Interview with Hegony

 

1.Hello please introduce yourselves to the readers?

O: Hi Patrick, I’m Ogre, Hegony’s vocalist

H: Hello, it’s Herr – guitarist, composer and band founder

2.When did you first discover death metal and who were the first bands that you were introduced to?Who are some of the current bands that you have been listening to?

H: I first encountered death metal in the early '90s, thanks to my brother, Mariusz, who brought me a VHS tape of various music from a friend who was one of the few who had access to Headbangers Ball on MTV. I first heard Pestilence - Land of Tears, Kreator - Coma of Souls, and Death - Lack of Comprehension. For a 12-year-old at the time, it was a revelation, magic, and destiny.

O: For me, similarly to Herr, my first exposure came through MTV music videos and Hellsheadbangers Ball. I still remember the impression the Obituary video left on my seven-year-old self. It was a discovery of a lifetime. I don't think anything will change in that regard as long as I live.

3.When did you all get the idea to start the band and are you satisfied with how things have gone with the band so far? How did you choose the name Hegony as the name of the band?

O: Herr took a rather long break from playing music and running the band on a daily basis due to family obligations.

In early 2017, the pent-up seed of desire to spread Death Metal began to re-seed within him. From the ashes of Scarflesh, Hegony was formed.

For a few weeks, it was a purely instrumental band.

For me, it was a coincidence – I found an ad for a vocalist for a new band, wrote it in, and a week or two later, I received a response and a meeting request.

By the end of 2017, Hegony was a fully functioning band, with material being polished for its first release.

The band's name is a play on two words – "hegemony" and "agony."

4.What is the current line up of the band? Who would you say are the bands biggest influences? For the readers who have never heard Hegony how would you best describe your music?

H: Current line-up for the band is: - Herr – guitars - Boro – bass - Ogre – vocals O: Herr handles the composing. He also handles the drum parts.

In terms of producing and recording our own music, we are also currently self-sufficient.

Hegony's Death Metal is a conglomeration of the old school music we grew up on, utilizing modern sound design techniques. It's Death Metal, simple in its message and straightforward in its reception. Don't expect a bandit standing in the dark with a nail-studded club to start reciting Byron and asking for directions to the nearest philharmonic hall. His goal is to punch you in the head and steal your wallet.

5.Deviations is the bands newest EP.that was self released in late 2025 on cd and digitatal services.How long did it take the band to write the music for this release?Does the whole band take part in the writing process or does one member usually write everything? 

Writing the music itself didn't take Herr very long. The material and songs themselves remained structurally unchanged for at least a year before release. The process of achieving the appropriate level of playing and recording the material took a significant amount of time. Added to this were personnel issues with the lineup, equipment failures, and a lack of commitment from everyone on the same page. Instead of 2024, the EP was released at the end of 2025.

6.Who usually handles writing the lyrics for the music and what are some subjects written about on this release?

O: it’s my part, in total, since beginning of Hegony – each word written and used comes from my head…..inspiration is one…and only - Humans – and their worst possible behaviors, perversions, deviations from the norm, and the resulting predisposition to crime and inflicting suffering on others. There's no need to look elsewhere, in other dimensions – the worst that can happen is what a human being is capable of doing to another human being. H: You know - OGRE, no one else has raised anything in the lyrical layer.

7.Besides the Deviations EP are the bands previous releases availible for the readers to purchase? If yes where can they be found. Yes, Hegony’s previous releases are available. Not all of them, but if anyone is interested, please contact us or visit our Bandcamp, and they can purchase them.

8.Has Hegony started writing new material for the next EP or would you like to release a full length?Would the band like to find a label to work with or do you prefer self releasing your own music? O: We're working on new material; we have a few tracks ready to record. More are in the works. Before the next release, the music will be pre-sent to labels and promoters. If any of these sources are interested in supporting us with promotion or release, great. If not, no worries – we'll take it upon ourselves again. However, in terms of organizing concerts and festival appearances, it would be quite a relief to collaborate with someone on a permanent basis.

H: There are 3 tracks ready to go: * Palm Harvest * Psychotic Attack * Your Last Cold Kiss and there will be more. We're considering whether to release an LP or an EP, but in terms of potential profit for a potential label, an LP is a better bet. But we're probably going to stick with 4 tracks and that's it. Next year, another EP.

9.Are their any shows or tours planned for the rest of 2026? If yes where will the band be playing?

O: We're once again struggling with lineup issues. We currently lack a drummer who can lead regular rehearsals with us. Recently, we've acquired a drummer who will support us in sessions at concerts. He'll be learning the material and set of live songs for the next few weeks. We currently have three dates planned in various cities in Poland. I think 2027 will be more packed with concerts, and we'll be able to see Hegony live more often.

