Interview: Evil Damn (Peru)

We talk with Erick Neyra, the vocalist for Peruvian death metal band, EVIL DAMN.

1. Bestial hails!!! How’s everything going and what albums have you been spinning lately?

Erick: Hi brother, sorry for the long delay in getting back with the answers. It has been hellish busy here, composing with Evil Damn and Goat Semen and doing tons of work around that. Lately, some Bestial Warlust, Perversion’s last album is killer and tons of old classics...

2. Evil Damn formed in 2003, so you’ve already been around for over 20 years, yet there are still maniacs out there who haven’t heard of you. Can you tell us a little what Evil Damn is all about? What are your influences?

Erick: I was summoned to sing in Evil Damn by Romanet at a bar back in 2004. He mentioned the band was formed by Ordep and Zemog of old Disinter, and Romanet plays in Psicorragia. They all come from old Death Metal school and told me they wanted to make something brutal and obscure... I was also reading a lot of Lovecraft back then (as I do always) and the usual topics of death and violence is something that is a permanent inspiration for me so I was immediately interested. The result is a brutal monstrosity of Lovecraftian horror!

When it comes to EVIL DAMN, this is inspired in old School Death Metal style and furious old ‘80s Thrash, but we try to create a more obscure and macabre aura when composing the songs.

3. a lot of bands go thru a dozen member changes over a time span of 20 years, yet you have managed to keep a pretty consistent line-up. How do you manage this?

Erick: We are all good friends since years and all like the same old bands, and have similar devotion to METAL! So I think this is a key to keep this entity as grotesque as possible like in the beginning.

4. Your 2021 album “Necronomicon” was fucking killer man and I can’t wait for your new album. Can you tell us a bit about the whole recording process and the thought process that went into it? Are you satisfied with the final outcome?

Erick: I think the album had a big impact on the bangers who like the old ways. We really liked the final result, and an album like Necronomicon with its length is something we are very proud of! Unfortunately, we took our time with the recordings and the rest of the studio work as the band members have to work a lot. Ordep works out of Lima and only comes here every two weeks for 3 or 4 days, and finally we were able to finish all the studio work during the pest year. In the end it was a process of about 3 years! But the result is what we expected.

5. The first time I heard you guys was on the “Blasphemy, Mayhem & War” split with Toxic Holocaust and Chainsaw Killer (awesome split by the way!) Toxic Holocaust became pretty popular, while Chainsaw killer released a decent album in 2012. What are your thoughts on this split and what do you think of the other bands on it?

Erick: Long ago I had email correspondence with Joel Grind, and it is great to see the success Toxic Holocaust has now. I keep on thinking the demo and first album are killers! I met the guys of Chainsaw Killer personally when I traveled through Colombia some years ago, cool guys. I think each tape or split has helped to build the band. We would like more exposure though hehe.

6. Your name Evil Damn sounds Evil Dead-inspired. Are you a fan of horror movies? What are some of your favorites? Also what do you think of modern horror movies?

Erick: I’m not really the type of person who likes to sit in front of the TV for too long. I watched most of the classics as a child. I remember watching "The Monster Club" when I was about 7 years old! Or The Exorcist or The Omen when I was around 10 years old. I think those movies prepared me to not to be shocked later when other killer movies came along like Friday the 13th, Nightmare in Elm Street, etc. Evil Dead and Creepshow were great! I like them more than something that just spills blood senselessly... I prefer an obscure and morbid argument better than a traumatized maniac who kills for no reason at all. Most modern "horror" is crap. The Witch is the last good movie I saw.

7. Can you tell us a little bit about Peru and which places a metalhead should go see if they ever decide to visit your country? Does Peru have its own distinct culture compared to other South American countries?

