Hey Sasha, thank you so much for doing this interview with Canadian Brutality.
The first question I would like to ask you is what is the name of the band you are currently in? Also, have you been in different bands previously other than this one?
- I am in Incinerate (USA/Canada). I used to play bass for Mortify (Toronto/Hamilton) and I also did a few shows as a live fill-in bass player for The Unborn Dead (Toronto). I also used to play bass for another band that was not death metal at all so their name is irrelevant for this interview.
What is the major part in the band that you play? What do you mostly do or contribute to your band?
- I am the bass player and currently the main song writer since the end of 2011 when Scott Ellingboe left. After his departure, Jesse and I were very uncertain of the future
and were sincerely questioning if the band could continue on without him. Having just spent over a year studying and practicing all of the band's material I felt confident enough to give it a shot. I had composed one and a half songs fresh
off of the plane from our performance at the last ever Mountains of Death in Switzerland in 2011. Jesse approved of the compositions and the direction of the music and we agreed to continue writing to see what we could come up with.
Eventually we ended up with 'Eradicating Terrestrial Species'. I also contributed a few lyrics for the album here and there.
Can you give us a little bio about yourself?
- Well, I think I picked up my first bass from some friends of mine that lived up the street from me at around 13 years old. From there I eventually saved up enough money to buy my first bass and amplifier. I took some lessons, discovered new music
and practiced as much as possible. I later bought a 5 string bass in high school. I don't think I joined my first SERIOUS band until I was asked to tour for a band seeking a touring bass player in 2007 after many, many
failed attempts at trying to pull local musicians together to write and record or even just play covers! I have usually been plagued with pairing up with irresponsible, broke, ungrateful but most of all unmotivated band members that had no desire
to pursue music beyond the practice room. I always spent all of my time and money on upgrading my gear and discovering new bands and collecting cds. After being denied at the American border for a North American tour that was planned,
I continued as long as I could with that band until it dissolved, at which point I had already begun practicing and growing with Mortify. Which was my real initiation into the Brutal Death Metal scene. I was a long time fan of the style but had never actually attempted to PLAY it. It was
a rude awakening for me. A completely new level of endurance, stamina and accuracy I was never challenged with. Within a year or so, one of my favourite bands, Incinerate, posted on MySpace that they were looking for a touring bass player.
I didn't even think I had a real shot at it, I was mostly curious as to whether I could stand up to the challenge and see how I would measure against the competition. Almost 6 years, several tours, numerous festival appearances and one studio album later... Here we are!
How many albums, ep's, and/or demos have you released?
-Honestly, not many at all. One full length album, One Mortify 2 song sampler, an official live DVD performance with The Unborn Dead for the Sevared Records Anniversary show while I was filling in as a live bass player for them.
And finally one full length Incinerate album. I've always considered myself primarily a live bass player. Most bands I've played/practiced with have never made it far enough to get into the studio.
Do you think the BDM in canada has changed over the years?
- Yes, I believe it has. As far as my corner of the country is concerned, it seems to be very small. There is very little activity but there are still some great active bands that keep grinding it out and doing their part. It differs from region to region though, Montreal currently
has a very lively and interesting brutal death metal scene. I think if we consider 'the scene' to be more of the modern online social media scene, then I would say that its alive and well. I think there is a major lack of physical participation and support across the board.
It would be nice to see more shows, more bands, and more tours coming through.
Is there a particular band that you think defines CBDM?
- Well, where do we draw the line??? I think the first albums from Cryptopsy were at the forefront of Canadian Brutal Death Metal. Other key bands would without a doubt be Orchidectomy and Anal Bleeding. If you don't know any of the work from either of these bands then...
what are you doing here?!
Do you have any major Canadian musician influences?
- As a bass player looking at Canadian musicians, Dominic 'Forest' Lapointe would have to be at the top of the list. Even discounting the fact that he's Canadian, he would still be at the top of my list. My first experience with his music
was with Atheretic. The album 'Adhesion, Aversion...' is absolutely fucking brutal and yet still has those bass lines and the bass tone that stands out enough to make you notice. 'Apocalyptic Nature Fury' is just a whole other level of brutality and progression.
I later saw him playing live bass for Quo Vadis and started to follow him into Augury and Beyond Creation.
