1. hey steve! cheers for granting me this interview! first of all give us a brief history of condemned how did the band start and etc?
Forrest and I started this in this garage in May 2004, just trying to write brutal stuff. We picked up some members along the way, including current vocalist Angel Ochoa, and recorded our demo. We're currently seeking a new bass player & second guitarist.
2. how would you describe your sound? and what bands influence condemned?
Brutal Death metal with equally fast and chuggy parts, we try to keep it interesting. Our main influences are bands like: Disgorge, Decrepit Birth, Devourment, Inveracity, and Suffocation.
3. In your state of california you have bands such as disgorge, decrepit birth, severed savior and etc and they have a lot of blast parts and ultra fast tunes, where as you guys love slam styled parts like devourment plays right? why go against the norm like that?
As much as we are influenced by faster bands like Disgorge etc. We just have a love for sluggish brutal parts. However, our newer material is getting faster while maintaining the brutal chuggy parts.
4. what kind of gear do you guys use?
I use B.C. Rich guitars, LINE6 PodXT through a Peavey 5150. Forrest plays paiste cymbals, premiers drums w/ a pork pie snare, Roland bass drum trigger, Alesis DM5 Module, & Iron Cobra Double. Angel uses his disgusting vocals chords.
5. how long have you been playing guitar? you had said you practiced disgorge and suffocation's songs till you came up with your own guitar style,riffs and etc correct? so what other bands influence your playing style?
I played bass in the past, but have been playing guitar for the past two years. Besides Suffocation and Disgorge. I get my style from musicians like Mike and Risha from Decrepit Birth, DJ from Life or Death, and Kirby and Numa from Arkangel.
6. when it comes to writing songs, how does that work?
Usually someone will come up with a sick riff or drum sequence worked out and the rest of the song is usually written together and fine tuned over the course of the next couple practices. A majority of the lyrics are written by Forrest with occasional ideas from steve and angel.
7. Angel the vocalist has killer gutturals! in your opinion what other vocalists can you compare his vocals with? and after he joined the band how did the band's sound change?
I would compare Angel's vocals to Matti Way (Ex. Disgorge), Shawn Whitaker (Insidious Decrepancy) and Fabio Marin (Internal Suffering).
After Angel joined the band, we realized our full potential and started writing songs with his disgusting ability in mind.
8. what releases will you have for the near future? and if unique leader records and my bro alex's label inherited suffering records want to sign up with you which one would you choose?
We are currently writing new material for a 10 song Full-Length Album expected to be out by June 2006 on Dead World Sydicate Records. Between Unique Leader and Inherited Suffering. I would have to go with Unique Leader based on the fact that they've put out some of our favorite records to date.
9. how's cali's scene now a days? any sick new guttural bands worth mentioning?
California's death metal scene has become the next best thing and is growing rapidly with relatively new bands like Decrepit Birth, PARASITIC, and ourselves out there. I can see it getting much better and more brutal.
A couple of sick bands worth mentioning would definitely be Parasitic and Divaricate. Keep a look out for them.
www.myspace.com/parasiticdm
www.myspace.com/divaricate
10. what have you been listening to recently, anything that you would like to recommend?
Lately we've been listening to Inveracity Devourment, Cinerary, the newest Insidious Decrepancy and Putrid Pile, Hate Eternal, and as always Disgorge. All of which are vital for any death metal collection.
11. you guys have any other projects besides condemned and you had had past bands before condemned started right?
Forrest and I have been in a couple bands together before Condemned (none worth mentioning), but this is actually Angels first band..
As far as side projects, Forrest and Angel are working on a band called Cephalotripsy with a different guitarist. The stuff is generally slower but extremely brutal, I.E. Devourment.
12. what's the band's plan for the future like gigs and etc? and you will play in this year's gathering of the sick correct? so what do you expect from that show?
Unfortunately, gigs are on the back-burner until we can a permanent bass player. However, i'm confident we'll find someone in time for the fest. We're booked to play in the summer.
As for the G.O.T.S.2006 yes we are playing, it should be awesome. Last years attendance left something to be desired but this years turnout should be much better.
thanx bro! any comments you would like to add like plugs or shout-outs and etc?
Keep a lookout for Parasitic's new album later this year!! Lookout for our full-length expected in June from Dead World Syndicate Records, and come check out this years Gathering of the Sick 2006! Its going to be one of the years most brutal events.