INFERNAL MAJESTY

A:When your debut album "None shall defy" came out you used to boast about usurping the throne of Slayer then that you would be able to do every aspect better than them, right ?! How would have you done and recorded "reign in blood" better from the point of view of "Infernal Majesty" ?

Well I've heard this question before and I don't recall ever saying that, but I have a very bad feeling that our x-drummer Rick may have said something like that without us knowing. Rick, in a very short time did a lot of damage for the band. He was constantly saying stupid things and giving the wrong impression of Infernal. I can safely say that none of us feel that way then or now. In fact Slayer are the kings and will always be, as far as I'm concerned. With repect to "Reign in Blood" we would have added twice as many songs because I just can't get enough of that record, it was so briliant.

A:What actually went wrong with Roadrunner as you got sacked right after "None shall defy" ?!?

At the time Roadrunner was just starting out in the States so they didn't have the clout that they have now. There have been many bands that have been unhappy with Roadrunner and I don't think we are any different. Still to this day they never really dropped us. We just stopped talking to them. I think what really happened was, Rick went to New York to the label and told them that we didn't want to tour, but to put out a second album instead. The rest or us didn't find this out for about 5 years after the fact. The label wanted bands that wanted to tour so they became disinterested with us. You have to remember that at the time labels where signing everyone in sight and not really paying much attention to each band.

A:The first Infernal Majesty demo released'86 was one helluva great demo indeed, obviously you are still or must be quite satisfied with the result how it turned out, right, but as usual the album is always better from a band's standpoint, in which you are/were not pleased with the album afterwards !? And what about the demo, has it been bootlegged!?

We were happy with the demo and at the time the album was sounded good, but we were not happy with the cover and the back cover. Both were Ricks idea again and have haunted us ever since. We don't know if the demo has been bootlegged or not.

A:Tell the truth about a rumor that a certain ex-vocalist of Infernal Majesty was a "vampire" and was put in jail after beating his girlfriend In public(obviously in a restaurant?) and biting her neck ??

Vince is a very touchy subject. He is, and has been in jail for some time now. He had slashed the wrist of a girl he had met sucked her blood. This happened in her apartment not a restaurant. This kind of thing is something that we do not promote. He ended up going to jail for that, but they fell in love with each other and she dropped the charges.

A:I have to apologize for my ignorant information on a vocalist being on the "creation of chaos" demo !? Who was he !?

Vince was the vocalist on the C.O.C demo.

A:To be honest I was kinda disappointed at the "c.o.c" demo because of slow and quite boring musical approach and I didn't find the same aggressive feelings as on the album and the first demo, unfortunately...How do you like the demo after several years ?! Do you agree with my personal opinion at all ?!?

Vocally I thought it was week and the recording as well and the lyrics and the vocal phrasings. We never listen to it or have even considered selling it.

A:A couple of tracks off from the demo were released on the re-issued version of "None shall defy", was Displeased behind the idea to enclose them or yours ?!

The demo displeased used was a different demo. That demo included Chris Bailey not Vince and again we were not happy with the recording and especially the mix. The energy really wasn't there. Displeased did that all on their own. We had no idea they included them but we don't really mind that much. We are just waiting to finally release the new one.

A:How did the idea to release "None shall defy" again come about ?! Are you pleased or dissatisfied with the idea ?!

We again had nothing to do with that. We don't really mind the idea because it gives us a chance to play and finally get this next record out.

A:What exactly happened with Infernal Majesty being dropped as on a video bootleg of a show in Detroit, Michigan on 10/14/88 when you played two new "into the unknown" and "hell on earth" and said you are about to enter the studio to record the 2nd and these tracks would be on it ?!

We don't even remember playing that show let alone what we said. At the time we were under the impression the a second album would be out soon.

A:Why did Infernal Majesty disappear so quickly after releasing your "creation of chaos" demo in 1991 !?

We had no money. In fact we have yet to make a cent to this day. There have been bootleg CD's, t-shirts, videos, posters etc. and we still have never made a cent. After a while you get discouraged.

A:Tell some info on the much fabled and rumored council of Canadian metal kings what bands were considered to be in this group or did it ever exist !?!

