EDITOR: Carlos Leo "TchorT" (Perú)
Co-EDITOR: Ale Torres "Egregor" (Argentina)
Postal address:
Carlos Leo "TchorT"
Calle Pacasmayo 142 ( 2 Piso )
La Perla - 07016
Callao - Perú
Official Pages:
Monday, September 1, 2025
APEP (Germany)
APEP (Germany)
CD."Before Whom Evil Trembles"
T: Why the name APEP ? Any special meaning and who chose it?
Oliver: “Apep” is old Egyptian language for “Apophis”, the god that embodies darkness and disorder.
But let's go into a little more detail here. Apophis is the only Egyptian god for whom there was no cult, temple or rituals. He’s not only associated with dissolution, darkness and chaos. In the imagination of the ancient Egyptians, the deceased takes on the role of the sun god when he arrives in Duat (the Egyptian underworld).There he has to repeatedly fight against Apophis in the form of a giant snake made of flint in order to symbolically restore the creation of the world.
Apophis stands for nothing less than complete annihilation and primordial chaos. If he wins the fight, it means the end of the world, of creation, of the universe itself. So when we founded APEP back in 2016 we thought that this name hits the nail on the head for our band in both regards, our lyrically dominant theme as well as pure Death Metal music.
T: What bands and styles have influenced you since you decided to form the band?
Christopher: We are big fans of NILE; MORBID ANGLE, IMMOLATION only to name a few. Especially the old school death metal style has a strong influence on us.
Oliver: My main influences are, of course, NILE but also other Death ìd te acts like IMMOLATION, MELECHESH and KRISIUN. Also the early esa albums are strong influences of my guitar playing in general. Despite you can’t hear it necessarily in APEP.
T: What was your biggest influence from the beginning when deciding to form the band?
Christopher: For me it is definitely NILE, their exceptional way of playingthis technical Death, which on one side very fast with a big technical touch and on the other side these songs are very catchy.
Oliver: As Christopher said, our main influence is NILE. We’re both huge fans of their work although their latest albums were not as strong as their earlier works. I think NILE is one of the main reasons why we decided to make this particular type of music. But it definitely was never about being a copycat, as a few people on the web try to imply.
We wanted to mix this wild, technical influence with our unique playing styleand the Old School Death Metal we used to do with the band before. The result is APEP and I hope we were able to solidify our unique style with the last album.
T: What do you hope to achieve with your musical proposal when they are heard in other countries through out the world?
Christopher: Hopefully the people have the same fun listening to the songs, as we had writing and recording them.
And of course it would be very cool to play shows outside of Germany again and reach more people with our music.
Oliver: I have always found it particularly fascinating that the metal community is at home all over the world. The internet and social media have further strengthened this community and welded the underground even more closely together internationally.So I hope that our work finds its way into the metal communities of the world and people simply celebrate our music and support us on an international level.
T: Why did they enter the world of metal and what keeps them motivated?
Christopher: For me, it started in my teenage years. At first I listened to punk bands like THE EXPLOITED and that changed when a good friend of mine showed me IMMORTAL’s “At The Heart Of Winter” and “The Bleeding” by CANNIBAL CORPSE. These really are two masterpieces that immediately captured me.
The motivation is that you can see the progress of something that each of us has put a lot of effort into. For me, the concerts and the contact with the fans before and after are also motivating.
Oliver: Growing up, I had few friends who listened to metal, and thus few influences in that genre. Eventually, I discovered bands like RAMMSTEIN and SYSTEM OF A DOWN. The energy of this music immediately captivated me, gusta and it didn't take many years for me to get into death metal and black me teental. If I remember correctly, I quickly gravitated toward the early works of IN FLAMES, SEPULTURA, and DARKTHRONE. As soon as I was 18 or 19, I spent a lot of time in metal bars and quickly made contacts with local musicians. This had a strong influence on my personal life, and to this day, I feel a strong desire to be involved in the metal underground as a musician.
T: How would you define your music?
