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Hello Bill thanks a lot for taking the time
to do this interview with us, please tell the readers a little about
yourself.
Thanks for having me,
guys. I was born July 20th 1973 in Connecticut (You beat me
clawing my way into the world by three months - Dale). Still currently
residing in CT where I’m juggling working 2 jobs (Guidance/security at a
area High School during the day and UPS overnights) with a social life,
hobbies/interest, and an underground music label.
A little background;
I’m of Irish, German, Polish, Russian, and French Indian descent. I have one
younger brother. My father was a police officer while I was growing up and I
was raised Catholic (and went to Catholic schools) so you’d think my
upbringing would have been strict!? Not the case at all. I’m very fortunate
to have great folks and a solid and memorable childhood. I was actually a
nervous and very shy kid. I loved art (drawing) back then too. I pursued a
graphic design degree in college in 1991. I eventually dropped out with one
course to go to graduate. I would return to college years later to graduate
with a Human Service degree. This after being inspired by my work as a psych
aid at the Yale Psychiatric Hospital. My gift and curse…helping people.
When did you first discover metal? Who were
some of the early bands you listened to? A few of your current favorite
bands?
I
became aware of metal in the late 70’s/early 80’s. Thinking back now I think
it was watching the KISS movie on TV that turned me onto metal. So that was
probably 1978/79? I loved how KISS looked but I remember not being
completely sold on them musically. None the less, for that Christmas, I
asked for a bunch of KISS records and posters.
I
remember being 7/8 years old in grammar school and eye balling “older” kids
with their long hair and jean jackets with AC/DC, IRON MAIDEN, RUSH, BLACK
SABBATH patches on back. I wasn’t even into music yet, but I was intrigued
by the image. I went to an Iron Maiden birthday party for a friend. He had
to be turning 10 or 11 years old? He had Eddie on his cake!! We listened to
Number Of The Beast in the dark. That was the first time I heard Iron
Maiden. So that was probably 1982 or 83!? When QUIET RIOT blew up around
1984/1985, a few buddies and I did a school talent show and lipped synched
“CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE”. They pulled the plug on us!! Fucken wimps!
I
started off listening to KISS, PINK FLOYD early on. Honestly, I liked a lot
of non-metal music beforehand. BILLY SQUIRE, DEVO, MICHEAL JACKSON, MEN AT
WORK and the like. Then MTV started showing videos from SLADE, SCOROPIONS,
MOTELY CRUE, RATT, DEF LEPARD and TWISTED SISTER that’s when I started to
get into metal.
New bands? I assume you mean in the last few years? In that case: HOUR OF
13, COLD NORTHERN VEGEANCE, ARES KINGDOM, FUNEBRAUM, VESTAL CLARET,
NIGHTBITCH, PROSANCTUS INFERNI, BLESSED OFFAL, HAXENVESSLE, CURSE OF THE
SON, BEASTMILK, COLD SHOWERS, WHITE MEDAL, VENUS STAR, TREPANERNGSRITUALEN
When did you stumble upon the thing we
referred to as the Underground scene and how did you discover it? Some of
the first demos, fanzines you ordered were?
College radio got me into the underground. Just around 1987/88. They started
playing DEATH, PESTILENCE, OBITUARY, MORBID ANGEL, NAPLAM DEATH, CARCASS
alongside VENOM, SODOM, KREATOR, KING DIAMOND, WATCHTOWER, CANDLEMASS,
CARNIVORE etc. I really owe it to the radio for getting me to into the
extreme bands! (I only wish I had such a thing up in
Canada back then! - Dale)
Oh man, first demos I sent for. That had to be right around 1991/92. When I
first started writing to bands. Hmmm. INCANTATION, PYREXIA, INCARNIS, CORPSE
MOLESTATION, NUCLEAR DEATH, ENSLAVED (Norway), DOOMSTONE come to mind. By
1993 I was writing and ordering mainly black metal bands. So, you name them,
I was in contact with em’.
First zines: BLOOD SHED, VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE, CORONERS REPORT,
SCREAMS
FROM THE GUTTER, and TRECHOMA.
