America's Eastside have been famous throughout the years for exposing some of the greatest, brutal metal bands to ever exist. Bands such as Deicide and Cannibal Corpse have received acclaim all over the world and have paved the road to which many death metal bands have followed down since! Most recently emerging from the swamps of southern Florida in 2005, members Brian Magley, Kevin Gibbons and Brian Werner created a band with the intention of unleashing an original version of underground metal, combining the proven styling of Floridian death metal with the symphonic approach of European-style black metal. Infernaeon recently released their debut full length album 'A symphony of Suffering' leaving critics and metal fans floored with their ravishing masterpieces 'March of Death' and 'Shades of Obscurity', just two of the albums energetic and fresh metal pounding tracks. Infernaeon who are gearing up to tour with Speed/Kill/Hate have already taken the United States by storm and are now ready for world domination. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with both the bands vocalist Brian Werner and guitarist Brian Magley. We spoke about the making of 'A Symphony of Suffering', touring, line-up changes and much more. Its time for the 'Oracle of Armageddon' with Infernaeon... Metal Fanatix: Hi Guys, how are you both? Brian Magley: Can't complain. Brian Werner: Hanging out smoking some of Florida's finest green if you get my drift. Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Yeah, sure do mate! Firstly I want to congratulate you guys on the release of your debut album ‘A Symphony of Suffering’! What a fantastic debut! Now that the album has been finished is there anything you would have liked to have changed? Brian Magley: Not really. I think that, as a whole, the album captured what the band was going for. At the time of recording, it was probably the most symphonically brutal sound that we could have hoped to put on tape. In the end once it was finished, it came out to be this disgustingly heavy, intense journey through the depths of the twisted monster that is Infernaeon. So no, I wouldn't change a thing. Brian Werner: Yeah I agree, we couldn't have imagined it would have turned out like this, looking back from before we went into the studio we knew what we wanted to do but weren’t sure how the outcome would be. Needless to say we are fucking stoked. Metal Fanatix: I really enjoyed listening to the new album and believe there were some line-up changes during recording? Brian Werner: We had some member problems and actually fired three people in the course of recording. People we thought were capable but in the end they just couldn't hang. We decided to do it without their help and found competent musicians to fill their slots; who we are now totally happy with. Metal Fanatix: When you prepare to do a new album such as ‘A Symphony of Suffering’ what comes first the lyrics or the music? And what different factors surrounded writing the material for this album? Brian Werner: I usually let these guys take care of the music first and slack off until it's done. I actually wrote "Embodiment of Sin" and "Sleeping God" in the car on the way to the studio...Just let the power of Satan flow through me into the lyrics. I was very happy in the end result. We’re are going to approach things a little differently for the next one. Brian Magley: Yeah, It really has to do with the theme of the track. Before we write any music or lyrics, there has to be a central outline or storyboard to solidify the continuity of the song. That way each song becomes its own individual entity. Decipherable to the human ear! Metal Fanatix: Some people may not be aware that there are a couple of very well known guests that also appear on the album, how did Keith DeVito (Suffocation, Obituary) and Ben Falgoust (Soilent Green, Goatwhore) become involved with Infernaeon? Brian Werner: Well Keith was my vocal mentor and one of my best friends since he was in Pyrexia. Keith has always been a huge inspiration. When we went to record I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather have sing with me. Ben has also been a really close friend for sometime. He has crashed at my house a ton of times with both Soilent Green and Goatwhore he happened to be in town with Soilent Green when we were recording and he was more than happy to do it. Metal Fanatix: The legendary Erik Rutan who has worked with Morbid Angel, Ripping Corpse and Hate Eternal mastered the new album, you guys must have been thrilled to have him come in on the album! Brian Werner: Yeah man, my boss at work sold Erik a bunch of ENGL guitar amps for his studio and saved him a ton of cash. When Erik and I ran into him here in Lauderdale, I told him we needed it mastered and had very little cash so he did me a personal favor and mastered it for $200 and you can't fucking beat that. Metal Fanatix: Yeah mate, that is pretty cool! I love the artwork you guys have used on the cover, who came up with the concept?
