Nyctophobic is an underground grindcore band from Germany. Playing music that
is intelligent, yet brutal, Nyctophobic is sure to appeal to fans of such
legendary bands as early Napalm Death, early Carcass, and the venerable
Agathocles. Below is an interview with drummer Tom Will conducted via email in June 1998. This interview is exclusive to this website. All rights reserved.
List band members' names, instruments, occupations, and ages.
- Zimbo, Vocals, CAD-Designer, 20
- Martin Hub, Guitar, Radio & TV Technician, 21
- Markus Bugert,Guitar, Civil Service, 21
- Markus Zorn, Bass, Studying Laws, 24
- Tom Will, Drums, Travel Agent, 32
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Zimbo - vocals, Martin Hub - guitar, Tom Will - drums, Markus Torn - bass, Markus Bugert - guitar |
I hear that you recently toured Europa with Exhumed and Hemdale. How
did that go? Who set it up? Did you get along with the two other
bands? Any crazy things happen?
The tour was fantastic. For us it was the first time on the road and we
loved it. All gigs turned out great except the gig in Rotterdam (NL)
because the organizers really sucked. The gigs in Prague and Uherske
Hradiste were fabulous. The people in the Czech Republic were much more
enthusiastic than in Germany or any other country. They're nuts! The
tour was set up by MORBID RECORDS with a little help of myself.
We really had a great time with these american sickos from OH and
CA. We have had a damn great time and we have become friends. As a
result we will be on a Split EP with EXHUMED. Markus B. will visit EXHUMED
in June this year. I'd love to join it too!
How often do you play live? How do audiences react to you?
Does it ever get violent?
We usually play between 5 and 15 times live a year. We played in
Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic and
Austria. We played with bands like KRABATHOR, AGATHOCLES, BLOOD, MORTICIAN,
GUT etc. Sometimes the crowd is pretty wild and sometimes they pretty
bored. I guess we're too fast for these wimps, HAHAHA.
It sometimes gets violent on our shows but gigs here in Germany
are not the same than in foreign countries - they're more into it outside
Germany.
List some other bands you've performed live with. Do you play
many covers on stage? If so, list them. I hear you played
"Paranoid" by Black Sabbath live on the Exhumed tour. Did you make it sound
grinding?
We've played with so many bands but let me think: FLESHLESS, DAWN,
MASTIC SCUM, IMMURED, DERANGED, EXHUMED, HEMDALE etc. Too much too
mention 'em all. We used to play covers by AGATHOCLES ("Theatric
Symbolization Of Life"), TERRORIZER ("Corporation Pull-In"),
NAPALM
DEATH ("Deceiver", "The Kill")
and BLACK SABBATH's "Paranoid". I think
that we let "Paranoid" sound a little bit grindy. Just a tiny
little bit. You will hear on the upcoming CD.
For our readers, tell us what "Nyctophobic" means. Who came
up with the band name? When did you first form as a band?
NYCTOPHOBIC was formed in August 1992 by Markus Zorn, Christophe
(left the band 2 years ago) and me and I was the one who had the idea
to call the band NYCTOPHOBIC.
Our bandname means people that are afraid of the darkness or the night.
Tell me, what bands have most influenced Nyctophobic?
If you would ask this question any other member you would receive 5
different answers. Here are the bands that influenced us the
most: old NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS, old BOLT THROWER, TERRORIZER, DISRUPT,
E.N.T., GENERAL SURGERY.
What was the first metal album you ever bought?
RAINBOW - Live on stage (I bought 1978 when I was 12 years old)
What would you consider to be the top five releases of all time?
Not in ANY order:
- SUFFOCATION - Effigy Of The Forgotten
- IMPALED NAZARENE - Ugra-Karma
- POSSESSED - Seven Churches
- SLAYER - Reign In Blood
- NAPALM DEATH - Utopia Banished
Tom, how long have you played drums? What drummers have
inspired you the most to play drums?
I started playing drums back in 1989 and I really like Bill
Andrews (DEATH), Gene Hoglan (DARK ANGEL) and my absolute favourite
drummer is Mike Smith of godly SUFFOCATION.
What brands of intruments and equipment do you use. What do
you tune to generally?
I play SONOR drums, PAISTE cymbals, LUDWIG Snaredrums and DW Foot
Pedals. The others use Hughes & Kettner Cabinets and various
guitars. Markus prefers WASHBURN basses and TRACE ELLIOT Amps.
How is the underground scene in Germany? Is it true that most of the
people into the underground in Europe mostly get into black metal and not
grindcore, doom, or death metal?
