GORGON VOMIT INTERVIEW
(ExcLUSIVE INTERVIEW)
The UK is seeing something of a resurgence in underground black and death metal, though many of said bands are in the embryonic stage. Where musicians of previous generations had to scour the country for members or share a drummer who could play blastbeats, there seems to be a surplus in these times. London’s Gorgon Vomit, whose style of black/death metal leans towards Blasphemy, Profanatica and Deicide, create music that is complex, ambitious and intelligent but still appeals to the primal fan.
They wear shades, bones and blood. They’re known for spitting into the audience and frontman Black Mane (who is half Jamaican) uses roadman slang in his lyrics and onstage. The band’s self-released demo Babylon Detonator was featured on BBC Radio X for its obscene and OTT lyrics and seeing it performed live never fails to escalate the violence of its sound. We may never endorse a term like NWOBDM (new wave of British death metal) but we have a feeling that there’s something stirring in the lower catacombs.
Interview with Black Mane by Nuno Oliveira (also of Metal Horde fanzine)
Cult Never Dies: London these past few days is feeling like a hell-pit, do you think this is just the world preparing this rotting pile for a night with Mystifier, Imperator and Gorgon Vomit? Any expectations for this gathering?
Black Mane: “Greetings fellow Babylonian. The weather here is disgusting in this polluted shithole of a city. I don’t know how I am [going] to cope in the afterlife I’m destined for. Guess I better get on the big man’s good side whilst I can! The show is going to be diabolical, and we all know the setting will be too. I am expecting a night of true metal, which is unfortunately rare. If you don’t wear your leathers due to the heat, you’re a pussyhole through and through.”
You told me you guys have a new guitarist, so maybe let’s start this with you presenting the maniacs behind Gorgon Vomit. Did Chairoscuro need to go through some sort of initiation ritual?
“Every single member of this band has clearly shown their dedication to brutal music over many years. It made it very easy to choose who I want to play in Gorgon Vomit. Most people are lazy, disorganised, and have shit taste. Not these maniacs. Before we ever got together, I saw them toiling over their instruments, playing shows upon shows, and promoting the kind of attitude I want to see in the metal scene. They saw these commonalities in me, and there has never been doubt that we won't be able to deliver the hate the way it should be. This applies to our previous guitarist, the legendary Von M and our new guitarist, Chairoscuro, who we welcomed to Gorgon Vomit in recent months. As for his initiation, I sent him our music and we set a date. He turned up, I called in the start of our set, and he killed it. Constant headbanging with near-perfect playing and energy. I barely helped him out before this audition. It was clear from the first set we ran that he was the sort of person we were looking for.”
Gorgon Vomit was born around 2022, right? What lead to its creation? Why that moniker and what does it mean to you guys? Music-wise, what, or who, would you say are the biggest influences in Gorgon Vomit?
“Gorgon Vomit was born from the ashes of my previous band Sufferer, which broke up exactly a year ago today. I loved that band and always will, but I needed more. I was unhappy. The music is fantastic, and our last self-titled release is some of my favourite extreme music ever, but the pace just wasn’t there. I knew from the way things were going in all the members’ lives, that we wouldn’t end up the band I wanted to be a part of. This music is not a hobby for me. It is my life. It was essential that I made it so. My bandmates supported this.”
“As soon as the final decision to end Sufferer was made, I began writing. I wrote the demo in about two evenings and sent it to those who I knew were made of true steel. The first of those being Von M, whose music with Scythian (blessed be thy horns) inspired me to walk this path in the first place. I knew I wanted to work with him, and he loved the demo. First member down. Now, I needed to find a bassist. At shows over the years, I had always noticed this monolith of a man in war metal shirts. We had spoken before, and I knew he would fit. I sent him the demo, and he told me he was in. That was how the Diabolical Mocker came to be. Second member sorted. Now, anybody who has watched or listened to ATVM knows wagwan. That man can slap. We had been friends for years, and he was one of the most energetic and expressive drummers I had ever seen. His writing ability is truly signature and I had to have him. He proclaimed I was the only person who could convince him to join another band. And there it was, member three – Ballistik Undying Master. Many ask about our name. I will make it clear. A ‘Don Gorgon’ is Jamaican slang for a real badman. It’s a phrase used to describe most respected and feared ones. Someone who stands above weakness and moves with certainty. Vomit spews from the sick and wretched. The conjunction of the two should be obvious.”