Bill, Dale here. I have to ask; much like me
do you feel like an old goat in the scene these days? To illustrate this,
readers might find it interesting to know I ordered some cassette tapes from
your distro called Diabolical Netherworld (A couple compilation tapes you
put out, a demo tape, Celtic Frost live bootleg, zines) 20 years ago
in 1993!
Dale! I don’t know, man. I mean I’ve been into this for decades now but I
don’t feel like I’ve grown too old for the scene/music. How the time has
passed by blows my mind though. That makes me feel kinda old. Like you said
we’ve been underground buddies since 1993!! I’ve held onto all my original
demos, CD’s, Lp’s, letters/flyers/pictures from the last 20 plus years. Talk
about nostalgia, I was 15 years old when I got into death metal!! I really
should feel old. Hell, I still go to shows (here and there), buy vinyl and
cassettes.
I believe you started a fanzine under the
name Children Of Caine in 1994-ish. What gave you the idea to start the zine?
How many issues did you end up releasing?
COC was in mind since
1993. I think the 1st issue came out in 94/95? I was in touch
with so many bands due to producing the Diabolical Netherworld compilation
cassettes I wanted to give it a go. I just did 2 issues of COC. Last one
came out in 1996.
So I have to ask what prompted you to stop
Children Of Caine and turn around and start up Mental Funeral fanzine? Did
the name just not suit what you wanted to do with the zine? What was
different about starting Mental Funeral than Caine and why not just revive
Caine?
COC died cos my co-editor stiffed me with half the bill for the printing of
COC #2. I was feeling hassled by big labels like Century Media, Pavement,
Metal Blade to interview their bands cos they sent me “promos”. And I was
really becoming disinterested and disgusted with black metal. It was around
this time the sub label Century Black started up and was releasing a good
chunk of Norwegian bands/albums domestically. That move defeated the whole
purpose of the “cause” then. The movement against commercialism! (Ah yes
that move upset a lot of people back then - Dale) I was so fed up that I
almost completely stopped listening and following underground metal. I got
more and more into electronic music (Trip Hop, Gabber) and renewed my
interest in industrial music (noise, power electronics, dark ambient etc).
As far I was concerned by 1993 death metal died and by 1995 black metal was
over!!
I
had always planned a 3rd COC. I had the interviews all in.
Layouts had been done and even a cover by 1998. I really wanted to do
another issue but for reasons stated above plus my personal life becoming
consumed by work, party time, females, college etc.
If we fast forward to 2000, I started really getting into DVD’s. Re-mastered
uncut Euro cult films were starting to hit the market. Not only did this
renew my interest in that type of cinema but also underground extreme metal.
Mainly death metal and grindcore. Impetigo, Repulsion, Autopsy, Deranged
etc. Watching the old Italian horror flicks really did encourage me to go
back and revisit the old stuff. I have to say DVD was the reason I started
up MENTAL FUNERAL! I just got the itch again. There was an influx (revival)
of death metal/grindcore in the early to mid-2000’s. The type of stuff that
was obviously influenced by the late 80’s/early 90’s bands. Last Days Of
Humanity, Inhume, Sanity’s Dawn, Warsore and a whole slew of Polish and
Slovak bands…stuff like
that. In addition, a healthy amount of US
underground one-man sewergoregrind that I fancied a whole lot!
Sooo with re-found interest I got back into making a zine. Paper zines were
pretty much dying. If someone were doing one it was on-line. Or if it was
being printed, it was pretty slick and all pro computer layed out/printed. I
had tried my hand at that style with COC #2 and where did that get me!!?
Initially MENTAL FUNERAL started off as a Xeroxed mini-zine. I banged out
the 1st real quick doing it cut and paste style layout. I’m
trying to remember, but I think I was still going to do one big issue of COC
once a year? (I think I remember you talking about that, that is why the
COC timeline was foggy in my head, thought it might have came back at some
point. - Dale) MF intended to hold over readers till another issue COC
came out. Well, MF went over really well and COC was totally forgotten
about. MF morphed into what I was striving for in a zine and I was doing it
solo! Right there separated MF from COC. MF focused on my interests in music
and film. Mine alone!