The underground scene is great because it's like a family but a very
small family because everybody here is into that trendy (shitty) BLACK
METAL thing. That's not my cup of tea. Well I do like some of the older
BLACK METAL bands who are really fast and aggressive but I hate these
new Melodic Black Metal crap.
Do you get many orders or letters from U.S. citizens? I hear that
you've been to the U.S. quite a few times. What do you think about this
country? Do you like many U.S. bands?
Not too many. A few. I like the USA for the great nature in AZ or NV! I
love to drive thru the deserts (with AC on high, HAHA) . The USA are nice
but they have some economic and social problems like here in Germany. I
don't think that the USA is the paradise most people hold it for. There
are some nice places I'd like to live but life is as hard as it is
here. Even harder maybe!!
My favourite grindcore bands ever were: Blatherskite, Assuck,
Plutocracy, Regurgitate, and old Napalm Death and old Carcass.
What do you think of these bands?
I haven't heard BLATHERSKITE and PLUTOCRACY but the other kick
ass. I saw ASSUCK live here in germany last week. They ruled.
REGURGITATE are funny but sometimes cover their own songs if you know what I
mean. ND and Carcass? Look at our influences above! Any questions?
Considering that grindcore and powerviolence are very
similar, what do you think of powerviolence?
Well I haven't heard Powerviolence so far but I don't like to talk about
a music style in general. I'm sure that some bands of this "genre" are
great and others suck! Never match a book by it's cover!
Some of your songs seem very sociopolitically-oriented. What are
some of your views on the social/political nature of the world right
now? What do you think of the European Union and the coming socialist
New World Order? What do you think of all these damn leftists in
control of governments in Europe?
That would take 100's of pages to explain exactly what I think about but
all in all I can tell that this EU makes me really sick. I'm totally
against it. I think it's okay to open the borders but nothing more. I
think it would be smarter to keep the DM as our currency. Think of the
costs and all the risks that will come with the EURO! I hate this idea
of a unified Europe because too many countries with too many different
ideas will be unified thru politics. Look at Jugoslavia and how it
ended. Fuck the socialist NWO! Fuck Leftists! It stinks!
List some things you really hate.
Intolerance, Racism, Fascism, Hectic, driving 100's of miles for
a gig and then playing in front of 25 bored fans.
List some of your members' hobbies and brain disorders.
We all have that one hobby we call GRINDCORE. I think I'll speak for the
others when I say that we all like travelling around in the world is a
major hobby of everybody in the band.
If Nyctophobic could best be described as an inanimate
object, what would it be? Please elaborate.
That's an interesting and difficult question. I would say that it would
be a big solid granite rock because both are true, entertaining (to some
people) and don't have special purposes. A rock is built by nature and
it's pure just like our music (we try to keep it pure.)
What are some of your views on religion?
I personally hate religion in every form also Satanism. BUT: I'm
tolerant to every religion as long as this religion is tolerant to me. I
hate religious fanatics like Jehova's Witnesses. They just seem stupid
to me and nothing else. Never forget that religions and fighting for
beliefs always caused wars. It makes me sick when I see people fighting
because one is a jew and one is a christian.

What are some long-goal plans for the band? What are some things
you'd like to accomplish before you retire?
First we want to get the Split EP with EXHUMED released. Early in 1999
we will enter the studio again to record the material for our 2nd CD
which will also be released on MORBID RECORDS.
It would be great if we could do a support tour for NAPALM DEATH. That
would one of our greatest dreams. Touring the US would be also very
cool.
You have a very nice website. Do you get many new listeners
due to the site? What kind of computer and programs did you use to create the site?
What is your general opinion of the internet and technology in society?
The traffic on our site is little but we're satisfied with it. It's cool
to see an internet underground-scene exists. I hope we can increase
the traffic to our site but I just hooked up in April and so I need to
place more links on other sites.
I used NETSCAPE Composer to create our website and some other programs to
scan the images, etc. The internet is a great chance for smaller bands to
spread their words or music. Domains are pretty cheap - also here in expensive
GERMONEY. I think we should cut down the usage of High-Tech in our daily life.
Do we really need mobile phones? Do we really need hand-held TV systems?
Don't we forget our feelings and talking with other people? Think about it.
Sorry, but I'm about out of questions. Please add anything you want to.
Thanks for the interview Mike. I honestly think that this was the most
interesting interview I have ever done. Thanks a lot.
Support the underground. It's where the spirit lives!
Check out the band's official web site:
NYCTOPHOBIC
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