Where do you see death metal (as a musical movement) today?

- Death metal is, should and will ever be pure fucking undergound. That is fact. The brutality of the unholy society is reflected through it. Death metal was made for a little procent of rebel people. You shouldn`t fill some halls of music or support a political party with it. This movement mean pure fucking underground. This music is not for the mass, it's music for our hearts. Music from metal to metal. You know, what I mean? Fuck the society and let as destroy the religion.

How do you conceive the further development of the style TEARS OF DECAY's works may be reckoned to, i.e. grind and death metal? Will it transform into certain different genre with time to come?

- We play a mix between death and grind and combine these styles with groovy elements. This is the sound from TEARS OF DECAY. I guess, the sound will never change. Our new songs will go the same way of brutality and darkness. It doesn`t seem that we ever will play an other style of music. We like and stay to this kind of music. If we ever reach a point, where we think death metal isn`t more our way of life, we`ll end with our band. We wouldn`t change our style for every commercial thing. Our new songs are more technical, but in the same way more faster. For example, we will never use a keyboard. We listen to, live  with, and play brutal death metal, amen.

Ok, enough with abstract bubbling (that mostly regards the questions of mine, not your answers... :0 ) Where, when and why had the TEARS OF DECAY been brought forth the light?

- TEARS OF DECAY exist now since 3 years, and in the actual form approximately 2 years. First, this band was founded as a kind of fun - project, to make a little bit extreme music, hang around and make some parties together. So the first rehearsal proceeded in totally drunken and stoned chaos. Just for this reason three former members Henne, Michael and Dirk continued this project. Shortly after Steffen joined the band. Henne knew him already before, because of their common band MISTRUST. So they began to rehearse earnest, to frighten the mankind with a fresh mix from death / grind and groove. After many irregular rehearsals and the first year full of chaos Jorg from Rheine joined the band. This bassist emerged in Wacken 1998 suddenly at our campsite. Quickly were ascertained them equal characteristics at him, so that one became best miner. It was formed a band, which is to be separated with difficulty again. The rehearsals proceeded always better. The songs were much better and the brutality of the individual members was changed in musical brutality. In February 1999 we had the first appearance together with ANASARCA and SANITY'S DAWN. The resonance on it was very good and so we concluded to press the available songs on MCD. So, in June we recorded "Redemption". We were personally very content with the result and the following reviews were throughout very positive. For this reason we received many offerings for participation on different CD-compilations. In 1999 followed many concerts with DIE APOCALYPTISCHEN REITER, DESASTER, IMMORTAL RITES, FALLEN YGGDRASIL, INNER GROTESQUE, SECRETS OF THE MOON, KING CARRION, FEARER, MISTRAL, HIBRIA, OF TREES AND ORCHIDS and so on. In 2000 even more concerts are (and were) played. Among FLESHCRAWL, MORBUS, GODLESS TRUTH, IMPURE, KARKADAN, SENESCENCE, JACK SLATER, PROFANITY, EYE SEA, INHUMATE and many more. The most important gig we played was on the wonderful Fuck The Commerce III festival. In the end of 2000 they will play on the Ludwigshafener Death-Festival and the Depths of Winter Festival . In 2000 they will record a completely new CD. So watch out for the sound of TEARS OF DECAY on the actual MCD "Redemption". In April 2000 we made a deal with Cudgel Agency.

What about that classical intro on the MCD you made your debut with? Where have you taken it from?

- The classic intro was stolen by us, hehe. It came from a movie. We change it a little bit, hehe. I know the name of this movie, but I won't say it, hehe. ( Sorry )

Furthermore, the lyrics haven't been printed, so I guess you know the question... (a little hint: I want to know more regarding "Redemption's" lyrical side)

- The lyrics are all written by me. They reflect my philosophy and ideology.

"The Area Behind The Curtain Of The World": This song includes a description of the world after your own death and the fear of the death. Where will you go? What place will we reach?
 
"Negative Determination Of Life And Everything": You`re forced, to be free, that is my philosophy.
 
"Redemption": Tells about the redemption of the humanity and how you can get it. It`s only possible through the solidary.
 
"Dark Angel": Tell about love. Love can destroy human and let you lost your mind.
 
"Homo Homini Deus Est": If you translate it, you'll have the following: "The man is the only god". This is the theory from Ludwig Feuerbach. Not god created man, but man created god. I agree with it, too.

Most of the song titles off "Redemption" sound pretty exciting... And probably, equivocal as well. Don't you think that way?

