Interviewed by Piston Rod.
Malamor are without a doubt one of the most intense, grooving, catchy and brutal death metal bands on the planet. My first introduction to the band was a live show where they opened for Immolation in Poughkeepsie, NY. I was floored. After the first two bars of a band I had never heard before in my life, I found myself running headfirst into the pit where I spent the entire set. I soon acquired their debut demo, Condemn the Rising. A good release, but it was a shadow of their live presence and performance. Their forthcoming CD release, Dead to the World, has captured Malamor in all their vicious fucking glory. The 4 song advance is one of the few releases to receive a 10/10 rating in Unchain the Underground. Read on and learn where the future of death metal lies...
UtU: How did Malamor form?Ben: My friend Shawn and I both played guitar and we had our thrash and death influences. I must have written about 15 songs back in those days and 20 before that! Well, the original lineup didn't work. We had played with a bassist and drummer for about a year.
After that, we all kind of split up and went our separate ways. I asked my brother Jason if he wanted to sing and he was into it. We then searched forever and finally found a new drummer and bassist. Which still is the current lineup! We have all new songs since then except "Psychotic Emulation", that's why that one sounds old and cheesy. We haven't played that song live in like 2 years.
What does the name Malamor mean and why did you choose it?
Malamor is the "love of all that is evil". When I came up with it, about 6 years ago, I was young and stupid. I combined the two Latin words Malus "evil" and Amor "love". Little did I know we would forever have a name that would be spelt and pronounced wrong. It is Mal-a-mor. The middle "a" is pronounced like the letter "a" in the alphabet.
Are any of the members of Malamor involved in other bands at the moment?
Nope, Shawn our drummer was playing in a jazz ensemble at college. That's about it.
Are the people in your personal life (parents, girlfriend, etc.) supportive of your death metal career?
Well, I'm not sure if it's a "career". It's more like an important hobby. I design web sites and I want to further my education and learn 3d Animation. My parents weren't supportive of the band until after Condemn... was recorded and released. That's why they didn't get thanked. But, once I graduated high school and worked and then started college. They helped me out more. They let us borrow their vehicles to carry equipment if it wouldn't fit in ours, and they let us borrow money. So, they have been really cool lately.
What are your all-time top 5 death metal albums?
Suffocation Effigy of the Forgotten, Deicide Deicide, Cannibal Corpse Tomb of the Mutilated, Dying Fetus Purification Through Violence and Immolation Dawn of Possession. Notice a trend here? Nah!
What was the first death metal album you owned?
Damn, it's hard to remember. The first brutal band was probably the first Deicide album. But I had Slayer and Death way before that. Once you are hooked, you buy everything all at once! It's so addictive.
Are there any new albums that have been a huge disappointment to you?
I haven't heard enough of them to really give an honest opinion. The new Deicide isn't as good as I had hoped for. The new Cannibal is weird... But I need more time to listen. Internal Bleeding's new recording is cool, But I would of liked to hear them pick up the pace more. It's a shame, all of these bands are forced to put out albums so fast. I wouldn't be able to handle it. We would have to do what Immolation did and just drop. I can't write music fast enough for a whole new album a year. And If I did, it would probably all sound the same and suck.
Are you a fan of black metal?
I like a few of the bands out there. I do not like it over all, but bands like Absu are cool. Usually the ones that still have catchy riffs and sing some low parts are the ones I like. I guess they are the ones that still have a bit of death metal still in their blood.
How do you feel about pornography?
I'm into it, as far as the ethical and moral issues, Its up to the woman or man doing it. If they don't mind showing off there bodies to the world, then why should we?
Any favorite stars or films?
Hmm, like James Earl Jones, and Harrison Ford? Haha!! Porno stars... Dyanna Lauren is awesome looking, Jenna Jameson is cute, Juli Ashton, and Missy are pretty cool. The only reason I know this, is because I design web sites and I had to do an adult video store one. So, I was exposed to many actresses. Best money ever earned!
How did you wind up signing with Pulverizer Records?
We played at the Michigan Death Fest and Randy was there supporting Flesh Grind. He saw us and liked it. We gave him our newest recording and he wanted to release it.
Malamor Live @ The Chance, PoughkeepsieTell us about Dead to the World. When can we expect a release?
If I ever finish the multimedia part of it, hopefully this summer! We are still waiting for the artwork to get done and when that is finished, I will design the layout. We played with Suffocation in April and we had it recorded, so we are going to have some live clips of video on the CD-ROM. I am also doing an animation that will hopefully be on there. It will be pretty cool. Kind of like a web site except with higher resolution pictures and a lot more of them. Plus there will be video and music samples. Maybe even an interview, but I'm not sure about that.
How do you feel the new material holds up to Condemn the Rising?
Well, a band always thinks the new music is better then the older tunes. I think its cool. Because we haven't been forced to release this one in a one year period, it has plenty of diverse styles and music that have a four year range of styles and sounds. Eight songs all together.
Have you written any material since the tunes on Dead to the World?
Actually, no. I have been really busy finishing up college and working on web sites, I've been slacking. I have like half a song done. But it will be a long time before that's released.
What is your favorite song on Dead to the World?
