The Metal Crypt - Dark Disciple Interview

Interviews

Interview with Maddog

Interview conducted by Barbara Williams (Crowley)

Date online: February 19, 2003

Hails!!! How are you doing? Am I interrupting anything exciting?

I'm doing fine and looking forward to doing this interview for you and all the fans of extreme music.

I heard some tracks of yours on Mp3.com and absolutely loved it. Could you tell me a little bit about your band and how Dark Disciple got started?

The whole idea of this family, per se, came about through a dream Bones had while he was serving time in prison. In this dream, he was enrobed in a black cloak and was called the Dark Disciple. His mission was to recruit brothers to his faith and reveal the true message of life to the world through the sounds of music.

Will you be offering any more to attract new fans?

Yes, we have plans on releasing our first full- length CD, later in 2003, entitled Dark Disciple Serpents from the Fire. We also plan on unveiling the long-awaited Dark Disciple shirts that so many people from around the world have been asking for. They are coming..

Once I got into your website I noticed the bad-ass logo you have. Who chose it and why the green color scheme?

I chose it. Shit! I drew it. The color green-- because to me it portrays a much darker feeling than just red. Besides, I think it's time to put red to rest.

You have five members in your band (Bones, Rez, Josh, Greg, and Maddog.) Are you all the original members of Dark Disciple or have you had some line-up changes?

No, we have had some member changes over the years. We had two departures from the original line up, our first guitarist and bass player. You are as strong as your weakest link; that's all I have to say.

Why Dark Disciple and the surnames (Gate Keeper, High Priest, Enforcer, Serpent, Decimator) of the band members? Do you consider yourself a satanic band or you just staying in the black metal theme?

We consider ourselves to be one entity and one temple. We each have certain roles and expectations to fulfill in making this Divine temple a complete circle.

How do you get the inspiration for your writing?

Through current events, history, and the best place of all in your dreams.

How would you describe your style? Who have been your role models?

That's hard to say because we use so many different styles of metal in our song writing. I guess you could call us new breed of metal.

As a black metal band, do you listen to BM entirely or are there other music genres that interest you? Who are your personal favorites?

We listen to all styles of music; it just depends on your mood at that particular time. I myself like to listen to bands like The Who, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Motor Head, and Rush when I'm not listening to the extreme stuff like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Death, Cannibal Corpse, Mortician, Nile, Six feet Under, Vader, and Cradle of Filth...Oh yeah, Celine Dion with her killer blast beats!

Have you toured? Where might one be fortunate enough to see you guys play live?

The best answer to that question is please go to our tour page on our website and you will see where and with who we've played with. You'll like what you see. www.darkdiscple.net.

Where do you do your recording?

No place special. Just some little home studio in Maryland.

Are you currently working on a new CD? If so, could you tell us a little about the lyrical concept for this album?

Yes, we are. The title for the album will be Dark Disciple Serpents from the Fire. It will touch on subjects in religion, history and the current situation at hand, the threat of war. This will definitely crack some skulls!

Any record labels in which you are particularly interested?

Yes, but why give them free advertisement?

What is your take on people burning CDs?

I could support both sides on this topic so I'll pass.

Have you thought about getting on a Compilation CD such as WWIII, the Identity series, or even by playing a tribute to one of your favorite bands?

Yes, but not on WWIII records. I think we are on several compilations world wide. Mainly, overseas. I've had several companies ask us to be on their comps. I said, "go for it; just give us the proper credit for the music." I've had some contact me, saying they'd made copies of the seven-song demo and had put art work on the cover and they wanted to know if they could sell them. I say "keep spreading the madness my brothers and sisters."

Where do you call your home? How do you compare the Death and Black metal scene here in the States and in Europe?

In the dark bowels of Baltimore Maryland (USA). We love the support we get in the states, but we all know there is still nothing like going overseas and playing in front of those crazy fans. The music is opposite over there. Where commercialism music is big in the states, non-commercial music such as hard heavy metal is very big overseas, which means bigger support, bigger venues, and more fans.

When did you start playing and how old were you when you became interested in metal?

I started playing at the age of eight. I was always a metal head and will always be a metal head.

Have your parents and friends always been supportive of you being in a band?

I'll pass on this one.....

Outside of playing Metal, what kinds of things do you enjoy doing?

Spending time with my immediate family. The dog pound.

Any good books, magazines, movies, drinks, smokes, or anything else of interest you would like to mention?

Lets see! Books? Surviving Hitler. Magazines? Hustler. Drinks? Jack Daniel's and coke with a shot of Wild Turkey. Smoke? I did enough for you, me and the rest of the crew when I was younger. Anything else? Going down and eating at the "Y", straight up! If you can't get that kind of meal in life, well then, what's the point?

