Hail of Bullets is a new death metal supergroup of sorts.  Featuring Martin van Drunen (ex-Pestilence, Asphyx), Theo van Eekelen (ex-Houwitser), Ed Warby (Gorefest) and Thanatos guitarists, Paul Baayens and Stephan Gebédi, the band are just about to release their debut album, …of Frost and War.  Signed to Metal Blade Records, the quintet has united to play the kind of no-nonsense death metal that is sorely lacking in todays underground.  SMN News spoke with Gebédi about their mission statement.

First off, some of our readers will know you from Thanatos.  What is the status of that band?

Thanatos is still going.  We just hit a low-point on the last record.  We were signed to a Greek label called Black Lotus Records who went out of business so we were left in a bad situation.  We lost some money and it was a bad time for the band.  We are currently looking for a new deal.  We’re probably going to be getting Dan Swanö to mix some of the material for the new release.  He worked on the Hail of Bullets album and he did a great job!  So yeah, Thanatos will be back soon.

How long have you known Martin and why did you feel the need to start HOB?

I’ve known Ed for 12-15 years.  We used to get together and check out horror movies and listen to metal.  He’s also in Gorefest so we play in the same scene.  Martin is a different story.  The metal press created a big rivalry here in Holland between Thanatos and Pestilence back in the late 80’s but we didn’t really meet.  It wasn’t until he was in the band Death By Dawn and Thanatos played some shows with them that we really talked.  We had a few beers and then got into talking about all the stuff we had in common.  We are into a lot of the older death metal stuff and then we finally got Hail of Bullets together in 2006.

I hear a lot of the elements of all the bands you guys have been involved with through the years and there is a definite older flavor to the riffing and arrangements.  Was this a conscious decision?

I actually don’t really hear too much of Thanatos or Gorefest in what Hail of Bullets does.  Yeah, there is that old-school feeling to the music but not so much of those specific bands.  I hear some Asphyx in there.  When we wrote the songs, we were definitely thinking more along the lines of bands like Massacre, Autopsy and Celtic Frost.  Those are the bands that I think we really sound like.

The obvious theme on the album is war but you get into WWII and not the current crisis in the Middle East.  Was there a reason for this?

It’s probably because we are European and we are much more intrigued with WWII here.  Martin wrote the lyrics and he’s always been interested in the historical aspect of it.  He has read many books and collected DVDs about WWII.  He’s always wanted to do a concept album about it so this was a great chance for him to do it.  The lyrics fit the music so perfectly. 

I love how the whole CD packaging captures the lyrical themes giving you a total experience. 

Yeah man!  It’s too bad you guys in the States don’t get the Digipak.  Metal Blade did a great job with it!  A tank pops up when you open the packaging!

You guys have so many years of experience, was it tough getting all the egos in check in the studio and when you were writing the material?

It was actually really easy when we were writing the music.  I thought Ed, the drummer, was going to be tough to get in the studio because of his schedule with Gorefest.  He actually turned out to be great to work with!  He plays guitar too and he came in with all these great riffs and song ideas right away.  He ended up writing about 50% of the songs on the album.  The studio went smoothly too.  We’ve all had so much experience so we know what to do once we’re in there.

Can we expect any surprises when we see you live like maybe a Pestilence or Thanatos song?

There will be no songs from any of our other past or current bands.  We did talk about possibly doing an old Pestilence song but once we saw that Patrick Mamam (he tries to pronounce Patrick Mameli’s last name) or however you pronounce it, was getting a new Pestilence together, we figured there was no point really.  We are probably going to throw in a couple of covers just because we don’t have enough stuff for a headlining set.

Can fans expect a tour from Hail of Bullets in the near future?

Right now we don’t have any set plans on hitting the States but we would love to if there is a demand.  At this point, we don’t really want to do long tours.  We’ll go out for maybe a week or so at a time at this point.  We would love to play some death metal festivals in the summer and fall.  America could happen but I guess we’ll have to see how the album sells there first.

