Hello Al. Let’s start with the annoying questions first. From various metal sites, I see that Cyanosis started back in 1993, released 4 demos which eventually gave birth to your first full-length, “Methods” in 1999… And now you release "Conceiving Abhorrence" in 2008. That's quite the gap! Do you mind letting us know the reasons behind that silence?
The reason behind the silence was quite simple. In 1999, when we released METHODS, Jim Garcia(drums & backing vocals) & Kevin Forsythe(lead guitar) left to joing Jungle Rot. It has been quite difficult in Wisconsin to find musicians with the same vision and work ethic to complete any new music. METHODS era bassist Phil Proite and I began working again with people as early as 2003, but couldn't get the music tight enough, without a consistent practice schedule, and with solid people to record any of the new material. Jereme Brauch was a ray of hope when he came back in 2007!!

“Conceiving Abhorrence” is basically “Methods” and three new tracks, well two if you consider that “Baptism in Blood" is a cover. Why did you want to have the same album released twice? Or was it Amputated Vein Records that convinced you in doing so?
I, as well as Masakatsu(owner of Amputated Vein Records), thought because of how quickly the band split up after METHODS was released, that it never really got out to the underground. Masakatsu said fans in Japan, and around the world, were wanting more copies of METHODS, and I didn't have anymore. By this time, GENOCIDE MUSIC(label that released METHODS) had gone under, so the re-release seemed a great idea. I also felt that putting some new songs with Jereme would show where we were headed, as well as, the remake of BAPTISED IN BLOOD, to show our respect and gratitude to CHUCK SCHULDINER, and DEATH, in my opinion, one of the crucial forefathers of this music.

It looks to me like you had some line-up issues throughout the years. Was it one of the reasons that made the Cyanosis project dormant? I also see that Dave Bigler, guitars, has joined since the release of “Conceiving Abhorrence”. Does that mean we can expect some touring in the near future?
Line-up issues have always been a problem. I will not compromise, and Jim Garcia and Kevin Forsythe, were, and are to this day, my friends, and people who I felt a profound musical connection with(free plug-CAUSE FOR REVELATION). It seems many hear the music, but when they join, they can't handle the practice schedule, the professionalism, and that I will not turn this band into deathcore, metalcore, hardcore, or any other trend at the moment. Shit, since CONCEIVING ABHORRENCE has been released, we let go of Phil Proite, due to his lack of professionalism and not keeping a consistant practice schedule!!! He had been a returning member since 1997!! Also, Dave Bigler, who also remains a good friend of the band, had an amicable and mutual parting with Cyanosis because a DWI would prevent him from keeping a consistant practice schedule. He was the first person in a long time who understood that practice is vital to this, and not showing up hurts the band, his tightness with the band, and the production of new music(free plug-MASTER FURY). Returning after a long silence is the other ORIGINAL guitar player, SCOTT ZWIEG- the only and logical choice for Cyanosis. Long time friend, and former bandmate of our drummer JEREME BRAUCH, KIRK KANGAS, will be our new bass player. Touring is a possibility, but because of all the families involved(mine, Scott's, Jereme's)-the scheduling and finances need to make sense, so when we return our lives are not in ruin!!

I read that Rotting Corpse Records signed Cyanosis. Can we soon expect a brand new album to come out of this? What will it be like compared to your older material?
You are correct, RON and LORI DAKE, from ROTTING CORPSE RECORDS, have signed Cyanosis. We are in pre production right now, as well as, finishing new material. We are looking at a mid to late summer release on ROTTING CORPSE RECORDS. Can't say enough goo

d about them-truly great people and a kick-ass, old school, down to earth label, with a great roster-we are honored to be a part of that! The new material is going to be a drastic change from the old material, yet you will hear classic Cyanosis features. First, we have bought, and built our own studio in my house. We will be controlling and deciding how the sounds are to be set, and with computer technology, we won't have to rush in a 40.00 per hour studio! So we will take our time, get the sound we want, add some cool twists and samples, and the end product will be pummeling. The new material is far faster, there will be some ridiculous gravity blasting from Jereme, but the groove is still present, Scott has added some interesting guitar effects and harmonies, as well as a classic thrash and metal influenced soloing aspect. We really are staying away from the sweeping shredding simply because of what all the "core" bands have done. We want NO ONE to mistake us for an MTV band that calls themselves, death metal(notice I didn't say MTV2!!) The vocals will be still brutally pummeling and low, but some mids and clarity have been worked on, as well as, some harmonizing. The parts are still catchy as hell, but ALOT of technicality has been added. The bass sound KIRK has created with his Marshall bass amps, the distortion is clear and powerful, and his clean tones pick up his finger techniques perfectly-who knew MARSHALL was so good at bass amps!! There is frequent tempo changes, and numerous passages-this material on the new record, entitled, PERPETUATION OF ERADICATION, is a culmination of songs written between 2003, and 2010.