Erick: My country is a great, vast land with soooo much to see and too much history... and you will surely gain weight here. Peruvian food has become very popular worldwide lately, but we Peruvians usually eat like kings and have very demanding tastes haha. Where to go and what to visit... Machu Pichu is mandatory, but also Caral, Nazca. The great north of Peru and its bloody historical pyramids of the ancient Moche and Chimu lords… realms of human sacrifices... I am obsessed with Peruvian and pre- Colombian history, and there were real human sacrifices here... just recently the largest number of infant sacrifices in the world was found in the north... you really do not know if you are walking over a cemetery of some old sacrifice or a ruin buried by time and dust (as the classic Mayhem song goes) when you walk around in the deserts or mountains of Peru! My country is the only one that can compete with Egypt in terms of archaeology, and that too is a great inspiration, for me at least... our ancients had another perception of death and cosmos...

8. What would you cite as 5 essential Peruvian Metal albums that every metal maniac should be familiar with?

Erick:

HADEZ “Aquelarre”

MORTEM “Demon Tales”

CURRICULUM MORTIS “Sentencia de Muerte” demo

MORTUORIO “Camara de Torturas” demo

NECROPSYA “Slave of the Magic” demo

I prefer to recommend these last three demos as they are really savage and brutal.

I have to mention SATANAS “Blasfemia” demo, too. 

9. I think it’s great that you guys managed to put out an album thru Hells Headbangers and get some exposure, as “Necronomicon” was hands down one of the sickest albums of 2021. What’s next for Evil Damn? Thank you for your time!

Erick: Yes, we are happy with the exposure through Hells Headbangers. It’s a great label that we have supported a lot! Thanks for your words and support, we have by now finished the recordings of the "Aeons of Horror" EP and need to complete the mix and Mastering. Later we will have a Split 12" with another great South American Death Metal band and plan to finish the year with the recording of the second album.

Thanks to you for your support and the chance, once again sorry for the delay in getting back! Soon we will spread more bestial abominations... watch out!

Album review: Evil Damn - Necronomicon (2021)

Evil Damn - Necronomicon

Peru

Hells Headbangers Records

 
Peruvian maniacs Evil Damn (comprised of members of Goat Semen and Disinter) released this beast of an album back in 2021, entitled “Necronomicon”. Musically, the band plays hellish and blasphemous black/death metal infused with thrash. From beginning to end, this album subjects you to a plethora of sweltering riffs and ripping guitar solos that are masterfully executed, paired with caustic screams and pounding, bestial drums, all back by an excellent production that provides clarity to the performance. Erick Neyra's vocals are top-notch. I loved his vocals in Goat Semen and I love his vocals here. The man sounds possessed, and those falsettos are insane. Every instrument is meticulously played and contributes to the performance. Hands down one of the best black/death albums from 2021. Recommended to fans of Sacrificio, Goat Semen and Sarcofago.

Interview: Putrid (2022)

 

The following interview was conducted with Peruvian blasphemers PUTRID. The band plays evil and menacing Black/Death/Thrash in the style of ANGELCORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, SARCOFAGO, etc. Both Spanish and English answers were provided.

Bestial greetings, M.B.! How did Putrid form and what are your influences musically? Were you in any bands prior to the band’s formation?

Spanish:

Hola Jim, muchas gracias por darnos el apoyo a a traves de tu zine; Apreciamos mucho eso hermano!

Mis influencias podría decirse que son de dos tipos. Tal vez alguna va sobre cuestiones que me generan mucha ira y otras sobre pensamientos respecto a alguien en particular. Tenemos una canción que se llama “Hatred” (que saldrá en nuestro Split con Morbosidad) y básicamente la hice contra el arquetipo de imbécil que entiende el Metal en general como una via para drogarse y ser una mierda de persona.

Si te refieres a la música, mis influencias son muy básicas, Slayer, Angel Corpse Morbid Angel son las tres básicas y de las cuales puedo decir que si soy un fan de estas tres bandas.

