Survival Illness: The Making of Post-mortem’s Landmark “Severed Survival”

On Friday, December 6, Post-mortem will carry out their seminal dying steel basic, Severed Survival, in its entirety for his or her first-ever Denver look at Decibel Journal Metallic & Beer Fest at Summit. Tickets for this thirty fifth anniversary unique efficiency are nonetheless out there, however are transferring quick.

In between buying tickets and ready to your probability pattern the best craft beer on earth some throughout the So-cal legends’ landmark set, get additional hyped by digging into the total Severed Survival Corridor of Fame from Decibel’s September 2015 difficulty.  The next story options prolonged interviews performed in early 2015 with each member of Post-mortem who carried out on the report.

All types of heavy shit occurred in 1989. The Soviet Union crumbled, Salman Rushdie pissed off the Grand Iranian Poobah, the Exxon Valdez spilled black gold throughout pristine Alaskan shoreline, Pope John Paul II evacuated holy bowels in Africa, and Ron Hextall scored a objective within the NHL playoffs. Another loopy stuff occurred, too, however for sake of the Corridor of Fame, Post-mortem launched debut album, Severed Survival. To match Post-mortem to the rest that occurred on a world scale in 1989 is probably hyperbole, however for us—dying steel’s endless military—Severed Survival is a significant milestone. A pillar, nonetheless foul, of significance. As the primary album after Loss of life exited drummer Chris Reifert posthaste, Post-mortem’s debut dominated the underground.

From the second Severed Survival kicks off with “Charred Stays”, it’s just about over. Whereas most dying steel by 1989/1990 was transferring into precision and professionalism—two Ps that trigger lead medical expert Reifert to cough uncontrollably—Post-mortem have been unapologetically not. They wished to maintain dying steel’s ugliest and most destitute origins intact. Thrash had matured into endorsements, TV spots, and main labeldom. Severed Survival was the alternative of thrash. “Gasping for Air,” “Ridden with Illness” and “Vital Insanity” aren’t songs of change. They aren’t designed to encourage for the better good of humankind. Post-mortem was almost-engineered to rot, to deprave, to invoke worry. To be sick and heavy with no regard for coverage or decrees.

That Severed Survival impressed a legion of bands—principally of Swedish origin—isn’t actually a shock. It was a musical horror film, B-rated, blood-thirsty, and sexually offensive. Post-mortem appealed to the primal urge. The swap we’ve way back turned off. Whether or not to strum a super-distorted electrical guitar or to eat barely-cooked meat like a Neanderthal, “Pagan Saviour,” “Service for a Vacant Coffin” and “Impending Dread” made us really feel alive once more. It made us need to take fireplace and destroy with it. Severed Survival, in its minimalist trappings and newbie’s luck, embodied dying steel, the style in its entirety. Twenty-six years later, it nonetheless stays as pivotal, barbaric, and needed because the day Peaceville barfed it—with two covers no much less—out to an unsuspecting however willingly influenced public.

Again in 2009, we questioned Post-mortem’s everlasting addition to the Corridor. With animal offal every-fuckin’-where, moist burrito farts abound, everlasting (and debilitating) halitosis, clips of fungi-invested toenails on the kitchen desk, and unwashed groin fragrance permeating every little thing in sight (Queensrÿche, Dangerous Faith, and Failure weren’t too happy we didn’t inform them they’d be bunking with dying steel’s deadliest funk), we nonetheless query our judgment in welcoming Post-mortem. Effectively, seems six years of Psychological Funeral parading round in dirty underwear, reefer smoke, and damaged Bother riffs hasn’t completely turned us off to California’s best polluter. With the nastiest zit popped and longest Aztec two-step on report loved, we open the stalls of the Corridor to Post-mortem’s debut album, Severed Survival. Seems two wrongs do make a proper. In our e-book of truths, at the least.