H: Considering that we finished assembling the lineup very recently, we had to cancel/postpone some concerts, but, as Ogre says, I think that autumn/winter 2026 will include about 3-4 concerts in various parts of Poland.

10.Hegony comes out of Poland's legendary death metal scene what is your opinion of Poland's Metal scene over the decades?

O: The death metal scene in Poland is evolving and changing constantly. This is a topic for a longer discussion, drawing on my own observations, both as someone who has been and continues to be a spectator and fan of Polish metal bands, and as someone who has personally met many of the people who make up the metal scene over the years.

Death metal remains a very strong niche in Poland, although in the last 5-6 years, there has been a noticeable increase in the activity of young musicians and bands forming thrash metal and proto-death metal lineups. This is also an interesting phenomenon.

11.Who are your all-time favorite Polish bands?Are their any new bands you could recomend to the readers?

O: Vader! From these names which could be not known widely: check out Dormant Orderal or Deconstructing Sequence beside those which are more on promotion within underground.

12.Besides working in Hegony do any of the members currently work with any other bands or solo projects? If yes please tell the readers a little about them? 

Our bass player, Boro has own music project and also plays on bass as session musician. Beside that – Herr is providing mis and mastering for other bands.

13.What does Underground Metal mean to you?

 O: You must have a passion for music. You must have a passion for metal. No matter what you create, no matter what metal plays within you, you must be the music, you must feel it – otherwise, if you don't fully immerse yourself in the music, you'll become bored. You'll lose the will to act, and any difficulties—and there are many of them—will become obstacles to further action. You may not achieve anything significant for years, nothing that could be called a success on the big stages—but when you're standing in front of the people who came to hear you, it doesn't matter. They give you their energy, their attention, and their time – it's a mutual interaction. We then give them the same.

H: What is in the heart hahahaha and always contributing to the business:)

14.When not working on new music or band business what do you like to do in your free time?

 H: I like to get the hell out of here playing Call of Duty, and of course chill with a drink.

O: I don't know what it means to be bored :) I love riding my motorcycle, visiting new places, spending my vacation on every European island, hiking in the mountains, reading a good book, going to concerts and festivals... life is too short and there's not enough time in the day.

15.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?

O: Thank you for all of the questions. We hope that we will hear and see to each other quite soon!

H: Wait for new Hegony and Hail Death Metal!!!                                                                                         Hegony                                                                                                                                                        https://hegony.bandcamp.com/album/deviations                                                                                      https://www.facebook.com/hegony/                                                                                                          https://www.instagram.com/hegonyofficial/

Interview with Death's Revenge

 

1. Hello! Could you introduce yourselves to our readers?

Hello to all the readers of Painful Reality Web-Zine. We are Death's Revenge, a Death Metal band from Santiago, Chile. Our current lineup consists of myself, Angelo Yáñez (bass), Pablo Piña (vocals), Moisés Adriazola (guitar), and Octavio Becerra (drums).

2. When did you first discover Death Metal, and which bands initially caught your attention? What bands are you listening to these days?

Octavio Becerra and I discovered Death Metal during our teenage years, when we were around fifteen or sixteen, back on the island of Chiloé, where we both come from. Chiloé is located in southern Chile, where the weather is cold and rainy for most of the year. Because of that, it was common to spend countless evenings gathering at friends' houses, drinking questionable homemade alcohol, but always with plenty of Death Metal blasting in the background.

For Moisés, his first encounter with Death Metal came much earlier, when he was around nine years old. He was playing Pokémon Yellow on the family computer when "Immortal Rites" by Morbid Angel suddenly started playing from one of his brother's playlists. The progression of the riffs and the song's dark atmosphere left a huge impression on him and sparked a lifelong fascination with Death Metal.

The first bands we listened to were Death, Pestilence, Master, and Morbid Angel, along with the Swedish Death Metal pioneers such as Entombed, Dismember, and Unleashed. We were also deeply influenced by the Death-Doom scene through bands like Paradise Lost and the early work of The Gathering.

Chile also has a rich Death Metal tradition dating back to the late '80s and early '90s, and that scene has been equally important in shaping us. Bands like Pentagram, Death Yell, Atomic Aggressor, and Cancerbero have always been major influences.

These days we've been listening to a lot of Bolt Thrower, Repugnant, Tribulation, Dismember, Darkthrone, and classic extreme metal in general. We enjoy exploring different styles because we're always looking for fresh ideas when writing new music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

3. Death's Revenge was formed in 2025. What inspired you to start the band? And how did you come up with the name Death's Revenge?

