GROTESQUERIES interview

 Hi! Three years after Vile Crematory, Nightmare Delirium arrives as a four-track EP. Was an EP always the plan, or did the material simply tell you that this was all it needed to be?

-Yes. I (Yianni) like having plans for recordings done far in advance. These songs were written in 2022, and I enjoy going from EP to LP back to an EP. These songs were all written around the same time, and I intended them to only be released together, nothing more (except the cover).

The band has gone from a larger lineup to a duo. Was that a clean decision, or was there some unpleasant history behind the change that you don't mind talking about?

For recording, I want to move forward with a stripped down lineup, as it makes everything much easier. I have members involved live that turn us into a 5 piece, and I can alternate between guitarists to handle recordings. I did have to go through a few different members, however due to a myriad of issues I had to deal with, I had to make tough decisions that will help me.

Anthony, you already had your own history in death metal before joining GROTESQUERIES. What did you bring into the band that wasn't there before?

Anthony is a seasoned veteran in playing music, and has brought top-notch musicianship.

Yianni, you've gone from handling drums and vocals within a full lineup to being half of the entire band. Has that changed the way you think about your role?

I've always wanted to do more vocals, and this band is entirely under my control, as I finance everything, including paying members for every time we do something together, manage everything, and compose the core music. I don't do vocals live; I just want my vocals on recordings.

Vile Crematory came out three years ago. When you listen to that record now, what bothers you about it? And what part of it would you absolutely refuse to change?

I'm quite happy with how Vile Crematory came out.

The press material talks about American and European death metal influences. That's a pretty broad fucking church. Which records were actually on the turntable while these four songs were being written?

Gorguts "Erosion of Sanity & Massacre "Enjoy the Violence".

Your lyrics now focus on manipulation, fear and psychological control. Was there a particular story, person or situation that pushed you toward those subjects?

I've experienced these themes in my life quite a lot from people I didn't expect, and I want to talk about these things because they are important to bring awareness to.

Do you think people are more fascinated by physical violence because it's easier to understand than psychological violence?

I think both are just as important to elucidate and discuss. They are both harrowing.

There's a lot of death metal built around exaggerated horror. Your lyrical direction seems more interested in something that can actually happen to somebody. Does that make the writing more difficult?

It actually makes it easier. Talking about personal experiences makes it easier to have words spill out on the page.

The EP is over before it has much chance to wear out its welcome. Do you see brevity as a strength in extreme metal, or do you simply hate filler?

I don't like filler. I write what I genuinely enjoy, and trim as much fat as I can. I don't need to say/do too much, but just what I want to get the message out.

“Gutted” closes the EP. Why that Cannibal Corpse song? What does it mean to you personally?

It's a great song, and I love how chaotic it is. I find Chris Barnes' vocal patterns challenging, and I wanted to honor a band/album I highly respect/am influenced by.

Was there any discussion about ending the EP with an original track instead? A cover can sometimes be the safest song on a release.

Nope, I just wanted to keep the cover at the end. Being a short release, I don't see a point to put it anywhere else.

Who is the perfectionist in this band, and who is more likely to say “fuck it, that's good enough”?

I (Yianni) decide every creative decision, and it's been communicated to every person I've worked with that that is the deal when working with me. I say I'm halfway - it has to be good but it doesn't need to be perfect. Gotta have fun first.

What's something you tried during the making of Nightmare Delirium that sounded good in your head and turned out completely wrong?

Honestly, everything turned out how I wanted it to sound, and I'm happy with the outcome.

The title Nightmare Delirium sounds like it could have come from an old horror paperback. How important are the visual side and artwork to GROTESQUERIES? Do you build the music and imagery together, or does one usually come first?

Very important. If an idea comes to me, and I genuinely like it, I write it down and use it at some point. Same goes for artwork, riffs, lyrics. If it fits my narrative (horrific truths, artwork that makes you feel the lyrics, etc) then I'll use it. I came up with the title 4 years ago, and had to use it.

Caligari has a very specific audience and aesthetic. Did signing with them affect what you wanted this release to sound like, or were you already heading in exactly this direction?

I feel like we're in very good hands with Caligari, as they are excellent with curating unique-sounding bands with their own style.

You've had three years between releases. What did that period teach you about GROTESQUERIES that you couldn't have learned while making Vile Crematory?

When you have a "solo" project that recruits other members, and despite giving clear communication/expectations, relationships can become tense, and if someone isn't 100% down with the arrangement, their attitude can negatively affect the mood. Moving forward, I prefer working with just one other person for recordings, who understands the deal I offer them. I don't like to lie to people, and after being treated badly by others, I started my own band to make the calls, yet respect my bandmates and give them little to no responsibility, and compensate them for their time.

And looking beyond this EP: do you already know what the next GROTESQUERIES release should sound like, or would you rather find that out when you start writing?

I want to become more technical/progressive like this EP, while still retaining the old school sound. I don't want to stray too far off of my biggest influences, but I also don't want to be stuck/limiting myself.

https://www.facebook.com/Grotesqueriesdeath

https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/nightmare-delirium-ep