Exmortus interview

Southern California's Exmortus are signed to Heavy Artillery records and they play a killed blend of thrash and death metal. I recently got to interview drummer Mario to find out more about this band, their music and their new album.

Have you been writing any new songs recently? If so then how does it compare with your previous material?

We've actually been hitting the drawing board a lot more recently and dishing out a few songs that we're most likely gonna use on the next album. It's definitely gonna be a set up from "In Hatreds Flame", more shredding up the ass, more heavy riffs up the ass, more "whirlwind" drumming up the ass, A LOT OF SHIT UP YOUR ASS!!! The last track off Hatred (Fimbulwinter) is a sample of what the bands gonna head into. I definitely think the fans are gonna dig it.

What are some of your favorite tracks off of the album and why?

Triumph By Fire and Fimbulwinter!!! In my opinion their the best written songs we have. it showcases every instrument in the band and has a steady groove to it, I just dig the shit out of them. Plus their the funnest to play on drums haha.



What do you think about the metal scene in general today? Is it getting better or worse than it was say at the beginning of this decade?

The metal scene has always been strong but with this new generation of kids I see it coming to a whole new level (since the beginning of the decade). A lot of people have been calling it the "thrash rival", and although we really aren’t a "thrash" band it definitely contributes to all the metal genres and i cant argue with that, its freakin’ great! I know you have some tour dates coming up. Tell us some about that. YES WE DO! We're embarking on our first US tour from the beginning of august up to mid-September. We're really stoked to finally be touring more than just our neighboring states. We'll be hitting the road with our buddies Bonded By Blood and our label mates Phantom Witch so keep a look out. The official dates will be posted up soon.

What are some of your most memorable shows that you have played so far?

We have a few but last years California Metal Fest was fuckin’ RADDDD!!! We got to play with Testament and an arsenal of bitchen bands. Our power kept going out (or some asshole kept turning it off), but that didn’t stop the crowd from going nuts. Definitely a show ill never forget.



Old style thrash bands have been popping up more and more in recent years. Why do you think that is? Are the thrash acts today doing anything different from the acts twenty years ago?


I think its something that just kind of happens on its own, the "cycle of life". Every few years another genre takes the lead (remember when everyone and there moms was listening to pop punk or some shit?) and this time bands are picking up that old school sound and people are diggin' it.



Back in the 1980’s a lot of the thrash bands that started out hard and heavy slowed down after a few albums and becoming more mainstream. How do today’s group of thrash bands avoid doing the same thing?


A lot of the recent bands are sticking to what sparked the genre, keepin’ it hard and heavy!!! That’s not to say that these bands wont slow down after a few albums as well. But for now, HARD AND FUCKIN HEAVY!!



What do you think are some of the best albums of 2008 so far?

Hmmm that’s tough, because a lot of bitchen cds were released late last year and I know a lot of bands are scheduled to release, but from what I've gotten a chance to hear id have to say the new Judas Priest and Testament. Definitely a good example on how a band should progress unlike other bands and albums (I wont say any names but it involves a saint and A LOT of ANGER!!!). But aside from "major" acts Bonded’s "Feed the Beast" and Warbringer’s "War Without End" definitely crush some skulls and ball sacks!!! I recommend you pick those up if your looking for the next up and coming bands.



Pick the band from each of the following pairs that you prefer and tell why you picked that band.


Death angel or Dark Angel
DARK ANGEL- heard some of Death Angels new stuff and I really wasn’t diggin it, it didn’t suck but if i had to choose between what both bands have released Dark Angel would get my vote.



Deicide or Obituary
DEICIDE!!!! I remember hearing the Serpents of the Light CD when I had started getting into death metal and it blew my mind!



Municipal Waste or Bonded by blood
Bonded is fuckin’ badass and good friends of ours, but I would have to go with THE WASTE!!! haha. Their just heavy as fuck!!! really in your face!!!

Sepultura or Slayer
FUCKIINN SLLAAYYEERR!! Mostly because they’ve been a big influence on me and writing music.Is there anything else that you would like to say about you band or your music?


OUR CD COMES OUT JULY 29TH!!! SO STOP BUY YOUR NEAREST RECORD STORE!!! AND THE TOUR IN AUGUST!!!! KEEP METAL ALIVE!!!
-Mario MORTUS



***Thanks to Mario for doing the interview.

myspace.com/exmortus