Last year, they struck with the hammer of blasphemous death metal through their excellent
debut Under the Hammer of Destruction. Now, these Swedish maniacs are preparing to unleash their
second album soon. Here’s an interview we recently conducted with MATT MENDOZA:
MORBIDZINE: Hi Matt. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. First off, what are you up to these days? We heard Bastard Priest has completed work on the second full-length following 2010’s Under the Hammer of Destruction madness. Can you tell us a bit about the new album? Will it be another pure, blasphemous death metal record worshipping the old-school days like your debut?
MATT MENDOZA: Hey dude! Right now we’re working hard to finish the artwork and layout for the new album. Musicwise it’s been done for months now but the artwork has been troublesome for us this time but I think we’re almost there now. New LP is 8 songs recorded November 2010 and mixed and mastered earlier this year. We’re really satisfied with the outcome and it’s gonna be cool I think.
MORBIDZINE: Despite being a debut, you hit the target straight away and Bastard Priest immediately gained a special place among true metal-punk fans of the underground. But we know the band has existed for almost 10 years. What caused the debut to come out so late?
MATT MENDOZA: Well, it took us a while to actually do anything and I guess we were too busy with other things. Better late than never I guess.
MORBIDZINE: If you could raise a glass with any legends at the same table—Lemmy, Euronymous, Cronos, Sakevi from G.I.S.M., maybe Madonna—who would it be? And what's your drink of choice?
MATT MENDOZA: Kurt Cobain in 1989 and I only drink beer...
MORBIDZINE: You’ve mentioned being relaxed about lyrics. “Lay the balls” is great! :) But what inspires you to write? Cult horror movies, tombs, zombies, Satan, alcohol, marijuana, a friend’s hot mom? What are some of your favorite horror or post-apocalyptic films?
MATT MENDOZA: No lying balls, I don’t know – me and Inventor kinda trigger each other about ridiculous stuff we read or hear. I guess it’s usually other lyrics from other bands and stuff. I’m more into post-apocal than horror but I like the old zombie-flicks. Otherwise Dune is a good movie.
MORBIDZINE: The magnificence of your album and demo covers gives off a true old-school metal hell vibe. Who created the artwork for both?
MATT MENDOZA: Inventor did ‘em both.
MORBIDZINE: Choosing to cover Bombanfall on the debut was awesome. Will there be any covers on the new album? (Like Anti Cimex, Totalitär, Skitsystem, G.I.S.M., Disclose, etc.) And what are your favorite bands from the legendary Scandinavian hardcore punk-crust scene—or from any other scene?
MATT MENDOZA: Yeah we’ve discussed some other songs/bands to cover but it won’t be a secret if I tell you, right? My two favorite bands from Sweden is Totalitär and No Security, both of them are second wave but they’re really good. From all other scenes? Black Flag...
MORBIDZINE: If you were a kängpunk who started playing drums in 1980, which legendary band would you want to have joined?
MATT MENDOZA: Heartattack or Misfits, what about you?
MORBIDZINE: Has Bastard Priest ever played live? Will you play shows in the future? Are you considering any session members?
MATT MENDOZA: No, we’ve never played any gigs and I’m not seeing it happening anytime soon either. It’s too complicated right now so I’m just gonna keep on concentrating on making new songs instead.
MORBIDZINE: In recent years, death metal has made a return to its vicious, obscure, evil roots, with many new old-school-style bands waving the flag of true death metal. What do you think about this resurgence? Any favorite new death metal bands?
MATT MENDOZA: I don’t know – it some sort of trend or hype I guess – but thing is, I don’t think hype is all bad. If a hype gives you 9 bad bands that don’t stick together longer than a year or so and one really really good band, I think it’s worth it. My best “new” band is MAIM, they rule!
MORBIDZINE: Your style of death metal is clearly influenced by Entombed, Master, Slaughter, maybe Autopsy, Dismember, Grave, Repugnant, etc. How do you view the development of death metal from the late ’80s/early ’90s until today? What feels disingenuous to you? And what’s your take on the modern technical, complex riff-driven version of the genre?
MATT MENDOZA: Well, I started listen to heavy metal in ‘86 and death/speed/thrash/black metal in ‘91 or ‘92, I was just a kid back then but I’ve been listening to metal ever since – not only death metal ’cos punk and hardcore has been a much bigger part of my life but anyhow. Back then you listened to everything – I mean Uniform Choice or Void or Entombed or Burzum didn’t matter to me – everything was cool it’s own way. Then the new death metal became pretty stale or too groovy and black metal bands started to sing about mountains and trolls so I stopped caring and dived into the worldwide hardcore scene instead. I didn’t hear any good death metal until I discovered Kaamos and Repugnant in 2003 or so, I mean I wasn’t really looking ’cos I had my hands full getting my head around Finnish hardcore and all the Japanese stuff and the early LA scene and the rest of the stuff. I don’t really care for technical-oriented stuff if it doesn’t add anything to the table. I mean Keith Moon was really technical but he expresses himself in the right way if you ask me – random ultra fast metal-drummer usually don’t, and I don’t mean to say they’re bad, they’ve just got bad taste. It’s become cool to say you don’t like tech-style or “good” production – I don’t have anything against it per se but it’s very rarely done with anything even remotely close to good taste or what I think is good in music.
MORBIDZINE: Are there any bands you know from Turkey? For example, have you ever heard Burial Invocation?
MATT MENDOZA: No, I’m sorry – haven’t heard them or of them.
MORBIDZINE: I love asking this question—it’s the second time I’ve used it, haha. If you were put in the same prison cell as GG Allin, what would you do?
MATT MENDOZA: That’s a weird question – I would probably get raped and killed, if I don’t make it to it first that is.
MORBIDZINE: Many labels re-release old recordings with different versions again and again. What’s your take on that?
MATT MENDOZA: I don’t know – what old recordings are we talking about? I don’t really have an opinion – if it’s out of press and hard to get I guess it’s good. I’m not much for oop stuff that’s overpriced just because of that.
MORBIDZINE: Thanks so much for the interview! We believe Bastard Priest will continue to deliver high-quality work. Any last words you want to share?
MATT MENDOZA: Thanks for the interview! Heavy Hails to Turkey!