"A Word" With Demonic Resurrection

Demonic Resurrection are a "melodic death metal band with power metal and black metal influences", the band had a few line-up changes in the past and recently they introduced Daniel Rego as the band's new lead guitarist and are planning on releasing their new album very soon, which is expected to be released before the end of 2008.

The band was featured/interviewed in the heavy metal documentary "Global Metal" which featured bands from Asia and the Middle East talking about and explaining their respective scenes.

Before I go on with the interview here's the official band bio from their myspace to get to know them a little bit more:

"Right from its inception in early 2000, DR has been raising eyebrows. Even with its unstable lineup till 2003 the band released its debut album just 9months after forming. While the album was amateurish it was the 1st for an Indian Metal band to independently release a CD. The album however did receive some praise from the local fans as well as few small underground zines and distro’s after it was re-recorded and released in 2001 with Demonstealer on vocals/guitars, Nikita on vocals/keys, Aditya aka Count Varathora on Bass and Yash on Drums.

However, in 2003 this lineup was dissolved and the band was reborn with the Demonstealer on guitars/vocals, Husain on bass, Mephisto ..s and JP on drums. With this line-up the band wrote new material and in 2005 released their highly acclaimed album ‘A Darkness Descends’ on Demonstealer Records. The album received rave reviews from many metal websites including a 9/10 from The Metal Observer. In 2006, Pradeep joined the band as lead guitarist while drummer JP parted ways. As the band struggled to find a permanent replacement for JP in April 2007 they recorded their EP ‘Beyond The Darkness’ with Demonstealer taking over the drum duties in the studio as well. Finally in July 2007 the band found a permanent replacement in skin slammer Viru. Since then DR has been touring the country extensively and writing new material for their next full length due for release at the end of 2008 sometime.
…. And the resurrection continues…… "

Demonic Resurrection is:
Demonstealer – Vocals/Guitar
Daniel – Lead Guitar
Mephisto - Keyboards
Husain – Bass
Viru - Drums

The band recently did a cover of Slayer's "Anti Christ" for a Russian fan club compilation album.

I got the chance to ask the guys about their musical background, today's Indian metal scene, their new album and alot more.
Here's how it went:

TMR: Can you tell me about your musical background?

Demonstealer: Started practicing heavy growling vocals while I was still in school and started playing guitar soon after I finished school, jammed with friends and wrote music for a year or so before going on to form Demonic Resurrection. I took guitar lessons and drum lessons from a few local musicians after which I just kept playing music. Still have a long way to go as a musician but everyday you learn something new. 

Daniel: I have been playing the guitar for 8 years now and am mostly into technical death metal and progressive rock. I also play a fair bit of jazz/fusion.

Mephisto: Learnt Hindustani classical music for 10 years. I cleared 4 grades in singing and 3 in harmonium (an Indian instrument).

Husain: Started learning the guitar in 2002 but switched over to playing bass a few months later been learning the instrument ever since.

Viru: I was always fascinated by the drums and started playing when I joined college. I have been playing ever since and have played in various bands in the past. Currently apart from Demonic Resurrection I also drum for PDV, Prayag and Khiladi. Even though I play pretty often I still am not a full time musician. I have also recently started teaching drums.



TMR: Which bands influenced you to start a band?

Demonstealer: Initially it was Pantera, Fear Factory, Strapping Young Lad, Sepultura, Metallica which made me want to play music and in fact my initial demos were musically similar to those bands but later on I got heavily into bands like Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and Old Mans Child and then I got into power metal and then some more death metal and the influences have constantly been changing and inspiring me to write music.

Daniel: I have wanted to start an extreme metal band since a few months but then DR announced that they were auditioning for a lead guitarist and several weeks later I found myself in the band.

Husain: Metallica & Nirvana got me inspired to learn guitar after which I joined Reptilian Death (Demonstealers side project) and then later joined DR as well.

Mephisto: Dimmu borgir, Emperor, Old Mans Child, Burzum these guys were in their teens when they started and the music was way ahead of their times.