I know you mentioned you had kids.  Are they into metal at all?

My daughter likes a lot of different types of music but she’s been getting into heavier stuff lately.  She is 12 so she likes stuff like Shakira but she’s really into Iron Maiden and Rammstein too.  I think she’ll get into the brutal stuff too!

Which metal album had the most impact on you early in your life?

Well, for music in general, I would have to say Destroyer from Kiss really got me going.  I know Patrick is also a big Kiss fan so they were important.  In terms of metal it was definitely Venom’s Welcome to Hell.  That album made me feel like it was possible to actually play in a band.  It was so heavy and straight forward.  Iron Maiden and stuff like that seemed so impossible to do.  Venom really made me want to be in a band.

By Carlos Ramirez

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If you are reading this and you are fan of Entombed, crust and hardcore. Trap Them might be your favorite new band! The Seattle/New Hampshire/Massachusetts based band fuses together all of the aforementioned elements and the results are stunning. The proof is found on their Séance Prime EP which the folks at Deathwish Inc. released in late 2007. To keep fans satisfied until the release of their next full-length, the band have just released a split 7” with UK grindcore godfathers, Extreme Noise Terror. SMN News recently spoke with Trap Them vocalist, Ryan McKenney about the band’s history and their love for classic Entombed!

When you first truly discovered your love for music as a kid, which bands did you really fall for first?

My early favorites were bands I saw in and around the Boston area. I loved Wrecking Crew, Slapshot, Only Living Witness, etc and then I dove deeper and dirtier and fell for bands like Discharge, Napalm Death, Godflesh. Swans was the band that really changed the way I looked at and felt about music.

So the obvious thing about Trap Them would be the sonic similarities between you and classic Entombed. Was this a conscious thing?

Fuck yeah! The sunlight sound is THE sound. I think it was a conscious decision from the start to wear our influences on our sleeve without making ourselves complete doppelgangers.

The material on Séance Prime is more death metal than anything you’ve done before but it also has an almost rock-n-roll feel to it. Do you see yourselves exploring these aspects even further on the next full-length?

We enjoy our d-beats more than our blast beats at this point. With the thousands of grind bands out there, the world has enough blast beats. And honestly, after the new Rotten Sound LP, Cycles, it’s almost pointless to make a record at hyperspeed because that band made a masterpiece that is pretty damn close to untouchable. So to directly answer the question, yes, the new LP will bring rock chocked full of dirt.

“Pulse Mavens” is a bastard of a song! Can you talk about the lyrical stuff going on in that particular track?

I can’t really break the pieces down into separate themes or soapbox banners. Each song has no specific subject. They all deal with everyday desperation, depression and sadism. In other words, we are fucked!

The energy on that song and really, the rest of the newer material is really exciting. It’s like the classic Sunlight Studios (Necrophobic, General Surgery) stuff but livelier. How did Kurt (Ballou, producer of Séance Prime) set you up in the studio to help you achieve such a vibrant recording?

Kurt knew exactly what sound we were going for. Brian (Izzi, guitarist and songwriter) and Kurt spent as much time as needed to concrete the exact tone and feel to replicate what Brian felt was the necessary sound for the music we were making. It’s taken him a few years to piece together his distorted puzzle, but I can speak for all of us when I say it was worth the effort.

You have a new split with Extreme Noise Terror out now and you are going out with Disfear. Do you feel like you have more in common, stylistically, with bands like that than with some of the more straight-up hardcore bands you often share bills with?

We absolutely feel closer to bands such as Disfear and ENT than to most hardcore bands. It has nothing to do with a dislike of hardcore. Most of us, in the band, grew up listening to the genre, but I personally always leaned towards the heavier, dirtier side of music and a lot of the bands didn’t make me feel the same as when I dropped a needle on a crust or punk record. Brian grew up on lots and lots of metal. He was tape trading black metal demos and going to see Entombed back in the late 80’s/ early 90’s. This was what heavy music was to him. I loved punk. I loved crust. So between the two separate paths of music we traveled, we found a common ground, dove into our respective pasts and created the band we’ve always wanted to create.

