terça-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2011

Remembering Chuck Schuldiner: A legend of Death Metal

Check out some testimonials about Chuck Schuldiner (December, 13th):

Click on the links to open them:

10 anos sem Chuck Schuldiner

10 anos sem Chuck

Homenagem a Chuck Schuldiner

Chuck Schuldiner - 10 anos da morte do músico

Chuck Schuldiner: Há 10 anos sem novos riffs

RIP: 10 anos sem Chuck Schuldiner

Death: Leia uma das últimas entrevistas de Chuck Schuldiner

Remembering Death Metal Pioneer CHUCK SCHULDINER - Dec. 12, 2011

Remembering CHUCK SCHULDINER, 10 Years Later

Remembering Chuck Schuldiner


Jason McMaster, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher and Brian Werner talk about their memories of the legendary Chuck Schuldiner. December 2011.

Thank you Pyramidvideos guys!

Italian fan records a cover in honor of Chuck Schuldiner



The Death TR team would like to congratulate the Italian friend Samantha NekroVenere Alessi for this awesome cover in honor of Chuck Schuldiner. Thanks Sam! It means a lot for us!

"10 years without Chuck. Without him on hearth, but with him ALWAYS on HEART.Thanks for everything. We all miss you. I apologize for the bad quality of the audio. But I moved to Finland recently and I don't have in here my lovely stealth and the rest of my gear. I wanted anyway to upload the video because this is my way of remembering him.

This version doesn't include Rick Rozz solo because the Schecter I'm using doesn't have floyd rose.

THANKS to Schuldiner's family, Eric Greif, Death TR and ALL the people who support Chuck's music and do everything for keeping his memory alive." - Samantha NekroVenere

segunda-feira, 12 de dezembro de 2011

December, 13th: In honor of Chuck Schuldiner

Charles Michael 'Chuck' Schuldiner (1967-2001) REST IN PEACE.

Warchief Schuldiner (Valentina Marcelli)
Chuck Schuldiner dec. 13th 2001 // dec. 13th 2011.

" You're gone but what remains eternally lives."
Everyday is a Chuck's day, everyday is a good day to celebrate Him.
Thanks Chuck for everything you've done, it's simply beautiful to live with your music around. My heart goes out to the Schuldiner's family and friends.
" Missing you always/loving you forever/ forgetting you never"

Mara Vanessa

I'm learning to create my heroes day by day. They're inside my heart, my soul and my mind. My heroes are people that don't need and don't desire being more than they are. They just know and this is enough. Because of this, they're much more than heroes. CHUCK SCHULDINER, YOU ARE MY HERO! Thank you very much for everything. You gave me awesome friendships around the world and a new view of the life. THANK YOU!

Samantha NekroVenere

‎" I'm a very positive person
towards life
towards friendship
towards love
to all certain things
we're made up as,
as being human "

RIP CHUCK

Orkun Dündar

Its like 10 years ago tommorrow when the man died which changed my life music wise and opinion wise .
Chuck Schuldiner ofcourse who else? Besides Ataturk :P
RIP Chuck Schuldiner 13 May 1967 - 13 December 2001

Mahyar Dean

In memory of Chuck Schuldiner (May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001), one of the greatest musician of our age \m/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd4q0Xx-u1Y

Rick Rozz DeLillo

♫♪♫♫♪♫ ("Remember Tomorrow Night Tuesday Dec. 13th (LIVE) With (JET) 9pm/11pm Est. Time My Friends") ♫♪♫♫♪♫
(RIP) "Chuck Schuldiner"
♫♪♫♫♪♫ ("Only On Metal Messiah Radio") ♫♪♫♫♪♫

Jordi Salas Tobarias

Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (13 de mayo de 1967, Long Island, New York – 13 de diciembre de 2001)

Shannon Hamm


Eric Greif

People are asking me what I'm doing Tuesday, which of course is ten years since Chucky died. Of course I'm supportive of the outpouring of emotion that the day brings - and endorsing all the tributes, etc. My personal preference is to celebrate Chuck's life every day of the year, culminating in a big celebration every May 13 (his b-day). Here, again, is that little 3 minute clip I cobbled together last year - maybe I'll do more of these in '12. :)

Perry Grayson

Chuck Schuldiner (May 13, 1967 - Dec. 13, 2001) - R.I.P., Metal Bro!

Bouth Cool

RIP Chuck Schuldiner

Mia Sarentino

♥ I fuckin love you Chuck your music is incredible Death my favourite forever. I hope you know how much your music means to so many metal fans out there. Wish you were here xxx Thanks for the music and killer interviews

Giulio Animah

Togheter as one...brothers...
together as one....brothers...

