| Interview by Burt Wolf with Angelos, bass player & backing vocalist for HOMO IRATUS. Interview done November 2002! |
PLEASE GIVE SOME OF THE BACKGROUND HISTORY OF HOMO IRATUS & HOW YOU
FORMED? WERE ANY OF YOU IN OTHER BANDS BEFORE HOMO IRATUS?
The band was formed in 1998 as a trio & released a 6 track demo "Absence Of Progress" after a month of life.
That demo got great reviews from mags & zines all over the world. The Mitch (now off the band) & I were
added to the line up completing the missing positions. The idea of forming the band came from the need to
express ourselves through the extreme scene & sound & convey our own musical & lyrical ideas...the funny
thing is that when the band was being formed I was asked to join, but couldn't at that time...only to finally
become a member a year later!
WHY WAS THE NAME HOMO IRATUS CHOSEN FOR THE BAND?
HOMO IRATUS means "Angry Human" in Latin. It has been positively accepted & people have been proven to
be open minded & saw the whole meaning past the "homo" whose initial meaning is "man" or "human" in Latin.
The name is the living-breathing engine of the band & has a direct connection to our lyrics & music of course.
Yet this Angry Human does not turn anger into violence, but to focused thought on to what cause this anger &
why.
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE STYLES & SOUND OF THE BAND?
Brutalmoshprovokingpitgrowlinggroovedeathcore!...phew!
HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE PROGRESSED FROM YOUR FIRST DEMO "ABSENCE OF
PROGRESS" TO YOUR CD "HUMAN CONSUMES HUMAN"?
Every new recording is a step forward in all levels. More concentrated song writing, new ideas, technically,
experimenting & of course the addition of two band members that by nature changes all those facts from one
step to the other.
I ONLY HAVE YOUR "HUMAN CONSUMES HUMAN" CD & I KNOW IT'S BEEN OUT FOR A LITTLE
WHILE NOW, BUT HOW WELL HAS IT DONE FOR YOUR GUYS?
It has been positively accepted by friends of the extreme scene as well as being the source of great reviews
(which were quite surprising) from mags & zines like, TERRORRIZER, METAL MANIACS, S.O.D.,
VIOLATED ROT & many others. And having in mind that we come from a country that hasn't got a tradition in
this kind of music, we couldn't ask for more especially from our first release!
HOW DID YOUR DEAL WITH ARCTIC MUSIC GROUP COME ABOUT?
The usual way plus a once in a life time chance. Phil Fasciana had a copy of "Human Consumes Human" (self
financed at the time) & told us he was interested in signing us to the label. Then two months later Sifis of
WIZARD LIVE PRODUCTIONS (Greece) with whom we cooperated a lot comes up & tells us "I'm bringing
MALEVOLENT CREATION & HATEPLOW to Greece & you're going to share the stage with them!" It was
only then we told him that Phil was interested. It was a once in a life time chance (especially in this country)
someone would have to actually have a label's A&R & Vice P. see them live! Things worked out the best way...
YOU HAVE A FOUR ALBUM DEAL WITH THEM, HAVE YOU RELEASED ANOTHER ALBUM YET
OR IS THERE ONE IN THE WORKS?
We have recently released a 4 track EP "Knowledge...Their Enemy" with 4 audio tracks (including a track from
the upcoming full & a cover of SEPULTURA's "Roots Bloody Roots" with the addition of Ethnik Greek
instrumentation) & 2 video clips for the tracks "Tomahawk Cruise Messiah" & "Project: New World". The
second video has footage from the show that Phil Fasciana saw us. We are planning to hit the studio for the next
full in the following 2 or 3 months.
WHICH HOMO IRATUS SONG WOULD YOU SAY BEST REPRESENTS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL
ABOUT?
We are all about all the songs. We can't (& neither I) separate one from the whole...HOMO IRATUS are
"Human Consumes Human" actually & also HOMO IRATUS are every song individually...
COULD YOU GIVE A LITTLE INFORMATION BEHIND THE COVER ARTWORK FOR "HUMAN
CONSUMES HUMAN"?