May I ask about your birthday(s)? Year, of course, is not necessary.

The ages range from 26 to 36, but fuckin Bones is at least 200 years old. I'm talking dirt old, like you could see his bones on the discovery channel one night.

Who designs your CD cover artwork?

I do all the art work for the band. I used to love drawling stuff when I was younger. I just started drawling one day and before I knew it, the logo was done on paper. I scanned it and now it's on the site. Roger from the Mighty Mortician helped with the camouflage graphics. He wanted to play around with my logo and he did like six different colors schemes for me.

Oftentimes bands will use images on their album covers that show a burning church. Obviously, there has been some criticism about that. What are your thoughts on that?

First, I would like to say as an artist it is important that one uses the appropriate tools and methods to enhance, aid and to promote their art. I will say, coming from Dark Disciple's view, we do not promote violence. This is not a good marketing tool for our music. It is not our nature to bash or to bring hate into or onto someone or thing.

I have just recently read an article about boycotting Christian metal. What are your feelings about that? What does "Metal" mean to you?

Metal to me is the raw creative talent of expressing the dark sides of reality. These standards were the foundation blocks laid many years ago by the true pioneers of the first onslaught of metal, "Black Sabbath". So you tell me, "how in the Hell does Christian metal fit into that category?" IT DOESNT! These two words should never be beside each other. "NEVER"!

Some heavy criticism came to me from a metal fan who finds that Black metal is no longer acceptable because the satanic content most albums have. As an atheist he sees this as a form of religion. What's your take on this?

I was waiting for this topic to come up. So this person thinks black metal is a religion. I see. And he thinks that Elvis is still alive working at K-mart. I can't name any bands per say, but I feel that there are some bands out there instilling the wrong influences on fans. I'll get e-mails having fans telling me "Satan rules, down with God and let's drink blood of goats." I don't go into all that stuff. (but) I'll say, who is Satan? They'll say that Satanism the practice of Satan's evil ways. I'll say, I don't know of this Satan fellow but I'd heard of Lucifer because we all know that Satan was a name given to him by the church. They'll go, "yeah that's right." or I'll ask, "have you visited the C.O.S website?" and they'll go ??????? So, maybe this guy is just gullible and would believe shit is apple butter if you told him.(I don't know) Oh yeah, I almost forgot: the next show we shower in the piss of Virgin.....Nothing like being blessed in piss in the Temple of the foul.....Here's my advice to all who are interested in the Black Arts- go to your local library and read, read and when you're done doing that, read again. That is where you will get the truth for the most part-- if you are really interested. Because music will give you ideas and thoughts that are purely based on the actions and ideas and beliefs of this particular artist(unless he is a creditable historian.) IT might not necessarily be the truth. So be careful in what you hear and see. Because it always isn't the truth at all. Use your common sense when exploring any ventures in life and know all the facts first and all will be alright.

How is the music and being Dark Disciple connected with the person you are? Is your band image a reflection of you or completely separate?

To some of us it is the mirror image of our lives and to some it's the two worlds theory. But it works, so you don't fuck with it. I can tell you this much: Bones is a witch. He was ordained at the age of 21 and has been practicing this path ever since. So there you have it parents! We practice witchcraft and worship the devil. Lock your doors cause we're coming for your virgin children.

Black metal is still a rather limited genre that generally doesn't attract large crowds. Do you think this is the fate of extreme music for all future?

Hell no! It's just gonna take one band to hook up with that label whose got some Balls. Get that one song out to the public and mass destruction will take place. No more hip hop hooray stuff. Just balls to the wall metal.

What are the long-term plans of your band?

To become a household name, permanent fixture type deal. Whether on good terms or bad.

Any last words to fans?

On behalf of Dark Disciple I would like to say Fuckin "hell yeah" to each and every one of you misfits of madness who support our crusade. For as we grow in numbers we get closer to our reward. To rid this world of the bullshit nonsense fuckin music that plagues our airways, and to destroy all religions. There is no need to rely on or believe in false idols. You must be your own God and Temple and only through this practice will our hell (earth) be a better place. I want you all to raise the horns up high and scream out "Hail FREEDOM." That's what Dark Disciple's music is all about, being free. Now is that a good thing or what. Thanx and please visit us at www.darkdisciple.net and listen to us at www.mp3.com/dark_disciple enjoy, and darkest wishes to you...Please feel free to visit our Brother in black (aka the Death Rape Machine) records label in California (USA) at deathraperecords.vze.com tell him the dog sent you.....

Thanks again, Maddog, for your time and willingness, and I hope you enjoyed the questions.

I hope this was a good interview for you my dark lady.

Other information about Dark Disciple on this site

Review: Beneath the Inverted Cross