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 Interview with Bubonic Plague

Brutal Death Metal from the Netherlands! V.M.U catches up with Bubonic Plague!


VMU: Hey guys how are you?
BP: We are doing great. We've just finished the recordings of our demo and we are now working on the last things to finish it.

VMU: Where are you from and who's the current line up?
BP: We are from the Netherlands and the current line-up is:

    Gijs - vocals
    Pieter - guitar
    Dirk - guitar
    Ronald - bass
    Arendo - drums
VMU: How long have you guys been together?
BP: Gijs, pieter and arendo formed the band a year ago. Around June/April 2003. In January 2004 ronald joined the band and around March dirk joined the band at first only as a live guitar player, about 2 months ago dirk became a full member of the bubonic plague

VMU: What's the music scene like in your country?
BP: The Dutch Metal scene is pretty active. Much bands here, but in my opinion too much US Death Metal. But yeah there are some promising bands in Holland.

VMU: How do you guys feel about the mainstream music scene?
BP: No problem with the mainstream music scene.

VMU: How many releases have you put out and who produced them?
BP: We have recorded 2 demo’s we have produced them both, the first demo was recorded live in our rehearsal room and the vocals and the second guitar were recorded at home. On the site you can download 2 songs from the first demo.The second demo will be available at the end of October or the beginning of November. This demo is also produced by us we have recorded the drums in our rehearsal room and the guitars etc recorded at home and mixed with some programs on the computer.

VMU: Where were they recorded and was it done digital or analog?
BP: They were both recorded analog.

VMU: Could you tell us what gear you use live and in the studio? (in detail)
BP: -Dirk uses Ibanez and LTD guitars, a Boss HM-2 pedal and a Marshall amp.
    -Pieter use a Washburn 7 stringed guitar, a Boss HM-2 pedal, a Korg multi-effects pedal and a   Marshall amp.
    -Ronald uses an Ibanez bass and a peavey top and trace alliot amp
    -Arendo uses TAMA drums and Zildjian and Paiste cymbals.
VMU: Very brutal sound! What are your guys influences musically?
BP: We play old school Swedish Death Metal. Our main influences are Dismember, Bloodbath and Fleshcrawl.

VMU: Any tours in the works?
BP: No not at the moment we have some gigs in the Netherlands to but we are now first looking for a label. We’re now talking to a label in Japan and we’re talking to john from Incantation he wants to bring our demo CD out on his label.

VMU: Do you guys express your beliefs in your lyrics? And how do you feel about some of the groups that do in the Death/Black metal scene?
BP: We don't express any beliefs in our lyrics. In fact our lyrics aren't that important at all. To us it's more important how the vocals sound. When the vocals sound brutal we are happy. I have no problems with other bands being religious.

VMU: Any bad experiences playing live?
BP: No not really, o yes the hangovers the next morning. We also had a performance outside (in a tent). It rained like hell and the roof leaked so some water fell on the stage which made me pretty worried but after all nothing was wrong with our equipment.

VMU: It's very hard to hear good Death Metal in the U.S.A. Especially old style metal like Suffocation, Demolition Hammer, Death and so on. Labels like Century Media and Roadrunner Records has signed a lot of different acts now that have some Death Metal vibe but mix it with a lot of Hardcore, which is really big out here. How do you guys feel about the new styles of metal that is out even Gothic Metal?
BP: I personally have no problem with death metal mixed with some hardcore. I know that Pieter is more into old school death metal so I know he is not into that kinda death metal. And arendo is more into bands like Hate Eternal etc. I know that gijs listen to almost all kinda metal and dirk and I are more into power/heavy metal like me. I personally don’t listen to gothic metal I think it’s so boring I can listen to 1 song then I must listen to something else or I fall into sleep haha.

VMU: Thanks for your time guys! Any last words?
BP: First thanxs for this interview and to all the metalheads that are into Dismember, Fleshcrawl and Bloodbath visit our website www.bubonicplague.nl

VM UNDERGROUND!
September 21, 2004