Big Mike:That’s Keo’s way of expressing his own life. How he ironically fought to survive in this country like he had to fight to survive in his native Cambodia.

Talk to us about the history of the band to the recording of ABANDONED.

BM:We started out as a 4 piece (two gtr, bass, and Keys) in the fall of ’97. Musical differences prevailed and we were forced to replace our original guitarist and since we started syncing the songs on the 8trk, Keo just put the keyboard tracks on the machine and we stayed with out a keyboard player. We recorded our first 3song demo in the early part of ’98 and had gone through 3 different guitarists before calling Trey in to the band. We have gotten airplay in Australia, Lithuania, Canada, and The United States on the strength of the first Demo. The new cd we spread out the recording over five months from Dec ’99 to May ’99 going back here and there to do overdubs and mixing.

ANGUISH IN EXILE invests in a very personal style, mixing influences of brutal death metal, industrial and electronic. Talk us about your vision of the current music and on your influences. Do you believe that the electronics is the future of the music?

Keo: I Think its awful. Music is in Bad shape. Labels are trying to sign all these trend bands or these bands that sound like they stole there music from some band back in the ‘80’s.

Trey: the scene seemed more productive and on a faster track 8 years ago now its just stagnating

Big Mike:Its cash in on this cash in on that and forget the people who are doing something for the scene. I personally felt industrial was the way Metal should have went. The Industrial sound attacked more of your senses with noises and voices, than any old guitar and growler ever could. I remember when I first heard Pink Floyd, it took me years to find a band(s) to capitalize on that world of lunacy that they created but taking it even further and really fucking shit up. I understand not every band can do it but more respect ought to be given to the bands who do, like Neurosis I feel they are the Metal version of Pink Floyd.

Some lovers of Death Metal have a lot of resistance to the use of electronic elements in the music, what do you have to say for those critical ones?

Keo: Those are the idiots, they’re too close minded. It helps to add new elements or dynamics to keep music original. Those critical ones are the first to say be open minded but they’re actually the last to do so.

Trey: not everybody can be open to everything but, those people don’t move forward

In the CD ABANDONED you mix some sounds of horror films as " Bram Stoker's Dracula " & 8MM, what are your favorite movies and books?

Keo:Fav movies CLOCKWORK ORANGE, CONTACT you know sci-fi stuff.

Big Mike: Movies would be THE WALL from Pink Floyd, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS (movie version) and REPO MAN. Fave books ON THE ROAD, THE STAND, and NEUROMANCER

Trey: fave book is WASP FACTORY by Iian Banks

Thecover of ABANDONED bring a very curious image, Why you chose that image as cover art? Keo: It made a good impression on me when I first saw it. I felt it fit with the title and what we do.

Big Mike: We tend to use a lot of images of children to show the crimes against children that man as a race does when its on its quest for power. The hardest hit victims are children no one seems to give a shit. We aren’t trying to exploit the violence just maybe show that its there and make people aware.

ABANDONED is a powerful self produced CD. You certainly should be some proposed of several labels.Why didn't you sign contract with none? Keo: Thank you for feeling we should be signed. Everyone is playing safety net trying to recapture the past or the trends too closely.

Talk about your process of composition . Keo:I start with Drums then Keys then I will work the guitar lines out. I try to keep from doing cliché intros, chorus’, and basic song structures other bands use.

Big Mike: Keo uses a lot of odd timings and structures that only make sense when throws in the vocals. Were lost if doesn’t sing.(haha)

Keo:I try to make each song better than the last

Where come from your inspiration to write the lyrics of songs as ABANDONED, TO END IT ALL?Keo:ABANDONED was frustration, musically, with a previous band I was apart of. TO END IT ALL is the search for validation as far as why we exist as the human race.

We would like to know your opinion about some bands:

CRADLE OF FILTH –Keo: great studio band but lack the live energy.
SLAYER – Keo: Great influence on me when I was younger but now I don’t understand what they’re doing.
KREATOR –Keo: Most underrated Metal Band
THE BERZERKER -
NINE INCH NILS –Keo: great programmer but I don’t draw from him as an influnce.
MINISTRY –Big Mike: This is band who helped establish the sound we were trying to capture.
METALLICA –Keo: Who Big Mike: want some wine to go with that cheese. Trey: once upon a time, great
CELTIC FROST –Trey: another great band that soldout.
CARCASS –Keo: very good death metal band Trey:every thing past Heartwork was lame.
IRON MAIDEN –Keo: without these guys there wouldn’t be no metallica.

We would also like to know your opinion on those subjects: