Rockezine.com interview with Diabolic on Jul 06, 2001

with Aantar Coates on Jul 06, 2001

Ever since Diabolic released their first demo "City of the Dead" they are a well-known name in the death and black-metal underground worldwide. After numerous gigs with bands as Vader, Broken Hope and Monstrosity it was time to record their well received debut "Supreme Evil" which, at that time, was described as already a classic. Operating from their warm base in Tampa Florida they decided to spread the blasphemy further and they played in almost every corner in the U.S. with bands as God Dethroned, Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel. The reactions of the fans most have been outrageous. Diabolic`s music has always been special. The combination of death, black and a little bit of thrash metal is very special and certainly not American sounding, and that`s something you don`t hear that often. Now Diabolic just released their second full-length album, Subterraneal Magnitude. And I can tell you that this is food for every death and black metal fan. I was totally overwhelmed by the impact of this release when I first heard it. And I know there are more metal heads feeling exactly the same when they put on this masterpiece of severe blasphemy. Time for an interview I thought. Drummer Aantar Coates is answering my questions with e-mail.
		Tell me what happened after the release of "Supreme Evil"? You toured with Morbid Angel for example and Hammerheart has the rights to spread the blasphemy over Europe, how did this happen? We toured with Cannibal Corpse for 5 and 1/2 weeks along with God Dethroned and Hate Eternal. Also with Morbid Angel for 4 shows. As far as Hammerheart Records promoting Diabolic, we have always had good rapport with wilko. He released the Diabolic "City of the Dead" on his own label (the plague). He then joined forces with Hammerheart Records and continues to produce top quality digi-pack cd`s and lp`s for our band Diabolic.
		They care for the music and don`t give us the run-around when things need to get done. We have also done a few tribute cd`s for dwell records the bands include: Slayer, Venom, Morbid Angel, Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, and Metallica. We also did a song by Possessed for Nightfall Records as well. Iabolic is now ready to re-enter the studio to record out 3rd full length cd.
		And now "Subterraneal Magnitude". This certainly has become a great release. Are you guys satisfied and sounded everything like Diabolic wanted? Thanks man!!!!!!! We really apreciate your honesty. To be completely honest with you........ For $3000 we are very proud of the music and production and happy that it`s finally getting out after a year of red tape bullshit!!!! We did not go to morrisound for any editing or mastering. Juan "punchy" Gonzalez produced "subterraneal magnitude". We took a few suggestions that "punchy" had and the recording worked out really well. We couldn`t trust just anyone to help us. Trey Azagthoth recommended we get to know "punchy" a long time ago and for good reason! Plus we practiced the songs and really thought about what we were doing before we went into the studio. He just took over where we left off.
		I must say that "Subterraneal Magnitude" also has it`s black metal influences. That makes me think that there are some black-metal fans in the band. Am I right? Yes..... Bathory, Celtic Frost, Destruction, Sodom, Morbid-Angel, and Venom are the kings!!!!! (in my opinion they are the forefathers of black/deathmetal) there are also some other bands like slayer, Voivod, Exodus (Bonded by blood), and Possessed that were total satanic/deaththrash that have changed our lives forever.
		This certainly doesn`t make you sound like a regular American death-black band? What are the band`s influences for instance? All the bands i just mentioned, but we are taking this style of music and shaping it our way. We also get into Voi-vod rrrrrroooooooorrrrr. Broken Bones, Dead Kennedy`s, Minor Threat, and old DRI.
		On the previous release and the demo-tape you guys showed a lot of alikeness with a band as Morbid Angel. Now you guys seem to have been working on a typical Diabolic sound. Was it a natural evolution? Yes. A lot of people say that. That`s because we attack our instruments and have classic hooks within our songs that keep our fans headbanging, moshing, full of energy. Even Trey told me our bands sound nothing alike. Sure the drums are fast and the rhythm and lead guitars use a lot of different technics . I think we are alike because of the way we released a 3-song demo and sent out all over the world like they did. After sending out over 2000 "city of the dead" demos to mag`s, radio stations and fanzines, we established the underground cult following that we respect and charish. The word typical dose not sit well with us. To say that we are going in our own direction is fair . What Diabolic has done is set a new standard for metal music.
		You guys are from Tampa Florida if I`m right? How is the scene there and how do you guys fit in. Paul is from northern mass. Brian is from the city of steel Pittsburgh PA. I am from Philadelphia PA. We all grew up through extremely cold and brutal snow, and ice-storms but how the hell can you get things done if 6-months out of the year snowed in to your house??? So we all moved down here met up back in 1997. With Jerry Morttellaro (new guitarist): a true tampa local. He adds to Diabolic and works awesome completing the circle. The way we fit into the tampa scene is that we keep producing dynamic blasphmous head banging music. Staying true to our art of music is the way. Diabolic woke up the tampa florida scene. That`s why Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel welcomed us to join them on their tours. Plus the headbangers wanted something fresh, it was just a matter of time before we came out. Our 1st show we opened for Vader before the demo was released. Only 1 month after we all met up. We don`t just talk the talk .......we walk the walk.
		How is the release excepted in America? The fan`s can`t wait. People are contacting us all the time telling us that conquest music doesn`t give them any information about the new release. Conquest music have had opportunities to release the cd but have failed to even give a release date.......after a fucking year!!!!! Fans will tape trade and bootleg to get it here in the states. If the record is in the stores and played on the radio people will get to it, but conquest music are lazy and kick back waiting for the cows to come home.
		Many underground zines are sure of the fact that you guys are going to be the next big thing. How do you look upon this kind of criticism? We of Diabolic welcome being called "the next big thing" for this style of music. We will earn that title and praise after people see us live!!!
		Any plans for the future, a European tour for instance? Diabolic will be touring europe (thanks to Hammerheart Records and Crush Concerts) starting in Germany at Club Razzle dDazzle 9.7.01.
		Any last words for the fans? Yeah...don`t forget to bring you neck brace to the show!!!! No really we can`t wait to meet all the people who`ve wrote us over the years. We have boxes of mail from you all and just can`t wait to play live to our unholy, demonic, possessed fans that feel our music!!!! Thanks for the interview Teun!!!!!!
(Teun Jans)