Can you blame fans that with each birth of a super-group more and more of them are not too thrilled anymore? Over the last few years we've seen so many clones of the same band just with different members and under a different name that it isn't even funny anymore. So, with a lack of the usual excitement that comes with a super-group release, I picked up The Defaced "Domination Commence" and that's when it whacked me. Those five young men didn't just clone Darkane and Soilwork, they wrote quite an innovative mix of the new wave of modern thrash merged with interesting additions from the US alternative/rock scene. My attention piqued even higher when Mattias Svensson (guitar) assured me that they are not just another side-kick and that we should expect more from them in the future. But about this and much more you can find by yourself below...

Chris


Can you tell me how The Defaced was born? Not the official biography but rather the story behind it... was it during a party where all of you got drunk and decided to form a new band?

In contrary to what many people think TheDefaced isn't a new band. We're new in the sense that with "Domination Commence" we reach out to the public for the first time. But the fact is that three of us (me, Klas and Henrik) have been playing together since '95(!). This old band was sort of the foundation for what later became TheDefaced in '99, with our current line-up. In '99 with the joining of Jörgen and Henry, TheDefaced was formed out of the ashes from the old band and completely new songs were written. The idea has always been to write kick ass music, and will always be, so we needed a tight unit that totally supported that simple idea. And somewhat important as well, TheDefaced was formed out of the good reputation that the old band had on the local scene.

You guys are a Machine Head I wanted to be after "Burn My Eyes"... does this comparison bothers you?

I think it's quite natural for people to label stuff just to see where it fits in. Music is of course an area where labeling is frequently used. With this in mind that comparison doesn't affect me in no other way than it's a cool era of MH's career to be compared to. They did some good stuff on their two first albums. I believe we have some stuff in common with early MH, in the way that we express ourselves in music, but I also like to think that the differences are in a solid majority.

This release is already out for few months and by looking from this perspective are you satisfied with it or would you write some of the material differently?

Yep, it's been out in Europe since October last year. I see TheDefaced as a very dynamic force in the way that progression is an important factor. If you don't develop you stand still and everything will die away from you. We've got our solid base of influences and we develop around that base. And I definitely think that "Domination Commence" showcases what TheDefaced's all about.

Because of the involvement of few members in other bands does the Defaced have a chance to be a regular band?

This is a question that we often get and my answer is always the same, TheDefaced is by all means a regular band and not a side-kick. The two other bands have released more albums, since this is our first, and in that way established themselves more. But TheDefaced is a priority to everyone involved. The five of us all work hard to make TheDefaced into something really good and we're all very dedicated to the band.

Why "The Defaced"? Is there a history behind this name?

A good band name's quite hard to come up with I think. So one thing was that since our music is quite straight forward we wanted the name of the band to follow the same path. All in all I think we had like three criterias to fill: A band name that reflected upon the music that we play, an easy to remember name and a band name that everyone involved liked. So it was quite hard but when the "TheDefaced-idea" was out in the open it was all go for everyone since we all felt that that particular name had what we'd been looking for.

How does the composing process look like since 3 out of 5 members are pretty involved with Soilwork and Darkane?

The main part of the basic ideas of the music derives from me or Klas. Mainly guitar riffs that we come up with. From there on we develop the stuff that we like into a complete idea of a song. We both work with a computer software called Cubase to assemble and develop our ideas. Cubase is best explained as a home-studio and is a great tool because you can present your ideas in a proper fashion to the other guys. After presenting the raw material of a song to the other guys we pick it up at rehearsals to make it into a TheDefaced song. It's a bit of a process but we're careful in the songwriting process to get all the best ideas explored in the best way. So we're all pretty involved in the process.

How do you keep Soilwork and Darkane influences out of your band?

As a matter of fact it's no problem at all. First of all the guys involved in Soilwork and Darkane almost write nothing for those bands, but they do for us. Furthermore our influences are very different to the ones that the other bands have. These things make it into no problem at all keeping the bands separated. TheDefaced has a clear line very separated from the other two bands. Of course it's metal that we all play but in very different ways and with different elements.

Don't they try to enforce some of their ideas on the Defaced?

