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Here comes an interview with the old masters of Death Metal who once upon a time were the mighty ASPHYX and now they called SOULBURN, which seems to me the reincarnation of their previous band. Recently, the trio - Eric Daniels (guitars), Bob Bagchus (drums) and Wannes Gubbels (vocals/bass) whose name is well-known from an other Dutch Death Metal band, namely PENTACLE, as well - released their first album the highly acclaimed "Feeding On Angels" which follows the path and traditions of the old-school Death Metal style and keep it in the best form. I had a chance to speak with drummer Bob, who tell you some interesting facts about SOULBURN and its future plans.
Briefly tell us the story of SOULBURN's creation. Who are the bandmembers? And why you decided to call it SOULBURN?
- SOULBURN was formed out of the ashes of ASPHYX. ASPHYX ceased to exist in 1996 after the release of "Embrace the Death". But then Eric and me both wanted to continue playing old school Death Metal and we started SOULBURN. With this new project we have no obligations or whatever. We just do our thing. The bandmembers are Wannes Gubbels-Bass/vocals, Eric Daniels-guitars, Bob Bagchus-drums. We decided to call it SOULBURN 'coz I once dreamt about the name. So I told Eric and we both had a good feeling about it.
Your first album "Feeding On Angels" was released by CENTURY MEDIA. What can you say about this contract? And do you satisfied with the selling results so far?
- Same contract as ASPHYX and we are rather happy with the sales so far, concerning the economical situation in Germany as it is at the moment. I think we're doing quite well in Greece.
What is the basic concept of "Feeding On Angels"? What do you try to express through your lyrics?
- The typical Death Metal concept as always — Death, doom, Satan, Witches, demons, Stakeburnings, Hell, Chaos and Desaster, Mayhem and Armageddon as it is. Nothing else fits Death Metal I think. This is how real Death Metal lyrics should be! If you claim to be playing true Death Metal you can't sing about anything else, and if you do, you're not playing Death Metal! We're not expressing anything through our lyrics. We're not fucking messangers who claim to know it better. When you see our albumcover you know what to expect.
SOULBURN is a trio... Isn't too hard to play live in trio? What is your attitude to live performances? Is it possible to see you playing frequently and where you were treated best?
- No. We play as loud as an 4 piece. Live performances are good, of course, but we are in our element the most when we're inside the studio. However, SOULBURN will not play live that much as ASPHYX did. We played on 2 festivals so far, one of them was Wacken Open Air in Germany. We're more concentrating on festivals than on single gigs. We like playing in Germany the most! The crowd is always very great! The German people can appreciate old fashion Death Metal alot more than the Dutch people for instance.
In most editions your music described as old-school Death Metal. And how you can explain us your style?
- Old School Death Metal, of course! In the very style of old VENOM, old CELTIC FROST, SLAUGHTER, BATHORY, MASSACRE etc. We all grew up with these gods and still love them!
Sometime Eric and you were the members of the mighty Death Metal band ASPHYX. What was the reason for ASPHYX's split up? Do you keep cultivating with Martin Van Drunen furthermore? Have you any news from his band SUBMISSION?
- After the release of Embrace the Death I thought that ASPHYX had given it's best shot and it was time to end that story. In fact Embrace the Death was actually the first ASPHYX album, before The Rack. It came out as last, so it was a good album to end it with. Embrace the Death does represent ASPHYX the best as it was, evil, obscure and heavy brutal death metal, recorded in a goddamn garage! ASPHYX was a true Death Metal band right from the start to the very end! We are most definitely not in contact with Van Drunen anymore.....
It's time to ask you about... What bands or musical styles do you listen with pleasure? And what bands had influenced SOULBURN?
- The bands I prefer to listen to are old VENOM, HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, EXCITER, SLAUGHTER, old METALLICA, SLAYER, MAYHEM, old DEATH, MASSACRE, BATHORY, INFERNÄL MÄJESTY, PROTECTOR, old METAL CHURCH, old DEATHROW, old KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, old SODOM, MESSIAH, OBSCURITY, old ENTOMBED/NIHILIST, POSSESSED, ASSASSIN, old BLACK SABBATH, TROUBLE, old VOIVID etc. etc........ So you also get a good description of what SOULBURN stands for.
Explain the ideas and beliefs behind SOULBURN. Are you guys satanists?
- Our belief concerning SOULBURN is that this is just our view of what real death metal should sound like! Nothing more, nothing less! We are no satanists, but do believe in the darker side of life and we are attracted to the occult. That's not an image, it's who we are.
What can you tell us about the future for SOULBURN? Have you any new songs, songnames and in generally tell us in what way you composed your songs?
- We're working on some new songs, but nothing is final yet. I think they will be a little slower than the ones on "Feeding on Angels" in general. Slower, heavier and even more "to the bone". Eric and me are doing the music and do it just by jamming and watching horror movies. Those give us a good feeling and the right mood for making doomy tunes.
Finally, tell your last burning words to the souls of ENCOMIUM 'zine readers...
- Thank you, Kornel, for doing this interview! Good luck with your magazine! To all the ENCOMIUM 'zine readers, check out SOULBURN and discover real true evil death metal the way it was supposed to be! Burn or be burned!
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