Demolizer Interview 9/17/2012

Of all the bands which I've received tapes from and traded with over the years, there have been few which truly moisten the loins and perk up the soul like the Motorhead and Bathory influenced Speed Metal Slovakians Demolizer. Fortunately, not only is the band skirting, what I feel, could be breakout success with recent surges of interest in bands like Midnight and Speedwolf, but the two main men behind the unruliness that is apparent on their awesome demo Possessed and their raucous Live Demo are genuine blokes. Amidst all the emails about beer and boozing with both Vrana and Demolator, we pulled ourselves together to get something out to the metal fanatics seeking something to crank during the binge drinking, house parties and all that other metal tomfoolery. Thanks again to my friend, Demolator, for taking a minute to answer some questions.


CT: Demolator, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions about your awesome band Demolizer! Tell me about how Demolizer came to exist back in 2008.

Demolator: Greetings ! Idea of making this band came simply from my fanatical attitude and love to the 80's extreme metal. I started it as a solo project due to lack of musicians around and also to have 100% control of music and band itself. I have decided to learn and play guitars, vocals and other instruments to handle the whole band. Luckily I've found later in 2009 another fanatic - Vrana from my friends Thrash Metal band RADIATION, who absolutely fit in and he joined. And he really knew how to PLAY guitars hehehe. I am still very grateful of him.

CT: Are there simply no musicians in Slovakia or is old school metal just not popular? It seems that early 80's metal is on an upswing in popularity here in the USA.

Demolator: Thats great to hear, you have really great "retro" bands like Toxic Holocaust, Midnight or Steel Panther, I saw that pussies this year and they did very great show !!! But there is also a lot of US bands, that did not catch that 80s feeling, which if you dont have, that tons of great riffs turns into a waste in a moment... Here in Slovakia (and I believe I can say in whole Central/East Europe) Old school Metal is dead at all... Germany, Finland or Sweden have very great bands in this genre, but the rest of Europe seems to have no interest in it anymore... It would be very nice to have bands only like Black Ghost around these time hahaha

CT: When someone asks you about your influences as they relate to Demolizer, what bands do you mention? What bands have had a large impact on the Demolizer sound?

Demolator: I am a total maniac to "1980-1985" era, which is in my opinion absolutely the best Metal could ever offer. To name the most important bands which inspired us are - VENOM, BATHORY, MOTORHEAD,  BLACK SABBATH, DISCHARGE, GBH, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, MERCYFUL FATE. And sound ? We are trying just to sound like a total darkness !!  (which suceeded only on debut album of BATHORY and BLACK SABBATH...)

CT: Tell me about your awesome demo, Possessed. I think it's a classic sounding Speed Metal / Black Metal demo in the vein of Venom and early Sodom. How did you acheive this sound during the recording? Was your intent to create a demo that sounds like it came straight out of the early-mid 80's?


Demolator: Yes and no hahaha. Our intention was to create a sound like it came straight from hell !!! We were recording it on a tape machine and then vocals and bass has been recorded separately. Of course we were trying to be as close as possible to the 80's sound, but there are things hard to fight with like drums for example. In the 80's there were very different sounding drums with long toms and extremely loud snares etc., it is almost impossible to get this kind of drum kit today. But anyway, it is most important for us to do things by our own, because I like to do music as it comes, naturally, with no digital repairings and plastic shit around.


CT: The track titles say everything about Possessed but my favorite grouping of lyrics on the demo is for opening track, "Masturbation." It's such a twisted song. Across the whole demo though, the lyrics are really awesome. What are some of your favorite lyrics across Possessed? Are there any stories or background to any of the lyrics in your songs?


Demolator: Thank you. There are no favourite lyrics I guess. I just write as I feel it, on the first hit. Masturbation song wasnt meant seriously to be honest, one of those "lets make some fucking Motorhead" but lot of people like it mostly hahaha. Some lyrics are personal, some reflects my anger against this world and life, and some are dedicated to metal way of life.

CT: What things are you angry about that inspires you to voice your hate and frustration with Demolizer?

Demolator: Music and lyrics should speak itself... I can sum it into one sentence - Fuck this world !!!

CT: You also had a really small demo in 2009. What happened with this demo? Will it ever get released as bonus on another future album or will we never hear it? Apparently there are no vocals on it?

Demolator: Yes, it was recorded as rehearsal promo with no cover or info at all and spread only to close friends (shortly after Vrana joined the band). It has extremely great old sound in my opinion, even older than on Possessed demo. I played on Amati drums (very old Czechoslovakian drum producer, you can hear them on old TORR, MASTERS HAMMER, GLADIATOR, etc.) but I dont have them anymore... I haven't think about re-releasing of it yet, but when it will happen I will do some vocals for it definitelly.

