NEW INTERVIEW: Our first interview with DIGGING UP (Bandung Brutal Death Metal), 12 May 2019.

Our first interview with DIGGING UP

AT: Pieces, Ujung Berung, Bandung.

Date: Sunday, 12 May 2019.

By: Teguh Prasetyo and Kieran James.

DIGGING UP line-up: Dedra (guitar), Arief (drums), Aghy (vocal), and Teguh (bass).

Teguh Prasetyo: We are already recording promo.

Dedra Digging: Two songs. We started recording drums in April [2019].

Teguh: The bass and guitar sessions started in April. We are waiting for the vocals. Vocals will be done on 20th of this month.

Teguh: This was already planned since last year but we all had very busy sessions working. We postponed almost one year.

Dedra: And we had some gigs before.

Teguh: This stopped us from doing new songs. We had quite busy schedules with work and gigs.

Dedra: We plan to do a clip for the promo.

Kieran James: Any change in the music style?

Dedra: Our new material has changed significantly in style. It is simpler, easy listening.

Teguh: It is still brutal but more easy listening.

Dedra: More familiar.

Teguh: We want to explore more the basic style of Digging Up. But the style from the first album is still there.

KJ: What do you think of the statement by Andrew Sick that Dedra is best Death Metal guitarist in Indonesia?

Dedra: I think it is just too much.

Teguh: I think Dedra is very dedicated in playing guitar. He is very specific about what he wants.

KJ: What is it like to work with him?

Teguh: It’s fun but it’s depressing because he has been doing this for so long. It puts me in a pressure cooker; I had to take over from Evan, one of the best bass players in this district. Dedra and the old members of Digging Up keep supporting me to get better and better. This is why I improved and Agung [guitarist, Interfectorment, ex-Digging Up] too. We learned so much from this band. For management side, we learned and used this for our band [Interfectorment] too.

KJ: How do you say the band name?

Teguh: We like to use Dijjing Up or Digging Up, depending on who we talk to. They have their own style and attitude; we [the new members, bassist Teguh and vocalist Aghy] must learn from it and become a part of it. In my opinion, for the new songs, two of the members are new. It will be a mix of old and new styles. It will be a little different but not too much. I’m just taking this prize, everything was already in place.

KJ: Funny stories?

Dedra: It is almost like a habit, we have some little rituals before gigs, which everyone knows. We burn some leaves from heaven before we play, to maintain the calm. The gigs are very intense.

Teguh: It’s in the past, of course. Now no-one knows. We might be still doing it or maybe not. Me and the vocalist are new to record for Digging Up. We did record some songs but we decided not to use them. The vocalist was from Demigod; the guitarist is playing on Jasad; the drummer is playing for Forgotten; one guitarist is playing for Humiliation. The bass player is playing for Gore Infamous.

KJ: Can you remember the best show you played in?

Dedra: All shows for me are the best show. Also for many bands I have had good shows and great memories.

Teguh: In Digging Up, personally, I think we are projecting the style of Dedra. He makes the form of the music. We walk in the same path so we are helping each other to achieve our goals. We are not just passengers. It is really fun to work with someone who knows the direction of the band. I can feel the soul of the songs and it becomes a part of me also.

Andrew Sick was one of the people from foreign countries who helped Indonesian Metal to be known overseas so we always respect him.

KJ: What city in Indonesia do you think the crowd is most crazy?

Dedra: Jakarta, too many people around him.

KJ: Do you think Andrew Sick’s comments helped raise the band up?

Dedra: Yes, it was a real contribution.

KJ: What do you think of cigarette companies sponsoring shows?

Teguh: I’m against the contributions to our scene. It’s too fake; we can survive without them; we are against.

UPDATE BY TEGUH PRASETYO (10 October 2020): 1. Now we are only a four-piece band. Tery is not in the band anymore. 2. We are signing with Brutal Mind for promo and album. 3. We are scheduled to release a two-song promo CD but we want to make it as a split with another band, it will still be released by Brutal Mind.

*****THE END*****

NEW INTERVIEW: 13TH STEP TO DEDRA SEBASTIAN's WORLD (DIGGING UP / KALUMAN), by Jason Xenophobic

We often know very little about the musicians that make up the metal scene. So think of these questions as taking you 13 Steps closer to knowing the heart and soul of metal musicians - what’s inside their head and what makes them tick. Enjoy \m/

Jason H: Hi, how are you, any chance I throw a few small questions at you if it's no inconvenience?

Jason H 1 Which do you prefer - whiskey or beer? Beer, for sure as I feel I don't handle spirits very well to this day.

2 Whats your view on marijuana? Should it be legalized or not? Maybe if education about marijuana exists and you know the whole Indonesian systems it will make it too difficult to legalize.

3. What is the reasoning behind your opinion?  Because we live in Indonesia and too many negative things are always related to it compared to positive things and that's how it is ..it's Indonesia.  

4 Most memorable music show you attend? Honestly all music show is memorable to me. 

5 Who is your favorite non Metal singer? Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Thom Yorke, and more.. 

6 And who is your favorite non Metal Band? The Doors, Radiohead, and many more..

7 If you could perform anywhere in the world where would it be?  Still around Indonesia as we haven't been all over Indonesia yet. 

8 If it's not too personal for me to ask, are you religious?  Yes I do and I'm a Muslim.

9 What do you think of the metal situation ATM?  Me personally I just go through it without too much bullshit. 

10 Do you believe anyone can ever be too old to play metal? Will you ever be too old for metal? I think as long we are creative and creating something there is no such thing as too old.

11 Have you ever hooked up with your fans?  Never as most people coming to my shows are my friends. 

12 If you could be reincarnated what or who would you like to come back as?  Shincan hahahaha 

13 would you like to come back at all? Love you hihihi ... and thanks for all these questions, it is an honour for me to answer all the questions THANK YOU.

DEDRA SEBASTIAN /KALUMAN DIGGING UP /XENOPHOBIC ENTERTAINMENT 2016

[By Jason Xenophobic and used here with his kind written permission.]

CD REVIEW: DISMEMBERMENT TORTURE (Bdg) - "Convulsion of Perfect Abomination" EP (2015), by Andrew Sick

Dismemberment Torture (Ujung Berung, Bandung, West Java) - Convulsion of Perfect Abomination (Pieces Records)

From Bandung, Dismemberment Torture finally back with a long awaited fucking shit to give us 4 new songs (plus 2 live) under the name of "Convulsion of Perfect Abomination"! They are back to destroy our fucking ears with their high level of brutality and quality fucking shit by paying tribute to the pure sickness and delivering a material totally fucking brilliant! Glennder (Bloodgush) on Vocals, Dedra (Digging Up/Kaluman) on Guitars, Ramon (Saffar) on Bass and Papap (Ex-Jasad) on Drums are the insane fuckers making part of this sick fucking project and are performing a Brutal Death Fucking Metal of the most successful with some Old School influence you can feel into this amazing shitty fucking piece of butchery! "Convulsion of Perfect Abomination" is of an obvious shitty perfection with his songs incorporating a pure fucking brutality added by some slower parts and several catchy riffs with an addictive atmosphere of the most brutal and dark helped by the production making this fucking piece of shit a total fucking gem! Glennder on vocals is fucking killer, maybe a bit redundant but still fucking awesome and removing nothing from this shit, Dedra on guitars is as usually fucking sick as fuck with a total catchy, addictive and brutal fucking composition, Ramon is exceptional, greatly helped by the great production with a bass totally present and fucking enjoyable, same goes to Papap on drums delivering an amazing performance by being fucking fast but also knowing to vary his fucking shit! The production of this fucking shit is pure fucking perfection with a bass very present that show how it must be done in Brutal Death Metal added by a great mixing and a sound totally fucking devastating and raping your fucking ears! This fucking shit is really sounding like a bomb of pure fucking brutality creating a dark sick ambiance and adding much quality to this piece of fucking shit from another level! 23 perfect minutes of brutality totally fucking awesome from start to end with no boring parts at all that is making this fucking shit an undisputed blasterpiece at all levels, a production totally eargasmic, a songwriting successful in its pure brutality, a great vocals and brutal drumming added by an awesome fucking atmosphere! Without any fucking doubt a must fucking have for all brutal heads around! Perfect Fucking Abomination of Pure Brutal Death Metal! 10/10. [This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews and is used here with his kind written permission.]

NEW INTERVIEW: Our interview with Papap DISMEMBERMENT TORTURE (also featuring Amel Papap's wife) (Bandung Death Metal), 12/12/2014

DISMEMBERMENT TORTURE. Left to Right: Papap (drums), Glenn (vocals), Dedra (guitar), and Ramon (bass). Ramon also plays for SAFFAR, Dedra also plays for DIGGING UP, and Glenn also does vocals for BLOODGUSH.

Our interview with DISMEMBERMENT TORTURE (Bandung death-metal)

By: Kieran James and Popo Demons Damn

Interpretation by: Popo Demons Damn

Expert Comments & Questions by: Popo and Bobby Rock (Vocalist Hydro)

Date: 12 December 2014 @ Papap’s house, Ujung Berung

DISMEMBERMENT TORTURE is: Papap (drums, ex-JASAD), Glenn (vocals) (BLOODGUSH), Ramon (bass) (SAFFAR), and Dedra (guitar) (DIGGING UP)

Kieran James (Busuk Webzine): How is the plan for the new album?

Papap (DISMEMBERMENT TORTURE): We plan to have an EP of four songs. It should be released next year 2015. It will have two bonus tracks live. One song is from the first EP and one song is from the promo. For the two old songs they are live recordings. There will be two new songs.

KJ: Do you have any song or album titles yet?

P: The title will be “Convulsion of Perfect Abomination”.

KJ: Is there any change to the music style?

P: There is no change; it is the same as with the promo. On 4 January 2015 there is a gig organized by Groupies Merch label called Groupies Death Fest. DT will perform at that gig. We will play with a new guitarist, additional. Dedra has an appointment. So we decided to use an additional guitarist, Egie Devoid from Gore Infamous.

KJ: Are you happy with the progress of the band so far?

P: For DT we have a different style. The music concept came from me. I make solo drum to build the song first. Then the guitarist, bassist, and vocalist all follow the drums. In the band all of the members are additional [guest members]. 

KJ: It is your solo band?

P: Yes [laughs]. This band is a result from my experiment. Every song is created by starting with the solo drums. Sometimes DT does a practice and don’t need anybody – only me. To prepare for a performance it is just me.

KJ: Is the line-up the same as for the EP?

P: Yes. But in the new album I will invite anyone who wants to play with the band. The members may change but I’m not sure yet.

KJ: Are you happy with how Glenn has improved as I think he has improved a lot in the last few years?

P: Yes, Glenn is passive at this stage and with his personality. The interaction with the audience is important.

KJ: Do you think you helped Glenn to become more confident on the stage?

P: No.

KJ: Does anyone ask you to play Jasad songs on the stage?

P: Yes, we start to play some Jasad songs on the stage. Some people in person do ask me to play Jasad songs. These requests are from friends and fans and those from other countries. I am confused as to how to reply to them.

KJ: Do you want to make any comment on Rebirth of Jatisunda album?

P: I’m confused as to how to answer. I am afraid to give a wrong answer.

KJ: Any comment about Abaz’s drumming on that album?

P: It’s good. It’s OK, he plays well. It is like Jasad is Metallica and I am Megadeth. We have progressed on recording the EP. It is more than one year. When I finished recording the drums then Digging Up started to record their album, so the progress for DT to record was delayed. We had to wait for Dedra to finish recording his album. Then Saffar was recording for their next EP. Then Glenn started recording with Bloodgush. We had to wait so long. We had to wait for three bands to finish recording. I took Glenn only on leave as an additional.

KJ: Why does Glenn not leave Bloodgush to focus on DT because Bloodgush does not seem to have much potential to rise up any further?

P: Glenn is staying with Bloodgush as it is understood he would keep going with his original band. Our EP has now finished recording. We are waiting to copy the cover for CD. After all the copies of the EP are finished we will be releasing it. DT is being released by my own Pieces Records. Pieces also released Undergod’s first album, Bleeding Corpse first record Resurrection of Murder, and the Panceg Dina Galur compilation.

KJ: Do you want to comment on the change in vocalist for Bleeding Corpse?

P: I more love the first album. Then about the singer it is the same comment.

Popo Demons Damn: And the singer is who? 

[All smiling because Bobby Rock, the first vocalist for Bleeding Corpse, was there with us]

KJ: How is your relationship with the Jasad members?

P: It’s still good, no problem, just enjoy life. The important thing is that I play the music I like.

KJ: Jasad changed their lyric and style. Maybe DT has the old Jasad spirit more than Jasad does. What do you think?

P: That is some people’s opinion. However, my intention is not to create any new Jasad. I do keep the gore and the bleeding lyrics whereas Jasad has changed their lyrics. Many people do think I take on the old Jasad spirit but I never really planned this.

Bobby Rock (Hydro): There is a plan to play any songs such as dangdut or pop?

KJ: Maybe black-metal or heavy-metal?

P: Maybe someday it will happen I might play HM or BM. I still don’t know.

KJ: When the positions in DT become vacant what do you think of Bobby joining the band?

P: We never know. We still don’t have a plan.

KJ: I want to ask Papap’s wife Amel whether Papap is happier in Jasad or now in DT?

Amel (Papap’s wife from Malang): Jasad have everything but I think if I must choose it is better that he stays with DT.

KJ: Are you surprised that DT rises up so fast to play up near the top of the bands?

Amel (Papap’s wife from Malang): No, I’m not surprised.

Popo: Amel learned Sundanese when she got married to Papap; she is a Javanese hot chick.

Bobby Rock: For the EP or next album was any foreign record label interested in the album? Or will you stay with Pieces Records only?

Papap: I hope some record label from the outside can release this album. But I hope that they can give Pieces Records the right to release in Indonesia. This has become common practice.

KJ: What are your favourite five Indonesian death-metal albums?

P: 1 Dirty Infamous (Jember, East Java) – Die on Pure Adrenaline

2 Digging Up (Bandung) – Disseminated Inapparent Infection

3 Gore Infamous (Bandung) – Cadaver in Methodical Overture EP

4 Brutal Corpse (Yogyakarta) (1996-99) – one album

5 Anorgasm (Bandung) – EP

KJ: When Jasad turned to sing about Sundanese culture in the lyrics do you think this is sincere or they just want to have a new and clean image?

P: When I played in Jasad I just contributed to the musical material only. I didn’t care about the lyrics then. The same applies today. I only think about making music in terms of instruments only. I never know or care about lyrics. 

KJ: Who writes the lyrics for DT?

P: Glenn.

KJ: So you don’t care about the lyrics, whether they are Sunda lyrics or about gore?

P: No, I don’t care. Even in the past I did not know or care about Jasad lyrics. The same applies today.

KJ: What would you think if there are women musicians in DT?

P: It is impossible.

KJ: What is your message for the fans?

P: Brutal death bro!

THE END *******

The old JASAD. Left to Right: Dani aka Papap (drums), Man (vocal), Yuli (bass), and Ferly (guitar) @ Papap's house, Ujung Berung, East Bandung, February 2011. This is one of the last pictures of the old line-up because Papap had a motorcycle accident in May 2011 and he was then replaced by Abaz in JASAD.

NEW INTERVIEW: Our interview with Dedra Digging (guitarst DIGGING UP / KALUMAN) (Bandung DM)

DIGGING UP 2014

Jack Frost 1 First of all please tell me how you feel about Andrew Sick calling you the best guitarist in Bandung Death Metal?

Dedra: Hello Mr. Jack, thanks for your question. I see and observe many good guitar players in Bandung, not only the 'veterans' but also the newcomers are so good. I respect Mr. Andrew's opinion, it's a honor to me to be seen as a good guitar player by him.

2 Is it easy to balance playing in three bands and which band(s) to give your priority to? For example if all three bands had shows on same night in different cities who will you play for?

Dedra: Actually it's not easy to play in three bands, it takes more time and extra thought for me, if all bands have a show on same night at different cities, I will prefer playing with Digging Up, because we have made a commitment if this kind of case happens we will choose Digging Up as our first priority.

3 What is it like to work alongside Ferly and Luk in Kaluman?

Dedra: I'm really glad to be able to play with such great people like them. I even never think that I will be a guitar player for Kaluman, once I was wondering about becoming like them or playing with them, but now I'm joining Kaluman and the dream came true. We really never know what will come to us in the future.

4 Are you surprised by the huge success Kaluman has experienced in the last year or two?

Dedra: I have predicted the success of Kaluman before I became their member, because Kaluman is run by great people.

5 Do you think Kaluman’s success proves that even in BDM a great vocalist front-man such as Aries (who relates so well to the crowd) is needed to bring the band up to the top?

Dedra & Kieran aka Jack @ Pieces Studio, Ujung Berung

Dedra: For me it's really important, because the vocalist is the band 'spearhead' to interact with audience and make them feeling the groove when the band performs. Besides good sound quality a vocalist is expected to be able to reach the audience and bring them closer to us.

6 Also Dismemberment Torture has been a huge success and few would have predicted it after Dani was pushed out of JASAD in mid-2011. What do you think explains the success of DT? I was at the Disinfected / Motordeath split-album launch a few years back and I think DT was the best band playing that night by far.

Dedra: DT success was due to Dani (Papap) because he was an icon, and at that time people were feeling curious about Dani's new band (DT) after he was out from Jasad. Rumor and people's enthusiasm made people wait earnestly for DT. Besides Dani's great skill, he also is one of the people that made BDM local scene bigger (especially in Bandung). Without him, the Bandung scene movement might have grown slower, it's my opinion.

7 I heard the rumour Bleeding Corpse finds it hard to get gigs with the new vocalist Yadi Behom compared to in Bobby’s time. Do you think this is true? Or is it because Luk is putting his main effort into Kaluman now? 

Dedra: I don't know about it, maybe they have some agreement on intern management. Luk-luk was a professional player, so I think it's impossible for him to be focused more on Kaluman than Bleeding Corpse. I think he will be doing the same like me, to make a commitment long before. 

8 Some people, especially in East Java and Central Java, say Bandung scene is boring as 90% of the bands are BDM whereas in Surabaya there is a good mix of power, black, and death. Do you think this comment is fair?

Dedra: People's opinion is their right, I don't give a damn what people say, for me if you like it just listen, if you don't, just let it be.

9 Why did you select Teguh and the other guy from INTERFECTORMENT to join DIGGING UP? Have they made a good contribution so far?

Dedra: Well, before Teguh, I recruited Agung [drummer] first. At that time, Digging Up still used additional bassist, and before Teguh came, the last additional bassist said that he can no longer help Digging Up. Then Agung suggested to recruit Teguh as a bass player, it was more or less like that. So far, they gave a great contribution on the stage when performing with Digging Up, and now we are on progress to make a material for Digging Up's 2nd album.

10 What are some young Bandung bands in any genre (no deathcore please!) that we should listen to especially those with a different or unusual type of sound?

Dedra: For now I'm following progress from Interfectorment, Bloodgush, Gore Infamous, Guttural Disease, Jarah, and Anorgasm. They are bands from Bandung which I'm observing for now.

Dedra: Thanks Mr. Jack and  Busukwebzine for this opportunity.

KALUMAN @ Bali, September 2015

DIGGING UP 2015