Chapel Of Disease Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

 

We just came back from Berlin, where we had our releasegig on saturday. It was fucking crushing! Up next is rehearsing our asses off to present some good shows in the UK, where we'll be playing 5 dates together wit Occvlta. Actually, our main focus is pretty much rehearsing at this time. The album is just out and we got quite some shows to pull off next year. Me and Ced already got some new riffs, but at the moment there is not much time for songwriting, which can be a fuck up from times to times, but I think after the UK Tour we'll definitely get started with that as well. At the moment we just have to organize ourselves a bit, since this is our first full length release and it's getting a real cool amount of positive feedback... Something new for us.

 

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album?

 

To me, we've achieved exactly what we wanted with "Summoning Black Gods". The album is holding on to that old school spirit at the end of the 80s and early 90s, yet it doesn't sound like we are ripping off or only want to reproduce what we think sounds best. Furthermore there is an own sound to it, something to characterize the band. You hear and should be able to say "thats Chapel Of Disease" straight away but at the same time you should be able to realize your listening to some plain old school death metal.

 

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

 

Our lyrical themes are strictly based on ancient horror or phantastic literature. It is pretty much worshipping authors long gone, that have created something shocking to their time, or something new.    

 

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

 

Hehe, we get asked that a lot and every time we have to admit, that we do not truly remember how it came up. All I can say is, that it doesn't have some sort of deeper meaning, it just sounds perfect as a name for an old school death project. I am pretty sure that the first Morbid Angel had something to do with the creation of the name as well...

 

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

 

Berlin on saturday was really fun! We always try to keep the same level during a gig and are not the kind of guys who just all like to stand around, stare at their instruments and bore off the ones in front of the stage. Meaning, we always try to give it our best and deliver something like a show to the crowd, without fucking up the playing of our instruments. I for myself am quite critical after leaving stage, I hate mistakes, even if no one noticed. Even tho' we're talking about rough old school sounding metal, I still think it is important to present a more or less professional show to your audience. Meaning that a band has to keep the level it has on its' records on stage and still go fucking nuts on it.

 

6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?

 

We're doing the UK Tour with Occvlta from january 29th up until february 2nd. We're really looking forward to it, it will be our first time in the home of the queen. After that we will be playing a minitour for two days in Germany together wit Deserted Fear and Lifeless. When that is done we will be playing a good amount of individual gigs but are trying to not overplay ourselves. There is nothing more boring than being able as a fan to go out every weekend and see one of your top bands play at every single club you can think off. We dont know if there is a bigger tour to come yet. It's quite difficult to organize something since we all have regular jobs or are still in our studies.

 

7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death metal?

 

So far so good, really. Up until now I have not read a single negative review and we are getting some really cool messages from people all over the place giving us a thumb up (more or less literally). We can only say that we are more than happy about the last 10 months. After the demo came out in April, it all went really quick and one thing led to another without the band losing its' quality. We wouldn't have thougt that it would all kick off in such a dramatic speed. 

 

8. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

 

I have no clue, seriously. Like said before, we haven't had the chance to be working on new material yet, but I think Chapel Of Disease will always be a band sticking to its' sound but still be evolving from album to album. What way that evolution of our sound will turn out we don't know yet. But we would never start to go in a complete different direction, since we all know what that feels like as a fan. Meaning, if we would have the idea to start a progressive fusion metal band, it sure enough wouldn't be called Chapel Of Disease anymore. We'll stick to old school death, but throw in some interesting elements here and there to keep it interesting over the years. That's my vision for now, let's just see how it will turn out.

 

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

 

It's pretty much all about that early death and thrash metal stuff. A time where one could not really say what the definite difference between real aggressive thrash metal and simple death metal is. That was the plan in 2008 and it more or less still is, although we really do listen to quite a lot of stuff nowadays, doesn't matter what genre it is as long as it fits our ears. I'm really enjoying the last Witchcraft record (Legend). It doesn't sound like those typical 70s bands that are going around at the moment. A lot of songs on it could be spinning in the radio, but I really admire their songstructure. It feels like you're listening to 3 different songs in only one song, yet it harmonizes just perfect. Mogwai is spinning in my room quite often these last weeks, Ced recently showed me stuff from Joy Desaster and I'm really impressed by it. When winter kicks off, I always gotta listen to the last 3 Solstafir albums, a pure must for me.   

 

10. how would you describe your views on Occultism?

 

I have none. I don't know anything about it and don't feel like learning anything about it. Not because I truly have something against it, I simply can't stand any sort of religious thinking. All I'm noticing, is that "occult metal" is becoming a very, very trendy thing to be called nowadays. Many people have called our music occult death metal. It seems as if it's the new word for "satanic". Satans Metal was 80s. Now it's Occult Metal. It gets me pissed from time to time, since it is hard to be taking one seriously by now who calles himself occult and on the other hand, bands are being labeled the same that never wanted to be called that way. But as long as the music fits my taste and the band is not going into some extreme shit, I dont give about what one might call them.

 

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

 

Hard one. It is incredible what kind of a huge amount the music can have on one's life. But beside of it, we all have our own stuff we like to go along with. Since we're not only a band, but also just real good friends, we meet up quite often to check out some classy movie, freak out on stupid internet videos or just drink a few beers.

 

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

 

First of all, thanks a lot for having me. I can only salute to all those dudes and ladies who have supported us in such an amazing way in less than a year... We hope to be hitting some different roads next year and have the chance to meet some cool people along the way. Cheers and let the rotten times roll!