RHESTUS
Coming
from the obscure hole of the Brazilian south underground the crude true thrash
metal act called RHESTUS release their first album "Embryo Of The Endless
Sands", that self-production is a proof of the power and energy of this new
thrash revelation, including the incredible climates of the 80th legends as
KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, SODOM & EXUMER. Krepuskulum interview Alex Leber
(guitars & vocals).
KREPUSKULUM:
RHESTUS
borned in 1993 and the band released the demos "Had a World"(96) and
"Heroes of the Doomsday" (99). Talk to us about the band history and
the proposal of your music.
ALEX
LEBER: Well, we can tell you that the band has a little history already, because
this year, in March, we completed 11 years. Since that time a lot of things have
happened. The
band was formed starting from the junction of former-members of another two
bands of Metal, whose the initial proposal of making music just for fun. Its
“birth” happened in a very funny way, because at that time the band Orquídea
Negra would play in the city (Rio do Sul) and Rhestus was invited to do the
open-act, but the band didn’t have a name, no rehearsals, not even a set list,
they had just talk to each other about playing some music just to keep playing.
But the drummer Jailson (only original member), with his
"face-of-stick" accepted, affirming that the band was ok and that
could play in that gig. Result: they rehearsed during two weeks for the event
with several songs of punk rock bands and some compositions made by their own
totally nonsense. From the very first show the things began to happen in a
gradual way, because they liked to play the game. They began to rehearse
frequently, doing other events in the city, like doing the open-act to some
bands, such as Titãs and many others. But as in any band, line-up changes start
to happen and a definition of the its musical and ideological identity. The
result of that was the professionalism, the serious and heavy compositions
headed to thrash core and the recording of the first demo in 1996.
With
the good acceptance of the demo new changes had started and other shows, giving
the band a chance to get out of its State, doing some gigs in another ones. In
1998, after new line-up change, the band dedicated its time to new compositions,
shows, doing big events, like Mercorock in Blumenau, playing with great bands,
such as Korzus. In 1999 it was recorded the second demo, that gave them the
change to have some songs included in two compilations (Rock Soldiers and The
Winds of New Millenium) besides the increase of the number of shows and the
recognition in underground
in the state and in the south area of the country.
In
2000 with another line-up change (lead guitar) and the change of the its headquarter
from Rio do Sul to Timbó/SC, the band gets ready for the production of the very
first Album, finished in November of 2003. In that while, new songs were
created, other ones were adapted, we did a participation in a compilation from
Lithuania called
"Atlântida vol.12" and some shows in the state and in the south area.
Nowadays we are a trio, divulging the Album to whole world underground.
RHESTUS
is a curious name for a thrash metal band. Where come from the idea to put
this name in the band?
With the end of the other two bands (Deleator and Anonimato), they understood that only the "rest" of them remained, or better, what remained of its members. The name was also associated to the "rest" of equipments that they had to use in the shows, always using the worst and the most damaged equipaments.
The
cover art of the debut album are very curious and interesting, it mix influences
of H.R.Giger and Andreas Marshal. What is the meaning of the cover for you? It
was created by the famous artist Michael Schindler (from Dragon Design), it is a
expensive artwork, Am I right?
The
costs were really not cheap for us, however, Michael has very accessible prices,
what gave us the chance to work with him.
The
meaning of the artwork is a metaphor of the world where we live, also related to
the letters of the Album. We can say that we born and live in a world in decline
for several political, religious, social facts such as drugs, violence, envy,
wars, dictatorships, diseases and other evils of the humanity.
The
music of RHESTUS is
very influenced by the roots of the European thrash metal, with creative riffs and
crude furious vocals. What are your inspiration to create your music? What are
the bands that influences you?
We
are not only influenced by the European Metal, but also for the Brazilian and
the American, mainly of Bay Area and of the Brazilian Metal of the decade of 80.
We also listen to other music styles, like punk, hard rock, NWOBHM, besides
movies soundtracks and other things. The bands are countless, but we can say
that some of biggest
and best of this universe really influence us.
The
thrash metal genre are reborn now, and it is a kind of new wave in the metal
world scene. What do you think about it? What are the new best thrash metal acts
for you?
