Interview with SLAKTER

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about SLAKTER (Members, Starting Year etc).
Slakter was formed in Semarang in 2015. It started from a group of school friends who shared the same obsession with classic thrash metal bands, like, Metallica, Slayer, Kreator, and Sepultura, and eventually we decided to form our own band. The original lineup was Mortifer (vocals), Steelgrinder (guitar), K (bass), and Sadomator (drums). In the early days we played several local gigs performing covers of Metallica and Sepultura songs while we were still finding our identity and sound. As time went on, everyone got busy with their personal lives and the band slowly faded out, so we decided to go on hiatus. Then in 2020 we revived the band with the lineup that remains today: Mortifer (vocals), Steelgrinder (guitar), Sadomator (bass), and Iskariot (drums).

You have recently released your debut album ''Infernal Exekution Reign''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
The feedback has been really good so far, and honestly we’re just grateful for it. Even when we first announced that the album was coming out, a lot of people were already excited and really looking forward to it. That kind of support gave us extra motivation before it was even released. And once it was released, we received some nice messages from listeners who enjoyed the aggressive sound and the overall atmosphere. They said it feels direct and uncompromising. That’s enough for us, we’re just glad people connect with it.

The cover artwork has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
Yeah, we’re really happy with how the cover turned out. We just wanted something intense and straight to the point. The idea was to capture that moment where the infernal force has already won, total domination, no mercy. It matches the title perfectly and reflects the aggression in the music. We didn’t want anything modern or polished. We just wanted it raw, classic, and brutal, something that immediately sets the mood before you even press play. Huge shout out to Timbul Cahyono for bringing it to life. He really understood the vision and nailed the atmosphere exactly how we imagined it. The details, the colors, the whole vibe, he crushed it!

And what about the lyrics?
Our lyrics revolve around destruction in many forms. Physical war like in 'No Man’s Land', spiritual rebellion like in 'Hammer of Blasphemy', and psychological depravity like in 'Acts of Depravity'. They’re different faces of the same thing: humanity at its most brutal and unfiltered. And we treat the lyrics like written horror cinema. Theatrical, exaggerated, sometimes grotesque and confrontational. It’s meant to provoke emotion, disturb the listener, push boundaries, and reflect the darkest impulses of the human mind.

How did your cooperation with Witches Brew Records occur? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
We had known Witches Brew for quite a long time and had been following the stuff she put out pretty closely. So we just thought, why not reach out and see what happens? We sent over a few tracks as samples and then just waited it out. After a while, we followed up to make sure she’d had a chance to check them — totally understandable if she hadn’t yet, I mean she’s probably buried in releases from other bands haha. Eventually she got back to us and said he was interested in putting the album out on CD. And yeah, that’s basically how our cooperation happened. On the label or DIY side of things, honestly, both have their pros. DIY gives you full control and keeps everything 100% in your hands, which we respect a lot. But working with a label helps with distribution, networking, and reaching listeners we probably wouldn’t reach on our own. For this release, working with a label felt like the right move. As long as the vision aligns and there’s mutual respect, we’re happy to collaborate.

Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Oh yeah, there are definitely some funny moments from live shows. One that really sticks with us was this one gig where there was no stage at all, so we were literally playing right in the middle of the crowd. If I remember correctly, we were playing 'Hit the Lights', and halfway through the song the crowd just went completely wild. At some point they slammed into the drum kit and the whole thing collapsed. We had to stop the song because, well… no drums anymore. All we could do was laugh. It was chaos, but the fun kind. As for recording, there’s not really a crazy or funny story there. We handled the recording, mixing, and mastering ourselves to save money. Let’s just say… we were on a very “independent budget” Or in simpler terms, we were broke!

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
We prefer tape. Digital is convenient, sure, but tape has character. There’s just something raw and underground about it. It’s not overly polished, it’s got character, and the whole ritual of putting on a cassette and flipping it halfway through just feels right.

Your music style is Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Our main influences are definitely Kreator and early Sepultura. That raw aggression, fast riffs, and dark atmosphere really shaped how we write music. At the same time, we also blend in a bit of death and black metal elements here and there. It’s nothing groundbreaking or completely new, of course a lot of bands have crossed those lines. But we try to adapt those influences into our own style and make it sound like us. In the end, it’s still thrash at its core, just with a darker and more extreme edge that feels natural to us.

