Interview with OMISSION

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about OMISSION (Members, Starting Year etc).
Thank you. Omission was formed in 2002 as a side project to explore themes that didn't fit into my main band, Muro, at the time. It became a permanent and ongoing project after I left Muro. We've had many lineup changes over the years, so I'll list the current lineup, which has been together for three years: Nekrosaint on drums, Pizarro on bass, Andrew on guitar, and Patillas on guitar and vocals.

You have recently released your new album ''Doomed Ancient Rites''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press.
The public reaction has been very positive, and people are enjoying this shift towards something simpler. We simply like to change things up from one album to the next, and we always try not to repeat a formula from the previous album... always moving forward without forgetting where we came from. We haven't received much feedback from the music critics yet; it's still early, and we haven't received many reviews.

And what about the lyrics?
The lyrics are usually quite personal; books I read, movies I watch inspire me, or personal thoughts are reflected in them. Sometimes the lyrics are lighter, so to speak, but that's not the norm. I try to express my feelings in them.

How did your cooperation with Cruel Gates Records occur? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
Mikel from Cruel Gates Records is a longtime friend; we even shared the stage back when he was in his band Nuclear Revenge. I liked his work—very meticulous and done with care, paying attention to detail—and I asked him to handle the cassette release. The result speaks for itself: an impressive edition. I prefer record labels, mainly because of their wider reach and the way you get to more places... though that's not always the case, but... Doing it yourself is great, but it requires a lot of effort and time, and I don't have much of either... ha ha ha!!!

Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Next year, 2027, marks our 25th anniversary as a band, so you can imagine we've been through it all, on the road, in rehearsal spaces, on stage, and in recording studios... haha! Once we played at a private party for a friend's engagement and we played in front of a magician... haha! Our drummer even helped him out on stage as his assistant, you know... haha! Very bizarre... Playing in bars, etc... which has probably happened to almost every band.

Recently you have released on your YouTube Channel your new official music video  ''Inner Ugliness''. Tell us about this experience of making a video clip.
We made the music video to support the release of the new album, to give it more visibility and all that. We filmed it in our rehearsal room and it was pretty relaxed, no pressure and no tight schedule. It reflects what the band is like live, or at least we tried to.

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
I'm an analog guy, so to speak, so I prefer tapes and especially vinyl. I just don't find the warmth that vinyl gives you in CDs, which are a necessary format, I know, but they're not my favorite. And don't even get me started on streaming music; I find it useful for choosing which albums to buy, but it's a complete horror as an everyday tool...ha ha ha!!!

Your music style is Black/Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
I define myself as a metalhead who loves music... so we play this music that you've described so well, and we have the same influences as everyone else, no surprises there. But I also listen to other, less conventional types of music in our metal world... such as rock, pop, 80s gothic music, film soundtracks, punk... etc... and I think all of this is reflected in some way. I don't know, it's hard for me to express.We try not to sound like everyone else. I don't know if we succeed, but we certainly try... haha!

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?
There have always been elements of luck, being in the right place at the right time, having someone influential willing to support you, and some talent, of course...ha ha!!! Being in a band involves constant sacrifices, both professional and personal, and if you're not willing to make them, you'll never achieve anything...it's also possible that you make them and in the end it's all for nothing...the latter, in fact, is the most common scenario.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
I've thought about this many times... I guess it's what famous bands experience night after night on big stages, with all the amenities and comforts, and in front of a devoted audience. And no, we haven't experienced all of this together... ha ha ha!!!

What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
I'll be brief...it's complete and utter crap. Art is within each of us; it can't be replicated with parameters, etc...it's a shame we're ending up like this; even heavy metal is falling into this madness.

What attributes do you think that a new Black/Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
It's a complicated question, because all bands want to replicate the formula of their predecessors, and in the end, they take a long time to develop their own identity or simply dedicate themselves to recreating something with varying degrees of success. I don't know, I think you have to try to take your influences and try to give them a special and unique touch, to stand out from the rest of the scene. You also run the risk that, by trying to be original, people will prefer the band that's just copying others... ha ha ha!!!

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?
All paths should be valid for advancement; you have to adapt to change. Although, as I explained, this interconnected world isn't for me, you can't stop change, so you have to adapt. I think there's too much information these days to process it all.

Would you like to share the Hilary Melville incident with our readers? For example, how did you first find out about it, has this whole situation finally come to an end, and do you feel that justice has been served?
We didn't even find out; someone emailed us to tell us. It was a shock, honestly, because I thought these things only happened to much bigger bands... anyway, I guess we were naive. We reported it, and after a while, it was removed from the platforms, but we didn't see a penny of the money they made from it, and I assure you, there were a lot of plays. Very frustrating, really. The company involved didn't do much, just put a note on Metal Archives and little else. We felt helpless.

From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Black/Thrash Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Ugh...tough question, really...things have changed so much and everything is moving at breakneck speed...I don't know, I guess it's about not giving up, believing in yourself and hoping for that little bit of luck that's absolutely essential...ha ha ha!!!

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Spain (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
The Spanish scene has always been very rich in terms of bands, magazines, and everything else, throughout the years. During the eighties, we had a great boom, and then in the nineties, we were just hanging on...like everywhere else, you know...ha ha ha.
With the new millennium, there was a resurgence, and a ton of bands emerged, creating a very strong and diverse underground scene. All of this has been losing force, and we're going back to the catacombs again. This would be fine if it weren't directly affecting the survival of the bands and the scene in general.

What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
Well, given my age, all the bands that influenced me are the same. I grew up in the eighties, so you can imagine... but I'll give you a list of my favorite old Spanish bands, so I don't offend anyone or forget any friends... haha!

Baron Rojo "Metalmorfosis"
Obus "El que más"
Angeles Del Infierno "Pacto con el diablo"
Sobredosis "Caliente como un volcan"
Banzai "Banzai"
Bella Bestia "Lista para matar"
Santa "Reencarnación"
Muro "Acero y sangre"
Leño "Leño"
Tigres "Listos para el asalto"
Sangre Azul "Obsesión"
Niagara "Now or never"
I've given you 12... haha! There are many more, but these are my favorites.
Legion "Lethal liberty"
Fuck Off "Hell on earth"
These last ones, pioneers of Thrash in Spain.

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Yes, of course, alongside pioneers of your scene like Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Zemial, Flames, and a few others whose names escape me, I know more recent bands like Convixion and Released Anger. I have great friends there like Michael, bassist for Convixion, Greg from Eat Metal Records, and Dimitri from Zemial. I know more bands, but I can't remember them right now, sorry... haha! I was on vacation in Athens a few years ago and got to experience your whole scene firsthand... LLAMAS!!!

What are your future plans?
Play as much as we can, compose the next album and keep working as we have been...work to keep taking steps forward and keep looking for that bit of luck.

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you for the interview and your questions. I hope we can come to your beautiful country to play someday. I know you have a strong scene, and some of our friends have already experienced it firsthand. It would be a dream come true. Thank you, and please listen to us!

By Steve the Filthy Dog.

OMISSION CONTACT:

https://www.facebook.com/OMISSION.ES/

https://www.instagram.com/_omission_blackthrash/

https://omission.bandcamp.com/music