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Hello Oscar! How have you been doing lately?
Is it hot in Mexico now?
Hail, first of all thanks for the inte and interest in Ravager. All has been
good for us nowadays, we're working hard and doing some live dates around,
also drinking hundred of beers cause we live in a fucking inferno of 40°
every day.
Alright let`s talk about your band. You were previously known as Domain
before you change the name to Ravager. I must say that during the Domain era
you have built a strong position in the underground scene with only one cult
released which is a split E.P called "Hellbirth" with your other project
Demonized. Why you decided to change the name? I know that there`s another
band called Domain but there are also a few bands that share the same name
like Disgorge for example. Can you tell me why?
Truly was a shame and a big lost for us, cause we could not do it nothing,
we received messages from the band's manager in Germany with demand menaces,
unfortunately this guy and the band shown a very aggressive attitude and
they were decided to affect however to us and our label if we don't accept
to do the change, so just to avoid this kind of legal problems we did the
name change. This way we lost all the work built as Domain and forced to
start since the beginning again.
I was stunned when I first listened to your split E.P "Hellbirth" because
to me this E.P is hell of a cult E.P I have ever heard! Where did you get
the idea to play a fast and evil music like that? Can you describe Ravager
music in general? Satanic Brutal Death Metal?
I wanted always since I was a child to have a Death Metal band and play so
fucking fast and brutal, I grew up listening all that great bands in the
90's and it's the same for the rest of my bandmates I think. I met them
years ago and all of us had the same idea. This way we built our legion. I
could describe our music as "DESTRUCTIVE DEATHFUKKING WARMETAL!"
What bands have influenced you and the rest of demons in Ravager? I can
say that you guys have a lot of originality but for sure you guys do have
mentors, right? Tell more about it.
I could say many names, here some of our biggest influences: MORBID ANGEL,
IMMOLATION, ANGEL CORPSE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, REBAELLIUN, SUFFOCATION,
DIABOLIC, BEHEMOTH, NILE, GOREFEST, INCANTATION, IMPIETY, GOD DETHRONED,
HATE ETERNAL, ZYKLON, KRISIUN, IN AETERNUM, CENTURIAN, ABHORRENCE and more..
You are now under Osmose Productions and currently have released a debut
album called "Storm Of Sin". Where did you record the album? You have a
better sound than "Hellbirth" with "Storm Of Sin". I guess it's all because
of Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez work, right? Antimo's vocal work has changed a
bit. Why is that? Anyway how did you get the deal with Osmose?
We recorded the Storm of Sin album at Sound Tech studio in Queretaro,
Mexico. For our debut album I guess we finally obtained the result that we
always was looking for, good sound and brutal, Punchy came from Florida and
did an excellent work with us, his experience helped us a lot during the
recording sessions and we're very satisfied with the final result. We wanted
that Antimo's vocals could sound different than Disgorge vocals, he did a
great work. We get the deal with Osmose during the promotion of our split "Hellbirth",
Herve heard the stuff and resulted very interested in our band, we was
receiving some others offers but finally we signed a 3 cd's deal for the
French label in January 2001.
From all the 10 songs in the album, which songs are the best in your
opinion? To me "Storm Of Sin" is a major success for Ravager because you
have gained so much praise from the press and listeners even though "Hellbirth"
is the beginning of all destruction. You have established Ravager in the
scene especially in the Death Metal Scene with "Storm Of Sin". Do you happy
with your current achievements and the result/feedback from your fans with
your debut album?
Fortunately the album has been received so fucking good, we're really glad
and motivated for the next release, we worked so hard for the Storm of Sin
album, we put all our blood in the studio, so I'd like to recommend the
entire disc. I like all the songs, otherwise I should not be playing in
Ravager hehe.
You have created lots of killer drum beats! Most of the drum beats are
well crafted and that have made all the songs much brutal and technical. You
are one of the best Death Metal drummer! Where did you get the idea to
create killer beats like that? When you arrange the drum beats, do you get
the help from the other members or do you arrange them by yourself?
Thanks for your nice words man, its a big motivation for me, cheers! I
always dreamed to play the drums, As I said before I grew up seeing good,
killer and god drummers, definitely this influenced me a lot to start
playing. I think I've been dedicated for this and for all my occupations in
my life, this way the things comes at the right way. I arrange the drum
beats in practice, first with a basic beats and then more ideas comes... and
of course I always ask my bandmates's opinions.
You are currently busy with tours in support to "Storm Of Sin". How many
countries Ravager have destroyed so far and which is the best place you have
played? How was the response from Mexican crowd? Do they really support your
show?