Well. The cover message is pretty straightforward. A human consumes a human by breathing his air actually
through a pipe that unites their heads which are covered by gas masks while an eye watches from behind...the
weakest withers...but will another stronger take the place & the breathed becomes the breathed? And how many
(generations?) will this situation last? This image is unfortunately the reality by which this planet works & there
are always people that don't get affected by the consuming situation & just sit back & watch! Further more the
gas masks present a possible form of the human entity which seems to step closer to reality day by day...will the
"apparatus respiratorum" require a gas mask addition to secure our survival in the environment as we shaped it?
WHAT IS SOME OF THE LYRICAL CONTENT IN YOUR SONGS?
I think I have covered a big part just now, but let me add something. Our lyrics speak of real world situations
which people either deny they exist or lie bare before their eyes & they just don't see them. It's time we accepted
the filth that surrounds us & open up to see what has been going on around us while we were blissful & engulfed
by our own personal world others have possibly created in order to keep our eyes closed while they are still open.
HAVE YOU GUYS PLAYED OUT A LOT? WHO ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU'VE PLAYED WITH
& WHERE WERE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU'VE PLAYED?
Unfortunately we have not gigged outside Greece yet & we are looking into the matter right now. Inside Greece
we have played in every possible city with bands like MALEVOLENT CREATION, HATEPLOW, IMPALED
NAZARENE, NAPALM DEATH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, ROTTING CHRIST & many others.
HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THE MUSIC SCENE IN GREECE TO THE SCENE HERE IN THE
U.S.?
I think you should check our country's size on your maps!!! We are a country that has less population than the
state of New York! What comparison could or would I do?!?!?!?!? The only thing I could say is that we didn't
have a tradition for brutal bands as in the U.S. (especially the motherland of Death Metal, Florida!!!!!) but in
Melodic Death Black, but things changed radically in the past 3 years. There are far less chances a band can
make it outside than in the U.S. & the worst is that there are no serious Greek labels that want to actually
promote Greek bands & get them outside the country...most are ripping off piss offs that press a few CD's &
the band gets hooked to them by rip off deals & gradually fades...I haven't seen this situation elsewhere...it pisses
me off!!!
ANY OF YOUR SHOWS STAND OUT FOR ANY REASON & WHY?
Nope. Every show is something special in it's own way. I'll just describe a situation. One show was about to be
canceled due to rainfall because the sound guy packed & left. The show was organised by some kids & we
didn't want their efforts to go to waste so we emptied a 3x5 warehouse behind the theatre & told them "put the
amps & drums in, we're playing in there. And anyone that thinks he can take it join in!" It was a mosh fiesta!!
The place could barely hold 50 people & it did! The rest were listening outside while broken heads & ribs
occurred on the inside! We loved it...they loved it & we all had a great fucking time!!!
WHO ARE SOME OF THE BETTER BANDS, LABELS & MAGS IN GREECE?
There's only one dominating Metal mag right now, METAL HAMMER GR & a new one just got off print, THE
ARK OF METAL. I won't speak of labels...because I'll go pissing off again & as far as bands are concerned
there are: INTO THE GORE, EVADE, PSYCHO CHOKE, OBSCENE, ERECTUS, THE CROSSOVER,
HORIZON'S END. Just to name a few...there are lots of bands doing great work lately & you'll start hearing of
Greece again & again soon.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORKING FOR THE
BAND?
I usually work on my computer or hang out with the rest of the guys from the band, go to Metal clubs, etc...but
we all spend most of our time working for the band in all levels.
DO YOU LISTEN TO OTHER STYLES OF MUSIC BESIDES WHAT YOU PLAY? WHO ARE SOME
OF THE BANDS YOUR CURRENTLY INTO?
I listen to all kinds of music with the exception of Electronic music, Pop & the likes. I don't like the "you're not
listening to only Metal, you're not Metal!" attitude. It narrows your musical spectrum. Some of the (ooh!) other
bands/artists I like are RUSH, PRIMUS (kickass!), NIACIN, TOM COSTER, MARCUS MILLER, C.O.C.,
you know what? I recently grown a flavor for American Southern Rock...it's fucking cool!
WHAT IS ONE CD IN YOUR COLLECTION THAT YOUR A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT YOU
OWN?