Within the late ’80s, the Bay Space scene was very energetic. The place did Post-mortem match within the Bay Space scene?
Eric Cutler: We didn’t slot in. The Bay Space was about thrash and we have been about doomy dying steel.

Danny Coralles: Wherever we wished. Again then you definitely didn’t assume that means, you simply involved your self with making your band the sickest on the planet. We have been up towards the world so far as we have been involved.

Chris Reifert: I’d say we match snugly within the outcast bracket. [Laughs] The scene round right here was fairly effectively thrash-dominated and dying steel was one thing that strictly weirdos performed. Being weirdos ourselves, it labored out properly.

Steve DiGiorgio: Effectively, it’s cool how issues developed again then. Chuck [Schuldiner] and Chris have been in Loss of life collectively, as I’m certain you realize. They turned buddies with Sadus. I feel they [Chuck and Chris as Death] referred to as us up and stated, “Hey, we like your demo. Let’s hang around and have a beer.” [Laughs] I bear in mind the decision. Chuck referred to as up and stated he was in a band referred to as Loss of life. I used to be like, “What?! Are you critical?” Turned out to be crucial name for our friendship. Chuck would later put me on the map. We had an even bigger circle of individuals we’d hang around with although, two whom have been my buddies from highschool named Eric. As in Eric Cutler and Eric Eigard. The purpose of that is: after Loss of life launched Scream Bloody Gore, Chuck had sufficient of being the hobo together with his life on a stick. He abruptly moved again to Florida, the place there was extra consolation together with his household. Plus, the entire Florida dying steel scene was germinating. The Bay Space scene was far more superior. Anyway, Chuck actually simply left with out telling anybody. The results of this was Chris being dumbfounded. Chuck was telling Chris to maneuver to Florida to be within the band. Chris had simply graduated highschool. He knew to remain put. So, this haunt pack was gone. Chris was alone. He had us, however his routine was gone. No extra band follow. No extra writing periods. I had Sadus issues to do, so I couldn’t jam with him. Really, that’s after I launched Chris to the 2 Erics. They’d comparable pursuits. Like smoking weed! [Laughs] I knew they’d hit it off as friends. They have been all high-level inhalers who have been actually into excessive steel. Plus, one was a guitar participant and one was a bass participant. It was a no brainer. They shaped Post-mortem collectively.

Why do you assume you moved in the wrong way—extra underground, uglier, deathier—from most Bay Space bands? The musical bond you shaped with Sadus and Hexx was extra highly effective than, say, Testomony or Metallica.
Cutler: We performed the music we wished to hearken to that nobody else was doing. We simply wished to be heavy and sick. We have been buddies with Sadus and Hexx and performed exhibits collectively. The kinds of music have been by no means an element.

Coralles: Affect, we performed what we beloved and that features plenty of heavy shit. We by no means tried to maneuver in an wrong way. We have been simply doing our factor. So far as Sadus and Hexx, I feel it’s simply the proximity impact. At one time all of Post-mortem lived in Antioch, California. That’s the place the Sadudes are from. I recall hanging out with Hexx at their unhealthy aspect of Oakland follow pad. Your tires could be stolen off your automotive if you’d return, however Hexx was superb. Hella Mickey’s Large Mouths!

Reifert: We appeared to gig and occasion collectively fairly a bit. All of us acquired alongside nice and had numerous enjoyable hanging out and jamming. We have been all fairly totally different from what was happening within the native scene and perhaps for that purpose, all of us bonded collectively. On a private stage, I simply favored heavy, doomy, crushing dying steel and we went for that whether or not it made us well-liked or simply plain freaks.

DiGiorgio: Issues have been completely underground again then. There was no construction. No help of any sort. Actually primitive.

What have been the demo days like?
Reifert: We have been making noise and recording in just a little studio proper down the road from Danny’s condominium. It was thrilling to listen to our wacky concepts on recorded tape. The demos acquired our identify on the market, acquired us signed, and helped us get in touch with numerous cool bands who shared our love of horrifying music. Good occasions certainly!