Who do you consider your contemporaries in terms of sound and vision?

I can tell you bands we collectively enjoy, respect and love working with Rotten Sound, Disfear, Victims, Converge, ENT, Coliseum, and Cursed. There are a lot more. We love what we do and appreciate any bands that feel the same about what they do.

How do you maintain a touring lifestyle financially? How hard is it on you, emotionally speaking? Does the strain wear on you?

You end up selling off alot of your shit to pay rent, bills, etc. Sometimes you luck out and come home with enough to pay for a few things. We’ve all downsized our lives in order to be ready and willing to tour at any moment and there’s nothing that will get in our way. Of course, there are moments when shit gets heavy, but if everything in your life is gravy, you shouldn’t be playing this type of music to begin with.

What kinds of things are you going to get into thematically on the next album?

A little town called Barren Praise….and dead men walking.

Left Hand Path or Clandestine?

Clandestine. This opinion may not reflect the opinion of the rest of the band, but I’m the one doing the interview, so it looks like I get to call this shot.

By Carlos Ramirez

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Forget the countless foreign bands flying over for their rare or one time U.S. appearances, if you want to know the one band you shouldn’t miss at this year’s Maryland Deathfest…it’s New York City’s BEHOLD…THE ARCTOPUS. Easily one of the most talented and original bands in the metal scene today, they’re sure to make their mark on this year’s festival. Warr guitarist Colin Marston was kind enough to answer a few of our questions, so be sure to return the favor and check out their set on Saturday, May 24th at 4:10pm. You wont want to miss it!

For those unfamiliar with Behold…The Arctopus, how would you describe yourself?

Heavy metal

Why did you decide to accept a spot on this year’s Maryland Deathfest?

Never played a metal fest before.

With so many bands performing, what do you think sets you apart from the others, and why should people make sure to check out your set?

We have more strings and less vocals than any other band at the fest.

What other band on MDF are you most excited to see?

Martyr!!!

Should Genghis Tron replace Waco Jesus?

Genghis Tron should be president.

What’s shittier, Baltimore or Brooklyn?

Baltimore. Oh yeah, Baltimore.

Why are there so few good NYC metal bands?

I DONT KNOW!

What is your set list looking like for the show, and are you going to do anything special?

Yes. Secret 80’s thrash cover. Sing-along required.

Are you secretly glad that Sleep Terror dropped off?

um…

How do you think the death metal/grindcore fans will react to your set?

With fists.

If you could pick one band to play next year’s MDF, who would it be?

Behold…The Arctopus.

Are you going to drug Ryan and Evan so that you can get Blotted Science or Dysrhythmia on the festival next year?

We wont have to drug them. I’m a debate team champion.

Are you cooler than Electro Quarterstaff?

Of course.

Would you trade in your tour with Intronaut for a higher spot on the lineup?

No.

Any final words for our readers?

Drudkh!!!

www.myspace.com/beholdthearctopus

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New York City grinders DEFEATIST continue to prove that the NY metal scene is actually capable of producing something worthwhile every now and then. Guitarist/vocalist Aaron Nichols took the time to answer a few of our questions about the band’s return to the Maryland Deathfest, after opening last year’s pre-show. Going on at 1:05pm on Saturday, May 24th, the band is sure to set the bar high for the rest of the day.

For those unfamiliar with Defeatist, how would you describe yourself?

Bad vibes. Upset stomachs. Repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

Why did you decide to accept a spot on this year’s Maryland Deathfest?

Must be our love of playing on stages and barricades.

With so many bands performing, what do you think sets you apart from the others, and why should people make sure to check out your set?