There's no such thing in my collection! I usually am very careful when I pick. And to be honest, if one has such
a CD in his collection it means that he was not honest to himself & to the music...if it's music & I like it, I'll
never be embarrassed of it.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE & WHAT YOU WERE DOING WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD
ABOUT THE 9-11-01 ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES? ANY COMMENTS ON THIS TRAGEDY?
I think we were told of the hideosities that took place around half an hour after we got off stage from a show in
a nearby city & I can tell you it wiped the smiles from our faces as well as the people that were with us...What
can I comment on for such a tragedy that has indirectly affected me? It doesn't feel good to speak about it
because it caused so much pain in so much families that I can't even possibly begin to fathom! What I will
comment is that this SHIT PISSES ME OFF!!! And you know WHY! If you open up a fucking history book the
same bloodline goes in loops again & again & again. Do me a favor & look! SAME SHIT...DIFFERENT
DECADE... DIFFERENT CONTINENT...SAME BACKGROUND!!!#$^!#^!# Verdict? INNOCENTS PAY THE
PRICE OF RELIGIOUS & POLITICAL CONFRONTATION WHILE THOSE ON TOP REMAIN
UNSCRATCHED! THIS BULLSHIT HAS TO STOP!...or is it too late?
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT NEXT FROM HOMO IRATUS IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
Even more rage both lyrically & musically!! The next full length is in it's final works & it a thick, brutal,
Deathcore album. Faster than the previous, technically evolved & even groovier too without compromising our
Death Metal foundations. We are working with a new vocalist too so this one is going to sound different from
the voice initially that has remained brutal & growly! Our goal is to present albums that differ from each other
with out straying from our main orientation & get out there & cause some moshing! We can't wait to get to meet
all you people out there.
THANX A LOT FOR ANSWERING THIS INTERVIEW. I'M ALL OUT OF QUESTIONS SO YOU CAN
ADD ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE OUT!
First of all thanx for the chance to speak my mind...it was invigorating! I'd also like to thank all the people that
have support us from away & with every possible way. You mean the world to us & keep us going on! Until we
share a mosh pit...STAY FUCKING BRUTAL ALL DAY!!!!!
FORMED? WERE ANY OF YOU IN OTHER BANDS BEFORE HOMO IRATUS?
The band was formed in 1998 as a trio & released a 6 track demo "Absence Of Progress" after a month of life.
That demo got great reviews from mags & zines all over the world. The Mitch (now off the band) & I were
added to the line up completing the missing positions. The idea of forming the band came from the need to
express ourselves through the extreme scene & sound & convey our own musical & lyrical ideas...the funny
thing is that when the band was being formed I was asked to join, but couldn't at that time...only to finally
become a member a year later!
WHY WAS THE NAME HOMO IRATUS CHOSEN FOR THE BAND?
HOMO IRATUS means "Angry Human" in Latin. It has been positively accepted & people have been proven to
be open minded & saw the whole meaning past the "homo" whose initial meaning is "man" or "human" in Latin.
The name is the living-breathing engine of the band & has a direct connection to our lyrics & music of course.
Yet this Angry Human does not turn anger into violence, but to focused thought on to what cause this anger &
why.
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE STYLES & SOUND OF THE BAND?
Brutalmoshprovokingpitgrowlinggroovedeathcore!...phew!
HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE PROGRESSED FROM YOUR FIRST DEMO "ABSENCE OF
PROGRESS" TO YOUR CD "HUMAN CONSUMES HUMAN"?
Every new recording is a step forward in all levels. More concentrated song writing, new ideas, technically,
experimenting & of course the addition of two band members that by nature changes all those facts from one
step to the other.
I ONLY HAVE YOUR "HUMAN CONSUMES HUMAN" CD & I KNOW IT'S BEEN OUT FOR A LITTLE
WHILE NOW, BUT HOW WELL HAS IT DONE FOR YOUR GUYS?
It has been positively accepted by friends of the extreme scene as well as being the source of great reviews
(which were quite surprising) from mags & zines like, TERRORRIZER, METAL MANIACS, S.O.D.,
VIOLATED ROT & many others. And having in mind that we come from a country that hasn't got a tradition in
this kind of music, we couldn't ask for more especially from our first release!
