'TALES OF THE MACABRE' ZINE Nr.2 /March 1995 (GERMANY)
	*Review & Interview by COSTA STOIOS

     You wonder about the picture, don't you ? No painted faces, spikes, black clothes etc. very unusual in these times, but Despise really don't fit into any of today's trends as they simply play the good old thrash metal the way we used to love it a couple of years ago. They started in late '86 and they already had the chance to do a track ('Spewn out from Hell') for a compilation LP called 'Greece Attacks - Vol. I' back in 1989. In the end of the same year the final line-up was formated with Johnny (d), Maria (b)and (the only original member left) Makis (v/g), and with this line-up they started doing some gigs in their home country Greece. Once they had the chance to open for D.R.I.'s 'Live In Athens' in 1990. In the year 1992 Despise finally managed to record some of their songs for their debut-demo 'State Of Brutality' in their very own studio...and I must say that this demo really makes old thrashers' hearts beat faster. Their thrash metal is absolutely Slayer-like and fuckin' well played. It seems that Kerry King and Jeff Hannemann themselves did the guitars for this Despise demo. 'State of Brutality' is a highly professional tape with good sound, coloured cover and photos/lyrics, certainly one of the better demos. Well, they are Slayer clowns...but I don't care at all. If I would, then I also have to hate eternally great bands like Infernal Majesty...and that would be pure blasphemy of old cult !One thing that could be stronger at Despise are Makis' vocals, but this doesn't mean that his voice sucks ! 

     I asked Makis if it isn't difficult to survive as a thrash band in a time where only death/black metal seems to attract people. 

  ...Makis:' Today it might seem that death black metal attracts people, but that hasn't affected us. As far as we're concerned, we're slowly trying to expand our horizons without really losing our thrash roots which are still alive for us.Besides, a lot of today's successful bands who play different styles of music have based their style on thrash, even if that is difficult to distinguish sometimes. As for us. it's more important to play really well and through your heart, as there will always be people who will be touched by your music.'

     I really hope so for Despise, because Thrash is dead nowadays (beside bands like Razor and of course the immortal Slayer who are still sticking to their music) an probably especially because of that fact people are again hungry for good thrash, I don't know ?! 

     So returning to Makis ....what is Despise's inner desire? 

  ...Makis : ' First, we 'd like to record a real good LP with our new material, go on a few tours presenting it and generally speaking, to achieve for our music the biggest reception possible from the audience in future.' 

     From a previous letter I know that there're still a lot of unreleased songs and I think it would be great to release them on LP as the stuff might carry a true thrash feeling, so prepare yourself for Despise's upcoming Thrash Attack. The 'State Of Brutality' demo costs $ 5 which is not too much for this quality tape.