One day Pablo and I were drinking whisky while watching a Morbid Angel concert. At some point I simply said, "What if we start a Death Metal band?" He immediately replied, "Let's do it." After that I messaged Octavio and Moisés asking if they wanted to join, and they both said yes without hesitation.Sometimes, when you want to play something, you simply do it. You don't overthink it. That was really our biggest motivation: to play rotten, old-school Death Metal that captures just how close death always is, in every aspect of life.

We got together the following weekend, played one song I had written along with a few covers, and everything felt incredibly natural. Right then we realized the chemistry was there, and that this project deserved to continue.

The name Death's Revenge comes from our belief that death always catches up with you. It's the only absolute certainty in life. It doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, or how long you live—sooner or later, everything comes to an end. Whether you've been good or bad, death and its revenge will eventually arrive.

4. What would you say are the band's biggest influences? And for readers who haven't heard you yet, how would you describe your music?

Our main musical influences come from classic Death Metal of the late '80s and early '90s: Death, Possessed, Morbid Angel, Entombed, Merciless, and Grotesque. We're also inspired by early Death-Doom bands such as Paradise Lost and Amorphis, as well as legendary Chilean acts like Pentagram. On top of that, Thrash Metal has played a major role in shaping our sound, especially bands like Slayer, Metallica, and Kreator.

Musically, we combine aggressive riffs with dynamic tempo changes, dark atmospheres, and a strong old-school spirit. We want our songs to be heavy, memorable, and to have an identity of their own.

Lyrically, our songs explore death from different perspectives. For example, "Dreams Bleed" was inspired by Han Kang's novel The Vegetarian, which tells the story of a woman oppressed throughout her life who experiences death, transformation, and personal destruction through dreams and lived experiences. It's an intense and deeply unsettling work.

Other songs deal with the inevitability of death, human violence, physical decay, and the fragility of existence. We draw inspiration from literature, films, television series, and true stories, always trying to present death from different perspectives while maintaining a thoughtful and critical approach.

5. Dreams Bleed is your debut demo, independently released on Bandcamp. How long did it take to write the material? Does the whole band contribute to the songwriting, or is there one main songwriter?

We wrote five songs in roughly five months. However, we decided to record only three of them for the demo, mainly because of budget limitations but also because we were already thinking ahead. Our goal is to record our first full-length album during the first half of next year, so we preferred to save some material for that release.The music is generally written by Moisés and myself. The initial ideas usually come from one of us, although we often develop the riffs and song structures together. Once we have a solid foundation, we bring the songs into the rehearsal room, where every member contributes with suggestions, arrangements, and new ideas.

It's a very collaborative process, but also a demanding one. We're highly critical of our own work and try to avoid settling for the first version of a song. We believe that constant refinement has been essential in giving Death's Revenge its own identity right from the beginning.

6. Who usually writes the lyrics, and what themes are explored on your debut demo? What usually comes first: the music or the lyrics?

I usually write most of the lyrics, although they're always reviewed and refined with input from the rest of the band. Pablo and Moisés also write lyrics, so it's a very collaborative process overall.

There isn't a fixed formula when it comes to songwriting. Sometimes a lyrical concept comes first, and we build the music around it. Other times, a few riffs create a particular atmosphere, and from that feeling we develop lyrics that naturally fit the music.

As I mentioned before, "Dreams Bleed" was inspired by Han Kang's novel The Vegetarian.

"Justice or Execution" explores the concepts of justice and redemption in relation to capital punishment. The song raises the question of whether an execution truly delivers justice, redemption, or perhaps both. Rather than providing an answer, it invites the listener to reflect on the issue. It was inspired by the classic Chilean film El Chacal de Nahueltoro, one of the most important works in Chilean cinema.

Finally, "Gate of Agony" deals with the constant presence of death inside an emergency room. It portrays death as something that silently accompanies every critical decision and every life-or-death moment. The lyrics were inspired by several episodes of the television series The Pitt.

7. I know this is currently a digital release, but are there any plans to release it on CD or cassette?

Yes. We produced an initial run of fifty American-style cassette tapes, which were sold mainly to friends and early supporters of the band. The response was so positive that we followed it up with a second run of twenty additional copies.

In addition, KDC, a record label from southern Chile, released fifty CD-R copies, and the demo will soon receive another cassette edition through the Chilean label Analog Kult.At the moment, another label has shown interest in releasing the demo as a professionally pressed CD, although nothing has been officially confirmed yet. The conversations are progressing well, so we're optimistic.

8. Has the band already started working on new material for another demo, or are you aiming to write enough songs for a full-length album?

Yes, we've already begun working on new material. We currently have several songs that didn't make it onto the demo, and they continue in the same musical and lyrical direction established on Dreams Bleed.

Our goal is to complete eight or nine songs and, once we're fully satisfied with the material, enter the studio to record our first full-length album.

9. Has Death's Revenge already had the chance to perform live? Or do you prefer working in the studio or rehearsal room? If you've already played live, which shows have been the most memorable so far?

Yes, we've played several live shows.

Our debut performance was especially memorable because we opened the event, and a surprisingly large number of people came specifically to see us. Starting our live career that way gave us a huge boost of confidence.

We genuinely love playing live. We don't see ourselves as a studio-only band. The energy we create during rehearsals shouldn't exist only on a recording—it has to be brought to the stage.

All of us regularly attend concerts and underground shows ourselves, so performing face-to-face with the audience is a fundamental part of what this band is about.

10. Death's Revenge comes from the Chilean Death Metal scene. What is your opinion on how the Chilean scene has evolved over the years?

Chile has had an incredibly strong metal scene since the 1980s. During the military dictatorship, many outstanding bands emerged despite the difficult circumstances. Throughout the 1990s, Death Metal experienced a period of remarkable growth and consolidation, giving rise to numerous bands that are now respected both inside and outside the country.

Today, metal bands can be found throughout Chile—not only Death Metal, but also Thrash, Black, Doom, and Heavy Metal. You could honestly say that Chile breathes metal.

We believe this has a lot to do with the realities of everyday life in our country: social inequality, economic hardship, and the tensions that have historically shaped Chilean society.In that context, metal has become much more than music—it serves as a form of expression, cultural resistance, and emotional catharsis.

11. Who are your all-time favorite Chilean bands? And are there any newer bands you'd like to recommend to our readers?

Some of our all-time favorite Chilean bands are Pentagram, Atomic Aggressor, Miserycore, Communion, Force of Darkness, Necroripper, Infernal Slaughter, and Cancerbero. We consider all of them essential bands within the Chilean metal scene.

As for newer or currently active bands, we'd definitely recommend Trastorned, Vomit, Morbid Cruelty, Hallux Valgus, Blood Grave, Nigromancia, STD, Hellavenger, and Hostile Faith. They're all putting out excellent material and prove that the Chilean underground is in a very healthy and exciting place right now.

12. Besides playing in Death's Revenge, are any of the members currently involved in other bands? If so, could you tell our readers a little about those projects?

Yes. Some of us are also active in other bands.

Moisés plays in Decadencia, a Metalpunk band, as well as Wretched Anomaly, a Death Slam project. He also has a solo Black Metal project that, for now, remains largely hidden from the public.

Octavio plays drums in Nocturnal Tales, a Black/Speed Metal band.

As for me, I also play bass in Fuerza Negra, a Death/Thrash Metal band.

13. When you need a break from writing music or dealing with band-related activities, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

We spend a large part of our lives working, just like everyone else. But whenever we have free time, we love going to underground gigs and concerts. It's always inspiring to watch both established bands and new acts. Here in Santiago there are metal shows happening all the time, so if you're into heavy music, it's almost impossible to get bored.

Besides drinking plenty of beer and listening to good metal, we also try to stay physically active, read books, learn new things, and play video games.

We believe that maintaining a reasonably healthy lifestyle is essential if you want to avoid dying of a heart attack before your time. (Laughs.)

14. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Do you have any final words for our readers?

Thank you very much for your interest in the band and for helping to keep the underground metal spirit alive!

We truly appreciate the opportunity to be featured by Painful Reality Web-Zine and for all the support you've shown Death's Revenge.

If you haven't listened to our debut demo, Dreams Bleed, we hope you'll give it a spin.

Take care, and we'll see you somewhere out there in the underground.

Cheers!                                                                                                                                                        Death's Revenge                                                                                                                                           https://deathsrevengemetal.bandcamp.com/album/dreams-bleed                                                                https://www.instagram.com/deaths.revenge                                                                                                   https://www.youtube.com/@Deathsrevengemetal                                                                                          

Interview with Corpsemangle

 

1.Hello please introuduce yourself to the readers?

Hi, we are Corpsemangle - an old school death metal band heavily influenced by the 90s morrisound sound. We are a 2 piece band currently and we released our debut album Eating The Damned in January 2026.

2.At what age did you discover death metal and what is it about this genre of music that drew you in and has kept you listening over the years?

