The world of heavy metal is endlessly going through phases of popularity. Amidst the hordes of current thrash and black metal trend followers are genuine artists, writing music because that's all that they know. They like their music fast, loud, abrasive, and pay no regard to what others think of them. Scene Point Blank recently spoke with guitarist Eddie Chainsaw of up and coming Philadelphia-based metal band Infernal Stronghold.
Thinking about underground metal in America, I think of the golden era, or perhaps more appropriately, the blackest era: the early eighties. This was a time when groups gained popularity through tape trading, features in photocopied paper zines, and shows that were small. Bands were few and spread out across America, existing simply because of fans' ravenous appetite for something faster and more morbid than what was coming out of England at the time. Perhaps the apex of the underground metal scene was East Bay, California, spawning several bands including the one who penned "Metal Militia" and "Creeping Death." Perhaps more horrific than the violent imagery the band sung about is that they now sell albums through video-game endorsements. To think this is the same band that covers Diamond Head's "Am I Evil." Somewhere, Cliff Burton is rolling in his grave.
Is there even an underground metal scene anymore or is it a rotting corpse badly in need of exhumation? Many would say "Hell yeah," but their understanding of underground are the bands found on the second stage at Ozzfest, believing these groups to be both "brutal" and "grim," acts that earned their cred and sharpened their supposedly already razor teeth by forking up five figure payouts to Clear Channel to play the marketing sponsored circus.
While it seems like metal may be nothing more than a commercial ploy commissioned by Hot Topic, there are still basements around the world, poorly lit and filled with bands playing metal and thrash with more snarl and acidity than Mustaine circa 1984. Scene Point Blank talks with Eddie Chainsaw of Infernal Stronghold about what proportions of booze and blasphemy a band needs to be truly evil.
Scene Point Blank: Can you give a history of the band, from your beginnings to your current incarnation?
Eddie Chainsaw: Our drummer, Grzesiek, and I met in middle school after learning we were the only kids at school who liked heavier music. He asked me to learn bass, though I decided to learn guitar instead. This was the earliest formation of Infernal Stronghold. Grzesiek did vocals and I played guitar; finding a drummer was difficult though; we were pissed off because no drummer we met had any concept of a fucking blast beat, so Grzesiek bought a drum set and learned how to play while I took over vocals. We met Richie Rabid and Jim, our current bassist and lead guitarist, in high school and the rest is history. Shortly after that, the band started putting out demos and playing any show we could get on. Eventually we were going on our little tours and spreading our brand of evil.
Scene Point Blank: I know that Eddie and Grzesiek met at a catholic school for boys, what influence does that have on the lyrical themes in Infernal Stronghold songs?
Eddie Chainsaw: Everyone in the band went to catholic school, but that didn't have too much of a direct influence on the content of our songs. Infernal Stronghold as a whole is really just into evil themes and blasphemy. I suppose you could say that being in Catholic School helped fuel our need to bash the name of God. Being educated in a school like that, where religious doctrines always loom over your head, gave us a lot of ideas and continues to do so despite having graduated, but I'd say the bulk of our influence just comes from the want and need for pure blasphemy.
Scene Point Blank: There's a need for blasphemy? From what I understand from public media, there aren't enough moral, church going Americans any more, you disagree?
Eddie Chainsaw: There is a huge need for blasphemy. The media is shit. You go outside and explore this country and you'll find droves of religious sheep spewing stupidity all over the place. Look at the presidential inauguration that recently took place; there was a fifteen-minute prayer service...on national television! I thought that church and state was supposed to be separate? Oh well...Satan lives.
Scene Point Blank: Thinking of your quote "guns and bats, not swords and axes", it speaks to how hokey metal can be sometimes. Does the band feel a bit alienated from the image of bands they could be associated with, some of which are an influence to Infernal Stronghold's sound?
Eddie Chainsaw: Though we like it, we sort of discontinued the quote (laughs). I suppose we are somewhat alienated from the imagery usually associated with black metal though it's not an issue for us. We dig it, but that's just not who we are as people or as a band. Infernal Stronghold came up with the quote I think to break away from the clichés of black metal; we didn't want listeners to hear us and immediately write the band off as another pack of forest dwellers. The quote was an attempt to state that we are a black metal band from a major city with our own style and agenda. Besides, you don't really see anyone walking around Philadelphia wearing gauntlets and corpse paint. Also, I would say it's a jab at bands that say they are uber kvlt and grim when they just aren't. I think it served its purpose and ran whatever course it was going to run.
Words: Scottie | Graphics: Matt | Photo: Rev Aaron
