PERVERSITY
is one of slovakia‘s longest
running and most consistent Death
Metal bands boasting a considerably lengthy discography replete with
solid material. A band absolutely worth checking out if
you‘re a fan of dark and brutal Death Metal.
Kazateľ (vocalist)
was kind enough to answer some questions for Death By Hammer.
Hails!
How’s everything going in Prešov? Lets begin this interview with a
biography of your band & some info about the current line-up.
Kazateľ:
Hail, Jim. We
are doing well. Thanks
for asking.
The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns put some obstacles in our way,
but we've
managed
to overcome them successfully. Anyway, this is our history:
The
band was formed in October 1995 by Martin Marinčák (vocals) and
Jozef “Ďodi“ Košč (guitars). The first two demos (The
Embarrassed (1997), Personal (1999)) have opened the gates to the
underground scene. After some personal changes, in January 2001, the
new line-up was formed: Martin (vocals), Ďodi (guitars), Marek
Stašák (drums), Dano Kochaník (guitars) and Martin Kukoľ (bass).
These five guys managed to record two albums. At
the beginning of 2003 the debut album “In The Garment Of Lust”
was released by the French label Perennial Quest Records. The
material contains 8 new songs and 1 song “Disillusioned”
(re-recorded) from the first demo. It is a brutal death metal stuff
and it helped Perversity to get to the world UG scene. In November
2004 the second album “Words Like Poison” was released by the
Slovak label Forensick Music. The CD contains 33 minutes of brutal
technical death metal. The new vocalist Juraj “Kazatel“ Handzuš
joined the band in September 2003. In May 2004 the band has a new
drummer Martin “Myštik“ Horgoš and the new era of unholy death
metal has started. The band managed to support death
metal legends Suffocation and Vital Remains. The new
guitarist Robert Vanya joined the band in July 2005. The line-up
working on the next album was: Jozef Košč
(guitars), Martin Kukoľ (bass), Juraj Handzuš
(vocals), Martin Horgoš
(drums) and Robert Vanya (guitars). Meanwhile the CDr
“Demos & Rarities Collection“ was created in April 2006. It
contains remastered demos and a couple of live tracks. The third
album “Beyond The Reach Of Heaven” was recorded in February and
March 2007. It contains 9 tracks, 35 minutes of pure death metal
music with message from Immolation or Incantation. The CD was
released by the Czech label Grodhaisn Production at the beginning of
2008. In September 2007 the new bassist Slavomir “Sly“ Kovaľ
joined the band. In April 2009 the next personal change occured.
Marian “Elvis“ Petrik became the new guitarist. He had been the
vocalist in the Slovak death metal legends Insepultus, between the
years 2000-2002. At that time the line-up was: Kazateľ (vocals),
Ďodi (guitars
and backing vocals), Elvis (guitars), Sly (bass) and Myštik (drums).
The 15th anniversary of the band was celebrated at the concert in
Prešov on September 25, 2010. At the end of March 2011 Perversity
recorded their 4th album entitled “Ablaze“, in the studio Klakson
in Slovakia. The hot news was the new Czech label Lavadome
Productions. The official release date of the CD (limited to 1300
copies) and
T-shirts with “Ablaze” theme was set to August 31st 2011.
Lavadome made a great promotion and distribution of the CD all around
the world´s underground scene. The material contains 10 tracks and
is 34 minutes long. It is more demonic and orthodox death metal
material in the discography of Perversity. In June 2012 there is a
change in the post of the drummer. The new member is Peter
“Necrocyklo” Jakubík who played in the bands liker Wayd,
Demonoid Virtue, Khadaver and Symetria. His music knowledge and
contribution to the development of the band seems to be very
important. In summer 2012 the guitarist Elvis leaves the band. The
new concert setlist is made as well as material for the new EP. At
the end of 2013 the band enters Klakson Studio where the hot material
is recorded. It contains 5 new songs and final piano outro. The Ep
is called
Infamy Divine and is released again by Lavadome Productions on
January 7th 2014. The new material is more worked out with the best
sound so far than “Ablaze“. Together with the cover art made by
Mr. Jon Zig (Suffocation, Sinister, Deeds Of Flesh at etc.), the new
Perversity guarantees dark old school death metal with the message of
veterans like Immolation and Deicide. In December 2013 the first gigs
with a new guitarist Martin “Fetus“ Calko were
played. He was
in the bands like Amnesist, Angelic Embrace in the Nest of Death and
Impeccant. The years 2014 and 2015 were
marked with the gigs and making the new material. In autumn 2015 the
new bass guitarist Peter “Oči“ Očipa (Killerface, ex-Grinding
Jesus Brothers) has joined the band. Line-up
was as followed: Kazateľ, Ďodi,
Peter, Fetus and Oči. The guys had a fertile year of 2016. Between
April and June
of the same year, they recorded a new album “Idolatry“ and played
at Slovak summer festivals: Gothoom, Flesh Party and Ynfest. The new
album contains 10 tracks of pure death metal with certain amount of
dark progress. It lasts 35 minutes. In
February 2017 the album was released by the Slovak label Metal
Age Productions
which exists for many years. At the end of 2017 another line-up
changes occured. Oči (bass) has left the band and Samuel Trón came
to the band as a new bass player. This
new line-up has managed to support death
metal legends Suffocation and Benediction.