Ahora, yo escucho mucho hardcore, desde antes de escuchar death metal yo estaba muy metido en el hardcore y con bandas como Exploited, Cro-Mags, Misfits, etc. Sabes que, cuando era un adolescente, conseguí un tape que se llamaba PUNK AND DISORDELY, ese tape era genial brother. Gran compilación!

Si, antes de Putrid tocaba en una banda que se llamaba Flagelum Dei, el baterista de esa banda toca en Putrid ahora.

English:

Hi Jim, thank you very much for supporting us through your zine; we really appreciate that brother!

My influences could be said to be of two types. Maybe one is about issues that generate a lot of anger in me and others about thoughts about someone in particular. We have a song called “Hatred” (which will come out in our Split with Morbidity) and basically I did it against the archetype of the asshole who understands Metal in general as a way to get high and be a shitty person.

If you refer to music, my influences are very basic, Slayer, Angel Corpse Morbid Angel are the three basic ones and from which I can say that I am a fan of these three bands.

Now, I listen to a lot of hardcore, since before I listened to death metal I was really into hardcore and with bands like Exploited, Cro-Mags, Misfits, etc. You know when I was a teenager I got a tape called PUNK AND DISORDELY. That tape was great bro. Great compilation!

Yes, before Putrid he played in a band called Flagelum Dei, the drummer of that band plays in Putrid now

In your own words, how would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard it before?

Spanish: 

Es algo complicado de plantear con palabras, porque no es algo que este planeado. Tal vez podría indicar que mediante algunos discos se podrían dar una idea de lo que hacemos con nuestra música. En ese sentido, si tendría que poner algunas características de ella, podría decir que somos: “caóticos y violentos”, música sencilla, caotica y violenta sin pretensiones de nada mas.

Es mas honesto hacerlo desde estos tres  cimientos, al menos para mi lo ha sido siempre asi; y creo que he encontrado un poco el balance entre mensaje y música desde ello. No creo que, mientras Putrid este activo, cambiemos de manera de hacer las cosas.

English: 

It is something difficult to put into words, because it is not something that is planned. Perhaps it could indicate that some records could give an idea of what we do with our music. In that sense, if I had to put some characteristics of it, I could say that we are: "chaotic and violent", simple, chaotic and violent music without pretensions of anything else.

It is more honest to do it from these three foundations, at least for me it has always been that way; and I think I've found a bit of a balance between message and music since that. I don't think that as long as Putrid is active, we will change the way we do things.

“Antichrist Above” from 2020 was a real beast. Could you tell us something about the recording process and the vision you had while creating it?

Spanish: 

Como todos los discos de Putrid, grabar fue un ejercicio de ejercicio de empatía, stress y evidencia de errores al momento de ejecutar los instrumentos. Jajajaja. Cuando nosotros grabamos siempre acabamos muy desgastados al punto de no vernos en dos o tres semanas después; hasta que aparezca un concierto o algo asi.

Si deseas conocer algo de lo que paso?  Bueno lo que más recuerdo es que casi nos quedamos sin sala de ensayo. Yo alquilo una casa que estaba deshabitada y mi padre la administra, por lo que le ofreci un dinero mensual para que me la ceda y ahí tenemos nuestro estudio de grabaciones también. Hate Supremacy Studios se llama. Bueno, casi nos echan de ese lugar, porque nuestra forma de grabar las guitarras es con los volúmenes muy altos. Y así fue, Tuve que rehacer el contrato de alquiler y reforzar las salidas de audio para que no se hagan muy pesadas al grabar. Una mierda, pero el disco que salió fue muy satisfactorio.

English: 

As in all Putrid albums, recording was an exercise in empathy, stress and evidence of errors when playing the instruments. Hahaha. When we record we always end up very worn out to the point of not seeing each other for two or three weeks afterwards; until a concert or something like that appears.

