USURPER
BLACK THRASH METAL
FROM
USA
Band Questions
answer by
RICK SCYTHE
Please introduce yourself and the band members briefly?
RS: I'm Rick Scythe, guitarist / founder of Usurper. Joe Warlord is the
drummer/co-founder, Dan Tyrantor is our long time vocalist and Scott
Maelstrom, (bassist) is the new guy.
What does the band name mean and how do you get it?
RS: It was a cool name at the time we formed. Inspired by "Conan the
Usurper" as well as the song "The Usurper" by Celtic Frost.
Where and how was the band founded?
RS: Founded in 1993 out of the desire to bring back the old ways of metal
that was disappearing. By the mid 90's, death metal bands were moving
away from the classic sounds, images and themes of mid 80's
black/death/thrash bands. Around this time, many original mid 80's bands
either broke up or changed their style.
The so-called "Big 4" started to do some horrible things. Metallica cut their
hair, started to dress all fancy, changed their logo and went alternative.
Anthrax started wearing flannel shirts, changed their logo to some modern
type font and were verbally denouncing metal. Megadeth was trying to go
commercial and mainstream radio friendly, and Slayer went "nu-metal". We
were proud to be ultra metal in a time when people were proclaiming that
metal was dead. We were proud to bring back the ways of classic mid 80's
underground extreme metal when no one else was doing this.
Have you played in other bands before?
RS: Yes, we all have been in different bands before Usurper and we were
all in various bands after Usurper broke up in 2007. The last non-Usurper
band I was in was my solo project called, "Scythe" I did 2 albums during the
years Usurper broke up. Now that Usurper is back, I am focusing only on
Usurper.
Was it hard to find suitable band members who fit musically and humanely
with the band?
RS: Musically, no. Humanly: I am still looking for at least one human. But in
the meantime, I will settle on my fellow sub-human apes I am stuck with...
Seriously, Joe and I formed this band in 1993. Joe stepped away to take
care of some personal matters in 1996, but the band kept rolling.
Through the years we went through a lot of different members. Joe rejoined
in 2003, Dan Tyrantor joined in 2003 and us three have had a tight bond
and common objective ever since. This core of us three have played a lot of
high profile shows in different countries and have helped elevate the status
of Usurper.
Our newest member Scott Maelstrom, (bass) was jamming in a band with
Joe, yet he was a huge Usurper fan since the mid 90's. He had every album
and was at every Usurper show we ever played in Chicago. He knew how to
play many old songs just from listening to them so much. Because of this,
he was a perfect choice to join the band.
What does the band name mean?
It means "one who Usurps power". To certain idiots it means "You-Slurp-
Beer".
What are the lyrics about and who of you is writing them ?
RS: Back when we began, our first singer wrote the words and I just
structured the lyric patterns. It was mainly good vs. evil type lyrics, as well
as ancient battles and some witchcraft stuff.
In 1997 when we began writing for Skeletal Season, the singer wasn't into
writing words as much, so I took over. I wrote many of the lyrics and and
came up with concepts for albums after that too. I started writing about
topics that interested me. Things I was reading about: Werewolf tales,
interdenominational beings, cryptozoology, strange entities, monster
folklore, lost civilizations, conspiracy topics. I would tend to write more
vague and not so much as a linear story.
Once Dan Tyrantor joined the band, we collaborated together. He was
interested in many of the same topics I was into, and he has his own angle
that I really dig. He is great at getting crowds fired up, and he can pen a
great metal anthem too.
Which bands inspired you and how would you describe your music to
someone who has never heard a sound from you?
RS: The mid 80's thrash/black/underground metal bands inspired us the
most. Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Sodom, Bathory, Slaughter, Venom,
Mercyful Fate, Slayer, old Kreator, as well as traditional metal like Manowar,
Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Trouble and some straight forward 70's hard
rock like Van Halen, and Ted Nugent. Then some weird stuff like Samhain,
Goblin.
I say Usurper's backbone is mid 80's black/thrash, delivered with the
anthemic quality of traditional heavy metal, and the basic headbangability of
70's hard rock, with some weird, melodic atmosphere intertwined.
Why should people listen to our music?
RS: It's up to them. I'm a bad salesman. If what I described appeals to you,
then listen to Usurper. If not, listen to something else.
In 2015, after eight years of absence, why did you decide to make music
together again in 2015?
RS: We were supposed to reunite in 2013 for a 20th anniversary reunion
show. Myself and Joe Warlord actually began discussing this in 2012. Our
first rehearsal was the week after the 2013 Super Bowl. But we ran into
some problems.