Coralles: Your basic drunken, stoned, debauchery! Taking part in loopy house-kegger events that acquired uncontrolled, and discovering superb new bands!

Cutler: Good occasions. Everybody traded tapes in these days and that’s the way you found bands. No Web and no downloading!

DiGiorgio: Effectively, when Chuck and Chris cut up you can inform which one was into brutal dying steel. Chuck was into Watchtower and European energy steel. Chris was actually into Bother, Black Sabbath, previous Corrosion of Conformity, which was a slab of brutality. The purpose is: Chris was clearly the caveman bashing the drums, spewing lyrics. It didn’t matter if it was out of tune or off time, Chris was raging. Trying again on Post-mortem, when you took away all that it wouldn’t be as particular. They wanted all that ugly stuff.

Have been you actively in search of a label deal? Unsure if it was perceptionally cooler again then to DIY every little thing as a substitute of getting a label in a supporting position.
Coralles: I used to be simply making an attempt to maintain up and contribute musically.

Cutler: We wished a label deal, however we didn’t need to be ripped off. We heard horror tales about some labels and simply wished a good deal.

Reifert: Once we made the demos, we weren’t actively in search of a label, although after all we wished to get a report out. That’s the last word objective of being in a band, proper? I do bear in mind one bizarre, extraordinary label courting us briefly, however it regarded actually dicey and we handed. Trying again, that was resolution.

Do you recall how the Peaceville deal got here to be?
Coralles: Hammy [Paul Halmshaw] favored the demos. A sensible man!

Cutler: I feel Chris remembers this higher, however I imagine Carcass gave our demo to Hammy.

Reifert: I do keep in mind that fairly effectively. I had gotten in contact with Jeff Walker from Carcass by some means. Considered one of us should have written the opposite a letter. I don’t recall who reached out to whom, however we ended up buying and selling demos with one another. Jeff advised Hammy from Peaceville about us and Hammy wrote to us and provided a deal. Peaceville was a brand new label, however it appeared cool and Hammy appeared actually pleasant and all of it simply clicked. Arduous to imagine that was 27 years in the past and we’re nonetheless on Peaceville!

What do you bear in mind in regards to the songwriting periods? “Service for a Vacant Coffin,” “Disembowel,” “Gasping for Air,” “Pagan Saviour,” “Impending Dread” and “Severed Survival” have been new to Post-mortem.
Cutler: Get actually stoned and enjoying guitar! Bong rips and bowl masses!

Coralles: For the reason that recording of Severed was like my seventh day within the band, Chris and Eric had the fundamental track riffs down, so I’ve this chunk of the track the place I get to play lead. For me I can’t simply play one thing complementary, however it should be an important half to the track. I attempted to make it so “Severed” wouldn’t be the identical track with out that solo, similar as “Gasping for Air” wouldn’t be the identical with out Eric’s basic solo. I’d say on Severed the leads are half effectively thought out compositions and half senseless drunken perverted items from the gods.

Reifert: I don’t bear in mind a lot about writing these songs, I hate to say. I do bear in mind sitting down with Eric in Ron Falcon’s storage and writing the music to “Impending Dread” collectively. In any other case, plenty of that info appears to have slipped out via a gap in my mind.

How a lot did horror films play into Post-mortem’s total aesthetic? Have been there particular films that immediately influenced Severed Survival?
Cutler: Horror films had an enormous half in our lyrics and sound. Our songs have been like a soundtrack for a horror film. We watched films like Fact or Dare, Gates of Hell, Rawhead Rex, Hellraiser, From Past and something darkish and gory.

