Kashey: Hails!
Max: Hi!
Kashey: Tell us about the conditions under which the project was created, and its history...
Max: It was about a year ago. Vaal and I decided to make something really crazy that no one had ever done before. So we got together and discussed the concept of the band (forensic themes with some maniac ideas). After some time we met again and Vaal showed me the riffs. I was really surprised, and before long we made a demo called "Rotten Infestation", consisting of 6 songs. Right away we ditched all the horror film scenarios (I never liked that stuff anyway). After that we started working on "Paraxysm". On the whole album there were only 2 slow riffs. Everything is so fast that it's impossible to take it all in at once. The stuff was recorded using less than ideal instruments, which is why it all sounds a bit mushy — all of Vaal's riffs turn into noise. We had to use electronic drums because we had no good drummer at the time. We decided to record some old songs that weren't included on "Paraxysm", and that's how "Back to the Defective Human's Being" was born. Very soon we'll start recording the new SAPONIFICATION album.
Kashey: Which bands or musicians are the "gods of grindcore" for you?
Max: There isn't a single band that could be "the gods of grindcore" to me. There are many good bands, but each of them has some drawbacks. I mostly listen to DISGORGE (Mex.), HAEMORRHAGE, and MERZBOW (noise). I think you've noticed their influence on SAPONIFICATION. But we'll surpass them very soon!
Kashey: Are there quarrels between group members?
Max: There have never been any quarrels in SAPONIFICATION. But we can't say the same about LIFE DENIAL. A lot of former musicians wanted to make our music more pop-like — to add keyboards or play some heavy metal. In my opinion, there's no way to make our sound even more pop-like! Now LIFE DENIAL plays something like Aborted. It's fast, technical, with lots of solos and blast beats.
Kashey: How are things going with labels and publishers? Have you expanded your rip-off list?
Max: I expand it every day. But there's also some progress: soon I'll have the LIFE DENIAL / SOULLESS (Pl.) / EXTREMELY ROTTEN FLESH split out. Also, the LIFE DENIAL and SAPONIFICATION collection will be published in Peru. As for SAPONIFICATION, most labels say it's too noisy and don't want to put out a full CD. For example, Obliteration Records said that, but offered to distribute the CD-R demo. Our materials will also be released in Ukraine on cassettes. We'd also like to do a split with the French grinders Deny Life.
Kashey: When will Yura Vasyura publish your album? Will it be a tape release?
Max: Yes, it will be a tape release, but I don't know exactly when it'll come out. It will be published by Dmitriy Lyachagin on DAC Productions.
Kashey: How are things going with the release of the second album?
Max: We still haven't decided where it will be published — there are enough offers. We'd like to put it out in 2 formats (CD and tape) in the CIS (ex-Soviet Union) and it would be good to do so abroad as well. Time will tell...
Kashey: Whose face is that on the "Paraxysm" cover? Is it a drunk Vaal? :)
Max: Vaal's drunken face looks much cooler!
Kashey: Who does that skillful gurgling on your album?
Max: That must be the drowned man...
Kashey: I guess your drowned man keeps sinking on the second album. Will he stop sinking on the third album, or will we have to listen to that gurgling again?
Max: He'll be drowning for a long time, until the full skin maceration begins and it starts falling off the body in pieces.
Kashey: Have you ever thought of using some representative of the animal world instead of your vocalist (for example, a pig)?
Max: At first we wanted to record the whole zoo, but then decided that I'd handle everything on my own.
Kashey: What can you say about your other projects?
Max: There are plenty of them. If you count all the bands in which our musicians play, there'd be about 20. Besides LIFE DENIAL and SAPONIFICATION, Vaal and I have PALACE OF FROST — anti-humanistic black metal, only in russian. Right now we're getting ready to record our first album "Ot Korney K Nebesam" ("From the Roots to the Heavens").
Kashey: You and Vaal play death, grindcore, black. When will there be doom or power?
Max: It's quite possible we'll play some doom, but later, after finishing work with our main bands. And I can't stand power metal!!! We'll never play it!
Kashey: You always design the SAPONIFICATION and LIFE DENIAL releases so well. You must be a designer.
Max: Yes, I'm a designer and animator. I work at the editorial office of the comic magazine "Biker" and at an animation studio.
Kashey: What encouraged you to become an animator?
Max: Cartoons are cool! I've wanted to do this since childhood! By the way, half the studio staff listens to "meat" (death/grind), so it's never boring there. You could say that grinders, deathers, and blackers make cartoons for kids under 16.
Kashey: What are your achievements in that field?
Max: The PALACE OF FROST bassist and I are making the soundtrack to a film that's currently in production. Maybe we'll even release it someday.
Kashey: Damn, you should make an animated music video! That would be cool!
Max: We'll definitely make one! But it would take several months at least.
Kashey: If the President of Ukraine wanted to become your vocalist, would you agree?
Max: We'd take him, but as a drummer.
Kashey: And if he could gurgle like you, arranged concerts in the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council) and let you write the new anthem?
Max: No one can gurgle like me, and the new anthem would be ultra-fast and last a couple of seconds.
Kashey: What is the maximum amount of vodka ever drunk by anyone in your group?
Max: That's a hard question — usually no one remembers.
Kashey: Name 5 main rules that a real grinder should follow.
Max: The main rule is: "No rules!"
Kashey: Are you a religious man?
Max: No. It looks funny when a crowd gathers in a hall and starts wasting time. They'd be better off going to work.
Kashey: And what's your attitude towards politics?
Max: I don't care about politics.
Kashey: What would you do if you met a dinosaur in the street?
Max: I'd take it home and say: "Mom, this is my bride!"
Kashey: Imagine Armageddon is coming in 3 days. What would you do?
Max: I'd kill all my enemies and overdose.
Kashey: Do you know a good method for stopping a hangover?
Max: Pour a bucket of cold water over your head. (I haven't tried it myself, but it helps others!)
Kashey: Do you often use public transportation?
Max: I always use it, because I still can't afford a Mercedes.
Kashey: What are your memories of riding public transport?
Max: Vaal and I don't have enough time to rehearse, so we usually do it on the way. And some idiot always steps on my feet or snags my cool clothes!
Kashey: Has anyone ever given you a nickname?
Max: I don't remember.
Kashey: When do you usually defecate — in the morning or in the evening?
Max: It depends on what I eat. If I have some granny's meat pie, I defecate all day long, decorating the city's landmarks. That's how we recorded the intro for "Paraxysm".
Kashey: And did the granny want money from you for that?
Max: She did, but we beat her up.
Kashey: Has anyone ever given you an enema?
Max: Someone's always giving me an enema or shoving a pitchfork up my ass. You can't rely on anyone.
Kashey: And how does it feel?
Max: Not really pleasant.
Kashey: Does anyone in the group have a higher education?
Max: We'll have it in a couple of years, if we aren't expelled from our institutes for obscenity.
Kashey: What's your attitude towards pop music or rap?
Max: I hate pop! Music with no meaning — just a collection of words and sounds, completely disconnected from each other. As for rap... I'm a fan of Cypress Hill and Ice-T! The rest of rap I can't stand. I'm an adherent of aggressive music, even if it's rap.
Kashey: Have you ever had problems because of your musical tastes and views?
Max: Only with my parents! They still can't understand what I'm doing!
Kashey: And how many rappers' asses have you kicked?
Max: The first LIFE DENIAL bassist (back when we were called Satanic Necrobutchery) was a rapper and played brutal death-grind with us. Personally, I don't care what a person likes or listens to — they just shouldn't shove it in my face.
Kashey: What are your plans for the future?
Max: To sleep and muster my strength for new endeavours.
Kashey: A couple of words for the fans.
Max: Listen to grind and don't cross the line between reality. Don't start doing the things we sing about. Support us in our ideas and worldview. Wait for our releases — they'll be out soon (I hope).
Kashey: Good luck and success! Thanks for the interesting answers!
Max: Thank you too! Good luck!