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DOOM LIFE Zine Established in 2019 with logo by Nightfreak 13
NUCTEMERON LIVES INTERVIEW 2022
Nuctemeron Lives interview for Doom Life zine Spring of 2022. As an avid enthusiast of Extreme metal, it was an honor to volunteer my services to participate in this interview with Nuctemeron Lives, a Doom - Death Metal hybrid band from AZ. When I do write ups, it is usually concerning boxing matches and boxers as a subject, so I get a chance to expand my horizons on this short interview update with one of my favorite Doom/Death Metal bands of all time! I sincerely hope that you find my amateur journalism and editorial skills worthy of your time and attention. Again, it is an honor to lay down a short interview to update folks on their status with the band's main guitarist as well as back up screecher, Ari Among. I have had the fortune of spending quality time with in-person and online. Please enjoy the interview and spread the link with our interview below. Thanks in advance to all who are supporting this. Your editor - Bobo Olsen -
1. You obviously need no introduction as a ton of folks have heard of you and your band and even own the CD "A Time the World Forgot" which was available on cassette by Dying Breed Productions in 1993 as a demo, and by Wild Rags Records out of Montebello, CA as a full-length CD with bonus tracks. What's new with the band since your interview with Doom Lexicanum magazine a couple years back in time?
ARI AMONG: Not much, at all really. There are still plans for us to get together and do unreleased songs and even some newer ones with the current line up listed as: myself on all guitars and back-ups, Richard Medina on vocals, unknown bassist for now, Joey Horvath on second guitars, no keyboardist for now (although we have always preferred Sam Haynes if any), and no response from our drummer David Kowalski in ages. I mean, I received texts, calls, and messages from our old drummer that he wanted to do the band again, but after numerous attempts to the right number and his accounts and no response, it would seem that once again he's out of the equation. When I finally do get back to AZ, I would hope that it would change but, so far, it's a doozy trying to get the bass and drummers set which just fucking sucks! But we do what we gotta do!
2. DL: After all of this time did you get to speak with Tiffany Woods, your former bassist, again? Would you consider having her back in the band?
ARI AMONG: If she would actually respond back to me at any point it would maybe be a consideration, but so far nothing good. And, judging from the job she currently has, that answer would be a "no". We do what we can to make things happen, but people do change and get busy over time unfortunately, and we still have never formally made up either.
3. DL: Do you have any new ideas for your songs and style of writing in the future?
ARI AMONG: You know, I do in a sense. We will probably always maintain a droning Sabbathy influence but add some more brutal elements and dark elements for our later stuff. I have always liked the horror type of sound and evil stuff that thrash/death bands like Possessed out of the Bay Area were doing back in time a lot. People always try to place us as just a Doom or Doom-Death type band when in fact, we came forward from tons of influences. I mean I always interacted with the punk scene and got turned on to punk music before kindergarten even. I was one of the young tag-along kids with real punks and got to be guided by a lot of rebels who weren't sure what they were doing either in life at times. I hate to go backwards when talking about music that I want to be doing in the future, but sometimes, you actually got to go backwards to take it forward. I remember folks comparing Nuctemeron's "A Time the World Forgot" with everything from Sabbath meets Autopsy to Bolt Thrower meets Suffocation (NY), Abominant, Desolate, and other kinds of stuff with a touch of hardcore punk / crustcore mix because of the track "Perversions of a Holy Man", but hell I was influenced by a lot of early punk and everything from Criminal Mischief, The Wrecks, and 7 Seconds all from Reno where I lived for a time to the basic punk bands everyone knows such as Misfits, Samhain, Black Flag, SOA, Iron Cross, Bad Brains, DK, DOA, and more. I started out with bands like Richard Hell, Ramones, Rezillos, and the Sex Pistols because of my Dad actually. Our love to him, RIP Dad! Clearly N.Y.H.C. had a lot more to do with how I picked and strummed guitar wise on the more "core" sounding tracks we messed with. Hell, I met Agnostic Front in about 1987 in Phoenix and hung out with them for every single show after that until I moved away from AZ. But, I was also influenced by bands from NYHC like the Cro Mags (Got lucky enough to have met Harley way back in time), Warzone (who my good bro organized a gig at the Nile Theater in Mesa for when Raybeez was still alive RIP Raybeez), Agnostic Front (we partied and hung out every single time I've seen them since 87 up until the early 2000s when I moved away), MOD/SOD (Partied with Billy Milano), dug also bands such as NYC Mayhem, The Psychos, Nausea NY, Ludichrist (also got to see Tommy with Scatterbrain), Murphy's Law (Hung out with the legendary Jimmy G a shitload and he's invited me out to his tattoo shop in NY many years ago), Sick of it All (Stood back to back with Pete and Lou in a brawl when I was still in high school), met Rick "Ta Life" Healey of 25 Ta Life even though there's bad rumors out there about him now, when he was just a roadie for Agnostic Front on their amazing tour with Obituary and Malevolent Creation (who were pen pals of mine before they got started), and many more experiences as a mainly a West Coaster digging tons of bands from every Coast through the years. I was mainly on the East Coast with my mom that played gigs in Manhattan and Troy in my lifetime where we were brought out to when I was young. It was actually because of my bro Dana "D-Low" Wells (RIP) and his mom Gloria that managed a ton of great bands in AZ such as Flotsam and Jetsam, Sacred Reich, Atrophy, and even Excel from California for a time, that, Sepultura from Brazil came out and we all hung out a lot back then at gigs. Me and Dana hung out in my neighborhood when he was in 6th grade and then went to Shea Middle School together. We hung out at school every day until we went to different high schools and then were always up at PV Mall and tons of different gigs and parties with mutual friends around the valley since the mid to late 80s. Back then his sister Chistina helped out with much with music merch like Bluegrape Co. and the bands. I was a friend of hers and her earlier boyfriends far back in time also. You can imagine what a tragedy it was for everyone (not just in AZ) when our bro Dana died in 1996. He was into a lot of different scenes and bands and always wanted to check my band out too through the years. Before we knew it, he was gone, and I had to keep passing over the place he was killed, near T-Billiards, for years in a row as it was less than a half a mile from my Slope area home. So, when I write the new stuff, my state of mind also begins back in time to the place where we lost our bro Dana. I've never forgotten that shit or looking at the crashed into brick wall, where those scumbag motherfuckers drove him off the road and killed my brother! Nobody else forgets either, so, that's why they still throw festivals in honor of our brother. It really fucks with you, so that's where my new writing process is coming from as well as all the people that I really cared about that I have continually lost even up until recently! My new inspirations come from the combination of old sufferings like when someone I know killed several of my dogs I cared for and in one case a very brutal execution of our family dog when I was a kid. And people wonder why I'm fucked up and have insane anger issues at times? My fucked-up pain and anger sustains me with all I have to write new material and even create lyrics if needed about really fucked up shit. Anger easily switches to creative depression with me. So, sometimes you just have to mishmash it up in the music with those kinds of extremes. So, musically we're moving forward from the pains of the past as a means to progression and the burdens are beyond the standard of heavy. Unlike other bands whose first material is the best, I feel our first attempt was really not even scratching the surface of our potential. I hope to show people what's up with our 2nd attempt even if nearly 30 years have passed.
4. DL: What would you compare your first release to sound wise, or who would you most credit for similarity on the "Time the World Forgot" cd?