What is your opinion on what makes a good
fanzine? Do you have any advice for anyone reading this who might be
thinking of starting up a zine? What was the hardest thing & most rewarding
thing about doing a fanzine?
I
like diversity (all kinds of music and films covered), depth of knowledge
(good interviews require you really dig deep for information on your
subject), and unique writing styles (personal stories/associations) in my
fanzines. You literally have to have obsessions when it comes to things like
music and film to really make a worthwhile zine.
I
really wanna say don’t bother doing a zine cos chances are you starting
up/doing one cos you think you can do it better. Stop it! I started doing
zines because I was sick of having to buy separate zines. Purchasing a zine
that just covered metal, industrial or film. Why not all of it one zine?
There was that void back then that I thought/knew I could fill.
Hardest thing(s) about doing a zine: Reviews, time and money. Motivation as
time for goes. I found seeing my name and zine credited in a bands thanks
list a huge reward. Hearing from fans that your work influenced them to
start up a zine is pretty cool too.
Do you have any stories relating to Mental
Funeral that stand out for you? What are your fave interviews you have done
for MF? Did you ever have any bad experiences interviewing a band; any dog
ate my homework stuff?
I
got a couple of cool MF stories. I forget the name of the PR Company out of
NYC, but they were hooking me up with a lot of indie films for review. A lot
of shot on video crap. With titles like Dirty Cop No Donut, Zombie vs. Mardi
Gras. I think I got some Andy Copp directed films too. Mutilated Man, I
believe? I reviewed most of the VHS tapes they sent over in early issues of
MF. Anyway, I get a press release from this PR company explaining that a
director’s cut of the 1973 film Lemora: Lady Dracula had been discovered by
its director Richard Blackburn. Well, a screening of the film was set to
happen in a theater in NYC for press only. If I remember, this was to be the
first the film was to be shown on the big screen. I jumped at the chance, so
I got set up with a press pass. Now, this was going back almost 10 years
ago. Lemora wasn’t out on DVD then. Hell, it was still rather obscure too. I
was very familiar with the film as I had a copy on VHS via tape trading. To
me this was a big deal, going to a private screening. So I phoned up my
buddy Denis(who was one of MF’s contributors) and had him drive us to NYC
for the premier. We really had no business being there. I mean, the NY Post,
Daily News was there, Variety, and I even think Fangoria too. We run into
people and they ask what paper or magazine we wrote for haha. Denis just
talked with an olde English accent and went on how we came over from Europe representing the hottest magazine over there. I can’t remember if he
dropped the Mental Funeral name!? Make a long story short, we did watch the
film. It’s was awesome! Denis hated it. He made sure he let the PR guy know
it too. I never really heard from that company again. Haha. I did review the
movie/experience in either issue 3 or 4.
Another time I talked Denis into going into NYC for a noise/power
electronics show I wanted to do an article on. Again, going back at least 10
years. The gig was at the Frying Pan. The Frying Pan was right off the west
side highway in NYC. Down by the water. Well, the Frying Pan was actually a
boat that was sunk at one time which was transformed into a bar/club. I kid
you not! I’ll sum this up quick though. Industrial freaks/goths/skins in
black militant fatigues/boots. Club(boat) covered in barnacles inside.
Freely roamed cabin to cabin. Concert took place in the bowels of the
club(boat). Video projection screened Japanese fetish porn (2 girls and a
dead squid). UK noise/power electronics group Grey Wolves launch into their
“Sir Nigger” track just as 2 black guys walk by. Sieg hailing and all! Let’s
see, what else? HAHA!
Meeting Nacho Cerda (Director of Aftermath/Genesis) at Fantasia in Montreal
back in 1998 was tits. This meeting lead to me interviewing Nacho for MF.
