Demental
Demental is a new powerful
force in the deathgrind scene. Originating from Canada I think the complexity
of structures is more than certain, since most of the bands coming from
there have a special and unique sound. "Tales Of Alienation" belongs to
this category, so we have here the band members answering some questions...
This is, like they said, their first interview so we wish them the best
of luck for the future!
1.FIRST OF ALL POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT
MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S HISTORY AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO THE READERS.
Salut à tous. Dominique Simard (guitar)
and Éric Bombardier (drums) founded the band at St-Jean-Sur-le-Richelieu
4 years ago. After a few line-up changes, three new musicians joined
the band in about 4 months at the end of 2001: Alex Bourdais (vocals),
Daniel Daris (bass) and Gaël Magrini (guitar). This quick reorganisation
of the band was significant, since every new members composed new parts
for their instruments, giving the actual sound of Demental. Then 6 months
after the line-up was complete, we quickly entered studio to record Tales
of Alienation. Some problems with the soundman delayed the album
recordings for about a year. Tales of Alienaton was released at the end
of 2003, and it was the real beginning for us.
2.IS YOUR NAME GIVING A CLUE FOR THE STRUCTURE
OF YOUR MUSIC? YOUR PERFORMANCE IS REALLY MADDENED!
Kind of. Since the beginning, Demental has
always been based on maximum speed and aggression. Annie, Dom’s girlfriend,
found that name a few years ago, and it fitted well. The new members composed
their parts in order to complexify the structures, so our name became even
more significant.
3.SOME SONG TITLES ARE IN FRENCH SO I GUESS THE
LYRICS OF THESE SONGS ARE ALSO IN FRENCH. DO YOU FIND IT EASIER USING YOUR
MOTHER TONGUE?
Of course. 3 members out of five, including
Alex, came from Saguenay, a part of Quebec where English is a very distant
language, to Montreal. Alex write most of the lyrics (Éric wrote
Possession Bestiale) so French is easier for him. But he is getting better
in English at every song, and the new material goes deeper into the mind’s
afflictions. Nonetheless, Demental will always stay bilingual, French being
important for us.
4.THE PRODUCTION OF YOUR ALBUM IS VERY CLEAR FOR
A GRIND BAND. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH IT? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? DID YOU HAVE
A PRODUCER? WHERE DID YOU RECORD THE CD?
Charles Voho (recording and mixing) and Bernard
Belley (mastering) are the responsible for that clear production. The mixing
of Tales of Alienation was very long (14 month), because Charles was very
busy with his job and his other projects. Further more, we live 5 hours
away from his studio (Saguenay). We are satisfied with the result, but
we are looking forward to have a better sound on the next album.
5.YOUR SINGER SCREAMS AS IF HE WERE POSSESSED!
HE USES SO MANY EXTREME VOCALS AND HE HAS SUCH VARIETY! ARE YOU HAPPY WITH
HIM? CAN HE REALLY SPEAK AFTER A LIVE SHOW OR DOES HE HOLD HIS LARYNX IN
HAND?
Yes we are satisfied with Alex. He’s the best
vocalist possible for our band. Seriously, Alex is a frenzy animal and
his live performances (even in practice) are completely mad and uncontrollable.
Those voices are natural for him and he can roar his guts out for three
hours at will.
6.YOU HAVE MANY CLEAR DEATH METAL PARTS THAT REMIND
ME SOMEHOW OF CANNIBAL CORPSE. DO YOU THINK THAT DEATH METAL AND GRIND
ARE TWO GENRES THAT FIT TOGETHER?
For sure. All kinds of music can be melted
together. In fact, we don’t make our music to fit one genre or another.
We have multiple influences that are all represented somehow in our songs.
Some people think we do black metal, some even told us it was melodic death
metal. We add some classical, modern or even jazz touches here and there.
Everybody’s right: we play fast, complex and aggressive music. Name it
as you wish.
7.EACH SONG SEEMS TO BE CONSISTED OF SEVERAL RIFFS
PLAYED AT THE SAME TIME THIS MAKING YOUR SOUND VERY COMPLEX! DO YOU AGREE?
