Martin van Drunen (vocalist) interview with Nikos Koretsis (editor)
Hello from Athens! I’d like to welcome you and tell you that is an honor to have the mighty Asphyx on Soundcheck.Network.
Thank you Nikos! It is always a pleasure for us to talk with Greek Metalheads! Only great memories from your country!
It’s been almost two years since your latest excellent album “Necroceros”. What is the feedback since its release, taking into consideration that it came out during the coronavirus period?
The reactions are even still today overwhelming! And our label Century Media/Sony is also very pleased when it comes to sales. Seems they had not expected it would do so well. Especially in these times of illegal downloads or online platforms. So of course, that is fantastic! But the best is that no matter where we play, so many fans come with their copy of the album and ask us for our signatures, which we always do with great honor and pleasure because for us, as Asphyx, the biggest compliment we can get in the end, is from our loyal and dedicated fans.
And if they tell us how excellent, filthy and brutal another new release is, then we fully succeeded in not letting them down and rewarding their loyalty. We know we can count on them and they know they can count on us. And who knows, perhaps we sold even better because of the virus since there were no gigs where metalheads could go to and thus were able to spend more on releases. But that is pure speculation from my side. However, we’re still astonished on how many deathsters come up to us with the vinyl release. There seems no end to it. No need to say this makes us very, very proud!
So, what is the real meaning behind the title? Is it as pessimistic as it sounds, in such a pessimistic era? “In my ears”, it sounds like “a time of dying”.
Well, the creature ‘Necroceros’ sure brings a time of dying haha! But it is a fantasy-shaped entity. I like to read a lot and at times also comics. So linguistically, I can get a bit creative and come up with non-existing subjects. Necroceros is a team-up between the words Necros and Rhinoceros. In mind I had a massive intergalactic devourer, feeding on any kind of cosmic energy, leaving only empty spheres after consuming whatever celestial body. Once I came up with Necroceros as an album title, the boys totally loved it and we decided to take and use it.
But in the past, something like Deathhammer came forth from my fantasy also. So it is not the first time Asphyx uses self-made vocabulary. Most important is, it has to sound threatening, strong, catchy and bombastic. Just like the metal we deliver. What you see is what you get. But in a way, yes it is pessimistic, because at the end of the song itself, nothing is left of our planet than a pile of rubble. In other words, we’re all gonna die! Haha!
You didn’t have the chance to promote your album the proper way because of this entire situation. Now that you’re on the road again, do you find yourselves “hungrier” than before?
Actually, the whole Covid situation did force us to tackle modern possibilities on how to promote a new album. Traditionally, we always have a so-called ‘release show’ where we play almost the entire new album exclusively and usually, that gig is sold out in no time. Only that was out of the question due to the pandemic. And so we tried a live stream, free of charge and fans could donate if they wanted or order special merchandise, because we are well aware that not everybody on this planet can spend one or a few euro on a stream. Now it was weird to not play live in front of a raging audience and I hope to never have to do that again, but we had over 60.000 viewers worldwide and so it was quite a success. Also, before the album came out, we did a few so-called ‘Corona-shows’ with limited restricted crowds that had to sit and wear masks. So the stream was just a step further.
Now some self-called ‘underground die-hard’ wankers criticized us that metal was not meant to be performed that way, and I agree that it was for us very uncommon and weird at first. But the reaction of the fans told us we did the right thing as they were simply craving for some serious brutal live metal action. No matter the situation. And for us, those shows and the streams were a big challenge and learning experience. Accomplished very successfully. But yes, we were very, very hungry once we were able to hit the stages worldwide the good old-fashioned way. By now we did so many shows in a short period, that it is good to have a small break and regain fresh energy for the coming months.
Was there any time for writing new music? Maybe I’m wrong, but I think that tours “give birth to” great inspiration for the bands. Are we going to hear something new pretty soon or not yet?