If you want to know something about what happened? Well, what I remember the most is that we almost ran out of a rehearsal room. I rent a house that was uninhabited and my father manages it, for which I offered him a monthly payment to give it to me and we have our recording studio there as well. Hate Supremacy Studios is called. Well, they almost kicked us out of that place, because our way of recording guitars is with very high volumes. And so it was, I had to redo the rental contract and reinforce the audio outputs so that they do not become too heavy when recording. Shit, but the record that came out was very satisfying.

The artwork is purely blasphemous and obscene! What inspired such crude art and who is the artist?

Spanish:

Fue una salida de último momento ya que la persona que nos iba a hacer la portada nos dijo que al final no tenía tiempo y nosotros ya teníamos el disco grabado, pero no habíamos trabajado ni fotos ni portada; simplemente decidimos hacer eso al final y por ese motivo dejamos también la portada para lo último.

La idea, creo que no es muy novedosa en sí, pero si se logró una muy buena foto. En el vinilo se ve excelente. Lo que hemos decidido es ya no hacer dibujos en nuestros albunes. Solo haremos fotos.

English: 

It was a last-minute exit since the person who was going to do the cover for us told us that in the end he didn't have time and we already had the album recorded, but we hadn't worked on photos or cover; we just decided to do that last and for that reason we also left the cover for last.

The idea, I think, is not very new in itself, but a very good photo was achieved. It looks great on vinyl. What we have decided is no longer to make drawings in our albums. We will only take photos.

How did you manage to link a deal with Poland’s Godz of War Productions? I personally think they are a killer label and ideal for an underground band with such a sick sound like Putrid.

Spanish: 

Cuando tenemos ya casi el disco avanzado lo que hacemos es grabar un promo para empezar a mandarlo a distintos labels y ver el interés que se pueda dar con ello. En "Antichrist Above"? tuvimos temas ya totalmente avanzados y con ello grabamos este demo.  Hubo tres labels que se interesaron en nosotros, pero creo que la mejor opción siempre fue Godz Ov War Prod. Ya que vimos que tenían a muchas bandas en nuestro mismo estilo. Estamos muy satisfechos con ellos y de hecho que seguiremos trabajando en este label.

English: 

When we almost have the album advanced, what we do is record a promo to start sending it to different labels and see the interest that can be generated with it. In "Antichrist Above" we had already fully advanced songs and with that we recorded this demo. There were three labels that were interested in us, but I think that the best option was always Godz Ov War Prod. Since we saw that they had many bands in our same style. We are very satisfied with them and in fact we will continue working on this label.

I was wondering if you could comment on the title of your last album, “Antichrist Above” - Is Jehovah the real devil, and the devil below the savour?

Spanish: 

Yo creo que es mas sarcastico de lo que suena. Es como una gran broma en la que tanto cristianos y satanistas han caído por años de años.  Por un lado es el miedo a caer en una oscuridad injustificada y creada básicamente por el miedo al dolor y por el otro lado es la necesidad de alimentar un ego en deficiencias de mayores motivaciones de vida. Es eso, por que si analizas la historia de ambas formas de subyugación (cristianismo/satanismo) todo se revela como un cuento de acusaciones mutuas que no han construido absolutamente nada y la gente, hoy por hoy, o lo ve como una forma de marketing emocional o como una forma de educar en negativo a los supuestos enemigos que estas personas se crean en su cabeza.

"Antichrist Above" para mi, desde que lo compuse, fue una gran forma de decirles a todos que son parte de un gran circo, monos y payasos que buscan una forma de atencion. Mis ideales valen mas que eso.

English: 

I think it's more sarcastic than it sounds. It's like a big joke that both Christians and Satanists have fallen for years and years. On the one hand it is the fear of falling into an unjustified darkness and basically created by the fear of pain and on the other hand it is the need to feed an ego in deficiencies of greater life motivations. It is that, because if you analyse the history of both forms of subjugation (Christianity / Satanism) everything is revealed as a story of mutual accusations that have not built absolutely anything and people, today, or see it as a form of marketing emotional or as a way of negatively educating the supposed enemies that these people create in their heads.