IS IT SOMETHING YOU PURSUED?
Yes. That’s something that happened with the
new line up. Dom and Éric first compose the songs with the primary
riffs and rhythms. Then, the rest of the band compose their own riffs to
complete the songs. Since we have two guitars, we want each of them
to have their own “voice”. That’s why Gael composed riffs that are most
of the time totally different of Dom’s parts. It sometimes get really hard
to practice with only one guitarist, since the two parts played alone seems
to be different songs.
8.IN THE SONG "AT THE GATES OF WAR" WE CAN LISTEN
TO A REALLY FAMOUS THEME FROM CLASSICAL MUSIC! ARE YOU FANS OF THIS KIND
OF MUSIC OR DID YOU PUT IT IN THERE JUST TO TEASE AND INTRIGUE THE LISTENER?
Gaël put it, because he listens to classical,
baroque and modern music. To be honest, it was no strategic choice
to put the Brahms’s Hungarian Dance no5 theme. This melody imposed itself
in Gael’s head during the composition, and every other riff he tried to
compose didn’t fit as well. So there it is.
9.YOUR ALBUM LASTS ABOUT 25 MINUTES. DO YOU THINK
THAT A GRIND ALBUM NEEDS TO BE OF SMALL DURATION IN ORDER NOT TO TIRE THE
LISTENER?
25 to 30 minutes for a grind album is enough.
Although we don’t take Tales of Alienation as a full length album, but
as a miniCD. The next album will be more consistent, with more and longer
songs. We already have 6 new songs composed that makes Tales of Alienation
looks like a ballad album (huh?).
10.CAN YOU NAME THE BANDS THAT INFLUENCED DEMENTAL?
HOW ABOUT EARLY PERIOD CARCASS?
Since all of us are involved in the composition
process, many bands are among our influences.
Dom: Cryptopsy, Rupture, Spastic Ink, Suffocation,
Brutal Truth, Cephalic Carnage, etc.
Gaël: Obliveon, Martyr, Spastic Ink,
Groovy Aardvark, J.Mclaughlin, Gentle Giants, etc.
Alex: Gorgoroth, Cryptopsy, Ritual, Satyricon,
Fantomas, Liturgy, Abigor, Motorhead, Deicide,etc.
Dan: Metallica (83-91), Rush, Death, Cannibal
Corpse, Morbid Angel, Dying Fetus, Carcass (yeah), etc.
Éric: Cryptopsy, Deicide, Dark Funeral
11.ID' SAY THAT MY FAVOURITE SONG FROM THE ALBUM
IS "CREATURES INDESIRABLES". WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE ONE AND WHY?
Like you, for Alex, it’s the extreme Experimentation
Temporelle, the last he recorded. Dom likes Créatures Indésirables.
Gael and Éric prefer Visionary Man (love its intensity). Dan loves
them all.
12.WHICH WORDS DO YOU THINK COULD BEST DESCRIBE
YOUR MUSIC?
Demental, extreme, complex, aggressive, damn
fast...
13.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION WHAT WOULD IT
BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
Our music is a musical representation of insanity
in it’s most aggressive and obscure ways. The Tales of Alienation cover
(which is a 3d painting) well represents it...
14.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET AN IMPORTANT
PERSONALITY (DEAD OR ALIVE) WHO WOULD THAT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ASK HIM?
Dom would ask to GG Allin what drugs he takes?
Alex would like to meet the Jerry Lee Lewis, the “fuckin satanic rocker”.
Gael would like to do a thumb fight with Gengis Khan. Dan would like to
smoke a blunt with Cliff Burton and Éric would like to meet the
grandfather he never knew.
15.WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO COMPOSE
MUSIC?
Probably listen to much more music and
take more time with family and friends. Drink more, travel more, etc.
16.THANK YOU! THESE LINES ARE YOURS...
It was our first interview ever, so thanks
for the interview, your professionalism and your interest in Demental.
Come visit us at www.demental.com
(a
full mp3, 2 audio-video live songs, pictures, etc). Cheers.
George “Volt”
Tassis
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