This will be our first show in 6 months. Everyone loves to watch a train wreck.

What other bands on MDF are you most excited to see?

Not so much bands, but I’m looking forward to catching up with friends from around the country who can come out. Repulsion will be nice.

Would you considering locking Behold…The Arctopus in a closet so you could win best NYC band on the festival?

They can’t make a closet big enough to make us look good.

What is your set list looking like for the show, and are you going to do anything special?

Mixing in 6-7 new songs we’ve never played live before. It will be a mess.

If The Locust or Daughters were added to festival, would you kick their ass?

Did they say something about your mother?

What’s shittier, Baltimore or Brooklyn?

Are there trust fund hipsters in Baltimore?

If you could pick one band to play next year’s MDF, who would it be?

Neil Hamburger.

Is it going to suck going on at 1:05pm? Wouldn’t you be rather getting pancakes or something?

I would always rather get pancakes.

Are Agathocles too cool to play MDF?

I don’t know the code.

How much alcohol do you think you will consume over the weekend?

Enough to make me forget.

Do you secretly think you’re cooler than ASRA?

Have you seen their new promo photos?

Have you ever contemplated started a New York GrindCore club where you could make vests with matching patches?

Would there be meetings?

Why is there so much grind on a DEATHfest?

Have you ever seen the rider for a death metal band?

Do you have any new material coming out?

We have a lot of new material but haven’t been able to find a recording studio we can afford yet.

Any final words for our readers?

It gets worse.

www.myspace.com/defeatistgrind

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Guitarist/vocalist Pat Howe of up-and-coming Swedish grinders AFGRUND answered some of our questions about the band’s upcoming appearance at the Maryland Deathfest. Sure to be a highlight of the festival, and one of the most promising new grind bands around, make sure to check them out at 6pm on Friday, May 23rd, because you’ll feel like a loser if you miss one of the most talked about bands of the show!

For those unfamiliar with Afgrund, how would you describe yourself?

A multinational grindcore d-beat punk band (we’re swedish, half english/half czech, finnish and italian) based in Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland.

Why did you decide to accept a spot on this year’s Maryland Deathfest?

Because it’s a cool fest presenting a lot of good bands and also to make a tour out of our US-visit.

With so many bands performing, what do you think sets you apart from the others, and why should people make sure to check out your set?

Well…I guess we like to think we’re pretty intense live and on stage or at least we try to be. We blend a lot of fast grind with d-beat punk and hardcore influences, I guess there might be some death metal in there too. We also scream our asses off. So if you like the sound of that, come see us live!

What other bands on MDF are you most excited to see?

Repulsion and probably Fuck…I’m Dead, Disfear will be cool too.

What is your set list looking like for the show, and are you going to do anything special?

Not that I know of at the moment, it’ll probably be a blend of songs from both our album and split album, maybe we’ll throw in a cover song there too.

If you could pick one band to play next year’s MDF, who would it be?

Our Swedish friends The Arson Project who had to cancel their show at MDF this year, they are easily one of the best grind bands I’ve both seen and heard this last year. Also Dr. Doom from Holland, fucking great grind band, tight and innovative as hell!

Who is better, Repulsion or Nasum?

That question needs to be defined better, Repulsion are better in their way because they’re a great influence to a lot of grind bands today, probably even Nasum. Nasum are however better to me personally as I prefer to listen to them and have been more influenced by them.

Disfear or At The Gates?

At The Gates easily! “Slaughter of the Soul” is one of my all-time favorite metal albums! However Disfear’s new album “Live The Storm” is fucking great too!

How much alcohol do you think you will consume over the weekend?

Too much to remember! I hope!

Why are there so many amazing grindcore and death metal bands from Sweden?

No idea, frustration over being surrounded by so many beautiful women? I guess that makes us play fast, and faster. Oh and the Scandinavian darkness!

Are In Flames an embarassment?

Who?

