MONSTROSITY interview by Damjan

Monstrosity stands for death metal in its prime - they were founded all the way back in 1990, and where else if not in Florida, a place well-known for its specific, high quality death sound... Throughout the fourteen years of their work, Monstrosity had it all, managing even to sell in big figures without compromising their musical integrity, a fashion that they continue with their new album “Rise To Power“ just as well. And it's a piece of vinyl that can still sweep away most of the younger death bands. We talked to Jason Avery (vocals)...

Your new album, "Rise To Power", features some fresh elements that are not so usual in death metal, such as intro to "The Fall Of Eden" and a strange King-Crimson-like ending of the last track, "Shadow of Obliteration". Were you consciously trying to include a richer sound on this album?

No, we just started writing the album and it just evolved. The only thing we consciously set out to do was write a violent record.

Can you tell me how did you come up with the fore mentioned psychedelic outro of "Shadow of Obliteration"? It sounds really interesting.

That outro was one of those things that just evolved in the studio. We liked the solo at the end of the song so we kept extending it until it became the way it is.

The album artwork is very cool. Is that some kind of statue on the cover? Which was the general idea of the artwork concept?

Yes, the artwork is some kind of icon or statue. I think it's a very cool image. We had the title "Rise to Power" in mind before we got the artwork so when we saw it, we felt this was a great image for the title. In my opinion, it depicts the downfall of all things ensnared by religion and government, and the rise of a darker faction to power. It also depicts the rise of Monstrosity.

That artwork features some obvious Satanic iconography. Which is your standpoint towards Satanism and religions?

I personally embrace many Satanic beliefs, but not so much in a ritualistic sense. I believe "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law". I also believe Christians and Muslims are among the most disgusting and blindly ignorant people on the earth today, and I hope the images on the cover show that disgust to every Christian who sees it.

The album is very heavy, but also very well produced and it has mature arrangements. How much of the credit for that goes to Lee Harrison?

Lee spent a lot of time in the studio for this album. He and Tony did most of the writing, so I would have to say most of the credit for that would go to Lee. Everyone had a hand in making this album turn out the way it did, but Lee produced it overall.

Do you remember your first encounter with death metal? How have you felt while listening to death metal for the first time?

I think the Morbid Angel "Thy Kingdom Come" demo was some of the first death metal I ever heard. And I loved it, it was everything I had been listening to taken to the extreme! I connected with it instantly!

There is a lot of death metal coming from Florida. In your opinion, what makes Florida so special and inspiring for death metal?

Well, I think there are great bands all over the world, but Florida bands get more recognition because so many bands from Florida got record deals in the early '90's. We offered a different sound from what European bands were doing. Everyone liked it, so Florida became hailed as a breeding ground for death metal.

Which is your favorite non-metal band (or solo artist)?

There are a lot of non-metal things I like, it's hard to say what my favorite is. I really like Tool, Monster Magnet. I just like well thought-out music with a dark or depressing overtone.

Do you plan to play metal even when you grow old (let's say, 50 years old), or do you have other plans?

No, there will come a time to stop. No one wants to end up like Ozzy! I'll probably still be tattooing if I make it to old age.

If someone would put a gun next to your head and tell you: "Now, prepare an acoustic show for Monstrosity", what would you do? Is there a way to make "Monstrosity unplugged" gig?

I would probably get my brains blown out!