Masterful Magazine - Death Metal and Black Metal Magazine

Dechrist

Wywiad przeprowadził - Wouter Roemers

A new force in death metal has arisen out of Quebec, Canada. Dechrist has just released its first promo "Strong Men On Drugs". With musical similarities to the likes of Internal Suffering, Hate Eternal, etc but total unique lyrical content Dechrist is sure to make some waves in the years to come. Recently Masterful Magazine had the chance to talk to mainman Maerk Asselin (vocals/guitar/bass) about this new band that includes ex-Kataklysm drummer Martin Maurais.

Dechrist was formed in the summer of 2004, consisting of yourself and ex-Kataklysm drummer Martin Maurais. What are the reasons for forming Dechrist? Did you have any notable bands/projects prior to Dechrist that we should be aware of?

I have to tell you the whole truth. In early 1999, the vocalist Sylvain Houde split with Kataklysm, he immediately tried to form a new bombastic and grandiose project. I was convinced and enthusiastic towards Sylvain's goal, like almost every death metalheads in the area. I showed up to the audition room where I met Martin for the very first time. At this time, I was a low-skilled guitarist, so I didn't catch the mastermind's attention, but Martin did.

Three years later, I showed up in a club to enjoy a gig and intersected Martin, quite by chance, for the second time. He related that the prior project finally led to nothing. Soon after, Martin invited me in his basement to show him my killer riffs and talk about my concepts and ideas. We both figured out that, according to my playing, we had no choice to work on speed and intensity while keeping it technical. From that moment, he showed me the Buddy Rich one-hand roll style on the snare. "Oh yeah! Double snare, double bass drum, double blast!!" He said. We know, there are already a few names for this roll but DECHRIST baptized it the "sandblast".

In early 2003, Martin was hooked up by Kataklysm. When these guys gave the chance to Martin to demonstrate his skills in audition, they faced the drummer who was training on DECHRIST. They were astonished by the sandblasts that feature today on the "Serenity In Fire" cd. They even listened to a tape that I recorded and Maurizio stated in the Metal Maniacs (May 2004, p.80) that: 'There's always somebody out there doing something more extreme. Right now, there are some kids in a basement making much more extreme music than anything we're hearing right now.'

I never stopped Martin to fill in a band that has a significant name in the industry, even though, I rather encouraged him. The worst thing in this 'love-story soap' is that a few weeks before Martin was recruited by Kataklysm, I offered him a non-breakable 4 songs contract (which means $$$$) that he accepted. On tour, Maurizio [Iacono, current Kataklysm vocalist] heard about these terms that kinda jealously shocked him because he had the feeling we could have the chance to get a record deal. Overbearing and manipulator, Maurizio proposed himself to break this contract and reimburse me overall. He also ordered to Martin that no other band shall use his services during the time he is the Kataklysm drummer.

Meanwhile, I kept on focusing on writing new songs and trying to work with another drummer, which he was not even close to my expectations. One night, I approached Flo from Cryptopsy and offered him $$$$ for session drummer but he wasn't available, even for a session. I also contacted Sylvain Houde and made proposals. The guy really likes my music but doesn't want to sing my lyrics (those you know today) because of the lack of originality or interesting matters. Ok, I'm gonna do it myself! "You can't", he said, "You are not a singer. You don't have any feeling." That pumped me up.

The reason for forming DECHRIST is due to my determination. I know that I can bring interesting new concepts, fresh ideas and a music that can surprise and challenge the international death/black metal community. No one could stop me in achieving this project.
And, if there's really a musical contest in brutality, speed and demolition, then I want to be part of it.

For what reason didn't get any support from Kataklysm, did they feel you stole their drummer?

You should ask 'em !! I think that they protect their assets and they wanted to show to the whole world that Kataklysm has unearthed one of the fastest machine on the planet. And firstly, in 2003, I didn't feel that they stole my drummer. Inversely, do they have to feel it that way today? I don't think so, Dechrist is still young. We still have everything to prove. But, don't worry, I am really a strong man on drugs !!!

What's the status on the Sylv ain Houde project you mentioned previously? Dead (1999-2000) Who's participating in it and do they have plans to record anything in the future?

There were very many musicians (except Martin, all of them are unknown). I don't know what Sylvain is doing these days. I'm pretty sure he's inactive. Lately, a friend of mine made me listened to an old mediocre tape from him; there was only unstoppable vocals with
Mystical, lunatic lyrics and hearing hallucinations on it. Very spooky! Is this guy still wanted by metalheads today? I know that he is alone and available but ambitious and very hard to work with. That's basically the reasons why his project didn't worked.

Martin Maurais appeared on Kataklysm's "Serenity In Fire" album and laid down the drum tracks for Dechrist in between two huge world tours. Is there any particular reason why you chose Maurais to provide the drum tracks? Is he a permanent member of Dechrist?

In May 2004, back from tour, Martin called me up and we discussed about our contract. We wound up agreeing on the same point: we must record this fucking cd. The timing was tight but perfect. Martin was the guy I needed. He knew already what kind of playing I was expecting from a drummer (speed, technicality, versatility and singularity) and he was minded to do the record.

On the "Strong Men On Drugs" album Dechrist is depicted as a duo, with Maurais handling drums and yourself on all string instruments and vocals. Are there any plans to fully flesh out the band in a later stadium?