Talking about your older material. This is definitely some brutal shit very much in the vein of Deeds Of Flesh' Inbreeding The Anthropophagi in my opinion. It has the brutality which you’d obviously expect from the genre but also that welcome old-school feel. Nowadays, it seems most BDM bands have just the brutality and not the emotions. What’s your opinion on this and on today's scene in general?
The emotion is what breeds the brutality in my opinion. We were very influenced by bands like Cryptopsy, Deeds of Flesh, Fleshgrind, Mortician, Oppressor, Krabathor, and others. I feel that ALOT of the emotion of making this music is gone. It is all created for shock and competition. Most times emotion, that is what created originality. Nowadays, everyone is copying everyone, all pig snorts, hyper blasting ALL THE WAY THROUGH a song, tons of sweeps, and everyone is trying to outdo everyone else. We write songs about things that affect us, and in turn, that is why the music comes out the way it does. We use touches, or influences of all things extreme, but never to compete, or just for the sake of doing it. Why weren't people catching on to how great Flo Mournier was in 1999?? I saw him play in Michigan and he was still incredible back then! He was one of the first to gravity blast, now everybody uses it. Why didn't everybody realize how good DEEDS OF FLESH were 10 years ago-cause they were and are! Why didn't everyone catch on to how great JOE from BROKEN HOPE was in 1990-SWAMPED IN GORE is absolutely classic shit-some of the first gutturals, but it seemed like no one noticed at the time. It is sad actually, because I think all the competetion and copying will kill this music, and the scene is so god damn clichy-oh you don't listen to slam so I don't like you-BULLSHIT! There is truly no money in this music, and at the end of the day, pig snorts, sweeps, wearing girls jeans, hyper grinds-people in general will all call it death metal-THANKS TO MTV!!

When you released “Methods” in 1999, the whole Death Metal genre was not feeling that well. Lately, many talented bands, old or young, have released some great records. Which bands do you consider to be leading the genre nowadays?
Opinions are like assholes-everyone has one, so I'm not sure mine matters, but these are the bands I think are the leaders of the REAL death metal scene. Morbid Angel, Obituary, Incantation, Cannibal Corpse, NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS, Mortician, Malignancy, Atrocious Abnormality, Necrophagist, A

sphyx, Dismembered, Master, Benediction, Bolt Thrower, Entombed, Disgourge, Devourment, and Misery Index.

Lately most “people” assimilate Death Metal with acts like All Shall Perish or other core-like bands. What does it inspire you?


All Shall Perish might be a great band, but not death metal. If you don't have the classic vocals, if you have to have break downs every second, if you need to sweep every measure, no blasting of any kind, or need to put a sweet little singing passage for your girlfriend in a song, ot take your name from a movie like THE NEVER ENDING STORY-YOU ARE NOT PLAYING DEATH METAL! Who am I to judge? Maybe this question should be asked of Chris Barnes, Mark Greenway, LG, Paul Speckman, John Tardy or David Vincent!!





The Internet has changed quite a few things. It’s easier to find stuff and it goes much faster than with the original IRCs, SASEs, distro maildorder and tape-trading. On the darker side, it makes last.fm pre-teens think they know A to Z in Death Metal just because they downloaded rare demos from underground bands. How do you relate to this? Would you be happy knowing that some kids have Cyanosis material on mp3?
I don't relate to last.fm!!! I think it's crap-ask the damn bands for an mp3-usually they will give you some, or maybe MYSPACE?!?! Really get to know the band and contact them directly-learn something about them and actually support them instead of raping them by using LAST.FM!! If kids want mp3's of Cyanosis stuff-all they have to do is ask and I would gladly give them one rather them some spam loving, blood sucking site who will give them a low quality one and make bands look like shit. LAST.FM BLOWS GOATS!

I see you come from Wisconsin in the US. Not quite New York , Texas or Florida when it comes to Death Metal. What’s it like to be a metalhead up there?
I think it is bad to be a metalhead here, but we certainly don't have the scene of Florida, New York, or Texas. I used to live in Florida in the beginning of the movement when RAPED APE existed, Malevolent was starting, Deicide was Amon, Obituary was Executioner-that scene rules and always will. Bands like PYREXIA, MORTAL DECAY, INTERNAL BLEEDING, SAPREMIA, INSATANITY,SUFFOCATION all made NY have a great scene, although it seems like hardcore is moving in. In Wisconsin, the clubs don't support us playing there and the bigger venues try to rape you by making you pay to play. We have metal stores and the bands try hard to promote, but we just don't have the support of these other scenes.

Last but not least, you’re known as Al “Brute” Andrews. Any reason I should be afraid of having fucked up this interview? What's the story behind that evocative alias?
Years ago you should have been worried, but I am getting older now!! Just kidding man-that was a nickname given to me by a vocalist of a side project called KOOK. Mark "Spark" Thomas would get really drunk with all of us, and when talking about Cyanosis he couldn't always say brutal, so when he slowed it down he threw in brute-al. If you say brute al fast enough it sounds like the word brutal when you are HAMMERED!!

really that's all it is, sorry no murder stories or killing my mom here!

Any last words? Your reflections on Obama, endangered whales and what not? Just kidding… just say what you want!
Thanks Frederic for the interview-we greatly appreciate it. Please get a copy of CONCEIVING ABHORRENCE from the band at www.cyanosisband.com, or through the myspace page www.myspace.com/cyanosisband. We have great t-shirt and cd packages as well! Fuck OBAMA, FUCK THE GOVERNMENT!! If the USA had any balls-we would overthrow the government like every other country in the world who gets sick of their government-people who say the US is a place of hope and propserity-ARE WRONG!!! SUPPORT REAL DEATH METAL-get to a local show, buy their shirts and cds, and support these bands the way other scenes around the world do!!! STAY SICKENED!!

r>

Interview done by GandhiEgo

0 Comment

0 Like

Share

You must be logged in to add a comment