January 10, 1999.
From Sweden comes the mighty NEPHENZY. In their debut CD "Where Death Becomes Art" one can listen to an interessant mix of melodic death with extreme violent Black Metal and excepcional lyrics about the fucking war! Surely, one of the best revelations from Sweden in these last times. My questions were answered by Martin Hallin, guitarrist and vocalist.
1) Greetings Martin! How are you these days?
MARTIN HALLIN: Hail. Except the fact that it is freezing cold outside my thought’s about life in general is as usual. To many people on a to small planet but I guess that ain´t something new!?
2) Tell us the NEPHENZY history and the spirit/concept behind the band. Also the current line-up.
MARTIN HALLIN: Ehh OK! We started up in early 1995 within the departure of some other band’s. We have been into the scene for some years now. Our concept with NEPHENZY is to bring this shit world closer towards Armageddon! Maybe a answer but that is our goal! And of course to spread our music to people who have equal thoughts and ideologies as us. The line up we have for the moment is:
Martin Hallin guitar / vocals
Kim Arnell / drums
Mattias Fredriksson / bassguitar
Adrian Kanebäck / lead guitar
but we have plans to recruit a new rhythm guitarist so I could concentrate 100% on the vocals and do a better live show! We have a new guitarist but his name will be a secret until it’s sure that he will join NEPHENZY, but if and when he joins the music will become more harsh and violent.
3) What means "NEPHENZY"? What's the occult significance behind this name?
MARTIN HALLIN: The name NEPHENZY doesn’t mean anything we took the name because of the epidemic that rules this scene! I mean how many band’s is called for example, Dissection?? I know at least 3-4 band’s with that name. So we took the name to know that no one will ever confuse us with a shitty band who tends to steal other band’s name! I don't know if that answered your question but as I stated before NEPHENZY means nothing!
4) What about the debut album "Where Death Becomes Art"? Are you 100% satisfied with it?
MARTIN HALLIN: No you are never a 100% satisfied with the way you latest release comes out! Because it’s always some thing’s that doesn’t sound the way you want for example the vocals on the album is a little bit low and the bassguitar could be a little bit louder but we are of course 100% proud of our music and what we have accomplice.
5) How could you explain the NEPHENZY lyrics concept? What about it deal?
MARTIN HALLIN: The lyrics on the debut is quite strange! Because it's many different people involved in the making of them! For example one of my best friend has written 2 of the song's on the album and one is written by Belfagor of the mighty NEFANDUS/OFERMOD on our new release I will write all lyrics so I can only explain those for you! The first song on the singel is called "In Anguish And Furious Pain" it's about being buried alive and the tought´s that one might think of lying 6 feet under?!! The second song on the singel is called "Gathered And Mighty" it's about our conquering of the world and how we destroyed it in joy and happiness.
6) When we can expect a new release and what differences and/or similarities will there are compared with the debut-CD?
MARTIN HALLIN: The new album with us will not sound very alike with our debut, we are trying to make our new material abit more rawer and with not so many melodies a mix between aggression and perfection.
7) NEPHENZY have performed live shows? It's an important thing to you?
MARTIN HALLIN: YES!! Live shows is very important for us. I think that one reason for starting a band is to perform it to people who adore death/black metal. Nothing more to say about this question.
8) The Swedish extreme metal underground is one of the most prolific of the world and a lot of new bands appears every day. In your point of view, it's a positive fact? What's your opinion about the current Swedish Black Metal scene?
MARTIN HALLIN: I don't really care about the growing metal scene! But it's also a shame that the bands that emerge from Sweden doesn't have the right mentality for black/death metal! I mean starting a band just so they can get some pussy or respect!? It doesn't seem like the people that entering the "scene" today don't understand the true meaning of violent and extreme lifestyle.
9) Nowadays, there is such a tendency in the Black Metal bands of add some "alien" elements in their music, like violins, sopranos, harpsichords, etc. How do you see these "changes" and do you think it's possible it fits inside an extreme style as the Black Metal?
MARTIN HALLIN: If you do it really good and don't let these "alien" instruments take the whole sound picture I think its acceptable but that doesn't mean that I enjoy them. It is not many band that understand the meaning of atmosphere but I know that it doesn't mean: hey let's take a thousand keyboard sounds on this song! So no one can hear the guitars! Kind of thing!
10) Also, in the today's Black Metal scene, have emerged a lot of bands that mix satanic philosophy with nazi-fascist ideas. What's your opinion about these bands?
MARTIN HALLIN: I don't think that one should mix politics with religions. I couldn't care less about nazis and communist they are all humans and that is reason enough to hate them. But the second world war was in fact the most brilliant thing a human could create HAIL VICTORY, HAIL WAR.
11) The title of the Nephenzy debut CD is "Where Death Becomes Art". Do you really think the death is a kind of art? What exactly means this title?
MARTIN HALLIN: I think that death is a kind of art. On the album the title fits perfectly to the cover on the record the title means nothing more than in war death becomes art and art is death.
12) By the way, what's your outlook of death? What do you think could occur after your departure of the mortal's world? And what would be the best way to perish?
MARTIN HALLIN: Eh hard question! I guess every living soul has thought about that ones. My opinion is that you die then nothing more happens you will be worm food or something, it's so fucking pathetic with narrow-minded Christian/Muslims that says that if I live my earthly life without making sins I will come to heaven. I mean why put fate in farytale when you can make sure that your sins will become remembered! When I die I will bring a lot of people with me.
13) You or other Nephenzy's member are involved into another bands? And are there side-projects?
MARTIN HALLIN: Right now there are no side-projects. But Kim, the drummer in the band plays in a power/speed band in the veins of old Helloween and Gamma Ray kind of music. Their name is MORIFADE.
14) How do you utilize your time when not conjuring blasphemic obscurity with Nephenzy?
MARTIN HALLIN: I drink a lot and sleep and read but right now I have alot of sparetime because the others in NEPHENZY is doing their military service but in the summertime we will start working on our second album.
15) Future plans for this millennium's end?
MARTIN HALLIN: To record our next album and to spread the words of NEPHENZY in to a higher level! In the year 2000 Armageddon hopefully will arrive.
16) OK, it's all for the moment. Any final comments?
MARTIN HALLIN: Well thanks a lot for the interview, it's been a pleasure to answer this questions. If anyone out there is interested in NEPHENZY just send a mail….. HAIL VICTORY.
Contact NEPHENZY:
E- mail:
19340167
The Official NEPHENZY homepage:
http://members.tripod.com/nephenzy
