1. To begin with this interview, I would like to say Hello on behalf of all Chinese extreme music fans! Tell me, what is your first impression about China? Will you come to China to watch the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing/
Steve: Well, hello there! As I’m adoring the movies of Jackie Chan very much, these are one of the first things that come to my mind if I’m hearing China. Also the (in European eyes) a bit naïve and weird sense of humour which you find in some Chinese movies. And of course things like dragons, fireworks, beautiful art and the Chinese wall. I guess there would be much more things to mention, but I’m no expert on Asia so I better leave it off here before I lose myself in the big Asian continent.
I guess neither of us plans to go to the Olympic games in 2008, but that’s still four years away. Even so, if I ever get a chance to travel to China I would prefer to visit the countryside more than any special events (same is for me, Marco).

2. Now tell us something about the band. When was the band formed? Did you encounter any difficulties at the beginning? Why choose Embalming Theatre as the band name?
Steve: E. T. was formed in 1999, thought as a side-project of our former band Aeternum, a while after recording the first and only full album with this band. We weren’t too sure what we wanted to start with this side-project, only that we wished to do some very fast and grinding stuff. So we composed some songs and recorded them – which ended in releasing some Split-7”es of which only two came out on our own label (the one with Agathocles and the one with Unholy Grave. Run out so fast of material, we decided to write some more songs which were also used up very fast for some Splits (not all of them are out yet, but anyway). There weren’t any difficulties, all happened very fast – and since our first release was the Split with Agathocles, it seems this was a good start for us and did a lot to get us a name and make us known.
We first wanted to name the project Anthropophagus (based on the splattermovie by Joe d’Amato) but there was already this Italian band who used it. So we tried to find another one and Marco, our vocalist, came upwith what English students nickname the autopsy room: Embalming Theatre. The sound of it may be a bit weird but I guess it just fits the sense of humour we claim to have.

3. When talking about Switzerland, we always think of your Industry of horologe first and your well-known . brand “Victorinox�. But We know little about the extreme music in your country. Well Celtic Frost would be one exception. Please tell us something about the Swiss underground scene. What do you think is the biggest difficult for Swiss extreme music to go as strong as it is in countries such as Poland and Czech?
Steve: I guess, Switzerland is mostly known for its neutrality in politics, its banks, the mentioned knife-industry (actually, I live in the village where Victorinox has its roots and main residence), the cheese and chocolate.
Well, Celtic Frost is one of the classic legends from our country. Also quite famous were Messiah and Fear Of God – if you like very extreme music, you should check out the latter – FOG have just reformed and I’m very eager to hear some new stuff from them. Also to mention of course: Samael and Alastis. Of course there are and were a lot of other bands, mostly just known in the underground, like Azrael, Damnatory, Sickening Gore, Exculceration etc. Of the newer bands who released stuff recently just the following come to my mind right now: Disparaged, Ambrossia, Cropment. I guess the scene for extreme music isn’t that strong in Switzerland because of lack in clubs, magazines, etc. I should mention here the Mountains of Death-Festival (they’re on the web, but I can’t remember the address right now). I know the guy who organises this one every year and it’s great work for the scene and underground. Also the Metal Die Hard Front-people who organise a lot of gigs. But I guess Death-/Grindmetal is still just too unpopular (which isn’t such a bad thing, thinking about it) in Switzerland. But I can’t tell you too much about it, my contacts in the scene are too poor and I seldom go to gigs.
Marco: Other good bands from Switzerland are Sludge, Fullstop, Nostromo, Requiem, Apokatastasia, ...

4. I saw on your webpage that you have released countless splits. Why do so? Do you like this kind of format or just because of the budget? Anyway, split is the good way to spread the band name, isn’t it?
Steve: You say the word – I had once a little talk with a friend (the ex-drummer of Fear Of God) about 7”es. They are neat, cute, mostly limited and/or rare. They just look good! And you don’t have to buy a whole album if you just want to test a band on. Splits are also great, because you have two bands on one release. Maybe you like the one and don’t know the other so far so it may be a gain. Or you’ll be warned off to buy stuff of the other band when you dislike it and you still have something you don’t have to throw away (I hope this don’t sound too confusing, hehe). Anyway, 7”es are just cool!

