1. Hello my friend, pleasure to have you on Rotten Pages ´zine. How are you doing today? Let us set the scene first. Where do we find you right now? Please describe your surroundings.
Hi and thank you for inviting us! We´re doing good, regarding the fact that we find ourselves in the dark, rancid basement of our drummer Kym´s place in Karlsruhe, recording our debut EP. Right now, the three of us are sitting around a small desk while recording bass, staring into an old computer display surrounded by walls made of red bricks.
2. When did Vicious Brewery form, and what was the goal? How long did it take to produce your first demo?
In 2019, Kym and I ended up as the last members of a sort of grind core project. We took a more thrashy approach and later that year our close friend Jan started to learn to play bass to join the band. Our main goal is to have a great time together, connecting with same minded people and to brew the most vicious rumbling compositions we can.
It took us some time until we felt ready to record a demo and the recording process was not any better. Kym and I are perfectionistic. We recorded drums, guitars then bass – then drums twice again! Also, since we were beginners at our instruments as we started, it costed lots of time and efforts until we were able to play tight enough to record. But the production went really fast, all instruments are organically recorded, no digital line-in bullshit! I painted the artwork within a day and the night after the recordings were done, we drove out in the forest and took a picture in front of this cabin.
3. When you first get into music, what attracted you to it? Also, when did you first hear metal and what did you like about it?
The expression of emotion and the emotions music gifts you! And I can´t think of any other genre having this much power and honesty only through soundscape. And metal leaves such a giant room for technical variety. Kym was kind of born into it – his dad was even drumming for some bands. I got introduced to metal through Kym, blasting Iron Maiden and Manowar, Savatage all the time. And when I was around 14, my uncle gifted me an old Seasons in the Abyss CD _ amazing album, giant impact!
4. Who composes the music in the band? Do you have to feel something special in the riffs to be sure it's "Vicious Brewery riffs"?
It´s mainly me. When I make up a riff that I really dig, we start jamming it. Or Kym does with a beat. Usually, we don´t write stuff down, it´s got to be catchy enough to remember! And for this EP especially it´s got to have the right gloomy touch.
5. Your latest demo "Rumblin´ Rancid" was released a couple of months ago. Are you still satisfied with the whole record?
Rumblin´Rancid hahaha - It´s what the title implies! We intentionally recorded it, to show it to our friends and maybe find someone to produce us on the EP we are now working on. Let´s put it like this: It´s limited for a reason!
6. Can you tell me a little bit about the songwriting process for this second demo and how it differed from the process you used on 'Perpetual Insidiousness'?
The songs are just the rest of our original songs that weren´t done when we recorded “Perpetual Insidiousness” back then. Meanwhile, Kym and I moved out of Schwäbisch Hall, so instead of doing a “studio” demo, we wanted to record it in a live session. But two days before we went to record it, I got sick. Kym and Jan recorded drums and bass in Karlsruhe and when I recovered, I did guitars and vocals at home in Neresheim. They used no metronome, so I had a hard time finding a suitable way to play. It´s bare bones and that´s what we like about Rumblin´Rancid!
7. You play thrash in a classic way. How much thought has gone into finding the right kind of sound?
Yup, it´s got to be old school – anything else just wouldn´t feel right! We started out doing what we liked and defined it to what it is now. Organic, vivid, honest music. The further we got into it, the more we figured out, that we like this sort of sinister, gripping atmosphere.
8. What era of the thrash metal age do you feel has been the greatest?
For sure, in the 80s, thrash was the most prosperous and vivid, but these times are over, and we can look back and listen to a lot of masterpieces from different timespans. For Kym and me, it´s the late 80s and early 90s are outstanding, with bands from Forced Entry to Master. Jan is more into Heavy and Speed stuff, like Skull Fist. But the current scene is on a rise and there are a lot of awesome bands nowadays too!
9. When you write songs, do you start with a visual concept, or a riff, or something else?
One of us, mostly me, brings an idea to the rehearsal room and we build the rest around it. We don´t have a secret formula or something but rather make up spontaneous structures. Then we decide what topic suits best. Sometimes, we throw everything overboard and construct something new.
10. How much time and effort do you spend on the band to get everything to look and sound the right way?
Alot!! We are burning for the band. Each member brings an individual vision and sometimes it´s hard to find a suiting compromise. We don´t want to play generic thrash the way everyone plays it. We want to be recognizable by sound, in an old school frame - yet original. And sometimes it hard for us to choose from the ideas we brought to the table.
11. Since the amount of Thrash metal bands should keep on increasing, the style currently being fashionable, how do you think VICIOUS BREWERY could stand out?
The idea is to make our metal as abominable and sinister as possible through wicked harmonies, rumbling drums and a grudging low end forging something wicked. We´re not trying to be the fastest, unlike many others.
12. In your opinion what are the advantages of German bands? What could be much better in Germany?
Good beer – We´re sitting at the source! And we have an active scene – lots of new bands and a vivid underground. Especially out of our region.. here, in this southern German rural area, the scene is dead. But at concerts, we get to see the familiar faces!
13. As a metal band do you feel that you’re a part of a greater worldwide community of metalheads?
Absolutely! There is a lot of traffic on the web – for example this interview! And when you visit a festival, you´ll get to meet a lot of new faces from abroad. Made this awesome experience at Running Free, with some long time Romanian friends - Went there and met the guys from Sphinx for the first time. In the end, we´re all talking the same language, no matter of origin!
Shout out to Leather Brigade and the Romaniax!!!
14. With so many bands competing for attention what do you do in order to stand out and be counted? How far would you go in order to gain attention?
Being live in action, honestly. Getting an honest compliment after a show has more value than any number of likes. The way we present ourselves comes from the inside – not from trying to gain attention. Might make us look unique or something, but we don´t do it for extra attention.
15. It's time to conclude, perhaps you could tell us about your future projects or something?
We want to play more shows, maybe a small tour once, meet more people. But right now, the focus is on getting our EP ready to rumble and hopefully find a label that wants to release it.
Piercing our rancid jams into everyone´s ear!
So, again: thanxalot for having us – We wish y´all a power rocking time!
!!Watch out!! Struwwi
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