Summon: How did the band get started?
Rhyzyktus: Plagues Of Rhyzyktus got started in December 2008 by myself and former drummer Wermacht after both our our previous bands had split up.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Rhyzyktus: We wanted to create something fast and brutal by mixing elements of modern and old school death metal, although there are parts that are black and thrash inspired as well.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Rhyzyktus: A split was released back in 2010 and the response has been overwhelmingly positive thus far. It was later re-released by Speed Slaughter Productions.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Rhyzyktus: The name was something I invented one day out of the blue. I was trying to come up with a name that hasn’t already been taken. I invented by cutting and pasting the letters of the words rhythm, sick, and two after someone said that my riffs always sound sick. Since I always record two rhythm guitar tracks, that’s where the two comes in. A lot of people think there’s a darker, more evil reason and/or some arcane occult reference behind the name, but there really isn’t.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Rhyzyktus: The only band member at the time is Lord Rhyzyktus Necroplague. I handle all vocals, instruments, and composition.
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Rhyzyktus: I wrote all the music, although Wehrmacht did help with some drum arrangements for the songs on the split. I wrote all the lyrics with the exception of one song.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Rhyzyktus: The lyrics come from different themes. Topics include anti-religion, death, genocide, murder, fucked up moments in human history, and just a generally pessimistic and/or nihilistic view towards existence as a whole.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Rhyzyktus: I’m not a religious person in any sense. I prefer to just follow my own path. I myself view Satan simply as a metaphor, as the antithesis of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. However, that does not mean that I feel compelled to worship Satan.
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Rhyzyktus: So far, a split titled The Aura Of Purified Hatred was released back in 2010. The debut album shall be released soon as well.
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Rhyzyktus: Our side of the split had 2 songs. The first one was called Wasted Life Of Repentance. The title of the song makes it easy to guess what the lyrics are about. It was actually the first song ever written for this project. The second song was called The Terminal Ailments Of Existence. The song is basically expressing a nihilistic view on life, that there is no light at the end of a proverbial tunnel, and that the only point to being born is to die. The 3rd song we did on it was a cover of Skinfather by Dismember because they kick ass and the lyrics fit seamlessly into what we’re doing.
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Rhyzyktus: I also play for a black metal band called Belzeth. I handle vocals, bass, and lyric duties, although I play guitar and write music fr them from time to time.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences? Which current bands?
Rhyzyktus: It would forever to list them all, but my main influences are Morbid Angel, Myrkskog, Hate Eternal, Zyklon, Deicide, Belphegor, Dark Funeral, Incantation, Immolation, Disembowelment, Nile, Dismember, Unleashed, Hypocrisy, Slayer, Kreator, Destruction, Demolition Hammer, and Sinister.
Summon: What is the band like when you play live? Have you guys ever played in another country? How big of crowd shows up at shows usually? How is the crowd response when you play?
Rhyzyktus: I have been trying to secure a lineup for live shows for a while without any luck so far, and have not been able to perform live yet. This is a problem that I hope to solve in the near future.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Rhyzyktus: Depends where you go, honestly. I’m from Florida, so you’ll have areas like Tampa and Fort Lauderdale that tend to get really good shows. I live in Miami, and the scene is really dead here. It’s a shame, too, because there are quite a bit of good bands down here that people are missing out on.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Rhyzyktus: From what I’ve heard, it’s generally better than in the U.S. Most people in the U.S. only care about what’s on the radio, which is the same recycled bullshit being played ad nauseum every hour.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Rhyzyktus: I prefer the older bands to be perfectly honest, but there are some new ones that are good. I just recently got into Hate Storm Annihilation from Chicago, and they lay waste to everything in their path live. Some of the newer local bands I like are bands like Sapraemia, Gnosis, Hellfrost, The Glorious Death, and Nuclear Infantry.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Rhyzyktus: I actually have a shitload of songs ready to go. Once the debut is out, I’m going to focus on trying to secure a lineup to play live. If I have no luck, then I go back to the studio and pick up where I left off by starting to record the second full-length.
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Rhyzyktus: I’m not a psychic, but I see me recording and playing music that makes fellow extreme metalheads wanting to get up and kill people. Jacques of Speed Slaughter also wanted to set up a festival in Texas for all the bands on the label to play, so I’m definitely psyched about the opportunity, provided I find some brutal metalheads that are willing to tear shit up with me.
Finally, thank you for the interest and support of Plagues Of Rhyzyktus. The debut full-length is coming soon.
Contact them at:.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Plagues-Of-Rhyzyktus/141511702579048?ref=hl
https://myspace.com/plaguesofrhyzyktus
http://www.reverbnation.com/plaguesofrhyzyktus
