Just recently I was at a local Baltimore, MD show and bumped into Asphyx guitarist Paul Baayens, who was visiting friends in the area.  He and I spoke for a bit and I can say he is really down to earth and a great dude.  I also interviewed Eric Daniels, from GSBC, for all about the rock uk, not too long ago and we exchanged a lot of cool emails back and forth, getting to know each other quite a bit.  Bob and I have been in touch over the last several months, exchanging thoughts on what it’s like to be an old school death metaller, new bands, family life and the impact of Asphyx on the death metal community in general and what’s it’s like being in both Asphyx and GSBC.  One thing is for certain these individuals and these bands care about their fans!  The length of my conversations and emails to each of them shows the time and effort they put into establishing a connection with people and I think that really is a testament to the types of individuals they are and Bob is such a cool person and I look forward to hopefully meeting him some day.  He was able to answer my questions and go in-depth quite a bit.  If you have yet to own an Asphyx album or the Grand Supreme Blood Court debut from last year, than you are really missing out on some of the best doom/death metal the world has to offer.  Crushing heaviness, amazing vocals, lyrics and a punishing drum sound round out both bands and now sit back crack open a cold one and read this interview with Asphyx/Grand Supreme Blood Court drummer, Bob Bagchus.

TeethoftheDivine: OK Bob, let everyone know what/who got you into playing drums and how have you developed your sound/craft over the years?  Do you have any endorsement deals and what goes into getting an endorsement for the gear you use?

Bob: It was Abaddon from Venom, really.I really loved/love his simple straight forward drumming.Drumming from the soul! My other influences are Ron Sumners (Slaughter), Joe Blazer (Necrophagia), Heerh (Messiah), Bruce Day (Hellhammer), Steve Priestly (Celtic Frost). I have an endorsement with Amedia cymbals thanks to Ed from Hail of Bullets. For the rest I don’t have any endorsements.

You were on 2 outstanding releases last year, from your main band, Asphyx-‘Deathhammer’ and the Grand Supreme Blood Court debut album. How do you contribute in ensuring both bands stay separate in sound, since GSBC has several Asphyx members, as well as Martin singing, and his voice is very distinguishable?

Thanks for the compliment! Yes, it has sharing members, but still both bands don’t sound the same, except for the vocals. While Asphyx is very hard to the bone death metal with no compromise, Grand Supreme Blood Court is more lowtuned sludgy death metal. But while the vocalist is the same, people might also think the music is the same, which is not the case here. Also the riffing is a bit different in both bands. But both bands do what they do best, playing brutal old school death metal from the soul.

How do you manage to do both bands, with shows and not have them conflict?  Any touring cycles planned this summer or do the bands just play a few shows at a time?

Well, it does conflict now and then in the schedule since we get offers for both bands but it’s like “who is first… is first”. But I play my last Asphyx live show on 14 September in Milan.  I need more time with my family and Asphyx is very time robbing when it comes to traveling. We have a live drummer already. GSBC is much less intense when it comes to traveling. GSBC will play on the Party San next week and next to that on Summerbreeze. With Asphyx we have 2 more shows this year. But both bands do not tour around. Only separate gigs.

After the ‘Last One on Earth’ Asphyx album you eventually left and was not on the self-titled album in ’94, what lead to your departure and return to the fold then?  When you decided to put the band back together in 2007, how did that come about and why was Eric Daniels not part of the Asphyx reunion, because here you are again working with him on the crushing Grand Supreme Blood Court?

Well, I was really fed up with the business side of things that it took all the fun out of the music at that time. It was during a Grave show here when I decided to quit. I felt I had no control over my own band any longer and that was it for me. It was strange not playing on the self-titled album since Asphyx is my band, but it was my own decision. Eric asked me if he could continue and I agreed, of course. Well, not long after that old original vocalist Theo Loomans (RIP) and I formed Asphyx again in 1995 and recorded God Cries in 1996.We asked Eric, but he was fed up with everything at that time himself, so he said no, unfortunately. Weird times!