Well I think I was in high school when I started listening to death metal more seriously. I think I always knew of it, but it seemed too extreme to me at first. I mean I was mainly listening to thrash metal, but when I heard death and obituary I fell in love, after that you get heavier and I still listen to death metal to this day. Martin on the other hand started a little later but he also has the passion for extreme music,

3.Who were the first bands that you listened to?And who are some of the current bands that you have been listening to lately?

In general the first bands I ever listened to were AC/DC, Metallica, Deep Purple, Scorpions and bands like that. I was very little and my father played cassettes in the car. Currently I am listening to the old death metal bands from the 90s, for contemporary bands not so much. I think the modern production is the thing that puts me off, there are good songs but it all seems the same to me nowadays.

4.Corpsemangle was started in 2015 what gave you the idea to start this band? Are you happy with how things have progressed with the band over the years?

Well I decided to start a solo project, because the band that I was currently in was doing progressive death and I think I always preferred the old school stuff. I just recorded some ideas and left them for future release. 10 years later I decided to release an album since things didn’t work out with many of the bands I played in. I was going to just release it and do it Putrid Pile style live, but decided to send a message to Martin to see if he would want to play that kind of music. He agreed and the rest is history.

5.Who would you say are the bands biggest influences? For the readers who have never heard the bands music how would you best describe it?

The biggest influences for Corpsemangle are Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, the first 2 albums of Gorguts, Malevolent Creation, Obituary and Death - mainly the 90s death metal bands. Well their music is aggressive, brutal but also very technical, there are also some melodic parts especially in Death’s music. They are the bands who started the genre and I think these albums will remain classics.

6.I believe the band is a two piece would you like to add more members to make a full line up or do you prefer to work as a two piece?

If we find a serious drummer we could continue as a trio, but for now we will remain as a two piece. The future will tell and depending on future albums who knows.

7.Eating The Damned is the debut full length how long did it take to write the music for this release? How long does it usually take to complete one song?

It took from March until December to complete the full album, but the songs were already structured. The singles were released in September, October and November, but they were ready. Most of the songs were done and lyrics were written. The hard part was recording, mixing and mastering. It really depends, every song is different and some songs were done in a week and some songs took months.

8.This is a self released release would you two like to find a label to work with or do you prefer to release your own music independently?

We prefer to release independently, I had some not so good experience with a label 10 years ago so not for now. In the future it’s possible.

9.Corpsemangle comes out of Bulgaria's death metal scene what are your thoughts of the scene in Bulgaria?

Well the scene in Bulgaria mostly consists of core bands (metalcore, deathcore and hardcore), some thrash bands and there are some legacy death metal bands from the 90s. There is good music, but it’s mostly underground and all the bands know each other - at least in Sofia. There are some new death metal bands that have old school sound and they are really good.

10.Who are your alltime favorite bands coming out of Bulgaria?Are their any new bands you could recomend to the readers?

All time favourite probably Проказа (Leprocy) and Mass Grave for me, also some of the new old school bands like Certain Demise. I recommend them and Concrete is also good (they are a little older band, but they have old school attitude), Corpse is also a good band (they are from the legacy bands).

11.Besides working in Corpsemangle do either of you work with any other bands or solo projects?

Corpsemangle is the only project I am currently in. Martin I think has some other projects, but he doesn’t play live with them for now.

12.When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business what do you like to do in your free time?

I play video games and I love playing guitar, it’s an awesome instrument and helps me deal with stress. Martin also plays games, but he also does figurines which is cool.

13.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?

Thank you for the invite, we appreciate it. To your readers - Stay awesome and listen to good music, go to concerts and be happy! This is what matters the most!                                                                          Corpsemangle                                                                                                                                                https://corpsemangle.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                          https://www.facebook.com/Corpsemangle                                                                                                  https://www.instagram.com/corpsemangleband                                                                                        https://www.youtube.com/@Corpsemangle

                                                                                                 

Interview with Hordes Of Wrath

 

1.Hello please introduce yourself to the readers?

Greetings everyone. My name is Moisés Alves, I use the pseudonym Necro Tyrant in Hordes Of Wrath, I work with illustrations for extreme metal bands and I'm responsible for the band's artwork, and I'm a musician in my spare time.

2.At what age did you discover black metal and what is it about this genre that drew you in and keeps you interested?

My memory is terrible, but I believe I must have been around 17 years old at the time. I was already listening to more traditional metal before that, but one day, I saw the Satyricon video, Mother North, and the guitar melody combined with the dark atmosphere was exactly what I wanted to do, and without a doubt, these are the elements that make black metal something unique to me to this day.

