Decayed Interview With J.A.

Decayed is a black metal band, and after a recent promo of the band from an unreleased album that was recorded a few years back, I got in touch with band member J.A. for this chat:

So, now the band is based in Portugal. Do many metal tours come out there, and are metal releases hard or easy to find?

JA - Dude... this is the XXI century... things were different in the 80s, but now? (You tell me that is why I was asking, Chris.)

So, when did you get into underground metal music, and what were some of the first bands you heard? Are you still into any of these bands today?

JA - I started to dwell in the Underground when I met the guys of the Nuclear Mosh zine back in 1989. I already had a few contacts from those foreign Metal mags who did some reviews of demos, so I guess 88. It's been more than 35 years ago, I have no idea of which bands I first came in contact with. But I remember seeing the Portuguese BLACK CROSS on TV back in 1986, so that was my first contact with the Underground. Everything I heard back then is still on my CDR's. When I decided to give all my tapes away, I put all of them into CDR.

What made you want to pick up the guitar, and who are some of your favorite guitar players?

JA - When I heard the song "Witching Hour" by VENOM, I knew I had to create something like that. That was the song that made me want to play Metal. Guitar players I admire are (some of them at least): Tony Portaro (WHIPLASH), Kerry and Jeff (SLAYER), Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND, Mantas (VENOM) and Quorthon (BATHORY)... just to name a few...

So, I see you guys have tons of releases, and I am not going to go over all of them. How did Decayed form, and how did you come up with your name and logo?

JA - We started way back in July 1990 when another guitar player joined forces under the name DECAY. Very quickly, we found a full lineup that didn't last long, so with these personal changes and musical changes (we rehearsed very hard and became good with our instruments), I decided to change the name and logo in March 1991.

In the ear90,0's you released several demos. Did you send those out to many fanzines and tape traders all over the world? What was the response to these demos by the underground?

JA: We only released 1 demo in early 1992. (Just going by the info I saw on the internet, Chris.) And yes, by then, I had many contacts all over the world, so the demo was spread out everywhere. The demo got very good reviews, both here in Portugal and abroad. Portugal didn't have bands that bothered to spread their name abroad, so most people didn't know what this country was all about until we came along.

In 1993, you hooked up with Dark Records, who released an EP called "The Seven Seals". How cool was it for you at the time to have a 7" out? A - We were all pumped up! We had grown up with singles and LPs, so it was amazing to have our own vinyl. Besides, by then, I had a very good idea of how the studios work so the end result is very close to what we wanted back then.

Also, in 1993, you hooked up with Monasterium Records and put out a full-length called "The Conjuration of the Southern Circle". What do you recall about these times recording your debut album? Were you able to play many shows around this time?

JA - Those were some wicked weekends! We knew what we were doing, and the sound engineer tried his best. Still, to this day, it stands tall. We rehearsed a lot for this recording, and I'm glad we did. It was our fourth time in that studio, so everything went smoothly. We did a lot of shows in that year.

Your "In Lustful Mayhem" release followed in 1995, which included Sodom and Venom covers. How well do you think you did with these 2 tunes?

JA - I hate the sound on that release! But the covers are in the 80s style so I am very proud of those.

Do you think around this time also that you were beginning to find your sound to speak, that is if you think you had any type of sound?

JA - I believe that we found our sound with the song "Nocturnal Prayers". For me, this was the star of what Decayed stands for.

The following year, you hooked up with Skyfall Records, which also included another Venom cover. Do you know if any of the Venom band members have heard your cover of theirs? What are your thoughts on this release these days?

JA - I doubt that the Venom members ever heard any of our covers. As for our second album... I still love it! The sound is powerful, and the songs are good. I love it!

An EP release that included a Slayer cover and a split release after that with a Bathory cover. I imagine it was fun for you doing covers of all these great bands.

JA - I always enjoyed doing covers. It's as simple as that! It's a joy to play those old songs with a twist of Decayed. I try to come up with a different version of the song... as if it was written by me.

Another full length followed called "The Book of Darkness" on the very cool Drakkar Productions record label. A ton of covers are on this from Death, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Venom, and Sodom. Also, it is an AC/DC cover, which must be killer, but why a George Thorogood cover, if I may ask.

JA - Just like the rest of the covers... It's a great song!

In 1997, you released a 7" called "Behold the Wrath", with a Slayer cover (Black Magic). How do you view this cover tune, and what is your favorite Slayer tune?

JA - I remember well that cover. We recorded it in our rehearsal room with some friends, just like Slayer did on "Live Undead". I think that it turned out well. My favorite tune of Slayer has to be "Hell Awaits" cause I think that the mid-paced start is one of the best intros of Metal!

2 demos and 2 split releases followed, keeping you guys quite busy. Was it always easy coming up with original tunes? Were you playing live much during this time?

