US death metal legend Malevolent Creation is one of the oldest bands in this genre and released some really groundbreaking stuff in the past. I was pretty much excited to find out that the band is quite active again and currently working on some new stuff. Despite all tragedies that happened during the last few years and many line-up changes they don't give up and this is really good. I sent some questions to the only founding member left Phil Fasciana, and – thanks again for that, Phil – he responded my questions very promptly. Enjoy reading and look forward to their 14th beast!

Michael

Hi Phil, how you're doing? Thanks for making the interview especially since it's your first one for…how long? Maybe you can tell about the reasons for not having done interviews for such a long time?

Thank you for sending the interview Mike and let's get into it. I haven't done any press since 2019 when MC released The 13th Beast album and did a South American Tour and half of a tour in Europe that got stopped half way through in March of 2020 because of Covid. During the Covid lockdown I was involved in a horrible car accident and injured my lower back/spine, my neck/upper spine and left shoulder which left me with a torn rotary cuff. We had a US and European Tour arranged and I was not able to travel because of my injuries even though I considered it, but all the doctor's I had been seeing for treatments told me if I were to leave to go on tour and stop treatment they would stop treating me and I would have to find new doctors. I did not want to seek new doctors because it took me so long to get doctor appointments with the current doctors I have been seeing for the last year. I have to see my primary doctor, my pain management doctor, a physical therapist and neurologist, and it really has been just so much to deal with every month and seeing each doctor twice a month. I have to have surgery on my left shoulder and lower back because it's the only way to try to repair the damage I have. I was told after surgery I will need at least 3-4 months of recovery time so I am working on the 14th MC studio release with my band and getting ready to demo all the new material before recording the album this summer.

You've just told me that you are currently working on some new stuff for Malevolent Creation – can you tell some more about that please?

Yes I am currently writing new songs for the next MC album alongside our vocalist/ 2nd guitarist Deron Miller (X-CKY) drummer Ronnie Parmer and bassist. We are getting together here in Florida soon to record demos of the new material and rehearse a new 30 song setlist of songs from all our albums. Many songs have not been played live in a long time or ever in some cases. We just have too many songs in the last 32 yrs.

You haven't changed too much in your style since 1991, can we expect some surprises on your 14th regular album?

Not too much, only trying to write some extremely heavy songs that will come across great when played live. Of course they are very fast with a few mid tempo arrangements to keep the music interesting. I'm sure there will be some changes when we all get together to arrange the new material and lyrics that are being done by Deron Miller. I am really looking forward to recording this new material with Deron and Ronnie because they are both great musicians and understand the MC sound. We all just want to put together some great songs and have some fun. It will be a big relief to get all this new material sorted out.

Do you already have an album title / song titles?

No song titles as of yet or an album title yet because a lot of things will change while arranging the new songs musically and lyrically. They always do so I don't want to announce any song titles I have until we all have agreed the songs are completely finished and will no longer change. The album title will most likely be announced first so we can make sure all the song titles fit alongside the album title.

With the terrible war in Ukraine and the pandemic you have a lot of possible lyrical influences. Will there be some lyrics influenced by these things?

The war in Ukraine is just unbelievable and I cannot believe this war is still going on a year after it started. It really sickens me and it's hard to believe what an animal Putin is and how the Russian people can sit by and watch this unfold. I honestly hope this war will come to an end soon so the Ukrainian people can start rebuilding their country with the help from the US and the other countries in Europe. No country deserves to be treated like this especially Ukraine who unfortunately is located surrounded by Russia. I know we could easily write lyrics about this atrocity in Ukraine or the Covid pandemic but there is too many bands already doing this and I believe that we should go in a different direction. Although Malevolent Creation has always written lyrics about War throughout the ages since our first album The Ten Commandments, but I really believe complaining about the Covid lockdown has been beaten to death by now. I don't think it would be smart to write anti Russia lyrics either. I'm sure Deron has more ideas lyrically and we will be sorting that out soon enough.

What about the artwork? The one on "The 13th Beast" was really a great one? Will there be some follow-up to that or something totally different?

