A few words from drummer, Gus Rios, on his new project ‘Eternal’ and this exclusive preview of the ‘Carved In Blood’ track:
It was early 1995 when I first met a young 19-year-old, Dave Culross. He came by my studio and no one even knew who he was until he asked if he could play on my kit. What I witnessed would forever change my life! I had never seen with my own eyes, someone attack a drum kit, let alone my drum kit with such fervor and speed, yet with such ease and finesse. I immediately approached him and asked if he gave drum lessons because I knew that I needed to be able to do what I had just witnessed!
What I learned from Dave, the first drum lessons I had ever taken, would become the foundation by which all of my future studies would be built upon. I had been playing for five years already at the time, but was never formally educated… and Dave was a very schooled player. I remember him recording the “Eternal” album and being super proud of it, as I also remember the profound impact it had on me as his student and as a player. Years later I would go on to join Malevolent Creation and never did we play a gig without playing no less than three songs from the “Eternal” album at just about every single one.
Fast forward to May 25th, 2019. I ran into Jay Black at a gig where my Slayer tribute band (Blood Reign) was playing with his doom metal band (DoomSkull). Let me paint this picture… Jay is wearing an “I AM MORBID” t-shirt and he and are just catching up as it had been years since we have even spoken when my guitar player Seth Ringler walks up to us and starts telling Jay how much he loves the “Eternal” album and his voice. He starts humming riffs, I look at Jay’s shirt and I think “Hmmm… bass player/vocalist, a drummer who also played in the original band… we could do this shit too!” I turn to Jay and go “dude, we could probably get together and play “Eternal” live in its entirety for fun!!?” We got together, started learning the entire album and it’s been nothing but easy-going, fun, and exciting playing those songs again.
That eventually led us to this… writing new original material in the vein of 1995’s “Eternal” album. Part Grindcore and part old school Florida Death Metal, “Carved in Blood” is all Eternal! Written by Jay Black, the song takes you right back to 1995. The Grinder’s Union is back open for bidness! See you all in 2020 with a new album, and we’re going to be hitting the road playing “Eternal,” mostly in its entirety.
A few words from bassist/vocalist, Jay Black:
Well said by my friend of many years Gus Rios. I honestly thought I was done playing Death Metal for good until I ran into Gus & SethLord Ringler at a show we played together in Miami with our own individual bands. It’s exactly as Gus explained — we were actually just joking around backstage when Seth started humming Eternal Riffs then Gus & I started Air-Playing along with him. Little did I know Gus would call me the next day asking to Jam!
It took me a week or two to brush the dust off of my abilities to perform Death Metal again, and well the fingers are a-flyin’ and my vox are back stronger and angrier than ever! I’m amazed I was even able to do so and was blown away by Seth & Gus’ performance of the Eternal songs to the point of remembering lyrics & vocals which came out of me naturally. Jamming with Gus, Seth & Glenn gave me goosebumps man, so I guess you can say this music is still Carved in my Blood!
Little did I realize, this is actually almost 25 exactly years since I performed on & toured for Malevolent Creation’s 1995 Eternal album, and Gus was just a kid back in those days but he was there during the whole process of Eternal and the fact he performed in Malevolent Creation for many years after seemed to make sense to do this. I Never ever thought of the possibility that I would be playing these songs again, and thanks to Gus & Seth it has become a reality. The new songs are basically Eternal Part II, but Heavier, so we decided to name the band Eternal. This band, in my own opinion, is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with… I Assure you! Partners in crime forever. 2020 Here we come!
Eternal Is:
Jay Black – bass/vocals
Gus Rios – drums
Seth Ringler – guitars
Glenn Conner – guitars
https://www.facebook.com/eternaldeathmetalflorida/
Some Malevolent Creation ‘Eternal’ History:
Eternal is the fourth studio album by Florida death metal band Malevolent Creation. It was released on May 23, 1995, via Pavement Music. It was the first album without Brett Hoffmann. Drum tracks recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida. Vocals, guitar, and bass were recorded and engineered at InnerFace Studio, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mixed at Criteria Studio, by Malevolent Creation. Produced by Malevolent Creation.
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