Are you going to try and fuck an American woman on your trip, or are they too annoying/ugly?

Well I’m single and not gay so you never know! However I haven’t met all American women yet but I’ll definitely try to avoid the annoying and ugly ones!

Any final words for our readers?

Erhm….come to our shows, buy our merch and CDs so we can pay for our flights over, our rental car and gas! Oh and beer! Or just give us beer too! Cheers! Oh yeah, check us out at MySpace too if you haven’t already!

www.afgrund.com
www.myspace.com/avgrund

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Guitarist Takuma Sugano of Japanese death metallers INFECTED MALIGNITY answered a few of our questions about their highly anticipated set at this year’s Maryland Deathfest. They go on at 1:05pm on Sunday, May 25th, so get there early and see how the crowd reacts to their newer/less br00tal material.

For those unfamiliar with Infected Malignity, how would you describe yourself?

We are most extreme tech-death metal band coming from Asia. We’ve released 1 full-length CD and recently we’ve released mini CD entitled RE:BEL on Canadian cult labal Galy Records and British extreme metal label Anticulture Records.

What’s more brutal, ‘The Malignity Born From Despair’ or Godzilla?

Maybe Godzilla…haha.

Why did you decide to accept a spot on this year’s Maryland Deathfest?

Galy Records suggested us to play the fest and our friends Vomit Remnants played at the fest in 2004 and I heard it was awesome so I decide to go.

With so many bands performing, what do you think sets you apart from the others, and why should people make sure to check out your set?

We will just play our show. I don’t care about it so much.

What would be more important to you…playing MDF or doubling the number of MySpace friends you have?

Both!! haha

What other bands on MDF are you most excited to see?

All bands. Especially I’m looking forward to see Dying Fetus.

What is your set list looking like for the show, and are you going to do anything special?

Nothing special. We’re gonna play all songs from our latest CD and few song from our first album.

How do you think the crowd will react to your newer material?

It’s not a big deal for me. Whatever.

Is this your first time performing/going to the U.S., and if so, are you looking forward to finally playing to an American audience?

Of course, I am looking forward to playing!

If you could pick one band to play next year’s MDF, who would it be?

INFECTED MALIGNITY!! haha

Who would win in a fight, Unholy Grave or Zombie Ritual?

I don’t know…Whichever.

Why do you think there are so many great death metal and grindcore bands from Japan?

A lot of people has asked me about it, but I don’t know.

Do you own any Melt-Banana CDs?

I don’t have any their CD. I’ll check out someday.

Any final words for our readers?

Thanks for reading my boring answers! See you at the MDF and check out our new EP and MySpace page!

www.myspace.com/infectedmalignity

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Guitarist/Vocalist Paulo of New York City death metallers COPREMESIS stopped dressing up like Zoidberg and posting on the Relapse forum long enough to answer a few of our questions, and to tell you why it’s worth getting out of bed after a night of drinking to see them at this year’s Maryland Deathfest. They go on at 12:25pm on Sunday, May 25th, so don’t forget to set your alarm.

For those unfamiliar with Copremesis, how would you describe yourself?

The most brutal sexual assault to your senses. Turning heteros into full blown aids ridden homosexuals. Losing anal virginity by charming you with our cute winkles and huggles, but done with class. We look you in the eyes, touch your face tenderly, caress your buttocks, insert ourselves into the anal cavity and when you squirm, we ask you “Does it hurt? Want me to lube it? It’ll be over soon, baby.”

Just like in the Beautilful Boxer.

You have a new album coming out called Muay Thai Ladyboys, what can we expect from it and when will it be released?

It will be the most disappointing hyped up polished turd. Ever. Hopefully should be out in May 20th or around MDF. The album is basically bringing class to the death/grind community. Class like top hats, extended pinkys, earl grey teas, and slavery. Yes, slavery. We’re bring that shit back in town. Sonically forcing every porch monkeys and nig nogs to vote for Hilary Clinton. Pure Grade A class. Trigger clicky kicks. Inhales. Crickets. Seductive whisphers. Sing alongs. Stolen riffs from every awesome band [Amorphis, Malignancy, Cock and Ball Torture, Immolation, the list goes on and on].

