Armageddon Holocaust - Interview, July 2003
When you think of Christian metal from Indonesian, most people would immediately mention Kekal. Beyond that, most metalheads would be drawing a blank. Well, three years ago a band named Armageddon Holocaust roared onto the scene with an extreme black metal album in the vein of Horde called Into Total Destruction. The album received mixed reviews, but for the most part was a welcome site in a scene full of nothing but symphonic black metal. Word of this one-project band putting out a new album starting surfacing last year. The band stayed metal for sure, but branched out quite a bit from their extreme ways. Read along as I talk via e-mail with the three band members: Dark Thriller, Meister J, and the somewhat infamous and strange Doctor D.
1. You guys have recently released your new album Radioactive Zone 245. Give us a little bit of the history of the band up until this point.
Dark Thriller: Doctor D and I formed Armageddon Holocaust in 1999. In the beginning we just planned to do a concept album only, and after that there we had no plans to continue. In 2000 we recorded our only planned album, Into Total Destruction, and it was released by THT Productions because Doctor D was already a THT artist. After the release, we got many mails directly or through THT, telling us to keep on going with our band. Once we thought it was nearly impossible, but because we’re only human beings that can be changed, later we agreed to keep this project going on, even though I won’t play in the band. However, I will still contribute by writing songs for our future albums.
2. What is the current band lineup of Armageddon Holocaust?
Dark Thriller: I don’t want to disclose my real name. Let everyone know me as Dark Thriller.
Meister J: Ok, I’m Meister J. My real name is Jefray, or Jeff, if you wish. I also play with Kekal.
Doctor D: My real name is Bill Clinton. You don’t believe it? Me either!!!
3. How did the recording process of Radioactive Zone 245 go compared to Into Total Destruction?
Dark Thriller: I was not involved in the recording process and the overall concept of that album. It’s better for Doctor D and Meister J to explain it.
Meister J: Well, this album was supposed to be released under the “DOCTOR D” name, because it is actually Doctor D’s material for his solo project. But the sales from the previous DOCTOR D album were not so good; not because of the material I guess, but more because “DOCTOR D” is a too weird of a name for a black metal band. The label THT was kind of unsure whether to release it under DOCTOR D, or under a different name. At the same time we decided to merge altogether and continue with Armageddon Holocaust again. So this already-recorded album is finally being put out under the Armageddon Holocaust banner. If you compare this stuff with our debut Into Total Destruction, of course it’s very different. Dark Thriller didn’t perform on this album, and the whole idea…the production and sound of this album is created by Doctor D and myself to fit with the concept of DOCTOR D as a band. It’s not as dark and punishing as Into Total Destruction, but it’s full of bone-crushing riffs.
Doctor D: THT gave me two options: change the band name to Bill Clinton or join Armageddon Holocaust. I didn’t want to change the band name to Bill Clinton because that’s my real name!!! You don’t believe it? Me either!!!
4. For those who haven’t heard the new album yet, what can they except in comparison to your previous release?
Meister J: Well, the new album is a lot thrashier and has a lot more groove in the music. The riffs are busy and chunky, not just sticking with typical black metal tremolo cliché. The main difference is you can mosh with our new album. You cannot mosh with Into Total Destruction because the music is very fast and very punishing. If I can use an analogy, I would say that Into Total Destruction is like digging a grave hole, but Radioactive Zone 245 is like dancing on a grave.
5. What have been some of the responses that you guys have had regarding your new album from fans and media?
Meister J: The responses have been very, very good. Many have asked us if we would stay with the direction of Into Total Destruction. Well, there will be no more Into Total Destruction, but we will stay true with our music and offer high quality extreme metal.
6. What kind of lyrical themes did you touch on with this new album (seeing as how the lyrics are not included with the CD)?
Meister J: They are mostly about the destruction of Earth, both in smaller or larger scales; the process that mankind has made throughout history, and in the future we ourselves who will reap all that we sow. It’s very dark and seems like it may be too pessimistic, but the message is clearly positive. You cannot go away and forget what we’ve done to this Earth. There’s also a song dedicated to heavy metal and nothing but heavy metal, “Riffmonster”.
7. What would you say is the thing that you are most pleased with regarding Radioactive Zone 245? Do you have any favorite songs on the album?
Dark Thriller: I love the production, the guitar tones, and the drums. My favorite songs are the first eight or nine songs.
Meister J: I love this album because it’s very dynamic, modern, and very groovy. My favorite songs are “Riffmonster”, “Punch N’ Shake”, “March of the Unlimited”, “Emptyhollow”, and “Widowmaker”.
Doctor D: I enjoy all of the songs and hate the rest.
8. Why did you go with the title Radioactive Zone 245? Does it have any specific meaning?
Dark Thriller: That’s my idea! I’m a big fan of the TV series Dark Angel. It’s a simple, futuristic film portraying our dark near future, but it is related with now-a-days situations. The main role is a pretty Max Guevarra (Jessica Alba) who has serial barcode #452. So I came up with 245 from this 452 thing. “Radioactive Zone” is something in my mind from when I first heard the final mix.
9. Do you guys plan on playing any live shows in support of your new album?
Dark Thriller: Live shows will never, ever happen for us.
10. How would you describe your band’s music to someone who’s never heard of you before?
Doctor D: Apokalyptic destruction metal to scare your friends off!!! And if your friends didn’t get scared enough, I will scare them.
Meister J: I think metaphorically, Doctor D has explained everything. Hahaha.
11. Describe your relationship with THT Productions and tell us how that came about and how’s it’s working out.
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Comments
Stupid
Great interview. Wish HM can support more underground metal bands like this. Thanx for supporting A.H.
Agreed....don't forget the METAL!! Like Alternative Press (which IMO HM is gunning for, quality-wise)...they have the trendy bands, but also coverage for a lot of metal!
i was expecting more of a religous point of view of this band. into total destruction...wow what a name ...this group is extremly pesimistic with what they are presenting. wouldn't it be cool if they would combine their talents with praising Christ at the same time instead of just wasting their pesimistic thoughts on people and brining spirits down instead of up?
hola estoy creando una revista y desearia contactarme con la banda para una futura emtrevista saludos God bless all
Celtic Frost? Venom? Kreator? I think we need to start a fund and send those poor kids some new stuff, preferably Christian metal. They've been deprived long enough. I played those bands out like 15 yrs. ago. Actually, I never liked Venom.
Actually, they have been going through metal since the 80's days and they just put the best of the early 80's elements to their curent music. Their music is more modern, not a rehash of early thrash.
Listen to mp3's
http://www.mp3.com/armageddonholocaust
great band
check their website
A.H. is a great BM band. "Into Total Destruction" is of the sickest music ever produced.
I cant believe you dont keep with your orginal style into total distruction why change when you have a fan base that love that style I want it more brutal the speed works for me.
