Nauseant

Posted on Jul 18, 2006

by Anders

Nauseant is a pretty new death metal band hailing from Sweden. Though they don't deliver the typical slab of Swedish melodic death metal, instead we are getting served heavy, technical and obscure death metal, an interesting mix based on great compositional ideas. The band has just released their first demo "Abysmaltican", which shows a young band, with good ideas and a lot of will on their way ahead. I had a good chat with vocalist/guitarist Kalle Fagerberg.

Hails Kalle, will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us how you ended up on the path of metal?

Hails. My name is Kalle "Mastema" Fagerberg and I do lead guitars and vocals in my technical death metal band – Nauseant. Well, as for the path of metal it never had a beginning since it has always been. I started listening to old-school metal like Metallica, Maiden and various Swedish hard rock already in the cradle and then it just kept on going. I bought Dissection's masterpiece "Storm Of The Light's Bane" in the fifth or sixth grade and I suppose that was the turn to the path of extreme metal, so to speak. I started taking guitar lessons in the sixth grade parallel with piano.

A small introduction of the rest of Nauseant and a bit about their forces and weaknesses will be greatly appreciated!

My main man Albert is the drummer and also one of the major contributors to our music as well as one of the founders. This couldn't have been done without him. David shred the bass lines and has been around since February. An awesome bass player, friend and later a great provider to the next release. nekkr0BEAST, whose genuine name and persona will remain hidden, came aboard as the second guitarist about a year ago. He supplied an abhorrent aura around the band – thus increasing our image.

How and when did Nauseant start and what does the name symbolize?

Nauseant began in late '04 shredding riffs and recording in our former bass player Per's basement in the suburbs. Here we created our first track 'Öpööl' and the Nauseant concept. As for the name, 'Nauseant' translates: "Something you swallow or drink in order to make you vomit" and it speaks pretty much for itself.

You are now ready with your first demo "Abysmaltician", how do you in the band feel about?

I feel very strongly about it. Considering the circumstances during recording, rehearsing and producing I believe we've succeeded with greatness. It's an outstanding demo with lots of work behind and I'm satisfied.

How has it so far been received and how well has it sold?

The reflections have been different – some good some bad – but I, as well as my companions, are in this for the music and we see it as just a terrific bonus if people enjoy it. As for the records sold we're pretty much out of copies, of what I recall there's maybe 15-20 copies left.

What do you expect of the demo and what would you like to accomplish with your music?

First of all we wish to be acknowledged and give people insight in our music, show them that this is more than meets the eye. As for the demo, for me it's just sort of a sample, the real thing is awaiting in a not too distant future.

Let's turn towards the title of the demo "Abysmaltician", what does the title mean and what would you like to symbolize with it?

The title is a mix of two words I created a while back, last winter I think, and is a  combination of the words; "abysmal" and the form "-tician", which means "as of someone who practice a special art". So, the conclusion is "Abysmaltician" – someone who practice the rotten/lousy/useless.

Who is the main songwriter in the band?

I suppose that is me. I have personally made a bit more than half of all our music. And Albert, have made the other part and all the drum patterns. But as for the new material everyone in the band has contributed something. I feel that I and Albert, who are the ones making everything fit together, correspond very well in our creating regarding that we are of two different styles coming together.

Where do you find inspiration for your music, and do you have to be in a certain mood when writing music?

Well, that is a tough question. Nothing comes spontaneously; often I sit for hours until something comes to me, then I alter and improve. But, the knowledge that humanity as a whole is very decadent and sick, is always a good source of inspiration.

What do you wish to tell with your music?

There is no political or ideological agenda, just the will to create a bizarre and grim feel with a technical touch. There are, however, hidden concepts with ideals and thoughts within the lyrics, but that is up to each person to interpret.

Let's turn to the 3 songs you have on the demo 'Inhale The Manipulating Ghost-Mist Of Distressed Disease', 'The Decayed Population Of The Polluted Planet' and 'Inside A Black Vortex That Dissolves And Transforms The Living', how did you end up with those titles?