That is not really how it works for Asphyx. Ok, sometimes during a soundcheck, Paul comes up with a fat fresh shredder, and he can have total spontaneous ideas on the weirdest moments or situations, but as soon as he’s able to record them, he goes up to his small home studio on the attic, plays the stuff in and sends it to me, to see if I dig it and find inspiration for whatever kind of song-topic lyric-wise. And since I read an awful lot, I have 100’s of eventual song-ideas. So all we need is that perfect balance between music and lyrics. And yes, we do have some great new Asphyx mayhem written already haha! But I really can’t tell when we will put something out again. We may be working more intensely on that next year. We’ll see.
Most people refer to the Florida scene or the Swedish death metal but they neglect to mention the Dutch scene, which has also great bands like Sinister, Pestilence, Gorefest, etc. How does it feel to be a part of such a “strong” scene? (In my humble opinion, Asphyx is leading the death metal scene in the Netherlands)
It fills us with pride really. And I appreciate your words a lot. Indeed, nowadays we are the leading death metal band in The Netherlands and we were very, very proud that after all these years, we got enormous recognition and response from the NL deathsters, rewarding us with a chart entrance of Necroceros, which is for NL, an absolute unique achievement. So yes, it feels fantastic to not only be part of that, but also to be the main exponent of a scene that is still very much alive and even better, growing strong with so many old and new great bands that are all friends and colleagues, like Graceless, God Dethroned, Soulburn, Officium Triste, Bodyfarm, Massive Assault, Cryptosis, Entrapment, Legion of the Damned, Mouflon and so many fine others.
And coincidentally, me and Alwin were talking a bit on a ride to a show about the fact that there’s no real telling if a band comes from NL. In other words, contrary to Swedish or US acts, the Dutch have no specific sound except for their own individual approach as a band. Asphyx is not comparable to Sinister and Soulburn cannot be compared with Officium Triste. Just to name a few examples. And I guess that shows that all NL acts are very much trying hard to be original. And in my opinion, that is the strength of the NL scene, apart from, that all remain with their feet on the ground and wish each other the best of luck. A very healthy and admirable attitude, which creates a fine atmosphere among the NL bands, if I may say so.
Can you recall a remarkable moment from those days when the scene was still in the beginning?
Oh, there’s so many! But I suppose this is a memorable one: Asphyx was having a show in the South of The Netherlands somewhere in 1989 or 1990, I believe even together with Delirium. And to our unpleasant surprise, there was one paid visitor for the gig haha! So me, Bob and Eric said to ourselves: ‘Well, we have a crate of beer, a stage, so let’s consider this as a professional rehearsal’. And so we raged and enjoyed ourselves. After the gig, that one guy being the entire crowd, came up to us and told us that he would never forget this moment when a band did an excellent show only just for him! Haha! Yup, those good old days when death metal was still not exactly the most popular genre.
From the very beginning till now, Asphyx fortunately never changed their style. Of course they have evolved through their own uniqueness, but they remained faithful to their principles. Have you ever felt the need for more experimentation?
Haha, not much to add to what you already mention above Nikos. Thank you!
No, Asphyx has no need at all to experiment. What is the most important to us, is that the Asphyx fans will never get disappointed by us changing our style drastically or trying out certain things we would not even like ourselves. On the last albums, Incoming Death and Necroceros, with Grand Denial and Three Years of Famine, according to Asphyx standards, we already dared to implement something people would never expect us to do. And we had small doubts if the fans would appreciate it.
Luckily, most even considered both tracks among the best Asphyx had ever recorded. But that is as how far our ‘ experimenting’ will go. We will never change our style because we love what we do. There’s no need and especially no will from our side to cross different musical frontiers. Also, there is this very important issue called ‘loyalty’. I think I stated already above somewhere, that we will never let our fans down. Our formula is quite simple, being still dedicated metalheads ourselves, we cannot and will not ever bring material out where we would not stand behind a 110% ourselves! That is the Asphyx guarantee.
