NECROPHAGOUS INTERVIEW

2007 Update: Received this email from Ruble: Things have been pretty kickass this year in the world of Necrophagous. Though our bass player decided to call it a day. He now plays bass in Legion (http://www.myspace.com/legionmetal). He was playing in both bands, but just decided he wanted to be in Legion. Good news...New disc about to be unleashed!!! Its called "Dying Rites". We are just putting the finishing touches on it. As far as sound quality, this one outdoes "Disgusted" for sure. 'Disgusted' was completely recorded by us with our own equipment, albeit not the best of equipment, but for what we had, I don't think it really turned out that bad. It could have been A LOT worse!!!haha. "Dying Rites" was recorded at The Palace of Sorrow by Mr. Andy Christman (bass player for SLEJ http://www.myspace.com/slej) in Muncie, IN, our hometown. He has his own full studio in the basement of his house. By far the best place we have ever recorded. We will be doing all of our recording there from now on. As far as artwork, our new album cover is in our pics section on our myspace page. I believe we have found our new artist for future albums. His name is Demitrios Vakras from Melbourne, Australia. Best art we have ever used. That dudes mind is demented!! His art reflects that. He is an awesome guy to work with and we clicked very well. He is definitely down for doing art for future recordings. Our guitar player, Scott Lindell, has his own cd/demo duplication business called Storm Demos (http://www.myspace.com/stormdemos). He will be duplicating the new disc. If anybody needs any cd's burned for CHEAP...hit Scott up at the address above. He would definitely appreciate the business. Full color printing directly on the cd..no stickering. Go to his site and check out all that he has available. I know...shameless plugging! Ruble/NECROPHAGOUS

2006 Update: Here is what I received from Scott: Hails Jen \m/ Things have been interesting since the time of the interview.
Not too long after, we went on a hiatus for about 15 months...things were pretty stressful for us and we just needed a big break. After having time away from jamming, the urge hit us again to get it together and start kicking ass again. We have mended things with Jason, our original singer and he is back in the band on vocal duty. Its nice to have him back. Now things are pretty well back to normal.
We had written a few songs before our hiatus that we are about to record in the near future. Plus we will have three new songs to add to those few we had written for the next full length. And I promise it will crush.
We haven't been gigging alot. We want to be armed with a new disc before we start shredding stages again. It will be worth the wait. 2006 should be a promising year for Necrophagous. We have been doing this for close to 13 years and I sure hope we have learned something along the way!!!! Thanx Jen!!

Give us some short history of the band...how you guys met, got started, ect.
Well, to make it short...we have been together since May of '93. Scott (Lindell, guitar) and I were in a band, Mike (Johns, bass/vocals) and Jeremy (Starkey, guitar/vocals) were also in a band. Both of those bands just happened to fall apart damn near the same time. We all just happened to meet at a local show here in Muncie, and Scott and I talked to Mike and Jeremy...Scott and I needed a bassist and guitarist & they needed a guitarist and drummer...so it just happened to work out for all of us. I think fate or destiny had a role in it.
You guys are signed to Skeptic Productions. How is that working out?
Chris is a cool motherfucker! He has helped us out tremendously with putting the "Disgusted" cd out and getting us some killer distro. He's also helped out by giving us contacts to work with.
Compare the new cd "Disgusted" with the past cd's- how are they similar
and different?
Well, "Disgusted" is probably the fastest one we have done. We released three other recordings before "Disgusted". We recorded our first demo back in october of '93, which is self-titled. We recorded "Forever Lost" back in august of '94 and done "Enslaved" back in July of '98. With each recording, our song structuring grew tighter. The songs themselves had more of a flow going for them. We still have a shitload of our firs demos available. We also put "Forever Lost" and "Enslaved" onto one cd also. So if anyone wants them, email me.
You relocated the band for a little while from Indiana to Florida. What was the purpose of that?
We just wanted to take our music to another scene. Death metal thrives in Florida so we thought we could take it own there and see what would happen. You eventually moved back to Indiana.
Why did you move back?
Mainly money. We didn't go to Florida with a lot of money to begin with. Florida, being a tourist state, is hard to find a semi-decent job. When tourist season is in, jobs are good. But when it's done, they just let people go. We got by for the time we were there, but it was hard. We knew we could get our old jobs back if we went home, so that's what we had to do. It was a survival move.
How was the experience as a whole?
Definitely a learning experience!!! We got to jam with some brutal fuckin' bands while we were there! We rented a jam space in Orlando, and we didn't realize until after the first night jamming there, that Death practiced in the room above us!!! That was just too much metal for me to handle!!!
What kind of scene is in Indiana?
Inconsistent. There will be times that there will be a bunch of shows, then it will be dry for while. There aren't a whole lot of places to play. Indianapolis has a few clubs, Ft.Wayne has some, Terre Haute has some. As far as Muncie...there isn't shit. There used to be, but they just all went under. When we do get out and play, there are a lot o people that come to the shows and have a good time.
Any big tours that have come through that you have opened for?
We have never opened for any bigger bands here in Indiana, but we did while we were in Florida. We got to jam with Monstrosity, Deicide, Dying Fetus, Acheron...shit i can't remember all of them. The crowds really dug us, and that made us feel real good.
You are the drummer of the band & you do vocals. How much harder is it
to play and sing at the same time?
It is definitely a challenge!! We used to be a five-piece, but we had to let Jason (Bulmer, ex-vocals) go. He simply would not come to practice. And it would show live that he didn't come and practice. Jason is a good death metal vocalist and I miss him. I just wish that he would have stuck with it. But what can you do? I wrote most of the vocal patterns and some of the lyrics for the cd, so it was easy for me to remember the patterns. Now playing/ grinding AND growling/screaming is a bit of a bitch, but its gotta be done...until we find a suitable vocalist. We are looking for someone who has clarity and power...someone who can own the stage when they are on it. For me, its really easy to forget little spots in a song when you are trying to remember a drum fill and a vocal line at the same time. It can be a pain.
How long have you been playing?
About 18 years. Right now, I own a 7pc Pearl Forum set, cardinal red. I got them back in '94. They are my babies.
Did you teach yourself, or did you take lessons?
I am self-taught. I can't read sheet music at all.
For someone who has never heard your band, what would you say to describe Necrophagous?
We have heard from others that we are a mix of the NY and FL styles of death metal...just fuckin' pounding heavy and fast. You would have to hear it for yourself.
Who are some of your influences?
Two people-Dave Lombardo and Mick Harris (Napalm Death days). Those two shall always get eternal praise from me!
Band Influences?
Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Monstrosity, Slayer, old Metallica, Anthrax, Overkill (Years Of Decay KILLS!)...too many to name.
What is in store for the future of Necrophagous?
We are over half-way done writing for the next album. We believe that this new one will bury "Disgusted". We just have a good feeling about what we have so far. Hopefully we'll be getting more shows lined up. Anyone wanting a brutal death band to play in your area, email me!!! Our web site is under construction as of now. (Nice for a band that has been around almost 10 years and just NOW getting a web site). We can be slow...hahahaha.
Anything else you'd like to add?
We are playing in Ft. Wayne, IN @ Magilla's on June 26th and July 11th in Indianapolis, IN @ the Festivilla. If anyone wants more info for those shows or anything about Necrophagous, email me...necrophagous-01@webtv.net. I answer all email. Its nice to have an interview that doesn't ask a bunch of stupid-ass questions for a change!! Thanx Jen!! Buy "Disgusted"!!! We have cd's or email Chris @ Skeptic Productions- http://www.harakiri666.com/skeptic
http://www.myspace.com/necrophagousdwelling