Wednesday, January 2, 2013

An Interview with Kingsley King Fowley of DECEASED

DECEASED, needs no introduction. Truly a pioneering underground force to reckon with and one of the most influential extreme metal acts in our list. Along with bands like Exmortis, Revenant, Ripping Corpse, Goreaphobia, Death Strike/Master, Dr. Shrinker Etc, Deceased churned out some of the menacingly extreme, extreme music that survived the test of fading time; Recently we had an honour to get in touch with 'One and Only - Kingsley King Fowley' and we cant express the magnitude of our happiness enough to be able to speak with one of the most inspiring figures in the extreme underground. Putrid Ascendancy extends the hands of immense gratitude to Mr. King Fowley for his time and this interview!

PA: Let us begin with hearing a couple of words about Deceased, what would you like to tell us?

KF: CHEERS! Well here it is 2012 December. Band’s about to enter its 28th year together. A new album is in the works and we’re about to go out on an American tour as well. Very happy and pleased to still be hard at work in a band that means everything to me.

PA: being a band from the 80's and starting off with a very primitive and old school sound earlier, how would you shed light on the influences which helped you in shaping us such a tight sound for Deceased ?

KF: We’ve grown up through it all. We’ve learned to play our gear and with that the proper adding and subtracting has come to the forefront. We’ve always played with the fast and thrash ideas as well as the heavy metal melodies too. We’re just able to do more now due to learning to write/create songs and all that come with it. I’ve shaped my voice into how I enjoy singing for Deceased. It’s come a long way too! The band is a fine tuned machine these days!!!

PA: As your lyrical themes tell us about zombies and classic works of horror from 'The Twilight Zone' and of Edgar Allan Poe, what in particular compelled you towards that theme and how do you frame it so well in terms of creating music with?

KF: It’s fitting to what this band is all about. We’ve always gone for morbid topics and ‘fitting’ themes to our sound. I have many things I love from the horror genre. From written works to film to fiction ideas in my mind. Even nonfiction horrors are a part of it. This was very prominent on the ‘Surreal Overdose’ record.
 
PA: We would like to know from you, about the sound of Deceased. How is it different now compared to the earlier sound? Please tell us how the sound had evolved over years and how significant do you find this change?
KF: We were young and on drugs and just teens. We wanted to turn the amps all the way up play the fastest tempos and just be ugly raw and aggressive. We learned dynamics to make those fast parts stand out more in time. We learned how to keep guitar solos in key. We learned to layer vocals and to layer guitar ideas. All this to us is very fun and a dream to grow into better song writers. Only time and trial and error can get you there. We still love the turn it up and go for it attitude and we surely haven’t ‘mellowed’ with age either. It’s all still there just in a more professional package overall.

PA: Do you prefer using ‘Vintage Gear' or Analog Technology for the construction of your music. If yes, tell us more about it?

KF: We use what’s fitting to us. We still just buy our guitar heads and cabs and go for it on that ideal. We’re not much for ‘today's sounds’ in gear. Classic sounds are stuck in our heads and I’m sure always will be. When it comes tr recording we dabble in technology now and then but most of the time we don’t like what it brings so we abandon it.

PA: Please name a couple of Heavy Metal bands which you love and never forget to listen to?

KF: Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Voivod are 3 of our main metal influences and always will be.
PA: We would like to know about the metal scene in Virginia presently, tell us about the local bands and upcoming metal bands from there?

KF: I don’t live in Virginia for over 7 years now but when I visit and we practice nearby in Washington d.c area (only Mike lives in Virginia there these days) I don’t see much. The music scene is pretty beat down there. Used to have a damn good scene and we’d be the band to promote it all and set up shows. It seems the music down that way is pretty low key and not really moving up.

PA: Any recent tours out of U.S? Are you working on a new Deceased release, is it going to be a full-length? Name some places, festivals you like to tour and why? Also tell us about about new venues you'd like to play at or places, that Deceased is planning to visit in future?