Well, unfortunately we can't do many tours in Mexico, we do as many shows as
we can for the promotion of our album, until this moment we don't have
played outside our country, we hope to do it soon, that would be killer and
great for Ravager probably for the second album we'll receive the
opportunity for destroy some stages in the outside. The response from the
Mexican crowds has been just good, not so excellent like outside Mexico, its
very normal because here are many false people and few Death Metal Maniacs,
also the envy is a big problem in our scene...we don't care more about it...
our scene sux !!
The latest news I got from you is that you'll be the supporting act in
Nile upcoming Mexican show somewhere in August. If I'm not wrong Hate
Eternal and Origin will be there too, right? Do you get along with them
well? What do you think about Nile? I must say they are one of the
outstanding Death Metal band right now along with Krisiun, Morbid Angel etc!
We did the show with NILE some days ago, Hate Eternal and Origin were not
included for the show. To see and play with NILE was one of my best
experiences of my life, and yeah they are a big name nowadays, simply they
destroyed the fukking stage....we received serious Death Metal lessons hehe.
Let's talk about your other project, Demonized. Personally I think this
band is just as brutal as Ravager but I can see that you don't really pay
much attention with it, I mean you have brought Ravager to the highest
position by signing the band to Osmose Productions but Demonized only stick
with underground independent label Evil Vengeance Records (own by Gene). Why
is that?
Well, we put all our attention at time for Demonized, but it was just a
project, after be signing for Osmose, we received some offers for our
project too, and we decided to work with this underground label because the
meaning of be working with Gene, you know how means Angel Corpse for us, so
its not about lack of attention for Demonized, for us will be a honor to
have a release with Evil Vengeance records. Many times its better to work
with underground labels.
To me Demonized sounded more like a Black Metal band than Death Metal
with straight-forward grind drum beats. Some even call/label Demonized as
"the reincarnation of Canada's Blasphemy". Can you describe more clearly
what kind of concept Demonized is playing? Anyway I like both songs from "Hellbirth"
E.P called "Luciferian Vengeance" and "Wardemonic Sodomy". What are the
songs all about? Have you ever performed live with Demonized?
Yeah, I think Demonized's style is more Death Black Metal, fast and fucking
furious, very chaotic stuff. The song "Wardemonic Sodomy" also will be
included in the full length album, we never have played alive as Demonized,
and there is no possibility to do it, all our time is now for Ravager.
Demonized debut album will be released soon under Evil Vengeance Records.
Can you reveal a bit about the upcoming debut album? Is it much faster than
"Hellbirth"? Have you set any title for the album?
You can expect from Demonized a very fast, heavy and strong album, and of
course with so much better sound than Hellbirth. The album is just called
DEMONIZED.
Let's get back to Ravager. Before this you told me that you are going to
start working on the upcoming Ravager album as the follow up to "Storm Of
Sin" for 2003 release. Any songs have completely composed? Will the new
album be more brutal than "Storm Of Sin"?
Yes, we have 5 hymns done, We plan to record the new album between February
and April 2003, the new Ravager stuff comes very obscure, I think sounds
more American Death Influenced, of course we keep the brutality of our cult.
We're working very hard for offer a good Death fuking metal album. Also
there are others release plans, I'll spread the word at time, we'll be doing
a split before the new album. So be prepared !!
What do you know about my country Malaysia? You have a good contact with
Shyaithan of Impiety! What can you say about "Skullfucking Armageddon"? Do
you like the album very much? If you have a lot of money, will you be
touring Asia?
Honestly I don't know a lot from your country, hell yeah I'm in touch
continuously with my mighty brother Shyaithan, we have a good friendship and
we're anxious to do a tour with Impiety. "SkullFucking Armageddon" is one of
my favorite albums, Raw, Violence and Pure Metal means for me, Hail Impiety.
To be touring in Asia definitely would be the most killer experience for
Ravager, We Like a lot your culture and all enigmatic places there...for
sure would be a dream come true.
What is your current playlist? Have you listened to Incantation's
"Blasphemy"?
No, damn it...I must obtain the new Incantation album as soon as possible.
Nowadays I'm crushing my ears and soul with albums like:
NILE - IN THEIR DARKENED SHRINES
ABOMINATOR - SUBVERSIVES FOR LUCIFER
IMMOLATION - UNHOLY CULT
MOTLEY CRUE - DECADE OF DECADENCE
BESTIAL MOCKERY - CHRISTCRUSHING HAMMERCHAINSAW
That's it Oscar we have come to the end. Anything you would like to say
to the readers before we end this interview?
Brother, thanks again for the true and hellish support for Ravager, I want
to say Hell O to every Dark Legions` Readers, we hope to play some day in
your country and share a killer Death Metal session. Hail to every one of
you and let's work until the end for the glory of Metal Cheers !!!!!!! Stay
in touch.
http://www.the-ravagers.com
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