That is a product of my sick imagination. All of those lyrics and titles came to me in the most abnormal of moments. Mainly in everyday situations. I ended up with those titles when thinking of a concept of sickness and death in cooperation with some natural phenomenon.

You are very welcome to go through the 3 songs and tell us they idea behind, what they are about and so forth!

'Inhale…' is about a really thick yet transparent fog which causes your intestines to rumble and finally flow out your facial sockets. The idea behind this song is based on a fog I saw near a year back and then the sick ideas just came to me. Great song, one of my personal favourites.

'The Decayed…' I wrote the lyrics for, on a bus when heading back from a festival last year. I came up with the concept after talking to a guy about hallucinating mushrooms - hence a story about a deceitful fungus invasion.

'Inside A Black…' came to me when I was in Geneva last October. Tired and restless I was supposed to hold a speech in front of a large amount of people and that's when the idea came. This is, in my opinion, the greatest song on this demo.

Who are writing the lyrics in the band and are they as wicked as the song titles?

I've written all lyrics, and yes, they are all as sick and weird as their titles make them appear. All the lyrics are going to be launched on the website as soon as our webmaster is available, then you can read and interpret for yourself.

Where is the inspiration for the lyrics found and how important are they compared to the music?

The lyrics I find of high importance since they reveal the foundation of the music. The lyrics reflect the idea, the thesis, the state of mind and the idea is the first cornerstone of a musical creation. But when it comes to the growls themselves they are just another rhythm instrument.

Have the demo so far sparked any label interest and what kind of label are you interested in getting in touch with?

We haven't really got that far yet. We’ve tried to get in touch with Morbid Thoughts Records but without response. Though, we shall continue to search for a suitable one and I know our chance will come. Optimal would be a specified death metal label, but that is of little importance.

Are you working on new material as we speak and when do you intend on getting new material released?

Yes. We have an EP in the making which will be release sometime next year. It'll be the next step and I believe that we've made a more unique mark on the new tracks.

Are you putting it all into CD releases or have you thought of getting a 7" released in time as well?

CDs is preferred in all cases if you ask me. It's easy since everyone has a stereo or a home computer. Though, we might put something out on cassette tape if we ought to do a live recording or something like that.  

Who has made your logo and the wicked cover artwork on your demo?

Albert made the logo. It was one of the first things we made. And I made the cover artwork. We actually had a guy who has far better painting skills than I who was suppose to make the artwork, but for some reason he changed his mind, and I had some drawings laying around. The cover artwork is actually inspired from a tattoo.

What do you think you offer to the world of metal?

We offer new, technical, progressive death metal born hard!

I see on your website that you haven't played or scheduled any gigs yet, are you up for playing live when the offer comes along?

Of course, we have been searching gigs for a long time, but the thirst for metal in these areas is starting to lack. Many metal clubs and bars have closed their businesses as well as rehearsal places, because of economic reasons.

How do you look upon the future of Nauseant?

My view of the future Nauseant is bright. Opportunities will come and our spawns will spread. I believe someone will recognize us and realize the music. It might be tomorrow or in ten years, but this is good stuff and to quote Ludwig van Beethoven: "They will learn to like it someday". As for the band, half are up for military duty this year so session players are being drafted to play with us until August 2007. And we'll see how it turns out. On the next recording on the next demo, I will play all guitars to cover for nekkr0BEAST.

Will you please share your 5 all time favourite albums with our readers?

That question is always a bitch, but this is how it looks at the moment:

Ved Buens Ende – Those Who Caress The Pale
Dissection – The Somberlain
Demilich – Nespithe
Possessed – Seven Churches
Drudkh – Blood In Our Wells/Autumn Aurora

Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!

No worries, it was my pleasure. Anyone who feels like this is something they want to hear, they can check out http://www.nauseant.tk and get a demo thru me. Follow the directives on the website!

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