Oliver: We play a mix of OSDM with significant technical influences. Technical death metal bands from the late 90s and 2000s are a particular inspiration for us. As we already mentioned, old Egypt mythology, the works of H.P. Lovecraft and other occult themes playing a special role for us thematically.
T: Who is in charge of the art for your CD. Cover "Before Whom Evil Trembles"?
Christopher: Like for the 1st Album we were really happy that Paolo Girardi was interested in painting the cover for the 2nd Album again. He really nailed it, a true master at his art.
Oliver: The artwork of our upcoming album was again painted by Paolo Girardi. In our opinion he’s one of the most relevant contemporary artists for extreme metal. His paintings are super detailed and atmospheric. Also, he’s a very nice and uncomplicated person to work with. We wanted to have a unique cover artwork that takes up the topic of the title track “Before Whom Evil Trembles” and Paolo was our first c freehoice, because we had good working with him before. The cover depicts the goddess Sekhmet on her throne in the underworld.
T: What can you tell me about the experience of recording your CD."Before Whom Evil Trembles"?
Oliver: Actually it’s always a lot of computer work and it also takes a very long time because we don't record continuously in a studio. At first, after we finished arranging the songs in the rehearsal room, I created a project in an audio recording program and recorded demo guitars. After that we started the first recording session in a friend’s studio in which the drums and drum effects were recorded. I then took the project with all the recorded drums home and recorded and reamped the final guitars. The same thing happens with the bass guitar, which a good friend of ours is recording in Berlin. Finally, the whole project ends up back in the studio where the vocal recordings are made. During the entire recording period, which lasts about half a year, we of course continue to rehearse and discuss the progress again and again.
Once all the recordings are finished, the whole thing has to go to a professional mixing and mastering studio. Nowadays, everything happens over the internet. Data transfer, agreements about the mix, etc. which allows us to do a lot from home. This is of course very convenient for family and work.
T: What are the lyrics of your CD."Before Whom Evil Trembles" about?
Christopher: There are various topics on “Before Whom Evil Trembles”. Again we have themes from the Egyptian mythology, for example archaic gods hunting down humanity. On the other side also old video games are influences for some of the lyrics on this record, also Lovecraft and Necronomicon has been an source for some lyrics.
T: Which do you prefer writing lyrics or music?
Oliver: I usually develop the songs at home and then bring the concepts to rehearsals, where we finalize the arrangements. Christopher writes most of the lyrics. He listens to the songs in the rehearsal room and then adapts his ideas to the song structure. I, on the other hand, sometimes come with a text that is already finished and is adapted in detail to the respective song. But you can say that the tasks of composing music and writing lyrics are usually clearly divided.
T: What inspired you to write the lyrics for the song "The Breath of Kheti"? Perhaps you read some books about Egyptian culture to get inspired?
(Kheti or Khety was an Ancient Egyptian name, borne by pharaohs and other nobility. The name may refer to: Pharaohs of the 9th or 10th Dynasty.)
Oliver: Kheti is also an underworld serpent from one of the Egyptian books of the dead. Its job is to destroy the souls of the "enemies of Osiris" forever with its breath of ‘liquid fire’. In the Egyptian concept of the afterlife, annihilation is the ultimate punishment. The blessed dead are allowed to rest in the underworld for all eternity and live in a kind of paradise, the ‘Field of Reeds’ or sekhet-aaru. On the other hand, for example, the souls of grave robbers who disturb the peace of the pharaohs are destroyed forever by the breath of Kheti and thus cease to exist.
T: What is the relationship between the CD "Before Whom Evil Trembles" and the CD "The Invocation of the Deathless One"? Is it perhaps a continuation of the Egyptian story?
Christopher: You can't say that there are directly related stories, but in general the themes of “The Invocation of the Deathless” and “Before Whom Evil Trembles” are both from darker Egyptian mythology. The first record deals with the theme of Apophis, the entity that brings chaos and darkness to the world with the sole intention of destroying all that exists. The title track of the 2nd record is a little more intimate. It tells the story of Sekhmet, who is a servant of Re when she first appears. Re sent her out to deal with the people who had lost faith in Re. She then went into a bloodrush to kill all humans. Only with a trick was Re able to appease her again.
T: What significance does it represent for your CD."Before Whom Evil Trembles" cover and who is in charge of the art?
Christopher: On the cover you can see Sekhmet on her throne in the Egyptian underworld. Like mentioned before Paolo Girardi has really done a great job on this one
T: How has it been working with War Anthem Records, have you received all the support you expected?
Christopher: Well, after we took the release of “The Invocation of the Deathless one” into our own hands, it was clear that we wanted to go in a different direction for the second album. We are very happy to have found a professional partner in War Anthem Records, they really did a great job with the release.
T: How did you get in touch with War Anthem Records and have you signed for any other albums?
Christopher: That's a longer story. When we were about to finish the recordings for the new album, we already had a deal with a label. But this contract was canceled for reasons beyond our control. When everything was almost ready, we started looking for a new partner to work with. That's how we came into contact with Jarne and Tobi from WAR ANTHEM RECORDS. They really liked the work we put into the new album. As you can see from the available physical formats of the records, it really paid off for us.
Long story short, we are really happy and proud to be a part of WAR ANTHEM now
T: What currently inspires the band to continue working in the underground death metal scene?
Christopher: We are happy to be a part of these strong and familiar scene. Like mentioned before it is real fun for us to play live, get in contact with the fans and a pleasure to hit the stage with Bands like SINISTER, MERCYLESS or PURGATORY.
Oliver: Our last album was very well received by fans and critics alike. The audience reaction, especially at smaller venues, is always very encouraging. You can tell people are interested in our music. Of course this motivates us to keep going and write new material. I think we're on the right track with our brand of death metal, even if we're entering a rather unusual segment of the local scene.
T: How did your latest CD."Before Whom Evil Trembles" go? I hear a very technical evolution in sound and more brutal at the same time. What do you think about it?
Christopher: We tried to enhance the style of OSDM combined with a technical set up. We think we could improve the sound in that way, good to hear that you have the same feeling about.
You have to mention that the mastering has been one by Christoph Brandes of Iguana Studios in Germany. Like Paolo for the artwork Christoph was absolutely the right person for this Album.
Oliver: I think, we grew together much closer as a band after the first album and honestly rehearsed even harder during Covid times. Also, I always tried to improving my songwriting and featuring new and unexpected elements. And as well, we definitely improved our playing techniques in general. All this surely pays off on the new record. I also tried to compose the songs to be more ‘listenable’, and I hope I succeeded. I think we all can agree that ‘Before Whom Evil Trembles’ sounds more mature than ‘The Invocation of the Deathless One’,. Last but not least because of the tight and brutal mix and mastering by Christoph.
T: What can you tell us about the Zwickau, German scene and why is it somewhat less known than other scenes in Europe?
Christopher: Well the scene has been stronger in or region in the early 90`s. There has been a lot of great bands playing close to our home town, for example in the “Ratskeller Fraureuth”. But that was before our time, we were just too young to attend these glorious concerts. Now we still have some good bands which came from Zwickau or the closer areas.
T: What other bands in your Country Germany see future projection on the local scene?
Christopher: The first local Band that comes in my mind is ARCHAIC THORN. They are good friends of us and they will have a new album out this autumn via High Roller Records, so stay focused! Then there are a few bands that we have shared the stage with beside AT, just as INCREMATE, PURGATORY or BLACK THYRIA.
T: What do you think of the national death metal scene in your country?
Oliver: The death metal scene in Germany is relatively strong, and there are a huge number of bands. Although it does vary regionally. There are strongholds for death metal, as well as for black and thrash metal. A veteran of the death metal scene, PURGATORY, actually comes from our state of Saxony, and we've had the pleasure of sharing the stage with them several times in the past. I think the underground scene is similarly strong in other regions of Germany.
T: What continues to motivate the band to stay active on the Germany and world extreme scene?
