Interview with MG of Ataul 2018

 

ATAUL

By: Corix Baluca

Hello there, Laguna matinee idols!? How are you guys doing? What’s playing on your stereo while answering this?

MG: Not much, still on the verge of completing new material for future release. Currently on Judas Priest – Stained class.

For the readers sake, how did you guys formed? A short band bio pls.? And the meaning of Ataul for our foreign readers.

MG: The first rehearsal was around April/May of 2012, I played guitars and Edu on drums.  There were songs pre-recorded at home that I wrote and beforehand. We decided that we need to find a guitarist so I can focus on bass/vocals. Nonong joined by June that year. By January of 2013, the first demo was recorded and Edu left for some personal reasons. By then, Vic filled in for drums. Another demo/rehearsal was recorded. Then the full length was unleashed on tape. The word “Ataul” is a local term for coffin.

Before we go farther, how did you guys discover metal and the underground in general?

MG: I started from what’s accessible at that time. Discovered bands like Megadeth from my older brother, got stucked at Rust In Peace. Then I wanted more, discovered Death/Black Metal, bootleg tapes from Cartimar Recto, all ail dubbed tapes! Dug deeper and introduced to underground publication, zines and so on.

What happen to Mr. Edu your first drummer after the release of the first demo? Are you still in contact with him? Haven’t heard him for a long time already.

MG: Set his priorities straight that’s why he left. I think he’s still active in distribution, he gave me a bunch of CDs I think last year. Haven’t heard of him since then also.

Your music sounded way different when Vic (Pathogen) entered the band, is it because of Vic style of drumming? But what I like most is that, the major element is still there, which is Doom.

MG: It’s your opinion, or it’s just so you’re thinking of Vic as the drummer of Pathogen, but not for me. Our music’s still in the vein of the first demo, but mostly there’s new touches on our new material. And still those doom parts are there.

The Goatlord influence is obvious since you are wearing this on your sleeves, any other Doom/Death metal bands that influenced Ataul if it is ok for you to share it?

MG: Decomposed, Disembowelment, Spina Bifida, Doomstone, Thergothon, Funeral and the likes.

 

Your first album Dawn of Cataclysm on cassette tape is already sold out, aarrgghh!! Damn you motherfuckers, I already told you to reserve a copy for me! But anyway, since I heard about the vinyl version, when will be the release of it? From what label?

MG: Sorry to hear that, I guess we just forgot to save you a copy. The tape version is intended to be advanced copies of the album, that’s why it’s limited. A pro-cdr/pro-cover will be released on Russian label Satanarsa Rex by end of the year. About the vinyl version hopefully will be out on the 1^st quarter of 2016 on Garapata’s Blood Rex.

How did you guys write music? How about the lyrics and stuffs like that? What inspires you in writing lyrics? And how did you manage your time in rehearsing, writing songs, since you are doing some other projects also from your other bands like Pathogen/Rabies etc.? how often do you guys jam and how about drinking alcohol?

MG: I write all the music and lyrics. Topics usually are about doom/death and apocalypse. Most of the compositions are pre-recorded at home with simple beats using a drum machine then I send it to my bandmates. Then Nonong and Vic patch their duties, add some of this and that on rehearsals. We rent a studio for an hour on weekends to rehearse, afterwards alcohol abuse is on the list.

You guys are quite old in the u.g scene already, but for you, what do you observe about our scene today? The so called “Metal” scene specifically. Is it healthy? Getting bigger? Compare to past years? Do you think we still have an underground scene here?

MG: I mostly don’t care to what that scene is, still full of trendies, barriers/walls. We’ll still continue to play and make music we like. If you don’t like our music, then fuck off and go somewhere else.

Since the internet is everywhere already, what do you observe about the DIY ethics? Is it still alive now? Zine writing, demo trading etc.? how about in your area Laguna?

MG: It’s good to hear that some print zines are still active, taking features/inties/reviews. As long as there are humans patronizing zines, it will still be there. I do trade local demos mostly from southern parts of the country and abroad every once in a while. In Laguna? There’s none here. Lambanog is all we can offer.

There are lots of faction, circles etc. in our scene that divides us, do you think our scene should be united?

MG: There’s no unity in everything, because of ideology and shit like that. That’s why there’s war around the globe.

Alright lets go down to some other topics, for a Doom/Death Metal band, Death is really real! But do you believe in supernatural, the dark side creatures, or do you have any stories about the ghost, white lady, tikbalang etc?

MG: I believe that after life, there’s nothingness. But still there’s supernatural lurking around. Haven’t experienced ghosts or anything, but will be looking forward to it in the near future. Hehe.

Anyway, since presidential election is fast approaching, will you vote? What can you say about our current government, pls. share if you have some political views.

MG: I stopped voting, the last time I voted was in my teens. To the next president, you should fucking resign after you get elected, to save some time for these protesters so they can do other things and be more productive. The only revolution to take place should be written in blood. And also I would like to bring back Death Penalty, applied to everything against, also a good way to depopulate.

Which do you prefer? To be buried? Or to be cremated?

MG: Cremated I think, but I want a really old fashioned style coffin complete with nails, then set ablaze. But if funds doesn’t permit, I’ll settle to be buried in a backyard of something.

Lastly, what to you is God and Satan?

MG: God is created to save them from arguing/reasoning from the unexplained, which is lacking of support/evidence. Satan is insult to God.

Alright, brothers! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and views! Infernal Hails! Your last message and your band contact infos.

MG: You are the matinee idol. Not us. Heartthrob ng Naic! (Shut up! You guys are TRUE! Matinee and the lover boys! Hehe! – Corix)

Contact Ataul: ataul_ph@yahoo.com

Snail: MG Diestro, 5071 Maahas, Los Baños 4030, Laguna, Philippines