Reifert: Fairly a bit within the early days. We’d go to the video retailer and lease the goriest films we may discover and watch them time and again, rewinding the gore scenes a number of occasions in a row, cackling like maniacs. So, we couldn’t assist however be influenced by them. “Vital Insanity” is predicated on Fact or Dare?: A Vital Insanity, “Gasping for Air” is predicated on “One thing to Tide You Over” from Creepshow, and “Pagan Saviour” is predicated on Rawhead Rex. “Severed Survival” is predicated on a brief Stephen King story referred to as Survivor Kind. It’s humorous as a result of there are two very totally different Severed Survival album covers and neither one has something to do with the lyrics. Preserve ‘em guessing, ya know?

Coralles: You’re what you eat!

Ken Sorvali’s listed because the bass participant on the album, however didn’t play on the album. What occurred there?
Cutler: Effectively, uh, we thought he was going to be within the band so we listed him. It didn’t work out and we should always have simply listed Steve DiGiorgio because the bassist.

Coralles: I don’t know? What did occur there? However I gotta inform ya: kudos to Steve DiGiorgio, with out who Severed wouldn’t be as heavy.

Reifert: It’s sort of bizarre… He was within the band for the Vital Insanity demo and that didn’t find yourself figuring out. We recorded Severed with Steve DiGiorgio, who kicked main ass on that album, however in the end he was simply filling in to assist us out, since he was already busy with Sadus. Anyway, when Severed acquired re-released with the “surgeons” cowl, Ken was again within the band, so we figured we’d put his image on the brand new model of the album. However as soon as once more, it didn’t find yourself figuring out, so there you might have it.

DiGiorgio: Effectively, humorous factor is Ken was a buddy of mine. He was older than me. He influenced me so much as a bass participant. I bear in mind him enjoying alongside to 2112 and considering, “Wow!” Issues have been going sturdy. They’d all these plans. I actually couldn’t let you know what occurred, however they selected to not convey Ken to the studio. I don’t know if he was formally kicked out, ’trigger they introduced him again in.

How did Steve DiGiorgio come into the Post-mortem fold?
Cutler: I went to high school with the Sadus guys, and Steve performed with Chuck whereas he lived in Antioch, California. Steve can be a terrific bassist, so it was a simple selection for us. Plus he’s a humorous man!

Coralles: A fellow Antiochian. And who wouldn’t need Steve’s pummeling bass work in your debut album?

Reifert: We knew Steve from Sadus and at all times thought he was a badass bassist, plus a cool and pleasant dude. We requested him to play on Severed since we didn’t have a bass participant on the time and he stated, “Sure.” We ended up hitting him up once more later, for the Fiend for Blood EP, however that’s one other story. He’s a gifted beast to make sure!

DiGiorgio: Chris simply referred to as me and stated, “Hey, we want an emergency bass participant. Would you like come jam?” So, I realized the songs, practiced with them a couple of occasions, and knocked out the album. I had historical past with Chris and an extended historical past with Eric Cutler. We actually knew one another. It was all clean. I think about myself fortunate to have been part of Post-mortem and all of the historical past round them.

What do you bear in mind about your time at Starlight Sound with John Marshall?
Reifert: Little bits and items principally. It was 26 years in the past and we actually spent half of the $5,000 recording price range on weed, leaving us sufficient cash for 4 days of recording. [Laughs] It glided by rapidly and we smoked our asses off, that’s for certain. And drank beer… And, oh yeah, made a report! John Marshall was tremendous cool and laid again. Completely desirous to tackle this breakneck mission with us. Hello, John, when you’re studying this!

Coralles: Starlight Sound was within the crime-ridden dying gap of late ’80s Richmond, California. It was surrounded by tall fences and gates. Finally, it was damaged into by gangsters who held everybody at gunpoint and stole hella shit. However we had a good time there with John Marshall.

Cutler: Numerous smoke within the room! [Laughs] John was nice to work with. He captured our sound on the time and he is a superb musician.

