FREEDOM REIGNS SUPREME...

TEARS OF DECAY

"Every question is worth enough to get an answer"

1.DAY ONE TILL TODAY. WHAT DO TEARS OF DECAY HAVE TO MENTION? GIVE A SHORT BIO OF THE BAND AND FOCUS ON THE GREATEST EVENTS OCCURING IN THE BAND.

Allright, here are the info's.
Tears of Decay comes from Emden (East-Frisia in Germany) and exists since 1997, however, the current team was formed in 1998. The main reason for founding the band was to make some heavy noise, to hang around and, of course, to have lots of fun. The very first session of the band was an excessive orgy. The founding members Henne (guitar), Michael (vocals) and Dirk (drums) were inspired by this experience and call it the "main reason" why they wanted to carry on with the project. A little time later Steffen (guitar) joined T-o-D. Steffen and Henne knew each other before due to their former band Mistrust (R.I.P.). From now on they decided to rehearse seriously in order to terrify mankind with a mixture of death/grind and groove. After many irregular sessions and a completely chaotic first year Jorg (bass) from Bochum joined the band. First they met at Wacken-Open-Air (one of the biggest Festivals in Europe). Jorg suddenly appeared at the camp site of the band. They had lots of talks and it was found they have the same preferences. Soon the five musicians became best friends. A unity was formed.The results of the sessions became better and better. The songs took shape and the members` thoughts and feelings turned out into musical brutality and aggression. In February 1999 the first gig took place with two other bands: ANASARCA and SANITYS DAWN. The response to this event was very great. Therefore, Tears of Decay decided to record their first MCD. The recording took place in Time Warp Studios (now: Audio Check) and their first MCD was called: "Redemption". Some songs are also available on the following samplers: Deadly Art, Eternity, G. U. C., Ablaze, etc. The band was satisfied with the results of the MCD. The following reviews (published in magazines like Ablaze, Eternity, Legacy etc.) and opinions were very positive. Furthermore, many gigs took place with participating bands like INCANTATION, KRISIUN, FLESHCRAWL, PROFANITY, ANASARCA, SANITYS DAWN. Also Festivals like FUCK THE COMMERCE III, EAR TERROR FESTIVAL I, DEATHFEST - Ludwigshafen I, MOUNTAINS OF DEATH I etc. were terrorized by Tears of Decay. For more details, please, check out www.tears-of-decay.de. In April 2000 CUDGEL AGENCY took over the distribution and "Redemption" was released a new In January 2001 the band was finally contracted by Cudgel Agency. Their debut record called "Saprophyt" is planned to be released at june/july 2002.

2.HOW DID YOU SELECT THIS BAND NAME? ISN'T IT A LITTLE PESSIMISTIC? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STATE?

We came up with this band name in a party. We were all drunk and so, one said : "Let us take: Tears of Decay" and the name was born,hehe. We wanted no Gorename. Take only the letters, it means in german. "Death". It``s a good side-effect, hehe.We are no pesimists in general, but sometimes life is very hard.

3.WHICH ARE YOUR INFLUENCES? WHICH BANDS DO YOU ADMIRE? ARE THERE ANY BANDS YOU DESPISE?

We have influences from all Death Metal bands. We like Dying Fetus, Cryptopsy, Vader, Malevolent Creation, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Deeds of Flesh.I think, the main influences come from the american death - metal, but our guitarist Henne is listening to bands like Korn, Slipknot, too. The second guitarist likes bands as Dimmu Borgir, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, too. Our bass player likse mostly the grind things (Carcass, Napalm Death ) and our drummer likes punk. I like all death/grind/thrash music. So we try, to combine all the styles to our way of madness.

4.TELL US SOME GENERAL STUFF REGARDING YOUR CD "SAPROPHYT". REGARDING THE MUSIC, THE RECORDINGS, SOME WEIRD OR FUNNY INCIDENTS, ETC...COMPARE IT WITH YOUR PREVIOUS DEMOS.

We have recorded the CD here in Emden, in a studio with a friend of us. There were no funny stories, because we have fun everytime. We needed a lot of time to record, because we had problems with the instruments, etc. We had mixed the songs by ourselves, but it wasn`t very good, so Kai from Harmony Dies came to us and mixed it again and Pluto, also from Berlin, , mastered it. We chose 8 songs and one funny song. I think, is a nice death/grind mix with groove, yeah. Our first MCD called: "Redemption" and we played there the same style.

5.WHAT ARE YOUR LYRICS TALKING ABOUT? WHY HAVE YOU NAMED THE CD "SAPROPHYT"? WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN WRITING LYRICS?

I wrote the lyrics. I was inspired from books. I read the work of Sartre, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche , Feuerbach , Kant etc. I sang about the existenz philosophie and about our refusal to the church and the religion in gerneral. We sang about the human conditions and the corruption, too. The song: "Kill, Fuck, Die" is a song about the worldwide underground and it is for our friends from Switzerland. "Saprophyt" was written from our bassist. That is the only lyrics that aren't mine . "Saprophyt" means corpseater, but not from human corpse, more from the medical point of view. It's a metaphore of the corruption. A song about the negative sides of our society.

