Interview with REPUGNATOR
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about REPUGNATOR (Members, Starting Year etc).
Repugnator is a putrescent black death band from Porto, Portugal which consists of 4 members: Scourge Degradator on Vocals, Cryptic Smog on bass, Poisonous Fumes on drums and Sulfuric Wraith on guitar. The band officially started as a four-piece at the end of 2023. However, the drummer and the guitarist had already been messing with this idea a while before, since the two members were already used to jamming and playing live together in other more extreme bands such as Back Alley Lobotomy, a previous deathgrind band which is not active anymore. We all have other active bands in different genres except for our vocalist, being Repugnator his first band, and we’ve always played in hardcore punk bands regardless of our love for extreme death/black metal. With this idea, we just wanted to make something like never made before, either from us and our bands or from the whole underground scene, something more ritualistic and chaotic but extremely riff-based and memorable.
You are going to release your new EP ''Foul Transfixation''. Tell us a few things about this project.
This EP is something we’re really proud of, we poured our blood and sweat in the making of this release. Foul transfixation is a blend of schizophrenic riffage, pounding constant tempo changes and an ominous abyssic atmosphere with a thick heavy bass that involves you and drags you through an hellish fire while plumering your face into oblivion. In terms of lyrics, we wanted to create our own vision and not just be one more band talking about anti religion and satan, so we built this alternative universe which is basically our own vision of hell, a metaphor for current society, a representation of the depravity and filth that is mankind, written in way that could be compared to a lovecraft novel. Sonically, we usually describe it as a deathgrind approach to bestial black metal to put it simply, which results in a more grindish incantation, instead of another blasphemy clone.
How did your cooperation with Godz Ov War Productions occur? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
We chose Godz ov War cause it's a label full of passion and full of unique bands. Our only 2 requirements for labels are its proactivity and does it release sick bands. We really appreciate Greg's ear for this type of music, all the bands he works with are so sick. Since we started working with him, we've found so many new ripping bands from his label like Onslaught Kommand, for example! Regarding Diy or Label, we've always worked diy until now with previous bands and it's hands down, label for us. It's just way easier and we can really focus on our music while the label works on the rest on a much more professional level.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Well, the reason the band kicked off so fast was because we booked a gig with Morbific without even having a band name and just half a song made but it was a way to push ourselves and create a deadline for a first great gig with a band we totally respect. This way we gave it our all, we practiced 2/3 Times a week, spent hours writing stuff and I can tell you the gig went perfectly, not to brag but everyone was blown away.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Vinyl is the best, the sound is more organic and the aesthetic aspect of it is way better and more entertaining. CDs are also cool because they're practical.
Your music style is Black/Death Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
For us, it is really hard to pinpoint the major influences, the riffs just flow but obviously we’re all obsessed with raw primitive death/black/thrash/grind so yeah the list would be Profanatica, Blood, Mystifier, Sarcofago, Sadistik Exekution, Blasphemy, Convulse, Incantation, Infester, Masochist, Revenge/Conqueror, Vulcano, Early Carcass and the list could go on and on and on, even some ripping hardcore is an influence for us, Heresy, Electro Hippies, Septic Death, Siege, etc. We don’t want to be a worship band, we love old school shit, we love raw shit but we do not want to be a clone, being one of the reasons why we don’t just focus on blistering speed and no riffs. We’ll mix grotesque death metal such as Rottrevore and Autopsy with a Bathory/Mortuary Drape atmosphere, mix doom parts, trashier parts etc., just try to really stand out and sound totally insane at the same time, there’s no limits.
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?
Sacrifice is a strong word. I wouldn't say you need to sacrifice anything but you need to prioritize what's important, you have to do your homework, not just show up in practice and everything will be perfect. Take time to write lyrics, really create something deep and evolving, practice your instrument like a maniac and fucking write riffs, don't just come up with shit while jamming, that's just lazy ... and stop being to hungover to practice for fuck's sake. Even in practice, really take it seriously, focus and do the best you can, stop taking. One thousand smoke breaks, if you just want to hang out and do a band to just have fun, that's fair but if you want to create and impact, you gotta do your best. If you have passion, you don't need to sacrifice anything.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
We just want insanity in our gigs, we want people going Wild, no fucking black metal nerds just standing there with their arms crossed. We have had some great gigs but nothing too memorable. I think people in our scene aren't that used to this type of sound but it'll get more intense with time for sure. In regards to our delivery, we always give everything we've got but with time, we'll get better resources, better skills etc..
