Interview with Bloodsoaked, old school death metal

As a one-man project, Bloodsoaked concentrates on straightforward, strictly old school, skull crushing, raw death metal A new album is one the way and what a better reason to have a chat with the mastermind behind the music.

Give our readers some background on Bloodsoaked, how did the project start?

Well, I used to run a web site called the Intense Sounds of Death Metal, that turned into Bloodsoaked Promotions and then Bloodsoaked Records. So when I wanted to start a death metal band Bloodsoaked was the obvious name.

I wanted to do a traditional full line-up band but I could not find members so I started doing some home recordings and it took on a life of its own. It took me about a year to write and record the “Brutally Butchered” CD. I was happy with the result and pressed up 100 copies to send to zines, radio, labels, to see what kind of response I would get. I was getting great reviews and a couple of death metal labels were interested in releasing the CD and I eventually singed with Comatose Music. They released “Brutally Butchered” and will also be releasing “Sadistic Deeds… Grotesque Memories”.

You’re a one man slaughter machine, how do you manage live performances? How does the audience react?

At first I was not going to play shows at all and Bloodsoaked was just going to be a studio project. But then I wanted to see how far I could go with Bloodsoaked and started seeing what it would take to do it live and alone.

For my live shows I have all my drums tracks on my iPod and that gets fed into the PA system, I then play guitar and sing (growl). When the audience first sees me setting up with no drummer or anyone else on stage they are more curious than anything but once I start playing they crowd is into the show 100%. I get a great response playing live, here’s a clip:

How would you describe your music and what are your major influences?

My music is pretty much pure death metal, nothing more, nothing less. I don’t try to be the most technical band, the fastest band, the lowest vocals, have more slams riffs than anyone else, I just play death metal. I grew up when death metal was first starting in the late 1980’s so that is what influences my music, bands such as: Pestilence, Deicide, Obituary, Death, Sodom, (old) Sepultura, Malevolent Creation, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, and other old school death metal bands.

I also take a old school approach to the vocals and I have a mix of Cannibal Corpse meets Deicide vocals. As far as my lyrics I try to vary them a little but they are still heavy on the gore, killing, mutilation and what-not. From my first CD and my new one I do have songs that deal with self mutilation, depression, religion and suicide, so the lyrics are not just about hacking up bodies all the time, I try to have a little substance to them.

You are working on a new album, “Sadistic Deeds… Grotesque Memories”, how is it going to differ from “Brutally Butchered”?

The new album will have a much better drums (more life-like) and a much better over all production value. The first CD I wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered the entire CD myself, on “Sadistic Deeds… Grotesque Memories” I will have a professional recording as well as mixing and mastering of the CD. If people liked my first CD I think they will love the new one. It is more or less picking up where “Brutally Butchered” left off and going full steam ahead. I am not trying to experiment with new things, I am keeping it simple and trying to crush people with Death Metal the Bloodsoaked way.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in the recording process and how did you overcome them?

The hardest thing is trying to come up with new songs, since I am the only band member I have to write everything so that can take a long time to finish even one song. I have been jamming with others and getting some good ideas for the new CD and will most likely have some help on the new CD. I really did not have many challenges while recording as I can write and record a lot of it in my home studio and send it off to be mixed. It lets me work at my own (slow) pace and it works very well for me.

In your opinion, what’s the best and worst thing about the death metal scene today?

I honestly don’t think there is anything wrong with the death metal scene at all. Death metal will always be underground as it should be. There are thousands of death metal bands today as 20 years ago you only had a hand full, I say the more the better. The best thing about the scene are the dedicated fans, being able to tour and meet people that have bought my CD and/or shirt and love my music, that is what this shit is all about - the fans. Playing a show to 100 kids that live and breathe death metal is better than anything.

Besides releasing “Sadistic Deeds… Grotesque Memories” and touring, what are your other future plans?

I am staying with Comatose Music for the foreseeable future and hoping to have “Sadistic Deeds… Grotesque Memories” out in early 2009. I am going to continue to promote Bloodsoaked and push this as far as I can, I am getting old now but I live for this and I hope to continue to do so for a very long time to come.