Interview with HELLFORCER
!!!BLACK/SPEED METAL FROM COLOMBIA!!!
We had a conversation with Nunsfucker (Guitars/Vocals). Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about HELLFORCER (Members, Starting Year etc).
Of course, maniac! Hellforcer is the personal project that I decided to start in 2015, in the month of July approximately. Over the years several members have passed in the lineup for live shows such as Bonebreaker (drums), Crossfucker (guitars) and High tension (bass). Their current lineup consists of 2 hellish maniacs which are: Amon Witchhunter on drums, Show No Mercy on bass and me (Nunsfucker) on guitar and vocals.
You have recently been part of the split album ''Conjurations Of Black Speed Mayhem ''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
The split has had a brutal reception in general, it has been liked a lot, many people have been interacting with the band's social networks, listening to their music on digital channels and asking about not only this split in physical format, but also the other hellforcer productions. It's really helped us expand our sound to other lands and spread the plague and it's just great!
Label or DIY and why?
We don't really have a problem doing the productions ourselves and that's what we've been doing lately. Hellforcer's Demos and EPs have also been released mostly by labels such as High Tension (Colombia) and Midnight Thunder (Mexico). the most recent Split "conjuration Of Black Speed Mayhem" was financed by Fire Darkness bassist Hernando "Metrallo" and myself. Our first album will be financed by the three members of the band, but if a label is interested in releasing it in some format we don't have a problem either. I think it's okay both ways, what matters is that our pest spreads even further!
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Like many people, there are productions that I didn't like how they sound in Hellforcer and I mean the production part, because at the time I didn't have the experience to mix and master, I did it in a very empirical way and the result was not much to my liking, but other people liked it very much, It's weird and funny. I don't mean that in a bad way because I think it's brutal that they like what I've done, I'm just saying it because I thought they'd have a similar vision to mine. (Sometimes I'm very perfectionist) and knowing that they like it is something that makes me want to keep going.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
It can be said that we can all agree that the analog format is the best. We all like to listen to a good vinyl or a good cassette, due to the unique color it has in its sound and the nostalgia it generates, but as a member of a band for me any format is fine, since what interests us most is to spread what we like and finally all formats fulfill that objective. Some are easier to obtain than others because we know that in some areas of the world it is difficult to get some formats because they are expensive.
Your music style is Black/Speed Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
My main songwriting influences have always been Motorhead, the loudest band!, and other old school bands with a raw and heartbreaking sound like Venom, Hellhammer, Bathory, Sodom, Desaster, Nifelheim, Impaled Nazarene, Destroyer 666 and a few others... I must also say that I love many current bands and have managed to contribute something to the sound of Hellforcer, such as Nocturnal Witch, Warlust, Nuctemeron, Diabolic Night, Power From Hell among many others... I also have to thank heavy metal and punk, because a lot of riffs and ideas have been influenced by them.
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 for your band?
I don't think anything should be sacrificed. Personally, I think that when you do what you like, everything flows, even when you have a family, a job that takes up most of your time. If you want to achieve something and you dedicate some time, you are persevering, you will achieve it, besides, success is subjective in each person or for each band. I don't consider Hellforcer to be a successful band, but for me it's already a great achievement to be able to release a split with good bands or be planning our first full-length, even to have recorded the previous demos and EPs regardless of whether only 2 or 500 people listen to us because it's something I like. It's obvious that I want Hellforcer to be able to reach the ears of more maniacs in the world, but for us every small step is already a great achievement.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
I think my ideal show is where there's beer hahahaha. I don't really have an ideal show, we've always played live enjoying it and like it's the last time, so I could say we always have that experience at every show. Apart from that, the public has always given us a good response and they have liked what they have witnessed, we always end up satisfied with what we have given to the public!
What attributes do you think that a new Black/Speed Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
I would say that every band is unique. We all compose differently even though we have similar influences. That's the secret for me; to be myself at the moment of capturing my guitar riffs, my lyrics or my voice and not wanting to be like the member of X band, you have to be authentic both on stage and in any situation and that will give you your personal identity and that of your band. Sometimes many people end up wanting to copy other people or giving a wrong image of who they are not really and that ends up affecting their band, causing them to fall into that loop of "generic" bands.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Black/Speed Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Of course, Bro! I think it helps a lot. Not all people have the facility to release their demos or EPs in some physical format and that's where these platforms come in. They can be a great help for up-and-coming bands and even for bands with more experience
Do you see any differences between the Colombian Metal Market & the EU Metal Market (Labels, Bands, Fans etc)?
Of course! The metal market in Colombia is still a growing market, but unfortunately due to political situations, corruption, drug trafficking and other social problems in the country it makes the economy quite difficult. On the other hand, producing and distributing music is quite difficult, either because of the economic situation of many of us who sometimes find themselves without a stable job or because massive events and constant wars between organizers make people spend money there. As for the rest, I think both bands and fans we enjoy Metal and Rock And Roll in the same way anywhere in the world.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Colombia (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Actually, the Colombian scene has gotten a lot stronger, there are many emerging bands and with years (including us) that we are still fighting. Also a lot of people who have put out labels and fanzines that support new and old-school bands in the country and that's great. In some way, we all contributed a little to everything that was and is sustained on the country's metal scene.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
I am not an expert but I think it's the term with which they define Greek metal bands, maybe I'm wrong (if so I apologize). In any case I have listened to some Greek metal bands of some genres such as Ravencult, Omega, Slaughtered Priest, Necrochakal, Chaoshorde among others and I like them a lot, they are very hard-hitting!
The last 4 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange & new situations in our everyday life (covid, lock-down etc.) Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
In a way it was positive, since it helped me to focus even more on the band on the projects I had in mind with Hellforcer, to finish songs, compositions and recordings, to work on everything that has been coming out lately with the band. I've learned quite a bit from all of this!
What are your future plans?
With Hellforcer finishing mixing and mastering our first full-length, trying to do some other splits with sister bands from Latin America or even from other parts of the world, finish composing the first EP of my other project called Bombraid, listen to a lot of metal and Rock And Roll, is something that you can never stop doing and try to keep fighting day to day.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thanks to you and Filthy Dogs Of Metal for the space, it was a pleasure for me to share these lines with you. Stay tuned for Hellforce released, album news coming soon! Spread The Fucking Pest!!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
HELLFORCER CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/hellforcer/
https://www.instagram.com/hellforcerblackspeed?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
https://hellforcerspeedblack.bandcamp.com/