Spreading the message of death metal is the lone desire of Lost Disciple Records' Doubleheader of Death: Pandemia from the Czech Republic and Burial from the puritanical paradise of Massachusetts. Pandemia knocks the competition out of the ballpark with their speed and energy. Even the most withered, ancient death metal freak will see that Pandemia has more heart than all the Olympic teams combined. Burial is starting out the millennium with their debut, Enlightened with Pain, and hoping to end the year with a nice tour that stops near your neighborhood to spread their enlightened message of brutality.

Pandemia

It doesn't seem possible that such a fierce death metal band can come out of the Eastern Bloc--the Czech Republic in particular. I would have thought that the "old" communist government (and maybe even the new government) would have crushed anyone showing this level of aggression and rebellion years ago. Is the Czech Republic more liberal than American news tells us?

Alex: Actually, I would really love to know what the American news is telling you. The communistic rule stopped already in '89. Since that time we've been a democratic country. Of course, we experience the usual problems with building the new establishment so that I can't say it's perfect here, but everything is still developing here. Concerning playing in the band, we have no problems playing wherever and whatever we want.

My perception is that the news concentrates so hard on the negative aspects of the world that they rarely ever tell the good or reformed for fear that they might not be newsworthy. I think they talk so much about Serbia and Croatia that after time the perception engulfs the entire area. In other words, if it isn't disgusting, bloody or totally off the wall, it's not news. They love hurricanes, wars and disasters. Is there a strong Czechoslovakian/Eastern Bloc music scene?

Alex: Well, there are some really awesome bands and underground supporters working in here. As well as some assholes trying to make a real hell of your existence. I think it's the same like in other countries. To pick some names, I would choose bands like Vader, Krabathor, Lost Soul, Devilyn, Yattering, Depresy and Godless Truth. These are really cool bands, some of them are already known, some of them will be soon because their music is just perfect. There are also many labels and magazines working professionally here. I think the so-called "Eastern Bloc scene" is full of some very talented people and their origin can't mark their work in any negative way.

Sounds like it is the same world over, just different names and places. I've heard that some countries offer loans or grants to subsidize a band in the name of art. Does the Czech Republic offer grants to aspiring bands and musicians, subsidizing their development? I seriously doubt that you could hold down day jobs with all the touring. A grant would be cool. If not, can you live off of the band alone or do you have day jobs or are you just independently wealthy?

Pandemia has led a wave of death metal resurgence that is updated, but fresh, fast and furious. What inspired you to pick death metal as a basis for your sound? What bands influenced you most? It's so unusual that right after I heard Spreading the Message, I was absolutely inundated with war metal, neo-death metal and neo-Nineties death-black-doom metal, all basing their new updated sounds on death metal. Do you think they all copied you or has this movement been brewing in Europe and I've just been blind to it until now?

Alex: I don't know. We don't care that much about our influences and such things. We just play what we feel and don't pay too much attention to what our music sounds like. We just love death metal and play the music right from our hearts. That's the most important thing, the honesty we insert in our compositions. We really don't care if it's modern sounding or whatever. It's just death metal the way we like to play it. By the way, thanks for the nice words!

You've just finished a European tour with Fleshcrawl, Vader, Vital Remains, and one of my favorite bands, Rebaelliun. That's an international lineup! Was that the whole purpose, like a world domination thing? Any language difficulties with four different nationalities or was there a common language? It sounds like it would be a kickass tour. Was it fun or a grind after a while? Please feel free to share any embarrassing memories, no matter how degrading or funny...

Alex: The tour was, in the first place, a big experience for us. This was our first big tour we've done and we have learnt many things on how "things work" on such a tour. We were the support band, so we had to carry the mark of an "opening act" all the time. Sometimes it happened that people were just hanging outside the club, 'cause it was really hot and most of the people nowadays don't care for any support bands. They pay the bill to see their favorite bands, so the support band can play the best out of their bodies and these assholes will just smoke weed outside the club and enjoy the nice weather while you are trying your best. This was a little hurting experience but still the positive part of the memories prevails.

We had really some great moments when we played in countries like Belarus, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Slovak Republic...and some of the German gigs were cool. The atmosphere was especially cool and it was an honor to be touring with such great bands and people. We all talked in English to each other but with guys from Vader we used to talk Polish. We can easily speak Polish as the languages are very alike. I could spend hours picking interesting moments of the tour. If there is anybody interested in knowing more on this, you can check out my tour log, featured on our website.

While on tour with Rebaelliun, did you ever find out what they are doing in Brazil? All those Brazilian bands seem to have superhuman speed, just listen to Rebaelliun and Krisiun.

Soon you are going back on the road for another European tour, this time with Devilyn. Are you looking forward to playing with them? Are they friends?

Alex: Yeah! Devilyn are one hell of friends. Anytime we play with them it's a big event. They are real brothers in metal and definitely one of the best bands playing on the death metal scene nowadays. Just wait for their third album, it will kill!

I will keep my eyes open for their new release. You must really love traveling; according to your press release you've played over 180 shows since 1997. What excites you so much about the road? The travel, exotic ports of call, the exhilaration of playing live, adoration of the fans, the so-called road lifestyle or is there another burning reason to tour like maniacs?

Alex: It's all about the lifestyle we've chosen to live. We want to spread our music to as many people as possible and playing live shows is the best way to do it. Of course, it's also nice to get to know new people, new countries, new places and so on, but the main reason really is spreading the death metal message. Traveling is also very hard, nothing easy about it at all. You must have the guts for it to keep it up. We definitely love this lifestyle, no matter how hard it is; it makes us feel satisfied about what we do with our lives.

Life is whatever you choose it to be. I think it is great that you have found your talent early enough in life so that you can enjoy it. Finding yourself and serenity is important. It comes to people in different ways. Keep it up. Since Spreading the Message's release and with all of the touring, you must have cultivated a huge fan base. Were there any special fans that stood out from the pack?

Alex: I don't think we can speak about a huge fan base. Yes, there are some people who like our band and we really appreciate their interest in our music, but the response we get via e-mail or snail mail is not that huge. We have some die-hard fans that are just crazy anytime we show up in their city. That's really cool and it gives us great satisfaction. Last time when we played in Poland, we had to sign so many CDs and so many people took pictures with us, that it was great. Polish fans are incredible and they love death metal. These people are the ones who should definitely be mentioned.

I think that also explains the 150-plus people reading eP each month from Poland. I never knew death metal was so popular in Poland. That is cool. Perhaps we can get you a few more fans out at some of the shows. Do you rough it on the road or do you have a nicer ride like a bus or a recreational vehicle?

Alex: We would love to have a bigger and more cozy car. Hopefully we'll soon have the money to buy such a car. So far we have a small Audi and we usually take a trailer with us to store all the equipment. Nevertheless, we are seriously thinking of buying something bigger and finding a guy who would drive it. I believe it will be soon.

Every band has to have a goal. I hope you get a van or something bigger soon. Maybe there's some rich philanthropist reading who'll donate a van to Pandemia. Any tips for future touring band members or is it an unwritten code that bands must pay their dues "trial by fire" style if you will?

Any future tour plans beyond the European Devilyn tour? Perhaps a U.S. tour? I've heard rumors of a performance at the forthcoming Milwaukee Metalfest? Maybe the Ohio Death Fest?

Alex: I think that it's the most important thing we should concentrate on now. We've already done the European tour and now it's the time to present our music to the American death metal hordes. I hope we will get in touch with a reliable booking agency that would help us with this. We really want to come over to the USA as soon as possible and it would be just great if our tour contains one of the festivals you mentioned. We will see what the things will work like. Nothing is confirmed so far.

After all the traveling, is your heart and home still in the Czech Republic or has another country enticed you away from your roots?

Alex: I definitely belong to the Czech Republic and I always will. I've seen many nice countries and spent some time outside the Czech Republic (especially in Belgium), but the more I'm visiting the other places in Europe the more I appreciate and really love my country and my roots have grown really deep here.

I think it's good to find a "rooted" home--mine will always be in Florida. Does Pandemia support any causes that you would like to plug?

Alex: We don't interfere in anything else concerning the band. We want to play our music and spread it to people. That's it. I know it maybe sounds too simple, but it's the way we've chosen and we trust in our music. Death metal forever!

You said it. Okay, this is the nosy female question and it is necessary for women and would-be-and-are groupies who exist within the metal world. Name, instrument, easily identifiable feature (so they can pick out their favorite Pandemian with ease), age, marital status and the one surefire way that eP female readers or rabid groupies on the hunt--or male readers (if that is a preference I guess we should mention that as well)--can catch the eye of each Pandemia member for autographs on memorabilia or body parts, free drinks-drugs-food-shelter, sex, or just to say "Hi."

Tom: drums, 24 years old, bald guy with a large figure.

Michal: vocals, 26 years old. I'm the bearded guy on the pictures, very cool and drinks a lot of beer.

Jarda: bass, 22 years old, very tall, always ready for parties and such things.

Alex: guitars, 22 years old, long hair, non-drinking guy, I don't know what else to write. I don't mean it like I don't want to tell more. I really don't care about such things and I've never thought about this groupie problem. I don't think there are any girls interested in four stinking Czechs anyway. Remember we don't play melodic heavy metal but brutal hard music and that's what keeps girls at a distant from us.

You haven't played the U.S. yet. Then you will find out that there is a man shortage. Way too many women, too few guys and now lots are gay. I know women who would break your eardrums with their very brutal music. After all, I'm female and the last thing I would have run away from in my single days would be four smelly, hard-working Czechs playing death metal. Hell, I would have taken you in and mothered you for a while. Believe it or not, American women dearly love and respect an honest, hard-working male. They are so good around a house.

Beyond that to the "Final Question": What is the ultimate goal of Pandemia? Unimaginable fame and power? Signed to a major label? Czech love gods or porn stars? Or stay poor and play pure metal, live in forests with trolls and swords, future serial killer rock stars? You get the idea.

Well, what is it that Pandemia would sell their souls for?

Alex: I hope our ideals will stay the way they are. We wanna keep playing this music style as long as possible and, hopefully, die as true death metal warriors. We have no concrete goals, just keep it up and that's the main goal we are dying for!

Good luck, I hope to see Pandemia spreading their message in the U.S. May the Audi keep running. Don't use reverse...it's a long and old news story.

On the Web:
Pandemia

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