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Slaughter
held with guitar player Kell Mc Lauchlin by T. Richter in November 2002
Pessimist
is a band that you don't exactly hear that much about, at least not
in my part of the world. They however proved themselves fairly interesting
on the albums "Cult of the initiated" and "Blood for
the gods" in the past. Early 2002 saw them rise to a new level
with the excellent "Slaughtering the faithful". More brutal
and faster than before and with an all new line-up, leaving only guitar
player Kell Mc Lauchlin from the old line-up. This man was also my interview
victim.
Since the release of the "Blood for the gods" album, you replaced
all the other members plus kind of changed your style a bit. Were these
changes related? What I mean is if you replaced the other members because
you wanted to change the style and they didn't. Could you explain just
how things happened?
Well it's a long story really. The members didn't all change at
once, this had taken place over the span of a couple of years. First
Tony (Pernia - bass) had quit playing death metal for a while. None
of us wanted to see him go. We found a replacement but after that things
changed for the worse. Soon after Chris (Pernia - drums) left, we had
kind of figured that since his brother Tony was no longer in the band.
We also had stylistic differences, and so the split was mutual. When
we parted ways with Rob (Kline - vocals) it was more difficult as we
had been in the band together the longest (almost 6 years), but due
to his schedule things just weren't working out.
Would you say the splits with Rob, Tony and Chris was amicable then?
Well, you know at the time there was never any real "split"-
the entire process took place over a span of a couple of years, until
all the members in Pessimist had gradually been replaced - from what
I understand it wasn't until some time later when the three of them
started playing together again, so it's not like there was a huge "falling
out" or anything. In fact, Tony had even sold his 6-string bass
to our current bassist at the time! As far as I know we are all still
friends, and especially with Tony and Chris there was never any hard
feelings.
How about the new members? Did you know them already or how did you
find
them?
Well, we went through a series of temporary players until we found
full-time replacements, suitable to the way I wanted to re-structure
the band. It wasn't until 2000 that the new line-up was announced: we
recruited a new bassist/vocalist, Ralph "Reaper" Runyan of
the NJ-based death metal band Corrupture. Rich at Lost Disciple had
seen him play at NJ Metal Fest. Then I got in touch with long time friend/guitarist
Bill Hayden and drummer John Grden from FOG (formerly Fear of God).
This new line-up made our debut at CA's "November to Dismember"
in 2000 and shortly thereafter signed with Lost Disciple for album #3.
You now have two guitar players in the line-up. If I am not mistaken,
you've had that before (Tom Persons). How come you returned to this
concept after having managed with only one guitar for so long? Did it
feel awkward to play along a second guitar again?
I have always preferred two guitarists of course for a while after
Tom left we couldn't find any guitarists around here who could fit the
band or play the music. There were a few local players who had tried
out at one time or another but it was always the bands decision that
we were better off with just one guitarist until we found the right
player. I have been fortunate to play with many great guitarists (in
this band and in other bands) and our current guitarist Bill Hayden
is one of the best guitarists I've ever jammed with! Plus our writing
styles are very similar which is working out great!! In fact, Bill's
lead style works with my lead style better than any previous guitarist
in Pessimist. It has been very inspiring all our gear is matched, we
have almost identical rigs. This is definitely the most professional
this band has ever been and it has helped my guitar playing to progress
immensely and kept it fun at the same time.
As I don't compose music myself, I can't really say how big the difference
between the old Pessimist style and the new is other than what my ear
tells me. Did it require any major changes in how you compose music?
If yes, was it hard to make these changes?
Well most of the album was written around the drums, that's the
only real change in the way we wrote the album compared to past releases,
where many times I already had the songs written and arranged. Also
the whole album was written and recorded in only a few months, compared
to our past albums where we had much more time to write the music. On
this album we wrote together as a band. Some of the songs are about
50/50 my riffs and Bill's riffs. We did all the arrangements together,
as a band. Our drummer helped a lot with the arrangements on this album.