There’s a couple of guest appearances on the album, like Will from Biolich and Danny from Malignancy, how drunk did you get them so that they would agree to appear on a Copremesis album?

Its called FELATIO, my dearest friend. FELATIO. It gets us anywhere and everywhere. Another felated guest appearance is this slutbag Erik Undzius, he originally did our logos and he does vocals for several bands like Gorged Afterbirth [who we were supposed to tour with post-MDF but that fell through…sorry, our jaws were tired and hurting around this time].

Why did you decide to accept a spot on this year’s Maryland Deathfest, and whose dick did you suck to get the offer?

We’ve always asked to play in MDF and we even tried blowing Ryan and Evan but they’re immune to the offer. So we had to chloroform their asses, pull down their pants, suck on their nubs, film it and use it as black mail. Of course they deny this event ever happened but who’s got the footage? WE DO. Pure absolute class.

With so many bands performing, what do you think sets you apart from the others, and why should people make sure to check out your set?

Virgins. We are the piped piper for virgins, they will check us out because we will get them laid. Not hetero laid, but homo ass-pillaging laid. That’s if they’re that desperate which EVERY METAL HEADs ARE.

What other band/s on MDF are you most excited to see?

Afgrund [HM-2 madness], Waco Jesus, Defeatist, Behold…The Arctopus, Engorged, SCD [FREE HUGS FOR EVERYONE!!!], TDEBN, Gadget, Defeated Sanity, Ghoul [always brings the fucking mosh], Fuck…I’m Dead [w. a real drummer?! AHHH FUCK!], Coffins, Ingrowing [Represent CZECH!!!], Flesh Parade [really curious on how the new singer is, that’s some mighty shoes to fill], Anaal Nathrakh [honestly, this will be a biggest pain in ass because I’ll probably be assed out during their set and we’ll have to open the next day], CODC [ALL HAIL JOE’s RETURN!!!] and the MOTHERFUCKIN’ SQUASH BOWELS!!!!!

What is your set list looking like for the show, and are you going to do anything special?

Personally, I love being the opening act, because we have to fight for people’s attention and gain some respect. When we played the pre-fest, I got kicked out of my house, because of what I did at the show. You can expect nothing less. Even though we suck in recording, to no fucking ego, we deliver live. We will make sure everyone who was there will remember us and those who couldn’t make it, regret for missing us.

Are you scared of TorsoFuck?

Psssh, please….those arms are nothing when I wrap my dick around it. Them boys are gonna get raped with my pinky.

If you had to, would you rather make out with (festival promoters) Ryan or Evan?

Ryan, he looks more feminine. He’s actually a twink. More fragile. Someone you can look deep in the eyes and say “I’m here for you” while your piping that shit. And he looks like he cries during sex. I like that.

If you could pick one band to play next year’s MDF, who would it be?

non-existent: Human Remains
still around: Andrew WK., Viscera Infest

On a scale from 1 to 10, how much of a shit hole is Baltimore?

5. It’s not that bad, there’s a whole street of strippers, pimps and all that stuff. YES, I WANT TO TOUCH BEEF. And GAY ST.

Why is there so much grind on a DEATHfest?

Cuz too many death metal bands die in a deathfest. RIP, Always remember. *EAGLE TEARS*

Is it depressing at all that you have to go on before the new metalcore version of Infected Malignity?

I don’t mind it, like I said before, I’d rather open. its already honor that we are playing in this fest. A lot of bands envy us for being able to play this gig. Those who pass up this opportunity is a fool [you know who you are]. And I like metalcore, so I don’t mind their new stuff, it’s actually better than their straight up DM material they had.