JA - Most of the time... I have no problems in coming up with new tunes. Back then, everything was new, so it was kind of easy to come up with new ideas. Most of our history... we always played a lot of gigs.

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In 2001, you were back with Drakkar Productions, releasing your next full-length called "Nockthurnaal", which also includes a Possessed cover of "Satan's Curse". When you're getting ready to get songs ready, is it sort of a group effort on #1 if there is going to be a cover tune recorded and #2, which band and song? What are your thoughts on this release these days?

JA - Usually, I come up with the riffs and the lyrics. I like when the other elements contribute with their inspiration, but most of the time, I come up with everything. I always try to talk to the guys in Decayed about the covers, but again... It's mostly my pick. This album is very special... I think we did a very good job on this one. All those instrumental songs give it a darker sound.

A live album also came out in 2001 called "Ten Years of Steel". Was this recorded at one show or several? How well do you think you were as a live band back then?

JA - That was the last show of our 2000 tour, in Lisbon, Portugal. We have always been a good live band. We do what you listen to in the releases. We never had bad musicians in the band.

2 comps and 2 EPs followed until, in 2003, we had another full length called "The Beast Has Risen". You found a drummer and VA for this release. Where did you find him? And, of course, another cover, this time by Motorhead. How well do you think you did?

JA - Nope! VA came after "Hexagram". VA was a friend of mine and after the departure of Gabriel, I talked to him and he was delighted to play for us. That cover should have been entirely by J. M. and me... that's the only regret.

Several EP'S, 2 comps, and several splits followed, as you were always a busy band ha ha, until in 2007, we had another full-length release called "Hexagram (Honour et Fidelitas)" on Folter Records. This had NO cover tune on it ha ha. Why Bo Cover Tune Ha Ha and thoughts on this release these days?

JA - I still love this album. It has a different vibe but is still in the style we are known for. The sound is a bit too clean for us, but besides that, it's a great album. It brings very good memories of those times, first, we Aion on vocals and then with the recordings of W.

Now do you think at this point the band's sound had changed much and how hard or even easy was it to put together a set list at this time?

JA - Like I said, there was a different vibe on that album. But again... it fitted with what we had always been doing. It was easy to pick a set list cause we had already before the album, a lot of old material to choose from.

EP's, a split, and 2 more comps saw the light of day, but in 2008, we were treated to another full length called "The Black Metal Flame", which had a Ramones cover and Bathory, so you returned to form. What are your thoughts on this release these days?

JA - I never enjoyed repeating myself on consecutive albums, so on this one we went a bit more old school Black Metal. It's a darker album that "Hexagram". Love the whole concept behind the album, 7 songs in more lengthy way... and the sound is again more in our vein.

The "A Tribute to the Ancients" album of cover tunes. Was that all tunes you previously recorded and released, or was it a mixture and some were recorded just for this release?

JA - Nope! That release contained all the covers we had done until then.

The band that never stops was back in 2010 with a new full length called "Chaos Underground". Yes there is covers on it ha ha. Thoughts on this release.

JA - That's a very good album, with lots of different songs, each one with it's own vibe. The only problem is the bass guitar which is too loud in the mix and it muddies the sound. But... on the other hand... that gave a very "UTSOTBM" style of sound.

Releases followed every year, including a full length in 2012, and another followed in 2015 called "Into the Depths of Hell" that came out on Helldprod Records. How did you hook up with them?

JA - We came into contact with Helldprod many years ago when they were still located in the north of Portugal. We did a tape with them back in 2000 and we always kept in touch. When we lost our label, I talked to them and they agreed to release the new album back then.

More releases followed and you were back on Hellprod with "The Burning of Heaven". How do you manage to write and put out all these releases?

JA - When one loves what one does... one does a lot of it \m/

Do you realize that with everything you have had released, you are up there with Nunslaughter with over 80 releases ha ha.

JA - People keep telling me that :-D

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After a couple other releases, you were back with another full length in 2018 called "Of Fire And Evil" this time on Lusitanian Music. How did you hook up with them and what was the experience like?

JA - We had previously worked with them when they released the LP version of "The Burning Of Heaven". We liked the way they treated us, so when the time came to record a new album, they were the only ones who supported our plans, so it was easy to sign a new deal with them. We're pleased so far with their work. However, we have a new album recorded for 2 years now, and I would like to see it released later this year. Let's wait and see.

By now, the band had been going since 1990. Did you ever consider taking a break at all? Would you say the band's sound stayed within certain boundaries and never strayed from your core sound, so to speak?

JA - We have been having some breaks throughout these 33 years... changes in line up... so we had a lot of "breaks" there is no need to have a big break. The inspiration keeps coming and as long as we have that... why stop? And yes, according to most people and me, we have never changed our core sound. We have managed to keep coming up with new ideas that keep the soul of this band intact.