No they don't because, like I said earlier, TheDefaced is a band that has a life of its own and our creativity isn't depending on anything else than ourselves.

What do you mean by the title "Domination Commence", taking over the Swedish scene, world?

When we came up with the title we thought that it was a cool and cocky title for a debut album. Our idea behind the title was strictly a musical one. Of course we wouldn't mind to dominate (I mean who would?), but we also felt that the title had a good feel to it and that it can be adapted to many different things, not just music. Carlos del Olmo who made the artwork made his interpretation of what domination can be and he went after a more physical approach of the words in the title than we did.

How did you lend the deal with Nuclear Blast? For most of the bands it usually takes a few years not just one release...

One thing that helped some was that three of us play in bands that already are signed to Nuclear Blast. It helped in the way that we knew who to approach in the company so in this way we were fortunate. But other than that I think having a good product is the only thing that matters. I mean there isn't a single company in the world that takes on a band that they don't believe in. And why should they? They sell records and for them being able to do a good job they have to believe in their product. When we landed the deal with Nuclear Blast we were extremely excited being part of their team so let's see what the future holds...

I'm sure you already work on your new material... what can we expect from the new release?

We've got a bunch of songs written already and we're very thrilled about the way that they have turned out. We're going to follow TheDefaced-path with the specific sound that we have and we've also developed the grooves even more. It feels like the new songs are a natural progression of what we established with "Domination Commence" even if this is an early stage to talk about new material.

Is there a chance to see you live anywhere in the world this year?

Hopefully we'll show up at festivals this summer. Nothing is confirmed but I can tell you that we're dying to play. I know it's a cliché to say that you're a live band but that's just what TheDefaced is. So hopefully things will work out real smooth and I can promise that we'll kick some major ass when they do!

End it the way you like it...

We're totally excited about the release in the American territories and we really hope that the overseas metal-heads will check "Domination Commence" out and give it a chance. Hopefully they'll love what they hear and hook up to TheDefaced family. We also really hope that we get the chance to play in the American territories in the near future and we just can't wait for that to happen. And of course... Let the domination commence...

When Zack exited Dead For Days I was worried that talent and passion that he's got for extreme music will be lost. I was worried that problems that they were having will burn him out and throw him on the tracks of everyday boredom and lack of willingness, but instead he decided to start a new project - a furious ass kicking to anyone interested, but from a slightly different angle than what he used to. God Dementia is the name of his new band/project and if death/grind is something that interests you than don't skip that one. With everything that happened over the last couple of years and with the new album out in the open, I had to find out whatever happened, when it happened and who did what. And why.

Tom

Hey Zack!! Thanks for finding time to answer some questions. It’s been quite a few years since the last time I interviewed you for MetalBite.com, what have you been doing?

Yeah it has been a while. I've been just preparing my latest project after I quit Dead For Days. That’s kind of when I realized, wow I really enjoy writing music! I should do that more! So I did just that.

And what a great idea that was, new album has been available for couple of months now, people like?

Yeah so far we have very positive responses. I mean, you never know what you have until you release it to the vast areas of the internet. So far there has been no negatives so that’s very encouraging.

How did you come up with a name of the band, what would you like people to think when they hear it?

Ah the band name... let me just say that it is very difficult nowadays to come up with a name because everything that you think sounds cool already has been taken. God Dementia has a versatile meaning: it’s about turning a positive into a negative which is happening a lot around us. Turning a concept into a demented view. Lots of social or religious views start out as great ideas and then people get their dirty hands on it and twist it to their own benefit. Think about religion or capitalism or socialism. On paper they sound great but yeah... people...

Tell us about rest of the dudes in the band, are they permanent members? It seems Dead For Days turned Reign Inferno and then ended up God Dementia LOL?!

Yeah we pretty much are all the three bands minus one troublemaker. Band drama you know! Some people just want to cause problems rather than make music. That chapter is done finally and we can focus on making sweet grind core slash death metal!

What about the cover for the album, care to explain meaning behind it, who is responsible for it?

The cover was done by the very talented Raphael Gabrio of Insane Visions. What I wanted to capture there is how we are. You pretty much have shit shoved down your throat forcing us to consume and constantly being watched till we are barely human anymore. Just shred of a person that’s constantly being preyed on based on its religious or social delusions. Consuming the delusional. Raphael did a great job, I gave him a vision and he made it insane! Maybe that’s why he calls his work Insane Visions.....

