AS VENOM TO THE DEVOUT, SO NECTAR TO THE FAITHLESS

There is ‘death metal’ – and then there is death metal. The former is the basic instruction-book type, the one that is let loose in much-too-dense dozens from record labels each month with little or no variation, and which becomes as indistinguishable as the interminable hum of an old refrigerator after but a few rotations on the home stereo. The latter, in contrast, is made of the stuff that is liable to burst out of volcanoes with a few added Habanero chillies, and can be as difficult to find as a small diamond in a 4-foot mound of rhinoceros excrements. Immolation have been both innovators as well as dissenters to the steel-set canons of death metal since their formation on the still-smouldering ashes of Rigor Mortis in 1986, and their sixth and latest offering Harnessing Ruin is no less than an unorthodox masterwork, much as the world has come to count on from these four NY-residents. Evilution Magazine tracked down frontman and versifier Ross Dolan for a closer assessment of the passions and principles behind their latest oeuvre. Sceptics will be shot down; survivors will be shot again!

# What new impulses went into the songwriting for this new album compared to Unholy Cult, and how does the new album describe a progression from the previous full-length releases?

“This time we were really trying to achieve two main things with the new record. First of all, we wanted to write an album that was a little less intricate and rather more straightforward and in your face; something a bit more scaled-down and a bit more simplistic as compared to our previous releases.  Secondly, we wanted to make sure all the added guitar layers and nuances were brought out in the mix, because as the writing process progressed, we realized there were many of these extra guitar parts in every song, and it was important to bring them out. I think both of these aspects were achieved, and I feel it is a definite progression from the last record, for sure. It definitely combines elements from all the albums, but it brings them to a new level.”

# Immolation recently made a promo video for the title track on Harnessing Ruin, which is available for download via the official website. Could you comment a bit on the making of the video, as well as the feedback the band has received from fans and media?

“Well, it was a very long process. We spent about eight hours one Sunday in October running through the song about 30 times or so. It was very tiring because we had to play along as if we were playing a live show, so it was like playing an eight hour set of the same song. We were totally exhausted by the end of the day, but it was definitely a great experience. Plus, working with Maurice from Low Life Media again was also cool.  As far as feedback, I don’t really know. I think it is a great video that really brings out the essence of the band’s intense live performance, and it is done really well with some images tied in to bring out the meaning of the song. It’s great in my eyes.”

# The extremely befitting artwork for Harnessing Ruin was made by Sven de Caluwe, who is also responsible for some of the layout design on Unholy Cult. What made the band decide to work with him instead of longtime artwork collaborator Andreas Marschall, and what ideas and sentiments was Sven asked by the band to bring out on the cover?

“We decided to try something new with this album visually and conceptually, and since the lyrics were straying slightly from the religious themes we had done so much in the past, we felt this was the perfect time to try something new for the cover. We wanted digital images rather than a painted look, and we wanted the ideas to capture the overall theme of the songs, and this was achieved brilliantly by Sven. We basically told him all our ideas and concepts, what we wanted the cover to say to people, and then it was back and forth for a few weeks until he got it perfect. We are extremely happy with the final look of the album.”

# What was the reason for the split with Alex Hernandez, and what has the recruitment of drummer Steve Shalaty meant for the new material?

“There was a combination of reasons for Alex’s departure, the main being a hernia that he developed while on the last end of the European tour for Unholy Cult that prevented him from continuing on and finishing off the US leg of that tour. The rest was just personal things that he needed to sort out, and we totally understood this and he understood our decision to find someone new to take over the drums. Steve stepped in and saved the US tour for us and this is really what led to our decision of making him a permanent member. He is a phenomenal drummer that adds much more control into the mix. He has a much different style than Alex, but he fits right in to what we are doing quite smoothly and adds more of a straight-forwardness to the songs.”

# Is the band still in contact with drummer Craig Smilowski and guitarist Paul Wilkinson, and is the latter even involved in the music business today?

“Yes, we are in touch with both. Craig is still playing drums, but Tom is now devoted to his business and family.”

# Harnessing Ruin was produced by Paul Orofino, who has worked together with Immolation since the brilliant Failures for Gods album, and has been very influential in providing the band with a unique and identifiable sound. Could you comment a bit on how it has been to work with him over the years, as well as give a few words on his input on the new album?

“It is always a pleasure working with Paul. He really is the fifth member of the band, and we always look forward to our time in Millbrook studios. Paul has definitely given us a sound all our own, something that is identifiable exclusively with us and us alone.  This further adds to the identity we have developed for ourselves since the beginning.  We basically let him have free reign when it comes to the mixing of the album. Of course we have input, but we let him do his thing and we just add our comments to fine-tune certain things, but he basically makes the album sound the way it does.”

# The lyrics to the song “Son of Iniquity” deal with the modern-day atrocities of suicide bombers. Has it been important for Immolation to broaden the lyrical perspective in order to comment on more specific issues and incidents?

