Dead Remains (Germany)
The Germans of great trajectory Dead Reamains bring us their album “Conscious Cremation” , an album that at the beginning is a blow in the direct and dry face, an old death metal school and without leaving the genre, each song is falling like a gravestone after the another, remember that this active band from 1991 to 2012 and now active since 2017 after its recess, is a necessary reference for each follower of this genre. Recall that Dead Remains is operating from the cities of Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and belonging to the Morbid Generation Records label, are a fundamental pillar of the style in this country. Conscious Cremation of 2011 is the most recent they have recorded and from its first track Through the Halls of Insanity going through Hiding Under Corpses, Morbid Needle Twist, Interitus Is Victis, reaching the middle of the album with the brutal Through Fire and Dust we can see as the album is balanced as far as the extreme and never monotono and never gets off the accelerator foot as never leaves the context of death metal, continues with Awoken in Flames to end up with The Skinner, Revenge of the Zombie leaving in clear the importance of this band for the German underground.
T: Why did you name the
band DEAD REMAINS and in wich year the band was founded?
Thomas: Hi Tchort. Thanx
for having us! Please let me introduce myself. I‘m Thomas, Lead Singer and last
original member from the very beginning, so let me bring some light into the
darkness about the origins of Dead Remains. Here we go! Dead Remains was
founded in 1991. Back then it was more of an idea in the minds of young
teenagers, to express their love for extreme metal in the first place. We
have‘t had any training on real intruments or any proper instruments anyway.
Nethertheless i had a name for this coming-soon-band. Try to imagine what will
be left after mankinds total self-annihilation? Just dead remains! So it did
fit perfectly to name a band of vicious „black-sheep-teenagers“!
T: What was the reason
to change the name from Sarcopharg to Dead Remains?
Thomas: The Name
„Sarcopharc“ was awesome as well! On one hand. On the other hand, Dead Remains
felt way better to discribe a certain feeling. Beside of that, i discovered the
band Sarcophago from Brazil, so the name was obsolet.
T: Who are the members
of the band?
Thomas: Let me introduce
us, downward to the lenght of membership in the band. Ladies first! So there‘s
Nina, our youngest member. She joined the band in 2017. Nina is keen on guitar,
multiple bandexperienced and she is pushing serveral projects on her own.
Denny, our drummer. Blackest humor, awesome drumskills, broad range of musical
preferences, the face of an angel and the smile of the devil. Mix it up and he
will be the outcome! He is indispensable for us and joined in 2010. A proper
blueprint for a smartass with a heart of gold on one side but the right feel
for convincing underground music, talent for organisation but a lack for any
talent to be an asshole on the other is our man Mille. Since he joined in 2004,
he is essential for the band and as a friend! Hank Scheuermann, the general, he
is the the man responsible for the bands clear conscience. He rides, shoots
straight and speaks the truth always. In case one of us is too far from
reality, overacts or annoys someone, he will bring you down! Beside of that he
has an awesome feeling for pounding basslines and gladly i can reveal he‘s my
brother! Hank joined the band in 2003. I am responsible for the frontshow, the
lyrics, the details and final decisions. I dislike blind conformity, plastic
art and plastic people. I try to keep myself out of the forms of society but
love my weirdo-friends and Heavy Metal that cuts through my soul.
T: Mille is also playing
in the band Inflammare. What can you tell us about this and the latest
recording „In Memory Of“?
Scheuermann: In fact,
Mille was just a sideman in Inflammare. The band started in 1996, when a bunch
of young, drunken people formed their own band, for having fun, playing gigs
and sit aound in the rehearsal room. Some years later the shit gets serious but
guys leaving the band for jobs or to move away for study. Some years later, the
original guitarist of Inflammare
recorded „In Memory“ in his own home studio, with some help of some of
his friends. At this time we had the idea to bring back the band on stage. The
sad thing was, that no one of the old band mates where available. Just the
drummer and me. So we deceided to fill the open instrument slots with Mille on
guitar and two other guys. We only did two gigs. That´s it...
