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Tampa Florida's Diabolic
has seen it's share of diversity. yet, once this mighty foursome hit
the stage, it is all forgotten. Their apocalyptic brand of death metal
is perfect for our uncertain age. I first heard Diabolic at a tiny
dive club here in San Francisco, when they toured with Infamy many
years ago. I have been friends when Brian and Aantar for a long time
and am happy that things are finally going their way. This is a phone
conversation I had with Brian just recently. Diabolic are:
Paul Ouellette - vocals/bass,
Brian Malone - guitars,
Jerry Mortellaro - guitars,
Aantar 'Blastmaster" Coates - drums.
 Are
you finally at the point where you are happy with the line up in Diabolic?
Yes, absolutely, 100%. All four members now
write. The writing core has always been Paul, me and Aantar. Jerry's
attitude is so positive. For the first time we have all the members
writing. That's awesome. Everybody's attitude is positive. For the
first time, Diabolic is a full lineup.
What were some of the line up problems the band went through?
Yeah, without getting too specific, we're pretty
intense, as a band, we're very dedicated, we're extremely determined,
and it's difficult to deal with for some people. We're very focused
on what needs to be done and how it needs to be done. I guess it takes
a strong personality to hang onto to this train that's running away.
Fans are starting to notice us. We're working our asses off to keep
up with the success of Diabolic, and to keep up with what's going
on. Job's are a necessary evil that we need, but the band is first
and foremost the important thing.
You do need money.
Yeah, gotta pay the bills.
You also had label problems as well.
Yeah, also for the first time we're happy with
our label situation. We're fine with Olympic Recordings. Finally Diabolic
is available for people to buy. We record an album, we're proud of
it, people are asking for it, and no one can find it. Olympic has
distribution through Sony in the US, so any store anywhere has it,
and it's widely available online. Marty is a cool guy as well. Olympic
is a great record label to deal with for us zines. He has a great
reputation, and is easy to get a hold of. They treat their bands well
I've heard. They have the resources to get things done, the other
label didn't, and I understand that. But up to a point, we needed
the resources, so we asked them to drop us. And they wouldn't. Subterreneal
was recorded in June, of 2000, and a year and 5 months later, they're
releasing it.
So they're trying to get sales off the release of your Vengeance?
No comment.
There is a lot of anger Vengeance. Can you that tell me a little about
it.
While we were writing it, we were involved in
the, uh, label war, to get off our label for the survival of diabolic.
It was life or death for the band. We were facing extinction on our
old label where they could do nothing for us. In the middle of all
that, we decided to start writing, and a lot of anger came out. As
I was listening to it, I thought that in the post 9-11 world it fits
really well. I'm thinking 'yeah, this is how I've felt for the last
two months'. Yeah, I was talking to Aantar about that. We were talking
about all the anger and frustrations. Hopefully some military guys
can listen to this and get inspiration.
So you've had a year an a half to write Vengeance?
We started writing in about February. We always
write a riff here and there, jot it down, work on it later. This one
we worked on the riffs as we got them. But in February we actually
hit it really hard writing the songs and doing the arranging. We got
right into the writing process. Everybody here contributes to the
songs. Aantar our drummer, hears something in his head, he whistles
it, we work in out, and get it going. We can't we throw it away until
we see if we can use it or not.
Where did you record it?
At DOW Productions in Mango, Florida, not far
from here. Our producer Juan 'Punchy' Gonzalez, who did Subterraneal
Magnitude, he has his own studio, so it made logical sense to go through
him again. He did a great job. So we went to his studio where he's
really familiar with everything. He built it himself. Steve 'Devine'
Wright assisted. We teamed up with him, which is great, those guys
are geniuses. Yeah, they know their shit. It's like being around the
Startship Enterprise with all the lights and knobs. It took two weeks,
instead of two days like the ones before it.
It must be difficult not to be completely disillusioned.
(Brian laughs)
Funny, huh?
Yeah.
How do you stay focused on what is really important'
That's easy for us, it's in our blood, it's
what we do. We were kids listening to metal, I couldn't ask for a
better bunch to write music with, all four different personalities,
all contributing. We're all within one circle, a pretty powerful force.
We know what needs to be done. We have a lot of good ideas floating
around. You know, the chemistry is what makes Diabolic different.
We know what we want to do, we're not searching for our sound, we
know it and we want to prove it to everybody. As song writers, we're
getting better and better.
By far this is your best album. I interview a lot of bands and each
one says that their latest album is their best, but this really is
your best work.
(Laughs) Yeah, we know that and we're really
proud of it.
It's probably a good thing you have learned to do things for yourself.
I don't know of many bands who could go through what Diabolic has
and stay together.
Yeah, self-reliance is definitely one of our
main traits. Each of us is an individual, then a band and a business.
We're hard workers, if we have somebody as a label or management who
understand this and, if they can match our work ethic, that's all
we ask. First touring with bands like Cannibal Corpse and then with
Morbid Angel, was the greatest experience for us. We learned a lot
form them. We have nothing but appreciation for them. They go out
of their way to support lesser-known bands. Yeah,
they do. They're great.
What CDs are you listening to currently?
Got the new Halford CD I've been listening to.
Is it the live one'
No, I didn't get the live CD. Oh, the live one
is excellent. But the studio Halford is great. Doesn't it rocks'
It is great. I really like the new Iron Maiden as well. I've always
been a Priest fan. It's really cool Halford's getting back into metal.
The new Krisiun is also really good.
I saw them at Wacken this summer. They're an amazing live band. The
new Immolation of course is really good.
So, you're finally going on tour in January'
 The
Marduk tour was originally supposed to start in October, but now it
starts in January. We're touring first in December with Enslaved,
Macabre, The Electric Wizard and Scar Culture.
Where is this tour going?
The Northeast only.
Damn!
(Laughs) Yeah, I know. You'll have fun. Enslaved
are nice guys. I've heard that. We're going to have a nice time.
Who's on the January tour with you? Marduk, Amaon Amarth, Katyklsm
and Diabolic, the dates will be up on our website as soon as we know
them.
Watch out for Amon Amarth, they're big time
partiers. I've heard that, we'll have a great time.
One thing I've always wanted to ask bands: how do you guys get the
time off work to go on tour'
Well, we quit. (laughs) We just quit our jobs
and come back and deal with it. For the Marduk tour canceling in October,
we had rented the van, we were packed and were ready to go on tour.
Me and Aantar had moved out of our former apartment, and just about
an hour before take off time we got a phone call that they (Marduk)
had passport problems and couldn't get out of Sweden, or into the
US. We had to adapt; we had to readjust. We have had a lot of adversity.
I'd be the first to agree with that. But you are survivors.
We are definitely in the habit of adaptation.
Have your attitudes/opinions changed since Sept. 11th?
Of course, everybody's has. There's a lot of
anger at people who do those things. You know, let alone all the people
have died, the mass destruction they did, the economic problems trickle
down to the clubs, the bands, and the music. It effects everything;
travel, shows, everything. Where I work at the Fillmore with really
big bands, lots of them had to cancel. Sure, Marduk delayed, but everything's
ok now. Besides that, the basic attitude of the album sums up what's
going on: we're engaged in war. And now, we're in a real war. Hey,
it's pretty crazy shit. We played New York with Mayhem in June, just
one show. We played at CBGBs. On our way home, we're flying over New
York City. Aantar is reading a magazine and I'm looking out the window
and I say to Jerry, 'Look dude, there's the Twin Towers.
Check out Diabolic online at: www.diabolicblastmasters.com
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