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Hello Hideki! What have you been doing lately bro?
Hi Fir, my metal brother! Now we're just on tour promoting the new album in
Japan. Had ten shows and another two are still left to be done. The tour is
going very well so far and we have much fun everywhere we play!
And so "Divination" finally hit the light! How do you feel with the
release of "Divination"?
Yeah, we're really proud of this album and satisfied with the release. Hope
this album will bring us to the next higher stage…
I have listened to some of the tracks and believe me I'm surprised with
the great song composition in "Divination". I must say this album is one
hell of the most technical Death Metal album I have ever listened! Do you
agree with me if I'm saying that "Divination" is the strongest material the
band has ever produced? What can you say about this album in general?
Yes, this album is obviously the best one we've ever made and we're so happy
with the result. I think this album came much evolved than any of our
previous releases on every aspect… songs, lyrics, arranges, productions, and
performances. We're proud of them all. These years we've toured and held
many shows around the world and we could sublimate the experiences well to
the album, I think. Yes, "Divination" is the album we've really wanted to
make for a long time!!
When did the band start to create all the songs for "Divination"? There
are 14 songs all together so I must say that the band must have took quite a
long time to compose all the songs. Can you elaborate more on this? Who
contribute the most in the song writing process? Both Yusuke and Norihisa?
What is the song that can be described as "masterpiece" in "Divination"?
Sorry, I forgot the exact date now but the writing period of the songs is
stated on the booklet so please check it out. It was just after "Ugliness
Revealed" when we started writing the songs for this album. About the
composing work, Yusuke brings the basis into the studio and we arrange them
altogether. We're doing it instinctly rather than logically... for example
we do without any sheet of music but just through jam sessions. Each of us
has many ideas in our minds and quotes them properly. Well, we don't have
particular favorite songs or recommends in the album. We love all songs
impartially as parents love any sons equally! Though, the most difficult
song to play is maybe "The Dormant Within". It's a little hard to make a
groove on this complicated song.
Where was the album recorded? All I know is that Mr. Jim Morris mixed the
album in his legendary Morrisound Studio. Did you record the album somewhere
in Japan? If so, which studio and what's the name or the producer? Anyway
concerning Morrisound, I guess this is the third time the band mixes their
album in that legendary studio. Are you happy working with Mr. Jim? Why not
working with Brian Griffin again?
The studio we used for "Divination" is Yellow Knife Studio in Tokyo. Yeah
the same place we recorded "Ugliness Revealed". The name of the engineer is
Akira Sakai, he's a good friend of ours. Well, we love and respect
Morrisound and the guys at there. Jim and Tom, the Morris brothers, are
really nice guys moreover the skillful engineers and it's always great for
us to work with them. As you know Jim did "Erupted Wrath" and new one, and
Tom did "Ugliness Revealed". Both of them are very kind and so professional
at the same time. I heard "good producers" are sometime arrogant and hard to
associate with, but Morris brothers are never. We love the environment of
the studio too. It's very relaxing and comfortable. Brian is also a great
producer and we really appreciate him too. It's cool if we can do something
together again with him someday.
I haven't seen the lyrics yet. So what are lyrics mostly talking about in
"Divination"? Something in between real life and death? Why the title
"Divination"?
The lyrics in "Divination" are basically about a person who has gone insane
and killed many people but I don't want you everybody to think it over
superfluously. Actually I get inspirations from everything in the world. I
write lyrics inspired from the things like natural phenomenon, books,
newspapers, human relationships and so on and I'm also influenced from the
brutality and the cruel point of view on death in Eastern philosophy. I
reflect all of them to my lyrics, you know. The album title is a kind of
irony. None of us DEFILED are Christians and I'm sick of that kind of silly
religions. I don't care as far as it stays in and no more than a ridiculous
fantasy but it definitely comes to conspire with politics or be the root of
racism. I have my own point of view on Christianity as colored, yellow
people and can't accept it. Anyway, I want everyone to check out my lyrics.
One thing for sure that impressed me a lot is Norihisa's bass-playing
skill in "Divination". How did he manage to create such a jazz-like riffs in
"Divination"? Did he create the riffs by himself or with the help/consult
from the band? His bass solo work is undeniably amazing! Do you agree if I'm
saying that his skill has established Defiled's musical concept as one of
the most original Death Metal band in the world?
Yes, we're proud of him. He had formal education at a musical school and
very well trained actually. He leaned many styles of music there and now
he's especially into Fusion Jazz for example Victor Wooten or Marcus Miller.
He always weaves strange phrases into here and there, we love it very much,
and yeah it definitely makes our sound original. We usually make our own
parts by ourselves severally when we compose the songs.
You have got a new label now. What makes you decided to be a part of
Season Of Mist family? What has happened to Baphomet Recs.?
Nothing special happened with Baphomet. It was just one-shot contract and no
fetters were put on our foot. So we sent the demo for "Divination" to some
labels and Season of Mist gave us the best offer. The process was so simple.