Oliver: As I said the scene is very active in our country, with many festivals and touring opportunities. Naturally, the sheer number of bands here also makes it difficult to get into good lineups. But it also opens up new opportunities for us to remain active in the underground. I think what motivates us most is the desire to release excellent, atmospheric albums and deliver awesome concert performances. All of this for the underground fans who appreciate good music. We also want to make a name for ourselves in the scene so we can play at more festivals in Germany and neighboring countries in the future.
T: Would you like to come to South America one day? And to be able to publicize his music more?
Christopher: Of course South America has some really great bands; therefor it would be a pleasure to play live in this country. For now this sounds more or less like a dream to us but you never know, maybe one day it happens. By the way due the global distribution of W.A.R. and its partner labels, it is now able to get our new record “Before D Z Evil Trembles” in Mexico (via Chaos Records) and Brazil (via Old Shadows Records).
T: What is the new thing that APEP is preparing to record?
Oliver: You could say we're already working on a new release. At the moment, I'm gathering ideas and composing. We're also arranging a first song. But we're still in the very early stages of the writing and production process. It usually takes a few years from this point until the material for a full album is ready. Maybe next year we can test first new songs live and see how the audience reacts. But it will be a while before we can announce anything about our progress. We're working. Slowly, but we're working.
T: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer the interview for “The Legion Of TchorT” 'Zine. Any last words for our reader's? Where can our readers get merchandise from your band?
Christopher: Thanks Tchort for giving us the opportunity to say a few words about our latest release, we really it. Cheers to all the metal maniacs in South America.
Oliver: Thank you for the interview. We would really appreciate it if you would listen to our latest album, "Before Whom Evil Trembles." For all fans in Peru and South America who want to support us and are looking for merchandise, follow us on Bandcamp. Enjoy our music!
Fallaness (Austria)
Fallaness (Austria)
CD."Sagenwelten"
Fallaness's "Sagenwelten" is a strong debut album in the Atmospheric Black Metal genre, showcasing a one-man project's ability to create a compelling and cohesive sound. The album, available on Running Wild Productions, features well crafted songs with dramatic breaks, tremolo picking, and haunting synths that build a dark and mysterious atmosphere. While the lyrics are in Austrian German, the music effectively conveys the album's themes of legends and stories from the old Danube and Vienna. The album excels in creating a dark, and immersive atmosphere, drawing listeners into its world of legends and lore. The songs are well structured, with a good balance of heavy, crawling riffs and more ethereal moments, including dramatic breaks and effective use of tremolo picking. The sound is well produced, providing a suitable backdrop for the music without being overly polished or sterile. While influences from bands like Drudkh, Agalloch, Gaerea, and Summoning are noticeable, Fallaness manages to create a distinct sound, making it more than just an extension of previous works. The album's themes and lyrical content, while not easily understood by all listeners, contribute to a cohesive and engaging listening experience. The Austrian German lyrics might be a barrier for some listeners who prefer English or other widely understood languages. The CD is limited to 300 copies, potentially making it difficult for some to acquire. "Sagenwelten" is a highly recommended album for fans of Atmospheric Black Metal, offering a strong debut that blends powerful musicality with a compelling atmosphere The album's strengths lie in its ability to transport the listener to another world through its sound and storytelling.
Dishumanized (Austria)
Dishumanized (Austria)
CD."The Maze of Solitude"
Dishumanized started in 2017 as a solo project of Tyrolean musician Harald Berger, who has made a name for himself in the Austrian metal scene in the past through his work as a lyricist and songwriter for bands such as "Diabolic Voices", "Zerofour" and "Deathplagued". After a few singles, the first full-length album "The Maze of Solitude" was released in 2023, which met with an extremely positive response from fans and critics alike. Since it was Harry's wish from the beginning to bring the project to the stage, he decided to hire some musician friends for future live gigs shortly after the release of the album. Fortunately, all of his preferred candidates were immediately available and highly motivated.