ARI AMONG: Hard question as you hear our classical and medieval intro done by our keyboardist, Sam, and then we break into this Black Sabbath meets Autopsy kind of tune, and some chuggy odd brutal thing that has like a newer era of NYHC kind of influence on parts with thrash, then the 3rd track is totally like European Death metal sounding stuff like Unleashed from Sweden, and then there's "Explorer's Return" which is like a symphonic death metal deal kind of like very early Paradise Lost or MDB from UK or even Pyogenesis from Germany type of vibes, but you could also say Mercyful Fate like or Celtic Frost influences on their To Megatherion sorta. Others have compared it to early Type O Negative as well. Coincidentally, that studio had worked with Type O and NIN and it was actually an honor for me to have met Pete Steele (RIP) as I loved Carnivore and for a time had goofed off and even jammed with a pretty shredding guitar played named Crazy Larry who was in the band Disciple (early Carnivore) with Pete Steele which was post Fallout and Pre-Carnivore as well as he filled in with early Carnivore live and allegedly Whiplash from NJ. Crazy Larry was temporarily living in AZ in the 1990s, so that's how we got together. The 4th track gets judged often as mixing Sabbath with crustcore, and they only say that because of the squawky type of back up vocals and exchanges we did ! It's actually more like NYHC with Sabbath and some of the old hardcore or crossover I was into had a lot of Sabbath too such as C.O.C.'s early stuff up to Technocracy ep and Cro Mags since the early start. We ended that ep with an epic type of tune that had some Iron Maiden like melody, and what some deemed as almost an early Megadeth kind of influence on certain chuggy parts still being Sabbathy. I believe that Megadeth was pretty good on early stuff, but never really impacted me much, I'd say those riff influences of the 4th track or Perversions track owe a lot more to the Best Wishes lp by Cro Mags if anything and loved that LP much much more than any release Megadeth ever did... The song also incorporated Symphonic sound added in by the keys and all throughout Richard's brutal voice. Mainly because of Richard's voice we were called or seen as just Death Metal as I think we could have been called a Doom/Sabbathy NYHC influenced hybrid at times had it not been for those type of killer, brutal and deep vocals he did! I don't know who to best compare all those different tempos and textures, but we always were in an underground scene and so we were always hesitant to mention better known bands, but it's clear to me that the variety of tempo changes from songs could very well have been attributed to my influence by the Cro Mags. That Age of Quarrel cassette tape in the 80s changed my life! Their sound was unique and powerful and if it weren't for other hardcore or punk bands like GBH, Discharge, Broken Bones, English Dogs, Chaos UK, Exploited, Warfare UK, DRI, Suicidal Tendencies, A.O.D., S.O.D. Negative Approach, and Agnostic Front having had an angry influence on quite a few of us, I think the Nuctemeron stuff could have easily come out sounding like slower Black Sabbath with Suffocation like vocals. We can also never understate the influence of GG Allin and the Mentors as well. I did very hardcore punk inspired projects with past GG Allin back up band members as well as Poison Idea so, it's in there. But, for our dynamic whether folks agree with me or not, I'd say on different levels what we were doing was probably more comparable to Amebix, Cro Mags, Melvins, and other more hybrid like bands, but as soon as people hear the death growls and evil lyrics they place us in a different category. There's certainly a track on Return folks have stated as reminiscent of Cro Mags "Death Camps, but we're a mix of influences. Due to the keys one might place us with bands like Devo or the Stranglers! Or the Cars if not Blondie on an evil level with a growling man instead of a hot chic! And not everyone in the band lived a hardcore lifestyle either, cause hardcore is a way of life. I was the band member who came from a hell with a hardcore past and upbringing in the worst possible way in life. Once in awhile, our drummer was brought into some of my world of hell, but didn't last in it. I had to go down many brutal roads fighting everyone and everything alone as did our newer guitarist Joey who spent his life fighting in the U.S. Army already. If anyone been through the hardcore and hell it was me and Joey hands down. That's why we are the guitar brothers in this band! Since, we're speaking on sound only, our sound was a mish mash and Heinz 57 of stuff that comes from multiple directions just like our diverse backgrounds and paths in life. No judgments is the point I've reached. People are what they are and I accept it, but we're all completely different humans in this band (members past and present). Some members we had were extra softs, I always walked and lived with one foot in hell and that's why some people actually remember me and view me as a hardcore motherfucker besides liking that style of music.
5. DL: Do you feel limited by this genre and would you or have you ever wanted to play any other styles of music?
ARI AMONG: I play whatever is clever to jam in front of me. I've done some punk bands that seem ashamed to list me in their personnel after the fact for whatever reasons or disputes we had when I left, so it's no big deal to me. My first thrash band and other early bands had more punk influences at times that were directly noticeable, and a lot of folks were pretty superficial and closed minded. Little did they know, I came up young around with Skeeno punks and skins in Reno, NV on and off in the 1980s when my fam would temporarily kick it there. Saw an amazing punk riot in 1983 off California Ave. in Reno of Punks vs Metalheads and I got involved in my own fight at same time smashing a kids head through the window of Bogey's Yogurt that used to be at the strip mall there. I think I may have just reached 8 years old. Sucked cause my parent's friends owned that place. So, AZ scene didn't shock me at all cause I'd known skins like Dim Menace RIP from 7 Seconds who would brawl a lot in the 1980s in NV before permanently crossing over to AZ in 1987 despite many trips and extended stays there also through the years. I hung with all these angry skins I made friends with when I first came to AZ. I always sported punk and thrash band t-shirts and really was a product of crossover scene and never gave a fuck what anyone thought. Nobody, when I was growing up would say that they're a Doomster though or simply a Sabbath Head because everyone into Sabbath liked other stuff too. A Doomster type is more what I became labelled towards the end of high school after I just jammed so many underground Doom and Doom-Death bands on repeat in my stereo and emulated or covered those types of bands on guitar, but hardcore was always in the heart and actions. Finally, I created a small Doom scene in our area and there weren't many followers of it as they were just mainly digging the Deep vocals and feeling that we were a different sort of Death Metal band. We gained a surprisingly big following, not just nationwide, but worldwide, and in essence we still remain unknown. But, playing Doom alone is limiting. I like to play all kinds of stuff and the best fun I've had are in hardcore punk type bands like Social Reason with my bro Longtime Lou from Queens whose a good guitarist and tattoo guy and some street punk bands with folks either gone from the scene or in prison. I've even enjoyed playing technical brutal high speed death metal grinding stuff for kicks, but some folks are overly used to it and for some reason it just seems to again be for kicks rather than to take off somewhere.
6. DL: Do you have any other plans besides doing a new Nuctemeron release and finding a new line up?
ARI AMONG: Yes, I am involved in promoting Cro Mags 'Ohana out here in Hawai'i which promotes the Cro Mags with the kind permission of the Real Cro Mags featuring Harley Flanagan, G-man the drummer (who invited me into the Cro mags fam), Rocky George who is famous for guitar in Suicidal Tendencies, and I believe Gabby the guitarist is also doing recording and some live gigs even though Joe Affe does live show stuff with Cro Mags too. I do a lot of promotion for the Cro Mags now whether people like it or not, so it's starting to keep me busy. Love the Cro Mags since 1986 when I first came across their self-made as well as promo tapes and remember their gig with Motorhead and a glam band from late that year as well in the JJ era! So, for me it's a major honor when they told me that I am a Cro Mag and Cro Mag fam too! Nothing, but love for these guys and we all love Black Sabbath too.
7. DL: How do you plan to get back to AZ?
ARI AMONG: Once I finish up with whatever problems I got here, I will work my way back there to get recordings and possible shows in the works. Thanks for asking.
