Welcome in the morbid butchers’ interrogation room. You are the first American band I’m interviewing. Have you had many interviews yet?
This is our very first interview we've ever had actually. So thank you for the opportunity! We're honored to be your first American band as well.
Could you tell me the story of the formation of the band?
We met in high school and we started jamming around 2013. From there we started practicing and writing songs. Around 2014 is when we officially became Aseptic and came out with our first demo shortly after.
How old did you start to be interested in metal music?
For Luis (our drummer) he started listening to metal at the age of 9. Listening to bands like Metallica, AC/DC, Slayer, Black Sabbath and Suicidal Tendencies. For Philip (our vocalist/guitar) he also started listening to metal at the age of 10. Listening to bands like Cannibal Corpse, Black Sabbath, Dark Angel and Slayer.
Your first album was really raw, extreme, death metal that recalls the old days. What makes you play such a rough, unfriendly music?
It's what we grew up listening to and got inspired by a lot of extreme metal bands. And its just fun to play fast, heavy and foul music.
There is no bassist in the band. Was it the original concept or haven’t you found the right one for this position yet?
We actually never found anyone who we thought would fit in our band as a bassist, so we just continued as a two-piece. We are interested in having a bassist, but not in a rush.
The CD has been released by your own. Didn’t you try to find a publisher?
Nope. We've been contacted by publishers in the past, but most wanted us to pay large sums of money...so we felt it would be easier to just do it on our own.
Your band is very young. Did you play somewhere before ASEPTIC or is it your first band?
We both started playing in shitty punk bands at young ages, just learning to get play fast and learning to play our instruments. Nothing ever really came of our previous bands though.
How is the death metal life in San Jose? Are there many bands? I just know bands like EXHUMED, CRETIN or DEKAPITATOR.
The death metal scene in San Jose is extremely underground. Most bands in San Jose are either punk, hardcore and alternative bands. So sometimes we struggle to find shows in our area. Asides from the bands you mentioned theres some local bands like Subcreature, Chemical Slaughter, Necrot, Mortuous..just to name a few.
What kind of city is San Jose? Do you like to live there?
San Jose is full of tech companies, with nice sunny weather..but is extremely expensive to live in. We are both born and raised here, so we've grown to like it here. Asides for the music scene here, everything else is cool.
I think playing music doesn’t cover your livelihood... Do you work somewhere?
We both work full time jobs and go to school. But we still manage to find time to jam every now and then.
How often do you rehearse? Do you have an own rehearsal room or do you go to your neighbors’ nerves at home?
We try to rehearse at least once a week at Philips house. Luckily the neighbors think its great that they live next door to a band. So no complaints yet!
I’ve seen a video on Youtube you were playing in the yard of a house. Do you probably live there? By the way I really liked that you used an everyday armchair instead of a drum chair. It’s a total underground attitude.
It was actually our friends house, and was our first "performance" in front of a small group of friends. Our drummer didn't have a proper drum throne, so he used whatever he had on hand...haha.
What about concerts? How often have you been invited? Which concert was when you felt yourselves the best?
We usually play somewhere around two or three shows a month. And actually most of our shows we've been invited to play at them. And it's hard to decide which show we felt we played our best, since we always do our best no matter where we play..we feel each show gets better and better.
Listening to your album the names of bands like HELLHAMMER or CELTIC FROST come in my mind irremediably. Besides these which bands had great impact on you?
Other bands that have impacted our playing are Benediction, Cannibal Corpse, Power Trip, and a little bit old school Sepultura.
Otherwise how was the feedback, what reactions and opinions did you get to your album?
At home, we got lots of great feedback from a lot of people and bands. But we were actually surprised by the feedback we got from people outside our country..from places like Poland, Hungary, and even London as well. So we're extremely grateful for all the love we've received for our album.
Have you ever heard about Hungary? Do you know Hungarian bands?
We've heard of Hungary before and one of the bands we remember is an old school death metal band from 1992 called Monastery. Their Far From Christ is an exceptional display of death metal.
In general the weather is very nice at your place. Do you usually have garden parties with grilling, drinking and listening to music?
Yeah, it makes for perfect weather to have outdoor house shows with grilling and lots of drinking and hanging out with good people.
You are close enough to San Francisco Bay. Do you like the old Bay Area Thrash bands?
Of course, thats what we grew up listening to and got inspired by many of the old school thrash bands from the Bay.
Is there a band you look as an exemplar at?
Hellhammer and Celtic Frost where definitely the bands we based a lot of our playing style from.
What is your opinion about the modern styles like melodeath or deathcore?
Ehh..don't really care for it. It's more a soft version of death metal. Would much rather stick to the old school stuff.
Why do you think the underground is all about?
We think its about keeping the old school scene alive, regardless of what other think. And just playing music for fun and having a great time.
Will new material be released recently? Are you writing the songs?
We are currently working on a new album thats very close to being finished. So stay tuned for new material later in the year.
What is your opinion about he SLAYER’s goodbye? Do you think that they will really leave off?
Its their decision to stop playing, but we think they'll continue to do one-of shows at big festivals every now and then.
If you had the opportunity to organize a death metal BIG FOUR tour who would be the performers?
Definitely old school Benediction, Celtic Frost, Demolition Hammer and old school Pestilence.
I left some one-response questions at the end. Let’s see:
The best CANNIBAL CORPSE album? Eaten Back to Life!
The best death metal cover? Transcend the Rubicon by Benediction and Consuming Impulse by Pestilence.
The best death metal vocalist? Martin van Drunen from Pestilence/Asphyx and John Tardy form Obituary.
Which were the golden ages of the thrash and death metal: the 80’s or the 90’s?
Late 80's and early 90's was the best time for both death metal and thrash metal. Lots of hidden gems in that era.
Which band’s resurrection would you like the most?
Celtic Frost, Morbid Tales era.
Thank you very much for your responses and I wish great success for the band! If you think send a message to the readers.
Again thanks a lot for this awesome opportunity and appreciate the Hungarian hospitality. We also appreciate the support from the Hungarian people, and look forward to one day visiting and playing a show out there!
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