I don't reckon that there are many death metal fans out there who don't know who Jeff Gruslin is! The vocalist on the 2 first legendary Vital Remains albums 'Let Us Prey' and 'Into Cold Darkness'. After those 2 releases Jeff more or less disappeared from the metal scene, besides a single gig with Vital Remains in '99.
Until 2005 when Paul Flynn (ex-Vital Remains lead guitarist) and Jeff Gruslin got together and formed Godless Rising. The cooperation between the 2 lasted for 2 good albums 'Rising Hatred' and 'Battle Lords'. Now Jeff is running the band together with guitarist and bassist Toby Knapp and they are as we speak in the middle of finishing the third Godless Rising album entitled 'Trumpet Of Triumph'.
I got in touch with Jeff to hear about the new album and what has kept his flame for old school death metal burning all these years! And if you are into old school death metal, give Godless Rising a shot, they know what it is about and a couple of tracks of the coming album can be checked out at their Myspace site!
Hails Jeff, how are things in your end?
Hails and horns to you. Things here could not be better...
You have quite a glorious past within the world of death metal, would you like to tell what had been going on, until the formation of Godless Rising?
Well thanks for the words. yes indeed… Well after I left Vital Remains in '96 I returned to the band for a very short time in 1999 and did one large metal fest in New Jersey, then decided to call it a day. After that I decided to go into hibernation to clear myself of all the backstabbing bullshit and hordes of useless people surrounding me. I went into my cave so to speak. Then I finally got the itch again, to create music again and get back out there and please some people, not all but some hahahahaha.
How and when did you get the idea to form Godless Rising?
Well Paul Flynn, the original guitarist from Vital Remains, when I was in the band, approached me in 2005 after numerous attempts and pesterings, I kept saying no way I have no interest in doing the band thing any more. I finally gave in with one condition, that we make metal like we did in the past and nothing else. And use it to our advantage and tour and make records.
You've so far released 2 albums 'Rising Hatred' and 'Battle Lords', how have the reactions towards the band and those 2 albums been?
So far it has been great and well accepted all over the world.
How do you look upon the 2 previous albums today and which tracks would you highlight as the best?
The last 2 albums are great and classic slabs of old school metal that a lot of bands seem to shy away from these days... All the tracks on both albums have their own special meaning and feel, I love them all.
What is Godless Rising all about?
Just what the band name says?!? A world of no gods, no religion, no organized bullshit. Be your own god and fight and forge forward without any crutches in life. No god is making any of your life decisions for you.
So far you've had a hard time to keep a steady line-up, why has it been like that?
Well I'm not really looking for a solid line up any more. I'm done with babies and stroke me hard fake humans. I've got Toby Knapp (guitars and bass) with me now and we have musicians to tour and that’s it. The core is alive and well with Toby and myself and I don’t need any one else. I don't need fucking egos!
Would you like to get a solid line-up and go touring and such?
We got solid musicians to tour when we are ready to make this move. I will not go on the road just to go on the road and tour. I mean I love touring, it's my life but the metal scene and the business bullshit that goes with it is retarded. Everyone is out to screw you... Been in the business too long to get screwed any more… Buy our records and bang your fucking head!
You've been involved in the death metal scene for many years now, what keeps your flame burning?
The flame will always burn man, it's in my blood. I've been into metal since 1977 listening to Alice Cooper, Kiss, Led Zepplin etc. But honestly the newer death metal does nothing for me at the moment. I love all the classic death metal from the late 80's into the mid 90's. I don't pay much attention to anything new in death metal…
The music Godless Rising is doing is hard hitting old school death metal, with a good blend of smashing parts, well-placed melodies and all out brutality, which leads us to: Who is writing the music in the band and where is the inspiration found for it?
Well I'll speak for the new era of Godless Rising with Toby Knapp. The new material I wanted to be about what Toby and me really like and wanted to hear and appreciate as a fan of metal. I wanted Toby to use all his attributes as a musician and bring them out on this album. The new material mixes old school thrash, death metal and neoclassical guitar playing... This new CD has hints of older Slayer, Possessed, Celtic Frost, some old school black metal as well as guitarists like Jimmy Page, Kerry King etc etc etc.
I reckon you are writing the lyrics, where do you find inspiration for your lyrics and what do you want to tell with them?
Well I always tend to lean towards the darker aspects of life and the occult themes. A lot is always built up in my head and I have always been against the whole organized religion thing. Keep them brutal… I've got other issues pent up inside as well, but don't feel death metal is a place to vent those lyrics.
How important are the vocals and the lyrics for the essence of Godless Rising?
I would say the vocals are more important than the lyrics, but with my style of vocals, as I try and pronounce everything when I sing I guess the lyrics need to be equally as important.
You are working on a new album as we speak, how is the work coming along?
The record is done as far as all the music. I'm in the process of recording all my vocal tracks as we speak. It should be out really soon!
What will the title of the album be, who's made the cover artwork and is Moribund going to release it?
The new album is called 'Trumpet Of Triumph'… Recorded for Moribund Cult Records. The legendary art mastermind Chris Moyen came through yet again with another great cover for the album. He's been a good friend since the early 90's and I'll use him as long as he will draw for me.
When will it be released?
I'm not sure of an actual date yet. It all depends on me and when I finish the record. I will not push anything just to release an album. Not until I'm 100% happy with it all.
You've just released 2 rough mixes of 2 new tracks, 'Ungodly Incantations' and 'Damnation Of Angelic Souls', on Myspace, how have they so far been received?
I'm not to sure, I don't really pay any attention to the page... I moderate the page that's it. But I've gotten some good responses to the tracks... But those tracks are so rough and un-mixed. The final product will be much better.
Who is going to do the final mix of the album?
Tony Ricci in the Triad Recording Studios here in my home town. He's the same producer that did all our early Vital Remains recordings.
What do you expect of the new album?
A change for the better as far as musical accomplishments go!
What 5 records have you been spinning a lot lately?
Wow there's more than 5, but OK, 5 I've spun a lot recently have been:
- Entombed – Left Hand Path
- Helstar - Every single one of them
- Venom – Black Metal
- Fastway – Fastway
- Iron Maiden – Piece Of Time
Thanks a lot for your time, if I have forgot something you find important, or if you just have something to add, feel free to add it now!
No… Thank you for taking the time to interview myself and Godless Rising… Hails and horns to you all…
Taken from, and with the kind permission of Nocturnal Horde
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AUTHOR: Nocturnal DK
A Danish metalhead on the way to become old, enjoys most types of metal, though brutality and darkness are mostly preferred, and too modern takes on metal are not always positively looked upon. Have been writing about metal for 10 years in own and at other publications as Fishcomcollective, Ancient Ceremonies, Northern Shadows and now Corazine and the upcoming Terror Propaganda (might have forgotten a few, come and kick my arse!).