They promised us their best promotion and we are expecting it much now.
It has always been a tradition for any bands to start touring after
releasing a new album. Have you planned something in support to
"Divination"? If I'm not wrong you have played in Milwaukee Metal Fest for
more than 3 times. Will you be playing in the fest again? Eric Hoffman of
Deicide told me that Jack Koshic is a rip off person. Do you have anything
to say?
Now we're just on tour in Japan with "Divination"! Of course we wanna tour
the world too with this new album and actually now we Season of Mist and
DEFILED are trying to get some good tour. Hope we can announce good news
soon! About the Milwaukee fest, I don't know about the other bands' cases
but we have never paid for the bill. We don't know Jack well and can't say
anything on him. The person whom we've always talked to on this matter is
not Jack but Don Decker of Nightfall Records. He's a great guy and he did
release our first full length "Erupted Wrath" from his label in '99. We
would play there anytime if they want us again.
You did a show in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia back in 2000. How was the
response from the crowd in your opinion? Did you get to see the environment
of Kuala Lumpur when you were in here? Anyway when can we see you again in
here?
It really was a great night!! We love the kids in Kuala Lumpur and enjoyed
the show very much. Yes, Eric the promoter brought us to some places in
Kuala Lumpur and it's a great reminiscence for us. I don't know when but of
course we'll be back as soon as possible!! Get ready for the DEFILED attack
again! We definitely will kick your ass!
You have played along with a lot of famous metal bands such as
Immolation, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Incantation etc. Which one is the
most memorable tour/show you have ever done? Where is the place that you
have the most desire to tour/play? You haven't done any South American tour
yet right?
No we haven't played in South America and yes, it's one of our dreams to
tour there someday. I heard many great things on South America from my
friends who have played there. We hope we can go there with this new album!
We wanna go as many countries as possible with "Divination"… Well I can't
give you the most memorable show or something because all of the shows we
did with these bands were great. We learned much from them.
 Again
you have got Wes Benscoter painting the album cover for you. You seems to
worship his work so much. The "Divination" artwork looks really good to me.
Did you talk to him about the idea of the artwork or he designed it by using
his own idea?
This is the artwork Wes has had it's original idea years. Yusuke and I saw
the original one of this great artwork at his house, he once lived here in
Japan, and decided soon to use it for our album. We talked our concept on
"Divination" and show the lyrics to him, and then he processed and completed
it. We're very excited to use this great artwork, anyway. This is ultimately
the best cover artwork that Death Metal bands ever had!! We love Wes, he's a
great guy and a gifted artist.
I guess that many Asian metalheads are proud to what you have achieved in
many years. How do you look upon the Asian Metal Scene? Names like Defiled,
Impiety, Sigh, Abigail for sure make us proud to be an Asian! Do you believe
that the Asian Metal Scene can develop more in the future and can be as good
as the scene in Europe and others in the world? Indonesia itself has
hundreds (or thousands) of Death (mostly) / Black etc Metal bands! So what
do you think?
We DEFILED are proud to be Japanese, and hope the scene will be magnified
here in Asia. The most important thing for us Asian bands is to establish
our own sound so called originality. There's no need to follow American or
European styles at all. No need to be like Western bands. We should develop
the scene from the inside… Readers, support the Death Metal underground!!
If I'm not wrong, I believe that the line up remain unchanged since the
early days of the band. How do Defiled get to stay together? So far what is
the problem that band usually face? Financial problem?
Yusuke founded this band in 92 and we have experienced several lineup
changes in fact. Yuichi joined about three years ago and keeping present
members since then. Yeah, the main problem is money. We are chronic lack of
money, ha!! But, we really enjoy doing this band and don't mind how much
problem we have to go with. We're fully devoted ourselves to DEFILED.
Now I would like to know your current playlist? Can you name me some
albums that have been blowing your mind lately?
The new album of VITAL REMAINS is a killer! Dave, the drummer is a half
Japanese and a good friend of ours and Glen from DEICIDE sang all songs in
the album and it's superb. Well, frankly, we listen not only to Metal but
also other kind of music. And I'm also not listening to Metal so much
recently and more into old Rock staff. I like CACTUS and CAPTAIN BEYOND so
much, for example. And LED ZEPPELIN's new live album that's just out was
great too. And for your information, Yusuke loves Classic music of its most
avant-garde way like Holst or Stravinski and you can find the elements in
our songs… Check it out if you're interested in that.
Okay Hideki that's all. Do you have anything more to say to the readers
before we end this interview? You can promote your album in here!
Thank you Fir for this great interview. Well, reading is believing...
Readers, please listen to our brand new "Divination" album at all events and
you will never be disappointed, I promise!! We went there to Malaysia three
years ago as I said before and love your country very much! All friends we
met there are so kind and the cities are very beautiful. Hope we can go
there again soon!! See you on the road! Stay brutalized sick till then!!
Website:
http://listen.to/defiled
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