8. DL: You used to do an underground zine as a kid and still do zines?
ARI AMONG: Yes, I did Squirming Defecation zine in the early 90s while still in high school which would have been printed had I not handed the duplication off to my friend in Tucson who I was hopeful would release his 2nd edition of Sacramental Butchery, but things happen. Sad story with that, but it certainly had amazing reviews and interviews with everyone from Deceased, Necrophobic (Sweden), Phobia (CA), Mindrot (CA), Carcinogen (CA), Dystopia (CA), Confrontation (CA), Morgion (CA), Suffering Luna (CA), Grief (MA), Amorphis (Finland), Phantasm (WI), dead horse (TX), Indignation (TX), Devastation (TX),, Meat Shits (CA), Scruffy the Kooky Psycho (AZ), Apparition/Sorrow (NY), Monstrosity (FL), Incantation (NJ), Agnostic Front (NY), Cro Mags (NY), Sick of It All (NY), Biohazard (NY), Type O Negative (NY), Winter (NY), Brutal truth (NY), Fear Factory (CA), Terrorizer (CA), Satan's Bake Sale (PA), Exit 13 (PA), Inferia (Finland), Dispatched (Sweden), Denial of God (Denmark), Nunslaughter (PA), Benefits Forgot (Finland) , Vomiturition (Finland), Malaphar (Germany), Imprecation (TX), Absu (TX), Magus (TX), Astaroth (TX), Resurrection (FL), Epitaph (FL), Morta Skuld (WI), Crucifix (Germany), Crucifixion (TX), G-anx (Sweden), Sigh (Japan), Impetigo (IL),, Gibbed (Japan), Eroded (Japan), Draksen (Mexico), The Chasm (Mexico), Anarchus (Mexico), Decrepit (OH), Deteriorate (PA), Mycophagy (Tucson), Cadaverous Quartet (Tucson), Psychobabble (CA), Active Minds (UK), Incubus (FL), Nocturnus (FL), Morbid Angel (FL), Deicide (FL), Entombed (Sweden), Archgoat (Finland), Thergothon (Finland), Profanatica (FL), Blasphemy (Canada), Nuclear Death (AZ), Skaven (CA),, Acrostichon (Holland), Mythic (PA), Derketa (PA), Massacre (FL), Mayhem (Norway), Carcass (UK), Bolt Thrower (UK), Gorguts (Canada), Obliveon (Canada), Apollyon (CA), Chemical Dependency (CA), Anal Cunt (MA), Exhorder (LA), Eyehategod (LA), Psycho (MA), and many more. In between I did Left to Rot zine from Phoenix at times and am busy now with Doom Life online zine with so far the only interviews being Nuclear Death Cult with Phil Hampson from AZ as well as Pelvic Meatloaf also from AZ. Waiting on Vehemence, He Who Binds Himself, God Awful Noise, Phobia, Norway Alabama, DBFOS, and other interviews back. I will be cooperating with Bobby of Pentagram, whose now doing a band called The Limit, with members from all over including Sonny, also an ex marine, of old school punk bands The Testers and Dead Boys punk band from NY, Stooges members, and some Portuguese guys from Portugal helping him out.. Other than that, I also got a thumbs up for an in person and brand new Cro Mags interview for, 2022 World tour! Cannot wait! When this interview right here is done I will add it up on my site as well just to cover more space.
9. DL: I think that about wraps it up. Any last words or comments?
ARI AMONG: Not really except, Doom Life will eventually be doing a reprint of our World The Time Forgot cd by Wild Rags with different art and stuff to sell a cheaper edition to all of our fans. I think we covered all grounds with Nuctemeron Lives and my issues and I doubt I'll be playing live soon, but I do plan to be out on the West Coast leg of the Cro Mags tour chilling with the Cro Mags for a bit! I'd like to thank you for all your kindness and support and give respect to your family who had one of the greatest lighter weight boxers out here in Hawai'i, who is also tight with my fam that passed on. RIP to your uncle Bobo Olsen, a true boxing legend! Thanks again to you Bobo for interviewing my band! Not sure where else online you'll post it, but I'm adding this to the Doom Life site when done since nobody else gets me back their interviews for some reason. My contact email is mauiari@yahoo.com and you can check out my work at https://doomlifezine.godaddysites.com Stay real and true to your path motherfuckers! Cheers!
DOOM LIFE Zine Established in 2019 with logo by Nightfreak 13
Out of the burning hell fires of Phoenix, Arizona and needing no introduction we proudly present NuclearDeath Cult whose Phil Hampson has been a king among dark artists and musicians for decades! Having arisen from the ashes they return to the fore of their sadistic gruesome attacks. Phil also having performed with the obscure Demon Cubes, in the mid-1980s, along with Lori Bravo became the legendary Nuclear Death in 1986 according to many bios. Despite the fame of having had Lori, their female singer and bassist at the center stage, Joel and Phil always masterminded the structures, lyrics, insane drumming, theatrics, and visual art throughout the band’s course. After decades of freaking out the meek with Nuclear Death as well as their alias names and projects such as Feral Viscera, Whorror, Disinhumed, as well as Eroticide among their sinister credits, the Cult returns as a prelude to the preeminent meltdown of grinding horror metal ruination that had reached Worldwide Caliber since the late 1980s! After over three decades of traumatizing people locally and abroad in places as far away as Michigan Death Metal Fest in 1990, it is our honor here at Doom Life to present the epic and destructive Nuclear Death Cult at last!
