GOREPHILIA (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for taking the time. What’s the band currently up to?
Jukka: Thanks for the interview. We’re currently starting to rehearse material for the upcoming full-length album, as we’re now nearly through with writing and the mandatory midsummer drinking activities.
– You have just released an EP and a couple of demos so far so, could you please introduce the band?
Jukka: We’re Gorephilia, a death metal quintet founded and based mostly in the city of Vantaa, Finland. The band was founded in 2006 by me and Tami and quickly joined by Henu and Late starting as a four piece. The band was and still is based on the concept of making death metal in the
ancient poser killing way and staying away from plastic modern metal influences even if our style has become a little bit more refined than it was in the first days.
– Some years ago you changed the band’s name from GORETEXX to GOREPHILIA. What prompted this change?
Jukka: The old name got a little bit too much attention and most of our demo reviews at the time didn’t ever get to the point of talking about the music, they just laughed at the name, which is understandable. It also marked a change in the lineup and style.
– Since then you haven’t released any full-length album yet, don’t you have any plans regarding this?
Jukka: We’ve been working on it since we got the EP out and already a little bit before that. We’re trying to get it done this year or early next year depending on all sorts of things.
– And what are your expectations or goals with GOREPHILIA?
Jukka: I think we all have our personal goals with this band, but my goal at the moment is to do a great LP. I’ve always tried to expect nothing even if it’s sometimes fun to speculate what could happen. But my formula for happiness is clear goals and no expectations.
– You have had a couple of line-up changes, is this one totally stable?
Jukka: It would be stupid at any point to say that a line-up is stable. This line-up however is clearly the best to date and we hope it would stay in shape. Nothing sucks more than searching for new members, especially drummers.
– Certainly, from Finland seem to came out more Black Metal bands than Death Metal ones, and less if they are in an old school way. What’s your view on this?
Jukka: I haven’t really researched Finnish black metal, but I think we’ve got a ton of great and unique death metal acts from the early 90’s, unfortunately many of them never did any major releases and some turned death’n’roll after the first records. For example Demilich did only one album, Nespithe, but you can’t really find anything that would even remotely sound similar, it’s untouchable. Also now we’ve got a shitload of new death metal bands each better than the last paying tribute to the old Finnish and international death gods.
– Your music style is Death Metal in an US style, what bands do you like from out there? What besides this does influence you?
Jukka: Morbid Angel for me personally is the biggest influence, because they got me into death metal, but at the moment the band’s music probably draws most from Incantation. Other US bands that affect us deeply are Sadistic Intent, Suffocation, Immolation, Master and Autopsy. From all around the world I’d like to bring up early Bolt Thrower, Darkthrone’s Soulside Journey and Dead Congregation and my personal favourites from Finland, Convulse, Demilich, Slugathor and Lie in Ruins.
– I read you are quite influenced by MORBID ANGEL; so I can’t help but asking you what are your thoughts on their latest album…
Jukka: The signs were there, the song titles, the cover art, David Vincent’s stage antics and costumes, Trey’s statements about techno influences, a drummer from Divine Heresy… The list goes on. Somehow I still expected something great. Then I heard the album and I was first angry, then sad and now I don’t care. Nevermore is a cool song and the album has some brief parts that reflect Trey’s (past) genious, but that can’t compete with the shitty rock riffs, sub-par electro and ridiculous self-referencing and artificially defiant lyrics.
– And what Finnish bands could you suggest?
Jukka: From the old-school bands you should check out Demilich, Demigod, Convulse, Abhorrence & early Amorphis, Necropsy, Rippikoulu, Adramelech, Depravity and Phlegethon and later and new bands Slugathor, Lie in Ruins, Swallowed, Maveth, Krypts, Stench of Decay and our label partners Corpsessed!
– Finally, what are your near-future plans?
Jukka: To get the debut LP done and to take some time on the road doing gigs.
– That has been all, thanks for your time. Feel free to add any final words before we wrap this interview.
Jukka: Thanks again for the interview and be sure to check our EP Ascend to Chaos on CD from Dark Descent Records and soon to be on vinyl by Me Saco Un Ojo Records and also our In Death demo on tape also from MSUO!