I did not decide to get the band back together in 2006, it was the crew of the Party San who phoned me on a Saturday afternoon around 15:00, when I was sitting in the garden with wife and kids. They asked me to reform Asphyx again for the 2007 edition and I said “no”. But they kept calling and they finally got me into it again, although I never stopped listening metal, of course! So I called Martin and he said yes right away, but Eric said no, because of his health at the time. So I also did not want to do it without Eric, but then Martin came up with Paul and we took it from there. Paul really wanted to handle the job and he did/does it perfect! Well, so we did Party San 2007 and got a MASSIVE response. We were surprised! Then three days after the Party San show, Eric phoned me and wanted to be part of the band again, as 2nd guitarist. I was like “Whaaaatt?!!” — well, I don’t know since Paul was the axeman now and Asphyx doesn’t need a 2nd guitarist. We did not do it because it would feel strange to Paul. It was difficult to say no to Eric, my best friend as well, since we made Asphyx back in the day, but it was the way it was. But believe me, I had a hard time saying no to Eric. But Eric wanted to make brutal music again so he asked me to form a new band. So here we are.

How has the reaction been to Asphyx, since coming back to the metal world and how is the band’s popularity at the moment?

It was great! Overwhelming! We never, EVER, expected that Asphyx still had a big name in the scene. Asphyx at this moment is a top five death metal band and is very popular. Deathhammer was in the German album charts as well, which was really weird. Asphyx sells an incredible amount of merchandise. But as we all know, it all can be over in a split second. From hero to zero. That’s the way it is.

Before the Asphyx reunion what were you doing, any side projects?  Do you work, have a family and what do you do in your spare time?

I had a black/death project called Throne and Eric and me had Soulburn as well. But after that is was only work (screen printing). I have two sons and a wife. In my spare time I’m a big horror freak, we go to Formula 1 races and I go fishing with my boys.

You have been around a long time cultivating this specific type of death metal sound that clearly is getting copied all the time. What went into formulating the Asphyx sound and how can you expand on that on future recordings? How do you feel about all these newer acts ‘borrowing’ your sound, do you take it as a compliment?

Hmm. Yes. The Asphyx sound. Back in the days Eric was very busy with finding the right tune for Asphyx. We wanted a heavy crusty chainsaw guitar sound and when recording The Rack we finally got it. Eric has a special set up, but also his playing helps getting that typical sound. With bands borrowing our sound, we take that as a big compliment! But in the end only two guitarists have that special sound and they are named Eric Daniels and Paul Baayens. The two sawmasters.

Are you still strictly into the older types of dm bands or are there some newer bands that you like?  Are you into brutal slam or tech dm bands? What other types of musicians/bands do you listen to that are not necessarily associated with extreme music?

Well, mostly yes, I really am stuck in the ’80s but I also like some newer bands a lot like Necros Christos, Nailgun Massacre, Bodyfarm, Revel in Flesh, Entrapment, Dissect and my fave one, Coffins! I hate slam death metal, since that is no death metal to me at all, and I also hate technical death metal as well. I mean, I do respect those bands since they are awesome musicians and I cannot even stand in their shadows, but it is really not my thing. I only like the simple, catchy stuff. I also listen to old Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Nine Pound Hammer.

Do you ever see yourself adding a blast beat to an Asphyx song, just to mix some things up a bit?  I mean clearly you don’t need to, since you guys rule, but bear with me for moment.  How do you think it would sound with Asphyx, having a blast beat, then transitioning right into an abrupt slow doomy heavy part, that would be similar to ‘Der Landser’, it could be pretty fuckin vicious, yes or no?

No, never. The only bands I love hearing with blast beats are Repulsion, Napalm Death, Terrorizer and Mayhem. Asphyx is known for its mid-paced death metal with doom in it and we are very conservative. At least I am. But it could be a good idea… in another band [laughs]! I think we once had such a thing on the 1989 Crush the Cenotaph demo, the end part of “Rite of Shades”, that was an early blast beat.

How is Century Media helping your band?  Do they pay for the recordings and band travel?

Century Media is doing a great job with Asphyx. They do all they can and they did an amazing PR on Deathhammer. Yes,they do pay for the recordings, but not for travels. Those are costs the promoter has to pay for. That is all included in the band fee. But CM is fantastic, they all are real fans of the music and that helps a 100%.

Where do you see the state of the music industry right now?  Where do you think it will be in 5-10 years?

