Daemonokrat
is brutal death metal band coming from the depths of Agrigento, Sicily. Their
first full-length debut album The Scourge of Chaos was released in the summer
of 2017 and brought to the world mind-blowing blasting butchery from the South
of Italy. On top, there are plenty of interesting bits that we can talk about
with Alessandro Wehrmacht, vocals and rhythm guitars in Daemonokrat, and one of
the founding members of the band.
Hello, Alex! Thank you for taking time
for this interview. Tell us briefly about the band – how it was born and who
are the other band members now?
Hello
Vlad, pleased to talk with you. Daemonokrat was born in 2013 from the spores
of the Black/Thrash band Religio Mortis.
We felt the need to experiencing a more Death Metal sounding territory. Religio
Mortis were basically a studio project that lacked a real drummer, so with
Daemonokrat we started our live activity as well. The new current line-up
changed since the release of The Scourge of Chaos, and it is now as follows: A.
Wehrmacht (Vocals/Bass), Necrosplatter (Guitar), D.Doom (Guitar) and 'El
(Drums).
You and the rest of the guys have been
part of other bands prior to Daemonokrat, right?
Yes,
Religio Mortis apart I also played with The Krushers (Grindcore from
Agrigento).
What does the band’s name stand for and
who is the holiest servants of doom?
The
name Daemonokrat comes out from the combination of the two Greek words Daimon
(δαίμων, divine being) and Kratos (Κρατος, power). Combined together they have
a double meaning: The first is directly bound to the tradition and the
mythology of our homeland Sicily, enriched by traditional figures that recall:
satyrs, chthonian forces, primordial titans etc. Besides, Daimon represents for
Greeks the quintessence of knowledge, of being, of the arts as a divine
emanation. And Kratos is the power, or the forces that used to govern,
throughout these figures, the timing of life and of the symbolic and
ritualistic religiosity of men. The second meaning is bound to a mere play of
words where the word Democracy is connoted negatively in reference to post
modernity in which we are all bound to live in and in which who detains power
are the masonic lodges and lobbies that ”vampirize” and enslave every form of
liberty. (FROM ENSLAVEMENT TO OBLITERATION!!!)
...We
are The Holiest Servants of Doom!
I suppose you personally have plenty of
death metal influences, but can you narrow down the most important death metal
bands for you? The ones which made you play this brutal music?
Basically
Slayer, Carnivore, Celtic Frost, Morbid Angel, Terrorizer, Nocturnus, Revenant,
Napalm Death....and the list might be too long.
Are there any other influences, genres
or bands you listen to?
I
personally enjoy music 100%!!! My tastes range from 70's up to 90's, no matter
what genres. I love quality and I don't reduce myself to just one genre or
style. To make an example: Kraftwerk, Laibach, Killing Joke or Dead can Dance
and all the 80's New Wave.
How do you split the responsibilities
about music and lyrics among the band members? Are there any specific themes
from real life which inspire you about your lyrics and music.
Both
me and Necrosplatter take care of all the compositions, but the lyrics are all
mine. There are no real life references in what I write. Daemonokrat is an
escape from reality and most of the inspiration comes from Lovecraft, Blake,
Poe and apocalyptic themes and visions. Perhaps only folly might be the real
link to reality.
Please tell us some details about The
Scourge album. How long did it take to record it and how would you describe it
for our readers?
“The
Scourge of Chaos” was entirely recorded, mixed and produced in my studio in a
couple of months (February-March 2017). After a two-year pause in the activity
of Daemonokrat, we realized we had quite enough material to fit into the first
full length. More aggressive, fast and technical stuff if compared to our debut
EP “Predators”. Our main intention regarding “The Scourge of Chaos” wasn’t
really that of inventing anything new and most of all of not homologate into
the modern days’ death metal panorama, but rather that of going back to
re-interpreting the old themes (still actual today) of the golden age of old
school death metal. Both lyrically and musically.
You had the pleasure to work with a
couple of interesting names while recording this album – the mighty Kam Lee and
Georgio Trombino. Let us know more about their participation on the album.
Kam
Lee has always been a huge influence for me. Long before hearing the roar of
Kam Lee I totally had a crush on the voice of Barney Greenway in “Harmony
Corruption”, and once having that LP in my hands I found out in the thanks list that Barney
got inspired by the voice of Kam
Lee. As soon as we got finished with the recordings of “The Scourge of Chaos” I
literally contacted Kam Lee right away and sent to him a copy of the album.
After a few days he replied to me enthusiastically about the album and he
proposed himself for a collaboration and so here we go man!!!Still today there
are personalities that really love and believe in the underground scene without
being precious even after more than 30 years of honourable career!!! Giorgio is
a good old time friend of ours, he also took part in "Predators"
during the recording sessions with backing vocals and mixing.
What are your plans for 2018? Shall we
expect a new album soon?
We
are already working to new material for a following album, writing the new
songs is taking much part of my time this lately. Is also, I'm also working
hard to a new Religio Mortis release quite soon.
You are in the dawn of the war, so what
are your touring plans?
We
do plan to make some gigs next summer. Any chance to play in your area? Let us
know!
If you are a headliner on a fest or
tour, which bands would you pick as your support? Could be any band…
Yes,
Madonna or Spice Girls would be perfect!!! Hahahaha!!!! Now seriously, of
course any band would fit in.
How do you see the death metal scene
currently – in Italy and worldwide?
Honestly?
Too many bands around! Hard to say or describe. In Italy there's a very vibrant
scene today. I hope to share the stage with many of them.
Once again thank you for this interview
and we’ll be looking forward for news and details from you and the band in the
future!
Thank
you Vlad for the space given and we wish you all a great time and listen to
Daemonokrat three times a day at least. Hahahaha!!!
See
you round!!!
Band:
