Interview with EXITUS
!!!BLACK ROT N' ROLL FROM PHILIPPINES!!!
We had a conversation with EXITUS.Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
1. Tell us a few things about EXITUS (Members, Starting Year etc).
Forged in fire on 2001, Exitus started out as a 2-piece band with me on guitar/vox and Alvin Hipona on drums. We were high-school buddies and played mostly covers from our early influences. This went on for about 2 years but we were never able to release any material back then. Fast forward to 2015 when we decided to resurrect the band with the addition of bassist Jerome Alcantara to complete the unholy trinity. Fresh from its rotten grave, Exitus has since vomited a number of releases with several lineup changes.
2. You have recently released your demo ''Road to Hell''. What was the Feedback from your audience as well as from the Press?
Our latest demo, Road to Hell (The 666%ers) was released on December last year and has been in circulation in the local underground here. Feedback has been good so far. These new tunes has more punk and rock n' roll sound to them than the previous stuff and also has biker themes incorporated since two of us in the band are also members of a local MC. We live to ride and ride to live to tell our tales!
3. Label or DIY and why?
Jay: All of our releases had been produced and released purely DIY under my one-man distro, This Metal Lust Productions. A label would be beneficial to us if someone takes interest so we can further spread our filth. I have been doing everything on my own from brewing the songs to producing the merch and it takes up a lot of my time so a label would be good to consider.
Ron: If time permits as well as the connections are present DIY would be the way to go, but you can only go so far as your resources can allow you to.
4. Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Jay: I'm a total whore for physical copies. It's just something that I grew up with and appreciate having and seeing. In order, it would be tapes - vinyl - CD then digital format. Each of them have their own pros and cons, really.
Ron: Digital sounds too lazy so I'm gonna go with the analog material here as nothing beats holding an actual record and a piece of music in your hands.
5. Your music style is Black/Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Jay: For me, it would be Nunslaughter, Hellhammer, Venom, Inepsy, Rush, Motorhead, Midnight, Darkthrone, 70s/80s rock n' roll, whisky, gin and beer
Joal: Slayer, Hellhammer, early Sepultura. Aside from metal, we also derive from punk, blues and sludge
6. 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?
Hell yes. There had been lots of sacrifices made to make this band work and produce material, most especially time and money. I'm always busy out and about with commitments outside of the band but I try to squeeze in as much time as possible for whatever demands the band and the music might have. 99% of the songs were written while I'm intoxicated so just imagine the countless hangovers I had to endure on the morning after to create them. Now that is fucking sacrifice! Haha. I think if you are passionate enough on what you do and have this thinking of making shit happen and finishing what you started, then you'll be just fine. Don't overthink stuff!
7. Describe your ideal live show as a performance Band. Have you already experienced that?
Jay: We rarely play live due to some members' availability from their day jobs but when we do go live, we make sure we raise hell and have a killer fucking time. There had been very memorable shows we've done recently, mostly shows outside of the metro. An ideal live show for us starts with us riding our motorcycles while drinking on stop overs along the way to the venue. Plus points if the equipment are decent (a rare treat here in the 3rd world) and if there's plenty of merch and booze in sight. Oh and rabid, drunk maniaks banging their heads in the frontline seals the deal for us.
Ron: I'm not picky, but seeing the crowd go crazy is enough for me to get me in the zone.There has been a few gigs here and there that gave us that experience and some pretty bad ones lets be honest.As long as there's alcohol around the venue we're good.
Joal: Rowdy, moshing crowd, heads banging, fists pumping and our lyrics being sung. We had that experience when we were invited to play in Davao City, known in Filipino metal circles as the heavy metal capital of The Philippines, and we saw why. People that night were thrashing, jumping off the stage, headbanging like there was no tomorrow... it was amazing.
8. Which attributes, do you think, that a new Black/Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Jay: I honestly don't think about that stuff and just go with what comes out when I write the songs. I get drunk, bang out some riffs and vomit whatever is on my mind. With that said, our music and lyrics are quite simplistic and straightforward. No fucking gimmicks, stripped-down and raw. I guess what's unique about our identity is that we actually live the lifestyle that we write about.
Joal: Tight musicianship and a creative, unified mind between band members who can blend different elements of different styles. I think that kind of thinking is what makes Exitus unique - Jay writes these bluesy, rock n' roll stuff and put black metal lyrics all over it, then I come in with punkish or groove-oriented drum structures. We mix different influences, different genres, and so we come up with a sound that is entirely ours.
9. Do you believe that Bandcamp and other Digital Platforms help the new Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a Band to promote its work?
Ron: Platforms like Bandcamp, Soundcloud does have it's pros and cons of spreading your material easily within the confines of the web. Although the old school way does still work if you wanna reach particular audiences but let's face it, it's 2020 why not do both?
Joal: For me, yes. The world has gone digital now and it's the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get a band's music out there. It helps the consumers too because all they have to do is go on the internet, it's very easy and convenient for them. I still believe though that for a great number of metalheads who still hold on to the tradition of owning physical copies, bands still have to produce CDs, tapes, vinyl, etc. It's all about understanding the preferences of your audience.
10. Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Philippines (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Jay: Underground here is still alive and well thanks to those who keep the flames burning, new and old warriors alike. Even with the advent of digital music, there are still plenty of bands releasing and promoting their shit in traditional ways. Fanzines are present but far and few in between. Webzines, I only know a few of, one worth mentioning is Realm of Asmodeus (https://realmofasmodeus.wordpress.com/). Clubs/bars who cater to metal productions come and go here in the Philippines but we never really seem to run out of new places to hold events. As long as there are maniaks making shit happen and contributing, the underground will never die!
11. Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Jay: Not much really to be honest. Got a few records here coming from your country namely Agatus, RavenCult (Morbid Blood fucking rules!) and of course the mighty Rotting Christ. Can't think of others for now.
12. What are your future plans?
Jay: Exitus is here to stay and wreak havoc when you least expect it! Thinking of releasing either our first full length album or a discography CD containing all our past releases plus some unreleased shit and live tracks. One thing is for sure...We will never ROT!!!
13. Thank you very much for your time & Keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Jay: Bang your heads to god's disgust and satisfy your metal lust!! Cheers and beers and hellish thanxxx for this interview, Filthy Dogs of Metal!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
EXITUS CONTACT:
https://exitusdeathtoall.bandcamp.com/