Nacho had given me some flyers for his film company out of Spain and that’s
when I noticed his email. So I dropped him a line expressing interest in an
interview. Not only did Nacho write me back and OK’d the interview, he
wanted me to email him the questions and he’d answer them using a recorder
and send the tape (interview) to me. He sure as shit did just that! (That
is pretty fuckin’ cool - Dale) Incredibly grateful, just the fact alone
the man was very sick around the time of the interview but trooped through
it. The interview was printed twice. Once in MF #3 and in the UK Fanzine
called FIRELIGHT SHOCKS. Interesting note on FIRELIGHT SHOCKS. The editor of
the zine editor (Calum Waddell) is a big film critic now. A lot his
documentaries/commentary are featured on DVD's/Blu-ray’s nowadays. Large and
small cult/horror films. He wrote a book on director JACK HILL and also has
written and produced films. AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE being one of them. Around
2001/2002 I was attending a movie convention in NJ (Chiller Theater). I
stopped by the DVD Company Unearthed Films table. Long story short, Steven,
the owner was talking about an AFTERMATH DVD. I mentioned to him about the
audio interview of mine would make an awesome extra. I sent it over to
Steven as an audio file over the net and the rest is history. What you hear
on Unearthed’s special edition DVD of AFTERMATH is the actual audio
interview from Nacho I transcribed from cassette for MENTAL FUNERAL. (Nice!!
- Dale)
Oh a couple of COC stories. I ran into Mike Patton (Faith No More/Mr Bungle)
at CBGB’s in the late 90’s for one of those Relapse Records Contamination
tours. I walked over to him and handed him a copy of COC #2. I mentioned a
bunch of German scat movie reviews. He had a good laugh!! Now I’ve never
seen it, but I guess there’s a scat video Mike made!? I got a kick out of
when Ula Gehret was working for Century Media and got pissed at Devon from
December Wolves for slagging of CM in COC #2 in the interview we did. Never
got promos again. HA!
One last MF story…Denis did an article in MF #2 or #3. I can’t remember.
Anyway, he wrote about how to get chicks to send dirty pictures of
themselves via the internet (on AOL chat). Well, he kind of focused in on
one girl in particular. He didn’t use her name but asked me not to print her
nudes we used for the article. Haha, I kinda ignored him on that and went
ahead and printed them anyway. I blocked out her face in a few. Cos I’m a
nice guy! I’ve wondered if that ever got back to her? (Sleazy! I love it
brother!! Haha - Dale)
Fave interviews: Stevo(Impetigo), Pete(Order From Chaos), Nacho
Cerda(Spanish director of Aftermath), Enzo G. Castellari(Italian director of
Keoma, The Inglorious Bastards, 1990: The Bronx Warriors), Rob from
Fornicator/Whore, Cirth Ungol, The Rita(Euro cult obsessed noise artist),
Robert Morgan(Director of the 1978 bigfoot/slasher/horror flick Blood
Stalkers).
How many issues & copies of each issue did
you release of Mental Funeral? How many copies did you print up of each
issue? The name of the album you took the zine name from Autopsy is one of
the best death metal albums ever released, in my opinion, I assume you
agree?
I’ve done 5 issues of MF so far. I did a special issue (MF 5 ½) too. MF
issue 1(mini zine) was probably only 50-100 copies. The rest of the issues
around 200-250 copies each.
In 2006 I started up MF the blog. I’m still planning another print issue of
MF(#6).
YES, I stole the name for the zine from the AUTOPSY album. Absolutely love
that album! I think the name is a perfect fit too. I needed a name
that had something of a crossover appeal.
I talked about the Diabolical Netherworld
compilation cassettes you put out in the early 90s. You also had something
to do with the release / promotion of the Moonburn demo tape. Did you
release / promote anything else back then?
Diabolical Netherworld compilation was my start back in 1992. I did 3
compilation tapes between 1992-1995. The most popular one being DN 2. Which
was pretty much all black metal.
That came out in Oct of 1993. 20 years ago
this month (Oct 2013). It featured the then only demo/ep tracks from bands
like: Thou Art Lord, Gorgoroth, Corpse Molestation(pre-Bestial Warlust),
Zemial, Grand Belial's Key, Carpathian
Forest, Monumentum and a bunch more. DN Volumes 1 & 2 were done by my buddy
Kyle and myself. Kyle’s band Moonburn recorded an exclusive track for DN 2
called “Embrace The Impure”. Recorded on a 4 track in our friends Mike’s
parents basement in the fall of 1993. Mike wrote/recorded/and played all the
instruments in Moonburn. In 1994 they recorded a promo/rehearsal tape with
one new song called “Unite With Which Enshrouds” and an instrumental tune
named “Eclipse Over Eden” which they
self released. When the promo/reh came out I sold/copied/promoted the shit
out of it for the guys (yes you did as I bought one from you along DN 1&2,
along with the next release you are about to mention).