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?
I don’t think it’s about sacrificing something huge. It’s more about priorities. If the band matters to you, you naturally give it your time and energy. You also have to sacrifice a bit of ego. In a band, not everything can go your way. Sometimes you compromise for the sake of the music. And have we sacrificed anything? Yeah, sure. Free time, maybe choosing band stuff over other plans. Nothing super dramatic, though. It’s just the reality of being in a band and wanting to take it seriously.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Our ideal live show is pure violence in sound. Loud, aggressive, no bullshit! We want it to feel explosive, the audience is fully locked in, moving, headbanging. But at the same time, we’d love to play bigger stages too. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a massive sound system, and a huge crowd in front of you. The energy just scales up. More people, more chaos, more impact. But whether it’s a small underground venue or a big festival stage, the mindset stays the same: give everything, hold nothing back. Have we experienced it? We’ve had shows where everything exploded, where the crowd went insane and the energy felt out of control in the best way. But the ultimate show? We’re still chasing it.

What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
We believe metal should come from real people. From real emotion and real energy. That’s something you earn through experience, not something you generate with a machine. If AI starts writing riffs or building entire songs, it takes away the struggle behind the music, and that struggle is important. We’re not against technology. Production tools evolve, recording methods improve, and that’s normal. Even AI can maybe help with certain technical or organizational aspects. As long as it stays a tool. But once it starts replacing the human core of the music, it loses something essential. Metal isn’t supposed to feel calculated. It’s supposed to feel alive.

What attributes do you think that a new Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
For us, it’s mostly about being real. You can hear the influences, but the music should feel like it comes from the band itself. The riffs, the songs, the energy on stage. When it all fits together, people just know it’s you. Over time, that’s what gives a band its identity and makes it stand out, without trying too hard.

Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Thrash Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Yeah, digital platforms definitely help new bands get their music out there. It’s easier for people all over the world to hear your stuff without having to be at a show or buy a physical release. Bandcamp, streaming services, social media, all of that makes it possible for a small band to reach listeners they’d never see otherwise. But ideally, a band should use both: put their music online so people can find it, but also hit the road, play shows, and build a reputation through performance. That‘s what really makes a band grow.

From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Thrash Metal band to avoid or what to do?
From our experience, it’s mostly just about doing your thing and being genuine.

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Indonesia (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
From what we see, the metal scene in Indonesia is still very active and constantly evolving. It’s been around for decades, and there are always new bands coming up and keeping things moving. In the past, death metal was probably the most dominant style. Bands like Jasad and Siksakubur had a strong impact and really helped shape the extreme identity of the scene here. These days, it feels more diverse. Death metal is still strong, but there are also many bands playing thrash, black metal, doom, hardcore, and other subgenres. There’s been renewed interest in old-school thrash recently, while black metal continues to have a solid presence. Most of it is still very DIY, small gigs, independent releases, tape and CD culture. It’s not really driven by mainstream industry support. It survives because people genuinely care about the music and the community.

What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
For us, metal is more than music, it’s basically therapy with louder amps. Growing up with it, we learned that headbanging in the living room counts as cardio. Metal also taught us a mindset: give it everything, never settle for “okay” and if it’s not loud enough to annoy the neighbors, you’re doing it wrong. And about the 10 metal albums… honestly, it’s really tough to pick, but personally, these are the ones I'd say:
Kreator – Pleasure to Kill
Sepultura – Morbid Visions
Metallica – Kill 'Em All
Judas Priest – Painkiller
Helloween – Walls of Jericho
Iron Maiden – Powerslave
Slayer – Reign In Blood
Morbid Angel – Altars of Madness
Cancer – Death Shall Rise
Possessed – Seven Churches

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Honestly, this is the first time we’ve heard about it. Guess it’s about time we finally crawl out of our cave and check it out.

What are your future plans?
Right now, we’re planning a tour in a few cities across Java for this album. We’re really excited about that and just taking it one step at a time. In the future, we hope to take it even further and maybe tour overseas.

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thanks so much! We really appreciate the chance to share a bit about our music and our journey! Cheers!

By Steve the Filthy Dog.

SLAKTER CONTACT:

https://www.instagram.com/slakterband/

https://slakterband.bandcamp.com/music

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YyaJhYa5vOpbTjutka4K0