It is possible that we may work with the same artist German Latorres from Chile again who did the artwork for the last 2 studio albums Dead Man's Path and The 13th Beast as well as some great artwork used for merchandise. When we decide on an album title we will contact the same artist German Latorres and see what ideas he has and have him send us those ideas. He is also one of the best tattoo artists on the planet and his tattoo artwork is even better then our album artwork done by him. We have many options to work with but I am sure we will give him the first chance to provide us with new artwork. I believe we could go with something less involved or even more involved. It is too early to tell at this point. The music is my main concern right now.

On which label will the album come out? Is it still Century Media?

The next album will be released on Back On Black Records from the UK for Europe and the UK and we are deciding what label will release our new album in North and South America. There are some really great options for us right now and Back On Black has actually bought the rights to every MC release from 1995 till now including all 5 live albums and 5 Best Of compilations as well as our 3 demo's from 1987, 1988 and 1990 in various formats. Every release has now been remastered and re released on Vinyl (various colored vinyl), CD and cassette with incredible packaging. It's unbelievable how many releases are now re released in such incredible formats from Back On Black Records. Go to www.backonblack.com or www.plastichead.com and search for Malevolent Creation and you will not believe how many cool releases are now available again. Great for us to bring on tour with us now and help promote sales from all these killer recordings.

You are the only founding member left – is this sometimes hard for you to be the "last dinosaur" on planet Malevolent Creation?

No, not at all! I have been doing everything for Malevolent Creation since me and Bret Hoffman (R.I.P.) formed the band in 1986 and recorded our first demo in 1987. If I had ever had to rely on any of the past members nothing would have ever got accomplished. Everyone else we formed the band with just fell to the wayside and I had to move to Florida in 1987 from Buffalo, NY to continue the bands journey. Although I have worked with many musicians over the years, I have been the primary song writer and have kept MC's music alive and will continue to do so until I feel I am no longer interested in playing and recording new music.

With Brett Hoffman another founding member and I guess also a very good friend of yours died in 2018 because of cancer. How much are you still concerned about that if I may ask about that?

The topic of my best friend and musical partner Bret Hoffmann since I was 14 yrs old has been very hard for me to talk about since his passing. It was too much for me to mentally and emotionally. Not only was he the best song writing partner, he was my best friend since I was 10 yrs old. And the amount of things we have gone through together including all the good times and bad is just enormous. When I think of all the things we accomplished together like the recording of our 3 demo tapes and the MC albums we have recorded together as well as all the touring we have done together around the world I am so glad I was able to experience those things with my best friend Bret Hoffmann. We truly did some monumental things together with Malevolent Creation and I wish he was still here to today because he made everything so fun to do and so many good laughs we have had in our lives. He will be missed by me and many people that knew him. If you were fortunate to know Bret you would know what a special person he was and one of the funniest persons you could ever meet. That is what I will miss the most and not a day goes by where I don't think of him. I now will always feel happy to discuss all things regarding Bret Hoffmann and will dedicate everything MC does in the future to Bret Hoffmann. Without him I don't think we could ever accomplished the many things we had done together. He was a very unique person and great frontman and I will forever miss him by my side onstage.

If you ask fans about their favorite MC albums, most mention "The Ten Commandments", "Retribution" and "Eternal". In my opinion an absolutely underrated album is "Stillborn" which is so much criticized because of its production. Will there ever be a re-recording of it? What do you think is the best MC album and for which reason?

I have a special place in my heart for all the Malevolent Creation studio albums actually. Not so much the last album The 13th Beast because of all the problems we had with vocalist/2nd guitarist Lee Wollenschlaeger and drummer Phil Cancilla who really let me down. There are too many issues to bring up right now but the main problem was they're lack of dedication to touring and learning all the past material correctly. They were both let go very early in the touring process and both really let me down considering the opportunity I gave both of them. I am so glad that is behind me now and I can move forward with great musicians again. We actually did re-record 2 songs from Stillborn on the Dead Man's Path album and they finally were recorded properly and with great production. We will most likely re-record a few more tracks from that album when we record the next studio album soon this year. Of all the albums I really love the Dead Man's Path album because it was recorded properly and with good musicians and was the last studio recording with Bret Hoffman who did an incredible job on that album. Like I said I really enjoy all the MC albums but Dead Man's Path was more recent and the songs came together very easily.