Other releases were the Celtic Frost “Into The Crypts Of Lamours” and
Possessed live bootlegs cassettes. Both from the famous Brooklyn, NYC club
Lamours from 1986.
Distributed shit like the Destroyer 666 and Einherjer demo’s, 7’eps for
Ulver, Strid, Mysticum. And early issues of Descent Mag. Also Hellhammer
demo bootlegs.
When did you get the idea start up NoVisible
Scars? How did you come up with the name for the label? Was this a recent
idea or something you had wanted to for a long time?
NVS started in August
of 2009. BUT I came up with the name and idea of doing a label back 1996/97.
The 1st release was going to be a compilation CD. I had a few
bands (December Wolves, Shadow Dancers(Norway)) with submissions ready to
go. Exclusive stuff. I lost interest after folding COC the release/label
never launched. There was an ad for the CD on inside cover of COC 2. Then in
09 Tim from Diabolical Force asked to distro copies of Diabolical
Netherworld 2. Copying those tapes and covers again got me itching to
release stuff again. So, really out of the blue, NVS was born. About the
label name. I know I wanted something that wouldn’t pigeon hold the label.
Meaning when you hear it you’re not instantly thinking “Oh, that’s a
death/black metal label” or “huh, must put out noise releases”. I think a
lot of readers can relate that music affects them on a subconscious level?
Emotionally let’s say. The impact of music may not be seen by yourself or
another but in your mind a band, a song, and even an album can be permanent.
Like a scar. Yet no one can see it. Hence the name NoVisible Scars. I have
that psychology background so I look at the arts from that vantage point.
Do you realize you
are releasing Cassette tapes? What do you
think this is 1992 you fucking dinosaur you?! Do you feel like you are
helping to keep the old ways and old formats alive and how is the response
with people buying this format from you?
Hey, Time magazine just did a large article on the resurgence of the
cassette tape! What’s old is new. Full circle! I had/have no intentions of
upholding the old ways or format. I like tapes. I like how they look and
sound. Rather inexpensive to produce too. The response is always
encouraging. Tapes move for me. Depending on the band, some quicker than
others. Tapes, economically too, on the small scale, are really working out
for NVS (You know I love cassettes too brother, that was pure sarcasm
above J
- Dale)
.
Now NVS does not release only tapes, just
mainly tapes,
correct? Or did you just make an exception because that Abazagorath release on CD fucking rules (and it does!!)? You did a vinyl too
right? Will you release more non-cassette stuff in future?
Right, mainly tapes, for sure. Well, the Abazagorath started out to be a
cassette release. At least via NVS. Another label was going to do the CD. I
believe the label couldn’t afford to do it at the time. Since the material
was phenomenal and it was to be my 25th release I proposed a CD
release. Plus, I knew the old bassist Dave Wagner(Evoken, Funerbraum) since
1992/93. He’s certainly a friend (Dave fucking rules, very cool guy -
Dale). I’ve followed the progress of the band through consistent contact
with Dave. Honestly, I don’t like CD’s. I mean I thought of probably doing a
CD release at some point and it just seemed a better choice for the
Abazagorath Ep. They hadn’t put out anything in 5 years and I didn’t want
the release just to fall in obscurity on cassette as 100-150 copies. Yes,
I’ve done one vinyl Lp release. A split album from harsh noise projects
Mania and Custodian. I wanna do 7’ep’s, 10’eps, and lathe cut records. All
in do time with the right bands. I’m shooting for DVD’s and Blu Ray’s too (No
VHS cassettes?! I take back that Dinosaur comment above, Blu Ray’s how
modern lol! - Dale). I want to release old and new films. NVS’s first
DVD release was on schedule for release, now it’s a matter of getting the
director on board again.
I have to ask with the Profanatica release.
I never got my hands on that, I was curious did the “Cum Rags” that came
with that release, were they all used and who soiled them, the band or
label? Whose idea were those?
Haha, not used! Paul’s idea. He was going to sell them at Profanataica gigs
but then I approached him about the idea of doing a tape version of the 7’ep
The “Years Of Pestilence” with tracks that did not fit on the vinyl. That’s
when he suggested the “Cum Rags” with the cassette version. I know of some
ladies that have used em’ to clean themselves up after a masturbation
session. Believe Paul has the photos as proof. Haha. (Nice!! - Dale).
Do you come up with the packaging designs
for NVS? You do some awesome editions of some releases that are almost like
having a cassette in a thin VHS video type box or almost a seven inch vinyl
type packaging. Tape collectors must love this stuff? I know I do!
Yes, the packaging ideas have all been mine. Paul Ledney(Profanatica) helped
with some layouts/artwork/printing on a few of the early releases. A good
number of the early releases were packaged as cassettes in 7’ep packaging. I
thought it was cool, I wasn’t aware of cassette releases coming out like
that. So I ran with it. I included buttons, posters, patches in a hand full
of releases too, so that made it easy to package. I did a tribute to Giallo
films and VHS video release with 3 noise projects. That’s how the idea of
using a blank VHS video case came into being. There’s 2 tapes held with
Velcro in the case itself where the actual VHS would be placed. The cover is
a friend were she’s posed with a black glove over her mouth. I used her
image and made it into a fake Giallo poster for the release. Those releases
were certainly well received. I’m using clear vinyl cassette album holders
for some recent releases (Those are my favourite, just a great, genius
packaging idea! - Dale). In addition to cardboard sleeves for the
cassingle’s. I couldn’t tell you if Tape collectors in general ended up
buying certain releases or it was just a fan of a said band/music.
Please tell the readers about your current
releases and any upcoming releases they might be want to get a hold of. Do
you do mp3 download versions of any of your releases or is it just too new
school to fuck around with that shit?
As of Oct 2013 NVS’s newest release is the Double Denim Shotgun Massacre
full length cassette from SATANIC DYSTOPIA. A
UK black thrash band. Killer mix of AURA NOIR/SODOM/DECEMBER WOLVES. Check
it out:
http://novisiblescars.bandcamp.com/album/double-denim-shotgun-massacre
While you are over at the NVS bandcamp give a listen to EARTHLORD,
SCORCHED-EARTH, and SLUMBER ROOM. These releases have come out in the last
4-5 months and are still available. I believe, Dale, you reviewed all of
these favorably!? (All were great releases, I think we are on a similar
wave length with our musical tastes. - Dale)
Upcoming releases:
MORGIRION-None Left To Worship cassette. Black metal from CT. 4 Brand new
tracks recorded live.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morgirion/137492812995619
ONE MASTER cassette- Black metal from
CT. Newly mastered appearance of the bands performance on radio station
WFMU(My Castle Of Quite, NY) 4.26.2013.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Master/122505047922017
MURDER BASKET discography CD. Demo recordings. Pre-FORNICATOR
and WHORE.
CANNIBAL RITES cassette. Primitive death metal from 2 members YOUR KIDS ON
FIRE and ELDERS OF THE APOCLAYPSE. Grab their 2009 demo for free here:
http://novisiblescars.bandcamp.com/album/cannibal-rites-demo-2009
HOUR OF 13 demo CD. Early versions of some classics.
HAVOHEJ 7’ep? Whenever Paul finds it in him to record this.
I’m behind offering digital downloadable versions of ALL the NVS releases.
My psychical releases include a FREE digital download with your purchase. I
urge all the readers to log onto the NVS Bandcamp(http://novisiblescars.bandcamp.com).
Almost all the SOLD OUT releases are offered as FREE downloads (That is
incredibly cool of you to do that!! - Dale). Also, there’s a bunch of
exclusive Bandcamp ONLY digital releases up there.
I
fully support the modern technology of Mp3’s, file sharing/downloading etc.
I incorporate that mentality into NVS. I got hooked up with Bancamp almost 4
years ago, now everyone uses it!
