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| Dimas Damn (guitarist DEMONS DAMN) and Abaz (UNDERGOD / JASAD) @ EXTEND STUDIO, Ujung Berung, April 2012. |
Our interview with Abaz (drummer UNDERGOD &
JASAD (Ujung Berung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia death-metal)
At: Ujung Berung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
3 April 2012
Interview oleh: Kieran James, John Yoedi & Popo
(BUSUK WEBZINE)
Interpretation & extra comments oleh: Popo
(DEMONS DAMN & BUSUK WEBZINE)
Kieran
James (Busuk Chronicles): How did you begin playing drums?
Abaz:
I started at 18-years-old playing drums in senior high-school. I started
playing songs from DYING FETUS “Grotesque Impalement” and “Straight of Blood”.
KJ:
How did you learn drums?
Abaz:
I learnt by myself.
KJ:
Why did you like to be a drummer?
Popo:
When I met Abaz for the first time he played bass in UNDERGOD.
KJ:
How many albums has UNDERGOD had so far?
Popo:
One album, Saguru Saelmu, 2008.
KJ:
Why did the next album take so long?
Abaz:
There is something, classic problem, we were busy.
Popo:
Is it because you joined JASAD that the UNDERGOD album was delayed?
Abaz:
No, that’s not a reason, the members are still busy.
KJ:
Is there any message from the fans that they want a new album?
Abaz:
Yes. The name for the fans of UNDERGOD is Kujang Mangprang. I hope that the
fans can continue to support us and pray for us.
KJ:
What were the events leading up to you joining JASAD?
Abaz:
When Dani got married I helped JASAD as additional drummer then when Papap had
accident I played another show for JASAD.
 |
| Ferly, Kieran James, Abaz, Yuli, 10 October 2011 |
KJ:
Was it hard to learn to play JASAD songs?
Abaz:
Lucky me because I was a fan of JASAD so I knew the songs and music. I could
learn the songs of JASAD quickly.
John
Yoedi: How long did it take to learn?
Abaz:
One month for nine songs – three new songs and the rest are the older songs –
from Witness and Annihilate the Enemy.
KJ:
Was it different from what you expected joining JASAD?
Abaz:
For me I am proud and surprised.
KJ:
Who asked you to join?
Abaz:
Ferly.
Popo
extra comment: I heard from Ferly why he liked to work with Abaz. He thinks
Abaz can understand how Ferly wants to build the song. Abaz knows what Ferly is
thinking.
KJ:
What is your experience working with Man, Ferly, and Yuli?
Abaz:
After I joined JASAD because they are older metalheads I felt I grew up more.
KJ:
What is your relationship to Papap now?
Abaz:
Good, no problem.
Popo:
Papap was surprised that Abaz got fat. If you knew Abaz before he was very,
very skinny.
KJ:
What do you think of JASAD singing about Sundanese culture?
Abaz:
I very much agree with it.
 |
| DEMONS DAMN: Jhon, Dimas, Abaz, Ricky, Popo, 25/2/2011 |
KJ:
What is the reaction of JASAD fans to you?
[John
gave thumbs-up.]
Popo:
Because John is part of the fans of JASAD.
KJ:
Popo, how is the drumming style of Abaz different from Papap?
John:
He has a good skill. When I watched him at Samarinda I was shocked. I thought
he was a good drummer for JASAD.
Popo:
Abaz plays faster than Papap because he’s a young gun. He is more powerful and
he has more energy.
John:
He doesn’t smoke.
Popo:
Sometimes he does!
John:
Did you help for the songwriting for the new album?
Abaz:
I helped in all of the songs for the new album. I made some improvisation in
the ten songs for the new album – nine new songs and rearrangement of a song
from Witness with more rhythm and
faster speed “Diamaton”.
John:
When did you first play for JASAD?
Abaz:
October [2011], at Jakarta Death Fest.
John:
How did you feel?
Abaz:
Very, very nervous for the first time.
John:
I heard before that JASAD had an audition for drummer, is that correct or not?
Abaz:
JASAD made audition to find drummer. After the audition they could not find a
qualified drummer so they chose me to play drums for JASAD. After they thought
there was no qualified drummer they chose the first option, me, because I
played for them before. I played only for Jakarta Death Fest originally as a
one-off. After that there was a show for Saturday. On Friday night Papap had an
accident and I was asked to play for JASAD. The band could not cancel the show
because there was a contract. The show was the Burning Fest.
 |
| Ferly, Abaz, Popo, 10 October 2011 (with UNDERGOD drums) |
KJ:
Do you feel tired playing in two bands and will you leave UNDERGOD?
Abaz:
UNDERGOD will use an additional drummer. JASAD does not have an additional
drummer. The first drummer is Uti.
KJ:
Do you find any chicks come to talk to you because you play in JASAD?
Abaz:
Yes [laughs].
Popo:
And many groupies?
Abaz:
Yes [laughs again].
John: Naughty boy.
Popo:
Because Abaz is the youngest in JASAD.
KJ:
What drummers are the main influences for you, foreign and local?
Abaz:
BURGERKILL drummer Andris and Papap.
KJ:
What are your favorite bands?
Abaz:
JASAD and METALLICA.
John:
Why?
Abaz:
Because the first time I saw METALLICA I liked the drummer. I didn’t know of
any other drummer then.
KJ:
What are the good and bad things of the Bandung metal scene?
Abaz:
The good thing is it can be like a second family.
Popo:
His answers are not fast like his drum-playing!
John:
Like Glenn!
[All
laugh.]
John:
When I saw you play in Samarinda Ferly said you want to play a drum solo. What
was the reason?
 |
| Bobby Rock (BLEEDING CORPSE) and Abaz, 4 April 2012 |
Popo:
It is a request from the JASAD members so he can show his skill and promote the
new drummer.
KJ:
So did he play a drum solo?
John:
Yes, we have it on our website!
Popo:
We must be angry with him [laughs]!
John:
Did you play drum solo at Jakarta Death Fest or just at Samarinda?
Abaz:
Only Samarinda.
John:
Did you have a good response from the drum solo as I uploaded the video to
YouTube?
Abaz:
I am already a drum teacher so after people watched my video I had many people
wanting to learn.
John:
So you must thank me because I uploaded it!
KJ:
Can you give us a mark out of ten for these drummers Mike Smith, SUFFOCATION?
Abaz:
8/10.
John:
Flo Mounier, CRYPTOPSY?
Abaz:
8/10.
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| Abaz, Ferly, and John Yoedi, 4 April 2012 |
KJ:
Steve Asheim, DEICIDE?
Abaz:
7/10.
KJ:
Dave Lombardo, SLAYER?
Abaz:
6/10.
KJ:
Lars Ulrich, METALLICA?
Abaz:
6/10.
KJ:
Roy Agus, DEATH VOMIT?
Abaz:
I can’t comment as I haven’t seen him play. Roy is a good drummer, I like his
style.
Popo:
When Abaz played for DEMONS DAMN, he headbanged like Roy.
John:
I think Roy gave you inspiration. He headbangs onstage just like Roy. He can do
it for JASAD and UNDERGOD.
KJ:
Are you married or you have girlfriend?
Abaz:
I have both [laughs].
KJ:
Do you like super power blast-beat drumming or drumming with the rhythm like
Phil Rudd of AC/DC?
Abaz:
I like both but mostly I like fast drumming.
KJ:
Did you ever have a scary stage name like “Philthy Animal” of MOTORHEAD?
Abaz:
Abaz Van Baz. My friend gave this name
to me when I was playing football (like Marco Van Basten). But I didn’t play
football again after playing drums.
 |
| THE NEW JASAD 10 October 2011. Left to Right: Ferly (guitar), Kieran James (Busuk Chronicles), Abaz (drums), and Yuli (bass). Man (vocals) could not join us on this night due to commitment at The Common Room. |
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| DEMONS DAMN, 25 February 2011. Left to Right: Jhon (bass), Dimas Damn (guitar), Abaz (drums - studio only), Ricky (guitar), and Popo (vocals). |