It was a lot of fun. We wanted to do an album that was fast and brutal,
which is what we have done. I can tell you that after recording "Slaughtering"
we replaced drummers and stylistically the next album will more closely
resemble our past recordings yet in a way different than anything the
band has ever done before.
How would you personally describe the musical differences between
old and new Pessimist? Are you still happy with the old releases?
Well, in lots of ways this was just a record we did for fun. Sure
there was a lot of hype surrounding it, this album is like a stepping
stone for us. We know the new material is the best stuff this band has
ever done, and the next album will again be more creative and a return
to more elite song writing. Technically, this album was the most advanced
riffs and most elaborate song structures, also the fastest! Our new
drummer plays stylistically more like Chris Pernia from the first two
albums yet more technical! So, we're focused on writing for the next
release, which will be much more catchy, similar to "Cult"
and "Blood". I still enjoy listening to the old releases.
What
was the reaction from your label when they learned about the changes
in the Pessimist camp?
The label was 100% supportive! In fact all band "decisions"
at that time were being made between me, management, and Lost Disciple.
So, whenever the band changed members it had already been discussed.
See, throughout all these changes I was supported by Rich at Lost Disciple
and Butane (our manager) and in some cases I made decisions based on
what the label and management thought was best. Rich was totally excited
about the changes in the line-up, and most people were saying it was
our best line-up ever! That's why after seeing us play he re-signed
Pessimist for album #3!!
Blasphemous lyrics have appeared on past Pessimist releases as well,
but on "Slaughtering the Faithful" they kind of took complete
control. A deliberate choice or just how things turned out? Is this
the lyrical path you will continue to pursue?
Of course, this was a deliberate choice, the way we wrote the lyrics.
You are mistaken though - keep in mind that what you think the song
is about may not be what it's actually about. Aside from blasphemous
lyrics there is also plenty of violence, and hatred.
You were not accredited any vocal contributions on the new album.
How come you have stopped helping in this department? Or is it a misprint?
Yes it's true I did some vocals on the new album, both trade-off
lead vocals and backing vocals. I still do some vocals live, and in
the studio but I am not concerned with doing it just to get my name
on the liner notes. I prefer having two guitars with the bass player
handling vocal duties. This formula works for many great bands. I mostly
consider myself a guitarist and I have enjoyed being able to focus more
energy on playing guitar. So yes, the vocals I'm doing just for fun,
but I'm primarily a guitarist.
"Slaughtering the Faithful" was actually a phrase first
mentioned in a sample that you used for the song "Mens Rea"
on the "Blood for the gods" album. Was this what influenced
you to call this album that? Where is that sample from by the way?
That sample is from the Millennium TV show and yes that's where
I got the idea for the album title of course. We had some other working
titles but when I came up with the idea to use that as the title, we
knew it was a perfect title for this album.
Did "Slaughtering the Faithful" turn out the way you wanted
it to? If not, what would you have done differently?
Yes, the album definitely turned out different than what we expected.
We ended up having to spend a lot of time on the drums. If we could
do it differently we would record the drums at a local studio where
the drummer could have played his own kit. I would have also done some
things differently in the mix, but overall, I am definitely happy with
this album and the recording, it's my favourite Pessimist album so far!
Each of your albums have been recorded at different studios. Is there
a special reason for this?
No special reason other than always trying to get a better recording
for each album. For the second album we had stepped up to local producer
Drew Mazurek. Of course when we had the opportunity to record our third
album with Erik Rutan at his studios in FL for us it was a great honour.
Yes, for the recording of the latest album you travelled out of state
down to Tampa, FL to work with Erik Rutan as producer. Quite a trip.
Any comment to working with Erik or to that whole experience?
Well as I mentioned it was a great honour for us, since Erik had
chosen us out of several other bands that wanted to record with him
at that time! We actually recorded most of the tracks with Hate Eternal
drummer Derek Roddy (who co-owns the studio) while Erik was on tour
with Morbid Angel. After Erik returned from tour, I returned to FL to
finish guitars and begin mixing/production. I even played Erik's Yamaha
"Gateways" guitar for some of the leads and rhythms, and played
through his Marshall stacks for his Hate Eternal guitar rig. We had
a blast working together, and Erik has already invited us to record
with him again in the future.