"Antichrist Above" for me, since I wrote it, was a great way to tell everyone that they are part of a big circus, monkeys and clowns looking for a form of attention. My ideals are worth more than that.

What are some killer bands from Peru that every maniac reading this should check out?

The ones you already know everywhere brother: Goat Semen, Mortem, Hadez, etc

What’s the last album you bought?

Spanish: 

Aunque no lo creas el Scream Bloddy Gore de Death; es decir lo tenia en cd hace muchos años, pero recién lo he conseguido en vinilo.

Tambien he comprado el Never mind The Bollocks de Sex Pistols, el mismo caso que Death

English: 

Believe it or not, Death's Scream Bloody Gore; I mean, I had it on CD many years ago, but I just got it on vinyl.

I have also bought never mind The Bollocks by Sex Pistols, the same case as Death

10 albums you can’t live without.

Mmm

Slayer- Reing in Blood, Morbid Angel - Covenant, AngelCorpse -Exterminate, Darkthrone Transilvanian Hunger, cualquier disco de Arditi, Exploitedn - Beat the Bastards, Misfist - Earth ad. Emperor - Athems…, Conqueror – War Cult Supremacy.

Do you have any favorite traditions or historical references from Peru? What do you think about your country's rich, yet interesting history, from the Inca Empire to the conflict between Ecuador and Peru?

Spanish: 

Todo lo que sabemos de la historia de mi país es interesante, pero mas interesante es todo lo que ha pasado en estos años. Desde el terrorismo, la corrupción política. Tu sabes que no tenemos ningún presidente que no haya caído preso desde hace casi 30 años? Es increíble eso.

English: 

Everything we know about the history of my country is interesting, but more interesting is everything that has happened in these years. From terrorism, political corruption. Do you know that we do not have any president who has not been imprisoned for almost 30 years? It's amazing that.

Cheers and thanks for your time! What's next for Putrid?

Spanish: 

Gracias a ti hermano y por el apoyo que nos haz dado siempre. Lo nuevo que se viene es dos splits en 7” vinilo uno con Hexorcist y el otro con Morbosidad. Despues de eso, estamos haciendo los temas para el tercer disco de la banda que esperamos grabarlo a fin de este año. Por ultmo, ya tenemos unas fechas en Chile para el 2023, asi que tenemos aun mucho que hacer.

English: 

Thanks to you brother and for the support you have always given us. What's new is two splits on 7” vinyl, one with Hexorcist and the other with Morbosidad. After that, we are making the songs for the band's third album that we hope to record at the end of this year. Finally, we already have some dates in Chile for 2023, so we still have a lot to do.

Album review: Maze of Terror - Offer To The Fucking Beasts (2021)

Maze of Terror – Offer To The Fucking Beasts

Peru

Xtreem Music

Peruvian death thrash maniacs Maze of Terror release their second album and follow up to 2016's ripper "Ready To Kill". The latest work is a convincing and ferocious display of skull-shredding thrash infused with sheer aggression as well as some new dynamics at work. 

It seems the band have evolved their sound a little and added more atmosphere this time around, although the vocals are still as hostile-sounding as ever. Each track is packed with pounding riffs, hard-hitting drums and heavy bass lines, while hateful vocals are belched over the explosion of noise.

There are also plenty of lethal guitar solos scattered throughout the album, lightning fast and full of morbid emotion. I really like the way the drums are played and sound on this album. It does not sound overproduced or too dry, but has just the right amount of bite for a thrash album. Also, the main tempo of the music is a little faster than mid-paced and pairs well with the ferocity of the music. 

There is an abundance of head-banging riffs, indicating the band's propensity for violent, old-school metal. The band cites bands like Massacra, Sarcofago, and Protector as influences, so that alone can attest to the fact that this is no pussy thrash. 

