either way, we´ve achieved a lot musically in recent years and I´m proud of the guys for helping us keep it rolling.
By the way… what about the actual line-up of DEICIDE? For example my info says that guitarist Ralph Santolla is still member of the band. Who can finally be listened to on “To Hell With God”?
Yes, Ralph will continue with us recording and for as many gigs as he can. When he´s not available, we can get Kevin Querion from my other band ORDER OF ENNEAD to fill in. He´s no Ralph on leads. Then again who is, you know. But he´s solid as a rock rhythmically and he can handle touring with us so we´re happy to have him along when we need him.
Your new album “To Hell With God” with it´s about 35 minutes of playtime is again very short and intensive. Do you always plan this kind of tight and compact songwriting?
It just kind of works out that way. You cram that many quick riffs and arrangements into one place without burning it out or making it boring and that´s what you get. If rather you play it again then turn it off because you´re bored of it, you know. These are the kinds of things I consider while writing. When is a part played out, when does it become boring. I try to avoid that. If that means shorter songs, so be it.
In the early days of DEICIDE the musical style of the band was very raw and just reduced to the pure essences of Death Metal. Your last four albums, including “To Hell With God”, have become more technical, especially relating to the guitars. What kind of DEICIDE do you personally like more? And what is your favourite DEICIDE-album up to now?
I like best whatever it is I´m currently working on. And yeah our style is varied over the years but at least we try not to repeat ourselves, and to perhaps reinvent ourselves here and there. I do think we´ve become better writers as time went by, but I don´t really think the new record is "technical", I think it just sounds that way. The parts themselves are actually pretty easy, it´s just how we employed them that makes it sound technical. A pretty neat little trick though if I do say so myself.
The production was done by Glen and yourself, just with Mark Lewis who assisted you professionally. Why does an Old School-Death Metal-band select a producer who has often worked with modern bands like THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA or DEVILDRIVER?
I had worked with Mark on the ORDER OF ENNEAD-records and he did a great job at getting a modern heavy sound, which I dug. I think we were getting a little burnt at Morrisound and it was time for a change. And Audiohammer is a cool place to record. The guys are all cool, they let me crash there and I get to do whatever I want. So it was just a cool vibe and they get a great sound. I never really considered it because of these other bands you mentioned, just because they know what they´re doing and they´re into it.
There are rumors that your former members Brian and Eric Hoffmann are reforming the DEICIDE-parent AMON. Are these rumors true? And if so, what do you think about this reunion?
I wish them luck.
In 2007 you toured without Glen on the “The Stench Of Redemption”-tour. Other musicians were doing the vocals then, like Seth Van De Loo who is drummer of SEVERE TORTURE. For many fans this happening has been a total disaster, so I´d like to know if you ever did this kind of tour again, just if Glen was not available?
No, probably wouldn´t do another tour like that again. But I did it because I don´t like gettin´ hung out to dry one week before we´re supposed to start, you know. I made the deal, and the Mafia would´ve come to my house, not his. So I finished the deal I made, whatever it took. Hey, business is business, and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Is it always an ideal situation? No, but hey, I´m still alive!
Do you have some special final words for all your fans in Germany?
Thanks for all the support over the years and hope to see you this summer diggin´ the new stuff.