3.Who were the first bands that you discovered and who are some of the current bands that you have been listening to?

The first heavier music I heard was Kiss, then Iron Maiden and Slayer, and later I discovered Satyricon, Dark Funeral, Dissection, Marduk and many others. Currently I've been listening to bands like Frostshock, Ontborg and Another Demon, to name a few, but there's a bit of everything as long as it's not garbage made with artificial intelligence.

4.When did you first get the idea to start Hordes Of Wrath? Are you satified with how things have gone with the band so far?

I played in several bands and after a while I discovered that what I liked was composing and recording music, so the project developed naturally. I'm always composing; it's not something I have absolute control over. The riffs come to my mind and I play them. I always have my guitar nearby, I fit some riffs together and the music takes shape. Not everything I do becomes music for Hordes Of Wrath; I have tons of things saved that will become other projects. I feel satisfied by the fact that I can make the music I would like to hear; that's already my reward in a way, so I can say for sure that I feel good about the direction my project has taken.

5.Who would you say are Hordes Of Wrath biggest influences and have they remained the same over the years?For the readers who have never heard the band how would you best describe the music?

I believe that Marduk, Infernal War, Dark Funeral, to name a few, if you like any of these bands you will possibly end up liking something of what I do with Hordes Of Wrath.

6.Army Of One is the second full length how long did it take to write the music for this release? How long does it usually take to complete one song?

I just let it flow, I'm always composing something, when I have a certain number of 10 songs that work for the project because they go well together, it means it's time to release something.I usually spend much more time experimenting with recording than composing; generally, a song comes out in a day.

It's like one riff pulls the next; I just allow the ideas to come together naturally. Lyrics are more work because I hate writing lyrics, but overall I enjoy the process. I couldn't say exactly how long it took because the composition and recording process is done in my free time.

7.Where do you draw inspiration for the lyrics?Which usually comes first the music or the lyrics?

I compose the music first, my inspiration is pure hatred, my lyrics end up coming out after a bad day and I need to channel the anger into something constructive,

so I don't end up doing something I might regret later.

8.I believe you have self released all of your own releases do you prefer to stay independent or would you like to find a label to work with one day?

I'm always open to offers, I just don't have the time or social skills to keep contacting people or record labels.

9.Would you like to add more members to have a full band or do you prefer to work alone? If you could work with any musicians past or present who are some you would like to work with?

Time has shown me that I can only work alone and would certainly end up having some kind of conflict of ideas. I know I'm difficult to live with, so if I'm going to fight with someone, I'd rather it be with my own demons.

10.What does Black Metal mean to you?

Black metal itself is a way of experiencing the world, but in a darker way, with no interest in being safe or friendly.

It is primitive in its essence, and that's how it should be.

11.Are you currently working with any other bands or solo projects? If yes please tell the readers a little about them?

I intend to do some other projects in the future because I have a lot of material to record that doesn't fit the sound of Hordes Of Wrath. I don't have anything structured at the moment, but I believe I'll release a single this year. I'm not sure, it will depend on my free time.

12.Hordes Of Wrath comes out of Brazil's black and death metal scene what are your thoughts of Brazil's Metal scene over the years?

I honestly don't place boundaries on music, and for me it doesn't matter where a band comes from or  who the musicians are, what they do with their lives or have done; the impact for me is the music itself, regardless of the lyrical content. I believe that the metal scene in general has grown in popularity not only in Brazil but also worldwide, which has positive and negative points, but I'm indifferent to that. I don't have a significant presence in the scene and I haven't been to shows in a long time. My life consists of making my art and promoting it as much as possible, and for me that's more than enough.

13.Who are your all-time favorite bands coming out of Brazil?Are their any new bands you could recomend to the readers?

I really like Subtenebras, Morteix, and Carcinosy, to name a few; I believe they are good recommendations.

But a large part of the essence of the underground is seeking out bands yourself, and today there are countless possibilities to do that, so if you dedicate some time to searching on Bandcamp, for example, you'll certainly find something rewarding.

14.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?

I appreciate the opportunity and to everyone who took the time to enjoy this interview, keep the flame of black metal burning.                                                                                                                                Hordes Of Wrath                                                                                                                                        https://hordesofwrath.bandcamp.com/album/army-of-one                                                                      https://www.facebook.com/hordesofwrath/

  

Interview with Wrestlemaniacs 3-5-2026

When I heard Wrestlemaniacs for the first time it was on Bandcamp, and I immediately decided to review their album Don't Try This At Home. It's a classic crossover thrash style, and every song is memorable, infectious even. Every song was about pro wrestling, which I am a huge fan of and I wanted to know more. I knew I couldn't leave the subject of this band alone, so I contacted them and requested an interview, which they were kind enough to get back to me. Read on for their exploits.