I think DM is still doing great at the moment, I mean, people will always love old school, but also a lot of people are just following trends. Just look at the ’90s; death metal was HUGE in the early ’90s but then in 1995 black metal took over and a lot of DM “fans” transformed into BM fans and so did some bands too. Too bad really. Although I love black metal like Mayhem, Immortal, Darkthrone, Dark Funeral, Watain and 1349!

How has the scene changed for you and your band over the years, since the late 80’s? Do you enjoy all the social media outlets and has it helped the band?

There are a million more bands and only a few stand out. The scene was a lot smaller in the mid/late ’80s and a lot closer as well. Well, social media, it can be a help for the band indeed — a great help in fact — but I hate the fact that people can bash a band on the Internet as well. The so called “sofa hooligans”… but that is part of the game, unfortunately. Some people think they can do it a lot better than you, if only they were in the band. But social media like Facebook is a great tool to promote your band worldwide and to stay in contact with the people you want to be in contact with.

What else can you do in the music industry?  Are you satisfied with all that you have accomplished and what else can Asphyx conquer?

I did almost everything the last 27 years in the music industry. BUT — Eric and me have a new project called The Company of Undertakers with some old school friends and it’s very downtuned sludgy death metal with Massacre-like vocals.

I am really satisfied of what I have accomplished with Asphyx, especially since we always did what we wanted to do ourselves only. Making simple, catchy, brutal straight forward death/doom metal and we got big with it. For that we are very thankful. I really think that Asphyx has one of the most loyal fanbases a band can wish for. Hails to that!

Take us through the construction of a song, how it begins and ends, relating to music, lyrics vocal patterns etc? What is the concept behind ‘Deathhammer’? Some bands have contracts that state you don’t get as much money if you don’t contribute enough in the writing process, is that how it is with you guys or does everyone do the same amount of work?

Well, regardless if it is Asphyx or GSBC or TCOU, we get riffs by mail, phone a bit, then go into the rehearsal room and start to jam. When it feels right and we like it, it’s a song that’s ready. Just as simple as that. We also still record it with a tape recorder… the same as in 1987. For the money part, we all get an equal share since we all contribute in one way or another. That also keeps the harmony in the band.

Any last thoughts/comments for the readers?

Thanks a lot Frank for this interview. I hope it was worth the wait [laughs]! Thanks a lot to all the Asphyx, GSBC fans everywhere for your support!!!

https://www.facebook.com/officialasphyx

http://www.asphyx.nl/

http://www.reverbnation.com/asphyx

https://www.facebook.com/grandsupremebloodcourt

Prompted the show? Well, the organizers of the Party San phoned me and asked to reform Asphyx for a show in 2007 on that festival. After having some thoughts I phoned Martin (Van Drunen) and he said yes, very enthusiastically. Eric couldn’t make it, but we found a great replacement in Paul. We asked Wannes (Gubbels- bassist) to join in as well and the rest is known. The show was supposed to be a one-off, but we liked it so much again that we decided to play some more shows, also since we got lots of offers. But, the plan was only to do some shows and not making a new album. But as soon as Paul (Baayens- guitar) came up with some killer riffs, and we started jamming, we also thought that we might do a new album after all. Mostly for ourselves.

I noticed on the DVD of the show that came with the US release of the album you only played songs from  The Rack and The Last One On Earth – why was that?

Since that was the most popular period of Asphyx and since Martin was back it was only natural that we were going to play the most popular songs from those days, especially since it was the first Asphyx show in 7 years.

With Van Drunen having so much success last year with the Hail of Bullets album, was there a concerted effort to try and distance Asphyx’s material from Hail of Bullets despite the obvious similarities. Both albums covers are even done by the same artist.

No. Asphyx always had its own style of doom/death metal so there was no need to consider anything at all. We just did what we always did. Sure, it’s both doom/death metal, but we sound completely different. The album artist…you mean Mick Koopman? Mick is a good friend of both bands and he lives here around the corner, so that was easy.

What was the song writing process after such a long lay off and being away from death metal for so many years? Did it all surge at once or have you been plotting and writing stuff for the last few years?