Overall, “Offer To The Fucking Beasts” is a deadly album on all fronts and comes highly recommended to fans of gritty and uncompromising Death/Thrash. (HT)

Album review: Putrid - Antichrist Above (2020)

 

Putrid – Antichrist Above

Peruvian

Godz of War Productions

This is my first introduction to Putrid from Peru and by the sounds of it, these guys are all about glorifying the Devil and the supreme reign of the Antichrist. The music contained herein sounds like a hellish mix of bands like Angelcorpse, Impiety and Altars era Morbid Angel. It’s a totally blasphemous and chaotic sound that will penetrate your skull from beginning to end. Riffs are sharp and acute with solos in abundance, coupled with the over-the-top maniacal screams of the vocalist and the war-like percussion that sounds like bullets being fired.

How the fuck can you go wrong when the music sounds this possessed? Putrid sums up everything black/death is all about by delivering a high-octane dose of audio violence that will make the beast nod his head in approval. The band creates an atmosphere that is both captivating and wholly apocalyptic, which conjures images of a world in flames. Everything about this release is put together pretty well, even the production is decent in the sense that it perfectly straddles the line between raw and comprehensible. I can definitely hear a bit of that idiomatic Peruvian bestial sound reminiscent of bands like Anal Vomit and Goat Semen. These guys rip and their music speaks for itself. If you’re looking for some truly hard-hitting, merciless, and morbid black/death imbued with the wrath of Satan, then look no further. (HT)

Demo review: Asgard - Pagan Sacrifice (2021)

Asgard – Pagan Sacrifice

Peru

Unholy War Productions

Asgard is a one-man band from Peru, and the release in question, “Pagan Sacrifice,” is the band’s third demo, featuring 5 songs of raw pagan/black metal with a rusty production fitting for a demo limited to 150 copies. The individual behind this project is also a former member of bands such as Lord Sanguinary, Nahual, and Penetrator Hammer.

The song structures are similar to punk in the sense that the music is quite straight-forward and simplistic, although the overall metallic elements prevail. Stylistically, their sound gives nods to bands such as Absurd and Burzum. The music is definitely very riff-laden, and songs like “Hall Of The Fallen (Valhalla)” perfectly exemplify this. There’s even clean vocals, which are quite dominant in the mix, backed by more aggressive vocals and some lower grunts. There’s some pretty cool riffs interspersed throughout, which are infused with folk melodies. It’s quite interesting to hear a band like this coming from Peru, especially considering the band’s lyrical themes, which deals with nationalism, paganism, etc. It’s a style of black metal I can enjoy and appreciate if I’m in the mood for something riffy and primitive; however, the themes might not be for everyone. 

If you like poorly produced and sloppily played black metal with punk tendencies, then you will enjoy this, particularly fans of the aforementioned acts. (HT)

Demo review: Maze of Terror - Death Worshipers (2019)

 

Maze of Terror – Death Worshipers – Demo (2019)

Peru

Independent

Peruvian death-thrashers Maze of Terror released an absolute scorcher of an album back in 2016 titled, “Ready To Kill.” I loved the aggression and ballsy attitude of that album. Fast forward to 2019, after a split and two EPs, the band released this killer demo called “Death Worshipers.” The four songs on this demo are very well composed and contains absolutely no filler at all. The music can be described as thrash metal, although in the most uncompromising sense imaginable. They also incorporate some black and death metal elements into their sound. The vocalist is a maniac and sounds like he is hell-bent on murdering someone. All instruments are well played and blend together nicely, coupled with a solid production that enables you to hear everything. The guitarist's penchant for solos is impressive and it definitely sounds like he knows what he's doing. I must say, for a thrash metal band, Maze of Terror sounds more extreme than a lot of black and death metal bands. The music on this demo is raw, unapologetic, and fierce. I love the sample on the first song, 'Incubus,' which is taken from the cult horror movie The Entity. Anyway, if radio-friendly “pizza thrash” is your thing, then stay far away from Maze of Terror. These Peruvian maniacs will skin you alive. (HT)

https://mazeofterror.bandcamp.com/