Interview with Vogg of Decapitated

Decapitated are back, returning with a new line up, new energy and new album!

Decapitated is considerably one of the biggest death metal bands in the world, and will be for a long time to come. For those people who aren't aware of Decapitated, be sure to read this interview to get a grasp on who the band is, and the style of music they play.

Last week, I had the opportunity to interview with founding member Vogg [Waclaw Kieltyka, guitars] for Voltage Media with some in depth questions about the album, the style and direction of the new album, plus a few quick questions that I’m sure a lot of Aussie fans would love to hear.

The new album, entitled Carnival Is Forever, will be released worldwide on the July 15, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Hi Vogg, first and foremost, thank you for doing the interview for Voltage Media, how are you?

Vogg: Hey it’s my pleasure; I'm doing good, thanks.

How is the new album coming along, can you tell us a few things about the album, like the artwork, the title and how many tracks are on the album?

Vogg: Sure, the new album is coming out at 12 of July in USA and 15 of July rest of the world by Nuclear Blast. The album title is “Carnival is Forever” and we record 8 songs with takes over 44 minutes of new Decapitated music. 

Also we decided to make a special edition with 20 minute DVD studio report to show RG Studio [Gda?sk, Poland] and make a couple of stupid jokes.. hehe. 

This time we worked with Arek “Malta” Malczewski (Behemoth’s sound guy) and with Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, In Flames and many more). 

Daniel made amazing mixes and prepared drums for recording. Both [Malta and Daniel] did amazing work for this album and I'm so proud to have this album ready to go. 

This time we do simple artwork. It’s very dark and it fits amazing with lyrics. I'm fan of this cover. Lyrics are [written] by Jaroslaw Szubrycht who is very good and famous writer and journalist in Poland. He is the author of first official biography of Slayer, “No Mercy”.

I recently read in Decibel Magazine, that Decapitated were listed as one of the top 25 most anticipated releases for 2011, how do you guys feel about making the list of albums that the fans have really been waiting to hear?

Vogg: For sure, it’s not true heheheh. But if it’s really true, I'm very proud of this. I mean what is important to me right now, is that we have this band again on stage and we have the new album already finished. That makes me very happy. 

We’ll see what people will [say] about this new one, but I'm sure they will be satisfied because they will hear a new album [from] fuckin Decapitated :) Some riffs on this album are [written] by me and Witek [former drummer, Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka who passed away from a tour bus collision on November 2, 2007] so be ready!

With the new album, did you take on a new style of music, or did you go back toward a similar style like the previous albums, such as ‘Winds of Creation’ or ‘Nihility’? 

Vogg: On this album you can hear Decapitated who continue [their] way of creating extreme metal. This album will be different than the others, but it will be no bullshit, just another step in the development in the band. 

I don't want to go back into the past, so I don't look for my old materials. I don't want to do something like - new album will be a mix of ‘Winds…’ and ‘Nihility’ plus something new – no, [this] will be new, fresh, interesting, a kicking ass album of DECAPITATED - you will see.

Growing up as a teenager, what music influenced you and the music you play today?

Vogg: I always had a double music life. One was music school with all kinds of classic music and a little jazz, and [the] second life was metal. I grew up with Sepultura, Metallica, Slayer, together with Bach, Mozart etc... So this is my education - classic and metal so [many] different worlds. 

When I created Decap, I was influence by Vader, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Emperor and thrash metal bands from bay area (California). Also, I was a freak about Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Satriani and my biggest inspiration Dimebag Darrell. 

Right now I'm inspired still from bands like Slayer, Meshuggah, Acid Drinkers, Pantera hehe - it’s so many. But I have to say that every band I play with, I see on stage, on show or I tour with, can inspire me. Also life is a very big influence for anybody who [is] creative so, everything [that] is around me inspires me in some way.

And what about as a guitarist - who are the major influences on your style of playing?

Vogg: Well that was so many guitarist, so many bands. To be honest I really try to make my own style of playing and I think my style is growing inside of me all the time and I like this style.

Who is mainly responsible for writing the music on the albums?  Do you all partake or does one person write the music? 

Vogg: I always write music in Decapitated. In the past Witek also made a couple songs like ‘Day 69’, ‘Lying and Weak’... These days I'm the main composer of the band and Kerim Lechner [drummer] helps me a lot with arrangements and sometimes he also creates some drum parts.

You guys have toured Australia twice now, and your previous visit was a headlining tour alongside Origin, Misery Index and Psycroptic. Did you enjoy your time here, and what were some of the highlights of the tour?

Vogg: That was a very great tour, and I really want to come back to Australia. I can say [is] that all tour was a big highlight, because people really enjoy to see us playing. Soundworks Touring - our tour agency which made both [of the] tours, did everything very professionally. I just wish to see more of the country, maybe next time, because it’s always airport, hotel and venue - but anyway I loved to play there. 

People from Australia are super cool. I almost forget-greetings for ‘Shrimp’ - best guitar tech in Australia :) cheers man.

And will you be coming back to Australia anytime in the near future for another headline tour, if so, can you tell the fans when you might be back?

Vogg: We are planning to make a tour in March or April. Right now it's just an idea but I'm 99% sure that this will happen and this time we will do as much as possible to make the best show we can and we will :)

I’ve purchased the limited edition version of Human’s Dust; will you be making a new DVD for the fans to buy anytime soon? 

Vogg: I would like to. I [haven’t thought] about yet, but maybe in next year, after a couple tours we will decide to do DVD. Could be interesting. Especially that ‘Human’s Dust’ is a very old DVD. 

Speaking of the limited edition, a few bands are starting to release box sets filled with all types of merchandise; DVDs, vinyls, shirts, candles and incense, do you think Decapitated will put anything like that out into the market? I personally think a Decapitated box set would be awesome ha-ha

Vogg: Hehe well, you have so many good ideas, maybe we should?? :) box hmm well hehe, why not? 

Right now we just have new album with 20 minute DVD [footage] from studio, but let’s wait a little and yeah maybe we will make something like a box [set]. There [is so much] work right now with the new album, so I'm [working] 24 hours to be ready for the release. We are thinking about making one or two videos for new album first.

A lot of people are still deeply concerned about Covan [Adrian Kowanek, former vocalist] and his recovery, how is he doing? 

Vogg: Covan is still in bad condition but his state is better and better every day. He is at home with parents and sister. Unfortunately he still cannot move and talk and he is a prisoner of his own body. 

He needs more time to come back to normal life and he is waiting for surgery and hopefully this surgery makes his condition better. 

This surgery and his recovery is very expensive so if somebody wants to help him you can check www.adrianorg.pl and www.wakeupcovan.com 

Thank you very much for doing this interview, and we all can’t wait to hear the new album.

Vogg: Thanks you very much for the nice interview, and I hope you will like a new stuff from Decapitated. All the best.

On the 29th of October, 2007, Decapitated was involved in a tour bus collision, which ultimately saw the loss of their drummer, Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, who passed away from his injuries on the 2nd of November, 2007, at the young age of 23.

This accident left former Decapitated vocalist, Adrian Kowanek [Covan] in a serious condition, which is still greatly inhibiting him, as explained by Vogg in the above interview.

To contribute to Covan’s recovery, please visit www.adrianorg.pl and www.wakeupcovan.com