You can experience the band here: wrestlemaniacsrule.bandcamp.com

PR/AP: Since many are unfamiliar with you here in the States, let us know how Wrestlemaniacs came to be a band.

Mariano: It all started by visiting a German indie wrestling show back in 2016 and some guy asked us if we were musicians cause he wanted to found a new promotion called "WrestlingKult" and needs a theme song for it. At that time we were all playing in different bands but thought it was a fun idea and agreed to do one. Couple weeks later we recorded "Join the Kult," which is still their theme song today. After that we wrote three more themes for German wrestlers, but that was soon becoming a little bit boring because they all had a specific idea of how their song should sound. So we thought let's go and make it how we wanted it to sound, fast, raw, more metal, and that's where the madness began.

On your first release you got Nick Gage to do the intro to the song you wrote about him, "MDK." How did that come about?

Mariano: That was basically a cameo we bought. I got a birthday Cameo which ended up really cool so we thought let's buy another one as intro for the record. We later met Nick Gage in person and handed him the EP - he is a really nice guy and remembered the song and the Cameo (or at least said he did). MDK ALL F'N DAY!

I got to meet Virgil once at a flea market in Ohio, and of course he was alone. I could tell he really didn't want to take a picture with me, and he kept trying to get me to buy more autographed pictures even though I had already bought one. Whose idea was the song "Meat Sauce King," and have any of you ever met Virgil before? Sadly, we can't now, since he has passed away.

Mariano: Unfortunately not, but the stories about lonely Virgil and his really funny social media posts were reason enough to write him song.

Is an element of humor important to the music? Why?

Mariano: Definitely! Wrestling just delivers so many funny moments. Some songs or lines like "March of the S.H.E.I.K." with the Iron Sheik cursing or the "only half the brain" line in "Vicious Sycopath" from Sid's WCW promo where he said "I only got half the brands than you do." We also love these funny gimmicks from the '90s like Repo Man, Gillberg, Mantaur, The Ding Dongs... Songs about the Shockmaster debut or the Steiner Math promo are on top of my wanna do list. (That would be goddamn amazing. -AP.)

Is "Death by Lariat" about the legendary Stan Hansen? Tell me about that song.

Mariano: Yes, I'm a big fan of Hansen and Bruiser Brody and all those American "gaijins" that wrestled in Japan in the '80s. Eat the Turnbuckle already did a Brody song, so we thought let's honor Stan Hansen. And his lariat is a very underrated finisher!

Who came up with the image of the band, wearing lucha libre masks? I love the fact that your singer is using a barbed wire baseball bat attached to his mic in your video for "Still Real to Us."

Mariano: The name and the masks result in the first gig we had, the event was called "Rumpelfest." I don't know how to properly translate that but the idea behind it was that musicians from different bands get together for one night only and start playing without any songs or rehearsals, just by improvising. We were asked to participate, so we thought let's call it Wrestlemaniacs, wear lucha masks, and just play some tunes and wrestle a little bit on stage. As soon as we began the crowd started to wrestle each other at first and then us - it was pure chaos. We also met our second guitar player at that show cause he broke his cheekbone in the pit.

Tobi: The WrestlingKult theme already existed but that was the point where we decided to make it a real band.

Everything seems to be improved, from sound to songs, on Don't Try This At Home. Were you focusing on songwriting even more this time around? The songs are very catchy.

Tobi: The songs were written over quite a long time. "We Want Blood" for example is one of our oldest songs and was originally for a no longer existent German indie promotion. They only used it once and then went out of business. So I don't think we changed a lot, we just grew closer together and knew better what we wanted. Also the guys in the studio understood the assignment very well and made us sound as mean as possible. (They succeeded wildly! -AP)

What is it about pro wrestling you like so much?

Mariano: Most of us grew up with it. When you see it as a child on TV for the first time it is just fascinating and mesmerizing in both ways. Two guys beating the shit out of each other and the crowd goes nuts, good guy vs. bad guy, the bright lights, the entrance, the music. Those were real life superheroes. I also love the different styles of wrestling, similar to all the metal genres, sometimes you like it traditional so you listen to Judas Priest and watch Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 6 or you want thrash, then listen to Bonded by Blood and watch Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher, you want some Vulgar Display of Power watch Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka, rock 'n roll with Motorhead and Triple H vs. Taker, Okada vs. Omega with some Blind Guardian tunes, Slowly We Rot with some 2000s CZW TODs and so on...