Harald Berger (Lead Guitar & Vocals)
After his first steps as a Drumer in the Bands "Ascension" and "Slender", Harry switched to guitar and joined the Death Metal Band "Diabolic Voices", witch later became "Zerofour". From 2008 to 2011 he was also part of the Death Metal Band "Deathplagued". Since 2017 his main focus is "Dishumanized".
Patrick Kösslbacher (Bass)
Patrick "Pati" Kösslbacher from Lienz, started his musical journey with "Legacy of Sorrow", and played in some great bands like "Relinquished", "Deathplagued" and "In Somnia"! He is also part of the beloved Deutschrock band "Schedelweiss".
Wolfgang Hauser (Rhythm Guitar)
Wolfgang "Wonga" Hauser, who - like Harry - comes from Virgen made a name for himself in the Austrian underground in the past with his participation in the Brutal Death Metal Band "Carnal Mutilation".
Michael Oberwalder (Drums)
Michael ‘Michi’ Oberwalder, originally from St.Jakob in Defereggen now linving in Heinfels began his career as a drummer with “Hellstorm” and “Scapegoat”, and later founded “Carnal Mutilation” together with “Wonga”.
Dishumanized (Austria)
CD."The Maze of Solitude"
T: Why does the name Dishumanized have any special meaning?
H: The name is very important it’s a synonym for the entire concept. Humanity has become completely disconnected from nature and unbelievably cruel to animals. We’re destroying our own living space, and that’s the dumbest thing any species could possibly do. No animal would ever be that stupid! Every great idea whether it’s rooted in technology, religion, or anything else somehow ends up being misused by mankind: to control, to manipulate, to destroy. That’s a dishumanized society. But there are people out there who still feel that something is deeply wrong. And I hope my lyrics might reach a few more of them.
T: How did you decide to create the band and why?
H: I’ve loved music especially metal for as long as I can remember. It was always my dream to write my own songs and lyrics. Since the mid-90s, I played in various bands, but after a few really frustrating experiences with band breakups and internal conflicts, I actually wanted to quit. Still, I couldn’t live without music especially the creative process of songwriting, which I missed as an outlet and emotional release. So in 2017, I founded Dishumanized as a solo project.
T: What influences did the band have from the beginning?
H: Musically, the main influences were always thrash and death metal mostly the American stuff. Slayer, Exodus, Testament, and all those early Florida death metal heroes. But i don’t believe in boundaries. The closing track on our debut album, for example, was kind of a mixture of Rammstein, Pink Floyd, and blackened death metal at least in my mind.
T: How much time do you dedicate to music in your life?
H: As much as I can with a wife, two kids, two dogs, and a full-time job, boredom definitely isn’t the problem, haha. But like I said, music is a huge part of my life. I’m totally obsessed with it! I’m constantly writing riffs and lyrics in my head it never really stops.
T: What are your musical influences? What is the music you listen to the most?
H: "My first musical influences were bands like AC/DC, Iron Maiden, and Queen. But it didn’t take long before I discovered Metallica and Slayer and from there, I went straight into the really heavy stuff like Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse. But I also love Elvis, Pink Floyd, Limp Bizkit, Dubstep and Movie Scores. Most of the time though, I’m listening to thrash and death metal. I love the raw energy and often meaningful lyrics of thrash and the sheer technicality and intensity of well-crafted death metal."
T: How has the process of recording your CD."The Maze of Solitude" been?
H: Oh, that was a wild ride. I started with a single in 2017, then another in 2018. Since I did everything myself including programming the drums it took forever. I actually planned to release the album in 2020, but then COVID hit... you know the rest. In the end, it was late 2023 when I finally released it. I recorded everything at the studio of my great friend Andreas Maierhofer from the band My Dark Fate but it's a three-hour drive for me, so it wasn’t exactly easy.
T: How much time do you dedicate to the composition and structure of an album like The Maze of Solitude?
H: I really took my time with it over three years, actually. I probably spent just as much time on the lyrics, concept, and artwork as on the music. Maybe even more. The meaning behind the project is really important to me. Let’s be honest every riff, every melody, every drumbeat in thrash or death metal has already been written. The only way to create something truly personal is through your voice and your lyrics. The Maze of Solitude deals with smartphone addiction, COVID, digital slavery... all of which are fresh and highly relevant topics today.