For the moment, I'm the only person who writes the music and lyrics in DECHRIST. Because I don't want any confusion or any censorship between other musicians. I compel the keynote and then I hire a drummer to butter up. Martin is a session drummer. He will be my man for the next record. And I admit that DECHRIST's ultra-speed is also Martin's signature. However, I recruit talented musicians for live performances. I have already found a guitarist but haven't found the bassist with 22 inches biceps for live performances.

The material featured on the record is of an incredible highly technical level, how many times do you need to rehearse this stuff to keep it fresh and tight?

I can notice that you're an experienced listener, Wouter. Yeah! It's fucking technical. And the important fact is that we don't sink into jazz or funky styles and polyrhythmic sections.
We keep it brutal all the way. It's also not that hard to keep it fresh, it's rather the matter of how hard is it to reach that velocity and accuracy. Once you developed that, maintenance isn't a worry. In brief, it really doesn't take time to refresh the songs; just a few days.

The record opens with the "Overdose" section which features vocals. The other being "Instrumental Relapse" which as it name implies features the same tracks without any vocals added. Is there a reason why the album was divided into these two different sections or chapters?

The first reason is that I've heard so many times people complaining about death/black metal vocals. Some say that there are so many great musicians in death metal, which is a notable fact, but the singers are always the awful annoyance to the listener. So, the "Instrumental Relapse" section allows (maybe?) a more enjoyable listening for individuals who prefer musicianship to growlings.

The second reason is: the music is so fast and the note invasions is so discomforting that we leave people no choice to retry. And we can assure to anyone that after a hundred of listens, he won't be able to catch every subtlety. We think that it can take a whole year or even more before people discover that the "Strong Men On Drugs" cd is a true rare piece of collection. This cd testifies that in 2005, the most implacable, brutal and furious band in the world has emerged.

"Strong Men On Drugs" has yourself in charge of production. Why did you choose to do the production yourself? To have total control over the final product or merely for the obvious financial benefits?

To have total control doesn't mean to have the best control. I just wanted it to sound totally different from Kataklysm. By the way, I didn't have any support from these guys. Also, we didn't want a triggered snare for the reason that human-feel is very important to us. Finally, I don't think this record is going to get me financially richer, it is not the objective here. I just want to earn a certain reputation and credibility for my upcoming projects.

The lyrical content seems to be concentrated around destruction through pollution with oil and gas as recurring themes. It is certainly fascinating to read something entirely different from the usual gore and anti-religious gibberish most bands deal with. Where does this fascination/interest for oil and its related products come from?

You're right! It's a totally new content. This kind of fascination comes from imagination and the sense of innovation. I kept in mind that the essence of both death and black metal is to write lyrics hovering around death, and everything that is very evil. Basically, my lyrics demonstrate (psychologically and physically) that sniffing gas and mixing street drugs can bring you in a further metaphysical journey than Satanism. And, if you can tolerate all its side-effects and all its related organ destruction, then you are a strong man. That sounds very evil to me. Pollution is based on anti-Green Peace interests. Nowadays, pollution has almost become taboo. If you don't recycle, you're a piece of shit. Well, I don't recycle and I burn scrap tires in my backyard. This is a fucking anti-social concept. Burning churches isn't a big deal; except affecting only the local community and creating more space for a parking lot, I don't see any controversy. But, set fire to a pile of rubbers or a gas tanker only in a small farming village, the whole country will suffer from it. The soil will be all contaminated, water will be undrinkable, the air quality utterly affected and so on. Do you conceive the growing damage and destruction that I intend to convey? There's absolutely nothing good or healthy in that. That's my black/death vision.

What do you think about promoting bands and albums on internet, is it to any help for a band like Dechrist?

Internet is the worthiest medium for spreading oil and set fire everywhere. I mean that you can reach a quick worldwide recognition. Webzines are really helpful for underground bands who want reviews and interviews for having the chance to build up a nice press kit. Without a nice press kit, you won't get the chance to get a nice record deal from substantial labels. I think that most of growing underground bands owe to webzines more than they can repay.

How's the state of the Canadian underground metal scene these days?

Canada is a large country. I think that the province that possesses a real significant and active underground metal scene is the Québec. All good metal bands from around the world can have the chance to play live on a stage in Montréal. There are gigs almost every day. The Quebec is breeding hundreds of bands. But at my own opinion, there are very few promising bands. Actually, DECHRIST doesn't identify itself with Canadian bands or music. By the way, the national symbol of the Quebec is the lys flower. You can notice this politic creed drawn upside down in the DECHRIST's logo.

How do you feel about Canadian bands like Cephalectomy, who essentially mimick Kataklysm's early heavily occult – and mysticism inspired style?

Honestly, I don't know this band. If they copy, they are not original. It's a shame! Do you understand why I declare that most of Canadian bands don't have any chance on the international scene. They all want to play old school Nordic black metal or thrash metal.
Occultism and mysticism have already been exploited by many bands. Yet, there are so plenty of cool and mean stuff that hasn't been touched by metallers.

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview! The last words are yours… cheers!

Thanks to you Wouter for showing interest towards DECHRIST! You've just given me the opportunity to spread gas and set fire to Internet. For the moment, my website isn't ready. But someday, try www.dechrist.net , you could find a few mp3. 'Til next, don't die by wilful gas overinhalations. Maerk!!!

Band info:

Info/contact: dechrist666@yahoo.com
Site: www.dechrist.net (under development)

Dechrist

Wywiad przeprowadził - Wouter Roemers

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