What attributes do you think that a new Black/Death Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Well, honestly I can think of the top of my head many recent black death bands that are unique and really appealing, just look at all the bands in Godz ov War, you'll surely find many examples. There isn't a formula, just fucking obsess with extreme cadaveric metal, study it, listen to a ton of bands, buy a ton of records and don't focus too much on being the truest of them all if it means compromising your originality. I think some metalheads get way too obsessed with some specific scenes or bands and lose their individuality along the way and that leads to many bands sounding the same or a bit uninspired.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Black/Death Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Well, digital platforms are double-edged swords for music. A Lot of the elitists, especially of older generations, Will tell you it has ruined metal and the underground scene because it is way too available and underground metal should be for the selected few maniacs that really get it but that's just bullshit talk. The negative is that, because of its digital exposure, the metal scene as a whole is a bit oversaturated, there's waaaay too many bands and it's hard to even get noticed because of it. It's kind of the opposite of what it used to be, a lot of bands used to pass under the radar because metal music wasn't available for everyone and not everyone tape traded or bought underground magazines and nowadays there are so many resources and ways to show your music that people just have to be more selective or maybe just get desensitized since it’s just too easy to discover new shit. I'm not sure what's the best way to promote your music but I think some practices like this interview it's what it is all about for us, networking with other cool bands and people in the underground scene, being featured in magazines and interviews, giving the best gigs with an actual performance, with a cool lineup, making cool shit so people can engage with your music etc..
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Portugal (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
The underground scene in Portugal is great, it’s not very iconic in the international spectrum and there’s a ton of shit bands honestly but there’s also amazing ones. People are united, motivated and events are always happening. One of the most iconic metal spots in Porto is the Bunker store, the best metal store in Portugal. In terms of metal clubs, there aren't any that are specifically made for metal, there used to be Metalpoint, the only metal dedicated venue that turned us all into extreme metal addicts. Unfortunately it closed down due to Covid related complications. However, you have a few venues that are pron to have Extreme music like sludge, HC punk, crust, Doom, occasional metal, in Porto, you have Barracuda, Woodstock 69, Ferro Bar and Socorro Record store. In Lisbon, you have Vortex. Metal bands you need to hear are the following: Nagasaki Sunrise(burning spirit's metal/punk), Horrification (Autopsy/Cianide type death metal), Morto (putrid deathgrind), Itami (raging burning spirit’s heavy metal punk), Wanderer (best national speed metal), Roadscum (Outlaw metal punk), Necrobode (The best black metal band in Portugal, hands down), Idle Hand (pounding Doom metal), Mons Veneris (a black metal's instant classic), Alcoholocaust (Porto’s black/thrash classic), Necrochaos (Old school Death metal) Phenocryst (vulcanic old school death metal), Gallow's Rites (Cut throat Satanic Black/Thrash), Scatter (ripping fast hc punk), Manferior (bleak and schizophrenic crustgrind/sludge/powerviolence) and Dokuga (Porto’s finest crust punk). Regarding some diy booking agencies that organize the best gigs, you have all our friends in: In League with Steel, Mordor Bookings, Cantigas do Poço, Drunk on Drugs, Larvae and Nightfear. Also we would like to give a special shout out to Maria Madalena (ig:nosfewatuwu) who is an amazing Portuguese artist that does the sickest shit out there and did our artwork. Regarding metal producers, we also wanna give a shout out to André Fernandes who is one of the best producers out there (ig:tanoaria_music.complex) who recorded/mixed/mastered “Foul Transfixation” and also, Diogo Santana (ig: noiseportraitrecordings) who is a great friend of ours and an even greater professional, responsible for the production of the sickest national bands.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
It’s sick. Hellenic Black Metal is super unique. Necromantia, Varathron, Thou Art Lord, Rotting Christ it’s a subgenre on its own. In Black/Death, we also love Embrace of Thorns, Dead Congregation and Aima.
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?
Well, we have mixed feelings about it. It was a time frame of introspection for sure. Some personal stuff went wrong, some projects ended, some started but it was definitely a time for growth. Fortunately none of us or our loved ones were impacted by it and for that we can be grateful.
What are your future plans?
We are already working on new stuff and this year you can totally expect new stuff from Repugnator apart from the EP, we're not sure if it'll be a full length or split but we will step it up, that you can expect. Also, we have really cool gigs lined up and intend to play more abroad.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you for the interview, we always appreciate being featured in interviews and to all you maniacs out there, make more fucked up insane bands, but do them with passion and intensity. Life isn't worth living without passion and intensity.
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
REPUGNATOR CONTACT:
https://www.instagram.com/repugnator
https://repugnator.bandcamp.com/track/foul-transfixation
GODZ OV WAR PRODUCTIONS:
https://godzovwar.com/shop/en/
https://www.facebook.com/godzovwarproductions
https://www.instagram.com/godz_ov_war_productions
https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/music