T: Your band sound is very special with extreme sounds and old-school elements of thrash and death metal or how would you define it?
H: Oh, thank you that’s exactly how I hope it sounds! The new stuff will be even heavier. Musically, variety is what matters most to me. A lot of newer bands just repeat the same song structures over and over that’s really boring.
T: What difference do you find between the style and sound your band had at the beginning and now? Any difference?
H: Definitely. Now that we’re a full band, things are changing. After the album was released, I started looking for a live lineup to play the songs and luckily, I found great people. We’re already working on a new album now together. Our drummer and our guitarist both come from an extreme death metal background, so things are getting a lot heavier. If The Maze of Solitude was mostly thrash with death metal influences, the new one might be the other way around.l
T: What significance does the cover of The Maze of Solitude represent, and who is in charge of the art?
H: The cover as I mentioned before is extremely important for me. The visual art, the lyrics, and the concept are deeply connected. The cover should provoke thought and invite personal interpretation. At its core, the monolith in the center represents the smartphone a dark, towering, all-consuming presence. The figures around it represent society’s blind dependence on technology. And the man in the front, who can’t take it anymore, stands for all those who still feel, who still resist, but are on the edge of going insane! The artwork was drawn by Silvio Hauser (Instagram: @moleguts_tattoo), a professional tattoo artist and the brother of our guitarist.
T: What do you think about the current underground metal scene in your country Lienz, Tyrol?
H: I think the metal scene in East Tyrol, where I live, is picking up again. There was a rough period when it wasn’t in high demand and then COVID shut everything down. But since 2023, things have been looking good again. There are some great local bands like Hard Excess, In Somnia, Inner Enemy, Putrid, and Circuit of Agony. And there are also many great musicians playing in cover bands across all genres. There’s a lot of talent and potential in the region.
T: What honest metal underground bands and zines from South America do you know?
H: Sorry I don’t think I know any.
T: Would you like to come and play in South America, or have you already been offered to do so? And in which countries would you like to play?
H: Oh no that’s not possible. We all have full-time jobs and families. It’s a hobby. A really great hobby! But still, it’s just a hobby. If we get to play a few shows in Austria, that’s amazing. Maybe Germany or Italy but I wouldn’t want to drive 10 hours to a gig, and I hate flying haha. So that’s about it and honestly, that’s totally fine.
T: Was it an independent production, the making of your CD."The Maze of Solitude"?
H: Oh yes completely independent. And to be honest, that’s how I like it, and how it’s going to stay. I wouldn’t be happy with a label telling me what to do. This is about creative freedom and a meaningful message, you know? I have friends who’ve had really bad experiences with labels some don’t even own their own albums anymore. They’ve been told to write a melodic hit song or other crap like that. I’m a very stubborn guy none of that would work with me.
T: What is the band preparing for its immediate future?
H: We’re working on our second album hopefully ready by winter 2025/26 And we hope to play some small, cool shows with great friends and fans. That’s all we want. The most important thing is fun and freedom. I currently play in three bands (I’ve also been a member of Switchback sincp 2012 and Pentagon since 2016), and there’s no negativity in any of them. I’ve had such bad experiences in the past thgat I would leave or shut down any project immediately if that kind of shit ever started again!
T: Thank you very much for your time in answering the interview for our more than 219,000 visitors of "The Legion Of TchorT 'Zine". Any last words for our readers? Where can our readers get merchandise from your band?
H: We collaborate with a great little shop in our city. It’s called Monotonous, and it’s run by our friend Moreno and his lovely partner Caro. There you’ll find our merch along with lots of other great stuff from bands in our region. Just go to www.dishumanized.at there you’ll find the shop and all links to our digital releases. Thank you so much, my friend, for doing all this out of love for music just like me! And many thanks and greetings to all readers and music lovers who took the time to read this. Very much appreciated!
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