Viru: Initial bands like Metallica, Sepultura etc but the bands that really changed my approach to music and drumming were Meshuggah, Death, Dave Matthews Band, Sikth, and Decapitated.



TMR: Describe your band's sound?

Demonstealer: I think the music we make is a mix of many styles of metal, primarily I would call us a melodic death metal band with power metal and black metal influences. We came up with the genre ‘Demonic Metal’ to best describe our sound.

Daniel: We also keep things progressive as far as our structures are concerned, which gives our sound a different, progressive edge.



TMR: You guys are currently writing material for a new album, can you tell us what do you have planned for the new release (sound-wise, lyrical theme etc)?

Demonstealer: The new release is the final chapter in the darkness trilogy that we have going, lyrically its going to continue telling the story where we left off on the last EP (Beyond The Darkness). Sound wise I’m looking to get the best sound that I can, looking to get a nice polished sound but still keeping it a bit raw so that the brutality of the music comes through. I think song-writing wise the album is way more complex than the previous material and with the new musicians in the band Viru (Drums) and Daniel (Guitars) I definitely feel their style will influence the songwriting.

Daniel: Compared to past releases, I'd say it's more brutal, darker and more extreme.

Husain: Definitely better produced and more brutal.

Mephisto: We've progressed with every release. We've all pushed ourselves working on this material. The new album will be a mix of melodic and brutal tracks. I guess everyone has to wait n watch how the story unfolds :)

Viru: Demonstealer is doing a great job with recording and the entire process of recording and writing material which is taking place is a whole lot of fun and we’ll just have to see where it goes.



TMR: Did you watch Global Metal yet?

Demonstealer: I watched it and I think it was a brilliant film.

Daniel: Not yet but I can’t wait too.

Husain: Yes - It’s a fantastic movie and the thrill of being on it is amazing.

Mephisto: Haven’t been able to watch it but hopefully soon.

Viru: I’ve seen half of it but between my hectic work schedule and rehearsals I haven’t found the time.



TMR: Which bands are you currently listening to?

Demonstealer: Scar Symmetry, Vader, Cynic, Unearth, Karnivool and Arsis.

Daniel: Cynic, Anata, Nile, Necrophagist, Akercocke, Old Man's Child.

Husain: Tool, Necrophagist and Cynic

Mephisto: Nightwish, Nevermore, Rotting Christ and Cradle of Filth

Viru: Was listening to the new Cynic album, Karnivool, Meshuggah (as always), Twista, Demonic Resurrection, Prayag and Talaash.



TMR: What do you think of today's Indian Metal scene?

Demonstealer: Its evolving, we’ve moved over from days of bands playing only cover songs to bands writing music. This year we had close to 8 metal albums being released which is HUGE compared to a day and age where a metal band playing an original song set was a big deal. When it comes to gigs we finally can boast of having seen metal bands like Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Enslaved, Machine Head and now we got Satyricon coming here as well, hopefully soon other major metal acts will follow. For local bands there still isn’t much of a touring scene, if a band plays 1 gig a month that’s a big deal then. Like I said, its evolving.

Daniel: It's stronger and more extreme than many people would assume. We've got a real underground scene for extreme metal and it's only a matter of time before our talent gets international recognition.

Husain: Its getting better and I see a big future for Indian metal.

Mephisto: It's bigger than before and the quality of bands has definitely improved.

Viru: Definitely growing….



TMR: Would you like to add anything?

Demonstealer: Check out our new single ‘Dismembering The Fallen’ from the upcoming album on www.myspace.com/demonicresurrection
Cheers & Stay Demonic!!!


I'd like to thank the guys from Demonic Resurrection for taking the time to answer my questions, make sure to look out for their upcoming album and until then make sure to check out their cover for Slayer's "Antichrist" and also check out the band's myspace for alot of brutal material that will surely blow your minds away !

Demonic Resurrection's:
Myspace

Here's an awesome video of the band performing the song Apocalyptic Dawn (Live at Res 7)