Do you already figuring out something about going on the road in 2023/24 or is it still too early for such plans? Hope to see you on stage again, the last time I did was 1995 in Essen!

Our booking agent for Europe and the UK is now booking us festival dates for Europe as well as a tour based around the festival shows. Everything is in the works and will be posted online asap. We also have plans to tour everywhere else in the world and that information will be posted asap as well. Main goal is to get a new album recorded first and then get over to Europe and start playing live with this great line up.

Thank you very much for taking the time for the interview!

Thank you for the interview Mike and it was my pleasure to do it for you. Stay in touch and look for studio album # 14 in 2023 by Malevolent Creation. Cheers!!!

Brazil has a special place in the hearts of Venom Inc., especially for vocalist and bassist Tony Dolan, who has a deep connection to the country. With a long history of memorable performances in several Brazilian cities, he considers Brazil to be a second home. The absence of guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn due to a recent heart attack raises suspicions and concerns, but Tony assures that he and his colleagues are supportive and committed to supporting him during his recovery. Finally, Dolan discusses several aspects, including "There's Only Black" (2022), Venom Inc.'s latest album; the albums he recorded with Venom between 1989 and 1992, and "Future Warriors" (1985), Atomkraft's debut work, recently rereleased on CD in Brazil by Voice Music / Rock Brigade Records.

Marcelo Vieira 

How is Mantas' health following the recent heart attack?

Physically, he is fine, but he is scared. Because of this, he doesn't feel mentally capable of committing to shows. The fear of dying during a trip haunts him. Therapy and emotional support are essential to help him overcome this anxiety. He needs to rest. In the meantime, his bandmates will continue to support him and wait for his full recovery.

How is the band coping with his absence?

When Jeff couldn't participate in a U.S. tour due to personal issues, I invited Mike Hickey, who had played with Venombefore. Later, in South America, since Mike wasn't available, I invited Marc Jackson to replace him. During this time, Jeff had his second heart attack, which was devastating. But I met Curran Murphy, the leader of the band 72 Legions, and thought he could fill in. He played with us in Jakarta and was amazing. The shows have been great, and we've decided to continue this way until Jeff is ready to return. Fans are receiving it well, and there's no pressure on Jeff. The shows with this new lineup have been incredible, and we're excited to continue.

What does Brazil mean to Venom Inc.?

Brazil has always held a special place in my heart since I was 14 years old. I've visited the country several times, playing in cities like Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. I feel a deep connection with Latin America, but Brazil is like a second home to me. I can't explain it, but when I'm there, it feels like I'm coming back home. The energy, the people, the food; everything makes me feel welcomed. Brazil is part of who I am, and that's something I value greatly.

The last visit of Venom Inc. to the country was canceled for reasons still unclear. What exactly happened?

There were several issues, including lack of information and delays in organization. It wasn't our decision to cancel, but rather a series of complications we faced.

The album "There's Only Black" seems to address more current and engaged themes compared to Venom's previous works. What motivated you to tackle topics like the pandemic, misinformation, and populism?

Since 'Parasite' on "Prime Evil," I've explored themes like government corruption and human duality, questioning the morality of our actions. I reflect on how, while performing altruistic acts, we also contribute to problems like the creation of nuclear weapons. This duality is recurrent in human history and wars, and it's always the people who suffer the consequences of political decisions, while the leaders remain distant and protected.

But overall, "There's Only Black" stems from a broader project about the journey of life and the insignificance of achievements and beliefs in the face of death. This reflection arose when Mantas sent me the title track. His lyrics described his near-death experience, in which he saw no lights or angels, only darkness. It made me question the nature of existence and what happens after death. Hence the decision to simplify the album cover, placing a black hole, a symbol of the unknown, inviting listeners to explore fundamental questions about life and death.

Between 1989 and 1992, you recorded three studio albums with Venom. Which one is your favorite?