In December of 2019 they
have entered the Martin Barla studio in Poprad to re-record an old
song called The Worms Among Us, from the Embarassed demo. It will
appear as a bonus track for the 17th anniversary re-release of their
debut album In The Garment of Lust. Which was re-released by Metal
Age Productions again, in August 28th 2020. In December
2019 another line-up changes
occured. Samo has decided to leave the band and some
days later the new bass player was found and his name is Radoslav
Smrek. So the new line-up is as followed: Juraj “Kazateľ“
Handzuš (vocals), Jozef “Dodi“ Košč (guitars), Martin “Fetus“
Calko (guitars), Radoslav Smrek (bass) and Peter “Necrocyklo“
Jakubík (drums).
My
first introduction to Perversity was the “Ablaze” CD, which is a
really killer slab of blasphemous, brutal death fucking metal that
eats babies for breakfast. What I've noticed about this album is that
you were very experimental with tempos and the riffs were even quite
technical. What can you tell us about this album? Has your sound and
influences changed much since the beginning days?
Kazateľ:
I'm glad that you like it. Well, when we composed the material for
the “Ablaze“ album, we did what we could and knew best at that
time. We put a lot of our time and energy into that album. We were
(and still are) extremely satisfied, both with the songs and with the
resulting sound. It's dark and brutal, and that's what we wanted. The
whole process of composing and then recording in the studio is the
best and most beautiful thing in the activity of the band. We also
moved a step forward with the band, with the help of Jan from
Lavadome Productions. You must listen to this album very carefully.
And I'm glad that you found those details there. That's what we
wanted when we composed the riffs. But of course for some people
there will be no “tralala lala tempos” and such shit. We love
when the bass is a balanced instrument for the guitars. In my
opinion, it is almost a tragedy when someone puts the bass guitar
completely in the background and you can barely hear it. That’s why
we tried to do it both more technical and simple, but with darker
lines. There is also this touch of old school death metal that comes
straight from our hearts. We will not do anything to change that,
because this is how we feel it.
Let’s
talk a bit about your last album “Idolatry.” So far I've only
managed to listen to it online, but there seems to be some changes
compared to the previous album, especially with the production. Can
you tell us a bit more about the kind of sound you were going for?
Kazateľ:
You're right. There are some changes in “Idolatry“ material, both
with the sound and production as well. Previous albums like “Ablaze“
or “Infamy Divine“ were recorded at the Klakson studio in Košice.
As mentioned before, we did what we could and knew best at that time.
We put a lot of time and energy, including our souls into these
records. We are still very satisfied with the results. But when we
started to write and compose the new material for the “Idolatry”
album, we decided to do it more professionally this time around.
This
album took us a long time to finish, as we worked really hard on the
sound and process of each song. The progressive recording process was
really helpful for us. Everything was done by Mr. Martin Barla (a
drummer from Astarot), who has his own home studio. The basic mixing
and mastering was done by all of us. We are glad that the final sound
of the guitars is readable and very deep. We wanted to have this real
death metal sound, nothing clear but also modern at the same time. We
are very satisfied with it.
What
does the process entail when composing your blasphemous hymns and
what inspires you?
Kazateľ:
Usually it all happens spontaneously in our rehearsal room. Ďodi and
Fetus bring the basic lines and the songs' structures. Meanwhile, I
will bring the complete lyrics. Other ideas for drums, bass and new
guitar riffs are contributed by all of us. Then we work together
until it is done. When we are really satisfied with the power and
darkness of each song, then it is the best feeling you can have.
How
has the response been towards your music (both locally and abroad)?
Kazateľ:
After all these years in this “business“, I must tell you, that
there were both good and bad times. And that includes also some
reviews, responses, etc.. But, if we will talk about our last album,
then all the reviews were and still are very good from all sides and
we feel that there is a higher interest in our band now. This album
took us a long time to finish and we worked really hard on the sound
and process of each song. We believe that “Idolatry” will be
known as a good album in the metal archives of the local scene.
What
can you tell us about the scene there? Are there many maniacs that
support your band & who are into this kind of music?
Kazateľ:
Slovak underground metal scene is big, filled with bands playing
various styles of metal. But it is not as big as it was in the 90's,
when the scene reached its peak. Those were very good times for the
underground. At that time there were a lot of good bands in Slovakia,
some of which, unfortunately, didn't survive the adversity of fate or
changed their stylistic direction, which, however, led to their later
demise. But, some of them have survived and are still active these
days. Nowsdays, there are some new bands or individual artists that
are carrying the torch, and are working hard on their music. There
are also some new zines, webzines and festivals. So, when it comes to
the fans and maniacs (if you like), they are buying records,
merchandise or going to the concerts, festivals to support their
favorite band or bands. Personally for me, it is very satisfying to
see that. If you know what I mean.