That was very easy, as Asphyx always was. Paul came up with the riffs of “Scorbutics” and Martin and me automatically went from there on. It felt like the Rack/Last One…days were just a month ago, if you know what I mean. Then Paul kept sending those awesome typical Asphyx riffs in our Gmail, even whole songs and Martin and me were amazed by it. So we jammed quite often and in no time we had all the tracks ready for recording. It all happened in, let’s say, half a year. Besides that, I never stopped listening to death metal, of course.

Did successful recent reunions by the Suffocation, Obituary and Gorefest influence your decision to reform Asphyx at all?

No, since we were not about to reform at all. It was that the Party San phoned (September 2006) me and asked me to reform Asphyx for the 2007 edition. I doubt if Asphyx would have reformed if they didn’t call me up then…besides I would have never reformed Asphyx again if Martin wasn’t in it.

Was there a concern that the comeback would be a bit of a failure. I hate to single out another follow Dutch band, but the recent Pestilence comeback album didn’t exactly light the world on fire.

No, since, like I said before, we weren’t about to reform at all. The Party San organization told me they had some kind of a popularity poll in Germany of which bands they liked to see at the 2007 edition of the Party San and it seemed most of the fans wanted to see Asphyx. But I must admit that we were dying of stress right before that show. You know the “if this, if that…kind of things”. But all went great and it was the best musical experience of our lives for sure! So, we went on from there, but without stress and just do what we want to do. People seem to dig it again and we are happy too.

You’ve already addressed this but would you have reformed Ashpyx without Van Drunen?

No.

Was there a part of you that wanted to sort of erase the lukewarm reaction to God Cries and On the Wings of Inferno or are you have with the legacy the band left after those two final albums?

Well,maybe….but you can’t change the past and you shouldn’t ignore it either. God Cries is a brutal death metal album (some even think it’s the best…but only a few),but it’s not typical Asphyx. Eric wasn’t playing on it and that showed, unfortunately. On The Wings Of Inferno is a lot better but was released in the wrong time. Besides,even though I like that album, it’s of course nothing like The Rack or The Last One On Earth, or even Embrace the Death. We have to be honest about that.

How come Century Media didn’t want to release the new album in the US? It seems strange on their part not to want to release on of the more anticipated comeback albums of the last few years, especially after it was so well received in Europe?

I don’t know. I think they were only interested in releasing that horrible deathcore and metalcore shit. That rubbish sells, and besides that, we don’t do any touring so that might have scared the US department off a bit as well. But I think they might regret it a bit now since Death…The Brutal Way is selling very good in the US. Anyway, I’m really glad that Ibex Moon is releasing it in the US since they are 100% dedicated to Death Metal and John is an old veteran, like us (for those that dont know, John McEntee, guitarist/vocalist for death metal icons Incantation, runs Ibex Moon Records). He knows his history just like we do and that feels good.

How did the deal with Ibex Moon come about?

We needed a license deal for the US so we asked John from Ibex Moon. I have met him at the Maryland Deathfest and he’s a very dedicated guy who knows what’s he doing.

You were around at the arguably peak of death metal in the early 90s and now here you are almost 20 years later with classic death metal still here and even making a resurgence. What’s changed in your opinion?

What has changed is that nowadays many bands are involved in some kind of contest of who can play the fastest and most technical “death metal”. Not their hearts are in it, only their minds. They might call it brutal, I call it Dinky Toy metal. It has absolutely nothing to do with real Death Metal at all. Who needs it???? No feeling or soul or whatsoever! Plain rubbish and not heavy.1000 riffs in one song and even more tempo-changes….man. I ask you, where is the song? What is it about??!!?  Also in the past, almost every death metal who could signed were also trading buddies before. That was great!

Is this a full on return of the band or more of a project that you all came back together for? Can we expect another Asphyx album with the same line up in the next year or two?

Well, as long as we like doing this, we will do it. We still are enjoying this a lot and are thinking of another album…Martin even has the title ready.

Are there any US tour plans to support the new album? Maybe a Hail of Bullets/Asphyx tour?

No, but we’ll play on the Maryland Deathfest next year again, and then complete our full set!!

http://www.myspace.com/officialasphyx

Still, here it is, a full 9 years after On the Wings of Inferno (which I never heard- God Cries was my last sour taste of Asphyx) and almost a full 20 years after the legendary 1991 album, The Rack, unarguably one of the top 20 death metal records of all time and Van Drunen’s Asphyx‘s defining moment. And of course, with Van Drunen plying his seminal throat ripping roar, which has kept warm in Hail of Bullets, and a burly guitar tone, the aptly titled Death …The Brutal Way, indeed imbues The Rack in every way.