6.THE CD CONTAINS ELEVEN SONGS. ONE IS UNTITLED. TELL US SOME THINGS FOR IT.

The last one is a hidden track and it is a funny song and called :"Schuppenficker". Is it a song about a nice and funny porno, hehe. Only fun for freaks, not a real Tears of Decay song.

7.TELL US A FEW WORDS FOR THE COMPILATION CD AGAINST FASCISM? HOW HAS THIS IDEA COME UP?WILL THERE BE A SECOND PART OR ARE YOU THINKING OF DOING ANOTHER COMPILATION WITHA DIFFERENT CONCEPT?

I have made a sampler before. There were only bands from my area, from east Frisia, an area in the northern part of Germany. The bands play Death/Grind/Black/Thrash-Metal and come from the Underground. The new sampler was an idea of mine. I wanted to make a sampler with brutal bands from Germany and I think is a little work against fascism, yeah. We don`t want these guys and I think everybody must do a little bit against the brown shit. On this Cd are 20 bands from Germany. More information about that on www.deichrecords.de. On the cover is a white rose. That was the symbol of a residencegroupe. The fight against the nazies. I think, that was the right way. A new one? I don't know. I have no time, because I write for two mags, have a radioshow and in June this year my wife will have a baby. Time will show.

8.WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE TRAGIC EVENTS WE SEE EVERY DAY IN THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES? FOR EXAMPLE IN FRANCE AND AUSTRIA, WHERE WE SEE FASCISTS WINNING THE ELECTIONS? ARE YOU WORRIED? DO THE MUSICIANS HAVE THE STRENGTH TO HELP PEOPLE REALIZE THAT FASCISM "HURTS" THEIR BRAINS?

I'm worried, yes. I can't understand these people, they are so stupid.Nobody needs these fascist guys. I think, Haider and Le Pen are very dangerous people and they can change some things. I hope, the french know this and I hope, they will try to prevent this. But everybody must everyday fight against these people I mean, they must learn more about it in our schools. They must show more pictures from KZ??s etc. We all must fight against the fascism, everyday.The musicans, too.

9.HAVE YOU EVER FACED PROBLEMS WITH FASCISTS?

Not directly, but friends of mine. We have here in our area some fascist, but I think, we have enough power to destroy them. I think, they are very young people with no hope and so , they go to these groups. That`s no idealism, only stupid guys. If you destroy the group, you destroy them, too.

10.EXTREME METAL HAS MANY BANDS. HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU TO SIGN A CONTRACT?

I think, we were very lucky. We have recorded our MCd only for fun and for friends. We have sent it then to many labels and the reactions were very good. Cudgel have offered us a nice contract, so we took it. The guys from Cudgel are really freaks, no commercial guys, so I think, we have chosen a good way. Meanwhile there are many interesting bands. I think, we have had a luck. I know many nice underground bands without a contract.

11.CAN YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOUR FEELINGS WERE, WHEN YOU FIRST GOT ON STAGE? WAS THERE A MINUTE, YOU WANTED TO QUIT AND RUN AWAY FROM THE SCENE?

No, I like to stand on the stage. It was a dream for me and I realized it. We played in our hometown for 200 people and that was very great. We had problems with our guitars, but it was a very important gig for us and all our friends were there. But on some other gigs, I think. Shit, what happens here. Go home, Michael.

12.WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN PLAYING SOME OTHER GENRE EXCEPT FOR DEATH/GRIND METAL?

I don't think so. I hear this kind of music everyday and I will play it. When another style, then Thrash - Metal. I grew up with bands like, Kreator, Sodom, Destruction and I like the sound, too.But Tears of Decay will ever play Death/Grind. If not, I'll go away.

13.WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULDN'T COMPOSE MUSIC?

I think, I would do something for the scene. A little label or tour organizer. I need the music to breath, so I think, I would do something for the scene.I would do my own mag ( printmag).

14.IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO CHANGE SOMETHING IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

More freedom. I would plant a chip with moral standards in the brains of the policians and I hope, they will change something. So many people are hungry and have no work and no place . We must change the system.

15.WHICH IS THE MOST ANNOYING QUESTION SOMEONE'S EVER DONE TO YOU? WHICH QUESTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ASKED AND NO ONE EVER DID? ANSWER IT AS WELL.

It's difficult. I can`t answer it. I try to answer everything and I`m glad about every interview. I know the situation, because I write interviews, too and sometimes, you write the same questions. Every question is worth enough to get an answer.

16.IF YOU HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE A VIDEOCLIP, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO BE?

Many naked girls, hehe. I would try to realise my thoughts. That`s very difficult. I would work with many pictures and at mysterious places. We have on this CD videoclips, too. It`s from the "Fuck the commerce" Festival. Take a look at it.

17.THANK YOU!YOUR MESSAGE...

Destroy the fascism. Support the underground worldwide. Take a look at our homepage www.tears-of-decay.de and buy our CD's, hehe. Go to concerts and have fun. Death-Metal will never die. Thank you for this intie.

Nikos "William_Kidd" Parastatidis

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