"Prime Evil" was a crucial album for Venom, and I actively participated in composing about 60% of the songs. Working on this project was exciting for us, and the final result was amazing and meaningful to everyone. "Temples Of Ice" was disappointing in terms of cover art, in my opinion. I wasn't involved in its creation and didn't like the result. Despite the good tracks and energetic performances, the production didn't reach the same quality standard as "Prime Evil," which affected it negatively. "The Wastelands" had better production, but again the cover was disappointing, unrelated to the songs. Nevertheless, the album contained great tracks. Instead of choosing a favorite among them, I would combine the best songs from each to create an excellent album, if produced correctly.

That said, each Venom album is unique, reflecting constant evolution and a distinct approach. They value diversity, incorporating elements of black metal in production in different ways with each release. This is a distinctive feature of the band, preferring uniqueness over repetition.

The sequence "Avé" and "There's Only Black" exemplifies this well.

I agree. Two different and intense approaches to production, reflecting the diversity of themes. "There's Only Black"was rawer and faster [than "Avé"], capturing the urgency of the band live. The album seeks to convey the feeling that time flies, hoping that listeners will feel the desire to return after finishing listening.

Do you think the passage of time has given "Prime Evil," "Temples Of Ice" and "The Wastelands" the importance they deserve and the reverence they didn't have at the time?

"Prime Evil" is often cited as underrated, but its presence is evident everywhere I go. The album received positive reviews and had good sales at the time of its release, defying expectations after the departure of the original members. Now, especially with the emergence of Venom Inc., there is renewed interest in "Temples Of Ice" and "The Wastelands," which are being revisited and appreciated by a broader audience.

I'd like to talk about Atomkraft since the album "Future Warriors" was recently re-released on CD in Brazil.

The inspiration for Atomkraft came in 1978 when I watched Motörhead and The Dickies, my favorite punk band at the time. I saw Karlos Kaballero, drummer of The Dickies, playing at 220 beats per minute, something unprecedented. I imagined combining that speed with the sound of Motorhead, and thus Atomkraft was born. In 1985, we no longer had the original members, so I recruited two new musicians and recorded the album "Future World" for Neat. Although it didn't turn out exactly as initially planned, revisiting and playing that album live made me realize we captured the essence of Atomkraft.

The response to the re-release has been incredible. Initially, I wasn't very involved in the project, but now I see the album everywhere, people bringing it to shows, and even asking if we're going to play Atomkraft. It's funny because I've been working on a new Atomkraft album for about 20 years, always getting sidetracked by other projects. Recently, I returned to the original tapes and started rewriting the songs. Within two or three months, I'll start producing this new album, possibly as a precursor or a sequel to "Future Warriors," following the same classic Motörhead style with just three members.

In the 1980s, Atomkraft was often compared to Venom. Was there any rivalry between the bands?

When we started, we were just local bands. Success seemed distant. But when Venom released their first single ["In League With Satan / Live Like An Angel (Die Like A Devil)"] in 1981, it changed my perspective. It was inspiring to see familiar people achieving something big. When I needed new members for the band, the brother of Venom's manager, Eric Cook, suggested Ged [Wolf, drummer], who had just left Tysondog. We auditioned and got along well, so we moved forward together.

When we needed a new guitarist, we tested several, but none fit. Abaddon [Venom's drummer] suggested a 16-year-old he knew named Rob Mathew. I went to see him play and was impressed. He joined the band to record the album. Our first tour was with Slayer, followed by one with Exodus and Venom. Good times. There was no rivalry; we were good friends.

To wrap up, what do you think of the current heavy metal scene?

I particularly love breaking down barriers between musical genres. The reaction is explosive, showing that different genres can mix. I wish there weren't such rigid divisions between musical styles.

Currently, we have legendary bands like Metallica and Judas Priest still active, along with others like Deep Purple exploring new territories. There's also the phenomenon of Rammstein and the German thrash scene, besides metal coming from the United States and Nordic black metal. Latin America is also producing an incredible amount of progressive and innovative bands.

It's amazing to see the best musicians coming together, regardless of genres. They are truly talented, and it's an explosion of creativity. If I were 16 now, it would be the best time to get involved with music, as there is incredible diversity and quality in all styles. It's wonderful to be a part of this.