While you were down there in Florida, Usama and friends launched
their infamous attack. Part of which took place quite close to where
you normally live, am I right? Any thoughts on this?
Well it certainly affected me directly, as my return flight from
the studio was for that day, Sept. 11. This actually allowed us a couple
extra days in the studio and hanging out in FL with Erik until I could
make travel arrangements to return home. So of course over the rest
of the mixing and while writing the intro to the album, it was a very
eerie mood. Also as a result of this we had to cancel our appearance
at "End of Days" Fest in Indianapolis. Especially here on
the East Coast the attacks affected lots of people, in different ways.
You'll notice that in the liner notes on the album: "DEATH TO TERRORISM
WORLDWIDE!!"
I definitely do not approve of those terror attacks, but in principle
I guess it was an attack on Christianity. In its wake we have seen quite
a lot of its repercussions being that Americans come together in public
prayer meetings and that the Christian aspect of the country seem stronger
than ever. As your band doesn't really qualify to entertain at the weekly
church meetings, what is your opinion about this?
If people feel the need to pray, or to believe in something that's
fine with me, but I do have an especially low tolerance of Christians
these days. It kind of disgusts me to see a resurgence in religion becoming
"popular".
Jon Zig did the art work for the new album. What made you choose
him as the artist? Do you agree that it's actually not a typical Jon
Zig drawing?
Working with Jon Zig was great, I had seen his art on other bands
album covers (Deeds of Flesh, Dying Fetus, Averse Sefira). Most of the
concept for the cover was worked out between me and Rich at Lost Disciple.
We then gave the ideas to Zig and that's what he came up with. Zig said
it's one of his best pieces ever, and I'd have to agree. We think it
fits the mood of the album perfectly.
While on the subject of art, what can you tell me about the symbol
(three triangles across a circle) that you always use? Where is it from
and what is its significance?
That symbol is the Nonagon. It is symbolic of the bands name Pessimist,
and has been in use since the earliest of days. Based on symbolism and
numerology, it represents the darkness and negativity, and the stronger
more dominant evil forces of nature. The three equilateral triangles
interlocked, pointing downward, contained within the circle, representing
eternity. It has nine points and the name Pessimist has 9 letters, so
the name is spelled counter-clockwise, in the centre, the eye represents
looking through the nonagon, the way a Pessimist sees the world.
Do you think Lost Disciple Records is a good label? Does it not bother
you that their distribution outside the States seem to be a bit insufficient?
Well of course we're ready now for a bigger label. For a while the
label continued to grow with the band but at this point it's safe to
say we have definitely outgrown the label. In fact, this will more than
likely be our last release with Lost Disciple as both the band and the
label expect to see us picked up by a larger label for the next release.
Apparently there is a split release with Black Mass coming up. Please
tell me about it. Which are your songs on it, when will it be released
and by who? Plus what can you tell me about the band Black Mass that
you are splitting it with?
The Pessimist / Black Mass split CD has been put on hold for now,
so that we can concentrate on releasing our own EP. The split was to
be titled "Hymns for the Sabbath", and was to include rare
and unreleased material by both bands, including live/studio tracks
and a Possessed cover. It was to be co-released on Metal-CDs/Grindnoiz
Recs. Black Mass is signed to Elegy Records, they have a couple of CDs
out already, in the old-school Incantation-style death metal. Maybe
someday we'll still do the split, but for now we're just busy with other
projects , in fact, I'm playing leads on the upcoming Black Mass release,
and we're currently recording at Roger Beaujard's (Mortician, Malignancy)
studio.
Ok, thanks for your time and finish this as you see fit.
Thanks for the cool interview, best of luck with Nekrologium! Hope
to see you on tour! Official merchandise available at our web site or
at the contact info below. HAILS!
PESSIMIST
www.pessimist.com
mp3.com/pessimist
6670 Washington Blvd.
Elkridge, MD 21075 USA
LOST
DISCIPLE RECORDS
www.lostdisciple.com
PO Box 340
Winthrop, MA 02152 USA
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