Why does the New York City death metal scene suck so badly, to the extent that even Baltimore is better?

Every time someone mentions NYDM, they instantly think Suffocation, slam bands or reverse mental torture. People forget that Immolation is from here, Malignancy [I know you hate them but we love them with every being of our fiber!!!]. It sucks that BIOLiCH are no more but shit happens, they were our brother band.

Problem is that NY Metalheads are probably the most jaded people ever [I fall under this category too], long gone are the punk ethics of DIY, cheap shows, etc. There was a huge community when I first gotten into DM [i.e. Castle Heights, Coney Island High, CBGBs]. Now, the majority of the scene has weird clicks and it kinda dissolved the community. There’s a couple clicks who I don’t agree with their ideals but as long as they don’t bother me, we’re chill.

There’s definately a good scene, you just have to put your ear on the ground and listen. There are many humble people that aren’t in the spotlight yet, you will know when their time have arrived. And they’re slowly creeping up and they have that grind/punk’s work-ethic mentality, bands like Asra, Defeatist, Buckshot Facelift, Leader, The Communion, Castevet, etc. Everything is in cycles. There is hope.

Any final words for our readers?

This is going to sound cliche, but life is short. Enjoy what you have, start appreciating what you have, tell your mom and pop you love them. Tell that girl that you are mad about her and you have the biggest crush on her. She might like you back, or not. Chances are that you TOLD her that you like her and she WILL smile. Remember that there are other people out there that have it worse than you. Difficult times are coming ahead.

And oh yeah, pick up our cd Muay Thai Ladyboys when it comes out from our home boys PARAGON RECORDS.

Watch out for an upcoming split 7″ with Buckshot Facelift [w/ ex member of BIOLiCH] and a 3 way CD split with Gorged Afterbirth [PA] and Cesspool [TX].

We are the under dogs, we are the ladyboys, we are here to humble you.

www.copremesis.net
www.myspace.com/copremesis

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Guitarist/vocalist Chris Montez of Indiana grinders DECRYPT answered some of our questions about the band’s upcoming appearance at this year’s Maryland Deathfest. They open Saturday, May 24th’s show at 12:25pm, so make sure you get there early and check them out!

For those unfamiliar with Decrypt, how would you describe yourself?

Decrypt is a non-stop grind assault mixing influences from all types of bands and genres. Grinding hard for 8 plus years making the music we love to do…fast and chaotic with a big fuck you feel to it.

Do you have, or are you working on, any new material?

We are planning on recording another album after these fests pass…so hopefully by June we should start working on the recordings. We have most of the songs we need to make it a great release but working on more. Other than that all of our previous albums have been buried by a bad record label, but we have a 2000 demo “Transmissions From The Fuckhole,” a 2003 full length “Holy Erotic Rapture,” and a 60 minute split with shit grinders STUMP entitled “Armageddon Anthems.” But be prepared for some new and old shit at the fest!!

Why did you decide to accept a spot on this year’s Maryland Deathfest, and whose dick did you suck to get the offer?

Accepting was not a question!!! I have been asking Ryan and Evan to have Decrypt as part of MDF since 2003 and have attended almost every year…and I have sucked a lot of dick in my time, so I am not quite sure which was the right one to receive this honor…

With so many bands performing, what do you think sets you apart from the others, and why should people make sure to check out your set?

Not sure what set us apart because fuck man!! this line up is intense and a lot of bands that heavily influenced Decrypt playing as every year seems to be exactly what I want to see, but we intend on fucking destroying and setting the bar for what is in store for the rest of the fest. We have never played the East Coast yet and are looking forward to getting out there to our fans that have not got to see us yet.

What would be more important to you…playing MDF or doubling the number of MySpace friends you have?

