We are pleased to post our latest interview with Dave Gregor, former vocalist/guitarist of death metal veterans Morta Skuld! After a long period of inactivity Morta Skuld have released a compilation of their demos through Relapse Records and Gregor is looking to get back into the heavy side of music. In this interview we discuss a little of Morta Skuld's history, the demo compilation, and what Gregor's future holds in terms of music.
Foul Feast: How did you guys get into talks with Relapse about the compilation?
Dave Gregor: Well we didn't, my lawyer (Eric Greif) was at Relapse and mentioned what we were doing and they agreed to release it.
FF: With the recent compilation getting some attention is there any chance we may see a new Morta Skuld tour or possibly new material?
Gregor: Right now it's early in the game and we really can't say. We all have commitments and jobs, it's not easy to leave a job that pays your rent and bills and child support or home payments. I'd like to see some new material and J and I have been talking about using some songs we wrote that were never recorded, but again too early to tell.
FF: When you guys were putting out these original demos were there many other extreme metal bands or any kind of scene to speak of in the Milwaukee area?
Gregor: Oh hell yeah, the scene had some great local acts tearing it up. We all felt that something cool was happening and that we might be part of something big so to speak, in our local area.
Gregor: We went on the road to support that record and are drummer at the time was having his first kid and his first home. And after our opening night for Slayer we went to FL and when we got there, he got sick and just slept, we took him to the hospital and got him good and full of liquids and he just refused to play. Even two songs and he just wouldn't do it. We came home lost label and everything. We still wrote after that in hopes of bouncing back.
FF: Was there any Morta Skuld material written post Surface that never got released?
Gregor: Yeah about 3-4 songs and they were geared with a Morbid Angel type of sound.
FF: How do you feel about the current state of metal? Do you think the scene is stronger than it was in the early/mid 90's or do you feel it has been cheapened by the Internet?
Gregor: I think it is at it's weakest form, it's not about the music at all and the business could care less about the bands and their evolution. How can they continue and make good music and sustain the way of life to bring new music to life. I don't feel the Internet is the issue, it's people, they know to not steal music or to buy it.
FF: You recently put out a great video for the track "Prolong the Agony". Was this the first video ever done for a Morta Skuld track?
Gregor: Yes it was and after 21 years of the song being out too, I didn't really know what to do, I have been a guitar player in 9mm Solution for the last 8 years, so it was strange and now that I know the song again I wish the whole band could have filmed with me. But at that time there wasn't a line up at all.
FF: Were the demo recordings cleaned up at all for the compilation?
Gregor: Indeed they were, Jef cleaned up and we just re-mastered the rest. But I feel the original demo's still sounded good. But the outcome does sound a lot better.
FF: Is 9MM Solution still active?
Gregor: I'm sad to say no, the band broke up after a festival show in our home town. We had put out two albums and did a tour. Just like MS we took each other for granted and let the differences get between us.
FF: What can we expect to see musically from you in the future?
Gregor: I'm not sure but it will be heavy that is for sure, maybe some new MS stuff, and if 9mm ever would happen again that would be fine by me. However I'm finding my way home with the MS project.
FF: Any final thoughts?
Gregor: For sure, please support your bands go by there Cd's and go to the shows, we didn't build this by itself or ourselves, it was and always will be the FANS, thank you for this interview and go buy the album people, Cheers.
you know... one thing i've never been able to disagree with gregor on was his views on the industry. i learned very quickly how cutthroat the business end is, and i will always owe that to Dave.
ReplyDeleteI can't emphasize enough how groundbreaking it would be to have Morta Skuld get back together and give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteIt could start a whole new trend for old school bands to get back for reunion shows!
IMAGINE THAT REALLY HAPPENING!!!!!