PM: Hi Mark, how are things going at the moment for you?

MR: I’ve been quite busy in recent weeks with various activities.

PM: How did Fetid Zombie come about?

MR: Fetid Zombie was established as a solo death metal music effort in early 2007, based loosely around my illustrations and as a way for me to get back in touch with my metal roots. I recorded a few death metal demo tapes in the early 1990s with my twin brother—under the name Excrescent—and have been playing bass for the band Unburied since 1994. Fetid Zombie has rekindled my interest in recording this genre of music and is in essence a soundtrack to my heinous artwork.

PM: Will there be a live band and live shows in the future?

MR: No, I seriously doubt this. Between recording and writing music with the several bands I’m involved with, keeping up with my freelance illustration career, day-time job, and family it’s impossible for me to entertain the idea.

PM: Where do your influences come from?

MR: Musically, Fetid Zombie is all over the map as I draw much influence from the early 90s underground death metal scene, technical death metal, gore-grind, black metal, and thrash metal. I think all of these styles are somehow evident in the music I write. Some of the bands whom have influenced my efforts include Bestial Mockery, Witchtrap, Inveracity, Blood Freak, Nunslaughter, Nifelheim, General Surgery, Cryptic Slaughter, Decrepit Birth, Timeghoul, Impetigo, Phantasm, Lesch Nyhan, Speirling, etc.

PM: Your EP (‘Abort the Messiah’) is the first release I have heard from you, having since listened to your album ‘Pleasures of the Scalpel’. Do you see the EP as a natural progression, or just Business as usual?

MR: I view it as some of both. “Abort the Messiah” certainly carries more black/thrash influence on a couple of the tracks whereas “Pleasures of the Scalpel” was based heavily on pummelling, fast-paced death metal with a few more technical portions. The riffs on “Abort the Messiah” are a lot more simplistic and catchy, in my opinion. I’m currently finishing work on my next full-length effort, “Vomiting in the Baptismal Pool,” where you will likely hear a continuation of the brutal and technical death metal balanced by some ripping black/thrash nuances.

PM: Do you have any favourite tracks, or did you have any memorable experiences while writing the tracks?

MR: Probably the most memorable experience I had when recording “Pleasures of the Scalpel” was when Jim Malone, from Arsis, drove about six hours to come to my house and record a guest guitar solo spot on the track ”Gimp Mask Confessional.” His dedication and effort was truly honourable. My favourite track on “Pleasures of the Scalpel” is “Toilet Water Baptism” and my favourite on “Abort the Messiah” is “Ride the Goat to Jerusalem.” Ultimately, and I think this applies to most musicians, the goal of writing and recording music is to make something you can personally enjoy on your own; if you’re able to share it; that is even better.

PM: Would you want to release your music on different media other than downloads or CD-Rs? Say a full CD release, tape, vinyl or something.

MR:”Pleasures…” was published on CD in a standard jewel case with booklet however I would absolutely love to publish on vinyl. I plan to shop my new full-length recording around to labels so I can have it published on CD or vinyl; if not then I will work with my label, www.metalhit.com, on at least getting a CD version published to accompany the digital download of the album. I also have tentative plans to publish three split 7” records this year with Unburied, Yamatu, and Queef Huffer.

PM: How did the deal with “metalhit.com” come about? How does that work, as it must be different dealing with MP3 releases as opposed to the usual CD pressings. You are obviously happy to work in the digital age!

MR: MetalHit is owned and operated by my twin brother so the relationship is working quite well. MetalHit does a great job getting my music into the digital market as they have secured distribution through all of the major online music retailers like iTunes, eMusic, Naptser, Rhapsody, etc. This makes Fetid Zombie easily accessible in the digital music market. This said, the downfall is the lack of having a tangible object to hold and treasure. That’s why I had my debut published in CD format and my EP available as a limited edition CD-R release. Since Fetid Zombie, is based around my artwork, it’s important for me to have a visual somehow attached to my music; that’s why I hope to publish on vinyl sometime in the future as it will yield nice packaging and because I’m a huge fan of vinyl.

PM: What is the best and worst comment you have been told about your music from the press?

MR: Fetid Zombie has received mixed reviews in the scene. I try not to let anyone’s opinion get in the way of my music because it’s truly written for my own pleasure. Most of the criticism I’ve received has been for my vocals—some of which involves some pitch-shifting, drum programming, and overall sound quality. I’ve recruited the drummer from Unburied, Brian Forman, to record the drums on the new full-length so this will certainly change how some might view Fetid Zombie. Outside of those criticisms my music has been fairly well-received.

PM: What made you choose to play death metal?

MR: I’ve been a fan of death metal music for over twenty years and Fetid Zombie is a way for me to express my sincere fondness for this genre of music. I’ve written and recorded a variety of albums with different bands in different genres but metal has always been where my passion resides.

PM: Which band or artist for you symbolises death metal to the max?

MR: This is a difficult question to answer but for me it would have to be Death, when “Scream Bloody Gore” came out.

PM: Do you listen to other genres of metal at all? If so, what artists/bands?

MR: Yes, I appreciate all kinds of metal, and a lot of non-metal music as well. My collection is filled with death metal, black metal, power metal, folk metal, thrash, doom, progressive rock, doom metal, hardcore, dark ambient, neofolk, medieval, experimental, power electronics, gothic rock, industrial, etc.

PM: What instruments and equipment do you use in the studio and at home?

MR: For Fetid Zombie I use a hallow body Ibanez Artcore-series electric guitar and an Ibanez bass. I record directly into my computer software program, Acid Pro 5, with a Tone Port UX2 interface. I also play a plethora of acoustic instruments for my other musical projects.

PM: Your artwork and t-shirt designs are very well known and famous. Do you consider yourself an artist more than a musician or a bit of both, or vice versa? I see you started out as a musician in the early 1990’s.

MR: Thank you for your kind words on my artwork. I consider myself an artist before a musician as this is where I focus more of my attention and have yielded the most successful results.

PM: Where does your inspiration come from for music and artwork?

MR: Death truly inspires me. Coping with one’s own mortality is one of the many struggles of existence; it’s the inevitable shadow that looms over us everyday. Another subject of inspiration for me is my own personal dissatisfaction with organized religion, predominantly the western mindset held by Christianity; it often receives much abuse and criticism in my creative work.

PM: What is your favourite piece you have drawn?

MR: I’m incredibly satisfied with the “Vomiting in the Baptismal Pool” album cover I illustrated for Fetid Zombie. Thank you very much for your time and support. All the best to you and Metal Team UK!

For more on the band check out http://www.myspace.com/fetidzombie

Interviewed by Paul Maddison

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