Mille: In the late 90s
Inflammare was one of the sickest bands in our area. Strange shows with a lot
of alcohol, chaos and partys in the rehearsalroom, scandals in the local
newspapers, trouble with the justice... For the scene it was a sad situation
that Inflammare stopped their
activities. I was glad about Scheuermann´s plan to bring Inflammare back on
stage did get part of this. We played two awesome shows and had a lot of fun
while practising for it. But in the end it felt kind of curious with only two
of the old members. So we did freeze the band again. It was not the same. Clear
decision!
T: What do you remember
about the recordings of the demotape „The Unloved Stepsons Of God“?
Thomas: Good, innocent
times!! 8 track recorder, friends helping out each other. Doesn‘t matter if
recording rooms, time, driving from place to place ( it was recorded at
different places), food, advises or equipment, friends from different bands
have been involved back in the time to make it happen. Nethertheless the
endresult lacked a bit of professionality, it was wonderful to witness the
solidarity back in the years!
T: Do you consider that
your old school death metal is influenced a lot by old Cannibal Corpse?
Thomas: The only C.C.
reference and similarity seems to be the cover of that band. At least in my
point of view. Sure, we are fans of this early 90‘s US Death Metal style but
when you listen to our tape, you‘ll find references from european Death Metal
as well. Don‘t forget, our skills were not too keen back in 1998, so most of
the time we used to play inside of our limits, sounding accidently like no one
else.
T:How much work did it
cost to produce your first full lenght „Deathless Torture“? How was the
reaction of the zines, radio and fans?
Thomas: Haha!! Shitloads
of work! I exactly see what you would like to ask! „Why this CD sounds so
poorly, yet crappy?“ The drums where recorded at a different place than the
guitars. Bass and vocals was been recorded at the practiceroom. The mixing was
done at my appartment. All of this efforts needed to be done by a minimalistic
budget and one of the first generation digital recording programm. All in all,
analog won, digital failed, soundwise back then. Needless to say the reactions
have been overwhelming! Seriously, as this record was released, we where glad
to have our first CD done but as far as i concern, we havn‘t gone to the max as
we should.
T: Who in the band is in
charge to write the music and who the lyrics?
Thomas: None but
everybody at the same time. Right now Mille wrote some sick riffs. It is his
domain. Denny will add insane drums and so on. Every member is welcome to put
in ideas. And we do. Lyrics are my way to express myself and to bring the icing
on the cake if you will. In case we can‘t agree on particular ideas the
democratic way, the eldery council of the band decides about „hop or top“.
T: On your second CD
„CONSCIOUS CREMATION“ you consolidate with an old school death metal style in
the line of Cannibal Corpse or Suffocation. Do you believe in this comparison?
Thomas: First of all,
thanx for this evaluation! I think it depends on everybodies personal
perceptions. For me we are supposed to sound old-school because we are
contemporary witnesses of the times Death Metal conquered the earth. For us it
feels natural to play this sound. No trendy fake, just pure passion! I was
influenced by different bands as well like Benediction, Napalm Death („Harmony
Corruption“ era) Macabre, Autopsy, early Unholy , a neverending list of names
and so on and on…. You hear Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation in our sound? Cool
thanx!!!
Mille: As we wrote the
material for Conscious Cremation, Maschine was still a member of the band. You
can also hear a lot of his riffs in these songs. Many different bands did
influenced us. For sure. If you listen to music excessively you can do anything
against. But in the end with a guitar in your hands, you play those shit that
flows through your fingers, brain and balls. I do not think about what I´am
playing. If there is an interessting riff or a brutal groove we take it. I´am
not the one to care about what people say I sound like. Anyway, a comparison
with bands I really like is a kind of compliment I can agree with. I guess
Maschine also would. Thanks!
T: Can you tell us more
about the lyrics of the songs? Is there a special concept?
Thomas: So far the
lyrics dealt with topics like how humans treat humans. No matter if at asylums,
in war, society, your personal life. During all history and culture some
insane, wrong educated, mostly religious driven individuals in minority
terrorized the majority. But the majority terrorizes the minority as well. So
people are fucked! This has been the quintessence of the lyrics by now. Next
time something different will come up! There is so much more twisted evil to
sing about!