And check out the FERAL VISCERA releases available for digital download @bandcamp.com/feralviscera
For mp3 files and artwork for the CD 23, send an email to wnevilminds@gmail.com
Free for a limited time. Just the CD 23. That's the title, 23. XXIII
NUCLEAR DEATH CULT/FERAL VISCERA DISCOGRAPHY:
23 Full-length 2015
Immoral Ever After Full-length 2016
Nuclear Death Cult Full-length 2017
God is Meat Full-length 2017
New World Odor Full-length 2017
The Winter Sessions: The Corpse Treet Mythology
Full-length2017
Duck - Cover Songs EP - 2019 - It was an honor to have received these mp3s via email of Duck which seems to be a solo project of Phil Hampson of Nuclear Death, Feral Viscera, Whorror, and Eroticide. This masterpiece of sickness begins with the intro entitled Excrementum Cerebellum Vincit (Allegedly “Bullshit Baffles the Brain” ) and continues the Wizard Song, then an amazing cover of legendary Wendy O Williams and her band Plasmaticsʻ “Sex Junkie, followed by Aldo Nova from Canadaʻs “Fantasy”, and an epicly grim cover of Black Sabbathʻs “Snowblind”. It is the creepiest way I recall any of these tunes being covered, but we do have Nuclear Deathʻs mastermind on this. Although, it is not out for release that I know of thus far I figured Iʻd share a sneak peek (Itʻs what many underground zines, including my old one, Squirming Defecation, were known for doing for awhile. Giving you readers a headʻs up! -Ed.). If you can bother Phil for a copy or send him some bucks for the mp3s Iʻm sure he will hook it up for the right people. So, far this is a very underground phenomenon though. As far as I understand it, these covers were just extras from Feral Viscera/Nuclear Death Cult not used on any of their official releases. Certainly, I feel they are worthy of your attention. ——Doom Life
Pelvic Meatloaf - Rules - EP -2017 - I remember when these specific tunes were created in the early 90ʻs when I was in high school. It seemed they were going for an S.O.D. or M.O.D. type of band with more punk influences when they had Nick Rubie on guitar in his werwolf mask and Opie Cakebread drumming along with singer Rich Fourmyʻs brother Jesse Fourmy on bass. A shortwhile after they added Jeremy "Guillermo" Welker on 2nd guitar and these recordings were made. Although, revamped with their new guitarist Byron Filson of Villain Recordings fame as well in more modern times, it captures the perfect nostalgia and comes across more like the Meatmen meet Mucky Pup if anything. Anyways, although the band only hooked up certain folks with the actual ep, you can get on Youtube or online and search for tracks such as: Pelvic Meatloaf Rules, Meatloaf Madness, Moshing With Satan, Pelvic Meatloaf Dance, and No Regret. Those tunes are among some of the classics from one of AZʻs true rowdy and fun loving party bands that have crossed their style into a bit of hardcore punk influences with metal in more modern times. Covers of Slayer can also be heard in their later material as their singer is a die hard Slayer as well as a GG Allin fan. Cheers to this revamp ep as it is a prep for what is to come with their forthcoming 2021 full length lp. ---- Doom Life
The first thing that comes to mind when you hear this new project put togetherby the Doom Metal legend of America, Bobby Liebling of Pentagram, is that it is not a Metal release at all and unlike all his past materials he put out. Most Pentagram fans will be extra shocked to hear that it's a very basic Punk Rock sound that you'd expect to hear from the early to late 70's, but has of course a newer production.A lot of that has to do with the fact that you have former US Marine, Sonny Vincent from the NY punk band The Testors on guitar who had toured with early bands such as The Dead Boys and he's even collaborated with Cheetah Chrome of The Dead Boys in a band and members of Velvet Underground in various projects which included past Stooges members as well as Ernie Knapp of Charles Manson's band. Not to mention did Proto-punk Projects such as Distance in the late 60s. 'You also have Jimmy Recca of The Stooges on bass here rocking it out with the younger guys being members of the Portuguese Doom Metal band, Dawnrider handling drums and rhythm guitar. and there are guest appearances from U.D.O., Die Krupps, and Bevis Frond members as well. This punk n roll LP begins on the upbeat punk vein of the "Over Rover" track which like every other tune has a bit of Sabbath like melodies in the soloing section and a catchy vibe to it like early Stooges or MC5 kind of vibes. Then comes the 2nd track which is entitled "Black Sea" that has this really melodic type of singing that strikes in the vibe of early Misfits or Danzig type vocals with these droning harmonized chorus vocals that assault in the way early The Clash or London SS would. It's catchy, but the vibes are just straight on rock! "These Days" almost rocks in the sense that early Social Distortion did in the "Mommy's Little Monster" era and again it catches the soul. Now a quarter into the lp you wonder when old Pentagram is going to come out and haunt and scare you, but it doesn't. Another surprise are some old Iron Maiden like guitar harmonies with old Paul Stanley and Kiss type of chorus singing going to a really punk vibe. It's a trip, but it just begins to rock your world with this track, especially if you have ever been a Kiss fan. "Human vs Nature" is finally a track that takes us to another point, it is very reminiscent of early Dead Kennedys on parts and has that kind of rockabilly element you'd expect from early bands like The Cramps with some evil droning hypnotic guitar riff at times. Then comes " Fleeting Thoughts" kind of kicks off like early UK street punk and combat rock vibes at first and then breaks into something that is bluesy and reminiscent of early Fear with Lee Ving. Having reached the midway point of the LP, but still no sign of Pentagram's usual traditions or influence except for a melodic type of solo that is short lived here and there. The title track to the LP, "Caveman Logic," begins with an industrialish almost Die Krupps kind of intro and just gets into some straight rocking like you might expect from Nine Pound Hammer or Alabama Thunderpussy and keeps the upbeat rocking vibes. By the next track, it seems like you got some of that ZZ Top or 38 Special kind of punk hybrid going on with "Sir Lancelot," that is much like Antiseen or old GG Allin would belt out with some of his bands. It is more of a straight on rock approach that even The Mentors had done from time to time. What I really like about the more power rocking kind of tunes is that they have a sleazy vibe without Bobby having to be excessively vulgar lyrically. "Life’s Last Night" another punk tune with more of a southern vibe, reminding folks of some of those early drunk punk bands like Gang Green. At about 3/4 through this record there's nothing Doom and Gloom about it, so far. It just keeps rockin my ass off and makes me want to party and pit! Now, comes another rocking track called "When Life Gets Scorched", it easily could have fit in with early Stooges and MC5, making it a really cool in your face sort of mid paced track. The 3rd to last track "Kitty Gone" takes a more Ted Nugent like approach and you would swear that "Cat Scratch Fever" and uncle Ted influence got fused into something on the verge of sounding somewhat reminiscent to old Richard Hell, The Sex Pistols, or The Ramones. It's a great track! Finally, you have a slow sounding tune, that could cross into the gothic like realm of early Danzig with a slight touch of Melvins on this track "Death of My Soul", but this whole lp with one more track left to listen to leaves you with that old punk rock when punk was more about rock rather than hardcore anger, speed, and mega aggression. if you like old timers bringing some old styles and textures back in a way that I've never quite heard it done before I highly suggest this LP. It is quickly becoming one that I play on repeat even though, as most know, I listen to heaps of brutal Death Metal, Doom Grindcore, Hardcore, and all kinds of extreme music, besides punk, eary rock, and metal I began with. When you finally get to the last track "Enough’s Enough" it is a breath of fresh air as the pace is sort of slowerd to -really bluesy like Robert Johnson meets Motorhead although it starts with some odd ambient melodic intro, the blues is really extra soulful. I do not believe I have heard anything this soulful in punk since I heard Lee Ving of Fear on "More Beer" on the depressed part of the tune where he's out of beer! All I know is that if you are a true fan of Pentagram and not punk, it might not be for you but if you respect bands like The Ramones, Stooges, Testors, Richard Hell, Johnny Thunder & The Heartbreakers, MC5, The Plasmatics, GG Allin, and just basic old school sound of punk from the 70's with a different kind of twist to it, this might be for you. It's a great album, but it is a punk album not a metal album. Now that you understand as much, it is up to you to support these guys or not. I have been supporting Bobby for quite a long time and watched him influence a ton of bands in the Doom Metal scene since he's been at it since 1971. If you like the old-school rock sound from the 1970s and 70's influenced punk sound with some slightly metallish vibes, have at it. This release features a few legends in Punk and a legend in the Doom Metal world that really decided to tap into his own Punk roots at last! The Limit's debut is an original approach to punk you will not soon forget.
