MV:Greetings Rick and thanks for doing this interview with Doommantia! How are things?
Rick McCoy: Thank you for the interview! Things are good, busy preparing for an upcoming show, and dusting off some old tunes.
MV: What made you decide to resurrect Avernus?
RM: I would say that it really wasn’t me who made this decision alone. Erik Kikke(guitars) called me up one day and threw out the idea that why don’t we do a couple songs. We started talking, and then we were offered this show coming up, which we decided was definitely worth doing. When Macabre asks you to do a show, you do that fucking show, hehe! Also a series of events brought me back to Chicago around the same time. It’s wild how things come together sometimes…
MV: Is the Macabre gig a one off show or are you planning on doing the band thing again?
RM: We are focusing on this gig at the moment, and we are doing ¾ of the Sadness demo as we were asked to do. I can definitely see us playing out after this. I think we all really just realize how much we enjoy working together, and it shows in the live setting.
MV: Is this show with the original line up?
RM: The original guitarist left in 1993, but this is pretty much all of the Sadness line-up. I have to say that I have had a lot of different band members over the years, and while these different people brought something of their own into Avernus, this particular line up is the definitive line-up, and the one I think is the most creative as well. We just know how to work together and knock out material quickly. It’s an unspoken thing sometimes, and there is not any pretension or trying to change the way we write.
MV: Any new material in the works? Will you be filming/recording your next show for release?
RM: Yes, we are currently throwing some skeletons together, but right now it’s relearning the Sadness material. I believe we are going to try recording this show, what we have planned is going to be awesome.
MV: What have you been up too these last few years?
RM: I tinkered with music for a while, but not on this level. I was working with this band from Utah, NEVERTANEZRA, which is a great death/doom band. I’d call it a nice mix of the old English death/doom front with some progressive elements. I also have been working on my graduate degree, and just working on myself.
MV: If there is any new material what can we expect to hear?
RM: We are working on material, but when people should expect to hear it would probably be in 2013. We are taking our strongest elements and just letting it happen naturally, which is something we have not always done. All we care about right now is that it has feeling and it fucking rocks.
MV: I've read that the guitar synth is dead, what will you do to compensate for its loss?
RM: Actually, we just procured a new one! We’ve done the old songs with keyboards, and it just never sounded as good as the guitar synth. This will be the first time we’ve used the guitar synth in about 14 years…
MV: Are there any new bands you've been digging as of late?
RM: I love the new Ahab! For metal, I’m more of the Armored Saint, Judas Priest, Anthrax Asphyx, Deceased, Bolt Thrower, Old School Swedish Death metal guy. I would say I’m a fan of many genres, except Rap. I can’t resonate with busting caps in people’s asses, and calling women hos’ and bitches. I also can’t listen to country because I have no inclination to sleep with my cousins, and I fucking hate cowboys and rednecks. I do want to say that today’s lamestream music is so horrible, so lifeless. I feel bad for kids today trying to find something with substance. Good luck!
MV: What is your ultimate gig lineup?
RM: Hmm, I’d say Macabre, Hall and Oates, and Entombed-Left Hand Path era? If it had to be a doom fest, I’d bring in Ahab, Doom Vs, Nevertanezra,reunite dISEMBOWELMENT, or bring in Inverloch, Evoken, shit like that…
MV: Is there anything else you'd like to say to the doomed masses?
RM: Look out for a new Avernus website, and merchandise, meanwhile, we are on Facebook. Expect something new in 2013 as well. Oh, and check out Nevertanezra!
MV: Thanks again for talking with us Rick.
RM: Anytime, thank you very much for this opportunity!
Interview By Michael Ventura
Avernus | Myspace.com