What do you look for when signing and
releasing a bands release? Do you find it hard to find bands that want to
release tapes and especially tape exclusive releases? How often are your
releases exclusive releases?
I
don’t sign bands. I put out releases for them (Yeah probably a poor
choice of words on my part - Dale). It's simple, they take care of the
recording and I take of getting it out and promotions. I’m not looking for
any one thing in particular in signing bands. Seriously, a hard question to
answer. Without sounding cheesy, I sign what I like listening to myself.
I’ve been lucky too, I’ve got to work with some friends and bands I’ve known
and supported for years. I know a lot of the bands/releases are on par and
share my fondness for the 80’s and early 90’s metal/industrial scenes and
cult movies.
No opposition from any artist/band for a cassette release. Believe It or not
most have requested the format. Tapes and vinyl are certainly back (True
although I might argue that vinyl never really went away, but tapes largely
did for time at least in North
America - Dale). Lp’s on a larger
scale. I’ve noticed in the last 2 years even the established labels like
Relapse, Nuclear Blast, Season Of Mist, and Earache are back to releasing
cassettes (limited). Hell, the NIGHTBITCH cassingle was delayed by the plant
cos they were pressing a large number of tapes of the new Pearl Jam. All the
NVS releases are and will be exclusive!
In your opinion what is the best and worst
thing about the underground today? I believe I recall you saying once you
quit doing Children Of Caine because the scene was getting fucked, fanzines
were going pro print, free comp cds with them etc… So have you softened in
your old age and what would the Children Of Caine Billy Connolly think about
the internet scene, mp3 albums, the near death of tapes etc…?
What I appreciate
about today’s underground is what I find disheartening. I absolutely reverie
the accessibility of music today but loathe how it’s sucked the life out of
the edginess and mystery behind an artist/band. So many dorks, nerds and
“has beens” doing music. What happened to rebellion, hating thy neighbor,
and worshipping Satan!? Fucking posers with their re-printed metal t-shirts
and their awkward looking/fitting “badged” demin vests. Who, a decade ago,
were 90’s hardcore kids who laughed and made fun of death/black metal. Oh,
and while we are at it, how about putting a stop to throwing around the tag
“OLD SCHOOL” too. Old school death metal, old school black metal, old school
heavy metal…blah blah blah. Can you make it even that more apparent that
nothing new has come out of the underground since the early 90’s?
I know you are a huge horror and
exploitation movie fan. How did you get it into these movies and when did
they possess you? Some fave horror and exploitation movies are? I think you
are into Roughies too, like I am, what are the best ones in your view?
BIG,BIG fan and
collector! I was into this shit way before music. Reading and collecting
comic books kicked off my foray into horror flicks. WWOR(Channel 9 out of
NJ) and WPIX(Channel 11 out of NY) introduced me to GODZILLA, KING KONG and
the UNIVERSAL MONSTERS in the early-mid 70’s. Late 70’s and early 80’s made
for TV horror movies like DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK, GARGOYLES, and THE
MANITOU paved the way though. Cable TV and VHS greeted me with PHANTASM,
HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13th, THE EXORCIST, LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT,
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, PSYCHO, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS,
EVIL DEAD, ALIEN, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, FULCI, ARGENTO, BAVA, HG LEWIS
etc etc. It didn’t hurt that my childhood buddies(3 brothers) dad owned a
video store too. This had to be around 1987/88. No parental supervision at
their home led us to walking to the store to grab a pile of horror and porn
titles for the weekend (I am jealous haha - Dale). Hell, this was all
before I was even 17 years old. The dad got a babysitter once, just once…hehe.
We made her watch BURIED ALIVE(aka BEYOND THE DARKNESS/BUIO OMEGA). I
remember her telling the brothers to shut it off and them refusing. The
youngest just telling her “shut the fuck up, you scared”? 10 year little
shit. Haha. The brothers get in a fight with each other. I try to break it
up, I even run outside to grab a stick. Then they lock me out of the house
(just the screen door). I end up ripping the screen door off of the porch
and run in chasing the guys around and yelling for them to calm down. I
throw one of em’ over the couch, and that’s it, baby sitter walks out
hysterical. (LOL!! - Dale)
Fave horror:
LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT
(1972)
THE INCUBUS
THE LEGEND OF
HELLHOUSE
SUSPIRIA
PHANTASM
MESSIAH OF EVIL
NIGHTMARES IN A
DAMAGED MIND
MORTUARY
LAST HOUSE ON DEAD END
STREET
DEATH WEEKEND
THE CHANGELING
LOVE ME DEADLY
AUGUST UNDERGROUND
DEAD END (2003)
DEAD BIRDS (2004)
INSIDE (2007)
Fave Exploitation:
HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF
THE PARK
EMANULLE IN AMERICA
THEY CALL HER ONE EYE
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
SADOMANIA
DON’T GO IN THE HOUSE
ISLAND OF DEATH
OVER THE EDGE
THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
BLACK GESTAPO
COOLEY HIGH
HOG WILD
TERRIFYING GIRLS' HIGH
SCHOOL: LYNCH LAW CLASSROOM
HELL OF THE LIVING
DEAD
WARRIORS OF THE
WASTELAND
LA BIMBA DI SATANA
Roughies! Now, are we
talking the grindhouse/sexploitation style or of the XXX variety? I like em’
both. THE DEFILERS, OLGA’S HOUSE OF SHAME, THE CURSE OF HER FLESH, HOT SPUR,
VENUS IN FURS are all really good
grindhouse/sexploitation style roughies.
Now for the XXX roughies I’d put my money on FIONA ON FIRE, DESIRES
OF MEN,
DEVIL INSIDE HER, A DIRTY WESTERN, THE DEFIANCE, THE TEENAGE DEVIATE, and
JAMIE GILLIS’s WALKING TOILET BOWL home videos.
Okay before you want to kill me. I will end
it here and put you out of
your misery. Thank you my old friend and metal brother for your time filling
out this long interview. Please give us a last few words and feel free to
send any shout outs to comrades in the scene.
So sorry it took
months to complete this, guys. Dale, keep doing what you’re doing. Thanks
for the support and friendship 20 years and going! For anyone that’s
supported my fanzines/ label, exchanged
letters, traded,
bought and sold with myself it’s been inspirational! Cheers! It’s about
giving back for which I got from being in the underground this long.
A few plugs:
Check out my
unpublished interview from 1994 with MORTUARY DRAPE in the up and coming
print zine CODEX OBSCURUM. I’ll be contributing more unpublished interviews
from the CHILDREN OF CAINE days in future issues. Good zine and it’s only
$3!
https://www.facebook.com/CodexObscurum
Hell Headbangers
Records are using some of my live band photos in the new PROFANATICA album
“Thy Kingdom Cum”.
More of my photography
will appear in book dedicated to JON from DISSECTION called BOOK OF CHAOS. I
contributed a bunch of live pictures of the band I shot in the mid 90’s on
their first US tour when they played NYC.
https://www.facebook.com/JNodtveidt.Biography
I sent over even more
of my band photos for consideration in a new print zine from Portland,
Oregon called HEADSPLIT. First issue just came out. More info here:
https://www.facebook.com/headsplit.rekords
The artist Matt
“PUTRID” has had a zine in the works for a while now, called ORGAN ZINE.
Look for a rarely seen IMPETIGO interview from the early 90’s I offered Matt
for inclusion. https://www.facebook.com/OrganZine
And lastly…SLEAZE
FIEND MAGAZINE. Dale, you know all about this shit. Haha. Fill the people in
more. Anyway, I got an article going to print that covers XXX films from the
80’s via Brazil. Really scuzzy and scummy flicks.
https://www.facebook.com/SleazeFiendMagazine
You can contact me at:
novisiblescars@gmail.com
Keep informed on NVS
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MENTAL FUNERAL zine:
http://mentalfuneralzine.blogspot.com
Fan of bootleg tapes
and t-shirts?
Check out UNHOLY
PASSIONS:
http://unholypassions.tumblr.com/
https://soundcloud.com/unholypassions
http://unholypassions.bigcartel.com/
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