'CURSED' ZINE Nr.1 / 1994 (LITHUANIA)

*Interview by DAINIUS CERNIAUSKAS

 

-C.Z.:'WHY THE NAME DESPISE?'

-DESP.:'This name really is us and we chose it as we think that it combines well with the aggressive style of our music and lyrics.'

 

-C.Z.:'HOW DO YOU THINK THE THRASH / DEATH METAL SCENE WILL LOOK LIKE IN YEAR 2000?'

-DESP.:'Well, we think that only good thrash / death bands, who we believe will evolve these two kinds of music, will survive, while others will either have to adapt to the trends of 2000 or will split-up.'

 

-C.Z.:'WHAT IS YOUR FAVE BANDS?'

-DESP.:'In general we prefer old American thrash bands such as METALLICA, SLAYER, SACRED REICH, DARK ANGEL, WHIPLASH etc., but also many others such as SEPULTURA, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, PANTERA, BIOHAZARD etc.'

 

-C.Z.:'HAVE YOU PLAYED MANY GIGS?'

-DESP.:'Up to now we have played together LIVE seven times, all in Athens, but for many years in the past, before forming DESPISE, we have performed LIVE separately several times with well known Greek bands.We have been asked to play in other cities in Greece, but because of financial reasons and lack of organisation it was impossible.On the other hand we would like to play abroad in the future.'

 

-C.Z.:'ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR DEMO?'

-DESP.:'Even though it took us quite a few years to buy all the very expensive equipment necessary for us to be in a position to do everything ourselves (recording, performing, producing etc.) exactly as we wanted it to be and even though we went through a lot of difficulties, we are satisfied with the result.We think that the four songs we have chosen for this demo demonstrate the way our band has developed from 1986 ('State of Brutality') to 1991 ('Flower of Death').'

 

-C.Z.:'LISTENING TO YOUR DEMO, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE SLAYER.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?'

-DESP.:'SLAYER is a great band and we have been influenced by them, but we think that in our music we have found a way to express our own feelings and our obsession with thrash, as we've lived with it since its very beginning.We believe that our next work will show a somewhat more complete picture of our band.'

 

-C.Z.:'WHAT WILL IN THE FUTURE FOR DEPISE?'

-DESP.:'We are already getting ready to start recording and producing again in our studio old and new material, which we hope to release as an LP by the end of next year.In the meantime we will continue distributing our present demo, while performing a few gigs whenever the conditions are suitable.'

 

-C.Z.:'HAVE YOU APPEARED IN MANY ZINES?'

-DESP.:'We have been featured in quite a few magazines, mostly in reviews for our demo or gigs.On the other hand we have also given a few interviews to Greek and foreign magazines.'

 

-C.Z.:'WHAT DO YOU HATE?'

-DESP.:'In general we hate everything that has to do with pointless violence, addiction, ecological destruction, corruption, indifference and apathy and all those who are behind these things, not doing their jobs well, or doing them in a way that only suits to themselves.'

 

-C.Z.:'PERHAPS SOMETHING TO ADD?'

-DESP.:'As for our demo, we distribute it for the time being by ourselves from our address, so whoever is interested in the demo or once any information can write to us-we answer all our letters.Last, we wish to thank you for the interview and for your interest in us.'