Before him, another Canadian bass player that stood out for me was Eric Langlois of Cryptopsy. The first time I heard 'None So Vile' I was utterly floored by the bass playing. How anyone could play like that and still find a way to make their
bass lines stand out really intrigued me and pushed me to practice and bring myself to that level of technique and all around musicianship.
Can you tell me the name of one CBDM band you have seen live who blew you away?
- I would have to say the first time I saw Exsanguinate (Montreal) play in Oshawa, I was completely fucking blown away. They were so tight, so brutal and so heavy. I was amazed. A truly memorable performance!
Honestly, I would have to include Mortify in that list as well. Before I joined the band, of course. The first time I saw them play live, I was floored. These guys were covering Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse songs along with their originals and making it look easy. Infact,
seeing them play when they were opening for Incantation in Toronto, I think in 2008? was what made me want to audition for them! I couldn't believe there were guys around my age, in the general area playing that kind of music! I also
saw Serene Molestation play that same night as well. Another band, that despite all of the lineup changes, have always been crushing.
What would you say is the essential Canadian Brutal Death Metal album?
- It's a tie between Blasphemy Made Flesh and None So Vile by Cryptopsy. It doesn't get much more essential than that. Up there with those albums would HAVE to be 'Adhesion, Aversion...' by Atheretic and 'A Prelate's Attrition' by Orchidectomy.
I think with those albums you get a nice rounded progression of the sounds and styles of the Eastern Canadian Scene across the different generations.
Are there any newer Canadian Brutal Death Metal bands you like or enjoy listening to?
- Vacuus from B.C. is a new HEAVY HITTER. I highly recommend checking them out. Ataxia from London, Ontario. Nervous Impulse from Montreal. First Fragment from Montreal. Deformatory from Ottawa. Human Compost from Toronto. Those are just some of
the ones that I've been listening to lately. I always encourage everyone to get out to local shows and discover new bands or support bands you already know and SHARE with everyone. Let other people discover new music and new bands! To me,
that's the most exciting part!
Can you tell me one of the funniest memories you have with the band?
- Since its still fresh in my mind, the time that Jesse puked all over Tocci's car in Las Vegas while we were driving on the freeway. I still feel bad for Tocci AND his car but its still just a classic story for us. The pictures and the video
were seen by so many of our friends and every year that I go to Las Vegas for LVDF, I can't help but reminisce about it.
Would you like to share any advice for upcoming acts or anyone who would just like to start playing music in general?
- If I have any important advice, it would be to PRACTICE! no matter how much you practice already, you can always practice more. Also, stay motivated! Being in a band has a lot of ups and downs (mostly financial downs, especially with our style of music)
If you truly want to do this, MAKE IT happen. Don't let other members drag you or your band down. Find the right group of guys that have the same goals and that you get along with. Otherwise, its going to be a long and frustrating road to nowhere!
What is the best poutine you have ever eaten and where did you get it?
- Hands down the best poutine I have ever eaten was in Trois-Rivieres while on tour with Mortify in the fall of 2009 while we were opening for Lividity. I don't fucking remember the name of the restaurant and it really bothers me because
I would absolutely LOVE to go back there and get more. It was this little pizzeria somewhere in the general downtown area and I ordered a pepperoni Poutine. Everything about it was perfect. The pepperoni was so crisp, the cheese curds melted
perfectly and I still dream of that gravy. For some reason, no other poutine has ever come close to that one on that day. Even Len and Ted agree that theirs were the best of their lives too. We STILL talk about those poutines to this day and
all agree that they were undisputably the best. A very close second was in 2015, AGAIN, in Trois-Rivieres while I was attending the TR Metalfest. A restaurant called 'Chez Big Momma'. There's a 'Big Momma's Poutine'. It's got gravy, cheese curds,
green peppers, smoked meat, mushrooms and onions. Maybe a couple of other ingredients too but I can't completely remember because it was so big and delicious! I highly recommend hunting this place down! It was just a small diner in what seemed to
be off the main drag. I don't know what it is about that city but both of the best poutines I've ever had were in Trois-Rivieres, so I'm going to have to go ahead and advise anyone looking for some of the best damn poutine they will every put in
their mouths, to make the drive to Trois-Rivieres! ca vaut la peine!!! ;)
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