T: Which bands do you
consider as your influences for Dead Remains? Which bands would you name for
your 10 bands personal playlist?
Thomas: It‘s hard to
name influencial bands. Each and everybody would pick different. We‘ve never
had rolemodels that we would sound like. It‘s tricky also to name just ten
influencial bands. Not cast in stone but back in the years these bands (most of
them forevermore) made me going nuts: Benediction for their pounding groove,
awesome riffing and the vocals. Edge Of Sanity for their variety. Overkill for
their Thrash anthems, bad ass live performance and the unwillingness to
compromise. Kreator one of the maininfluence for the band back then. Napalm
Death „Harmony Corruption“ offered monster vocals. Macabre for their insanity
and speed. Unleashed for their simplicity and drive. Motörhead for their
authencity. Pungent Stench for thinking out of the box. Death for beging
brilliant.
Mille: Let me name
Zyklon for their cold and mechanical riffs. Cannibal Corpse for their
incredible brutal sound, Obituary and Bolt Thrower for their tight groove.
Krisiun, Azarath and Deicide for their amazing Tempo. Not to forget about old
Vader. They sound like a injured wild boar raging in the brushwood. Unleashed
and Dismember for defining this style of scandinavian old school Death Metal I
prefer. There are much more Death Metal bands I could name. But I´am also
influenced by scandinavian Black Metal, some old school Thrash, Stoner and
Occult Rock and lots more of different genres. It all is part of my way of
playing and thinking the guitar, but you won´t hear all this elements in Dead
Remains.
T: What´s the biggest
difference between „Deathless Torture“ and „Conscious Cremation“?
Thomas: This seems to be quiet obvious: everything that „Deathless Torture“ don‘t had to offer, you can find on „Conscious Cremation“. On the second CD we had a different line up and our technical skills evoled. The Songs where even better. We where able to afford a proper soundstudio wich was stocked with top gear. For ten days we worked like maniacs to get everything done as good as possible so we could be proud on this record forever.
Mille: I entered the
band in 2004 so I was not involved in the recordings of Deathless Torture. But
in my opinion the biggest difference is, that the complete process of writing
and recording Conscious Cremation was more professional. The songwriting is
much more compelling. It took some time to finish the material and prepare for
the studio session. The studiosound itself is only the high gloss polish of the
whole process. But a great one anyway. The style of the music did also changed
some kind of. Only Thomas and Maschine still were members of the Deathles
Torture lineup. As Thomas said, everybody of us is putting in his own style and
personality. This does another difference.
T: Which concerts you
remember the most and why?
Thomas: To many to
mention. Almost everytime it is awesome to play in different countries. Places
where we‘ve never been. Poland for instance. We used to play at a venue in a
small town. Fife bands to go. People did not know us and our origin. Shortly
before showtime we talked to some people in the audience. These guys did found
out we‘re german and told us never before a german band played in this town and
where excited. As we came onstage and startet
the first song, the crowd moved the security fence including the guards back
and forth through the entire place!
This was sick!
Mille: Not easy to name
all of them. The Rock In Somma Festival 2012 in Italy was amazing. A stunning
crowd and a crew that did everything to keep us comfortable. Also some shows in
Poland with a raging crowd and bizarre aftershow partys. The B.O.A. Metal Open
Air 2008 in Germany was a night to remember too. But in the end it´s impossible
to write them all down.
T: Can you tell us where
our readers can buy DEAD REMAINS merchandise?
Thomas: If you guys are
interested in Merch, just find us on facebook and contact us!
T: Some final words for
THE LEGION OF TCHORT zine and compilation #15?
Thomas: Thank you big
time for having us! Stick to your guns, always!
Mille: Thanks a lot and
risen horns to the Legion of TchorT. Keep on rotting and your metal brutal!
https://www.facebook.com/DeadRemainsOfficial/
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