KF: We are going to do a U.S tour in march going west coast and in between some too. A new LPs is in the works. It’s called ‘Ghostly White’ and it’ll be put out on Hell’s Headbangers records. We hope by 2013 end to have it out. I love playing anywhere big or small! All shows are a good time with us. We just love to set up and have a blast. We’d love to get to Europe in 2014 and do a full European tour. That’s next on our ‘things to do’ list!!!
PA: Which Deceased album would you give an aesthetic importance and why ? What in your opinion are the important aspects of producing a proper and complete metal record?

KF: I think all we’ve done is important in our growth. Many consider ‘Fearless Undead Machines’ as our best. I’m more into the sound and style of ‘Supernatural Addiction’ this is my fave Deceased record. It all comes together just right to me on that one. To make a complete record first off you need good songs. Memorable and with substance and variation! You need to take your time and do it right. Hurrying really never does a lot of good to anything. And if its of standard in time it might be considered a classic to the heavy metal world. I’m from the school that if as an artist I enjoy the finished product then I’m satisfied for all time!

PA: What do you have to say about trendy, posing genres like Death core and Metalcore?How much has it helped the 'Metal Scene' all around the world?

KF: Music is music. There would be many fools and trend jumpers. I ignore it the best I can and that’s all you can do. Be strong at what you do and don’t let that stupidity slow down your dreams in the music field. The strong will survive!

PA: What is your call on Grindcore? Name the bands you are fond of and you support, in that genre.Also tell us how bands like Dead Kennedys and the rest of the hardcore punk bands help give Deceased the rawness to its sound?

KF: I love a lot of hardcore from the old days and punk from the Ramoners to Plasmatics,Dk’s, Mdc, English Dogs, The Accused etc. These bands have a good raw angle and it really added to the vibe we are a part of. Grindcore is cool if the drummer can keep up and the riffs are ferocious. Bands like Repulsion are amazing.

PA: How do you differentiate the American Metal Scene to that of the Europe? What is the dissonance you find in European Metal compared to the rest of the world?

KF: Well its so interchanged these days most of it matches up now on all shores. But younger I noticed the Europeans had a lot of musical ideas from guitar harmonies and a lot of melody that America had to catch up on. They kept the heavy edge and still made viable intense metal music.
PA: What in your terms is called a 'real establishment' for a metal band? How important is Deceased to you and the others in the band?

KF: I live for the band. It is my life. To speak for the other guys they love doing what we do and even though we’re in our 40s now still find time to make it all happen. We know when time comes to write new material that we won’t rush or shit it out. We will do it with the love and care we give our songs we create. We don’t believe in half ass and we wont ever fall into that.

PA: What is the amount of time you spend with Deceased and what impact does it lay on you at the end of the day? What is Deceased other than just being music to you? Tell us about your involvement in the band?

KF: Oh every day is about the band. From booking shows to setting up jams to making shirts to talking to folks who support us like yourself. My involvement is the ‘leader’ of the band. The guys know I’m always in the best interest of the band. It’s what I do and what ill always do. It’s my life. Music is my wife!!

PA: What good news about Deceased do you want to share with us so we cherish it on its name?

KF: We’re still doing our thing! We’ve never swayed or faltered. On we go! Proud to be 100% still ourselves all these years later!~!!
PA: Its a tradition of Putrid Ascendancy to ask you to name 5 of your favorite metal albums of all time.go ahead.......

KF: Sure some albums I live for, Black Sabbath ‘Mob Rules’, Voivod ‘Killing Technology’, Jag Panzer ‘Ample Destruction’, Y&T ‘Mean Streak’ and Whiplash ‘Power and Pain’ are 5 of them! All classics in every sense to me.
PA: It was a pleasure! We wish you great success with your career and future; and the best of wishes to Deceased. So lastly, what message do you want to send out to your fans?  
KF: Thanks to all for reading and the support. Wishing everyone well over the holidays 2012. Be yourself and stay wild! UP THE TOMBSTONES!!!!! Hails and greetings!

-Syd Myers

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