Detest Records report

DETEST RECORDS IS YOUNG LABEL DEVOTED TO SUPPORT METAL OF DEATH THE ONLY WAY IT SHOULD BE OBSCURE AND OLD. STARTED IN 2008, BEGINNING WITH RELEASING DEMO TAPES NOW IS FOCUSED ON EXPLORATION OF MAINLY SCANDINAVIAN DEATH METAL SCENE AND ENGRAVING THEIR ART INTO VINYL PLATTERS. THIS IS INTERVIEW WITH JERRY – FOUNDER, TALLENT SCOUT CHEF AND ACCOUNTANT OF DETEST RECORDS.



WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST TOUCH WITH UNDERGROUND DEATH METAL SCENE?

I started listening metal 14 years ago and fell in the underground scene 10 years ago. My underground journey started with thrash and heavy metal when I got into bands such as OSTROGOTH, DARK ANGEL, ANTHARES, RIGOR MORTIS, ACID and CHATEAUX.
I bought ENTOMBED first Lp back in 2002 if I remember well and was not really into it back then, can’t really remember why but I guess it wasn’t thrashy enough for me.
In 2005 I checked DISMEMBER first lp and fell in love with it. I decided to give ENTOMBED 1st Lp another try and this was it, I was hooked. I started searching more and more Scandinavian Metal of Death and days after days I was more into that genre.

SAY SOME WORDS ABOUT ORIGINS OF YOUR LABEL? WHY YOU DECIDED TO RUN THIS?

Even though I have had the will to release stuff for years, it was only when I started to work after the university that I had the necessary cash in my hands to do it. Back in 2007, I got involved in a small label with another guy from Belgium. We released one tape which was a thrash metal compilation tape, which was his idea and did pretty well. After some months, we didn’t get along anymore. I wanted to release Death Metal and since he was not really into that style, we had some fights around it. I decided to quit and to create my own underground label in August 2008, Detest Records was born. The name I choose back then comes from the name of an underground Danish Death Metal act simply called Detest.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE EARLY DEATH METAL AND NOWADAYS BANDS?

1989 – 1992: NIHILIST, CREMATORY, DARK ABBEY, MEFISTO, SACRETOMIA, CARTILAGE, AUTOPSY, DELIRIUM.
Today: GRAVE MIASMA, DEAD CONGREGATION, NECROWRETCH, INVIDIOUS and – shameless promotion time – the bands I work with.

IT CAN BE NOTICED THAT YOU FOCUS ON SWEDEN AND FINLAND SCENE? IS THIS A COINCIDENCE?

This is not a coincidence at all as I’m mostly into euro Metal of Death even though I enjoy some US bands such as AUTOPSY and INCANTATION. Despite the fact that all the bands I’ve worked with up till now come from Scandinavia, I can already reveal you that I’m gonna work with bands coming from other parts of Europe within the next months.

YOU’VE RELEASED TAPES/VINYLS SO FAR, ARE YOU PLANNING ANY OTHER FORMATS IN THE FUTURE?

To tell you the truth, I’m not really interested in Cd’s but since the demand for a Cd’s of some of my bands is becoming important, I think I’ll release Cd’s from time to time in the future. This is the case for MIASMAL for example. I will release a compilation of both the demo and 7” trax in 2010.

YOU PUT STRESS ON ANCIENT DEATH METAL UNDERGROUND, BOTH IN LAYOUTS AND GRAPHICS OF YOUR RELEASES. IS THIS YOUR PURPOSE TO KEEP THEM LOOKING OLD SCHOOL? DO YOU HAVE TYPEWRITER?

Yes this is of course done on purpose. My aim is not to look old school for the sake of it but that’s what I like, nothing else. And, yes I happen to work with a typewriter.

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON MP3 AND INTERNET. WHAT SHOULD THEY BE USED FOR AND WHAT SHOULDN’T?

