Mike Apocalypse (Gehenna, Sangraal, Devil)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2010? (In order 1-5)
I recently wrote a top 5 for Metal Maniacs magazine. When I wrote that up I tried to keep in mind that I should focus on releases that may open up its readers to some great new music. I also tried to keep in mind that while GEHENNA releases are almost all I listen to, it wouldn't be fair to only list my own stuff. So I rolled a joint, poured a drink and thought about what I listened to over and over this year that wasn't a release that I recorded on. The list looked like this:
5.) ACEPHALIX - “Interminable Night” cassette. Visions Of Excess.
This is what happens when your favorite crust band fine tunes their sound to incorporate the ghosts of their favorite black/death/thrash metal bands. Great tape!
4.) VIOLENT RULER - “Swelling The Morgue” LP. Rock Cocaine Records.
Technical death/thrash/speed metal with whirlwind drums, blistering guitars and gut wrenching vocals that will blow your fucking mind. Keep your eyes peeled for VIOLENT RULER.
3.) MATER SUSPERIA VISION - “Second Coming” CDR.
Screwed and Chopped horror movie sound tracks that make you feel like you’re rollin’ out the frame on drugs. Serious codeine shit.
2.) INTEGRITY - “We Are The End” 7 inch. Magic Bullet Records.
The two songs of typical brilliance from one of the best bands ever.
1.) PENETRATION PANTHERS - “On The Prowl” CDR.
This is the best demo to come out in the last 10 years! Not only does it remind me of how excited I was to open my mail box everyday in 1988, but it sounds like it came out then! Every song is a party anthem of distorted 1980’s Skate thrash.
What band did you discover in 2010 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
MATER SUSPIRIA VISION. Their grasp on the way to make the listener feel like they’re in an altered state is incredible. PENETRATION PANTHERS. This band is the new gods of raw skate rock and roll. They’re the most solid folks and they rip live.
How will you remember 2010? (In terms of music)
I have no idea. I barely remember last week. Here are some of the things I was involved in that were released in 2010 that I will remember.
- DEVIL - “Live Entry” 7”
- GEHENNA - “The Hope Guzzo Bootleg” LP
- GEHENNA / CALIFORNIA LOVE split 7”
- GEHENNA / BLIND TO FAITH split 7”
- SANGRAAL - “Fatal Coordinates” 7”
- GEHENNA - “Upon The Gravehill” LP Reissue
- GEHENNA / VEGAS split 7”
- 7.17 Comp 7”
- Helping D.C. record part of the PENETRATION PANTHERS demo
- INTEGRITY : The Blackest Curse
With more and more bands switching to digital methods of releasing music and communicating with audiences in 2010, do you think there's still a place for physical CDs and word-of-mouth shows in the future?
Yes. There will always be room for actual releases. Digital stuff sucks. It has no feeling, and no life. I've been contemplating not having any digital downloads as a format at all anymore. I hate digital releases.
What can we look forward to from you in 2011?
Even less digital material and more physical releases. New releases from members of The Cult Of The Seven Crowns:
- PENETRATION PANTHERS 7 inch
- GEHENNA / INTEGRITY split 7 inch
- GEHENNA new album
- GEHENNA "Cult Of The Seven Crowns" Screwed and Chopped mixtape
- GEHENNA "Land Of Sodom II" 7 inch, and "Land Of Sodom / Upon The Gravehill" CD
- GEHENNA "Negotium..." LP Reissue.
- BLACK SUN VALLEY split 7 inch and 7 inch
- GEHENNA / VIOLENT RULER split 7 inch
- PARALLEL HELLS
- THE LESSER KEY
- And tons more stuff.
What three records are you looking forward to most in 2011?
PENETRATION PANTHERS 7 inch, GEHENNA / INTEGRITY split 7 inch, the new GEHENNA album, all of the stuff listed above. Basically I just want to hear the music my friends and I make. I'm not worried about anything else.