In
2017, you were nominated for best Slovak metal album by Radio Heads
Awards for the Hard & Heavy category. What can you tell us about
that?
Kazateľ:
Radio Head Awards is a Slovak music award of the popular Rádio FM. It
was created in 2008 as a counterpoise to the Slávik and Aurel award,
which presented mainly mainstream music. Rádio FM has set up a
survey to enable the presentation of an alternative music scene in
Slovakia. To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or
music group must publish their recording in the same year of
nomination. A newcomer of the year can be an artist or a music group
that has not released any official studio album or released their
first album by the end of the year, and this prize can only be won
once. Simply to say, you can compare it with the other types of
awards, like MTV Music Awards, Grammy, Norwegian Spellemannprisen or
something like that. But, it is not so “magnificent or pompous”
like the others. So, when our “Idolatry” album came out, all the
reviews and reactions were very good from all sides and we felt that
there is a higher interest in our band. But we had no idea that it
could be nominated for this type of an award. It was a shock and
surprise at the same time. It was a very good feeling, because we
knew that we did a really good job on this record. There were four
other bands with us in the Hard and Heavy category. In the end, we
didn't won it but who cares. It was and still is a very huge step in
our history.
What
kind of atmosphere and feeling do you try to capture with your music?
Kazateľ:
Like I said it before. When we prepare the material for the album.
Every step that we take is very important for us. We try to capture
both musically and lyrically, all the negativity of fear, darkness
and blasphemy. Everything that is bad and wrong, hidden deep in the
hearts and minds of men. Basically, you can simply say that our main
focus is to capture the essence of primal evil, the nature of sin,
madness and darkness. These are the topics that people have been
afraid of for more than two thousand years.
How
essential is performing live for the band, and have you ever played
outside of Slovakia? Which bands have you shared the stage with?
Kazateľ:
For every musician (both for the individual or the band) it is very
important to play live and bring their music to the masses. And it
doesn't matter if you play in the small venues, the bigger ones or if
you play the huge festivals. You must love what you're doing and you
must do it right. So, when you hear the people talking about you
after a show, or when they want to have a talk with you and you
hear these words, how they admire and appreciate every
moment. Only then can you feel this essence of success and
satisfaction. That's why I appreciate every single minute of it. We
have played many shows outside of Slovakia, mainly in Czechia (or
Czech Republic if you will) and for once we were playing in Austria.
It was a small venue in Vienna (Escape-Metal Corner now known as
Escape Metal Bar-Live Club) and we shared the stage with Destination
Void (ex-members from Austrian legends Miasma). When it comes to the
other bands we shared the stage with. There are a lot of them, but I
will pick some famous ones: Vital Remains, Suffocation, Benediction,
Krabathor, Death Strike, Decapitated.
What
do you think of death metal bands that infuse clean vocals and gothic
influences into their sound? Can outsider elements add more depth to
the music?
Kazateľ:
There are a lot of well known bands that have done this fusion in the
past. Of course it wasn't pure death metal, rather, it was doom metal
or death/doom metal. I mean, these kinds of bands that use this
“Beauty and the Beast” style of vocals. Oh, man, how I hate these
so called “labels” for genres. But there were some bands that
played death metal with some “gothic flavor” like Scum (Finland),
Swedish bands like Cemetery (middle period), Tiamat (The Astral
Sleep, Clouds era) or Crematory (on their first albums) from Germany. For
these kinds of bands it has worked well. So, maybe, it can add some
depth to the music. But that depends entirely on the artists, how
they feel and of course on the fans as listeners.
Can
you give us a list of some of your favourite metal albums ever that
have made a lasting impact on you?
Kazateľ:
Oh, man. This is a hard question for me. Cause, I have a lot of
favorite bands and albums. But, if I must pick some of them it would
be these bands and records: Slayer – Show no Mercy, Sodom –
Obsessed by Cruelty, Possessed – Seven Churches, Beherit –
Drawing Down the Moon, Darkthrone – Soulside Journey, Darkthrone –
Under a Funeral Moon, Blasphemy – Fallen Angel of Doom, Deicide –
Legion, King Diamond – Conspiracy. These records are my all time
favorites. They've formed my taste in metal music and made me who I
am today.
Lastly,
what does the future hold for the band and when can we expect a new
album? Cheers!
Kazateľ:
As I've already mentioned before, the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns put
some obstacles in our way. But we've managed to overcome them. It was
a very difficult time for us. So right now we are focusing and
working slowly on our next material. Some songs are already complete
and some need to be finished.
I
can't tell you now when it will be out, but I can promise you that
it will tear your soul apart. Thank you for the interview and for showing interest in our band. Take care and good luck with your
webzine. Cheers!