Mp3’s are great to discover bands before buying or releasing their stuff and as far as I’m concerned I have no problem at all with people uploading my releases on their blogs, etc. coz I’m pretty sure the underground maniax want to lay their hands on the proper releases of the bands they’re into. Mp3’s are also very interesting to get the opportunity to listen to rare stuff such as demo’s or obscure Lp’s.

BESISE LABEL YOU RUN DISTRO. HOW IS IT GOING? HOW ABOUT OTHER UNDERGROUND ACTIVITIES?

The distro is doing well. I choose not to stock tons of stuff but to have no more than 20 items in my distro but in 20 or 30 copies of each. As far as I’m concerned, my sale figures are good and of course it helps me releasing more stuff, etc.
Regarding other underground activities, I’m organizing metal parties on a monthly basis here in Brussels, Belgium. During those nights, a friend of mine and I airplay traditional metal, be it heavy, thrash, black or death. We started this project one year ago and the response has been huge since then. We have people coming from every parts of Belgium and often have people coming from Germany, The Netherlands and France as well. Beside this I’m also helping a new Belgian outfit called DAWN OF CRUCIFIXION which plays an impressive mix between DARKTHRONE, VENOM and DISCHARGE. I’m organizing them their first live appearance in Brussels at the end of this month. Their first demo will be released on tape at this moment or a bit later. You can check them on http://www.myspace.com/dawnofcrucifixion.

WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR EDITING PLANS FOR 2010? WHICH OF YOUR UPCOMMING RELEASES WOULD YOU RECCOMEND MOST?

Here is a brief agenda of my next releases (as I have it in mind in January 2010):
KRYPTS (Fin.) – Open the crypt demo on 12” (January 2010)
MIASMAL (Swe.) – First 7” Ep (February 2010)
PUTRID (Swe.) – 2nd demo tape (February 2010)
VETERNUS (Swe.) – First 7” Ep (March 2010)
GRAVEHAMMER (Swe.) – First 7” Ep (March 2010)
KRYPTS (Fin.) – First 7” Ep (May 2010)
STENCH OF DECAY (Fin.) – First 7” Ep (May 2010)
PURID (Swe.) – First 7” Ep (End 2010)
MIASMAL (Swe.) – Full length 12” (End 2010/early 2011)
 Etc.
I don’t think I can recommend one release instead of another since I do like all the bands I’m working with but I can already reveal you that the master of MIASMAL first 7” Ep is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!!
More info about my plans, my distro and everything related to Detest Records is to be found on www.detestrecords.com
People can also get in touch by mail at detestrecords@gmail.com or by snail mail to J. MARECHAL, CH. DU TILLEUL 126, B-1300 WAVRE, BELGIUM.
I would like to express my gratitude towards all the persons who have supported Detest Records since August 2008 and to you for your interest.


SWALLOWED ``Epitaph of nauseation``
If you still cannot outlive Autopsy has ceased, SWALLOWED from Finland might ease your torments
as it can be easilly called tribute band to renowned
masters. Their debut demo is pure Autopsy ispired, Reifert
slaps their backs, tape ultimately sold out, if you missed gotta go myspace!

STENCH OF DECAY ``Where death and decay reign``
Where ``Slumber of sullen eyes`` finishes, `` Where death and decay reign`` begins. Stench of Decay owes really much to their country mates Demigod, they can be fairly called heirs, if anybody.

MIASMAL demo
This one gives me bliss of tear in the eye, as it remainds me these early days, when Nordic death metal was conquering everithing and more. Miasmal has all it needs: Entombed’s sound, Unleashed’s vibe, Amorphis’
dark passages, Desultory’s catchness, all mixed in perfect proportions and crafted with really high spirit. Looking forward for their next releases.

KRYPTS ``Open the crypt``
My secret favourite of Detest excavations so far. Utter darkness from deepest basements of Finland. Everithing in place here – bones braking sound, high pace passages tuening into slow downs, exposed bass (opening to “Open the Crypt” owns) and above all it has morbid atmosphere so thick you can almost touch it. “The-Daaaay ooooov-reeckooniiiing”. Fear them!