Interview with ONSLAUGHT KOMMAND
It was last November when I had this sudden phone call: "Hey Filthy Dog, here's Vinyl Mint calling from Mexico City. Somewhere between the Original Aztec Sunstone, the giant stone heads of the Olmecs and the jade Mask of Pakal in the National Museum of Anthropology I stumbled on a pure Chilean treasure: Onslaught Kommand!!!"...occasioned not only by this unexpected and truly pleasant meeting but also by their latest live shows in Mexico, we had an interesting small talk...Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about ONSLAUGHT KOMMAND (Members, Starting Year etc).
Onslaught Kommand was formed in 2022 in Santiago, Chile, by five original members, one of whom had to leave the band due to the long distance between him (Europe) and the rest of the band (Chile). The band focuses on playing a mix of Death Metal, Black Metal, and Grindcore, with the latter being approached in a more serious and extreme way, like it was done back in the last century. Our debut album Malignancy was recently released by the great Polish label Godz ov War Productions, and not long ago, the band had its debut show in Mexico alongside heavy hitters like Embrace of Thorns and Invocation.
You have recently released your album ''Malignancy''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
The general public really liked the album. Many of the comments mention that the sound of the album does justice to the more morbid and less overplayed side of Death/Grind, which is also sprinkled with some pretty aggressive Black/Death elements. Malignancy is the final result of what we've been showing since our Demo I up to Visions of Blood and Gore. The album artwork is another story. Sick artwork for sick music!
How did your cooperation with Godz Ov War Productions occur? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
The label heard our Demo I and immediately offered to release a limited run as a promotion. Godz ov War has been important for us in these 2 years as a band. As for whether we prefer a label or DIY, it depends. A label has a wider reach, better distribution, partnerships, etc. DIY gives you more control over the copies and lets you focus on the areas that really matter to you. For now, we’re working with labels in a more independent way, and with the copies that belong to the band, we’ve been able to reach the places that matter to us through trades.
A few days ago, you had a live show in Mexico together with Ouroboros Solemn (Mexico), Invocation (Chile), and Embrace of Thorns (Greece). How was the show, and did you face any difficulties traveling to Mexico?
We didn’t have any major issues traveling to Mexico, just some baggage size and weight stuff, etc. The shows were brutal. There were some problems with the backline at the first show, but we managed to get the sound right and were able to show a good part of what the band is about. The second show was amazing, our stay was excellent, and together with Embrace of Thorns and Invocation, we experienced a week we’ll never forget!
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 there’s anything to sacrifice more than your time. If you’re in a band, it’s because you really want to make your damn music and represent with it everything you are, or an important part of you. On the other hand, sometimes there are issues with everyday responsibilities that can get in the way when scheduling a show, but so far, that hasn’t been the case. If this situation comes up, we’re willing to sacrifice whatever is fair and necessary. We’re not desperate to play live.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
No anecdotes at the moment.
How is the situation in Chile as far as Studio Recordings / Rehearsal Rooms etc. are concerned?
There are a good number of recording studios and rehearsal spaces in Santiago. As for us, we handle the recordings, mixing, and mastering ourselves because we wanted the music to not be interfered with by anyone external, even if it meant learning as we went.
Your music style is Black/Death Metal with Grindcore elements. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
We listen to a lot of bands related to Death Metal, Black Metal, and Grindcore. When it comes to Grindcore, we’re more influenced by a specific era/niche than by individual bands, as a strong part of our inspiration comes from the Goregrind of the late 80s and early 90s.
Do you see any differences between the Chilean Metal Market & the EU Metal Market (Labels, Bands, Fans etc)?
Obviously, the U.S. has more exposure, a larger number of labels, and on average, the quality of the labels is excellent. It's easy to name at least 10 labels in the U.S. that are totally worth it, while in Chile, there are currently only a few. As for the bands, it’s unnecessary to say much, throughout history, the U.S. has always been a point of focus. As for Chile, leaving aside the last century, in the past 20 years, bands have emerged that have positioned Chile as a hub for cursed bands, and the gap between smaller and larger markets has been shrinking. But in the end, the only thing that matters is focusing on your own band, making deals with people who are genuinely into what you do, playing with bands that are on the same wavelength, and broadening your horizons. In the underground, there are no limits.
Tell us 10 Metal releases that have "entered" your blood.
Some key releases in our repertoire since the beginning.
Autopsy - Mental Funeral
Nunslaughter - 3 First Albums
Bestial Mockery - Gospel of the Insane
Von - Satanic Blood
Hypocrisy - 2 First Albums
Force of Darkness - S/T
Deicide - Once Upon the Cross
Perversor - The Shadow of Abomination
Pungent Stench - Demos and First Album
Xysma - Above the Mind of Morbidity
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Black/Death Metal Scene in Chile (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
There are several bands doing interesting things in Chile in recent years. While the 2000-2010 decade set a high standard and left many releases that could already be called "classics," there are still bands doing things right. The same goes for fanzines—those old traditions have been declining for years, but they’re far from dead. There are still people like us who are interested in pushing things further, and new zines continue to come out, along with a few that have been putting out issues for about two decades. As for venues for events? Some are good, others decent, and some are bad. There’s a bit of everything.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene (Of course you know, Embrace Of Thorns!!)?
That's right, we enjoy the early stages of Rotting Christ (until their first album), Varathron (until their first album), Unholy Archangel, Zemial, Flames, Heptameron, Wargoat, Dead Congregation, Black Blood Invocation, Almighty Sathanas, and of course, Embrace of Thorns.
In the last 4 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange, and new situations in our everyday lives (covid, lockdown, etc.). Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
It was a period of great creativity, so if we focus the question on the band, the pandemic was more than positive.
What are your future plans?
Keep puking out our sick music and keep pushing ourselves to improve!
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you for taking an interest in this interview. It was done in person and in a pretty unique way (with many coincidences), so it was excellent.
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
ONSLAUGHT KOMMAND CONTACT:
https://onslaughtkommand.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/onslaughtkommand