HOW DID YOUR DEAL WITH ARCTIC MUSIC GROUP COME ABOUT?
The usual way plus a once in a life time chance. Phil Fasciana had a copy of "Human Consumes Human" (self
financed at the time) & told us he was interested in signing us to the label. Then two months later Sifis of
WIZARD LIVE PRODUCTIONS (Greece) with whom we cooperated a lot comes up & tells us "I'm bringing
MALEVOLENT CREATION & HATEPLOW to Greece & you're going to share the stage with them!" It was
only then we told him that Phil was interested. It was a once in a life time chance (especially in this country)
someone would have to actually have a label's A&R & Vice P. see them live! Things worked out the best way...
YOU HAVE A FOUR ALBUM DEAL WITH THEM, HAVE YOU RELEASED ANOTHER ALBUM YET
OR IS THERE ONE IN THE WORKS?
We have recently released a 4 track EP "Knowledge...Their Enemy" with 4 audio tracks (including a track from
the upcoming full & a cover of SEPULTURA's "Roots Bloody Roots" with the addition of Ethnik Greek
instrumentation) & 2 video clips for the tracks "Tomahawk Cruise Messiah" & "Project: New World". The
second video has footage from the show that Phil Fasciana saw us. We are planning to hit the studio for the next
full in the following 2 or 3 months.
WHICH HOMO IRATUS SONG WOULD YOU SAY BEST REPRESENTS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL
ABOUT?
We are all about all the songs. We can't (& neither I) separate one from the whole...HOMO IRATUS are
"Human Consumes Human" actually & also HOMO IRATUS are every song individually...
COULD YOU GIVE A LITTLE INFORMATION BEHIND THE COVER ARTWORK FOR "HUMAN
CONSUMES HUMAN"?
Well. The cover message is pretty straightforward. A human consumes a human by breathing his air actually
through a pipe that unites their heads which are covered by gas masks while an eye watches from behind...the
weakest withers...but will another stronger take the place & the breathed becomes the breathed? And how many
(generations?) will this situation last? This image is unfortunately the reality by which this planet works & there
are always people that don't get affected by the consuming situation & just sit back & watch! Further more the
gas masks present a possible form of the human entity which seems to step closer to reality day by day...will the
"apparatus respiratorum" require a gas mask addition to secure our survival in the environment as we shaped it?
WHAT IS SOME OF THE LYRICAL CONTENT IN YOUR SONGS?
I think I have covered a big part just now, but let me add something. Our lyrics speak of real world situations
which people either deny they exist or lie bare before their eyes & they just don't see them. It's time we accepted
the filth that surrounds us & open up to see what has been going on around us while we were blissful & engulfed
by our own personal world others have possibly created in order to keep our eyes closed while they are still open.
HAVE YOU GUYS PLAYED OUT A LOT? WHO ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU'VE PLAYED WITH
& WHERE WERE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU'VE PLAYED?
Unfortunately we have not gigged outside Greece yet & we are looking into the matter right now. Inside Greece
we have played in every possible city with bands like MALEVOLENT CREATION, HATEPLOW, IMPALED
NAZARENE, NAPALM DEATH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, ROTTING CHRIST & many others.
HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THE MUSIC SCENE IN GREECE TO THE SCENE HERE IN THE
U.S.?
I think you should check our country's size on your maps!!! We are a country that has less population than the
state of New York! What comparison could or would I do?!?!?!?!? The only thing I could say is that we didn't
have a tradition for brutal bands as in the U.S. (especially the motherland of Death Metal, Florida!!!!!) but in
Melodic Death Black, but things changed radically in the past 3 years. There are far less chances a band can
make it outside than in the U.S. & the worst is that there are no serious Greek labels that want to actually
promote Greek bands & get them outside the country...most are ripping off piss offs that press a few CD's &
the band gets hooked to them by rip off deals & gradually fades...I haven't seen this situation elsewhere...it pisses
me off!!!
ANY OF YOUR SHOWS STAND OUT FOR ANY REASON & WHY?
