MTUK METAL 'ZINE - INTERVIEW WITH GOREAPHOBIA

East Coast America 1988, Philadelphia to be precise, GOREAPHOBIA were formed by Chris Gamble and Alex Bouks. Although probably one of the first east coast American death metal bands, over the years they never actually got round to releasing a full length album. This years storming ‘Mortal Repulsion’ was what I and a number of death metal fanatics were waiting for, and the best part about it all is the fact that its old school to the bone, no need for blast beats, pig squeals or other unmentionables. The band have honed their sound with many an influence, like their former years playing alongside death metal greats IMMOLATION. Following the album release this year on the fantastic Ibex Moon Records, GOREAPHOBIA managed to secure a touring slot with another of those American death metal legends MASTER. Now the tour was complete, and yours truly got the chance to have a chat with founding Guitarist Alex Bouks, whom also treads the boards with INCANTATION (for whom will tour the UK in January 2010) and MASTER. After so many years playing in other bands and projects, it was time to find out a bit more from GOREAPHOBIA.

PM: It has been a long time coming, but ‘Mortal Repulsion’ is a fantastic death metal release. Although you have never really been away from the scene in a sense, there have been numerous line-up changes in the past with various side projects etc. How did Goreaphobia come to re-activate itself?
And in that time, apart from your various other projects, how have you been filling your days?
AB: Well, it has been a long time since the band was active I would say about a 15 year gap. As far as other projects I play guitar in INCANTATION, Chris has his other band BLOODSTORM, and Jimmy has various projects that he plays drums for. As far as filling my time I have been writing for the new record.
PM: Was John McEntee at Ibex Moon Records instrumental in the ‘Mortal Repulsion’ release? I understand he played bass on the album, but is now no longer in the band?
AB: John, released the record. He has been a huge help pushing the band in the media. He did not play on the record. He did contribute music to one song that he co wrote with me called Primal Nothingness. He is no longer in the band because he just has had too much on his plate. He runs Ibex Moon Records. He has INCANTATION and FUNERUS. So he is very very busy. So it just became too much for him to play with us any longer. We have a new guitar player that goes by the name VJS. He has done a superb job!
PM: What are your thoughts on to excellent press response to ‘Mortal Repulsion’?
AB: I am glad people like the record. There have been some unfavourable reviews as well. But the good outweighs the bad by far.
PM: Were these all new recordings or older songs shelved and re-addressed?
AB: All new tracks on the record.
PM: Is there a favourite track the band likes to play from this album?
AB: I like ‘The Inevitable Punishment’. It is a very dramatic track for me.
PM: Kris Verwimp was responsible for the artwork, how did you come to work with Kris and what was the main idea behind the artwork/concept?
AB: We liked his artwork. It is not comical. It has atmosphere to his work. We wanted it to be dramatic and dark. The concept deals with the gods suffering.
PM: Can we expect a vinyl release in the future?
AB: There is talk of Mortal Repulsion coming out on vinyl. But nothing concrete yet.
PM: How did the tour go with MASTER and DREAMING DEAD? Were there any notable shows, responses? Any fun stories or mishaps you may want to share with our readers?
AB: The tour was good. There were some real great shows and some not so good. But overall the response to the band was great. There were some problems with shows being cancelled and re booked. I got to see some old friends as well. Chris and Eric from Autopsy came out in San Francisco. That was a good time and great show. I have always liked playing California. Houston Texas was the best show of the tour. Total chaos!!I Myself and Jim also played for Master as well on the tour so we were pulling double duty. It was a pleasure working with Paul Speckman. He is a true warrior in the scene.
PM: Will there be any European and especially UK tour dates next year?
AB: We were working on something with Acheron to tour Europe. But that is not happening now. We want to come over so hopefully next year.
PM: Can we expect future releases in the near future from Goreaphobia?
AB: We are writing the next record right now. So we are hoping to star recording the next one in a few months.
PM: What are your thoughts on the newer “brutal” bands that have come out, that concentrate their sound on a million notes a minute and with blast beats a million BPM? Do you think there is a loss of “soul” or that “earthy” appeal of the original style or do you see it as a natural progression for death metal in general? Or have people lost their way with pig squealing!!?
AB: My honest opinion is it is complete rubbish. There is no substance to it at all. There is no song writing or feeling behind the music. It is not death metal!!!
PM: Describe in your words what GOREAPHOBIA are all about!
AB: We are a dark extreme heavy metal band. I would like to say that our music will take you on a journey into the unknown.
PM: Could not have put it better myself!
Thanks Alex Bouks
Thank you very much for your time.
For more on the band check out http://www.myspace.com/goreaphobia
http://www.goreaphobia.com/main.htm
http://www.ibexmoonrecords.com

Interviewed by Paul Maddison

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