Now, you have seen the underground change over the years. What are some things you liked over the years and some of the things you didn't like?

JA - The things that made me leave the scene was the fact that the more people I knew the less I respected them. Humans talk a lot but when it come to actions... most of the time they are very different from their empty words.

Did the band's popularity grow much over the years? Were you able to play more live shows as time went on?

JA - We basically still are a small band from Portugal. We never followed any trends, we don't sound like the big bands... so... most people don't understand what we're all about. That's fine by me cause I prefer to stick to my guns than to sell out.

What are your thoughts these days on your 2019 release "The Oath of Heathen Blood", which Lusitanian Music also put out?

JA - I love that album... It's a very mature album. The ideas behind it are very good. And the sound is very dark and powerful so it fits very well to the whole concept. It can be thought of as a "strange" album, but one can't keep doing the same thing over and over again.

In 2020 you guys released a all cover tunes album called "Tribute to the Ancients", which is pretty damn killer if you ask me. Do you have a favorite tune or 2 from this release?

JA - There's a reason why those songs were recorded... they are some of my favorite songs, so to pick one or two... just listen to the whole thing.

In 2021 you released "Old Ghosts and Primeval Demons". Why this title? Was it hard or easy coming with songs by now as having so many releases out by now?

JA - Well, the title came from the concept of the album. I tried to recapture the feeling we had back in 1993. This album came out very easily. I was in a very inspirational mood back then.

When you would play live, was it very hard putting together a live set list?

JA - With so many releases it's always difficult to chose just a few to try and represent all our releases. But I have a few favorite songs so not that hard. But we kept changing the set list throughout the years.

2 comp releases followed before a 2023 live album came out that was played in 1993. Tell me the story behind this coming out 20 years later?

JA - Actually, that live show has been released a couple of times, but never on digital format that was only released last year. I thought that it was a good representation of how we sounded live back then and decided to publish it on digital format.

Now, the live album, was that from one show or a few shows in 1993?

JA - Just one show. There's a YouTube link for those interested. The album isn't the full show.

Now, in 2023, came your latest full-length called "From Hell". How did the songs for this come about, and how has it been working with Haloran Records?

JA - This album is some recordings we did of old songs, plus an unreleased song we did for a compilation that was being done by a South American radio program that never came out. We only entered the studio back in 2008 to record that song but then decided to record a few more. It has been great working with Haloran Records. They're a small label, but they work very hard to promote their release, and that is just what we want... to spread the plague!

On average, how many live shows do you play per year?

JA - It was always different. Some years we could do just 3 or 4, other years 11 or 12...

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You had 2 more releases in 2023, a one song split and a 3 song split with the band Velório on Nekrogoat Heresy Productions. How did this come about and how quickly did you get your songs together?

JA - The one song split is a tribute to the Portuguese band BLACK CROSS. We were invited by the label and said yes. The label chose the song and we just did our version of that same song. As for the split with VELORIO... Angelo has been recording in my projects since 2011 and he had those 2 songs to release and asked us if we were interested in doing a split. I just wrote 2 new songs and that was it!

Over the band's career, do you think your sound has changed much and if it has, how much and how did it change?

JA - Nope! I always wanted to do my own thing and never thought of changing it to get more recognition. The changes that occurred within our sound were just normal changes has one grows older.

Do you own a copy of everything you have released and if not, what are you missing? I'm sure some of your releases are sold out, are there any you would like to see get re-released some day?

JA - I have a copy of everything we released but I don't have a copy of everything we recorded and that... pisses me off! As for re-releases... we have been doing just that, and it keeps on going.

Are there any places you would like to play live one day?

JA - I can't play live anymore due to my health problems, so... that ship has left...

Here we are in 2024. Did you think in a million years that when the band started you would still be releasing music and playing live in 2024?

JA - Actually... when we started back in 1990 I told the guys... this band has to go on as long has possible... and so far...

Speaking of new music, what can we expect from the band in 2024, music-wise? How much longer do you think the band can last or you don't dwell or think about stuff like that?

JA - There's a new split to be released and a new split to be recorded. There's a "new" album recorded a couple of years ago with Tormentor on drums... but I'm not sure of when it will be released. If I manage to keep on recording new songs, the band will go on... if not......

Have you ever heard of a band doing a Decayed cover tune or have you ever seen a Decayed bootleg either on vinyl, CD, tape or even a t-shirt?

JA - There's one band that did a cover of ours... there are releases without our permission... once in Belgium I found a bunch of stickers I was never informed... so yeah... there are a few things we never knew of.

Please plug in any merchandise you have and any social media websites.

JA - If you're interested in our merchandise, send me an email to [email protected]

Join us at: www.facebook.com/dkd666

JA, horns up for doing this long chat. Do you have any last words to wrap this up?

JA - Thanks for the support. Check us out \m/