Dan was seriously ill. He was living in Colorado and needed a liver
transplant, so he couldn't do it. The other singer and bassist both agreed to
do it, then backed out, so we ended up not playing.
Then in 2015 Dan was getting healthy again after receiving a liver transplant
and decided to move back to Chicago. Myself and Joe assembled the band
and we played a few fests.
The response was great, so we decided to release a new album: "Lords of
the Permafrost"
Your debut album Diabolosis ... from the year 1995 was very influenced by
hellhammer and celtic frost. How do you like the album from today's
perspective and what is your favorite song on it?
RS: I still like it. I love the guitar tone and production. We're much better
musicians now, but the overall feel and heaviness is still pretty kick ass.
"Blood Passion" might be my favorite track from that album, but we don't
play that anymore. The only 2 songs we really play are "Diabolosis" and
"Full Moon Harvest", so I will say "Full Moon Harvest" is my favorite track
from that album.
Another question about the debut album which reminiscence do you have of
the genesis and which thoughts are in your head when you first had the
album in your hand?
RS: In all honesty, I was pissed when we first got it. The spine of the CD
was misprinted and said: "UNSURPER". Head Not Found/Voices of Wonder
fucked up. They actually returned the CD's and corrected it. So there are
only around 100 "UNsurper" CD's out there. I still have one.
But besides that, it brings me back to 1995. We recorded at this guy's home
studio; Eaton Records with producer Brian Eaton. We loved this guy, he was
like a wise older brother to us. He was really into progressive stuff like YES,
and really got the most out of our performances. I loved his production.
Raw, but still clear. Heaviest guitar tone I ever got.
Skeletal Season was released in 1999. How long have you been working on
your second album?
RS: we released the EP/Mini CD "Threshold of the Usurper" in 1996, so it
wasn't as long of a wait between the first and second full length. I had a lot
of those Skeletal Season songs written in 1996. There is actually a cassette
tape I found recently which has Joe Warlord playing a few Skeletal Season
songs. Joe had to leave to take care of some personal obligations in 1996,
so we recorded Skeletal Season with Dave "Hellstorm" Chiarella (ex-
Funeral Nation).
Dave was a great guy, but a much different drummer than Joe. He was a lot
older than us and insisted recording on this old Ludwig drum kit. We thought
it would be cool, but the drum sound gave us some problems. It kind of
made the foundation of the album pretty loose and muddy. Some people
love that dirty sound on that album, but it wasn't really intentional. It is
considered a classic album, but it is hard for me to listen to.
Juha Vuorma also drew this cover like some of you. How have you been
satisfied with the work and how have you got in contact with him since then?
RS: Back in 1996 or 1997 we used to do a lot of traditional snail-mail type
correspondence. Back then before the internet, bands, fanzines and things
like that would send these little quarter page flyers to each other and then it
would get distributed everywhere.
I remember we received some flyers with Juha's work. We liked it. I
contacted him and described what I was looking for for Skeletal Season. I
gave him a detailed sketch and he sent me this huge painting. I still have it.
Through the years we worked together and when we were doing Lords of
the Permafrost I thought it would be perfect to have him do the cover art.
I actually do a lot of painting and drawing too, but my stuff isn't really album
cover type paintings. But I have included some of my artwork inside the
booklet, so it works out well.
Necronemesis was released in 2000 and featured two guest singers, king
diamond and Proscriptor McGovern and others. How have you got in touch
with the two and how have you been working with the two musicians?
RS: in 1999 we had a larger budget to record with. Our label at the time
asked what studio we wanted to go to. Two albums we were listening to at
the time were King Diamond "The Graveyard" and Absu "The Eyes of
Ioldanach". We noticed both were produced at Nomad Studios in Texas with
producer Kol Marshall, so we said, "That's where we want to record".
The label arranged everything, we contacted Proscriptor and asked if he
would be interested in doing some backing vocals, he agreed, so that was
cool. We were huge Absu fans. Then we got a call from the label owner
and he said, "we have a problem. King Diamond is finishing mixing his
album and he needs another day. He said if you guys bump your schedule,
he will do some vocals for you". We jumped at that opportunity. Sounded
like a great deal to us!
It was surreal showing him my handwritten words and explaining the
concept. His performance was mind bending! To this day it is a highlight of
my career!
How proud you have been that you have made one of your few guest
appearances to you king diamond ?
RS: Again, it was surreal! We have covered King Diamond and Mercyful
Fate songs in the past. His music has always been a HUGE influence on
Usurper. So to be standing there in the studio and explaining the type of
vocals to sing and where to sing them is something I will never forget. We
also got to hang out quite a bit and talk during that recording session
throughout the week.