Mirko Kondić

Ci hai tramandato la cura spirituale attraverso le tue melodie perseveranti e i tuoi testi simbolici, ci hai insegnato a cercare dei momenti di chiarezza, a mordere il dolore sapendo che è difficile e fa soffrire dimenticare..dare via un altro pezzo di vita ! HO imparato ad avere mille occhi nella vita e a non avere tolleranza di certe parole vuote che ci circondano. A volte mi trovo intrappolato in un angolo, mi hai promesso che non mi sarei mai dimenticato di queste quattro parole..ho fatto caso anche a questo, ho imparato a controllare la gelosia, una brutta bestia che spinge i mostri a fare di Tutto..o Niente..a spingere la propria personalità ad un falso stato difensivo.
Grazie per aver svegliato una voce che era situata all'interno della mia anima,
grazie per averla spinta fuori, l'hai spinta ad urlare a tutte le vere persone che non supportano i rumori e le cose materiali. Mi hai fatto capire quanto è fragile l'esistenza e la nostra posizione nella vita in generale e ad aspettarmi ciò che non posso aspettarmi.
Goditi la tua sacra serenità Mio Maestro!

Uğur Karataş

Chuck Schuldiner aramızdan ayrılalı tam 10 yıl geçti ama o yaptığı müzik o kadar büyük ve özeldi ki hala kendisini yaşatıyor. Huzur içinde yat yüreği büyük insan. Asla unutulmayacaksın... (13 Mayıs 1967 - 13 Aralık 2001)

Chuck Schuldiner passed away in his full 10 years have passed but he called it quits, the music that was large and still itself. Peace of heart in the yacht great people. Never unutulmayacaksın ... (May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001)




Dalila Arice
Ciao Chuck, I want to be there to greet you in this group of true your fans, Death TR, even though I can not believe that he could not do in a meet and greet or a concert of yours ...Will always regret, see your live experience was thrilling, according to those who got lucky and did not lose the opportunity. I always listen to you and me and all your fans live forever, Death continues to be a core group of our life, your words help us to confront those moments where we must not fall .. learn from your strength, you know through your songs, we will not ever forget that you give us strong Emotions, I hope you reach all our passion. Stay Strong and hold on tight. Thank you for this


Camilo Andres Cardenas Barrero 

Grandmaster Chuck Schuldiner
It is difficult to capture all the feelings that produce your music, it is difficult to pronounce your name without feeling nostalgia andsadness but also the deep respect and admiration, it is difficult to think that our lives would be if still alive but it's easy to get to theconclucion we would be happier people, time goes fast but your legacy will remain intact, 10 years of your game, your legacy stillmany bands, crowds of people listen to your awesome solos,have marked a path in our lives, the way that we will continuegeneration after generation.
Not that there is after death, but just want somewhere to think that since we are looking at your smile and think of all the magicwords of your songs, riffs and solos many of whom bristled our skin, I miss you're the best to me happened in my life, you're themagic that runs my life.
Always be in my heart as one genius who opened my mind to the best music of the world as the person who influenced everything nice in my life.  Charles Michael (Chuck) Schuldiner are eternal





Felipe Jensen 
It is very sad to know that ten years have passed since Chuck Schuldiner passed away. I never got to know him, because i was three years old when he passed away, i'm thirteen years old now. I discovered his work in the late 2010's, i can remember that my first song was ''Spirit Crusher''. I was so obsessed with that song, the melodies, the riffs, and the high pitch vocals, all of those things were new and innovating for me me, a person who had never listened to death metal before. I decided to go in a perennial quest to dig deeper into death's work. One month after, i discovered Chuck Schuldiner over the internet, and i read his biography on wikipedia, i was really surprised how talented he was, he invented, innovated a new genre. Now one year has passed since i know Chuck Schuldiner, and i think i'm a better person at life. His lyrics helped me achieving sucess, perseverance in all the things on life. The melodic lead guitars on his songs are really memorable, and it sounds like his soul is contacting me in a way, a good way. I saw interviews and many pictures of him, and i noticed that he was a very happy person, he was always smilling. I have the whole death and control denied collection here in my room, and i'm very proud of it, it is such an honor to listen to Chuck's work. If Chuck were here today, he would be really proud of his fans, i am sure of that. He was unique on this unfair world...So, nothing more to say, the only thing we can do is celebrate Chuck's legacy everyday and contribute to a better world, that's what he would like us to do.
Rest in Peace Charles Michael Schuldiner, May 13th 1967 - December 13th 2001




Messias Junior 
10 years without Chuck Schuldiner.... fuckin' sad day! The man who changes music and cross its boundaries, now echoes to eternity with so fuckin' expressive masterpieces, full of great songs. The joy of hear your songs, read and share your thoughts makes my day better... you always be remembered dude!

RIP The Master of Death Metal! HAIL Chuck Schuldiner! (05/13/1967 - 12/13/2001) "SUPPORT MUSIC, NOT RUMORS!" 

Dracos Kliffoth (Rafa Vizcaíno)
Cuando sientes que alguien siempre está presente en tu vida, en tu día a día, que influencia y está latente en casi todo lo que haces, que incluso parece que a veces piense por ti y que te hace seguir adelante llenándote de buenas sensaciones y energía, a eso se le llama tener fé, admiración o devoción. A esto le sumamos que a esta fé, la podemos ver, sentir y escuchar, aprender de todas y cada una de las palabras y frases plasmadas con verdadera honestidad de pensamiento. Tan real, tan viva, tan inmortal y tan cercana, toda representada entera y enormemente por un ser tan inimitable como irrepetible. Aquel que con total maestría y persevePost Optionsrancia, no solo logró crear un estilo propio, si no que supo navegar a través de sus propias notas, mejorando y moldeando su creación hasta lograr la mayor y más perfecta obra musical jamás compuesta hasta nuestros días. Su juventud no fue un impedimento para lograr una madurez musical sin precedentes, porque él estaba tocado por el arte y el virtuosismo. Contrariamente, su triste partida nos privó de toda esa juventud y energía que tanto le quedaba por dar y que nos arrebataron tal día como hoy un 13 de Diciembre de 2001 después de mucho tiempo de luchar contra esa maldita enfermedad conocida como cáncer. Pero de lo que más nos privaron fue ante todo de su presencia, de su cercanía y de su entrega y calidad como ser humano, ejemplo a tomar y modelo a seguir indiscutiblemente. Sigue descansando en paz querido hermano Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner, como ves, tu memoria y recuerdo siempre serán celebrados mientras los que te queremos hagamos perdurar en el tiempo toda la relevancia e influencia de tu obra, porque para nosotros sigues más vivo que nunca. Sin tí, pero siempre a nuestro lado.


Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner, 13 de Mayo de 1967, 13 de Diciembre de 2001.



Riley Bjorgan

 "Chuck Schuldiner was a man, but not just a man, he was a man with a voice, a voice which he never let falter. Since he was quite young he made a choice to dedicate his life to music. He formed the brillaint and influential band Death (Then Mantas) with Rick Rozz and Kam Lee, two other exceptional and under-rated muscitians, and never looked back. He defined Death Metal, and didn't stop there, ever the innovator he brought new ideas and edges into the music which was itself cutting edge at the time. Chuck had a voice which needed to be heard, and he choose to express it through music, music that couldn't ever be contained with-in one limit. Eventually he out-grew his Death Metal roots and formed Control Denied. It is a shame and a tragedy that he died before he could've fully explored all of his musical potential. He is an huge influence and inspiration on me personally, and many, many others. Peace, love and Death's Metal!"


( Draw maded by David Roszko )


Mary Muñoz
in time of no time remain...stationary and wonderful..your melody remains intact. are you and your music very important for me never forget you ..your music in the universe in time of no time,thanks for your works ...always


Alex Fidel 
There's no real way to celebrate today. Chuck's influence effects my day to day activity, to stay honest, motivated, and positive. I guess the best way to pay tribute to Chuck is to consider his ideas on life and see if they fit with what you think is right. Of course honesty and positivity makes the most sense, liars crash and burn in the messes they create for themselves, and people who don't take time to live in the present and enjoy life are wasting time. Whatever this phenomenon called life is, it is a gift that is limited, and we must cherish and use every moment in a positive, productive, and honest manner. 8 Death/Control Denied albums is most definitely productive, and the music is honest. And Chuck was positive. He was taken from us too soon, but it's hard to say that he wasted any time on this planet. No time for self pity, no time for dwelling on. What should have been, what is yet to be. That message has gotten me through tough times, to put negativity aside, live in the present and enjoy the good things in life. I don't know if that's an exact down to the detail interpretation of what Chuck meant, but it's what I got out of it, and it has had a profound impact on my life. I don't know where or who I'd be if I had never discovered Chuck's music. Rest in Peace brother



If you want to share us your message in Chuck's memory, please send us an e-mail to deathtr3@gmail.com (message, pic, video... Everything. Feel free and thank you).

quinta-feira, 20 de outubro de 2011

Fan Words: " Chuck Schuldiner was definitely one of a kind "

           By Mia Sarentino 
 

Chuck Schuldiner was definitely one of a kind.  When I listen to Death I get sucked into the song and nothing else matters. The power of  his guitar playing ya know those charging chords, how the song can turn from slow to fast to sheer intensity makes Death a truly unique sound that nobody can replicate.  I pay attention to every detail and every lyric. His songs are real and raw and just heavy rock n roll - no bullshit no fakeness.  “The ones who suffer have no voice” or “beware of the sharpest weapon- the human being” or ‘you preach about how im supposed to be yet you don’t know your own sexuality” .
I can honestly just sit there for hours and listen to the guy talk. He stands up for himself  when the media constantly bombarded him with those dumb questions like “are you a Satanist” or all the shit he went through with line up changes- people  being idiots trying to change the sound.  He says the coolest things like “we create evil as people on earth” or “support music not rumours” and my personal favourite “ I like the aspect of the freshness and how it was not common- how people would take notice rather than us just being another band playing motley crue covers or something idiotic like that” and he really gave the interviewer his genuine answers and  was never like stuck up or rude. Not to mention the way he treated his fans- he loved them all and was always willing to pose for pictures.  Man, I wish I could have hung out with him he seemed so funny, always smiling – he had such a beautiful smile.   I love the video Eric Grief took on their trip to Europe how Chuck talks about how he was the “third demon of tronka”or the way he says “im stoned” - made me laugh !
I am so sad that he is no longer with us. I hope he knows how much I thank him for his music and how he would just always give his 100 percent best. We have gotta keep his memory alive the music has to be played loud, at full blast – ya know to “keep the metal flowing”- im sure that would make him proud.
I love you Chuck. Wish you were here. I will always love you and Death.

quarta-feira, 19 de outubro de 2011

Chuck Memories: Chuck and his fans around the world







P.S: Please if you are one of these people in the photo together with Chuck, send us an e-mail (deathtr3@gmail.com) with your full name and contact so we can identify you. Thanks!

terça-feira, 18 de outubro de 2011

Chuck Schuldiner Interview (1998)

Chuck Schuldiner

By Perry Grayson

Here's a killer rare 1998 audio intie with Chuck Schuldiner, just before The Sound of Perseverance was released! A lot of wisdom from Chuck, including some prophetic words about the net and identity theft. Share it with your metal bros and sisters.

domingo, 4 de setembro de 2011

Fan Words: "Chuck Schuldiner has been an inspiration"

Alexander Skottene Twiss/Myriads
 Alexander Twiss, vocalist and guitarist of the Norwegian band Myriads gave his testimonial about the importance of Chuck Schuldiner to his work. He spoke exclusively to Death TR. Check it!

"Chuck Schuldiner and Death has been a big inspiration for me during the years! Chuck Schuldiner has been an inspiration since I discovered Death in 1993. :-) Since 1998 Opeth has been my favourite band. I am a very big Opeth-collector and probably have the biggest collection of Opeth test pressings and promos in the world."

quarta-feira, 31 de agosto de 2011

Perry Grayson and Paul Masvidal interview

Perry Grayson (Falcon) and Paul Masvidal (Cynic, Aeon Spoke)

Returning to the successful partnership, the creator of the Death in HD channel, James Copper, uploads the interview conducted by Alex Fidel - from the program FreeThought Radio - together with the musician, composer, journalist and writer Perry Grayson. Death TR team is greatly pleased to have the struggle and the work of three great friends and, above all, unconditional partners in the preservation of Chuck's legacy. You can't miss it.

Perry Grayson Interview (Source: Alex Fidel's "FreeThought Radio")




Check out the interview with the legendary and talented musician Paul Masvidal (Death, Cynic, Aeon Spoke and Portal) below.

Paul Masvidal Interview (Sourced from KSUN's Freethought Radio)


segunda-feira, 18 de julho de 2011

Looking Back: Chuck Records Naphobia (FL, USA) Track in 1995

Hey/G’day Death TR Folks!

Perry Grayson here! Welcome to my first entry as “guest editor” while our good friend Mara Vanessa is away on vacation. I'll be editing this entry and adding photos over the next week, so please check back for updates!
Chuck and his B.C. Rich Ignitor during the Symbolic era (1995)
I’ve been chatting with Mara quite a bit lately about an interview I conducted way back in early 1996 which gave some interesting insight into Chuck Schuldiner’s home studio. The intie was with Nik Chevalier, the vocalist, artist and web designer from the Florida-based metal band Naphobia.
Naphobia's Of Hell CD cover (Late 1995)
Nik Chevalier and I first got acquainted through the metal newsgroups in the early days of the internet in 1995. Though graphic-based web browsers (mostly Netscape) were starting to becoming popular, I still only had access to text-based service at home. Occasionally I used a friend’s computer to view early graphic website’s like the Naphobia “Webcage.” Nik posted on a few heavy rock and metal newsgroups that Naphobia’s debut CD, Of Hell, was going to feature a track ("As Ancients Evolve") engineered by Chuck Schuldiner (who also contributed a guest guitar solo) and with guest drum programming courtesy of Gene Hoglan. That’s initially why I made contact with Nik.


Me, the Mockingbird and Cynic shirt, Autum 1995 

A bit of personal history about what was happening in my personal life in 1995-96… I’d just seen Death for the second time on the Symbolic tour in Hollywood on July 13, 1995. At the Death gig I reconnected fellow El Camino Real High School headbasher and bassist Mike Bear. By Autumn 1995 I was playing  guitar in a technical thrash band called Stormhaven with Mike Bear. By Spring 1996 Stormhaven had broken up. Though I continued to pursue a new band with Mike Bear, a great opportunity presented itself to Mike, and I gave him the green light to audition for and join veteran L.A. progressive thrashers Prototype. Since Mike and I weren’t playing in a band together anymore, we resolved to do something else equally metal together. In this case it was to publish a metal zine, which we dubbed Subterranean Legacy. The first two projects I worked on for the debut issue of Subterranean Legacy were interviews with Naphobia’s Nik Chevalier and our fave 4-string Hippie of Doom, Steve DiGiorgio (then of Sadus, Autopsy, Death and Dark Hall fame). Between 1994 and 1998 I was also publishing and editing a horror/fantasy themed zine called Yawning Vortex, so I had the experience necessary in the publishing realm. Mike Bear, however, was new to the game. At any rate, things got extremely busy for Mike in Prototype. My job was sapping the life out of me, and I was concentrating whatever spare time and energy I had on my small press publishing operation, Tsathoggua Press. Subterranean Legacy was aborted before a single issue could see the light of day. Mike and I printed up flyers to announce the zine. I solicited for promos and wrote a heap of reviews. Even got Mike to contribute a couple of reviews and secured other material from another friend. But the zine died before it could ever see the light of day. A few of my reviews for Subterranean Legacy eventually saw the light of day in Netherwords, the metal newsletter I co-edited for one issue in 1997 with my Destiny’s End dual axe team partner in crime, Dan DeLucie. My interviews with Chevalier and DiGiorgio were never published, however.


 


A peek at Perry Grayson's Tsathoggua Press in 1994-95
Top R: Frank Belknap Long's The Eye above the Mantel edited/introduced by Perry Grayson
Top L: Yawning Vortex No. 1 edited by Perry Grayson
Bottom: Frank Belknap Long's The Darkling Tide edited/introduced by Perry Grayson
Cover art by Robert H. Knox



 By early 1997 I was struck up an email correspondence with a guy named Jeff Brubaker, who was friends with Shannon Hamm. Jeff had a Death and Control Denied fan site called A Land Forlorn. I contributed some items to A Land Forlorn, but for whatever reason never gave Jeff my inties with Steve DiGiorgio or Nik Chevalier.

No, I'm not really two-faced. That's a malfunctioning shutter.
Jamming and demoing at Mike Bear's pad, 1995

Stormhaven circa Jan. 1996, L-R: Ed Laing (guitar), Jason Rarick (drums)
Perry Grayson (that's me, on guitar), Mike Bear (bass)


Prototype in 1997, L-R: Mike Bear (bass), Pat Magrath (drums)
Vince Levalois (guitar/vocals), Kragen Lum (guitar)
 
 While I tend to be a pretty fastidious (you might even say anal-retentive) guy about saving my work–I’m one of the those nutty creative artist types, both a writer and a musician–sometimes items slip through the cracks due to unforeseen circumstances like hard disk failures or human error. Moving too often in L.A., then across the globe to Australia can be catastrophic for a pack-rat like me. In the case of the Naphobia intie I conducted via email with Nik Chevalier, it appears that the file containing the email was never backed up on CD-R. There’s no doubt in my mind that it existed on an old mini-floppy disc and the hard drive of one of my previous desktop computers. But it never made its way onto the 1998 CD-R archive I burned on my work Mac in 1998. I went mental searching through my backup disc binder and my snail mail files last week. I dragged the murky depths of mail dating back to the early 1990s and was successful in finding three envelopes from Steve DiGiorgio, one of which included the snail mail intie I did with him in early 1996. While I did locate an envelope from Nik Chevalier, all it contained were a couple of Naphobia fan club newsletters. I managed to find several emails I exchanged with Nik, including an intie question I asked after the fact RE: the producer and engineer credits on Of Hell.
Symbolic touring lineup in Japan in 1995, L-R: Bobby Koelble (guitar)
the one and only Chuck Schuldiner, Gene Hoglan (drums) and Brian Benson (bass)

While I won’t be able to share my entire Naphobia intie here, I can at least let you have a peek at the emails Nik and I fired back and forth in those bygone days. As another special treat, I’ll also share an intie Naphobia Nik did with a Spanish metal zine later in 1996. My memories of the Naphobia intie are somewhat swiss-cheesed. I recall Nik saying how cool it was hanging out with Chuck Schuldiner and Gene Hoglan, going out for hot chicken wings (Chuck's fave food), etc. Naphobia bassist Ryan Robinson was Chuck’s girlfriend’s brother. That explains the tangled web of how Nik became friendly with Chuck. Another recollection: Naphobia planned to have Chuck record some songs for a split EP with fellow Florida metallers Intoxicated. I’m not 100% sure if Naphobia ended up working again with Chuck at Black Diamond Studios, but it was something they intended to do. Nik was also helping Chuck out with a basic Control Denied website. I believe the Control Denied site was up very briefly in 1996.
Chuck in his home studio circa 1997

I'll share my 1996 intie with Steve DiGiorgio soon. In the meantime, enjoy this special look into Chuck's first efforts as a recording engineer for another band.
As always, Keep the Metal Flowin'!
Perry
Naphobia in the mid 1990s


Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 21:21:37 -0500
To: am119@lafn.org
From: nphobia@magicnet.net (Nik Chevalier)
Subject: Naphobia rides again!!!

Perry,

I've been Letting the Metal Flow for Chuck Schuldiner's new band Control Denied, and will soon have a Web Site up for them in  The Electric Underground. Chuck is totally cool, and I am helping them hook up to the Net this week. Get that browser Man, you gotta see this!

Stop by every once in a while to see if there is anything new going on!

Well gotta go... See you in the Machine!!!

Stay Twisted
Nik Chevalier

Perry said:
>Unfortunately I don't personally have access to a graphic-based
>web browser.  But I just might be able to check out the the Web
>Cage through someone else's account sometime.
>Look forward to it, of course.
>
>Let the metal flow,
>
>Perry
--- 
The original Control Denied, L-R: Chris Williams (drums), Chuck Schuldiner (guitar),
Shannon Hamm (guitar), Scott Clendenin (bass), Tim Aymar (vocals)

Original Control Denied logo

Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 23:21:56 -0800
From: am119@lafn.org (Perry Grayson)
To: nphobia@magicnet.net
Subject: Vile Denial!

Hey Nick!
I'm really glad to hear that Control Denied is going to have a site on the web!  It was definitely good of you to help Chuck and the guys out with that.  I've been a Death fan since the early days--Death is my favorite band, and Chuck's one of my all-time favorite guitarists (for his songwriting and his playing).  Some rumors started to float around when Chuck sent out those cards to the Metal Crusade--people weren't getting the facts right, so I posted Chuck's message with the facts to alt.rock-n-roll.metal. But I don't think it worked, as my news server is extremely slow. Still, I do everything I can to support the bands and musicians who I admire.  And this means supporting the music and dispelling rumors.

Haven't ever met Chuck before (you can't call saying hi to him in 1992 at the Human tour gig 'meeting), but I can tell from his interviews in Guitar School and the ones he gave when Human was released in '91 in Thrash Metal and Metal Maniacs that he and I have a lot of the same views on metal and life. Saw him on the Human tour, and again for Symbolic (probably the show I enjoyed most of any I've ever been to).  And I hope to be hearing Control Denied soon, followed by a killer live show!!! I'm also going to make sure that Chuck and his new band get some good exposure in my new metal 'zine!  I recently wrote a five page essay on the history and legacy of DEATH for my other 'zine, Yawning Vortex (fantasy & horror fiction, film, and of course music) in appreciation to Chuck for nearly 12 years of music which has been very influential to me.


Chuck Schuldiner live at the Whisky
Hollywood, CA, Jan. 16, 1992

Just saw thundering Gene at the Testament show at the infamous Whisky in Hollywood last week, by the way.  It's cool of him to come out and support the good bands when they come to town!


The "Lean, Mean" Gene Hoglan in 1995, hangin' with Naphobia in FL
 
Should be getting recordings of the demos _Reign of Terror_ and Back from the Dead through a chap in Ireland soon.  Since I'm such a rabid Death collector, you can well imagine how anxious I am to get them.  Any idea how I might come across an original copy (or bootleg?) of any of Death's demos?  Thanks in advance!  Now that I have all the rare stuff from official releases--like "Beyond the Unholy Grave" and "Land of No Return" from the CD version of Scream Bloody Gore, and "God of Thunder" from At Death's Door II (and the import of Human)--I'm dying to get my hands on any other Death stuff that's available.  I also have the Ultimate Revenge 2 video and soundtrack.
Anyhow, sorry for the length here.  Give my best to Chuck and the rest of Control Denied!
Yours for the Perennial Quest,

Perry
---
My Metal Crusade membership card and signed photos of Chuck & Bobby Koelble (1995)
Chuck Schuldiner and Gene Hoglan from the Symbolic photo shoot, 1995

Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 13:30:45 -0500
To: am119@lafn.org (Perry Grayson)
From: nphobia@magicnet.net (Nik Chevalier)
Subject: Have No Fear Naphobia is here!

Perry,

Cool I'll be sending out an E-mail to may whole list when the site is up and running. It might be a little while as, I am helping them get their system going. So that first, then I'll start HTML fot the site! I need more pictures and stuff. My buddy Mike Murphy, designed their logo, Control Denied should have shirts available soon. If you order anything from them, be sure to mention the Naphobia Web Cage, as we both keep track of how many responses come in from one another's mail. They dont have E-mail, as a bunch of retards sent death threats to the AOL address they had. So that's why they haven't posted anything! I tried talking Chuck into a Death site awhile ago, but they're not really computer jockeys like me, so it wasn't until I started looking into commercial access and said I would maintain the site, that they became more interested! We begin recording at Chuck's studio next month!
Stay Twisted <=======>~~~
Nik D'mon Chevalier
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[Sent Via Snail Mail]
March 7, 1996

Club Fear
P.O. Box 677001
Orlando, FL 32867

Nik:
Sorry for lagging so long before getting you a check for Of Hell on CD.  Here it is, finally!
Thanks again for the e-interview.  I’m enclosing a flyer for Subterranean Legacy.  I expect that we’ll be probably be going to press in late April.  Spread the word!  Will send you a copy of the first issue as soon as it’s available.
Hope all is well with you and Naphobia.  Keep the metal flowing!

Best,

Perry
--- 

Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 23:00:48 -0800
From: am119@lafn.org (Perry Grayson)
To: nphobia@magicnet.net (Nik Chevalier)
Subject: Burning Hellishly

Hey Nik--

Of Hell arrived several days ago, and I've been listening to it more and more.

Say, perhaps we can add a bit to that interview I'm going to be printing--just one question, that is:

Was your producer/engineer on Of Hell, Keith Collins, the same Keith Collins who was the bassist on the Avatar 7" and first few Savatage albums?  If so, what was it like to work with another seasoned metal vet like Collins?  

Gar Samuelson, Chuck, and Keith Collins...  I see a pattern here. Any comments, about the star-studded producer line-up?

Thanks for sending the CD so quick.

Later,

Perry
---
Savatage circa 1983
L-R: Jon Oliva (vocals), Steve "Dr. Killdrums" Wacholz,
Criss Oliva (guitar, RIP), Keith Collins (original bassist)


Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 14:59:25 -0500
To: am119@lafn.org
From: nphobia@magicnet.net (Nik Chevalier)
Subject: Re: Burning Hellishly

Perry,
Here is the answer to the Captain Krunch (Keith) saga!
And the producer pattern!!!

Nik: That's him, as far as working with Keith goes...I would say that he did a great job of recording, but I dont think he was very positive as far as our style went! And I doubt he thought that it would recieve all the great reviews that Of Hell has pulled in. But what do you expect from an old power metaller. He's an all right guy, sometimes a little difficult but all in all I would say it was an honor to work with him. Keith is also the head honcho of The Tampa Bay Metal Awards. Which is an annual event of epic proportion! When we played in 94, there was like 2000 in attendance! This year they moved in to St.Pete and it was slightly more lame, as they booked it on a Thursday. We played to about 500 this year!


Naphobia - circa 1995

Perry: Gar Samuelson, Chuck Schuldiner and Keith Collins. I see a pattern here, heh heh. Any comments, about the star studded producer line-up?
Gar Samuelson, the original Megadeth drummer

Nik: Yeah, Anyone that will lend a helping hand to further our cause is a welcome advesary! I think we will record with Chuck again in the near future. He just opened a small studio here in O-town [Orlando]. Basically he moved his home studio into a more commercial location. Right now Chuck is concentrating on his new band Control Denied, which I am working on a web site for!
---

THE BALDRICK HELL'S KITCHEN ISSUE THREE - APRIL 1996
Editor: Jordi-Joan "Billu" Bellaubi


Naphobia - Cyberkill Metal
Interview by Billu

"Restless soul of minds gone mad
May we reap life wrought with indulgence
Still enter upon Death without Fear"

Billu: We started this chat with Nick Chevalier, vocalist for death metal band Naphobia, discussing about the topic "Is death metal dead?"

Nik: "I think metal in general is in one of those hibernation periods. I think it is lame that people say it is dead, maybe it is to them, but that just means they were never die-hards about their metal anyhow. Too many people are trend followers and were into metal when it made them look like they were radical. But have opted for the rave or rap thing. Probably because they have the “let's go where the chicks are” mentality. I believe that metal will thrive again in the next century. I will still be into metal forever. Upon my reincarnation, I will start a metal band in another life. Metal is Eternal!

Billu: All an exhibition of love towards metal, Nik, and obviously for you the most important thing when playing music is being honest to your roots...

Nik: Always, I have been a metalhead since middle school and will be forever. We try and mix up our influence, to add a little versatility. We do not desire to be just another death metal band. I would like to be re-classified into a yet undiscovered form of metal. Future Death or CyberKill, something like that. I want to achieve this title by our involvement in computers. Not with some Fear Factory or Ministry sound. I think it is our graphics and Web Site that will bring the birth of such a title. Check out our site for the “Living Album Cover Animation.” This is our first step in multimedia promotions. And we are currently working on a History of Naphobia CD-ROM!

Billu: Talking about Naphobia, a thing that grab my attention is that you have been produced by two guys from well-known bands: Gar Samuelson (ex Megadeth) and Gene Hoghan (Death). How was the experience with Gar?

Nik: Gar rules. A total burner! I met Gar sometime after his Megacheese [Megadeth] days. (They blow now. "Rust in Peace" was the end). Gar was auditioning vocalists for his new band, Fatal Opera. I went to check it out, but thought I was not what they were looking for. They have a Megadeth-meets Deep Purple sound. Gar and his brother Stu are very much into the old school hippie metal. I guess the Fatal Opera CD has been selling good in Germany on Massacre Records. It was great recording at Gar's and was probably the best recording experience to date. We were infinitely baked!!!

Billu: And after this [you worked with] Gene Hoglan?

Nik: We met Gene a while after Death’s Individual Thought Patterns came out. He was staying at Chuck's preparing the stuff for Symbolic. Our bass player [Ryan Robinson] is brother to Chuck's girlfriend, so that's how we met. While recording Of Hell, drummer Tony Laureno moved back to Tampa, and we asked Gene if he would write [program] a few drum tracks for us! He agreed, and thus wrote the drums for "The Ungodly", "Technical Fool" and "As Ancients Evolve."

Also drumming technique changes are obvious. We were already going for a heavier sound, but his style helped that along in those tunes. Plus those three were recorded as a four piece, without the lameness of guitarist Josh Hitcher! That's an epic saga within itself!" But not only Gene was involved with this recording, one of the tracks was recorded at Chuck Schuldiner’s home studio, and he even contributed with a solo on that track. We ran out of tape on our reels at Pig Studio (Tampa) but still had one more tune written. So, we recorded "As Ancients Evolve" in Chuck’s Studio [Black Diamond]. I asked him to do the lead over a part where I hated the vocal arrangement.

Billu: So let's [talk] some gossip... What about this arrogant or even dictator-like attitude that some [of the] press try to put on Chuck?

Nik: No way! I have met quite a few people at Chuck's level, and he is not arrogant at all. I hate arrogant pricks like that Carcass vocalist. As far as being a dictator, that is something to ask his band members. I personally have never had any conflict with Chuck at all. He is totally laid back, and does not let his fame affect his personality!

Billu: Back to music, you have a pretty technical approach to music.

Nik: Thank you!

Billu: Have you any problems to keep your songs catchy while being technical?

Nik: No, problem for us a far a technicality and catchiness. That's why we are mixing things up and put a little of our patented brutal groove in! Not in a Pantera-ish way, more like Slayer meets Morbid Angel! I can’t get into it if the technicality overcomes the overall sound!

Billu: Some other techno [Billu is not referring to electronica, but technical metal, which used to be called ‘techno-death’ or ‘techno-thrash’ by underground metallers across the world -PG] acts like Atheist and Cynic have been opening their music to more diversified influences, maybe you'll go the same way?

Nik: I like Atheist, but don't see us adding any jazzy stuff.
Maybe our drummer likes these kind of techniques. But musically we will remain insane, fast and powerful. If we get another guitarist, then we will have to see what kind of influence he brings in. We are always open to new ideas!

Billu: Maybe an evolution towards a more melodic sound?

Nik: We are always evolving and I think every release we have recorded has its own sound. I feel it is important to change the sound slightly from release to release. That way it doesn't get boring. I think the song Of Hell is the closest thing we have to melodic. Only the future can tell what's in store. I have always liked melodic stuff, like tunes on Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell, and more recently Brutality's Screams of Anguish. But I am just the vocalist. Kenny, our guitarist, writes most of the music. So, melody and harmony are his department!

Billu: Now a lot of bands playing melodic death metal are emerging from Sweden, some kind of second wave of Scandinavian death metal.

Nik: Their existence proves that death metal is not dead. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to play with some of these bands!

Billu: What about your lyrics?

Nik: Darkness, insanity… My warped vision as a catholic altar boy led astray down the path to demonic possession. For Of Hell that is. New stuff will have similar concepts, but might revolve around other forms of evil and reality!

Billu: You took the risk to self-financing your album...

Nik: I did it all myself, 'cause if you want something done right you need to do it yourself. Plus I am really into computer graphics, so designing the cover was a learning experience! Of course we seek sponsorship, but I'm not sitting around waiting for anything! I promote Naphobia everyday, either on the web, locally, or in the mail!

Billu: What about sales?

Nik: Things are rolling right along, we have unloaded about 500 copies of Of Hell so far.

Billu: In the States it seems to be pretty easy for relatively small bands to support big underground acts, but is this a problem for the supporting act? I mean the crowd shouting the headliners name and so on...

Nik: We always have a good time as openers and have never felt that everyone was just waiting for the label act. Shit, at the Morbid Angel gig, someone yelled out “Fuck Morbid Angel!” Now, if we can only get $4000 a night, they might be right. Trey has got an arrogant reputation, but Pete has always been cool!

Billu: And what about the bands you have opened for?

Nik: We are opening for Six feet Under and Internal Bleeding on March 21, 1996. Naphobia played the 4th & 6th Tampa Bay Metal Awards, and were awarded Best Central FL Metal Band. Other gigs have included shows with Morbid Angel, Grip Inc., Exodus, Biohazard, Malevolent Creation, Monstrosity, Suffocation, Acheron, PainGod, Gardy Loo, Bloody Mary, Pain Principle, Eulogy, Fatal Opera, Demonomacy, Degradation, F.O.S., Intoxicated, Vital Remains and Morgue,

Billu: Time to end this intie. Nick, some words for your future plans...

Nik: We are editing video and plan on doing a shoot very soon. We are writing new tunes, and are coming up with a concept for a graphic CD-ROM complete with music, video and even gaming segments!

Billu: Wow! Really Interesting! Closing words and some self-promotion?

Nik: Thanks, Billu, for the intie and coverage! Don't forget to visit the Naphobia Web Cage, and when you escape, stop by The Electric Underground for more mind bending websites. Stay Twisted!

Naphobia Discography:
Mortality Confines Demo (1991)
Cultivated Innards Demo (1993)
Of Hell CD (1995)