Wednesday, March 12, 2008

A Big Dodsferd Entry...

Recently, I had a chance to interview Wrath, the sole creative force behind Hellenic black metal extraordinaire outfit Dodsferd. Extremely prolific, Dodsferd has released three full-lengths in the space of about a year and a half with a split with Ganzmord also in the offering.

Here's my interview with Wrath, originally published at Live 4 Metal...

Dodsferd Interview



One-man Hellenic black metal assault Dodsferd has had quite a run in 2007. With two critically acclaimed full-lengths released in 2007 alone along with a highly regarded split with Ganzmord, who is the force behind this prolific entity? Live 4 Metal conversed with Wrath about Dodsferd.

By: The Dragon of M87

Q: What has motivated you to form Dodsferd?

A: It was the only way that I could get away from this shitty world, from these parasitical wounds of society - that’s how they call it, society - and express all my feelings of hate and despair, without looking back! A death was another motivation for me!

Q: You’ve been quite prolific since 2006, releasing three full-lengths as well as a split with Ganzmord. How do you manage to keep the quality of your output high?

A: The only thing I did was to express my inner feelings through my riffs and generally my music! My music is the only thing I have and I can depend on! It is part of my world; it is a part of Wrath! But you should know that, the darkest songs of mine have not been released yet! Soon!

Q: How did the split with Ganzmord come about?

A: Herr Mord and Ganzmord is totally dedicated to the underground believes and philosophy! No fancy things and theory! War and Chaos! We were in contact after the release of our first full length albums through BlackMetal.com. There was an interest and support from both sides! So after a few months the split CD, “Doom and Destroy”, was a reality!

Q: Although both albums were released in 2007, what brought about the stylistic changes between “Fucking Your Creation” and “Cursing Your Will To Live”?

A: Different situations that I had to put up with, different people I was working with and more hateful visions for this drained world! Also, these two albums, “Fucking Your Creation” and “Cursing Your Will to Live” represent two different chapters, parts from my trilogy! That’s why you can distinguish these changes.

Q: Tell us about the upcoming full-length and Dodsferd’s plans for 2008. Is the new album part of the trilogy and do you plan a subtle change in style?

A: In the end of February I am going to start the recordings of my new full length album, “Death Set the Beginning of the Journey”, that has nothing to do with my trilogy! This is not the third part, don’t be confused! The purpose of my new full length album is to make way for the third part of my trilogy! Also, in the end of February I am going to record two new songs for the demands of a 7” EP.

Q: Some, including me, have described a punk influence within the music of Dodsferd. Do you feel that this comparison is warranted and, if so, what about punk has influenced Dodsferd?

A: It is black metal! Nothing more, nothing less!

Q: Would you ever expand Dodsferd into a band with a full-time line-up? Have you attempted to do so in the past?

A: Dodsferd is a philosophy, an ideal that only Wrath stands for! That thing will never change! Dodsferd is Wrath and Wrath is Dodsferd! As you will probably see in the booklet of my albums, I use session musicians for the demands of the recordings of the drums and bass! In my last two albums and now in the new one, “Death set the beginning of the Journey”, these two musicians that recorded the drums and bass have remained the same! They have proved that they are dedicated to my music and my vision! They are part of Dodsferd with their own way. You can say that Dodsferd is a full-time line up band, but a one man band in philosophy! That will never change! All music and lyrics will always be written by me!

Q: You’ve done a couple of live shows in the past. Any plans to play in a live setting in the future?

A: Dodsferd is a band that will perform its propaganda live on stage, wherever I feel that is needed!

Q: How is black metal relevant from a Greek cultural standpoint?

A: Black Metal is relevant to nothing!

Q: In other interviews you are sometimes defensive about certain subjects. Do you feel the need to create an aura about yourself to add a bit of mystery to your true self?

A: I am defensive only when it is needed! I don’t need to create any fucking aura about myself, or mystery! I speak only through my music! All the other things have no meaning to me!

Q: There is fan page about you on MySpace. How do you view the Internet and the way people act against each other behind false identities?

A: Internet is a good way to be informed upon several things and to arrange some works when it is needed and nothing more. Now about how people act against each other behind false identities, there is nothing to be said about them and their false identities.

Q: What are your main interests away from music?

A: I have no other interests!

With Respect
Wrath from Dodsferd!

Prior to my interview with Wrath, I had reviewed "Cursing Your Will To Live"...

Dodsferd- Cursing Your Will To Live

(Moribund Cult)

Fuck, yeah!! One-man Hellenic black metal/ punk wrecking machine Dodsferd, the sole creation of Wrath, returns on the ungodly Moribund Cult Records with the third full-length, entitled “Cursing Your Will To Live”. In point of fact, this is Dodsferd second full-length of the year, coming hot on the heels of “Fucking Your Creation”, along with a highly regarded split with Ganzmord, as well. Indeed, Wrath has been busy this year and the quality of the output has not diminished in the slightest. In fact, “Cursing Your Will To Live” dramatically raises the bar for the standard of punk-encrusted black metal.

Darkthrone may have sort of invented the whole “punkened” black metal sub-genre, but, frankly, Dodsferd has perfected it with “Cursing Your Will To Live”. Starting with an exceptionally loud, powerful black metal base with absolutely bludgeoning riffs, blazing speed, and a powerful, deep production, Dodsferd also adds that oh so subtle dash of snarled punk nihilism with just the right amount of deceptively simple catchy riffs to produce a savage album that, frankly, I can’t get enough of lately.

Really, though, the snarl and ballsy attitude is really the only aspect of punk, in my opinion, that goes on in this sub-genre. For my money, “Cursing Your Will To Live” is really just excellent raw black metal with great songwriting, powerful production, excellent tempo variation, and great riffs. Just about the only negative aspect of this album is that one or two of the tracks lose a bit of their effectiveness by going on a bit too long. Dodsferd seems to be a band that works well with relatively short blasts to the head. Other than that, however, this is a minor quibble that doesn’t detract from the release.

“Cursing Your Will To Live” is a fucking monstrous album (and would’ve made my Top Ten list had I heard it sooner), and a most putrid addition to the pantheon of black metal gems. Buy or fucking die!

Briefly, Dodsferd has stylistically changed over the course of the three full-lengths, even though the releases wewre all released over a short time period. Enjoy the tracks...

First up is "Desecrating The Spirit Of Life"



Next is "Fucking Your Creation"



Finally, "Cursing Your Will To Live"...



Sorry, songs removed.

Current L.A. Murderfest 4.0 Schedule...

FRONT STAGE

Friday April 18th

BLACK SHEEP WALL 7:45 - 8:15
THE UNBORN 8:45 - 9:15
THE FUNERAL PYRE 9:45 - 10:15

---------------------------------


Saturday April 19th

EYES IN THE FOG 2:30 - 2:50
FATALIST 3:05 - 3:25
ADDICTION KING 3:40 - 4:00
FOREVER IN TERROR 4:15 - 4:35
THE CAUTERIZED 4:50 - 5:10
WILLOW WISP 5:25 - 5:45
MICTLANTECUHTLI 6:00 - 6:25
ABYSMAL DAWN 6:40 - 7:05
RISE 7:20 - 7:45
LETUM ASCENSUS 8:00 - 8:25
IMPALED 8:40 - 9:10
MONSTROSITY 9:25 - 10:05
VITAL REMAINS 10:45 - 11:25

---------------------------------

Sunday April 20th

GUTSAW 1:30 - 1:50
POPULATION REDUCTION 2:05 - 2:25
EAT THE LIVING 2:40 - 3:00
SEMTEX VEST 3:15 - 3:35
CALL THE PARAMEDICS 3:50 - 4:10
IVEBEENSHOT 4:25 - 4:45
CARDIAC ARREST 5:00 - 5:25
MAGRUDERGRIND 5:40 - 6:05
WATCH ME BURN 6:20 - 6:45
THE DOLEMITE PROJECT 7:00 - 7:25
BAD ACID TRIP 7:40 - 8:05
TERMINALLYYOURABORTEDGHOST 8:20 - 8:45
TRAP THEM 9:00 - 9:25
CATTLE DECAPITATION 10:05 - 10:45


MAIN STAGE

Friday April 18th

GENGHIS TRON 8:15 - 8:45
BARONESS 9:15 - 9:45
THE RED CHORD 10:15 - 10:45
CONVERGE 11:00 - ??:??

---------------------------------

Saturday April 19th

DEMORALIZING SICKNESS 2:40 - 3:00
ELEMENT 3:15 - 3:35
GRAVEHILL 3:50 - 4:10
UNSANCTIFIED 4:25 - 4:45
EPICEDIUM 5:00 - 5:20
DENIAL FIEND 5:35 - 5:55
MORGION 6:10 - 6:35
MEAT SHITS 6:50 - 7:15
SEPSISM 7:30 - 7:55
WACO JESUS 8:10 - 8:35
ANAL BLAST 8:50 - 9:20
REPULSION 10:05 - 10:45
MASSACRE 11:25 - 12:05
ENTOMBED 12:30 - 1:30


---------------------------------

Sunday April 20th

ARKAIK 1:40 - 2:00
THE NAUSEATING STAB 2:15 - 2:35
THOUSANDSWILLDIE 2:50 - 3:10
SACRIFICIAL SLAUGHTER 3:25 - 3:45
CESSATION OF LIFE 4:00 - 4:20
THE_NETWORK 4:35 - 4:55
DEVOLVED 5:10 - 5:35
COMPLETE FAILURE 5:50 - 6:15
AT ALL COST 6:30 - 6:55
STRONG INTENTION 7:10 - 7:35
SCARECROW 7:50 - 8:15
GHOUL 8:30 - 8:55
TODAY IS THE DAY 9:25 - 10:05
EXTREMENOISETERROR 10:45 - 11:25
NAPALM DEATH 11:50 - 12:50


Glen Benton on vocals for Vital Remains? I'll probably go see the Saturday show...

2 comments:

Richiedude said...

nice in depth interview of an obscure band morepeople should checkout for sure!

Enven said...

Awesome interview! Dave contact me soon man!