When it comes to the infernal fusion of death and black metal, there’s no denying that Angelcorpse
stands as one of the most crucial names of the '90s. They brought the genre to a new extreme,
pushing sonic violence to another level. Although Perdition Temple has kept the curse alive
in recent years, many death metal fans longed for Angelcorpse's return—and now, the nightmare resumes
where it left off. Here is our interview with Gene Palubicki.
MORBIDZINE: Hails Gene! Thank you for taking time for Morbidzine. I'm sure many people are asking about a new full-length, especially after witnessing the live shows. There are plenty of metalheads (myself included) who consider Angelcorpse a must-see before we die. Have you set a time limit for the reunion shows? Could you tell us more about the future plans of Angelcorpse?
GENE PALUBICKI: For the ANGELCORPSE reunion stuff... there are no plans for an entire full length of any new music... but there might be something we will do... for the events we are attempting to hit as many different regions of the world as possible so there won’t be any long tours in any particular place... like in the USA most of all events will be at festivals... All activities are intended for the most part to land in 2016, but time constraints may force a roll over into 2017 for a few territories...
MORBIDZINE: I know you don't want to confirm specific dates yet, but you’ve been confirmed for Maryland Deathfest. Naturally, we’d like to know—when will the European shows begin? Have many festivals already reached out?
GENE PALUBICKI: There are a few Europe festivals set and also what will be an 8–9 day tour during 2016... for USA so far announced are the MDF and CDF festivals... other large ones are yet to announce... we also aim for Australia and South America and Canada...
MORBIDZINE: Can you update us on your current studio activities? Is there a particular full-length album that will be more dominant in your setlists?
GENE PALUBICKI: We’ve come up with a setlist that features an equal balance of all 4 of the ANGELCORPSE albums...
MORBIDZINE: Getting back together with Pete sends a message of intent—you both continue to create fierce material with bands like Perdition Temple, Apocalypse Command, Kerasphorus, and Abhomine. Are there creative tensions between you? And do you have any updates about the future of Kerasphorus?
GENE PALUBICKI: ANGELCORPSE 20TH anniversary stuff is in addition to everything the both of us have evolved to now... it is our way of celebrating our past works ... we are all very entrenched into what our current creative vessels are so it would be absurd for us to set aside these years of work... so, for at least a brief period of time all of the eras of our work from past and present will be active at once... the old conflicts that led to ANGELCORPSE demise have no impact on this current endeavor... we all know exactly what we want and have a clear understanding amongst ourselves that makes for very easy workings....
MORBIDZINE: People often call you a "riff master," and your music proves it’s possible to create technically complex tracks without compromising the death metal spirit. What inspires your riff writing? Is it a spontaneous process or driven by frustration—or something else entirely?
GENE PALUBICKI: I’ve always been a fan of songs that stay with you and the way such longstanding songs have a way of coming together,,, very rooted in the classic songwriting ways of even the oldest of hard rock and metal... so even though my material is much more speed and churning, the heart of it all is not that dissimilar to the most common of song structures... I do have a tendency to always make a large transition or shift in the flow of a song to give the completeness of the resolution of the work...
MORBIDZINE: Angelcorpse stood out not only musically, but also through your mature anti-religious and blasphemous lyrical approach. Were there any particular books that influenced the lyrics?
GENE PALUBICKI: Pete did all the lyrics in ANGELCORPSE and over the years he has spelled out much of what might have influenced all of that... much of the stuff is very direct and clear, so not all is obscure and open for interpretations...
MORBIDZINE: Were there any compositions originally written for Angelcorpse that ended up being used by Apocalypse Command or Perdition Temple instead?
GENE PALUBICKI: The 1st PERDITION TEMPLE album in 2010 was entirely the set of songs that otherwise would have been the music for a 5th ANGELCORPSE album... since the band ended abruptly in 2009... I simply reforged the material into my new vessel... it was also the 1st step of me writing lyrics to my own stuff so there are clear differences to the old band that merited the name change to something that directly fit to my designs...
MORBIDZINE: During the break after Of Lucifer and Lightning, did you ever say to yourself “I wish we could’ve released another Angelcorpse album”?
GENE PALUBICKI: I never gave any pause... and continued unbroken into the PERDITION TEMPLE material and other project works...
MORBIDZINE: The Inexorable and Exterminate are widely regarded as death metal masterpieces, but I personally think Of Lucifer and Lightning took things even further. Would you agree? What was the most influential factor in that evolution?
GENE PALUBICKI: For sure it has seemed over time that those 2 ANGELCORPSE records are revered more so than others... but there are a number who also feel that some of their favored material came from the 1st or 4th albums... to me they are all of equal importance to what was appropriate for me at the time...
MORBIDZINE: In recent years, death metal has seen a rise again—but there still aren’t many standout bands compared to other metal genres. What do you think about the current state of death metal? Which new bands do you find original?
GENE PALUBICKI: To me it is almost all of the old bands I’ve ever been into... there are some new bands that take my ear like GENOCIDE SHRINES, ADVERSARIAL, PISSGRAVE, MASTER OF CRUELTY... for whatever reasons just some things that grab me...
MORBIDZINE: What are some of your favorite records you've listened to lately?
GENE PALUBICKI: Releases from those mentioned above.... or recent releases from some bands like FORCE OF DARKNESS or ATOMICIDE...
MORBIDZINE: What do you personally believe happens after death?
GENE PALUBICKI: Ash in dirt... we are ONLY what we are able to create and contribute... once dead we are nothing more than the sum of what we had been able to deliver in our time...
MORBIDZINE: Thanks for this interview, Gene. What infernal words would you like to leave for the fans?
GENE PALUBICKI: Thanks all for support of works over the years and the opportunity to continue in any form to deliver works of merit...