That rebirth is good for the
bands, but it hides a lot of things. Actually Thrash have never died, it only
wasn’t a fashion anymore and so visible as in the 80’s, because the record
companies and the press in general always put the bands and the styles on the
mainstream and this became fashion. Actually we see that only the big bands have
a space, they don’t invest in new bands and most of us stay in the
underground, because it takes too long to give’em good profits. We can highlight Raise Hell, King's-Evil, Executer, Decimator,
Rythual, Farscape, Disgrace and Terror, Blood Red Angel and others.
The
lyrics of the album are
creative and talk about a lot of subjects.Talk about the inspiration
behind the lyrics such as "Insane War", "Die Like a Dog" and
"Tsavo: The Place of Slaughter", are this last inspired by the movie
with the same subject?
Thank
you for the praises. Really, the lyrics are about different themes, but focusing
something natural, of the daily life and also from the human history.
"Insane
War" is about the absurdity of the wars, about how some people face the
wars, like a game, don’t giving a shit about the human beings or the planet.
"Die Like Dog" is about people that, only because they are in other
level of power, step,
despise and humiliate their mates, as if they are slaves. That was a kind of
uncover. In "Tsavo..." the inspiration came from that movie, whose
history moved us and it showed us the other side of a true history, showing the
lions as divinities sent against the frantic human progress, which put an end in
the natural life, only mattering with the power and the money.
The
instrumental "Njord Hymn" are very interesting and creative, it has
powerful riffs and intense atmospheres. Will you create more instrumental music
for the next albums?
Thank
you again. That music is actually a tribute to the Scandinavian people and the
viking culture, because, personally, I enjoy that culture and we wanted to
create something different of the rest of the Album, it was a personal will.
We
can’t say there will be another song like that, but, for the moment I think it
won't happen.
In
your opinion, what are the ten best 10 albums of the thrash metal history and
what are the ten best thrash metal acts?
This
is a very complicated question, but I tell you my personal likes:
1
– Metallica – Master of Puppets;
2
– Slayer – Hell Awaits;
3
– Sepultura – Schizophrenia;
4
– Kreator – Terrible Certainty;
5
– Megadeth – Peace Sells;
6 –
Dorsal Atlântica – Dividir e Conquistar;
7
– Taurus – Signo de Taurus;
8
– Annihilator – Never, Neverland;
9
– Destruction – Eternal Devastation;
10
– Mutilator – Into the Stranger;
11
– Sadus – Chemical Exposure;
12
– Forbidden – Forbidden Evil;
13
– Sodom – Agent Orange;
14
– Nuclear Assault – Handle with Care;
And
many others...There
are several bands, but I’ll tell you the ones that still kick some ass:
Kreator, Destruction, Slayer, Annihilator, Overkill, Testament, Sodom,
Artillery, Venon, Exodus and etc.
The
RESTHUS music are very aggressive andfurious, what do you think about the new wave
of melodic death and black metal music (of bands like DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, etc)
including female voices and classic touches?
The
new wave of melodic death and black metal and other styles, have some good
stuff, but in this very moment is just fashion and than we have the copy of the
copy, and the record companies, labels, release more and more bands of this
styles, saturating the market, what is really a shit. But there are some good bands
in these styles, and we like some of them.
Do
you live of your music? If not what are your another activities?
No,
the money comes from our jobs, we make metal music for love. The band is very underground,
cause in Brazil is very difficult make money by Metal. We worked in different
cities in Santa Catarina. I work at a University, one of us works for a company
that makes clocks and the other guy works at the city hall.
Are
you planning a tour to promote "Embryo of The Endless Sands"? Which are
the plans for RHESTUS future?
Yes,
we’re planning some gigs in other Brazilian states and other countries in
South America. The future is unknown, but we’re planning the record a second
album with self-production or by Label Company. In
this very moment we’re adapting the band to be a trio and divulging our debut
in the world underground.
Congratulation
for your great music & thank you very much for the interview! Give your last
words to the RHESTUS fans!
Thanks so much to Edgar and Krepuskulum Webzine for the interview and the praises, is such a great pleasure being part of the metal scene in Santa Catarina and Brazil. The Metal needs more people like you Edgar and other guys that keep divulging and supporting the bands and the underground. Thanks for everybody who help us on this eleven years, Keep the Metal Music up! Thanks.
___________________________________________________________
Contacts:
Band:
www.rhestus.com.br , rhestus@rhestus.com.br