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Webzine:
Renegade2k
Written
by: Eduardo Gertum Führer |
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I'm sure that all the deathbangers in the whole world keep their eyes foccused on every interview that reminds them of Death. But now the traditional heavy metal fans also must turn their attention to interviews that are related to Death, for here is Control Denied, showing exceptional work. The main member of both, Chuck Schuldiner, is struggling against cancer, fighting for his health. After the first Control Denied album, "The Fragile Art Of Existence", the band has a new bassist, Steve DiGiorgio, one of the most skilled bassits of the world, nowadays also a member of Testament. He also played in Death in early days, so it was natural for Chuck calling his to handle plass playing for Control Denied too. Check out this interview with Steve.
One question
that interests us all: how's Chuck?
Chuck is doing much better thank God. He's been through hell, but you
can be assured that he is a true warrior. Only he could pull through
something like this, he has the strength and the patience to overcome
such a dreadful nightmare. Something like this can really change someone
and the way they live their life. But even this can't take the fire
out of a real metal giant.
Chuck
wrote a letter to the press and the fans saying that he had already
finished composing Control Denied's new album. Can you tell us more
about this album?
It is much more aggressive music than the last one. I've only heard
so far the guitar and a little bit of the drums. I haven't heard any
of the vocals, but I'm sure they will rage. Everyone involved has the
experience of the first record to build on. I'm sure everything will
improve. From the song writing, to the guitars and bass, the drums I
believe will be more crazy, and I think definitely the vocals will sound
more in your face. I really enjoy this line up, everyone has lots of
ideas to bring to the songs, and Chuck is good at writing pieces that
have room for everything to breathe.
What
have you been doing lately?
I just got back from a very long tour with Testament. We've been all
over the world, and it was pretty exhausting. So I've just been living
a slower life at home. But that doesn't last very long, as me and the
other Dark Hall guys are preparing some new songs for a recording session
some time in the near future. We hope to get a recording deal so we
can record a full length album soon. So we've just been working on new
material that I've been composing. Me and Ken (guitarist) are working
on a few pieces together, and Flamp has written a cool song too. So
this time I think it'll be more iverse because the writing is being
spread out a little more than just me like on the first four song cd
demo we've been sending out everywhere ately. We have a couple of sound
samples on our web site if anyone is interested in checking out what
we sound like. Go hear us at: www.the.nl/darkhall And sign the guestbook!
All members
of Control Denied except the vocalist, Tim Aymar, has been or currently
are in Death. So I would like to know 2 things: First, do you think
that Control Denied's live show will be much too different from Death's?
Live show? Hmm, interesting question. I can't really say. Even though
I've performed with Chuck many times in the past. I haven't done any
shows with Rich and Shannon. And I definitely have never seen Tim in
action. So it's really hard to say. I know that since this is slightly
new for all of us, I think we'd like to bring something new to the stage.
Tim is an excellent vocalist, so I think he'd be an energetic front
man. We have yet to see what will happen when we finally get this thing
going on the road.
Second:
many people are considering Control Denied sound's a lot like Death's,
but with a melodic vocal, instead of Chuck's vocals. Do you think hat
these comparisons have any basis?
Yes, completely. Chuck has been very blatant in his dislike for his
own vocal style for Death. And he knew that he couldn't bring in a different
vocalist for Death. But he needed to do these things. So he had to change
the name as a gesture of a new beginning. He has never told me that
he was dissatisfied with the music that we always played, so he just
changed the vocals and kept the same musical style. Of course it'll
sound like Death music, we're all Death guys (except Tim), but that's
cool with all of us. That's the way we wanted it; Death sounding riffs
with killer vocals .
Talk
about "The Fragile Art Of Existence".
Well , for me it was different than the other guys. They had worked
on it for some time. But when I got the call to come play on it, it
was mostly finished. They had problems with the old bass player and
Chuck said he wanted me to come in and record my stuff really fast.
So it was basically done except for the bass. When I finished I realized
that it was a killer album. I think it has a lot of passion and aggression
and there are moods. There is a display of musicianship, but the songs
have room to move you too. Overall it was probably the best metal record
I was involved with. Working with Jim Morris in the studio is great,
he really pulled a lot out of me considering I was so unprepared as
it was so new to me at the time.
When
you were recording Control Denied's album, you saw Shannon Hamm and
Richard Christy, two old friends from Death. How was it to see them
again?
Actually they were all I saw. Chuck was up in New York getting treatment,
and Tim was home in Pittsburgh. So me and Shannon worked together a
little bit on the guitar riffs and Richard was there to provide comic
relief. We definitely did some fun stuff together. It was a sign of
times to come leading up to things in the future. I know Chuck and I
know we get along great, I can say that I love those guys, Rich and
Shannon, I have yet to meet Tim, but if he's a friend of Chuck I know
I'll dig him. I don't like the distance between us all. But fortunately
the metal is stronger than any geography so we will continue to plan
for the future.
Something
curious about "The Fragile Art Of Existence" is that all song
titles fits in Chuck's current health condition. Don't you also think
this is curious?
Well, I don't think anything weird was happening. I think the lyrics,
as always Chuck writes them, are open to different translations. You
could possibly get something close to his condition out of it if you
try. But I know for a fact that he didn't know of his condition until
after the record was recorded. So he had no knowledge of what would
befall him when he was writing the lyrics. It was coincidence I believe
with the title. I think he even had the title for a long time...way
before his sickness, or disease. I know it fits well with what has happened
to him, but that just shows you the way in which he can weave a tale
in only his profound ways.
Control
Denied or Death?
Death is dead. Control Denied is alive. To me it doesn't matter the
title, it is purely jamming with my musical brothers that matters. I
mean for that reason what should any title matter? If it's good that
is all that counts. If you enjoy to listen to it, that's all that matters.
The only difference is that now Chuck has given the mic to someone else.
But it's still Death guys doing the jamming.
What
do you hear lately?
I usually listen to a lot of different stuff. Lately I've been listening
to a lot of newer fusion stuff. The Vital Tech Tones 2 is great, the
new Wackerman is out, Waterfall Cites by Ozric Tentacles is killer.
But to tell you the truth I've been mostly locked up in a hole writing
new songs for my own weird fusion band - Dark Hall. I guess you could
say I've also been listening a lot to bands like Spiral Architect, Aghora,
Demons & Wizards and the Gathering.
How do
you manage your time between so many bands? Tell us about each one of
them.
Goodness, that would take a long time. Testament has definitely been
keeping me busy spreading metal all around the world. Dark Hall, well
we play instrumental fusion music, so naturally it's hard to get something
like this rolling. Sadus has been taking a long break again. Control
Denied, well I think you've heard enough about that. And in the next
couple of weeks I'll be recording my bass tracks for Ron Jarzombek's
Spastic Ink. There might be a couple more projects I need to work on
in the coming months, but it's too early to talk about them. Don't want
to jinx anything.
How is
it working with Chuck? Is he a temperamental person?
I've been working with this guys on and off since 86 or 87. I think
we have a great relationship. I don't know if anybody has had any bad
feelings towards him in the past. But all I can tell you from my perspective
is that we are not only musical partners but best of friends. He is
the one guitarist that encourages me to play "more" when I
can. He has this weird way of bringing out this sick inner-creature
inside me when I play. I like it, I need people around me to push me.
He has always been my biggest supporter, and I can't wait to jam down
in sweaty Florida again soon.
Define
in a few words all Death album's that you made.
I recorded Human in 91, and that was a blast. I had time to work on
the stuff. But the sound on that album is weird. Not really that bad,
but kind of weird. Individual Thought Patterns was done really fast
in 93. It was a pleasure jamming with Gene, and doing the tours for
that album was awesome. To this day, it's one of my best recordings.
I was involved in the preproductions on the next two, but because of
scheduling problems I wasn't able to go for the whole albums.
Something
else to say? The interview is all yours, so increase it.
I just want to thank everyone, specially you, Eduardo, for the awesome
support. The band is appreciative of everyone's emails and fan mail
and all the response to the last Control Denied album. And on behalf
of Chuck, I know he is beside himself from all the overwhelming support
everyone in the world has given him on his road to recovery. All has
been vital in giving him strength to overcome this bullshit. Thanks
from myself and everyone in the band for all the feedback from the latest
offering. Keep metal alive. See you out there!