“Yes, most definitely, and that is why we have strayed slightly away from the religious themes. Although one could argue there still is an underlying element of religion running through the album, it really does focus on different issues. It covers a much broader area of topics that we just would not be able to do if we tried to make another album heavy with the religious themes, and for this I think it made for much stronger lyrics that really have something relevant to say and really drive the point home. They are very personal lyrics and they deal with many things going on in the world today, such as war, terror, hatred, hopelessness, despair and more specific subjects such as suicide bombers as in the song you mentioned, “Son of Iniquity”. What I like about this song is that it is written in the first person, so this really makes it a very dark and despondent song. One of my personal favorites on the album.”

# In early 2004 Immolation came out with their first ever DVD-release entitled Bringing Down the World. How was it to finally release an audio/visual representation of the band, and what are your comments on the final result in terms of both content and layout?

We are very pleased with the final product. The layout and the content are both top-notch and we think people will really enjoy everything that is on the DVD. It will really give people a great idea of what the live Immolation experience is like, and since there are a few different shows with different levels of quality, it covers the whole spectrum.”

# What is the single biggest highlight or greatest achievement of your career so far?

“I think just remaining active and part of this crazy whirlwind for over 17 years is achievement enough for us. We have proven time and again that we are here to stay and we will continue to better ourselves and hopefully make new friends and fans along the way. It’s really the whole ride that is an achievement for us, not where it takes us, but the journey.”

# How come Immolation have remained a cult ensemble and never truly reached death metal stardom like Morbid Angel or Cannibal Corpse; is the sound of the band somehow a bit too extreme or technical for that?

“This has been a very common question in about 90% of the interviews we have done so far. I honestly do not have an answer for you, my friend. I wish I could say it was this or that, but I truly can not. I am quite comfortable being on a cult level. Our fans are some of the best and most supportive and die-hard people out there and we are very fortunate to have that. We do what we do, and we mainly do it for ourselves, so as long as we are happy doing it, that’s really all that matters to us. What is success anyway? To me it is being happy with your accomplishments, and we certainly have no regretss!”

# What has remained stable and distinctive in the Immolation songwriting and sound from the mid-80s when the band was formed under the Rigor Mortis moniker?

“I think the heaviness, the feeling, the darkness and the haunting nature of the music overall is still there in a big way. Our music is still very organic sounding and this has been the case since the Rigor Mortis days.”

# Another quite distinctive characteristic of Immolation is the fact that none of the current or former members have ever appeared in any (renowned, at least) side projects. Is the musical scope of the band simply wide enough to encompass any creative whim, or is it rather a question of retaining a focus in terms of musical direction and songwriting?

“To be honest, this takes up enough of my time and honestly, this is really what I love doing. Creatively this is perfect for me because I am able to be part of something I truly believe in 100% and this is what keeps me pushing forward, and I know that is the case for the other members as well. I am very satisfied devoting all my time to Immolation because the end result each time around goes far beyond my expectations.”

# How is life as an extreme-metal musician different these days compared to when Immolation took their first triumphant strides in the studio and on the road in the early 90s?

“It’s been a long hard road, and the life is still the same. It just gets harder to do, the older you get.  We are in our mid-30s now, so things in our lives are much different now as opposed to when we first started the band back in early 1988.  There are many new factors we have to consider when going out on the road and when planning things. Things that were of no concern in the beginning, but is now part of the life, and we have made many sacrifices along the way and continue to keep doing so with each release.”

# Can you imagine a life without Immolation (or a different musical outfit for that matter) to articulate and release all these creative impulses?

“I can’t imagine my life without Immolation, or at least some form of musical outlet.  I live and breathe this band each and every day of my life. It really flows through me without sounding stupid or corny, but it is the truth. I think anyone who knows us would agree. They see the passion in our eyes and know this is what we want to do. My life without this would be nothing. This is what I am and it is what I look forward to and live for. If Immolation came to an end, there would have to be some form of musical continuation, just for my own personal outlets and sanity.”

# And before we finish... Please name five albums you would bring along to a deserted island!

My Dying Bride – Turn Loose the Swans
Dead Can Dance – Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
The Gathering – Mandylion
Led Zeppelin – II
Black Sabbath – Master of Reality

# Thanks so very much! Every time a new Immolation album hits the streets, it ends up dominating my home stereo for weeks on end, and once again you have managed to exceed earlier triumphs and deliver an excellent full-length piece that will raise the level of extreme musical intensity to new heights. Feel free to finish off this interview with whatever you would like to share with the readers of Evilution Magazine.

“Thanks so much to everyone for their continued support throughout the years. Can’t wait to hit the road and see you all again. Thanks again!!!

TEAR THROUGH THE SOIL… TEAR THROUGH THE SOUL.” 

Written and conducted by Misereion.