That is pretty funny…playing MDF has been a dream I am pretty sure before MySpace was ever invented…going to supremebrutality.com to link up to the MDF page…So I am definately going to say playing MDF. I could care less about plays, I want people to hear us and steal/download/share/burn our shit, as long as they are jamming some Decrypt shit, it means the world to us. For the most part, MySpace is very helpful for hearing a band with a click, but it is overloaded with overnight sensations because 1000 people listened to their song last night and get record deals off that shit, which is a pile of bullshit. Anybody and everybody has a band now since the birth of MySpace, but 90% can suck a fat dick.

What other bands on MDF are you most excited to see?

First and foremost, BLOOD DUSTER!!!! That is the most amazing thing to come to the States, well since Birdflesh. Ingrowing!! a miracle that they are grind the U.S. Other than that which I am going to get to see 2 weeks in a row b/c they are playing the Midwest Fuckfest the weekend before, Circle of Dead Children, Afgrund, Sublime Cadaveric Decomposition, Fuck…I’m Dead, The Day Everything Became Nothing, and Waco Jesus…haha man this list continues!! Japanische Kampfhorspiele, Gadget, and well might as well just visit MDF’s site because I am there for all of them.

What is your set list looking like for the show, and are you going to do anything special?

We only have 20-25 minutes and it is early as fuck…it will be the earliest any of us have even touched our instruments, but we are going to play some old shit from all of our albums and some brand new songs never heard before…but some of our songs are 4-5 minutes of straight grind, so that limits how many we can play.

Are you scared of TorsoFuck?

Petrified!!!! in the pants….

Are you scared of Baltimore?

Been there multiple times for the same reason…and by the end of the night I will probably be passed out in the alley with all the bums. Hopefully I will get some bum pussy…

If you had to, would you rather make out with (festival promoters) Ryan or Evan?

Well only if the bum pussy plan falls through. I will make my way to their place for a gang bang. I am not much of a foreplay kinda guy, but both of them deserve to make love to everybody in attendance’s throat… so BYOL: bring your own lube!!!!

If you could pick one band to play next year’s MDF, who would it be?

I could go forever with this list…most have been fulfilled in previous MDF’s but some that haven’t got on this shit would be Mumakil, Pigsty, Kronos, Benighted, BloodBath, Rick Astley, Infest Dead, Peter Cetera, A New Kids of the Block reunion is a must or I could settle for a Vomit Spawn reunion….Groinchurn, Maruta, Moistened Disciples, and bring back Birdflesh!!!

How br00tal can a band be at 12:30 in the afternoon?

We are going to be hung over as fuck and trying to get back to being drunk as fuck for breakfast to bring it like it is meant to be brought…well after I clean off the bum pussy…but you can’t have drunken ass beating grind without the drunken. I was sad to see that we were playing so early but still an honor…but we plan on fucking people up, talking shit to people, and as said before setting that bar…

How much alcohol do you think you will consume over the weekend?

Well I know I will have at least a half gallon of Barcardi Gold per day…but that is just the warm up. I am sure you will see us stumbling through the pit for the most part of the night.

Will you be broke by the end of the weekend after spending too much money on merch?

Usually am…every year I try to bring so much money but end up being broke by Friday night. All that booze and merch is not cheap. At least I already have most of these bands CD’s and some gear from them and Midwest Fuckfest is going to pre-break my pocket.

Any final words for our readers?

Thanks for reading this and support the true underground. Go to the fest, buy the bands’ shit, and make all these fucks feel at home at MDF. Check out our page, so you can get a taste of what is in store for you…not too many people have gotten around to hearing the Decrypt shit but I am hoping after 8 years people will start recognizing what true U.S. grind is. Thanks to you guys at SMN for the time and mainly thanks to Ryan and Evan for making all this possible year after year…much respect.

Decrypt:
www.myspace.com/decrypt

Moistened Disciples (featuring members of Decrypt):
www.myspace.com/moisteneddisciples

Midwest Fuckfest:
www.myspace.com/midwestfuckfest
May 16th and 17th at The Rave Bar in Milwaukee, WI

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