The song "Dead to the World" is probably my favorite. But, I have found that "Bless Me Father" always pumps me up and gives me tons of energy at the shows. So, its one or the other. Also, "Bless me Father" is fast brutal and constantly going, no boring moments. Kinda cool!!
Like the other tunes have boring parts...
hehe
What are the titles to the four other tunes on the CD ("Dead to the World," "Fuckers Like You," "Breeding Impurity" and "Bless Me Father" being on the advance)?
"Seduced to Fall", "Drowned Only to be Eaten", "A Part of Me", and a complete redo of "In The Name Of..." (from Condemn The Rising
Why the decision to redo it?
I didn't like the second half, so I wrote a whole new one. I guess, I just got bored with it.
I get the general gist of the tune, but what specifically is "Breeding Impurity" about?
Pretty much, Its about killing all the scum in the world. We live near so many people that just suck. So, I wrote a song about the perfect solution. The last thing said in that song is, "If I ever had my way".
What were you listening to before you discovered death metal?
Metal!!! I grew up listening to Kiss, Wasp, Slayer, Metallica.. pretty much, all of the good metal 15 years ago! My oldest brothers listened to it. So, I was hooked at an early age. Shit, I remember listening to Kiss and drawing their logo in first grade!
Manowar?
For some reason, Manowar was never in the picture. Guess Dave, (My oldest brother) never got into to them. I pretty much listened to the records he had.
Correct me if I am wrong, but there are no solos on the new stuff, right?
That is correct, only vocal solos for me!
Why? Has that always been your "policy?"
I am not a lead guitarist. I dont think solos do anything great for Death Metal. Most of them are just noise. I would rather write a good slam riff, that would get the crowd going, then have them sit around until my solo is finished. Its always a low point in a song live. Suffocation, Dying Fetus, and Death have great solos though! But, like I said, I'm not a lead guitarist.
. There's nothing quite like a 10 minute solo to completely sedate the crowd.
Haha, very true.. It totally kills the energy.
If you could tour worldwide with any three bands, who would they be?
The best band to tour with is probably Cannibal Corpse. They are the biggest Death Metal band, so they would get the most exposure worldwide. I would want to be with bands that I get along with, and that are very cool. As long as we have a good time, and aren't playing in empty clubs, that's all that matters!
As far as the music, though... let's say you're guaranteed a good draw. Which 3 bands would you want to see every night for 4 or 5 months?
It would probably be my favorite bands. Like, Suffocation, Dying Fetus, and I guess Cannibal Corpse. Damn that would be a heavy show!!!
Would you rather fuck or smack the Spice Girls?
Fuck, then smash!!! Ahh, they would be good sex slaves, just remove their vocal chords!
There is a movie coming out on Sin City Video called The 5 Sins... a take on the Spice Girls. They found chicks that look almost exactly like them. They all do a huge lesbian scene in the end!
Hhmmm, I will have to check that one out!!!
"Drowned Only to be Eaten" - about piranhas?
Actually, Its about a train wreck that happened in Florida about 5 years ago. They went into a swamp and were all eaten by alligators. Alligators drown their victims first, bring them to the bottom, and let them get water logged before they are eaten. I wrote the song when I was a junior in High School. I wrote the lyrics the day the accident happened.
Man, where's the Crocodile Hunter when you need him? Ever see that show?
Dundee?
No.. on Animal Planet. This psycho Australian guy catches crocodiles.
Oh yeah!! That guy is nuts! It's great when he gets bit.
Classic. I love when his wife gets all whiney.
Hehehe..typical.
If you were in prison, would you rather be a prison bitch or a bull queer?
I rather stay out of prison. They don't have computers and cool 3d animation software. Actually, I would hope I could kick the shit out of both those types of people, and not deal with that shit. I would just do more mail with the underground until I was released.
Who do you feel are the top guitarists in death metal today?
I like Doug Cerritos writing and playing. Terrance Hobbs is awesome. There are many... Jack Owens is great also. He can just write music all day and night. That's crazy, I couldn't do that. I usually just listen to the bands. I have never really had a hero or a favorite.
How did you wind up getting Frank Mullen from Suffocation to sing on the songs "Breeding Impurity" and "Dead to the World?"
Suffocation are friends of mine. We played with them in Ohio on the night before the Michigan Death Fest and I did sound for them both nights. I just asked him if he would be into it. He said that it would be cool, and when the time came, I called up Doug, and he got Frank and Terrance and they came down to Sabella Studio's in Long Island where we were recording. It was very cool, We had found a Mexican restaurant that had the biggest burritos we had ever seen! We were eating when they showed up, and they we so amazed by the "Two Fisted" burritos that they ran out and got some too. Even though they had just eating like an hour before.
Any live shows coming up?
Yeah, we are playing August 1st at "The Chance" in Poughkeepsie NY with Cannibal Corpse (email Ben if you need tickets or show details).
Any last words?
Yeah, check out our website (link below) if you get a chance. E-mail me and tell me what you think! Sign our guestbook too. If anybody reading this is interested in seeing us play live, we would love to play in your town/city/state. If you would like to book us please email me and we can arrange it. Thank you very much for this interview! I wish you the best of luck with your zine!
MALAMOR c/o Ben Kolts
P.O. Box 483
Hurley, NY 12443 - USA