Brian Werner: We like using only one artist for all of our shit. I think it gives the band a consistent image. You know what an Iced Earth record is going to look like, you know what I mean? We want to have an atmosphere that is all our own and Dean understands our music and comes up with ideas for us before we even tell him what to do and we are always in agreement on everything he fucking rules. Metal Fanatix: How has the response been to it from the fans and the media? Brian Magley: So far the response from the metal community has been great. From what I’ve heard and read so far, both the fans and the media love it. Metal Fanatix: In a few words can you tell us the first thing that comes to mind when I mention the following tracks from the new album: Brian Werner: Embodiment of Sin: This tune is about one of my favorite authors, The Marquis de Sade. If you don't know who he is you need to do some research. The song is just a chronicle of his life and the beautiful misery he put innocent people through I love it. March of Death: This is the second song in the "Oracle of Armageddon" trilogy about the victims of the first song returning to life to take revenge against the armies of the Oracle. Shades of Obscurity: This is just the precursor to the oncoming darkness that awaits in the rest of the CD, a foreshadowing if you will. Sleeping God: My favorite This song is about an entity that is older than anything humanity has ever heard of, who awakes to a right-handed plague and is fucking pissed. Metal Fanatix: Using only five words: How would you describe ‘A Symphony of Suffering’? Brian Magley: Brutal Symphonic Satanic American Metal. Metal Fanatix: Brian, no doubt after listening to the new album that you are a fantastic guitarist, what equipment did you use on the album? Brian Magley: I recorded most of the album with my Gibson Les Paul Studio running through a Mesa Boogie Dual Recto. The half back cab, miked with a Royer R 122 really brought out a lot of the crunch on the album. Really a fantastic rig. Metal Fanatix: I know you guys are gearing up to hit the road, have any dates been confirmed at this stage? Brian Werner: We are heading out with Speed Kill Hate in May, which is Dave Linsk from Overkill's other band, fucking amazing especially if you love thrash metal. We are also working on a tour with Year of Desolation who another prosthetic band that is really fucking talented. Metal Fanatix: If you could pick any band to hit the road with, who would it be? Brian Magley: Dimmu Borgir. Brian Werner: Mercyful Fate or King Diamond Metal Fanatix: For the metal fans who haven’t seen you live as of yet, describe what the band are like live! Brian Magley: Well due to the money drought spreading through all of Middle America, we won’t be doing all of the pyrotechnic stuff that we wanted. We were hoping to get some live stunts in during the set too, but we had to nix that as well. What I was most upset about, and pushing for the most, was the 250 piece orchestra and circus performers that we were promised. Oh well shit happens. Other than that, we go fucking nuts, plain and simple. Brian Werner: We have a whole live show engineered around the album which includes on stage black magic and theatrical murder but due to man power on the road (it takes a bunch of extra hands to pull off) we are still working on the logistics of doing on the road. Locally it's no problem, we have plenty of whores we can kill on stage.
Brian Magley: Nothing, I blocked that memory out along time ago. Metal Fanatix: What's the strangest/funniest thing that has ever happened to you on stage? Brian Werner: When I was in Monstrosity we played in South Carolina and a fan was in the front banging his head and his head came up as mine was coming down and I fucking knocked him clean out. I had a huge fucking black eye instantly...that was rough. Then there was the time me and Sam were still in Monstrosity and were playing in front of a big crowd in Austria and Lee (drummer) got pissed he got hit with a beer and walked off stage and left us standing up on stage for about fifteen minutes looking like a bunch of assholes, that was pretty fucking weird having a couple hundred people staring at you and looking around at everyone one in your band and everyone didn't know what to fucking do. Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Do you guys do anything specific to warm up and prepare for a show? Brian Magley: I always try to warm up for at least an hour before we play. I also make sure that I stretch and keep relaxed until its time to go out and brutalize the fans. Brian Werner: Virgin sacrifice, pound of weed, couple of sluts, four beers and a shot of Jack Daniels Metal Fanatix: You guys have shared the stage with some great bands such as Malevolent Creation and Vile, who have you enjoyed touring with the most and can you share a story from the tour? Brian Werner: To be honest we have yet to do a full tour, most of the shows with those guys have just been here in Florida. There was this one time me and Sam were in Germany and some chick was in our dressing room hanging out. Well, her boyfriend saw her and charged in the room and hit Sam with the door then he yelled, "What are you doing in here?" and Sam yelled at the top of his lungs, "She’s getting Fucked!" you should have seen the look on that guys face it was fucking hilarious. Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] Oh yeah, that would have been priceless! What’s the craziest rumor you had ever heard about yourself and or the band? Brian Werner: There are plenty about me how I kidnap children for blood rituals or that I'm related to Marilyn Manson because we are both from Ft. Lauderdale and his name is Brian Warner and mine is Brian Werner - big fucking deal, he's a faggot and I should beat his ass in the name of Satanists everywhere. Metal Fanatix: Guys, fill us in a little more about yourselves, do you come from a musical background? Brian Werner: Yes my whole family were musicians. I was forced into music at a very young age and now my family hates what became of it. Brian Magley: My grandmother was an incredible piano player, and my father played the accordion for a while, but other than that, it was really my interest and my desire to play music that started me on the guitar. Metal Fanatix: What have your parents thought about the music you played? Brian Magley: I come from a predominantly Christian family so my parents don't necessarily enjoy or approve of the music I play, but they are very supportive. Brian Werner: My family are a bunch of pieces of shit. I was adopted, then abandoned and was forced to be homeless when I was fourteen. I turned my life around on my own and never needed shit from them. So fuck them, I'll make them suck my cock in Hell. Metal Fanatix: Brian .M, did you always want to be a guitarist? Brian Magley: For a short while there I was all about playing drums but when I picked up a guitar for the first time, it just felt comfortable. From then on this has been my ultimate goal. Metal Fanatix: There are so many brilliant guitarists, who inspired you to pick up the axe? Brian Magley: Randy Rhoads. Metal Fanatix: Mate, if you were to stop playing tomorrow, what would you be doing? Brian Magley: Nothing. Metal Fanatix: Guys, what do you enjoy doing when you get some spare time? Brian Werner: Video games, occult reading and practicing, working out, guns (I'm a big gun nut), and smoking pot of course is a full time job.
Brian Magley: Practicing with the band. Metal Fanatix: What’s the one album that changed your life? Brian Werner: Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath Brian Magley: Black Sabbath - Paranoid Metal Fanatix: Great selections guys! What are your thoughts on downloading and file sharing? Do you think it hurts artist like yourself or do you look at it as a great way to get your music out to so many more people around the world? Brian Werner: It's hard to say, I mean it's great to get your band out there you know. I'm one of those people who downloads music because there is so much shit out there. Now, if I find a band that I like a lot I will go buy the album to help support them, because I know where they are coming from and I would want someone else to do the same. Bands don't make shit anymore, so if you like the shit you download help the band out a little bit so they can continue to make more great music. Metal Fanatix: Tell us something about the other guys in the band that we may not know! Brian Werner: Sam Molina is the quietest person in the world until he has something absolutely brilliant to say. He'll just sit back and bide his time and then just bust out with the most cleaver shit you ever heard in your life. Metal Fanatix: Are any band members in side projects? If so what are they, and explain a little about them. Brian Magley: I'm involved in a project called Disco Satan. It’s an experimental mix of metal, pummeling breakdowns, and keyboards with psychedelic tendencies. As of now however, Infernaeon is my main and only concern, as it is with the rest of the band. Metal Fanatix: As a relatively new band, what other bands do you think we should keep an eye on in 2007? Brian Werner: Speed Kill Hate for sure. There is this band, Gigan, from Florida which is Randy from Hate Eternal's new band. Those guys are awesome too. Metal Fanatix: What you like to see the band accomplish over the next five years? Brian Magley: I would like to see Infernaeon help carve out a new path for metal. The genre is stuck in one spot, unwilling to change. Too many bands these days are clones of each other. It seems like the same album is released fifty times in one year. I want Infernaeon to be a symbol of radical change in a scene hell-bent on staying the same. Metal Fanatix: Last year Vader were just one of 228 metal bands placed on a list and are now legally banned in Islamic Malaysia, does it surprise you that all these years people are still looking at bands like Vader, Cannibal Corpse, heavy metal in general in such a negative way? Brian Werner: Do we really give a fuck about what our enemies think of us? It suck that it's banned, but I don't waste a fucking second of my life concerned about what these religious fucks think. They are the fucking cancer of this world, they should be more afraid of what we think and more importantly what we will do if they try and keep us down. Metal Fanatix: In your honest opinion what do you think about the direction that hard rock and heavy metal music has taken over the last few years?
Metal Fanatix: [Laughs] mate after that response I can’t wait to hear this answer [laughs]. What is the one band you never want to hear again and why? Brian Magley: Metallica. Because of musical atrocities such as, The Black Album, Load, Reload, and my all time most despised CD, St. Anger. Brian Werner: Metallica definitely anybody who sues their fans can suck a dick! If it wasn't for your fans you wouldn't be living in that huge house or driving your goddamn Mercedes grow the fuck up. Metal Fanatix: Guys, its been a blast speaking with you both today! I want to thank you again for taking the time out to answer the questions for our readers and wish you all the best with the new album and for the future! Do you have any last words for our readers? Brian Werner: That's about it man we can't wait to come down under and have a blast. I do have to say high to April Ross that chick fucking rules. Make sure you grab your copy of Infernaeonís jaw dropping debut ëA Symphony of Sufferingí where all killer metal albums are sold. To keep up with all the latest Infernaeon news head to the following websites: http://www.infernaeon.com - Official Infernaeon Website http://www.myspace.com/infernaeonoracleofarmageddon - Infernaeon on Myspace http://www.myspace.com/insideout666ints - Inside Out 666 © Cameron Edney April, June 2007 Not to be re-printed in any form without written permission. |