Your debut demo, Babylon Detonator, came out in 2022, what are your thoughts on that release? Satisfied with the way the demo turned out? Overall, how was the experience?
“Of course we’re satisfied! Mediocrity is not tolerated. The band learnt and played everything in rehearsal, made some adjustments and within just a few rehearsals we were ready to record. Myself and Ballistik played together in the room whilst recording. We overdubbed the rest. Then, I mixed and mastered it to the sound I wanted, and it was ready to release within two months of starting the band.”
In your writing it says: “We are about empowerment, individualism, freedom and pride.” Can you go a bit further into that statement? How difficult do you think is it to be free, in the real sense of the word, in today’s world?
“One who is empowered can create change. One who understands themself as an individual and can use this power for greatness and fulfilment. Freedom allows one to become what they need to be without obstruction. Pride / self-love upholds us when it is not easy to create change, when understanding is painful, and greatness seems far away. Every individual deserves to have these qualities. It's what we should all strive for. I do not care where these principles take you... Whether you turn to God, gardening, or to bestial fucking riffs, I just want people to be happy in their optimum existence. As long as people uphold [the] freedom of others and stay the fuck outta other people's way, we're cool.”
In the meantime, you mentioned that you have a new work coming out – a split release with Lobotomica, also from London, called Liberation Weapon. What can you tell us about this release? Can we expect it in physical format and do any idea of when it will be out?
“Liberation Weapon is going to be killer. This is the first time we have spoken publicly about this. Lobotomica are a psychotic thrash band from London, and good friends of ours. It’s unusual to see bands like ours collaborating, but we wanted to do it, so we will. Myself and Juda of Lobotomica are both interested in the histories of our people, that being Brazilian and Caribbean. Extremely brutal histories at that. Many bands haven’t covered the topics of imperialism in the way we want to, and we think we must fill that gap. The more I grow and learn about these histories, the more compelled I am to write about them. The energy it conjures in me is perfect for this music. It just makes sense. From my previous answers, you may be able to gather that I am not one to enjoy talking from a point of victimhood. With this split, we will celebrate triumphs of strength and power. Full force, I and am lord.”
Although you’re a recent band, I think all of you have plenty of experience, so what’s your view on the London scene? Do you think the pandemic has reduced the number of venues where you were able to show your music? In the blink of an eye, we can remember places like The Unicorn or Nambucca closing, although places like The Dev are now having more and more concerts!
“The London scene is decent, but not what we want it to be. It is picking up for sure, but there’s a real lack of seriously evil bands. People say death metal is making a resurgence here in the UK, but I don’t buy it. This NWOBDM (New Wave Of British Death Metal) shit! Don't get me wrong, a lot of these bands that are taking on this moniker are great performers and writers... but they ain’t death metal bands. Niggas will wear spikes and play hardcore and call it death metal. That's not how it works chief. But I’m gassed that lots of shows are taking place. I’m very happy that extreme music is happening here, and I’m very happy these bands I speak of are playing. Many of them are passionate and professional, and really deliver the goods. We just want some diabolism back in the scene. Thankfully there are many new faces at shows, and hopefully these dons can carry the black torch with us. Over the years we are seeing more women, queers and minorities at the shows, and I think this is fantastic. Everyone is welcome at our shows, and we will defend everyone’s rights to be themselves. We want to encourage more kinds of people to get on board with our spirit, and we will not tolerate those who hate. Those who know me, know this isn’t just bark. It’s bite.”
Last words are yours and take the chance to share here how can people discover what you are releasing!
“No problem, safe for the opportunity to have our voices heard. Best way to keep up with us is by following us on Instagram @gorgonvomit and following us on Bandcamp. Love yourself, destroy others who try to stop you from achieving, live for violence, die for metal, and fuck NWOBDM.”
