Interview with MORBIUS
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about MORBIUS (Members, Starting Year etc).
Morbius is a Thrash Metal band from Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia, formed on May 12th, 2024. In the early days, I (Danger) invited Nekroman on drums and Ndomer on bass to start a Thrash Metal band together. However, before the recording process began, Ndomer had to leave due to work outside the city and was replaced by Holocaust on bass. Since then, the lineup has consisted of Danger on vocals and guitar, Holocaust on bass, and Nekroman on drums. For the recording of our EP Malicious Rites, we were helped by our friend Eri, who handled the lead guitar parts. For live performances, Eri also joins us on lead guitar. And the rhythm guitar position is currently handled by our friend Gia, which was previously filled by our friend Alan Svrnl.
You have recently released your EP ''Malicious Rites''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
So far, the response has been good. We’ve received some support, and up to now there haven’t been any negative comments. That’s more than enough to keep us motivated to move forward.
The cover artwork has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
The cover art was done by my friend Penok Sickmare, and the alternate artworks were also done by my friend Alpen. The artworks were inspired by old demo and album covers from bands such as Mantas, Merciless , Incubus (Atlanta), Slaughter Lord, Poison (GER), Morbid Angel demos, Sadistic Intent, and Devastation (Chicago), as well as the artwork of Pelle Ohlin and Nicke Andersson.
And what about the lyrics?
The lyrics on Malicious Rites are evil, horror, and death-oriented, focusing on witchcraft, ritual sacrifice, and demon worship, rooted in occult traditions.
Are you in searching for a record label? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
At the moment, Malicious Rites will be released by Dying Victims Productions on March 27th in cassette format. We respect both label work and the DIY approach. Previously, we also released the EP independently on cassette, and for us, both are fine as long as our music can be delivered properly.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
So far, we haven’t had any particularly funny or weird stories from recordings or live shows.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
For me, vinyl is definitely the most ideal format because of its great, warm sound, and the larger cover allows you to fully enjoy the artwork and lyrics, making listening to music a proper experience. Tape is also great, especially because of its analog vibe and warm sound too, but the downside is the smaller cover and the fact that it requires a bit more care compared to Vinyl or CD. CDs are practical and offer stable quality, but they don’t have the same “ritual” feeling as Vinyl or Tape. On the other hand, digital formats are very important as well. Today, digital allows our music to reach places we never imagined. People can listen digitally first, and if they’re interested, they can then buy the physical release. So in my view, each format has its own strengths: Vinyl for the full experience, Tape for the classic vibe, CD for practicality, and digital for reaching a global audience.
Your music style is Black/Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
We play thrash metal with elements of death and black metal. We’ve been inspired by many bands like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, GBH, Slayer, Metallica, Kreator, Destruction, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Vader, Possessed, Sepultura, and also underground metal demos from the 80s and 90s.”
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
It’s simple,time and energy are the real sacrifices when playing in a band. We make time to write material, rehearse in the studio, and keep the fire burning. It’s not always easy, but that’s the reality if you want to take a band seriously.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Good energy and intimacy with the crowd. maybe like Violent Force in the movie Verlierer, it looks absolutely deadly,crazy and pure chaos hahaha.
What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
For us, music is not a product that can be automated. Music is born from real emotions and real human interaction. AI may be able to imitate the structure of music, but it can never truly possess emotion, a soul, or a spirit. Music is art, and it has to be created in a real way, with genuine human ideas and creativity. When it comes to writing songs, music is about expression, and that can only come from humans,not from AI.
What attributes do you think that a new Black/Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
This is a pretty difficult question, and honestly I don’t really know the exact answer. But try to experiment. If you have a good riff, use it especially if it feels right and authentic to you. Don’t rush into releasing anything if you’re not fully satisfied with the result. And when you feel it’s already the best you can do, just go for it.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Black/Thrash Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Yes, digital platforms are very helpful for bands. In today’s era, they make it possible to reach audiences beyond local scenes and across different countries, while being supported by physical releases.
From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Black/Thrash Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Like I said before, write riffs that feel good and right to you. If a riff works and gives you the right feeling, trust it. Don’t rush to release material if you’re not satisfied yet. Take it easy, take your time, absorb a lot of inspiration, and keep digging deeper into your sound.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Indonesia (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
A lot of new underground bands,whether metal, hardcore, or punk with great potential keep emerging. Many hangout spots slowly turn into collectives, organizing gigs and running the local scene together, supported by friends, zines, and online platforms to spread the word.
What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Sepultura - Schizophrenia
Bathory - Blood Fire Death
Morbid angel - Altars of Madness
Autopsy - Severed Survival
Mercyful fate - Don't Break the Oath
Dark angel - Darkness Descends
Exodus - Bonded by Blood
Kreator - Endless Pain
Slayer - Show no Mercy
Sarcofago - I.N.R.I.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
I don’t really know that much, to be honest. I’ve only listened to a few older bands like Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Varathron, Ravencult and Dead Congregation. I’m sure there are still a lot of dangerous bands from Greece that I haven’t discovered yet.
What are your future plans?
Right now we’re focused on creating new material, which might eventually be released for an album, and we hope it will happen soon.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours
Are you Morbid!?
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
MORBIUS CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579269827063
https://www.instagram.com/morbius_official
https://areyoumorbius.bandcamp.com/album/malicious-rites