Interview:


Greek Thrash Metal band Mentally Defiled announced a split with US based Evil Army for 2018 so we had a chat with them to find out if there's a new album announced with this split and heading our way soon.

Hi guys, how the band lately? I don't usually involve politics or such in Slowly We Rot, but I'm just curious how's the life lately in Greece, how do you see its current state. And obviously, how did the economical crisis affected the Metal scene over there?
Hello and thanks for hosting us in your fanzine! The band is in a transitional state for the moment – since both of the guitarist and co-founding (with me) members have left – Alex immigrated to the UK and George couldn’t keep up the pace we wanted to have. Thus nowadays only me on vox, John “Maelstrom” on drums and Chris “Z” are the remnants of the band – but soon we will have some news on filling up the huge gap our guitarists withdrawal caused. Our situation more or less reflects the crisis we are living in Greece. Many people cannot stand their financial commitments and are forced to leave the country, or tolerate a lower life standard. But I think the worse is over – Greeks have always been capable on finding a way to overcome (or cause) any troubles – in this case this also applies!

Mentally Defiled was initially formed as a cover band. What were you covering back then, and what made you go for the original compositions at some point, what triggered it?
Back in 2001 when we decided to team up, we were just teenagers exploring the very essence of this raw music – new to us. Major covers (since my voice could reach some high pitch notes as a youngster) was some Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Metallica classics. Eventually and after LOTS of study we found our musical orientation – speeded up the tempo – grawled up the vocals and composed some stuff – I think “Mosh Pit Maniac” was our very first complete composition.

Your debut album had some serious success back when it was released, actually when it was re-released. Please tell us the story, why it needed to be re-released, and why weren't you able to promote it live in the first instance.
The story behind our debut is that although the material was quite good, we kinda rushed into releasing it. At this time (2008) our drummer Tassos had to leave within the year immigrate to the US. Plus both me and Alex had to join the army for our mandatory military service. So time was at the essence and the first label that show some interest – undertook the release. This was the Russian “Thrash Massacre Records”. Although it didn’t got the promotion we expected – once we were approached for a CD re-release via Mexican label “EBM Records” and Greek “Weird Face Productions” on vinyl, we gladly accepted and eventually the record was more widely acknowledged. Sadly we didn’t get to promote it live – we were out of a drummer able to deliver, until Bill (ex-Crucifier) joined and we gave a couple of - local only - shows.

Your second album, Aptitude For Elimination, was released in 2014 and according to your own words, it was "faster and even more aggressive, having bigger impact". Was this a target of yours when you started working on it, or it just happened? What made you push the pedal even more back then? Maybe the constant line-up problems had an impact on this, too, with the new members having more energy for the band?
Well, as the years passed by we were getting deeper into thrash, not only by playing it, but mostly by listening to forsaken and underrated/underground bands and tunes. This had an impact in our own music creation. Faster bpm, sharper riffs and a more aggressive musical approach was inevitable and not on purpose for sure! Constant member change on drums and bass guitars refreshed and energized us as well, until we found the most suitable “beasts” in the face of John and Chris to remain to the line up ‘till now!

Mentally Defiled plays pure and straight-forward Thrash Metal with no notable other influences, am I right? What bands would you say had the bigger impact on your music and what would you say your band brings new or original to the scene, how can one recognize your own sound?
Thanks once more for your kind words, although you cannot accurately define our thrash routes and inspiration – I’d say we are a blended mix of more that the thrash genre. Bands like Demolition Hammer, GBH, Testament, Forbidden, Judas Priest, Razor, Nevermore, Slayer, Discharge, Cannibal Corpse, Tankard, Exodus, The Exploited, Vio-Lence and Discharge are only a tiny sample to our inspiration. Being a mixture of all of those, blending it and “distilling” it under our taste – end results as “Mentally Defiled”. We hope we are not an exact copy to any – but still know that cannot be a real pioneer and innovative to the genre – this is kinda impossible in 2018. In simple words – we play as we please.

I find guitar solos to have an utmost importance in Thrash Metal, and Mentally Defiled have plenty of them sprinkled all over its music, but apart from that I'd say production is also extremely important. How do you see that? How important is a good mix and master for a final release?
For me guitar solos are much more than a great chance to rest my throat during live shows – that’s for sure, haha! Of course a good solo is necessary to energize the whole track and M.D.’s approach is to include some, placed strategically in almost every track of ours. Another big boost is good final master and mix. The best composition and riff could be easily “buried” into oblivion if it is not supported with the best possible audio production. We are deadly serious with this and try our best in any of our releases.

For 2018 you have a split with US based Evil Army planned. How did that happen? Many say the time of splits has passed and this is now an obsolete way of presenting music, what do you say about this?
The split with E.A. was the “Swan Song” of Alex with the band. It will be named “Defiled Army” and will be released in every possible format. It happened when John from “Weird Face Productions” proposed it, since E.A. had entrusted him with some unreleased versions of couple of their tracks. Thus we gladly accepted this proposal. We never stopped to think that a split release is a great way to introduce a band to new audiences and expand your fans – far from obsolete!

Any plans for a new studio album anytime soon? It's already 4 years since Aptitude for Elimination, how many new tracks do you have underbelt? What will be the major differences, if any, on this new material?
For the time being we will focus on this split release and try to fit in the new guitarist to the band. Some tracks are available, but first thing’s first, so we cannot define the exact time for a new full length.

Your music is not simple to play live, I think it requires above all great stamina. Do you stay away from drinks and drugs before the shows? How about after, how do you celebrate a successful gig? What makes a gig successful for Mentally Defiled?
Temptations lurk in every gig, this is a universal standard. Although John and Chris focus on warming up and stretching before every show, I cannot say the same for myself – since my job is quite simpler with the vocals. So I give in and the guys sometimes follow up, after the show. Of course the performance is never at stake since we are into “thrash athletics” for many years now. The best way to celebrate a great gig, is performing like it’s your last – no matter if you play for 50 or 5000 maniacs. Sometimes we prefer small and “loyal” - die hard audiences. It doesn’t matter if you know the lyrics, or even the song. It matters to thrash like a genuine mosh pit maniac.

February 2018


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