This is the first time I've heard of it so I don't know what to say.

A:I remember having read some funny articles on Infernal Majesty and they used to criticize and laugh at your look because of all kinds of spikes and leather pants and a few guys had that strange hair style...Hmm.... Apparently you were misunderstood quite badly as the people mostly didn't get your attitude at all... Or how was it after all ?!?!

That again was all Ricks idea, and we will probably never hear the end of it. Athough we didn't think it would have such a negative impact. We haven't looked like that for about 10 years now.

A:How was the experience of being on the "Power Hour" on the Canadian Muchmusic with Erica Ehm and the contest to name the Infernal Majesty Mascot and what did you thing of seeing the "none shall defy" video on TV for The first time !?

Well that was alright I guess. When I think about it now I would have done things differently. It was good to see the video on TV but it does'nt get played very often. We have never done a proper video and may not.

A:I was informed the I.M drummer was involved in "Inner Thought" with ex-Slaughter member Bobby Sadzaki, how did this come about then ?!?!

I don't know how Rick did that but as long as he's not with us is all that's matters.

A:How do you feel about the current Canadian metal scene, do you have particular outfits in your my to recommend ?!

The Canadian scene is lame as usual and will always be untill Canadian lables start taking chances on heavy bands. They spend all there time with pop.

A:This one I can't help asking; have you ever been told that there is a band almost having the same name as Infernal Majesty, but its name is instead "His Infernal Majesty" from Finland ?!?

This is the first time that we've heard of that. I wonder who had the name first?

N: Is your comeback to be connected with the black metal explosion, many bands quoting you as a big influence of theirs?

Well that helps us get shows and interest in the band. We still have a lot to accomplish though. The tour this summer should help because we have a lot of music left in us and hope to put out many more records. I should say that up until a couple of months ago we really didn't know that bands liked the music, much less were influenced by it. This was all a big surprise to us.

N: Your first cd was released by roadrunner. Nowadays they also release except metal pop, new jack, techno, reggae.. Any comments?

We've heard that they are branching out, they are a label trying to make money so they will go to the money. Pop and techno make labels lot's of money.

N: The 2 songs from the "kanada compilation" are they included as they are in your new cd or in re-recorded or remixed versions?

The two songs will be on the record. They are already recorded and sound much better than the comp. They are lengthened versions and sound better. We really didn't want to put out anything prior to the new record but promoters wanted to hear new material to prove that we were still a band. So we spent a day and a half in the studio and recorded the 2 songs. We would have liked to have put out something brand new but nothing was finished in time. I fact the lyrics on the songs were only writed about 2 weeks earlier. We did purposely change them so the album version would not be old news. I have to say though, we are getting tired of putting out material without money to afford a good producer. The new one coming out was recorded by Scott Burns and the quality is much better.

N: Do you agree that the pillar and the beginning of extreme metal are VENOM?

Venom definitely had an impact on extreme music. For me though, Slayer really was the one. They were not as extreme as Venom but just caught my ear a lot more.

N: Your 2 new songs sound pretty much oldstyled to me. Will your new CD be something like a demonstration of good ol'thrash?

Everyone is telling us that it sounds old style. I guess it is, I still listen to Hell Awaits by Slayer and it is probably my favorite. To tell you the truth I don't know what new style sounds like. That is part of the problem. We write what we think sounds musical and heavy. Once we tour and start listening to a lot of the bands out there we may change our style to sound more new style but I can't say for sure. We really do hope that people will like the new record when it comes out. It should be the best sounding material that we have done to date.

N:Thank you for answering to these questions for CHAOTIK WEBZINE. These last lines are yours...

Any way I hope that I have answered your questions well enough. I'm sure there are spelling mistakes so hopefully you can correct them. I just want to say that I think people over the years have really gotten the wrong impression of the band. The pictures on the back cover, the things Rick said to magazines and the record company, are for the most part caused by him and he has been out of the band for years. We are just a bunch of regular guys that like writing and playing music and that's all. We are not trying to change the world just enjoy life to its fullest.

Also check out our new website at http://www.cgocable.net/~fish , it now lists the tour dates.

Interview by Arto Lehtinen with some help from Nahitfol.