A Dirty Dozen with THE SCUM – November 2022

According to a recent press release: “Colombian death Metal distributors THE SCUM release a new video for “The Death of Light” from their recently released album The Hunger. The video recently premiered via Ghost Cult Magazine. The Scum was created in 2013 in Manizales, city of the Eje Cafetero, cradle of extreme metal in Colombia. Their material has been released by the most important record labels in Colombia: Brutalized Records and Hatewoks, played shows in cities around their country and Ecuador and in some of the most important metal festivals in their region. From the beginning THE SCUM has been strongly influenced by the horror genre in films and literature and the sounds of old school death metal.” We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our last release is the second full length of the band and is called The Hunger in the record you can find a sound very close to the Stockholm school of death metal of the early 90es but with a special aim to produce songs that could be catchy for the listeners. The hidden nuggets maybe the subtle touches of crust and d-beat that we add to our music. But we make a very direct and in your face  kind of death metal.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I don’t know. Maybe to listen to The Beatles when I was a kid made me feel very happy and made me sing with the chorus of some of their songs. Later when I listen a song with slightly loud guitars instantly grabbed my attention and made me want to do heavy music!!

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

For me was a Spanish heavy metal band that came to Colombia in1987 and I had the opportunity to see them in my home town Pereira. Later a song of Celtic Frost called “Dethroned Emperor” really helped me to define my taste in music!!

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Thomas Gabriel Fisher or “Warrior” of Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Tryptikon.  I would choose him because, for me, is one of the most influential musicians and one of the most important pillars in the creation and development of  extreme metal music. I really admire his work!!!

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I like to watch to horror movies, to train in the gym, to collect metal vinyl and to read philosophy books. I am a real Nerd!!!!

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Direct, in your face and catchy traditional death metal. I can’t remember a comparison that made me angry but I hate when reviewers try to put down a band just because their style of music is not the cup of their tea. You can’t ask a band that make a direct and simple style of music to make progressive music and judge them by those standards for example.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

No one!!!!! Hahahaha No body cooks any one get their own things and nobody sings with acoustic guitars!!!

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I don’t know any “Star”!!!!! I was really pleased to can say hello and interact with Danny Lilker at the door of the official hotel of Rock al Parque when I was playing with a former band called Ritual and he was there to play with Nuclear Assault in 2015. Danny is a legend of the underground and a real metal warrior!!!!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I don’t know. Maybe to see the reaction of the audience when your band really liked them. I have my dream job I am a University teacher of Philosophy and I enjoyed it so much.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I think that one of the basis of interviews is to be willing to answer any question and do it with a good attitude. I don’t have a wanted question and any question must be answered. If a question is so bizarre or unstructured you always can answer with a short yes or no!!!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Maybe to work harder with some aspects of the development of the band a few years ago.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Oooopppss!! Maybe Slayer Show No Mercy or Celtic Frost Morbid Tales!!! Those records are seminal and decisive in the formation of extreme metal and I always wanted to be a witness of those events.

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Category: Interviews