Interview with ENEMY
!!!MERCILESS DEATH/THRASH METAL FROM COLOMBIA!!!
We had a conversation with Johnathan Calle (Guitars/Vocals). Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about ENEMY (Members, Starting Year etc).
Hails to all the readers of the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine!! ENEMY is a Death/Thrash Metal band from Medellin. We started back in 2009 playing classic thrash metal as you can hear in our first demo "Who's the antichrist?" from 2010. Then in 2012, we release our first EP called "Exterminio", where we adopt a heavier sound, getting us closer to a Death/Thrash sound, which was later consolidated as our definitive sound and style in our first full-length "Cruda realidad" (2013). A couple of years later we released our second album called "Pulsión de muerte", including 9 tracks of pure and raw south American Death/Thrash. Our line-up is the same from the start: Felipe Suárez (drums), Daniel Mora (Bass), Santiago Marín (Guitar), and Johnathan Calle (Guitar and vocals).
In 2018 you released your album ''Pulsión de muerte''. What was the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
This album was a great experience for us. It was a very different process than the previous album, with better songs and a way better production. We had great feedback from our audience, zines, and web shows. Such an album is the most mature representation of ENEMY. You may find there 9 tracks of classic, fast and merciless Death/Thrash Metal!!
Label or DIY and why?
Kind of both, actually. I have a label called "Bestial Death Records" in which I've released a couple of albums from Colombian bands such as Tyger tank, Ironclad, Hellbreaker, Esquizofrenia, Casket grinder, ADS, and of course, ENEMY. So, each of ENEMY's productions has been released through Bestial Death Records. The last one, "Pulsión de muerte" was co-released with another label from Ecuador called "Evil Domain Prods". We've always liked the idea of controlling the whole process of producing, promoting, and selling our music. Such a process can teach you a lot, as you can understand and control how your band is going on. I think most bands get scared about releasing, promoting, and selling their music by themselves; however, it's not that hard. I encourage bands to try it out and start making connections worldwide. The Internet gives you a way range of possibilities. There are a lot of zines, webzines, web shows, labels to trade with, etc. If you have the time and good music to show, you'll succeed without a doubt!.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Personally, I prefer Vinyl, it’s the best format in the world! However, it’s purely subjective haha. I like them a lot not for their quality or something because that’s very arguably, but for their aesthetic, big booklets, big front art, the cracks you hear when you start spinning them, that’s priceless… But objectively, I think nowadays, it depends on what you want to achieve: if you want to reach tons of people, you should focus more on the digital format. But if you don´t care, like most of the underground bands, just do it the way you like the most. The only thing to consider, I think, is the shipping price: CDs and tapes are cheaper to ship and faster to sell, so it can be a great way to start. Later, when you have a consolidated audience, it will doesn’t matter, because they will want it all, no matter how much it cost.
Your music style is Death/Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
The 80’s golden thrash metal bands were our first big influences, including bands like Kreator, Destruction, and Sodom. We covered some of their songs when we started playing. As our sound got heavier, we started aligning our sound to bands such as Atomic aggressor, Pestilence, Cancer, Assassin, Unleashed, and of course, Merciless, which is our biggest influence. We are huge fans of classic Death and Thrash Metal from the 80s and early 90s, that sound, that rawness, that aesthetic!! Pure Hate!!!
Which things, do you think, a Band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future of your Band?
Well, it depends on what you mean by succeeding. I think it’s very hard nowadays for a band to succeed, there are a lot of bands worldwide, in every genre, in every style, so it’s gonna be hard to stand out. Just do what you want to do while you’re satisfied with your sound and your project. As some wise guys said “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock n’ roll…” if it was hard those days, it’s way harder nowadays when a ton of bands have access to a lot of resources easily. Answering the second question, we’ve invested time, effort, and money in ENEMY, however, it’s not been a sacrifice at all. Even though we are very passionate about our music, this is not our full-time job or something, it can’t be for us, as I said before, it’s very hard living off this kind of project (even big and classic names out there struggle to maintain this legend band status). But don’t get me wrong, it’s not that any band couldn’t make a living or “succeed”, you can, but you have to work your ass off, have great music, and a little bit of luck as I see it.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance Band. Have you already experienced that?
My ideal show comprises two things: great sound (for both the audience and the band) and a maniac audience. That’s all you need for a great show!! Metalheads being Metalheads!! And for sure, we’ve had a couple of those haha. That’s one of the greatest experiences you can have!
Which attributes, do you think, that a new Death/Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
I think that being unique in the context of the classic metal style is impossible. All of us, who like the classic sounds and want to keep that flame alive, are strongly related to our influences, so saying that we have something new or very unique is kind of naive. Even though most bands don’t copy the style or the riffs, there are lots of common things among classic-metal alike bands. On the other hand, a couple of things that I think may differentiate you from the other bands in your same style could be the way you perform live, your graphic art, and your production sound.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Death/Thrash Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a Band to promote its work?
I think digital platforms are a great way to promote your work nowadays, allowing bands for reaching bigger audiences worldwide almost effortlessly and fast. However, you have to consider that as it’s fairly easy, you may find a lot of competence. Answering your second question, I think the ideal way for promoting and minimizing costs, it’s digital of course, but for metal fans like all of us, nothing it’s gonna beat physical formats ever. Keep the physical format alive!!! Long live tapes and Vinyl!!! There’s nothing like having a CD, tape, or vinyl in your hands, looking up through the booklets, and playing them fucking loud! No digital format will replace that feeling ever.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Colombia (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
This is an exciting moment for the Colombian scene!! There are tons of great bands, great productions, big shows, and lots of labels working hard for representing the bands worldwide. Go check out some of great Colombian bands:
Tyger tank (Heavy Metal, https://www.facebook.com/Tygertank.heavy/)
Esquizofrenia (Death Thrash, https://www.facebook.com/esquizofreniamed)
Warthrash (Thrash Death, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063520248120)
Thunda (Heavy Metal, https://www.facebook.com/thundaheavymetal)
Ironclad (Thrash Speed, https://www.facebook.com/ironcladoficial)
ADS (Heavy Metal, https://www.facebook.com/ADSHeavyMetal)
Hellion (Thrash Black, https://www.facebook.com/HellionMetalMedallo)
Here are some great labels:
Bestial Death Records: https://www.facebook.com/bestialdeathrecords
Pure Metal Records: https://www.facebook.com/puremetalrecords
Metal Force Records: https://www.facebook.com/Metal-Force-Records-1448478438752954
Rata Mutante Records: https://www.facebook.com/Ratamutante666/
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
We surely know big bands such as Rotting Christ and Suicidal Angels, and some great less known bands such as Incorrect perception and Forgotten pain. Such a great sound!! We’re looking forward to hearing more Hellenic sounds!!
What are your future plans?
We’re back to work after this shitty pandemic and we’re focused on our third album which we hope to be released next year. For now, we’re rehearsing for upcoming shows!
Thank you very much for your time & Keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thanks to you, Metal Brother!! Thanks to all your readers!! Thanks for keeping metal alive!! Long live South American Metal!! Long live classic Death Thrash!!!
You can find us on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ENEMYMEDELLIN
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpTTv-oG-d0
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/5s21mF4tdWR59ocH8LBFzS?si=oEw7_rDTRYOjW8XQIKX8jA
Bestial Death Records: https://www.facebook.com/bestialdeathrecords
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