Nope. Every show is something special in it's own way. I'll just describe a situation. One show was about to be
canceled due to rainfall because the sound guy packed & left. The show was organised by some kids & we
didn't want their efforts to go to waste so we emptied a 3x5 warehouse behind the theatre & told them "put the
amps & drums in, we're playing in there. And anyone that thinks he can take it join in!" It was a mosh fiesta!!
The place could barely hold 50 people & it did! The rest were listening outside while broken heads & ribs
occurred on the inside! We loved it...they loved it & we all had a great fucking time!!!
WHO ARE SOME OF THE BETTER BANDS, LABELS & MAGS IN GREECE?
There's only one dominating Metal mag right now, METAL HAMMER GR & a new one just got off print, THE
ARK OF METAL. I won't speak of labels...because I'll go pissing off again & as far as bands are concerned
there are: INTO THE GORE, EVADE, PSYCHO CHOKE, OBSCENE, ERECTUS, THE CROSSOVER,
HORIZON'S END. Just to name a few...there are lots of bands doing great work lately & you'll start hearing of
Greece again & again soon.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORKING FOR THE
BAND?
I usually work on my computer or hang out with the rest of the guys from the band, go to Metal clubs, etc...but
we all spend most of our time working for the band in all levels.
DO YOU LISTEN TO OTHER STYLES OF MUSIC BESIDES WHAT YOU PLAY? WHO ARE SOME
OF THE BANDS YOUR CURRENTLY INTO?
I listen to all kinds of music with the exception of Electronic music, Pop & the likes. I don't like the "you're not
listening to only Metal, you're not Metal!" attitude. It narrows your musical spectrum. Some of the (ooh!) other
bands/artists I like are RUSH, PRIMUS (kickass!), NIACIN, TOM COSTER, MARCUS MILLER, C.O.C.,
you know what? I recently grown a flavor for American Southern Rock...it's fucking cool!
WHAT IS ONE CD IN YOUR COLLECTION THAT YOUR A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT YOU
OWN?
There's no such thing in my collection! I usually am very careful when I pick. And to be honest, if one has such
a CD in his collection it means that he was not honest to himself & to the music...if it's music & I like it, I'll
never be embarrassed of it.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE & WHAT YOU WERE DOING WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD
ABOUT THE 9-11-01 ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES? ANY COMMENTS ON THIS TRAGEDY?
I think we were told of the hideosities that took place around half an hour after we got off stage from a show in
a nearby city & I can tell you it wiped the smiles from our faces as well as the people that were with us...What
can I comment on for such a tragedy that has indirectly affected me? It doesn't feel good to speak about it
because it caused so much pain in so much families that I can't even possibly begin to fathom! What I will
comment is that this SHIT PISSES ME OFF!!! And you know WHY! If you open up a fucking history book the
same bloodline goes in loops again & again & again. Do me a favor & look! SAME SHIT...DIFFERENT
DECADE... DIFFERENT CONTINENT...SAME BACKGROUND!!!#$^!#^!# Verdict? INNOCENTS PAY THE
PRICE OF RELIGIOUS & POLITICAL CONFRONTATION WHILE THOSE ON TOP REMAIN
UNSCRATCHED! THIS BULLSHIT HAS TO STOP!...or is it too late?
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT NEXT FROM HOMO IRATUS IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
Even more rage both lyrically & musically!! The next full length is in it's final works & it a thick, brutal,
Deathcore album. Faster than the previous, technically evolved & even groovier too without compromising our
Death Metal foundations. We are working with a new vocalist too so this one is going to sound different from
the voice initially that has remained brutal & growly! Our goal is to present albums that differ from each other
with out straying from our main orientation & get out there & cause some moshing! We can't wait to get to meet
all you people out there.
THANX A LOT FOR ANSWERING THIS INTERVIEW. I'M ALL OUT OF QUESTIONS SO YOU CAN
ADD ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE OUT!
First of all thanx for the chance to speak my mind...it was invigorating! I'd also like to thank all the people that
have support us from away & with every possible way. You mean the world to us & keep us going on! Until we
share a mosh pit...STAY FUCKING BRUTAL ALL DAY!!!!!
