1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new demo?
I’ll start by saying thanks for taking the time to interview us, to give an update on what’s been happening with the band we have been slowly chipping away at our next release. We've been putting the work in hard at the practice space to get the songs ready for the stage. Lockdown was a huge setback for us in that regard as we very much pride ourselves on being a particularly intense band, being away from the rehearsal rooms for so long was tough as our discipline faltered.
Since then we have managed to play two shows this year and both were excellent cathartic experiences. The demo tape is very nearly sold out. The reviews have been very positive. The next step is more shows and the completion of the album.
2. A few months back you had released a new demo, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?
The demo we released this year was much more of a collaborative effort between us on the writing side, the aim of this release was to tie up loose ends left over from Monument to Decay. We approached it in the respect that as much as MTD was a good blueprint for the band we wanted to look at reoccurring themes throughout a release as opposed to just another set of songs. We had started a lot of these tracks as early as 2019 and had been gigging a few of them for some time.
Since it’s been MT’s first recording with the band he has added another dimension and a more chaotic and varied approach to the vocal delivery which in turn means in future writing we are taking this into account to enhance our new material.
3. This is also your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?
Yes, it has been a while since we released MTD. During that time, we had lost a vocalist and a guitarist and were in limbo for a long time as to how we were going to move forward. Luckily, we found a great new vocalist and it’s worked out very well for us. Since then it’s been a case of writing new material with the idea of only having one guitarist as opposed to two, trying to take the band in a different direction and slowly but surely ticking all the boxes we need to for the next release.
4. What are some of the lyrics and topics the band explores with the new release and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
We have started to explore more on the sides of human corruption, abuse and exploitation which is fitting as the music was from our perspective more intense this time around, not only in its delivery but we have started really laying into our instruments to get the desired uneasy atmosphere since everything is slightly out of tune and imperfect. As a result we feel that we’ve progressed into a more cohesive machine than we had been previously, the results we’re getting when writing newer material really show how valuable collaborating has been.
5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Deus Vermin'?
The name Deus Vermin actually comes from a friend of ours Ian from Vacivus one of our members was in talks about starting a project that never got off the floor but he kindly let us keep the name.
It‘s Latin, It means Worm God. My personal philosophy in this regard is that just as humans in worship eat of the holy eucharist and drink of the wine as a representation of the flesh and blood of Christ the worms and maggots and things that crawl in the dirt eat our flesh and blood when we are dead and rotting beneath the earth. We are all gods to the carrion that devour us.
6. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new demo cover?
The logo art was designed by View From The Coffin and the layout, photography and editing was done by Explainlater. We had initially commissioned an artist to create an image for the cover but there were difficulties encountered during the process that delayed their work. The image that they created was finally used for the cover of the exclusive, one of a kind, test pressing that we released and sold instantly.
7. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
The past few shows we have done have been great, it’s been interesting to explore the new dynamic we have with this line-up. We haven’t been using the stage lights or smoke which we had used previously and concluded that it didn’t feel like one of our shows without them so when we return next year we will be bringing everything.
8. Do you have any touring or show plans for 2023?
We have a few things lined up including a festival in Scotland, can’t speak on much now as nothing is set in stone but we are certainly aiming on doing some more weekenders to debut new material. We are always open to offers from promoters anywhere in the UK and beyond. There are a few things lined up already but we urge anyone to get in touch with us directly if you'd like to work with us.
9. According to the metal archives page the band is signed to 'Transcending Obscurity Records', when did you get in contact with this label?
We were approached by the label during lockdown and initially it was our plan to release the demo through them, due to the previously mentioned issues with our chosen artist we chose to self-release the demo instead. Transcending Obscurity will be working with us to release the full-length album that we have spent much of the last year writing. One of the songs from our demo appeared on a T.O.R. label sampler earlier this year.
10. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from all over the world. Because of the type of project Deus Vermin is we aren’t expecting to have masses of fans. The people who are into us seem to really enjoy what we have presented so far and we’re grateful for the reception we have received. As for Black and Death metal fans it’s always a mixed bag. We usually find the people that are into our music generally veer on the side of being into the same kind of things we are. Portal, Deathspell Omega and Altarage for example. It’s always good to see new names popping up catching onto what we’re doing.
11. What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
GH has been working with A Forest of Stars and it’s very much going to be a quieter year focussing on writing and recording. Last year he started doing live session drums for Darkher with a local show and a special one in the pipeline along with a few festival performances lined up for 2023 he also plays for Black Metal project Bròn which will be releasing their next album via Nordvis in the new year.
MT’s band Fatalist are playing as many gigs as possible, hoping to find a label to release their full length that came out digitally earlier in 2022 and are working on a new ep for release next year. He’s also working on his experimental Doom band Sloth Hammer and have around 3 hours of recorded material with a release schedule queued up to last late into 2023.
CG’s currently working on various projects, some Black Metal, Hardcore and some Doom, no release dates scheduled as of yet.
12. When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
As mentioned earlier we are working towards a full length and the direction we’re taking the band in is much murkier and abrasive, we’ve spent a long time planning the themes as well as how the album is going to peak and dip throughout. Most of the writing is complete and we’re currently in the polishing stage as we are working through all the tracks in the practice room.
We’re aiming for immediacy, no wasted space. The riffs should hurt and the vocals should distress.
13. What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
CG: To speak for myself I’ve hit that point where most new music doesn’t hit me like it did and due to a lot of the modern production pitfalls, a lot of bands have started sounding similar so reverted back to thrashy era Sepultura and Slayer. Just big meaty riffs and intensity.
MT: Chat Pile, Come To Grief, Black Sheep Wall, Abstracter and Ultha have been on heavy rotation this year. Everyone should listen to our pals in Calligram, Abduction, Ante-Inferno, Coltsblood, Foetal Juice, Ulcerate, Vacivus, Haar, A Forest of Stars, Hundred Year Old Man, Fatalist, Mastiff, Geist, Still and Torpor.
14. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Would like to say thanks for taking the time to contact us, we look forward to presenting some new material in the near future. If we have to say anything to the people out there it would be to just listen to what you like and ignore what anybody else has to say, it’s your taste, not the music industry’s.
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