Summon: How did the band get started?
Raypissed: The formation has taken on earlier forms and styles. A gradual evolution that has taken us to this point. It will continue to morph with only one constant. That is that we always draw from the darkest wells of subconscious thought. Beginning as a three piece psycho billy metal band that migrated to New England from Texas. I joined them when we met in New Hampshire. We were later reduced to two members, I and the Lead guitarist. I turned him on to the darker side of Metal. We then formed a horror based Suicidal Black Metal band called Vintage Flesh. Numerous line up changes later and I remain the soul member of what is now INVERTICRUX.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Raypissed: Well being around as Metal heads since the early eighties, I tend to work with musicians my own age group, but not exclusively. Being around for that long has given us a wide range of Metal genres to choose from. It is never intended but with each song we always end up mixing two to three different Metal genres and sometimes even some Goth Rock and punk. Truly scatter brained are we. But we mostly utilize Death, Black, Doom, and Thrash Metal.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Raypissed: It varies a lot really. As Vintage Flesh we were far more specialized and off kilter. Some people were out right offended by our unusual off shoot approach to Black Metal. Others felt it was a refreshing change from the norm. All of it is taken in stride. Neither us nor the spirit realm that we draw from are interested in commercial success or wide spread acceptance. Though INVERTICRUX seems to be a bit more approachable by a larger audience while still maintaining our bizarre nature.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Raypissed: I hate the thought of sharing a band name with another band. so i chose to create a word from a play on other words. (inverted-INVERTICRUX-cross) Crux also means to be problematic, and religion has certainly proved itself to be a very problem for many.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Raypissed: James Hell Khunt Is our rhythm guitarist and bassist. This was his first actual band and first time on an album. We feel he did an astounding job in having to replace Terry Savastano of our first full length release. Michael Coffin Rage as Our percussionist. He and I are the only two members members heard on both the 1st and 2nd release. Aside from our guest artist Matt Gemini who also serves as our producers and recording engineer for both releases. Gemini performed all guitar leads on the 2nd release. Then of course my own wicked and troubled self acting sometimes as a drummer but always as the vocalist and album art illustrator. I contributed a bongo solo on the latest release and harmonica on one song from the 1st release. i like to throw an oddball instrument in there once in a while. Keeps em’ wondering.
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Raypissed: I simply allow the band to write the music as long as the feel of the songs are within the agreed perimeters of style and feel that we all agreed upon. The music should always be dark and foreboding, extremely mournful or intense fear conveyed. Or viciously angry. When the instrumentation is complete, I will step in and write the lyrics according to how the song structure makes me feel. Unless I am drumming, then i may have more of a say in building the instrumentation.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Raypissed: We always center the theme of the songs around New England Folk lore. For America, we have a monopoly on tales of horror and tragedy. So we may draw lyrics from actual historic local events or write a fictional tale but base it around one of our five intensely haunted New England states.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Raypissed: I live as an Agnostic. So I understand the existence of both purely good and evil forces in the universe. But I do not think we know enough about them to neatly categorize such forces into tomes for religious purposes, whether for white or black magic. Spells and incantations have not been a proven source of power for me. If they were, we would all be casting spells by now and the whole world would be even more chaotic then it already is. No, i believe simply in the power of attraction. The movie “The Secret” talks more about it. But people are welcome to believe what they want until they start trying to push it on others. We have seen first hand what playing with the dark side can do to a person, and we handle it very carefully. But hocus pocus is not our way.
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Raypissed: Ahhh, Good question. Many are not yet sure of this as we are so under ground at this time. That may change but that is completely out of our control. We do not seek fame, rather eternal infamy. That’s why our albums are my babies. I have no children and refuse to bring any into this warped world. So my albums are all I have to carry on my work. So to answer your question, We now have six full lengths. Since I am the only remaining member of INVERTICRUX at this moment, I consider all that I have worked on to be INVERTICRUX. My brain child. One first release as Reverened Hex’s CreepShow, Two VintageFlesh releases, Two INVERTICRUX outputs, and one release with MysticForest from France titled “InTheEnd”2012 on Drakkar Prod.. Not including splits and comps. All in only 8 consecutive years time. Started late in life.
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Raypissed: Hmmm, It was a very troubled year for me. For the first time the lyrics are not all cut and dry. Looking back some songs are very esoteric or symbolic in meaning. Much the way a DIO (RIP) song would be written lyrically. That way can be good in a sense that you can draw from the lyrics your own meaning. Like an obscure surrealist Dali painting. But you know by the use of words in any of those songs, that nothing good can come of your take on the lyrics. Some people are confused or even perturbed by our mild use of black humor in one or two songs from each album. We believe in a sort of comic relief towards the end or middle of each album. Those annoyed do not understand that we intended not to be so serious with every song. Some songs are so intensely dark and bizarre that we thought it was important to lighten the mood here and there this time around. We made the mistake of being as dark as humanly possible with our two VintageFlesh releases and we were all subject to haunting’s and witnessed deaths and suicides surrounding those two releases. That’s why we don’t need Occult practices. Dark forces are created even through the music and illustration. its all about the intentions you had when creating it.
