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 What led to the initial breakup of Nokturnel?
No major event. Just a typical type story of frustration over things not being as successful as we felt we could have been and us having real lives outside of the band. Martin and Eric lost interest in
playing metal while I knew I wouldn't so we decided to put the band on hold, which led to it coming to a temporary end.
Everyone tells horror stories about JL America/Turbo. Are they true - was the label as horrific as everyone says?
I can't say it was too bad for us. We made back the money we invested in the band and even got paid a little, not to mention had our CD sent to a million places. It sucks that you have a label one day and that
the next you don't... that's a fact but seeing how many out there actually own the Nothing But Hatred CD I am guessing there's at least a few thousand floating around and that's not a bad thing.
What made you decide to resurrect Nokturnel?
The timing was right. I had riffs stored in my subconscious as old as the mid 80s, I wasn't in a band anymore and Nokturnel had begun to ressurrect itself really. I was finding out people were talking about the
Nothing But hatred CD, as if it was something rather current as opposed to a release from '93. That was inspirational, and of course the people out there who never stopped liking and trying to support the band
since the beginning.I was sick of being in other peoples bands and not playing my own music, so I got my shit together and set out to record Fury Unleashed.
Did you try to enlist the original members when you first made the decision?
No,only because I knew they wouldn't be able to do the tours which I want to do in the future. I would have preferred them to record with but thought it was best to use different players and have me write
everything.
Any idea what they are doing now?
I talk to them here and there. Eric was the best man at my wedding and probably still plays in his punk band occasionally and I think Marty is working on something with some ex-Human Remains guys.
How long did the writing and recording process for Fury Unleashed take?
That depends on how you look at it. I have been writing and rewriting a lot of the riffs over the course of a decade, maybe even longer. I drove myself crazy in the process too but I am real happy with the final
product so it was worth it. The story behind the recording is impressive if I do say so myself! After I was about 75% done with working on arrangements I enlisted Topetarath from Fog for the drums. I sent him
most of the riffs I had on tape, no drums, not even arranged, just riffs. With that brief introduction, I went up to Indiana to see how he could handle it. I
think he is a great drummer but this style is different than he was used to and it was not easy for him. He absolutely triumphed in the end though. With only 30 hours rehearsal we went into the studio and just
fucking went for it. I pushed him and bassist Lee Ribera to their breaking points. Got the basic tracks down, and then went on alone and finished up the rest of the cd.It was recorded in about 45 hours over the
course of several weeks.
Topetarath is listed on the disc as a session drummer, but Lee is not. Is he a permanent member of the band?
I'd like to think so, but seeing we're playing everything by ear as far as the future the only thing I can really say is I will keep the band going. I have a very busy
personal life with responsibility, so being a permanent member may not be too demanding. I think these guys will be part of things I do in the near future, and possibly onwards after that.
Are you completely satisfied with the final product?
I could pick it apart and complain about certain things, but why bother? I fucking love it and I am proud of it.It is raw and unpolished but somehow sharp and clear. It was not some $10,000 recording. It does the
songs justice and that's all I wanted so yeah, I am satisfied.
How much did Fury Unleashed cost to record?
I won't ever tell anyone but my close friends. It was very cheap, and I think it rivals CDs I know other bands spent outrageous amounts of money on. So I like to keep it to myself. I like the raw sound I got so
much I think I will go back to the same studio to record again next time.
Do you have any plan as to when you will record again?
Officially no, but once people catch on to Fury Unleashed, I will begin to think about recording again more seriously. Being an independent label, this takes time... I am on a small budget.
Have you written any new stuff since the album?
I have more un-used material, both new and old. It takes me forever to be happy, so I take a long time to write.
Any plans for Nokturnel to do live shows?
Yeah, absolutely. But I am actually somewhat responsible these days and can't just pick up and leave life like I used to. I am working on it now though. Hopefully a few shows in March and April. Then
maybe a small tour this fall.
Tom (far right) during his stint with Incantation.
What led to your split with Incantation?
A bunch of nonsense. Lack of appreciation, making no money, frustration of the worst kind and dealing with a shifty no fun out of tune shit head with Napoleon syndrome.
What happened with Morpheus Descends? How did that come to an end?