The entire full length cd "In the Beginning" is extra firm, while being aggressive, prophetic, and menacing at times! This is a great Crossover style release. The lead guitarist and the drummer really do their part and take the melodies and rhythms to newer levels than earlier Cro Mags! They upped the musical notch and game playing level far beyond what one would hear on the faux Cro Mags (features ex member JJ and Mackie). Cro Mags succeed at making major musical changes that are among their greatest ever structural writings since the "Revenge" LP came out. Further, this tight knit release plays in perfect synchronicity with their 2020 EP. There is no way that this release can be denied as being a major heavy weight among all the hardcore and crossover bands of the world. One hint is that it comes from one of the best hardcore bands in the world ever who have a history of being precision in the musically aggressive delivery department! Firm is what this entire release is about. Firmness hits all sections of this LP from beginning to finish. The primary entrance to the album demonstrates this precision made execution with the head smashing tune, "Donʻt Give In" with some hooking riffs followed by the similarly powerful second track, "Drag You Under, which initiates the beat down and sets the listener up for the pulverizing third track "No Oneʻs Victim" that then sets a powerfully defiant mood for the rest of the album ( All of these songs appear on the Donʻt Give In EP 7" vinyl). As it transgresses into the song "From the Grave" it pushes forward and uplifts with a hard hitting hammer swinging type of energy just keeps the consistency. Moving beyond the beginning point on the release that everything solid about this release is reaffirmed by the brutal rhythm section assaults of bassist, Harley and drummer, G-Man (collectively called the Rhythm Twins in the band.).Still being somewhat early in the CD, the Cro Mags start beating major skulls in unto the next track, "No' Oneʻs Coming", with the message being heard loud and clear. Afterwards the solid assault never lets up as it enters the track, "P.T.S.D.", which is a bit of mental journey into the mind of military war veterans and those who suffer the condition of "P.T.S.D." in general and is another hard hitter leading to the midway point of this album (See Film starring Harley Flanagan, titled "Between Wars, 2020 ). Up to this point the release is a total head smasher worthy of any good hardcore or crossover fans attention and no relenting on that crushing firmness for which no true hardcore fan should lack in their modern collection. I really must emphasize the continued tightness and perfection of sound reaching into the midpoint of the LP it unfurls relentlessly unto the end with as much as might and ferocity as it began with. "The Final Test" takes the journey a slightly different route in the solid ass whooping formula handed out because of the clean vocal style Harley does on the track while the entire band maintains profound structure with aggression and clarity Tracks such as "One Bad Decision" "Two hours, "Donʻt Talk About It" (It also appears on their From the Grave 7" ep vinyl with the songs From The Grave and P.T.S.D.), "Between Wars" (with Lamont on cello as a guest),, "No Turning Back" , Between Wars", and "There Was a Time" (last track of the LP) unleashes the fury unto the very end splitting open skulls in their unwavering tightly woven progressions that does not leave the listener disappointed at all.. Highlights of the tight structural nature on this cd can be heard within the bassist and lead singerʻs crushing vocal delivery being the very thing some metal fans admired Panteraʻs, "Vulgar Display of Power" LP for, but a hell of a lot tougher in its legitimate non-bluffing conviction! Due to many firmly layered highlight within, this album reveals its masterpiece like stature from start to end. There is no comparison or pretention at all about the bassist/ vocalist roots continue to be the powerful core and brazen energy in the manner of a disgruntled fighter hitting like a wrecking ball beyond the middle point of this CD-LP, thus, never faltering to maintain the mesmerizing firmness structurally and sound wise, which bulldozes over the opposition. This solidness in album production and delivery crushes through barriers in every aspect throughout its entirety. The heavy weight plows some bodies senseless as it invokes the moshing and stage diving inner force with you. As a listener there can be found no hardcore punk bands or metal bands that would be a suitable comparison to the remarkability as well as uniqueness of this musical gem. The guitar riffs on rhythm and leads are over the top, The bass playing and attacking main vocals take it even a notch further. The drumming really takes it to the limit and gives everyone the extra power and punch from the Bronx they need, as the lead guitarist blisters away with his solos. From beginning to end the quality and caliber of this album is too great to ever be denied as a firm album! As a final suggestion for this firmly kick ass release, this release is one which plays perfectly back to back with their 2020 EP and is a sure sign with what is to come with the 2022 Full length LP that the band is working on currently with no tentative title! They set the new grounds with this that led up to the epic and amazing 2020 EP and one should not listen to this release without listening to the other one which accompanies it to the get the entire musical and conceptual picture! If any release was worthy of the NYHC hall of fame reward in our current age, this would be it. Without question, this LP is the ultimate soundtrack to survival and will remain one of the better and most profoundly solid releases of its kind within our modern hardcore and metal genres within this decade!
For many of us Cro Mags fans, much of what they were doing seemed to be done and dead after their second LP "Best Wishes" came out. Now, back then, when cassette players were more common than CDs by far, "Age of Quarrel" and "Best Wishes" became the best tapes to spin for the most epic NYHC aural assaults ever heard in the mid to late 80s. Of course, Harley Flanagan, the bassist, singer, and drummer for the band, had begun his journey as a 10 year old shaven headed punker with his aunt in the Stimulators in the NYC hardcore punk scene. And, since the beginning, there has been this metal element brought to the table by Parris Mayhem, their guitarist. Some could say they that they are the original Metal and Punk Crossover band. The same critics also forget about Mōtorhead, as it was Lemmy (RIP) ,who was crossing over the genres before bands like Venom . Before that, Lemmy was doing the mix of genres with certain Hawkwind songs (Silver Machine is just one example). While Mōtorhead was a 70s UK band, Cro Mags in the early 80s on the East Coast of Americaʻs shores in NYC took everything to a new extreme.
The release is firm, while being extremely aggressive with a lot of intentionally chaotic moments as well as melody and perfect recording quality! This is a great Crossover release and Rocky Georgeʻs solo guitar playing and harmonies transpose the band to a new level. Cro Mags came back and took it up a notch all around. Harleyʻs solo demos, solo projects, and new Cro Mags releases prove that John Joseph was not really significant in the scheme of their artistic progress or power despite some of his great lyrics contributions, stage presence, and sacrifices he had made for this band (Hit and Miss as heʻs only actually on a few of the releases recording wise and Eric Cassanova was before him)! One cannot deny that, Mr. Flanagan pulls off an amazing release again and has pioneered NYHC and Crossover Metal and punk to that new plateau once again! There are moments on this release where the vibes are almost industrialish rather than punk or metal, but it perfectly fits the Sound Track to the messed up year 2020 was with the Covid 19 Pandemic and everything else.
The EP takes the listener on an awesome mental journey. Starting with the funky rap beat intro to "Age of Quarantine", this EP really kicks in with some aggressive hardcore which sounds like the whole band became an audio juggernaut assaulting like a steroid freak while taking it into old school mid-paces with beat you down vibe throughout. And, this tune also breaks down into slow epic parts with melody and superb solos the way that only Rocky George of Suicidal Tendencies can do them. Track two, the title track, "2020" has this dual fold element of an almost cathartic type vibe, but at the same time it can be more of a subjective vibe struggling through the darkness of life to reach the light rather than an expression of releasing negative emotions. "2020" as a song also sways the listener into hypnotic melodies which set the listener up for the upcoming track. Enter the track "Violence and Destruction", which is just that, a brutal almost Death Metal type of Crossover assault still retaining that old school vibe. Unlike the prior track, which has also a futuristic darkness type of vibe and industrialism to it, thereʻs nothing new about the approach used herein. At last, the track "Chaos in the Streets" gives a bit more variety from all the past tracks as it starts out kind of industrial sounding, but retains the standard approach to Crossover Thrash in general, while adding some of the melodies along with clean vocal styles that John Joseph once brought to the band at times. Being the second to last track, it sets everyone up for the progressive and fusion like "Cro Fusion" Instrumental which, is kind of a sense of calm after mass obliteration and destruction with some jazzy funky elements as well that one might expect to find in Cynic or Atheist tunes on their later materials.