5. Before making this interview, I have read a lot on the internet and I found that many questions were the same and some were not focusing on your music. Do you feel tired of answering such questions? What question would sound interesting to you?
Steve: I don’t like interviews that are just about music. This is tiring and boring, both for the one who answers as well as for the readers. There are some themes that can be brought in interviews easily and make fun, like questions about favourite movies or books, maybe even actresses or the like, anecdotes or something we experienced with the band (on gigs, in studio) or just weird stuff that happened.
If I feel a little bored by some questions, I often don’t answer them to serious, making jokes or fun – even if some people may feel trampled on their feet, you gotta know I sometimes have this twisted sense of humour, hehe. I also like questions that doesn’t make real sense because then I can come up with some weird answers too.

6. Most non-America based bands signed by Razorback usually send their demos to the label in order to get a chance to release their works. Did you do the same? What makes you stay with Razorback?
Steve: Surprisingly, we didn’t send any demos to any label. The bloke at Razorback, Billy Nocera, got some of our stuff, as much as I know, and then checked out our website and got in touch. Of course, we were very glad to get the opportunity to record a CD for Razorback Records. Guess that’s something like a dream for most more or less unknown bands – to be developped by a label – and for us it was fulfilled. We’re very happy about that step. Razorback are just doing a very good job in the underground scene, they’re a fair label and I guess that’s reason enough to stick with them as long as they want our stuff.

7. Now let’s talk about your album. The cover art work is quite original , I would say. Why you chose a woman with a electric chainsaw as the cover art? Any special meanings? And what are the lyrics all about? What do you wish to tell the listeners through the lyrics? Any difference between the album and your previous works? Do you think that "Sweet Chainsaw Melodies" is your best work so far?
Steve: The woman on the cover is based on the lyrics to We ate Daddy wherein the fact of a woman butchering her husband and serving it as meal to her children is described. The chainsaw is of course because our vocalist (and painter of the covers) is a deep admirer of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Hence the title for the album, Sweet chainsaw melodies. For deeper meanings, I would leave the word to Marco himself (your said everything, that’s necessary, Marco)
The lyrics are about weird events and happenings all around the world mostly based on facts. Another expression of our macabre sense of humour because some of those incidents are so crazy you don’t know if you should be embarassed (or even disgusted) by them or just chuckle about them. I myself preferred the songs of the second session (including We ate Daddy, Dead, stolen, hacked up and raped and Someone else in my coffin which were re-recorded for the CD) more than the ones for the CD. But we’re just about to go to the studio for the Split-CD with Frightmare and some of these songs are smashers too. I hope the listeners will like them too.

8. Now it is hard to define a music type. For instance, from your music, I can find grind, death and even some punk elements. How would you describe your music?
Steve: Almost how you did it. We try to mix together different styles – the speed of Grindcore, the brutality of Deathmetal and the catchy riffs commonly used in Hardcore.

9. Many people who play death / grind like the horror movies very much. And they put this also in their music. But to most people, they have no idea where all the samples are coming from. So I wish to know that in your album where did you get all the horror samples? Are they all coming from your favorite movies or just for creating the atmosphere? And it seems that you are fond of horror fictions more than movies, would you introduce some to us?
Steve: Aw, yes. I myself am very interested in horror flicks and so is Marco. The intros on the CD were from Texas Chainsaw Massacre (mixed with other stuff), one was from Return of the living dead 3, and the intermezzo was taken from Day of the dead (the first part, anyway). The outro… uh, I don’t know, where that one comes from, some TV documentary stuff, where they explain (in German) how people were mummified in Egypt. I’ll skip mentioning movies, this would take too long I guess. But if you’re into splatter comics you should check out Tim Vigil (Faust or EO)! This guy is great. The comic too has been filmed, but forget about that – the movie never comes near the comics!
And yes, we’re all reading a lot of stuff. In horror I recommend Graham Masterton. He mixes up legends (from all over the world, not just European) with horror and splatter stuff. Very extreme stuff you’ll find in the older novels of Shaun Hutson too (Relics is still one of my favourite readings). Also very good is Joe Donnelly, and Richard Laymon (who unfortunately died about three years ago). And I may also mention Clive Barker who was responsible for the first two Hellraiser movies.
Marco: We all like to read books and my fave authors are Charles Higson, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Kathy Reichs, Dean Koontz, John Saul, Buddy Giovinazzo, Bill Bryson, Jean-Christophe Grangé and many others.