Your two albums Twilight Dominion 2003 and Cryptobeast 2005 appeared
on the English label Earache Records. How have you been satisfied with
her work from today's point of view, and how did you get in contact with the
label back then?
RS: Earache was interested in Usurper after they saw us play at Milwaukee
Metalfest. It was great to be on a big label, have huge recording budgets
and to have our albums in retail stores, but it was also disappointing. They
didn't really push us. They didn't help with getting on tours and I got the
feeling they weren't really fans of the band. It sucked they never released
those albums on vinyl either. But no regrets. We are happier now being on
Soulseller Records.
The new album Lords of the Permafrost will be released in March at the
Dutch label Soulseller Records. what are your expectations for the label?
RS: If it sells less than Metallica's black album I will be disappointed.
What were your high points and deep points in the history of usurper?
RS:
High points:
•Recording with King Diamond
•Headlining main stage / Day One of 2006 Inferno Fest in Oslo Norway
•Getting to tour all over Europe and North America with bands like Cradle of
Filth and Manowar
•Headlining festivals and shows in US, Canada, Mexico and Europe
•Recording two albums with Neil Kernon
Low Points:
•Earache refusing to have us record and release our 3rd album for them
•Touring with Enslaved in the US in 2002. Enslaved were/are KICK ASS and
we had fun with them. They are a great band and great guys, but the tour
was put together at the last minute, it was poorly organized and not really
promoted well, so there were some embarrassingly low turn outs. We
played Cleveland on a Monday night and there were literally 7 paying
audience members in attendance. No joke, more people in the bands than
people in the crowd.
•Breaking up in 2007
What was your first concert as a fan? And what memory do you have of it?
RS: Aerosmith with Ted Nugent opening in 1985. Ted Nugent blew
Aerosmith off the stage.
What were your live highlights and with which bands did you play?
RS: Our first tour was 1997 supporting Dark Funeral in America. In 1998 we
toured Europe with Enthroned and Hecate Enthroned. In 1999 we toured US
and Canada supporting Cradle of Filth. In 2000 Cradle of Filth took us to
Europe to support them on a large, month long tour. In 2002 We toured with
Enslaved. In 2003 we toured with Manowar. Then after that we did some
various headlining shows in the US, Canada, Europe. We played some
pretty big fests such as Milwaukee Metal Fest, Worcester Hardcore
Metalfest, Expo of the Extreme, LA Metal Fest, California Death Fest,
Maryland Death Fest, and headlined the main stage/day one of the 2006
Inferno Fest in Norway.
Have already resulted in friendship ?
RS: Yes. I am still in contact with some of the guys in Hecate Enthroned,I
consider those guys friends. Dylan, the bassist and Dean the old vocalist
are two of the most genuine people I ever met in the business.
Which band would you like to play live with and why?
RS: anyone, anywhere. It never mattered to me. Usurper is an odd-ball
band. Like I said we played with extreme black metal bands, traditional
metal bands and various underground bands and we fit in just fine with
anyone.
With what do you earn your money except with the music?
RS: I keep that stuff private, but I will say this, we all have high paying jobs
which is great because we feel no need to have to sell out or conform to
trends in order to sell albums. Usurper can't be pushed around, because we
don't need the band to do anything to make a living. We do what we want,
play what we want.
How important are social media for you as a band?
RS: I know it's important, but I hate it. I have access to the Usurper facebag
page, and that explains why it is hardly ever updated. Usurper's YouTube
page is run by someone outside the band. I sent him a bunch of old Usurper
VHS tapes and had him upload everything and run it. I have no control over
it, I don't want to be bothered with it, so don't try to contact us through that
because I will never see it and I will never read the comments. Scott our
bassist started a Usurper Twitter and Instagram. I have no idea what's on
there. I always thought Twitter and Instagram was for idiots into the
Kardshians or people posting picture of food. I was told metal bands have
these, so whatever.
What would you (her) want to achieve with the band?
RS: What would I want "her" to achieve with the band? Not sure, just a
bunch of idiot dudes in this band.
What do you think about the Chicago Metal scene in general?
RS: Ehhh, I never leave my house unless I am playing a show.
Maybe you can recommend some bands from your area?
RS: I don't know any new ones. I'm sure there are great bands, but I'm very
reclusive so I don't go to shows. I like all the classic bands from Chicago:
Master, Trouble, Macabre, Devastation...
PERSONAL QUESTIONS !
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