VASTION interview with Rusty Adams for Ivan / Extremeron.

VASTION E-mail: Vastiondth@aol.com
80 Foster Trace Dr.
Lawrenceville, GA. 30043 Website: http://listen.to/vastion
USA
History:
Vastion is an extreme death metal band hailing from Atlanta, GA. USA. Formed
in '94 by Rusty Adams (guitar), and Jeff Adams (drums). Bassist Bill Murff
joined in '95, and later Craig Nast (vocals) early '98.
Discography:
"Horrid Sights of Hate" debut demo '98
"Buried and Nameless" demo '99
"Cold Stares of the Dead" demo III

1. Who are the band members? Rusty Adams (guitar), Jeff Adams (drums), Bill Murff (bass), and Craig Nast (vocals).

2. How did you get your name and what does it mean? Vastion is just a name I created. I basically liked the word vast because I feel it best describes our material, and lyrics.

3. What music style do you play and compare it to some similar bands? Our style is Death Metal with influences from the early '80's to the early '90's. I really can't compare our style to any one band, but we have a little influence from these bands: early Destruction, early Slayer, Pestilence, Disharmonic Orchestra, Sadus, Fatal, early Sinister, early Unleashed, Baphomet, Autopsy, etc...

4. Some of your favorite groups? All the one's I mentioned above, as well as: Horror of Horrors, Sickness, Necrophobic, Deicide, Necrophagia, Abominog, Exmortis.

5. Your opinion about underground and commercial music scene? I've been involved in the underground since the mid '80's and have always stayed away from commercial music. Underground music is definitely not for the masses. It will always stay underground in my opinion. Metallica is a great example of a band that used to be somewhat underground. They obviously wanted the big money and fame, and commercialized to achieve that. The masses like them now because they are "acceptable". When you get too extreme, or violent the masses reject it for fear of being rejected by their peers in my opinion. I think that's the reason so many kids today listen to rap music, simply because it's popular. Although you have to admit, a lot of rap is just as extreme, and offensive as Death Metal.

6. What was the biggest success of your band? For me it was when we opened for Deicide. I've been a fan of theirs for a long time, and to talk to them, and to open for them was definitely an honor. Another success of ours was our latest demo "Cold Stares of the Dead". It's not a success as far as money, or fame, or anything like that. It's just we finally recorded a demo that we're really happy with.

7. How many concerts have you played, and by your opinion what was the best? Our best show was one we just played October 30th in Albany, GA. There was 500 people there, and they were the most into it, loudest crowd we've ever played for. We've played about a total of 100 local shows. Bigger bands we've opened for are: Deicide, Vader, Gorguts, Cryptopsy, and Divine Empire.

8. The favorite song you made and why? "Bring to Pass" off our "Cold Stares of the Dead" demo because I feel it displays different sides to our music with touches of sorrowful doom, along with maniacal, melodic, blast riddled, technicality.

9. Were you on some local radio show (or something like that)? We get support from a local college radio station here in Atlanta, GA. They play our demos, and announce our shows for us.

10. Do you think that underground music needs more attention of media, and what is your opinion about big music televisions, and radio stations (such as MTV, Viva...)? If the underground received more media attention, I don't
think it would be underground anymore, so no, I don't think it's necessary. My opinion on MTV is it's all image. A lot of untalented bands just bang around 2 chords on the guitar, and play a happy drum beat, and sit back and watch the millions roll in. All because they have (or fake) the right image at the right time.

11. Do you have the support of local metal fans? Yes, the few that are here. The area of Georgia I live in (Atlanta, North GA.) has a very small scene. The average turnout for local Death Metal shows here is 20 people. Travel to South Georgia however, and 500 people show up.

12. Plans for the future? We're just going to continue pushing our new demo in the underground for a while, and we're also working on new material for a full length CD to be released by us in about 6-8 months. We're open for any label support, so please feel free to contact us.

13. Say something for the end? Many thanks for the interview! If anyone is interested in our new demo "Cold Stares of the Dead" it's only $1 (USA), $2 (World). Thanks for your support!