- Well Sxull, I don't agree with you on this aspect because I think every band should make some effort to promote their CDs in a way or another. I truly respect Impiety for what they have done and I think they have set a very good example to the Metal scene here. Speaking of promotion on RASPATUL, we have actually done promotion with 'Menghitung Ajal' EP since then. It was really a great and fun experience for me as I really made some great Metal friends from other countries. At that time, we were all pretty inexperienced about promotion, the rest of RASPATUL had commitments to fulfil and so I decided to do everything by myself. Promotion is something that is on a continuous basis and you will be surprised at how USA and European countries embrace Asian Metal. RASPATUL has appeared in various zines and compilations since then and it was a great feeling to know that RASPATUL is being appreciated not only in Singapore. So when we released 'The Perfect Realm Of Jharkyannarkh Promo CD 2004', we decided to do it the same way as before. Since this is just a 1-song promo CD, we decided not to send to too many zines and labels but we were all pretty surprised that with this promo CD, we have achieved much more than 'Menghitung Ajal' EP. Legion of Death Records (www.legionofdeath.cjb.net) from France is now officially distributing both the'Menghitung Ajal' EP and 'The Perfect Realm Of Jharkyannarkh Promo CD 2004'. This label has released the Sabbat/Terror Squad split album on vinyl, Barbatos (Japan), Nauseous Surgery (Brasil), Korihor (Philippines), Ritual Day (China), Surrender Of Divinity (Thailand), etc. Great thanks to Shaxul for believing in RASPATUL and right now, our CDs are selling pretty well under the label. And only recently, World Chaos Production (www.world-chaos.com) from Japan will be distributing 'The Perfect Realm Of Jharkyannarkh Promo CD 2004'. Everyone who likes Death Thrash know that World Chaos Production is an awesome label that has signed bands like Terror Squad, Grim Force, Narcotic Greed, Soulless, King's Evil, Illnath, etc. Many thanks to Munetaka Masuko for helping RASPATUL out!
8) I've heard to your track (Perfect Realm...) and it was a great experience. Who are the master minds behind this song?
- This song 'The Perfect Realm Of Jharkyannarkh' was written by me and one riff contributed by my vocalist Ayim. The song arrangement was done by the whole band. Thank you so much that you liked our new song! The lyric was of course written by Ayim. Don't ask me anymore technical questions because I always write riffs based on 'feel' all the time. I don't go out to think if this riff is within the same scale, etc. I just write what feels and sounds good!
9) Musically RASPATUL seems entrenched in a Black/Death/Thrash crossover. Is there where you want to stay with RASPATUL? Are there more 'diverse' musical soundscapes you wish to explore with RASPATUL that maybe live outside of the Black/Death/Thrash sub genre?
- Yes pretty much RASPATUL will try to stay within the Death/Thrash/Black style. All of us in the band love the energetic vibe of such style and we will try to write as many aggresive, heavy and catchy songs in the future. The only musical soundscapes we are trying to improve on would be the song arrangements. Most of the time in the studio, we try to concentrate more on song structures to make the song more interesting to hear. Death Thrash Metal is a genre that has been done to death, so the only thing that sets some Death Thrash bands apart from the rest would be their unique songwriting and their ideaology. Well, if there is anything that we wish to explore musically, we would rather do it in another band because we know exactly what we want RASPATUL to sound like. For example, my bassist Hisham 'Black' is currently playing in a Crusty Grind band called Eyesore and I'm also playing bass in an old school Death Metal band called Predatory, which has a more melodic approach if you compare it to RASPATUL.
10) Tell us major differences from your past 'Menghitung Ajal' EP. Did you find any new effort especially on recording, music or promotion?
- As compared to the new promo CD, 'Menghitung Ajal' was a more direct and simplistic approach and there were slower parts in between. I believe the 'Menghitung Ajal' EP was a release that proved our existence after so many years as a band. We recorded 'Menghitung Ajal' EP with Ah Boy at TNT Studio. I personally think that TNT Studio is the best studio for RASPATUL and Ah Boy knows what we want sound-wise. Ah Boy has been a friend of mine for 10 years and without him as my guidance, I don't think I could have played music until now. Every song on 'Menghitung Ajal' EP was properly planned and we actually rearranged all the 5 songs to make them shorter as there were many parts that were long and unnecessary. For the new promo CD that we just released, the recording, mixing and mastering was done by me at my school. I cannot disclose the name of my school so I can only say that the new song is being done at Metaldom Studio. The new song is actually an 'accidental' song. I was actually a recording engineer for a local Metal band called Suicide Solution and my drummer happened to be helping them with the recording as well. So there was a very frustating problem of our Protools breaking down every now and then, and so Suicide Solution decided to take a small break. My drummer was still in the studio fooling around with the drums and so I just picked up the guitar and started jamming along with him.