You are credited with composing and arranging music and writing lyrics on Consuming The Delusional, but even though bass lines you could probably do, I’ve never seen you behind drum kit, care to elaborate?

LOL, I've never touched drums in my life, it’s just something that is just too much for me and frankly I have huge respect for death metal drummers to be able to pull that off. The whole cd is a collaboration of all of our talents we all play different instruments, like Rick for example is a great drummer but even greater guitar shredder!

Rick on guitar is something I’ve never seen but if he’s not behind drums than who is and how do you mean collaboration of all your talents?

We are in search of a drummer because the drummer is Mr. EZ Drummer from Toontrack (drum machine). If we won't find a decent candidate Rick would pick up his drum sticks one more time. I would really like him to play the guitar he’s talented as hell and no one really knows about that because he’s always been a drummer. But yeah, if ya know a good guy let me know!

Enough about that, tell me about recording process, is that the same studio you’ve used with Dead For Days?

The recording was done at Comatose Studios in Kankakee IL by Dennis Pleckham who is also involved with a very popular doom metal band Bongripper. He did a fantastic job on mixing and mastering and we will definitely work with him again for our follow up. We did a lot of work at my house and brought the files to him to mix. With the technology that is available nowadays you can do a lot of preproduction at the comforts of your own home.

Great job indeed, album is powerful and it’s a great mix of death and grind sound I’m also pleasantly surprised with the inclusion of many new pieces to your new puzzle, there is even few solos in there, yours?

Hell no! I’m not a soloist I actually look like I play guitar hero compared to Rick. Very talented guy, we worked on the solos together but 90% of them is just him being awesome!

You’ve mentioned that you got some new stuff prepared already, leftovers from last session or brand new never used?

I always have stuff brewing. I love death metal and always create something in my spare time. We actually have 10 songs ready to go and we should go to the studio in a few months. Just need the guys to check the songs out and tell me what can be improved. And there’s stuff for a 3rd release already, I can’t stop!

Keep going man and never stop. Every time you put something out you improve on all levels. I like what Cody did with vocals on the album, they sound angry and demand attention, was it all him or did you have a say so with vocals too?

It’s all him, he’s an angry dude and you need that in death metal! Of course we worked together but his style is all him. He delivers the message and he can do it in a way that you can understand which is awesome.

Which brings us to our next question. You wrote all the lyrics and I see you being pissed of about quite a few things, there’s society, religion, life, media and some more. You seem very conscious about what is going on with the world and not afraid to talk about it. What gets you going the most?

I would say ignorance, bullshit arguments and just plain stupidity. Common sense is pretty much gone. I think social media exposed the idiots of our society and I sometimes miss the pre-Facebook era when I was not aware of all the fucktards that are out there stating their shitty opinions and have even shittier people agree with them. I would say people get me going the most.

We could talk for hours about what you just said. Completely agree. Since you are the guy that writes most of the stuff tell me this…how do you do it, where, on what, what do you use and what guitar do you play?

I do it right at home, I have a mini studio that is perfect for writing. It’s awesome the way technology progressed! I use a drum machine and recording software and bam! Song is done. So fast if you’re in the creative mood. Really enjoy it.

Who is responsible for cooking up the sound of the album, I hear mix of many different influences in there, was it your idea, was it in any way premeditated?

I listen to a lot of different bands and a lot of them influence me during the writing process. It’s by no means premeditated it just happens, I don’t try to sound like a certain band. It’s just kind of whatever I’m into at the moment. If I listen to a lot of grind core the songs that are going to come out are going to be grindy and so on.

I just used a word cooking and it got me thinking…you’re pretty good in the kitchen so can you share your favorite dish lately and how do you prepare it?

Mmmm cooking....
I just did potato pancakes. I prepare it with brutality! Lol

Potato pancakes…did you grate them or did you GRIND those suckers LOL. And the last one….when are the shirts gonna be in? LOL

Ah shit... they're coming I promise. Everything takes so much time. It’s frustrating.