CT: Tell me about Demolizer's live performances. What have been some live highlights? What is your favorite story to tell people that ask about your live performances?


Demolator: Well, Demolizer used to have very wild stage performance haha. Sometimes it was like GG Allin on stage !!! I use past time because we've decided to quit doing shows, I lost interest in it, because it's very difficult to find bands that understand it and which play REAL and VIOLENT Metal. Maybe some tour in Germany would be cool but fuck it anyway. Every gig we did was pretty extreme, with lot of booze, drugs and violence hehehe. I remember some Czech Demolizer fans started to throw chairs or tables through the window (it was second floor !!!) and there were a lot of fights during the show, our last gig ended up when the guy in the crowd started to bite me hahaha. This is rock n roll !!!

CT: Speaking of Live performances, you also have released a live demo. Do you feel this tape reflects the energy of Demolizer live?

Demolator: Definitelly not ! It captures only our drunkeness maybe, but I think Demolizer is very energic on stage.

CT: Tell me about the Slovakian metal scene. What are some of the bands that you've played with that deserve some attention? Are bands in the scene willing to help each other or is it a scene of people going it alone, doing everything themselves?

Demolator: Good question. There is no support I believe nor "scene" at all which is very sad. There are some guys from different locations of Slovakia, we are in contact with, but generally people are not helping to keep it. Most of Slovakian bands play shit - a new, modern, technical, with female-vocals, trendy, trendy and plastic music. Nothing for us !!! When speaking about our metal music, I can name RADIATION, HELCARAXE, TEMNOHOR, OLDBLOOD, EVIL, KORIUM, but almost every one does not perform live. RADIATION is playing live only so to speak hahaha.

CT: Other than Demolizer, you have played in some other bands in the past as well. What other bands have you played in and how would you compare those bands to Demolizer in terms of your involvement in writing and composing?

Demolator: Demolizer is very special in every meaning. It is my personal tribute to occult philosophy and heavy metal music ! 80's heavy metal era as I mentioned before is the most beautiful act of darkness ever done in a whole art. And I always try to be as close to this as possible with Demolizer. So every other musical feeling I have I put to different bands and projects. I will name other bands only with some releases or recordings - GOATCRAFT (black/death metal), MORGANTE (ambient, black metal), SVARTHAT (very primitive black metal), NIHILISM (black metal), GATES OF PTULAH (black/death metal with member Mrož from RADIATION) and BROKEN CRUCIFIX (heavy metal, also with Mrož) and from the past - STRYGON (heavy metal), POSTMORTER (thrash metal) and THE BAG OF BONES (70's hard rock)

CT: Other than metal, what else do you enjoy doing with your time? What other hobbies are you involved with?

Demolator: There is no other than Metal hahaha (only crust/punk and acid rock!) . But I am into occult, Satanic philosophy, horror movies/literature and nature or travelling.

CT: What would you list as your favorite horror movies or novels and why?

Demolator: I like retro spooky movies mostly like Häxän, Faust, Nosferatu, or The Exorcist, Lynch films, and Italian classics from Mario Bava or Lucio Fulci. They have incredibly great and obscure dark atmosphere. You dont need litres of blood and super-effects to shit from it. And I read mostly historical/religious books of fact or writers like Lovecraft or Velmistr (one current Czech uknown writer).

CT: You obviously enjoy the bottle. What Slovakian liquors and beers are worth seeking out? I'd love to get my hands on some Slovakian beer!

Demolator: Hahaha well we have a drink called Borovička with about 40 % of alcohol but I cant drink it anymore, I prefer whiskey (Jack Daniels !!!). And beers we have some but mostly crap, Slovakian prefers more Czech beers (Pilsner or Black Hill). My favourite Slovakian beer is called Goat of Velkopopovice, it has great taste and has logo like old Bathory hahaha.

CT: If there was one little known fact about Demolizer, what would it be?

Demolator: We never performed or recorded with clean minds.

CT: What are the future plans for Demolizer? Are you working on new material? Any plans for another demo or release anytime soon?

Demolator: Currently I am living abroad so the band is off, but I should be back for a while during this winter and for sure we will recorded some new stuff. First there will be recorded a 7" single and then a debut LP, I hope we will find someone who would like to release us on vynil.

CT: That's all! Demolator, you've got the last words brother!

Demolator: Thanks for your time and space here, I enjoyed your questions. Support the true spirit of extreme music !!!