And speaking of Hail of Bullets, before I get on with the review, my only gripe with Asphyx and Death… The Brutal Way (which I also mentioned in the review of Hail of Bullets‘ recent EP Warsaw Rising) is that with Van Drunen being in Hail of Bullets and their war based death metal, the fact remains the two acts are almost indistinguishable (even down to sharing the same artist, Mick Koopman, for the album art). For example tracks like “The Herald” and “Asphyx II (They Died As They Marched)”, a slow lumbering track, could easily been from Of Frost and War, as could many moments from both albums be completely interchangeable. But I guess that’s a good problem to have.

Still, I digress. “Scorbutics” kicks of the album much like “Vermin” did almost 20 years ago- a furious no holds barred death metal assault that lays the groundwork for the rest of the album, signaling that Bagchus and Van Drunen (joined this time by On the Wings of Inferno bassist Wannes Gubbels and newcomer guitarist Paul Baayens) are indeed back with a vengeance. Death …The Brutal Way is pure old school death metal, the way it was meant to be; Burly, surly, biting, nasty and full of sick grooves and songs about war, death, destruction and torture. Van Drunen is…well… Van Drunen and on top of his game with his vocal performance as his unique rasp delivers 10 no frills chuggers and rumblers like “Bloodswamp”, the fierce title track, “Black Hole Storm”, “Rifleman Redeemer” and oozing slow burning instrumental closer “The Saw, The Torture, The Pain”-All of which cull from The Rack in every way, but without being a total rehash. The only thing the album is lacking that truly special, genre defining track like “The Rack”, though the similar, moody opening strains of “Cape Horn” gives is a fair go.

The US release does come with a bonus DVD that has the band’s entire 2007 reunion show (which prompted a new album) from Party San Open Air Festival in Germany. It’s over an hour with 11 tracks that cull from The Rack and The Last One on Earth including “Vermin”, “Pages in Blood”, “The Sickening Dwell”, “The Krusher”, “M.S Bismark”, “Serenade in Lead” and ‘Asphyx (Forgotten War)” and of course “The Rack” (which still gives me goosebumps). It has decent sound quality (even if Van Drunen’s native tongue between song banter is still grating as hell) and the picture is a very high quality. There’s nothing else though- just the performance.

With Death… the Brutal Way, unlike Pestilence‘s recent comeback, Asphyx have returned as gloriously as Gorefest did on La Muerte, in that they have captured the sound and vibe of a classic and simply made it relevant and fresh 20 years later. Trends and fads may come and go but greatness will always be great.

Death…The Brutal Way will be released in the US on September 1, 2009. The legendary Dutch death metal act reunited in 2007, playing several shows, releasing a 7″ EP in 2008, recording Death…The Brutal Way, and headlining this year’s Maryland Death Fest. It is the first full-length Asphyx album to feature the sickening growls of Martin van Drunen since 1992’s The Last One on Earth.

Van Drunen and bassist/vocalist Wannes Gubbels issued this joint statement about the U.S. distribution deal:

“We as Asphyx are very pleased we’ve found such a dedicated label in Ibex Moon is to distribute our latest release in the USA. From personal experiences in the past we know John McEntee is sworn to the cause of death metal the brutal way and thus will do all in his power to make this release and the band as successful as possible. A release like Death…The Brutal Way is meant to be brought out by a label that we are absolutely certain will put heart, soul, blood, bones, and core behind the matter. Under the Ibex Moon we march!”

The first 1,000 copies of Death…The Brutal Way will be released as a limited-edition with additional slipcase packaging and a bonus DVD featuring the band’s entire, unforgettable reunion show from 2007’s Party.San Festival in Bad Berka, Germany.

Live at Party.San Open Air Festival 2007 bonus DVD track listing:

01. Vermin
02. M.S. Bismarck
03. Serenade In Lead
04. The Sickening Dwell
05. Food For The Ignorant
06. The Krusher
07. Wasteland Of Terror
08. Asphyx (Forgotten War)
09. Pages In Blood
10. The Rack
11. Last One On Earth