Overall this EP cannot escape that it will in its own right continue to remain as a masterpiece. Some of us do not listen to the drama or the rumors concerning band members, we listen to the music and we support Harley and the musical endeavors of his Cro Mags all the way. Although, this falls short of the nostalgia of the tunes from "Age of Quarrel" and tunes like "Hard Times", it will forever retain some mental disturbance for those among us who are going to be forced to reminisce about that shitty time that the government tried to force us all to wear some stupid masks on our faces for a disease they helped spread. Jeez! At any rate, this was overall a very grim vibed release other than the semi chaotic, yet, happy Outro to this EP entitled "Cro-Fusion", which also displays remarkable musicianship and playing skills. From beginning to end, itʻs a tight release and has quality musicianship throughout! It makes true fans of the band eager to see what Harley and Rocky will bring to the table next! This release set the ground for how good they have to keep it from now on and is well worth getting! The drums do not fail, the bass does not fail, the guitars do not fail, the voice does not fail, and neither does the production and engineering in sound. In fact, it was on point as it was meant to be. True Cro Mags fans are very likely to appreciate it at last! It's the best one since Revenge and leaves much to be desired for their future releases.
PELVIC MEATLOAF INTERVIEW 2021
At last Doom Life brings you an interview with North Phoenixʻs own Pelvic Meatloaf band. A band thatʻs been around about 30 years already although has had its hiatuses. Today we get together with front man Rich Fourmy also known as Dick Presley at times This is a band that has survived three decades in Arizona with quite a few line up changes as well as changes to their ever evolving sound. As the editor of this magazine I was blessed to have experienced their first official gig around 1990-1991 when they were first on the scene to be the "first to mosh". That was when their line up was Rich Fourmy on vocals with his brother Jesse Fourmy on bass, Nick Rubie on guitars, and Michael "Opie" Cakebread on drums. (and Jeremy "Guillermo" Welker on guitar also!) During those days there was a more of a punk rock vibe while Nick came out and shredded with a werwolf mask on. Itʻs an honor to speak with Rich whose had Byron Filson a long time since those days. Letʻs get the update.
DL: Well, Rich I donʻt know where to begin. I first met you when me and my thrasher pal who loved all kinds of extreme music named Scruffy (James French) introduced me to you and our buddy Travis Eggen. You came out with the old ball tricks and holding up each otherʻs sacks while doing the old Texas belt buckle. It was the first time anyone had exposed us to the true scumfuck or offensive bastard habits that GG Allin would be smiling about from the grave in public on our own school campus! There were many other pranks that went on, but the most memorable event was Nick Rubie in his werewolf mask jamming with all of y'all in the center of our school campus and the single man mosh pit I started. Of course there were tons of alcohol induced parties back then that could also wind up ending with the Village Peopleʻs YMCA being played. Truly a blast! Do you miss those days and what is your most memorable school event or prank besides the Texas belt buckle trick you used to perform down the school halls? Did any of that contribute to the name Pelvic Meatloaf being your chosen name by chance? I know others have asked, but they never brought up pre-Pelvic memories such as this! Give it a shot bro I know itʻs been years!
PM: Haha.... good times back then! I don't know if you were aware of this, but Pelvic Meatloaf actually WAS just a prank. We didn't really have a band together. I just wanted to play a prank on the Horizon High School Student Council because I knew that they booked bands to play on campus as lunchtime entertainment during Spirt Week... so I called them & told them I had a band. I played them a snippet from a record called ABSOLUTE POWER by "Powermad" (That album spun in a few of our collections as well and wasnʻt too bad -Editor), and I told them it was us. They said "Wow! We'd be honored to have you come back and rock your old high school!", and booked us for the next day... so I called up all my friends that I knew had some instruments and told them we were a band and that we had a show. That's why we were all wearing masks... because we knew they would probably throw us out once they realized we didnt know how to play music.
DL: My bro, Guillermo that played in a short lived project called Persecution used to jam with your old guitarist Nick Rubie and weʻd all goof off at his house before either of them joined with yall, but it was at the time Guillermo joined I noticed a total change of musical direction. You guys played some gigs at the old Paradox off of Camelback I wound up showing up at and I remember old Jeremy "Guillermo" Welker with cigarette in his mouth like Slash? Does that sound about right? Do you look at that stage of the band fondly or did you like other musical transformation periods of the band better?
PM: Sounds about right. I look back at all those years fondly. Yeah, Guillermo could actually shred, and he wasn't as much a goof off as the rest of us were, so he kinda started adding some cool leads to some songs here & there, but it was when Nick left & Byron came in that we really started trying to play actual music. Byron had pro gear & knew alot of metal tunes, and he is a writer, so immediately influenced our musical direction.
DL: Every time I turned around someone I knew wound up jamming with you guys. Believe it or not, I first met your other guitarist John Zino when him and our mutual friend Tim Daudet rolled up to my house when I was jamming in a thrash band called Holocaust with another brother named Eric Hathaway in the late 80ʻs after arriving in Arizona. We also used to chill at school as well as the malls prior to his joining. I noticed when Zino was in also the changes increased. You had a very fun loving thrash approach at first, but it seemed like more melody was where you were headed. Do you agree? What comes to my mind is when you guys did that song for our lost brother Timothy Lundquist that was a heartfelt ballad. Rest in heaven to him! I noticed things were starting to mature musically from that point on as well. Iʻd say it was one of a few game changers you guys went through in development? What do you think?
PM: Agreed. When Guillermo left, we were in kinda defunct... the band basically was broken up, yet Byron & I were determined to continue on. We tried jamming with a handful of other guys and not much was happening, but then I got the call from Kelly Moore (who ended up as our bass player) and he asked if I would come hang out at his place one day & listen to Him, Zino & Scott Matteson jam. So I went over & they knew a few Pelvic meatloaf tunes, so I got to jump on the mic & sing a few...and it just clicked! I called Byron & said "Dude, get over here! We've got a new lineup!" and he didnt believe me. But he came over, we all jammed, and thats when the more "serious" incarnation of Pelvic Meatloaf began. We started writing more metal tunes that weren't just about funny subjects like diarrhea & how much we rule... (Those subjects ruled though -Ed.)
DL: It was an honor to practice down the hall from you guys in the early 1990s and goof off and party the way we did. We also used to do the same off of Bell and 40th street. For me Pelvic Meatloaf was the band that could have the most awesome parties that I ever remember in Arizona! Once your brother Jesse seemed to be out of the picture in the band at first it was a little less wild seeming for a time there, but do you guys still party like you used to do?
PM: Haha... As a band, we do not. Byron, Dejan and I still rage though. Our drummer John is a family man with a serious job, and a triathlete in his spare time. Not much room for partying. And Kelly just lives way out in Surprise, AZ, which is an hour away from our jam room, and that's a bad commute after drinking.
DL: WHat are all your releases that you have put out through the years in chronological order and how do you feel about each one?
PM: For a band that's been around 30 years, we have a pretty small library. We had a few demo tapes in the early 1990's but our actual releases are:
1. "Negative" 6 track EP released in 1995
2. "The Key" 10 track LP released in 1996
3. "The Third Power" 21 track LP released in 1999
4. "Stronger Than You" 11 track LP released in 2013
5. "Rules" 5 song EP of the original tunes by the original lineup, Released in 2017 and we are currently recording our newest album, an 11 track LP, and expect to drop the first single from it in the spring.
DL: Who were your favorite local bands of all time back then? Who would you have liked to have played back to back with in the early years that you never did?
PM: Well there were so many, but I'd say that some of my personal favorites to play shows with were Toxic Vomit, Social Menace, Plinko, Structure, Brik, N17, BlessedBeThyName, Lurid State, and currently Scattered Guts & Murkocet.
