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Deeds Of Flesh.
 "We
are very anxious to play in Australia," enthuses Deeds Of Flesh
guitarist/vocalist Erik Lindmark before I have a chance to ask
him. "It will be Deeds Of Flesh's first time there and we all
want to see Australia as well as play there. I really like Psycroptic
and can't wait to jam and hang out with our label mates - they
are one of my favourite bands of 2003!"
The Deeds/Psycroptic package tour is shaping up to be one of the strongest bills for an international, underground metal tour of recent years. The Californian death metal heavy weights have a lower profile downunder, but are confident that the tour will be a success.
"We'll just have to wait and see what happens," the guitarist begins cautiously. "We actually sell many units in Australia. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed, but I know Psycroptic will add hugely to the bill also."
One of the most significant bands on the Californian scene, Lindmark formed Deeds Of Flesh with bass player/vocalist Jacoby Kingston in 1993 and wrote their first CD (1994's 'Gradually Melted') in just three months. Numerous line-up changes ensued, including a 'revolving door' approach to drummers (they have now finally settled with ex-Vile skinsman Mike Hamilton) and an ill-fated flirtation with a second guitarist between 1997 and 2001. Having maintained a stable line-up since 2001's 'Mark Of The Legion', Lindmark declares that this is finally Deeds Of Flesh at its most definitive:
"We will definitely stay as a three-piece," the guitarist confirms. "For us, it's a much more together sound live, which is what we are very particular about. In the past, the second guitarist only muddied up our sound."
While a second guitarist can often provide more scope musically (especially live), it is the current Deeds line-up as a three-piece that lends their music the strong percussive feel that is their trademark.
"The drums definitely stick out more because you don't have that washed out sound of the second guitar player," Lindmark agrees. "Mike and I are always locked in as far as tightness goes."
The band's current album 'Reduced To Ashes' has cemented their influence on the worldwide death metal scene, clocking up 6,500 sales in its first week of release. However, despite the positive fan response, it is a release that has been dogged by luke-warm reviews which criticise it for being repetitive and lacking musical growth.
"We will always stick with our original style, only adding some new elements of writing," Lindmark declares unapologetically. "Maybe [the reviewers] were expecting something totally new, but we won't do that - I feel that kills bands' popularity."
However, even the critics who seem otherwise unimpressed with the album nonetheless praise the technical musicianship involved. Perhaps because the band's 'technicality' is one of their biggest drawcards, they can often be more of a musician's band than a listener's band, often appealing more to people who are musicians themselves rather than to people who are 'just' fans.
"Yes, I think that's sometimes the case," the guitarist agrees. "Some people need to be able to groove to their music, while others appreciate more the musicianship and writing."
With no plans to alter their sound any time soon, most of Deeds Of Flesh's future plans revolve around cementing their reputation worldwide as a formidable live act.
"We just want to keep releasing CDs and tour as much as possible and support the scene as we can," Lindmark concludes. "We feel very fortunate to be able to do the things we do with the band, and we owe everything to our followers and supporters."
Michelle Phillipov
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Deeds Of Flesh play the Enigma Bar on Fri 25 June with Psycroptic, Omnium Gatherum and Intense Hammer Rage.
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