Tobi: I actually stumbled into my first wrestling show when I was on a metal festival. The band that was playing did not interest me so I went to the place next door where wXw Superstars of Wrestling took place to have a beer with some friends that were there. Nobody wanted to see a ticket so I went further in and when I stood in front of the ring Walter (now Gunther) was slamming his opponent so hard, the ground shook. I was in love immediately.

Do metal and pro wrestling go together? I find a lot of metalists like it that I talk to.

Mariano: Definitely. Wrestling brought me into metal. I got the WWF Full Metal: The Album in 1996 and the two opening tracks "We're All Together Now" and "Thorn in Your Eye" were metal songs featuring Jon Oliva of Savatage, Scott Ian of Anthrax, and some other metal musicians. Also, many wrestlers had and still have metal songs or riffs as themes. In 1998 I saw a wrestling TV show in Germany where they had the music video of Stuck Mojo's "Rising" in which Raven and DDP played in at the end and begged my mom to buy me the record.

Hagen: Like Mariano said, the fascination started as a kid, watching guys like Diesel, Razor, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels beating the shit out of each other. Then the WWF released a sampler, Full Metal: The Album out in 1996 and the love for wrestling and metal combined. And after all these years you can listen to this on our records.

What are your musical influences for this project specifically? I imagine they're diverse.

Mariano: Main influence overall I would say are Eat the Turnbuckle. They started the whole idea of a wrestling themed band with the combination of music, lyrics, look and show. Other musical influences we can all agree with are S.O.D., Slayer, Sodom, Obituary, Power Trip, and the famous German singer Kalle Haverland.

Are you familiar with the TV Show "Dark Side of the Ring" at all? I would imagine you could dig through that for song ideas for sure!

Mariano: Yes, of course, I think we watched almost every episode so far. There are indeed some songs whose ideas came from the show like "I Shot Dino Bravo" and "Cocaine & Cowboy Boots." 

Who is your favorite wrestler of all time? Mine is easily Kazuchika Okada, but if you asked me when I was eight years old, it was Hulk Hogan!

Mariano: Well mine are Macho Man Randy Savage and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Eight year old me was also a Hulkamaniac and a huge Ultimate Warrior fan!

Tobi: SABU! I also like Jon Moxley, Blue Meanie, and New Jack.

Hagen: CM Punk, Stone Cold, Roddy Piper, Dustin Rhodes, The Goon, and Barry Horowitz.

Who had the idea to write "I Shot Dino Bravo" for the record? I laughed my ass off when I read that title the first time, and I knew I had to listen to this band!

Mariano: That idea came while watching his Dark Side of the Ring episode.

Tobi: Hagen came up with this black metal-ish riff, it only took a few minutes to write the whole song.

What's next for Wrestlemaniacs? Are you writing or playing shows at all?

Mariano: Currently we are preparing for some summer festival shows. We don't play very often because we also have other bands we're in and wanna keep our shows like a Brock Lesnar appearance - a special attraction.

I couldn't figure out who "Cocaine & Cowboy Boots" was about. Tell me about that song.

Mariano: That's also from a Dark Side of the Ring episode which has the same title. It's about UWF Promoter Herb Abrams who wanted to participate with WWF in the early 90s. He booked some famous names and big arenas and even got a TV deal but shit went downhill fast as he wouldn't pay his wrestlers and only a couple hundred people showed up at the shows. One final day he was found dead - high on coke, oiled up and wearing nothing but cowboy boots. So I thought that's a good story.

Do you plan on doing any videos for any of the new songs like you did for the last record?

Tobi: Yes, we plan to shoot a video for the title track "Don't Try This At Home," it's gonna be a wild DIY slobberknocker. (That's the best kind! -AP)

Do your shows get wild at all? Does the crowd get into the spirit?

Mariano: In Germany wrestling isn't that popular or mainstream as it is in the US, so sometimes people at first are a bit confused and maybe even disgusted when we enter the stage and hit someone with a barbed wire baseball bat, smash someone through a table, or cut someone open with a pizza cutter. We always have some special moves. It also depends on where we play. One time we were almost kicked out of a festival because we smashed some light tubes on each other.

Tobi: That's why we added a disclaimer to our Instagram. The light tubes were fun though, I'd do it again.

End this interview any way you like, and thank you so much for doing this.

Mariano: Always remember: this shit is f'n real to us dammit! Watcha gonna do when the Wrestlemaniacs run violent on you!