| 1. How did the band get started? How did you meet
and how long have you been together? Chris Pervelis: Well, we started out in 1991. I met all the original members through the scene, as well as through shows, etc. The main nucleus of the band (me, Brian and Bill) have been together for 8 years and we are still going strong! Its amazing that we havent slaughtered eachother yet. 2. How would you describe your music? Chris Pervelis: The most slam-filled death you’ll ever put yer ears to! I think that is a good description. 3. What are your biggest influences? Chris Pervelis: For me personally, its Black Sabbath-they are my number one prime motivator...I live for the original Sabbath. There are a lot of old hardcore bands like bad posture, agnostic front, token entry who influence me. And you cannot forget yer usual deathmetal influences too- Morbid Angel, Ripping Corpse, Possessed, etc. 4. What influence do you think your bands has in music and metal today? Chris Pervelis: I think we have had a pretty decent influence on many underground bands. There are a lot of bands who have taken our concept of total fucking slam, either wholly or partly, and have done something with it. I don't think we are the world’s most unique band, but I do think we have a sound and approach to deathmetal that is emulated by a lot of different bands. 5. What made you want to be in the band? And if you weren’t in the band what would you be doing now? Chris Pervelis: Every since I was a kid of 4 or 5 and I stood in front of a mirror with a tennis racket air strumming to black sabbath’s vol 4 album I’ve wanted to be in a “heavy” band. If I wasn’t in the band, I’d probably run a zine or a distro. I have always been into the music scene, even before the band. 6. Are any band members in side projects? If so what are they, and explain a little about them. Chris Pervelis: Guy does a hardcore thing called fed-up.Its nothing really big, he just takes all the rejected IB slam riffs and makes songs out of them. Some of it is pretty fucking heavy. 7. How would you feel if a band took their sound from yours and became very well known? Chris Pervelis: Well, I know 1 or 2 bands who have literally lifted our sound (I can actually hear our riffs in their songs!) and have done pretty well with it. It bothers me a little, but you know, there’s plenty of room for everyone, and if those bands are enjoying themselves, and getting good responses, good for them...its only a credit to us. With the new album (out in June) those one or two bands are going to have to play catch-up with us though, because the new shit is way more powerful and diverse than anything we’ve done previously. 8. What current bands do you like or respect? Chris Pervelis: YOU MUST check out DISFIGURED and ENTORTUREMENT they are two bands who really fucking smoke. There is also Lividity, Deaden, Hatebreed, Malevolent Creation, Dying Fetus (GODS!), Ciborium, Gorgasm, Cryptopsy, Dehumanized, Butchery and many others who all get props from me or the fellas in the band cause they are great fucking bands! 9. How many demos/albums do you have? Tell me about them!! Chris Pervelis: Well, we have three demos; “The One Dollar Demo” (1991), “Invocation of Evil” (1992) and “Perpetual Degradation” (1994). We also released “Invo” in a 7” format on 2 record labels. As for albums, we have two: “Voracious Contempt” (1995) and “The Extinction of Benevolence” (1997). Our new album “Driven To Conquer” should be out this June. I think each release has shown a logical growth in our sound. From the simplicity of the One Dollar Demo to the overly heavy handedness of Extinction to the more subtle complexities of the new release. Man, there are songs that are on the One Dollar Demo that are so damn primitive, its almost unreal. I listen to that demo now and I freaking laugh...it was such a joke! I guess its all part of growing though, because with each release we became more and more mature. Its good to look back over the 8 years and see how much we have grown as a band and as individuals. There’s a lot of history on those releases. 10. What demo/album do you like the best? Chris Pervelis: Well, production wise I like “Perpetual Degradation”, but musically, I like “Extinction”. I will say that the new one will have the best of both...Brian Griffin production, plus our strongest material to date. I am so looking forward to it. 11. What is the meaning behind the songs? Chris Pervelis: Well, different songs have different meanings. Most of the topics I usually touch on when I write lyrics are: Self-empowerment, government conspiracy, war (particularly Vietnam), general human misery and suffering. I take my lyric writing very seriously. I think music should not only touch you in a musical sense, but in a lyrical sense as well. here’s a little bit about a few of our songs: “Anointed in Servitude” is about seizing power for yourself and controlling your own destiny. “Humanicide” is about the government playing around with the Ebola virus as well as other biological weapons. “Inhuman Suffering” is a warning to humanity that “you reap what you sow...” So, as you can see our lyrics touch on a lot of topics. 12. What are the bands favorite songs? Chris Pervelis: Well, I think we are really fond of “Genetic Messiah”, “Inhuman Suffering”, “Six Shots in Dallas”, “Driven to Conquer” and “Anointed in Servitude”. These songs seem to show up in our live set quite often, so I would assume they are some of our favorite songs to play. 13. What does the future hold for the band? Chris Pervelis: Getting out on the road with Garth Brooks or Shania Twain....uh that would rule! If we cannot have that, a good metal filled tour will have to do. 14. If you could play with any band who would it be and why? Chris Pervelis: The original Black Sabbath...why? They rule-period. 15. Who writes the majority of the music? Chris Pervelis:Well, its really a team effort. Usually, me and Guy come up with the basic riffs, but we all sit around, add to it and mold it into something that satisfies all of us. Brian will add his bass bits, Bill, his drum shit-and next thing you know, the music comes to life. Thats why I say it is really a team effort. Its really the only way to write, at least in our minds. 16. Who has been the favorite band you’ve played with and why? Chris Pervelis: I think Dying Fetus, cause they are probably one of my favorite deathmetal bands ever, Ripping Corpse (RIP) too because they are also one of my absolute favorite bands also. 17. Where did you get the band name from? Chris Pervelis: I thought we’d be so heavy that our music would cause internal bleeding. I hope its true. 18. Describe what the band is like live? Chris Pervelis: Well, we all get naked and rub ourselves with hot oil, and we dance around singing Bee-Gee’s covers. In all seriousness tho, we like to think we have an energetic live show. I hope that people who pay good money to see us get their hard earned money’s worth. To me, that is the most important thing. 19. If you are gonna do any kind of video what would be in it? Chris Pervelis: lots of war, coupled with screaming horn flashing metalheads! 20. Are there any touring plans made; if so tell me about them? Chris Pervelis: No tour plans yet, but we’re working on something pretty big. Hopefully it will happen. 21. Where do you think the band will be 20 years from now? Chris Pervelis: Probably dead of a horrible bus accident and out of the minds of most people. |
