Summon: How did the band get started?
Alex: DEATH DIES were born as a parallel group of EVOL (historical Italian black metal band) in 1995, by Samael Von Martin and Demian de Saba and the first goal was to create a horror metal with progressive influences in the vein of Goblin, Jacula, King Diamond, Devil Doll..but during the process of releases, the sound is’ moved more and more ‘to the black metal more’ extreme old style..and LEGIONE is a new step towards the black metal more’ extreme and without compromises..and a tribute to 20-years career.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Alex: Old Style Black with thrash influences.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Alex: Return of DEATH DIES has aroused the interest and support of new and old metal-heads. We did two concerts for Legione until now, and the public response ‘was excellent.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Alex: From a well-known piece of GOBLIN(famous horror Italian progressive band), present in their historic 1975 album “Deep Red”.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Alex: Samael Von Martin is the guitarist / back vocalist and main composer of the band, and the bass on “Legione”. Demian De Saba is the ‘drummer but in the past and’ competed well in the composition and writing of the lyrics. And me… Alex Kain, the black vomit.. I was called to replace Samael (singer of the band in previous releases.. but in the album LEGIONE, You find his backing vocals on several pieces and a song where just he sings, The Arsonist).
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Alex: The main composers are Samael Von Martin and Demian De Saba, but I’ll take care ‘of the lyrics in the next works..on LEGIONE, I rewrote by my hand the lyrics of the song “NATO DAL FUOCO” of SATANEL.
Summon: And the lyric where do ideas come from?
Alex: From our dark and anti religious spirit, from our passion for the art, the horror and the occult.
Summon: What is your view on Satanism and Occultism?
Alex: I can tell you my closely personal vision..I’m a godless,an Atheist, but I do not deny a certain interest in spiritualism and the luciferianism and pagan cults of past..but are skeptical of some esoteric new age so fashionable nowadays. Death Dies are against any religion..SATAN for us are the archetype of rebellion and spiritual growth, beyond the limits imposed by the tyranny, of this society ‘corrupt and decadent.
Summon: How many albums / CD’s have you released?
Alex: When the Death Died / Under Scarlet Night in Split in 1998
The Art of Domination EP 1999
The Sound of Demons full-length in 2002
Rebirth of Evil One Compilation 2002
Product of Hate Full-length 2003
PseudoChristos Full-Length 2006
Legione full-length in 2015
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Alex: LEGIONE is an album created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band,and a tribute to all the black metal band’s past of Samael Von Martin and Demian de saba. In this CD will find the new incarnation (even more’ old style black metal) old song of Death Dies, Evol.Satanel, a piece of Negatron (our parallel doom black) and a cover of Rotting Christ.
This CD is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend STEFANO “DESTROYER” ZAGO, known leader of the great Italian cult SATANEL, forever in our memory.
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Alex: The only side project we have is Negatron, with whom we published “TENEBRE” in 2012 which received good responses from magazines / fans but ZERO support from LABEL / DISTRIBUTORS…apart BLACK TEARS OF DEATH ,the great label of close friend Daniele, always our fans and supporter..The proposed genre is a necro doom metal,influenced by progressive horror..with a touch of organ and vocals of obscure lady and American friend BELITA ADAIR .We go ahead anyway, support or not and we give a fuck about making money with our music..the only target we have are ,is express our dark art through our music,and that goes for the rest DEATH DIES give a FUCK OFF to the mainstream scene.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Alex: Black thrash and progressive rock / metal. Goblin, Jacula, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Devil Doll, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Slayer, Venom, etc.
Summon: Which current bands?
Alex: Samael Von Martin and Demian de Saba currently play in DEATH DIES, negatron and heavy / thrash in MAD AGONY. I sing in DEATH DIES, and in an old style death thrash band called Italian RAPIST, and sometimes I work with DEAD TONGUE (a group like Autopsy) with my backing vocals.
Summon: What is the band like When you play live?
Alex: A punch in the face of pure black metal without compromises.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Alex: For now only Italy..but in the future we may also evaluate foreign gigs, under certain conditions.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually you?
Alex: Usually we fill up people near the stage, but honestly, we are happy also to play only, for 3 metal-heads..as long as they know and want to listen to our proposal.
Summon: How is the crowd response When you play?
Alex: We are not interested praises ..but it is always nice and motivate you to do the best. The response of listeners and fans for now is excellent, it means that we work well.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal / Death Metal scene?
Alex: We greatly appreciate the American scene if you can ‘define tale. We worship bands like Leviathan, Xasthur, Twilight, historians Absu, Blood Storm, Kult ov Azazel, Blasphemy etc .. and we are fans of the old American death of Death, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Nocturnus, Incantation, Immolation, Gorguts, Massacre, Cannibal Corpse etc ..
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Alex: We do not follow much particular scenes as a foreign time..but there are great bands. But this is our point of view..there are not “scenes”, but only valid bands worthy of support. In Italy for example, there is no scene..e Us glad not to be part of it.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal / death metal bands?
Alex: Midnight, Aevangelist, Bekëth Nexëhmü, Fyrnask, Frentrum, Thantifaxath, Vampire and many more.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Alex: At the end of this period of promotion of the new album “Legion”.
Summon: What does the future hold for the band ??
Alex: Ignite the stages and to burn in the eternal black flame.
Greetings to you from Death Dies and thanks for the interview.
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