Terrorizer Article / transcribed by Offensor
REVENGE - Ex-Conqueror
man taking no prisoners along the 'Path of
Superion'
Formed by James Read from
the ashes of the devastatingly brutal Conqueror
- whose incredible "War Cult Supremacy" album was given a belated,
post-split release a few years back by Full Moon Productions, as well as a
non-album round-up entitled "Hammer Of Antichrist" thas has more
recently
been unveiled - when Ryan Forster and Read went their separate ways circa
1998-9 (with Forster joining the legendary [then] re-formed Blasphemy),
Revenge honed their assault courtesy of the "Attack.Blood.Revenge"
mini-album and the "Superion.Command.Destroy" 7". With their
"Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist" debut LP, Revenge, alongside the likes
of
the equally amazing Black Witchery, are spearheadinga sound that goes
harks back to the raw chaos of Sarcofago - from the perspective of both
the feel of "I.N.R.I" and the rapid-fire attack of the oft-neglected
"Crust" - and the aforementioned Blasphemy rather than the colder
and more
precise sound of Scandinavia.
As an interviewee, Read's
answers are as blunt (and as short) as his
songs. Not one to mince what little words he chooses to impart, the fact
that he distances himself from masses of self-propaganda and lets his
music do whatever talking is required should be all the more reason for
Revenge's brand of devastation to be disseminated.
"Yes, the ideals are
the same," Read replies when asked whether Conqueror
and Revenge stem from similar mind-sets. "Revenge continues down the
path
of Superion forged by the will of the Conqueror."
Conqueror were indeed a
truly special band whose power and violence were
of the highest order, and yet "Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist" adds
a sense
of cohesion which hones everything to a razor-sharp point.
"All Revenge releases
are presented exactly as I want them," says Read
when I ask for this thoughts about the album. "The mindset is the same
every time - Antichrist Supremacist until death."
One aspect that has given
Revenge a boost is the addition of Pete
Helmkamp, formerly of Order From Chaos and Angelcorpse, on bass and
backing vocals. The briefest of encounters with either of those bands will
prove that the matching of Helmkamp to Revenge is a worthy and ideal one
and, as Read himself puts it, "Helmkamp's involvement has strengthened
the
Genocide Squad."
As one of a wave of killer
underground bands who have recently inked a
deal with Osmose, Revenge (and indeed the others) have come in for
criticism for this act of 'egoism' from some quarters of the underground
scene. Some did it to spread their propaganda, others did it to enhance
their touring possibilities, but for Read, the reason was that, "Osmose
was the best choice for Revenge at the time for various tactical reasons,"
and his view of much of the current underground scene is a scathing one:
"As far as the black/war/death metal underground of today goes,
unfortunately, it is filled with inferior, weak bands and people who have
absolutely no strength, pride or extremity in what they release. Revenge
hates you all - you are subhuman scum."
With Revenge now taking
to the stage to lay waste to an untold number of
venues, Armageddon is assured, and for those doubters who think that time
will water Revenge down, let Read have the last word: "Revenge will
continue to hail the Iron Age of the Antichrist. Trust no-one."
Interview by: Guy Strachan
Terrorizer Article / transcribed by Offensor
