| Interview with Demonio By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: Hey guys, how are you and
things in Austin?
things in Austin?
Richard: Good.
Mike: Alright.
Robert: Great.
Abel: Restless!...hungry for more shows
Blissfulviolet: Thanks for doing this interview.
Demonio has been around for many years, tell us
how the band formed and what got you guys
interested in playing metal music at such a young
age?
Demonio has been around for many years, tell us
how the band formed and what got you guys
interested in playing metal music at such a young
age?
Richard: Metallica..."And Justice for All" and
anything by Slayer.
anything by Slayer.
Robert: Cliff Burton and Steve Harris...thrash metal.
Abel: Peter Chris.
Mike: Ozzy, Metallica, and Slayer...and also Randy Rhodes was a big push toward the guitar
for me. We formed in 1993 Abel was a friend of me and Rob's cousin, who originated the
vocals for Demonio until Abel and i kicked him out a year later for lack of dedication to the
band. I got a lot of practice doing the vocals and playing the guitar every time he didn't show
up for rehearsal. So we decided we really didn't need to put up with him anymore
for me. We formed in 1993 Abel was a friend of me and Rob's cousin, who originated the
vocals for Demonio until Abel and i kicked him out a year later for lack of dedication to the
band. I got a lot of practice doing the vocals and playing the guitar every time he didn't show
up for rehearsal. So we decided we really didn't need to put up with him anymore
Blissfulviolet: What are some of the bands musical influences and what would you consider
to be one of the greatest metal albums created?
to be one of the greatest metal albums created?
Richard: Early 80's thrash metal was a big influence for me, best album would be "Reign in
Blood."
Blood."
Mike: Thrash metal and classic rock like ZZ Top, Rush, Boston, and I'm also a big fan of
movie composers like Philip Glass, Christopher Young and James Horner etc...best album for
me is Master of Puppets.
movie composers like Philip Glass, Christopher Young and James Horner etc...best album for
me is Master of Puppets.
Robert: Metallica, Slayer, Sepultura, and Iron Maiden...there's really a whole lot more. Best
album would be "Master of Puppets."
album would be "Master of Puppets."
Abel: Slayer,Celtic Frost and Kreator...best album Slayer "Hell awaits."
Blissfulviolet: Coming from the grunge/alternative era, was it difficult finding gigs in your
area and getting accepted as a serious metal act?
area and getting accepted as a serious metal act?
Mike: Yes!...I don't know how it was in other cities, but Austin really hit a boring point in music.
I remember trying to book a show at the "Backroom" and i was told we were too death metal.
This was coming from a place that for many years was known as a metal club.
I remember trying to book a show at the "Backroom" and i was told we were too death metal.
This was coming from a place that for many years was known as a metal club.
Richard: "Yea, it really sucked hard!
Robert: Yea...those bands took all the good metal venues, and the only real metal bands you
could see where at house parties.
could see where at house parties.
Abel: Club owners acted like metal was a disease in the music scene. I think people thought
metal bands would give up and fade away.
metal bands would give up and fade away.
Blissfulviolet: How do you feel the band has progressed throughout the years?
Mike: We're older, lol! I guess a little smarter. I think we put a lot less pressure on ourselves
and we are having lot of fun. We just play music, love us or hate us. We're not gonna kiss
anyones ass to get ahead. It has been the four of us since 93' and I don't think there's many
or any local band in Austin who can honestly say that. We are a family through Demonio. Our
dedication has kept us headstrong. We get a lot of respect from younger upcoming metal
bands, and that is really awesome.
and we are having lot of fun. We just play music, love us or hate us. We're not gonna kiss
anyones ass to get ahead. It has been the four of us since 93' and I don't think there's many
or any local band in Austin who can honestly say that. We are a family through Demonio. Our
dedication has kept us headstrong. We get a lot of respect from younger upcoming metal
bands, and that is really awesome.
Blissfulviolet: Describe the sound and imagery
present in Demonio's music.
present in Demonio's music.
Abel: It is pretty dark and angry. Like our track
called A-20 it is about the columbine shootings. If
you hear the intro and the vocals, it could be the
soundtrack for that moment.
called A-20 it is about the columbine shootings. If
you hear the intro and the vocals, it could be the
soundtrack for that moment.
Mike: Our songs are pretty thrashy and kinda old
school style of metal. I wrote a song called "Coma"
from a personal experience I had one night in bed.
Not the dirty kind, hahaha! I was sound asleep one
night then i awoke, and I couldn't move my body at
all except my eyes. My bed shook a couple of times
and in my right ear I heard a voice yelling in a
school style of metal. I wrote a song called "Coma"
from a personal experience I had one night in bed.
Not the dirty kind, hahaha! I was sound asleep one
night then i awoke, and I couldn't move my body at
all except my eyes. My bed shook a couple of times
and in my right ear I heard a voice yelling in a
Language i could not recognize. It was pretty freaky. People think I imagined it, but it happened.
Blissfulviolet: How does the band go about creating new material? Is there a certain method
that you have found to be more effective?
that you have found to be more effective?
Mike: Usually Richard (lead guitarist) or myself come up with riffs. Sometimes Richard and I
have a whole song created on guitar from start to finish. Or sometimes we'll be in rehearsal
and everyone will give suggestions on what order to put the riffs. I come up with most of the
lyrics, but Richard has written a few songs lyrically.
have a whole song created on guitar from start to finish. Or sometimes we'll be in rehearsal
and everyone will give suggestions on what order to put the riffs. I come up with most of the
lyrics, but Richard has written a few songs lyrically.
Blissfulviolet: What are the best and worst things about being in a band?
Robert: The best things are just playing live, meeting people, learning and creating new and
original material. Playing gigs in Austin and even other places out of Texas is alot of fun. It is
therapeutic to play music...it makes you just forget everything else around you. The worst
things our playing out of town and not making enough money to cover what we spent getting to
the venue. Dealing with metal promoters who are not really helping the scene but making it
worse. Venues opening and closing, making it hard to build a solid metal scene to draw bigger
crowds. Loading and unloading your own gear before and after shows...especially during a hail
storm.
original material. Playing gigs in Austin and even other places out of Texas is alot of fun. It is
therapeutic to play music...it makes you just forget everything else around you. The worst
things our playing out of town and not making enough money to cover what we spent getting to
the venue. Dealing with metal promoters who are not really helping the scene but making it
worse. Venues opening and closing, making it hard to build a solid metal scene to draw bigger
crowds. Loading and unloading your own gear before and after shows...especially during a hail
storm.
Blissfulviolet: Is Demonio working on new material? If so what can you tell me about it and
when will it be released?
when will it be released?
Richard: We have three songs finished and 5 more that we need to finish mixing and
mastering. We actually recorded these 8 songs a year ago. We had a fall out with our last
producer who wanted to control how our songs were recorded and him and Mike bump heads
through out the whole recording process. So we decided to finish our CD entitled "Cries" some
where else. We found a great studio and we are finishing it up hopefully by early 2008. We are
probably doing a quick back to back cd release because we are already writing for the next CD.
mastering. We actually recorded these 8 songs a year ago. We had a fall out with our last
producer who wanted to control how our songs were recorded and him and Mike bump heads
through out the whole recording process. So we decided to finish our CD entitled "Cries" some
where else. We found a great studio and we are finishing it up hopefully by early 2008. We are
probably doing a quick back to back cd release because we are already writing for the next CD.
Blissfulviolet: What would you consider to be one of Demonio's greatest moments?
Mike: I think one of our greatest moment would be when we played the Metal fest in
California. We played with lots of bands we grew up listening to. We saw Chuck Billy from
"Testament" out there walking around with his girlfriend. We were treated really well out there.
We got a radio interview in Las Vegas that was pretty cool. They told me not to say any bad
words on air because it was live...and I said fuck somewhere answering my first question,ha ha
hah!
California. We played with lots of bands we grew up listening to. We saw Chuck Billy from
"Testament" out there walking around with his girlfriend. We were treated really well out there.
We got a radio interview in Las Vegas that was pretty cool. They told me not to say any bad
words on air because it was live...and I said fuck somewhere answering my first question,ha ha
hah!
Blissfulviolet: Any final comments?
Mike: Thanks a lot for this interview and for supporting the scene...Keep those heads
banging!
banging!
Robert: Thanks a lot!
Richard: Check our myspace for shows and news, also our website.
Abel: Thank you everyone at "Beyond The Dark Horizon" and everyone who listens and
supports the metal scene!
supports the metal scene!
| Demonio of Austin, Texas began their era of thrash death metal back in 1992, when the grunge scene was dominant in their area. The band has progressed into a great metal act who loves to play the scene and has never lost the true colors of what metal is all about. The band is currently working on their 5th release and performing as much as possible. |
