Depredation if they itch, they’ll scratch
Depredation was founded by guitarist Maurice and vocalist Rob. After years of struggling and line-up changes the band began to take his final shape and since the end of 2002 Depredation operates with 5 band members. Depredation nowadays plays brutal death metal with a groove and is constantly working on new material, looking for new challenges and opportunities. The new material is more catchy and brutal than the older stuff and Depredation wants to let you hear the difference at all the coming live shows and gigs to come! After the release of their first demo “Crushing the Weak” it is now time for the first official release of the band. Butchery Music released the new MCD “Slaughtered Innocence” on 13 February 2004, containing 6 brutal tracks with a playing time of over 20 minutes.
On Saturday April 3, 2004 Rob decided to leave the band. Depredation is now urgently looking for a new vocalist.
Some influences of the band are: Morbid Angel/Cannibal Corpse, Incantation & Dying Fetus.
The main purpose of the band is to play brutal death metal for everybody who likes it (and those who hate it).
interview with Dirk on 09-04-2004
Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
My name is Dirk Verspaget. I’m the drummer of Depredation since February 2002.
Congrats with the album and label deal. Is it the next career step?
Thanks! I hope that this is our next step. I think that “Slaughtered Innocence” is the best that Depredation has ever created and has to offer for the moment but is still getting better.
Reviews of the MCD are good so far.
How did the album presentation go? Good after party?
We had a great evening and sold enough cd’s. The support acts Djinn and Abaddon were great and there were more then enough hangovers created.
Already got some figures of the sales? How many discs were made?
I don’t know how many cd’s are sold by now to be honest. There were 500 cd’s made.
The biggest problem now is that Butchery Music is not a big label and don’t have many relations arround here yet. I’m trying to distribute them myself by contacting mailorder catalogues etc.
It will work but it takes some time.
Rob has left the band suddenly for us. Did you knew about his plans?
Rob has not only left the band suddenly for you but for us also!!! We did not knew about his plans but we did notice some changes. He was always the first to leave after a gig. Mostly within an our after getting of stage. These are clear signs when you think of it afterwards but it did not ring any bells for me at the time. Maurice (guitar) said he’d seen it coming but other band members were somewhat surprised. Well... Shit happens!!
Can you tell what his negative feelings were to take this decission?
According Rob it’s not about the band members or the music the band plays. He just didn’t feel like singing in a band anymore. We just have to accept this.
Is it hard to lose your vocalist in this busy time for promotion?
Is this a trick question?? Ofcource it’s hard to lose our vocalist right now. There are a few gigs planned that we want to play at all costs, but a vocalist is needed for that.
Luckily we’ve got our first audition next Saturday (exactly one week after the departure of Rob). We’ll have to see if this works but we want to be ready again at the end of May.
Why did you bribe me for this intie?
Simple. Promotion. There was already an intie online but this one was a year (or more) old. This way people will be informed of the current situation.
Your label is from Bulgaria. Expect they organize some gigs in their area?
There trying, but we cannot play in there local pub. They’ll try to arrange some larger gigs over there to be able to cover the costs. I’m also trying to arrange gigs for our label mates Deivos (Great band!! Technical brutal Death Metal from Poland) here in the Netherlands. It’s a small label and we just try to help each other.
Will it be easy to get free from work to do an European tour?
Don’t know, haven’t asked it (yet). One thing is for sure, no boss of mine will keep here when I get the opportunity to do an European tour!
What kind of work do you do? Studied for it? What kind of job would you accept outside the music bizz?
I am a professional computer nerd and still studying to get my bachelor degree.
Do you like to scratch your balls in public?
A man has got to do what a man has got to do. If they itch, I’ll scratch. Don’t you???
Try to explain what brutal death metal is to a blind and deaf person?
Why should I try??? He can’t hear a word I’m saying!!!
Maybe he just has feel it. Just place him right in front of the speakers.
What do you think of putting genre labels on bands? Will it be positive or negative advertisment?
I think a bit of both. In some cases you cannot put a label on a band, but at the other hand, it is an easy way to get somebody’s attention. If somebody tells me about a “brutal death metal band” they’ll surely get my attention.
How many genres in metal can you count?
Just to many.
How was it to get no questions about your hair problems on your head?
There’s not realy much to ask (and say) about something that is hardly there. But my head does reflect the sunlicht in a very nice way tho ;-)
Think you have to explain your baldness till you die?
It’s not all bald... have you seen my anus???
What is the most disgusting deformity you ever seen?
Once again... have you seen my anus???
Last rites?
I just hope that “Slaughtered Innocence” will be to the likings of the true metal heads. Visit our site (www.depredation.nl), download some songs and let us know what you think of it, or even better, buy the album and support the underground!!!