DL: Is it fair to say youʻve had a horde of band members coming and going? Is the line up more stable now? So, far the folks I remember playing in your band besides your self have been you, Jesse Fourmy, Nick Rubie, Michael "Opie" Cakebread, Chris Wotjurski, Jeremy "Guillermo" Welker, John Zino, Byron Filson, Eric James "EJ" Mccoy, Larry Hinson, Dustin Oswald, Scott Matteson, and Kelly Moore. Others doing other fill in stuff like Aaron Huxtable, Sean Gates, Clint Dunn, Matt Geisel, Dejan Knezevic, John Ogle, and Jason Weddle. You also had session Cello from Adam Rebeske on a few tracks and North Side Kingsʻ Danny Marianino who was also with Cause For Alarm from NY doing guest vocals on "Walk the Walk" and a sample of Jack Nicholson from The Shining movie? Did I miss anyone or anything?
PM: For the first few years, we were a revolving door of members. Mainly because we were directionless kids, just having fun in our spare time... some guys gut too busy in life, and others just moved on to different shit, but those of us that kinda had the similar vision stuck together. The lineup we have right now is the same guys we had in 1997, with the exception of Zino being replaced by Dejan Knezevic. Our bass player Kelly left to raise a kid during some of that stretch, and Randy Cook subbed in for him. We are very solid now & have been for quite a while. We aren't ambitious and participating in the rat race anymore, so there is no stress. We are a family.
DL: At what point did Byron start doing Villain recordings and doing stuff with your band besides doing stuff for NSK and other AZ artists? It must be a plus to have a band member that can record you when you guys are in the mood to do new recordings?
PM: Byron opened Villain Recording back in 2007 as I recall. It's nice to have a good sound engineer in the band, but make no mistake... he does it for a living, not a hobby. And he is expensive. You get what you pay for though, and he is one of the best when it comes to metal. He has worked on records that have been Grammy nominated & gone Gold & Platinum in album sales. He is the real deal.
DL: Who is involved with Lobster Music? How did they help you on Your "Stronger Than You" release?
PM: Haha... Lobster Music is just my own publishing name. Its me. And I was alot of help on that album... I worked on every tune. (Haha -Ed.)
DL: There is definitely a progression seen in Pelvic Meatloafʻs sound and lyrical writing that took you guys beyond the level of just being a party band. Whatʻs the largest venue or crowd you have played before in all of your time? Do you do any gigs at the Metalheads MC clubhouse? Have your musical progressions made a change to the crowd you bring these days?
PM: We've played for a couple thousand people, but never gotten to play a big festival. We were booked to play Exit Fest in Novi Sad, Serbia a few years ago (2015), but I wasn't able to get a passport. According to Google, there were about 190,000 people at that show. Fuck my luck. Yes, our audience has changed over the years... Very few of our old fans come to our current shows, but we have plenty of new fans that show up, so it is still worth doing. We rehearse in the MetalHeads MC Clubhouse, so yes, we play there all the time. (Serbia would have been off the hook. It could still happen who knows? -Ed.)
DL: Who are your favorite bands to gig with? I know Scattered Guts gets a lot of recognition and respect and probably can put together killer stuff back to back with PM. What about Buttonface or Kunt Spit?
PM: Haha! Yeah Buttonface & Kunt Spit are fun bands! I love playing with any bands that are our friends, because it just makes the experience more fun. Of course, it definitely helps is they also draw a crowd. Shows are always better with a full house & raging pit.
DL: If there is any band out there in the world that Pelvic Meatloaf could jam with or open for today who would it be? Who are your favorite bands today?
PM: Slayer (Equal sentiments, Slayer Rules and Satan Laughs as You Eternally Rot to those who do not like them! \m/ Ed.)
DL: What are some of your major inspirations these days besides music?
PM: Inspirations? Like things that inspire our music/lyrics? Most of the new album was inspired by our country's current events, social media & my growing disdain for society at large. I'm sick of people whining & throwing tantrums about every stupid little thing, and the trend of cancel culture makes me want to nuke the whole fuckin globe. Fuck your pussy feelings and perceived injustice. Why should anyone be expected to give a fuck about your bitch ass? I don't expect anything from anyone, especially the government. Life's tough... suck it up & worry about you instead of bitching about what other people are doing. That's my mindset & that's what has influenced my current anger driven writing
.
DL: Back in time in the 90ʻs you were in an awesome and brutal band called Room 26 that sounded much like the vein of brutal bands such as Grave or Hypocrisy and nobody talks about that anymore. What happened with that? I miss hearing you guys over at Francisco Studios! Who was in that band line up?
PM: Haha! Yes, that band was a fun & very short lived project. We only played one show & broke up before we finished recording any music. None of those other dudes still do music. One... Keith Obit (guitar) is now an actor. In fact, he plays the lead role in a movie called "Late Fees" that is coming out this October. We have a few of our songs on that soundtrack too.
DL: Since, you guys gained a bit more fame, were you able to do any official videos? Do you produce your own videos and graphics?
PM: Yeah man... check out Youtube. We have a buncha cool music videos. We will be doing many more for the new album as well.
DL: I happened to stumble across an article that says you guys were on Traces of Death part 5 soundtrack with your song entitled, "I am Your Pain"? Thatʻs actually pretty awesome! How did this come about? I remember a guy named Damon Fox that was doing these before who also had asked us for a slot in the movie on the very first one, but we only had a non-copyrighted demo at the time. He used to have another moniker and play in an old band called Stormtrooper that did killer straight on speed metal in Phoenix. Do you recall the specific scene the song is used for by chance? When I look up the video online it doesnʻt show the actual movie scenes only the video box cover and plays the killer tune though! One of my favorite Pelvic Meatloaf tracks thus far!
PM: They actually used 7 of our tunes in that soundtrack. We have had our music used in a few movie soundtracks & various other shit over the years. Check out the movie STUDIO 666. Its about a band who's singer dies & her evil spirit comes back to kill everyone in the recording studio while her band is finishing the album or some shit like that. They used all Pelvic Meatloaf music as the band in the movie's music, but the funny part is that the singer in the movie was a chick. I never realized what a feminine voice I have! Hahaha (Hah, will check that Studio 666 out for sure! Ed.)
DL: It seems like you guys cross more than one genre these days, but what do you identify with most? More of a death metal hybrid, thrash band, fun band, or crossover punk band? Or just a metal band?
PM: There are so many genres & subgenres for metal these days it gets confusing. Our shit is just brutal heavy & groovy. Hardcore & thrash influenced.
DL: How has the process been going with writing your latest songs for your upcoming album? Can we get a sneak peak or an idea of what all the lyrics are about?
PM: All songs are written & currently being produced in the studio. Most of them are about how I wish the whole world would fuckin burn in nuclear fire. The general theme of this record is dark & hateful, whereas our last album was more expressive of redemption & standing up to oppressors. I was in a really good mood while we were writing the last album. This one...not so much. (Feel that my brother, Iʻm a sadistic Doom and gloom dude that smiles at destructive stuff when it happens to the right people. Hah! -Ed.)
DL: What do you do with yourself when youʻre not doing music besides eating a lot of beans and chili and suffering upon the porcelain throne for it as youʻve shown us via Facebook? Hopefully not punish yourself all the time?
PM: Well, I am in a motorcycle club, so I do alot of the usual MC world shit, but I also do alot of outdoorsy shit like hiking & kayaking.
DL: Between some of us who think of you as a close friend or family, we know youʻve had a lot of hardships in the past few years in this crazy life. Not to focus on reminding you of some of the losses youʻve had to face with your family and friends as well as the time locked up and away from your loved ones (In which I managed to get a postcard to you last time luckily), but did all of that hardship inspire you lyrically for your upcoming lyrics and musical sound? I hope things are a lot better for you currently speaking. Itʻs been no easy road in the past few years at all as far as most of us can tell and this Covid 19 with its lockdowns and quarantines has killed some of the good vibes with the venues and many gigs as well. I hope that the hard times have only inspired you guys to keep going stronger and harder? Have you guys found a way to get around all the bullshit?
PM: My little stints in the prison system never influenced any of my writing at all. Many people are surprised when I tell them this, but it's true. That place is boring as fuck. Every day is the same as the one before it... there is no inspiration to write about anything in there for me. Buncha fuckin idiots in there that got caught doing dumb shit. I don't think it would be as fun to sing songs about how fuckin dumb I was. Haha
DL: On a lighter note, can we talk about your porn merch thing you had going with Dejan. Is it still going? Howʻs the porn scene going in general in AZ? Anyone giving out blumpkins on film? Are you yourself messing around or tinkering with any doing adult acting and modelling? Tell us what porn does for your life and for the lives of your band mates?
PM: Our guitarist Dejan still owns a company that builds online adult toystores for people. I still work for him, and that is my primary source of income. I don't deal with the porn side of it. I fucked around in that scene many years back, but not since 2003. I'm always down to receive a blumpkin though! (Blumpkin talk always induces laughter over here ! -Ed.)
DL: What are the best bands you have gigged with lately and what kind of crowds are you drawing?
PM: Nobody lately man... fuckin Rona. Most recently though: Scatter Guts, Murkocet, Sicmonic, etc.. Hard to say what we draw these days... our last show had an attendance limit of 350 because of COVID restrictions, so anyone that showed up after it was full got turned away. The show before that was in June... right in the middle of Rona time when they opened things up for like 3 weeks just to test the waters... I think there was about 800 there, but lotsa people were scared to go out to shows at the time. They weren't just our fans either... there were other bands playing, so its kinda hard to say. In general, we draw enough to play a full house at most venues we play.
DL: Now, I know youʻre huge on the "138" deal like the Misfits sang about, would it be fair to say it would be Pelvic Meatloafʻs dream to tour or gig with any version of the Misfits or even Danzig for that matter?
PM: No. Haha... we already did that back in 1996 when the Misfits first came back out and Mike Graves was fronting them. It was fun, and it was a dream for me at the time. At this point, I would be more stoked to play with Slayer or Lamb of God, since we haven't gotten to yet. ( I didnʻt realize you actually opened for the Misfits, but that is frigging cool as hell to say the least. It all makes sense now. -Ed.)
DL: As far as I know you guys have always been real big on Judas Priest. Should we plan to see any Rob Halford type of antics live at your upcoming gigs? Just imagine coming out on the stage with all leather and maybe some whips and handcuffs or is that going too far? As much as Iʻd like to ask you about what your limits are, Iʻm not too sure youʻve set down any?
PM: I'm actually pretty sure that there are no Priest fans in this band. I mean... Those guys are metal legends & all, and Rob lives out here, but that's never really been our style. I don't know where you got that idea. Haha (Ummm, without tattling here, thereʻs a lot of leather and mustache pics floating around the internet world of a certain singer of a well known thrash/hardcore band in Phoenix with the acronym P.M. Hah! -Ed.)
DL: Where do you picture Pelvic Meatloaf in about 10 years from now? When all is said and done has all the sacrifice put into this band been worth it? It surely seems like it has!
PM: Probably doing the same shit we are today. We do this band for love, not money, so there's really no reason to quit. We all have our own lives & priorities & families, so when we want a break from the band, we take it. When we feel like making music again, we meet up & do that shit. There's no agenda, no expectations, no pressure. This shit is a hobby for us.
DL: Do you have an plans or time to do any other projects besides P.M. or is this it for now?
PM: Nope. Pelvic is it. Well, unless my boys in PACK 666 from Compton, Az ever decide to pop out of retirement again. Jay Jay (Fight, S.I.L.) lives in Ohio now, and Cristin (S.I.L., Bigshot Allstar, Trik Turner) is pretty busy with his current band "Grey Days", finishing their albums with Chester Bennington's vocals on them, for a posthumous tribute. We did reunite for a 20 year reunion show in October of 2019, which ruled the fuckin earth, of course. (I agree and had wondered what happened to Fight and S.I.L. folks up to this point as well. -Ed.)
DL: Youʻve been getting a ton of tattoos lately during lockdown bro! Is Pelvic Meatloaf how you afford it or via regular work like the rest of us blue collar fools? hah
PM: Have you forgotten my name bro? I'm RICH. Haha
DL: I notice you were doing some country music type thing with Dejan every now and then on the side you were posting in videos, can you tell us something about that and your karaoke get togethers?
PM: Our guitarist Dejan is a country music singer/songwriter for a band called Last Train To Juarez. That's his thing, not mine, although I help his with his promotional shit like flyer design & some video editing. If you like that ol' Yeehaw shit, you'll dig them. I generally hate country music, but I like alot of their songs. ( I do like some yeehaw stuff and specifically D.A.C. and Rebel Meets Rebel, besides all the oldies of Hank RIP, Johnny Cash RIP, Willie, Merle RIP, and Charlie Pride RIP. -Ed.)
DL: Is GG Allin still a major influence on your life as he was back when we were in high school cruising? I donʻt understand anyone who donʻt love GG Allin and all the sick things he did as well as the break throughs he made for punk rock! Can we expect to see some GG Allinisms live? That would be pretty dope cause you are always sending us photos of you on the shitter while at home and stuff like that all the time. Do you think it would be pretty awesome if you had a toilet right on the stage? Not sure how your band members would feel? Since this line up has been around together this long and this tight, I reckon they know what they might be in for! Certainly they seem beyond the hazing phaze, right?
PM: Haha... I am the only GG fan in the band. Those guys just put up with me for it. Our music is not that style though, so me shitting onstage wouldn't really be cool. Besides, there's only one GG Allin. I will stick to pissing on people at parties. (That sounds good enough for us fans anyhow! -Ed.)
DL: Where can I Get all your merchandise ordered from including t-shirts and any other oddities brother? Let everyone know and hook us up with addresses, emails, and phone numbers if you can! Thanks!
PM: We usually sell shit just at shows. If we do a run of merch though, we usually post a link for online purchases. We haven't made new merch in a minute... We probably will when the new album is done. (Most of us cannot wait. -Ed.)
DL: With all the crazy election fraud stuff going on during 2020, I have the feeling we should have seen your name on more ballots across the country cause this worldʻs a mess. We still got music. What do you think the future looks like for the Arizona music scene if the world we live survives getting nuked? Looking pretty good again?
PM: We have some cool bands out here in AZ. If we can survive 120 degree heat in the summers, we can survive a nuclear holocaust. There are a few bands I hope get disintigrated though. Haha (Not a bad idea for some I think. -Ed.)
DL: Iʻd like to thank you plenty for giving my magazine, Doom Life, the opportunity to interview you and Pelvic Meatloaf at last. Itʻs an honor and weʻve known each other long enough to where we can be informal as fuck even if this is a semi-professional magazine! Many cheers brother, here is the part where you say whatever the fuck you like! My cheers to you, everyone down with 138, Metalheads MC, and all our mutual friends and family! Take care brother! Tell folks to support Doom Life mag and answer some interviews with me if they can or would like to. It is mostly all metal and punk here! Cheers!
PM: Aloha mothafucka! Shoots brah! ---Rich Fourmy (Aloha back to you, Rich man with the hook ups! You, and your band, rule! Itʻs been awesome even though this is mostly a Doom Metal magazine, this was an interview I was more than stoked to make a part of this mag! Cheers to Pelvic Meatloaf for being solid dudes! \m/ -Ed.)
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