Abscess haben mit Through The Cracks Of Death ein Old School Death Metal Hammer rausgerotzt, der sich gewaschen hat. Am Schlagzeug dieser Combo sitzt niemand geringeres als Chris Reifert, der die Death Metal Debutsscheibe Scream Bloody Gore gemeinsam mit John Hand und Chuck einspielte.
Abscess haben mit Through The Cracks Of Death ein Old School Death Metal Hammer rausgerotzt, der sich gewaschen hat. Am Schlagzeug dieser Combo sitzt niemand geringeres als Chris Reifert, der die Death Metal Debutsscheibe Scream Bloody Gore gemeinsam mit John Hand und Chuck einspielte.
Nachdem Herr Shuldiner verzog und Jungs von Massacre bei ihm anheuerten, gründete Chris Autopsy. Als sich diese 1996 auflösten formierte sich die Eiterbeule, um im gewohnten Sound weiter zu wüten. Aus organisatorischen Gründen gelang es nicht, den Trommler ans Telefon zu bekommen, also gingen die Fragen via Email ins sonnige Californien. Als ich die Antworten las, die einer der Helden der Szene da gab, war ich doch verdutzt. Macht euch euer eigenes Bild und entscheidet selbst, ob er eine Hohlbirne, cooler Rocker, beides, irgend etwas dazwischen oder was auch immer ist. Um die Meinungsbildung nicht zu beeinflussen, gibt´s das ganze unverändert in Englisch.
Hi Chris, please give us a short info about the Bandhistory.
We started in 1994 and are going strong, our poison is spreading faster and you have no fucking hope, so punch yourself in the head and call it a day.
Are you satisfied with the album?
Yep it gets the point across, total damnation of the highest order, psychodeathic death doomcore for everyone!
When I first listend to your album I liked the way it sounds, it has the sprit of the late 80ies. Do you want to keep this spirtit of your roots?
We're not thinking of time, trends, decades, acceptance, nostalgia, rules, or any of that fucking shit, time is our bitch!
To me many modern Death Metal bands are produced too well. They lack aggression, because the sound is too perfect, and I think that you get tired of those records quicker. Do you agree?
You got that right man! Too true anyone can have some perfect processed album done and not hit a single real rib bone, only flesh can properly annihilate flesh in a ruthless human way, drink to that, fuckers!
You are signed to Peaceville. It is Abscess´ third label, why did you change? You have known Peaceville from the Autopsy releases, were you satisfied with their work? Many Metal Bands have left the label.
The other labels were afraid of us and that's the truth.
Most of your lyrics seem to be in the vein of Autopsy stuff (I´ve just got the titles). Titles like Escalation Of Violence and Tomb Of The Unknown Junkie seem to be a bit different, is this a more critical view on society?
How can you say what the lyrics seem like when you just said you haven’t seen the lyrics? Question Mark and the Mysterians for everyone!
With Autopsy you had a lot of trouble with censorship due to your lyrics and covers. What do you think about censoreship and organisation like the PMAC? (By the way I prefer the censored cover of Severed Survival, wihout seeing any reason to censor the first one)
Fuck censorship, fuck you and especially fuck me, actually a blow job would do just fine, Ha Ha!
Could you still write songs about tumours or cancer knowing that musicans like Chuck Schuldiner, Chuck Billy or Bobby Blitz suffered from it. Does it change the point of view when you know people who have been infekted?
I would never tone anything down for anyone or anything!
You had been one of the pioneers, when you first started off with Death in 84, and you still play the same kind of music. Have you never grown tired of Death Metal? Is there any other kind of music you would like to play?
I don't know how to do anything else.
I read in an interview you had given in 1990 that you would never change your style, because it´s for you and the fun. You kept your promise. What do you think about bands who had been telling all the time that they would always play aggressive Death Metal and then became more and more commercial?
What can I say that makes a difference? They were all dust before they were even born.
Isn´t it hard to be one of a few who founded a new style of metal, and see how the others earn much more money. I guess you have to work beside Abscess.
Yeh, we all work but bitterness would be a waste of time and adrenaline, we crush on! past all cardboard cutout situations.
You are one of only a few drummers, who also sing. Don´t you want to have a singer. In my opinion, a „pure“ shouter helps a lot to get in contact with the fans particularly at live shows.
Well I'm glad you have your opinion, my opinion is that your opinion doesn’t matter.
Are there going to be concerts in Germany?
Yes and we will get into contact with you in abnormal ways, so hold onto your colostomy bag.
Autopsy splitted and only a few people took notice of it. What were the reasons? Will there be a reuninon?
The band broke up eight years ago, enough said.
What do you think about the reunion wave at the moment? To me, most of them are unnessary and kill the cult image of the bands.
Exactly, I couldn’t have said it better, man!
In Germany, there was a lot of solidarity with Chuck Schuldiner. When he was still alive a lot of people critisized him a lot and now that he is dead he was “the greatest”. He released a lot of brillant records but also behaved like an asshole (cancel tours etc.). Did you still stayed in touch with him and what´s your point of view?
We remained friends through the years, I personally never had problems with him, we just partied our asses off!
Any last words?
Abscess is law!