- Yes, we don`t need "gore" songs. But the lyrics are not so important for us anyway. It`s my way of thinking and living, but the music must stand in the middle. The lyrics are only important for me, not for everyone. I didn`t want to write about splatter-movies or satanic ideologies. I write about philosophy and the reaction of it.

By the way, this title... "Redemption"... BRAINDANCE and VOMITORY already have albums with the same name... Did you know about that? And what were you guided by choosing this word as a title for your band's debut work?

- No, we didn`t know anything about the other bands. Later, I`ve got a flyer from Fadeless Records with the band: VOMITORY and their CD called "Redemption". Meanwhile, the new band of MALEVOLENT CREATION's singer, DIVINE EMPIRE, has the name, too. BRAINDANCE, too… oh je. Shit happens, but it doesnt`matter to me and our band. "Redemption" is a very good name, hehe. We chose this name, because it`s a track from TEARS OF DECAY and we like this track: Redemption for all people on this world, so that they never destroyed the fucking corruption. The redemption is caused by the declaring one`s solidarity with other human. Solidarity is death metal.
 
And what about upcoming full-length effort? For how long do we have to wait until it's finally unleashed?

- We hope, the complete CD will be out by the end of this year. Perhaps, in the early 2001. In the moment, we have 5 new tracks. The name of the CD will be "Saprophyt" and describe the political and religious corruption. The pope and the american president are "corpseeaters" (saprophyts). They kill for nothing.

Any comments on Cudgel Agency? Striking as pretty young label, they already managed to released at least a couple of groundbreaking CDs… Is there any explanation for that?

- I don't know why Jens and Besen lead this label, but I am very happy about it. Both are very cool guys and absolute freaks on this kind of music. I hope, they will have big successs with their work and we can help them. Perhaps, we will record 2 new CD`s with Cudgel, if they want us, too. At the moment, they don`t hear anything from our new things, but I think, there wil be no problem between us. There're great bands on Cudgel. DAMNATION, PROFANITY, CEREBROCIDE, SEIRIM and TEARS OF DECAY. So, support them.

Are you happy being on the same label with bands like DAMNATION?

- Yes, really, we are very happy about this situation. Earlier, I was a really big fan of DAMNATION, but on the Fuck The Commerce Festival, I was very dissapointed by their live show, so I didn`t buy their new CD. I am proud to be on the same label with PROFANITY. We`ve played 3 gigs with this band in 2000. Meanwhile, we are very good friends. They play absolutely genial death metal. Greetings from this side. I am very interesting in their new CD.

What is "tears of decay"? I mean, what do you imply under this monicker? Any comparisons for that (the ones existing in our earthly world)?

- Tears of Decay is our way to reflect the society. A little musical fight against the big bosses of this world. Tears of Decay means the world for me, because we make not only music together, but we are also good friends. In this band to play is the foundation of my existence.

What do you know (and think) regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from our lands that you've heard lately?

- I don`t know enough about the Russian metal scene, so I can`t presume to form an objective judgement. The only band I know is NOKTURNAL MORTUM, a keyboard-black metal combo. This is not my sound. I don`t like it. From which country a band comes, I don`t care. It`s important for me, that the band makes death metal.

Even though you come from Germany, let me wonder regarding your opinion on Swedish school death metal, it's past, present and future (since I'm strongly convinced they have one of the strongest scenes in the whole world… and besides that, I'm half-Swedish too)?

- I am a friend of the old Swedish style. Bands like UNLEASHED, ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, CARNAGE, NIHILIST, AT THE GATES etc. I guess, I have always been a fan of this style of music, because I was growing up with this sound. The first and the second CD from UNLEASHED are cult. Johnny Hedlund was a god for me, but later, his band has moved to that slow and groovy style… I don`t like it anymore. The new things from Sweden are very cool too. New bands like DERANGED and DEFACED CREATION playing brutal death metal . The tendencies are going to the American style and that's what I like, hehe. I hate the slow, lame and melodious sound. Bands like IN FLAMES and DARK TRANQUILLITY are very bad (first of all, let me disagree with you. And secondly, they aren't 100% death metal - ED). Our guitarist Steffen likes this sound. A matter of taste, hehe. I hope, AT THE GATES will come back again. Really extreme and good band they were.

Anything for the end?

- Okay, thank you for this interview.
I wish you and your magazine all the good things for the future.
Death metal is not dead, it's the only way for living.
Keep the underground clean and stay brutal - peace for all.
TEARS OF DECAY feel sorry for that U-boat catastrophe. It's a tragedy.
Greetings to you and all the death metal lunatics!

TEARS OF DECAY contact -
Email: MEden@gmx.de