10. Up to now, I like all Razorback bands simply because they all sound original and they create the music of a high level. So who is your most favorite label mate, if any?
Steve: Definitely Frightmare! They just kick ass! And I’m awfully happy and proud that we have the Split with them. There’s nothing more I can say about that – guess I’m too baffled and stunned about it, hehe.
Marco: Yes, Frightmare is cool. But the first Ghoul, Lord Gore, Blood Freak, General Surgery, ... shit they are all goddamn great! I don’t know how Billy gets them all for his label. It makes me proud to be a part of that gory familiy!!

11. I read in an interview saying that your guitarist Dave has got all the release of the Belgian legendary band Agathocles. It is really unbelievable! How could he make that?
Steve: He’s in contact with the guys and was collecting over a long span of time – but I guess I should let him speak for himself here.
Dave: Yeah, that's right, so far as I know, I have all releases from Agathocles, except of tapes. I like their stuff a lot, so that's why I bought some of their 7"'s. Through ebay and my contacts to Agx I now have all the stuff, sick I know!

12. Funny thing I found at your website is that you never show your faces to anybody in any of your release. Instead, you always get some funny picture with weird names. Do you did this on purpose or just for fun?
Steve: Ahm, the idea came up from the start and originated in the fact that the members of Brujeria weren’t known to the world (I guess the idea therefore is stolen, but what the heck! Happens all the time). We also didn’ t want to reveal we were members of Aeternum at this time ‘cause we still had the band going back then. Anyhow, doesn’t matter a lot anymore. I guess the idea is quite original (or why are we asked about this stuff in almost every interview? Hehe). So, in the meantime it’s just for the fun of it. Ah, and my absolute favourite there is the picture of the five ET-puppets sitting in the grass that appears on the 4-way-Split-7” with Jigsore, Dysmorfic and Kadaverficker. They’re just too cute! Ehehe.

13. I know that it is hard to make a living for just playing extreme music so please tell me the occupation of each band member.
Steve: Huh! Ahm… this may surprise you, but at least two of our members are teachers, one is an electrician (now on vacation off the job for some months, just enjoying life), one works in an office and one works on cars’ coachworks.

14. Could you say a few words about your instruments? Do you think that instruments do play an important part in making good sound quality?
Steve: I don’t give much about labels, as long as the instruments don’t fall apart while you’re playing, hehe. I think, the equipment (amplifiers) is far more important, especially in studio. In playing live gigs it doesn’t matter so much, because the feeling is completely different than when you’re listening to a record.

15. What are you doing now? And what will you do next? A new album maybe?
Steve: We are just about going to visit the studios again and record the stuff for the Split-CD with Frightmare. Then some gigs, and I guess we will write even more songs for more 7”es or a second full album. But we don’t have clear plans about that.

16. What are the most influential bands on your music? Please name your 10 most favorite albums and 5 of your playlist.
Steve: I’ll just name some of my alltime favourites and leave the rest to the others:
At the gates – Slaughter of the souls
Anathema – The silent enigma
G-Anx – Any stuff
Neurosis – Souls at zero
Assück – Any stuff
Hard-Ons – Any stuff
Dave:
Agathocles, Phobia, Rotten Sound, Cause For Effect, Cephalic Carnage. I also like any kind of good Death Metal Bands and some great Prog bands like Porcupine Tree!
Marco: My faves are Demilich, Winter, Elijah’s Mantle, Xysma, Disgorge (Mex & US), Carnage, Jack Frost, Cause for effect, Rottrevore, Immolation, Nile, Rippikoulu, Eternal Darkness, old Cenotaph (Mex), old Crypt of Kerberos, old Grave, old Gorefest, old Godsend, NCC, Furbowl, and many more. Hey, 10 bands only... that’s almost impossible!

17. Thank you very much for taking this interview.. We hope to see your live someday in China. And finally, please say a few words to the Chinese fans.
Well, thank you very much for the interview. I really enjoyed it and hope you do so by reading the answers and the readers of your zine too. To the readers: Live your scene, and remember, even if life’s a mean bitch sometimes, there are always incidents that can make you smile (or even laugh out loud what’s far more better), in short: Don’t take nuffin’ too serious!

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