Kind of a typical falling apart scenario. We had an awesome lineup on the Horror of the Truth which really held awesome potential but we were met with a hard decision. That was wether or not to throw out the
drummer, who was a very important part of the picture for that band. But we felt we had no choice so we did, and when you have 2 guitarists, a bass player and vocalist and no drummer, you,re nothing. We
never found a suitable replacement, so we chose to give it a rest. That band went against the grain for those days. We had a lot of slow and mid paced parts while everyone else was blasting away and many
people ignored us, but of course to others we were total cult, one of the best death metal bands. So it is something I am proud to have been associated with. Interestingly, when the 3 remaining members went
our separate ways, other bands were spawned. Rob, Andy, and I formed Brimstone, which was a black thrash band. Only one song is featured on a compilation. After that Andy had things to deal with
and had to move back to Indiana so we ended Brimstone and hacked up all the songs we had and claimed our parts which spawned Fog for Andy, and Exile for Rob and myself. After doing Exile for a while,
we knew it wasn't to be taken too seriously and I ended up moving to FL for a while. Shortly after that I found out Rob was in Incantation, and then I ended up
there too! Still.....just like I heard while I was on tour about people loving Nokturnel, there were also tons of Morpheus fans. Talking about music we played many years ago, that's always a good feeling.
Every cry during a movie? What movie and what part?
I'm sure I have, I cant recall exactly what. I will say I have more compassion for animals than humans. Watching someone die in a movie is not much to deal with, seeing animals get hurt and die is much more
disturbing and moving.
Why such a minimalist approach to the cover art for the new album?
 A few reasons. Nothing But Hatred was a concept which
was twisted into shit by some artsy fartsy dudes. It came out a lot different than I had originally thought of, it was supposed to be a painting. Not a photograph, and the image was a lot darker and
went along with the pollution concept of the songs "Global Suicide" and "Welcome to NJ." It was supposed to be different, and memorable. I don't hate that CD cover now, but some people hate
it and mock it. Even people who loved the CD. So in a way I got what I wanted, most people say Nokturnel? That band hanging from chains on their cd cover? So....live and learn. Next take into consideration, great
artists like Zig and Petagno. Guys like them end up doing practically everything now and things sometimes look similar, that bugs me. The quality is always outstanding, but when the band sucks but has a great
CD cover, who cares? I am not saying anyone with art by them sucks, I am trying to paint an image here, so I thought "Fuck it." My music is most important, not
the artwork. It also seems more old school to just go with the logo. That is real important for a band coming back after a long break without putting out anything.
And of course, I didn't have to pay for art, so that's that.
Is there any album in your collection that you are somewhat embarrassed that you own and love?
Nah, I myself own nothing but metal with the exception of a few Wesley Willis CDs. I could give a fuck if people think it's... whatever
How is Nokturnel Eclipse distro doing for you? Are you able to make a living from it at this point?
My wife and I both contribute to our lifestyle, which is more than satisfactory for us. Things are going well and looking up, but it's not like the phone rings off the
hook just yet. We still intend to keep this business running with just the 2 of us and no other employees.
Is your wife a metalhead?
Absolutely, we have similar musical interests.
Does she like Wesley Willis too?
She hates it and won’t ever let me fucking play it! I have to sneak in sessions here and there and when I am away from home.
It takes a certain kind of person to appreciate Wesley. What is your favorite tune of his?
"My Daddy Got Me High," or "I Whupped Batman's Ass."
I don't think songs get much better than "They Threw Me Out of Church."
Another classic. Morpheus Descends hung out with him for over a week, it was trip. He loves metal.
How did that happen??
I wasn't there for the first encounter, they met him at one of his shows. He ended up coming to New York for a week to hang out with us and watch us jam. It was fucking hilarious, we made him jam out some songs
for us and after every song, we made him say one of his cool commercials.
Did he actually stay with you guys?
Yeah.
Did he headbut any of you?
Of course. He loved saying my nickname... "Mot." Especially when you throw in the last name. "Mot Snevets."
Okay, two more Wesley questions, then back to Nokturnel... did he take huge rotten dumps?
That I don't know, and never want to know.
I heard he eats like a bear.. did you witness any great feats of eating while he was there?
Honestly, no. If anything he was carrying on about calories and his weight.
That was a long enough tangent. Any plans to release other bands on Nokturnel Eclipse?
I am thinking of doing some other projects and releasing that stuff first. Maybe other bands in 2003.
Did you shop around to labels at all or was self-releasing your intention from the start?
I sent it for opinions only, I would take a deal for another recording, but this one is all mine, the foundation for MY label.
I see on the site that you deal in spiked leather too. Do you make that stuff yourself?
Yes we do. I buy the leather still in the shape of the fucking cow and we hand craft them every tedious step of the way. I have several different sized gauntlets, and we are starting to sell a lot of boot &
leg coverings lately. We are working on new designs and expanding gradually. They're riveted on and never come off, not the screw-ons so it is a lot of work.
Are sales rivaling the CD distro business?
No, that would be exaggerating. Sales are catching up somewhat though, so you never know what the future may hold for me as far as that's concerned.
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