Are you following some writing standards when you make an album or it’s just the “killer instinct” and the experience of a musician? I mean, are there any certain roles when you create an album?
There are a few certain ‘standards’ we use once we start writing new songs. But those are never really planned in the sense of ‘now we are going to finish a new track’. We always let it happen spontaneously. What’s usually the case is that Paul has enough shredders on the shelves, that I will have at my place also, after he has recorded and sent them to me. Once we have sorted out the excellent ones, we start to arrange a little so that I can let him know on which parts I intend to do my vocals on and how long certain riffs will have to be played, in case he has any doubts on that. So there’s a rough version of a track. To really finsh it off, we meet in a rehearsal room with Husk and Alwin to see how it will sound live and if they may have additional ideas to shape it into Asphyx perfection.
Once we created around 10/12 songs, they can start recording and on those final versions, I’m gonna write my lyrics after I know ( and feel, because I never think about vocal-lines, they come out naturally on Paul’s guitarrhythms and I only follow my instinct ) exactly as to where the vocal-lines are going to be. But before that, I have already sorted out what specific topic fits to each different song. To clear that shortly up; Botox Implosion would never work on the music of Three Years of Famine. I guess this is basically in a nutshell as to how the Asphyx songwriting takes place. There is some guidance in our chaos after all.
With a 30-year career, I’m sure that you’ve influenced so many new bands. But which are the bands that influenced Asphyx? Could you tell us some of them as well as some of the newest stuff you like to hear?
Considering a lot of younger bands that come up to us after we shared a stage with them, asking for pics and telling us we were a big inspiration for them, I guess we did influence a couple of newer bands, yes. Of which we are again, very proud and honoured! I mean, it is the same for us that when we meet some of our old influences, we are like fans, a bit excited to meet them and see if we can have a chat or a pic too. Of course, inside the band nowadays, we all have our main personal influences, but the overall bands that were a big direct musical inspiration for Asphyx were probably; Venom, Hellhammer (and thus Frost), Black Sabbath, Trouble, Master (Deathstrike), Winter, Possessed, Necrophagia, Discharge, Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, Exodus, Slayer and Metallica, but then I’m talking early 80’s of course.
To my shame, I must admit that this year I have not heard a lot of recent releases, but from younger bands the last years I do like bands such as Cryptic Brood, Outre-Tombe, Molder, Necrophagore, Revel in Flesh, Acidez or Necrovorous from your own country. But as said, I need to catch up a bit on 2022.
You return to Athens after 10 years. What do you remember from that night and what can we expect from the upcoming gig?
Ah yes, I’m a bit confused because our last show in Greece was in Thessaloniki, which was awesome too, especially because poor Paul was very ill. 10 years has it been since we played Athens? Pfew, then it’s really about time! But we have great memories from that last Athens show. It was hot and wild, a total insane crowd! And after we went to a metal bar where I got seriously drunk along with the Suicidal Angels guys. So yeah, good times! We’re gonna make that happen again!
No need to say that in a few weeks we will rage again as only Asphyx can. Giving as always everything we got, so expect a very intense show! Now, it is quite hard for us to choose tracks from all the albums we put out and make a proper setlist, but we try to please everybody with a decent mix of old and new material. Lots of sweat, lots of beers, lots of banging and lots of volume!
So, we’re longing for November 5th and I hope after the show I will be in the position to say: “Remember, remember the 5th of November, the date that Asphyx destroyed this place”. The last words are yours, so as to leave a message for your Greek fans.
Haha, I can promise you that Nikos! Asphyx always delivers! But like I said before, we are very happy and stoked to finally play Athens again after so many years. And we know the dedication and enthusiasm of our Greek fans and they know us, so they can expect us not only to give a memorable show, but also that we always give them the opportunity to meet us, have their items signed, shoot a couple of selfies and have a beer together. After all, we’re nothing without you maniacs! See you on the street, in the crowd and then finally, on the stage!
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you too for your support!
Website: https://www.asphyx.nl/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialasphyx