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Raypissed: Not at this time. I do guest spots on other artist projects from time to time. Inverticrux was designed in such a way that I never have to explore anything else personally. It is not a progressive band per-say, but we will progress in such a way that will allow the music to transform greatly from album to album, while always maintaining the core value of exploring the darker sides of life. I am very excited to get started on the next one. It will be the most daring and far reaching output yet.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Raypissed: It all stems from Alice Cooper for me. Then it branch’s out far and wide from there. Musically I am into most genres outside of rap and country. I can take something from anything else but them two. well I don’t like Motown or disco either. outside that, anything passionate and genuine of heart will catch my ear. As a vocalist I emulate a mix of Alice,K. Diamond,R. Halford and Dio. But I am the poor mans version of said rockers. hey poor men need rock too.
Summon: Which current bands?
Rayppised: I am one to continuously explore ever more and more bands. I am of the understanding that you can never hear it all. Don’t like to get stuck on the same ten or twenty bands like so many do. Those bands are always the foundation of what i love but it is far more exciting to continue to discover the way we first did as teens. A handful of more recent bands (last eight years)for me would have to be Fear of eternity, Wicked whispers, EErie, Graven Image, Wednesday 13, Ammit, LOW, ForgottenTomb, Dodsferd, To die for, Ghoul Chapel, Starless night, Orchid, Cadaveria, Acid Witch, Wytch trap, Revenge, etc The list is endless and dirty as fuck.
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Raypissed: The members mostly stay in place while I run amok of the stage. I believe in never the same show twice. Before every show I will go to the local Salvation army store for dirt cheap items I can use as props. the weirdest shit. The shows are insane and unpredictable, even dangerous. We only have five live shows under our belt. All very memorable. Members so far have found it difficult to work with me. Extreme personality issues i suppose. Eventually I will find a crew that is as bat shit crazy as I am, and willing to go through all the ups and downs of an insane way of life as true Metal music should be.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Raypissed: No we have not. But if we did it would only be Japan, China, or most of Europe. A major Japanese label has signed us to re release our Vintage Flesh material. So we will see if they can stir the Asian pot for us enough to support a few shows. I still need to recruit new members for the next release. I will always be the sole member of this project outside of guest artists until they want to dedicate more of themselves then i have experienced so far.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Raypissed: We have been graced with some really good turn outs. Our guitarist at that time was well admired by the local scene. Terry was a founding member of local crusty doom hero’s GRIEF, Disrupt, and Warhorse. So many would come out just to see him and then get a lot more then they anticipated.
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Raypissed: Well lets say we have read some amusing local reviews. A few times it was mentioned how we were the earliest opening act after five more bands went by after all that, they said they still couldn’t get our performance out of their mind! lol!
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Raypissed: I am fine with it. I believe in promoting the old school camaraderie of the early Heavy Metal scene. It seems to be lacking in today’s Metal scene. So I support all other artists and head bangers. That’s how it was. A brotherhood. Today’s younger generations weren’t there for that and its a value that wasn’t passed on very well. We were to busy partying. Brotherhood among Metal heads is much stronger in other Metal scenes around the world. It is disintegrating here for some reason. I refuse to aid it in its downfall. I remind younger Metal heads that all we have is each other. We have enough shit to hate without hating each other too.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Raypissed: Well I feel I already answered that one but I prefer the European Metal scene above all. that music speaks loudest to me. Probably because I am of European lineage. Great part of the Metal world for inspiration with an epic history and culture that should be protected and sustained.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Raypissed: Way to many to mention. As the end time approaches and hard times fall on us all, Metal gets better. True Metal is fueled by suffering and we have plenty of that thanks to the dumbing down of our Western values. Bad time to be alive, but a great time to find new and exciting Metal.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Raypissed: Well M.M.M.P. was just released on Exalted Woe Records early in 2014. So we are still all about promoting the shit of this release. We are well pleased with the outcome. If fate should want me to create more in this life it will happen within the next three years I surmise. An entirely new line up and a still darker more disturbing approach yet.
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Raypissed: I wouldn’t assume a future exists for INVERTICRUX. But if the spirits that guide me should allow this to continue it most certainly will do that. As long as breath fills me lungs they will be emptied in harsh tones in front of a microphone somewhere on this harsh planet.
Thanks for your interest and support of our efforts in Metal in INVERTICRUX. We will always strive to achieve greater acts of defilement.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/LetsGetInverted
http://www.reverbnation.com/Inverticrux