DiGiorgio: We have been carried out with your complete album in a single night time. We performed stay, after all. Everybody’s recording on the similar time. There wasn’t a lot going again to repair errors. If any person fucked up actual unhealthy, we’d cease and begin over. I bear in mind considering: “What’s taking place?! Can’t these guys hear this?!” I advised them, “Decelerate! Take your time. That is everlasting. That is an album.” They have been like, “Nah!” We blazed via it. With Post-mortem you get one shot. And it must be Post-mortem. The second day Chris did the vocals. Really, I’m unsure if he did all of the vocals the second day or completed up vocals from the primary day. Principally, the album was carried out in two days. They spent half the recording price range on weed. Tons of bud! It was genius. I used to be making an attempt to be a correct musician. A perfectionist. They have been like, “Ah, you’re fallacious.” Now that I look again on every little thing, effectively, this was Post-mortem. Out of tune and out of time? It didn’t fucking matter. That’s Post-mortem! It was so natural and uncooked.

Have been you stoked to be in an expert studio or was it merely a way to an finish?
Cutler: We have been giddy like little faculty ladies excessive on weed and drunk on whiskey! We wished to make information and felt it was the start of the illness.

Coralles: I imply you’re careworn as a result of your inventive life is on the road right here, however hella enjoyable! And hella stoned. Sure!

Reifert: We have been super-fired as much as be there. Hey, we have been making our debut album, in order that needs to be giving us a thrill. It was badass and glided by too quick. In fact, that was our personal fault. [Laughs]

DiGiorgio: It was the identical studio Sadus recorded [1988’s] Illusions in. Hexx additionally recorded there. We have been the three bands that have been pushed out of the sport within the Bay Space. All these bands hung collectively, however we weren’t a part of that. So, it was Sadus, Hexx and Post-mortem. We realized we didn’t match. Hexx advised us it was a cool studio. Shitty a part of city however cool studio. Hexx launched us to John Marshall, who was, at one time, Kirk Hammett’s guitar tech. He was additionally in Metallic Church for a short time. We have been three completely totally different bands, however favored the identical vibe. Richmond, California’s cleaned up a bit since we did the report, however again then even the daytime it was scary. There have been bullets flying in all places, automotive alarms going off, canines barking, helicopters overhead. I bear in mind, the assistant engineer wished me to go the mini mart with him. I used to be tremendous skinny. I used to be like, “I’m not going to be your bodyguard. Take a look at me!” He was like, “All of the brothers out right here assume you’re the satan! They’re not going to mess with you.” The studio ended up getting robbed a 12 months or so later. They rolled up the proprietor in a carpet and stole every little thing proper in entrance of him.

There are two covers to Severed Survival. One by Kent Mathieu. The opposite by Kev Walker. What’s the story there?
Coralles: The primary one ate the second, or was it the opposite means round?

Cutler: Good query! The reply is “Why not?” It was in all probability a publicity stunt by Peaceville Data. “Oh look, this cowl was banned, it’s brutal, right here is one other cowl!” [Laughs]

Reifert: There have been some distributors who didn’t need to carry the unique cowl. It’s fairly tame by at the moment’s requirements, however it was sort of surprising for some folks again then, I suppose. We may have in all probability simply cast on with it, however Peaceville requested us how we felt about getting an alternate cowl carried out. That appeared like a cool thought. Extra killer artwork! Now that report is fairly well-known for each covers, so it labored out properly.

Each work within the context of the music and lyrics, however did you ever favor one cowl over the opposite?
Cutler: I at all times beloved them each and felt privileged to have them each.

Coralles: Positive, perhaps, however I dare not say.

Reifert: I agree with Eric and Danny!

What have been gigs within the U.S. like again then?
Reifert: We at all times gave it our greatest, it doesn’t matter what. We had some good ones, however lots with hardly anybody there additionally. Fuck it, we have been by no means making an attempt to win a reputation contest, so we stored rockin’ for higher or worse. The events we used to play within the earliest days ought to have been filmed. These issues acquired means out of hand and berserk!

Coralles: Effectively, everybody was youthful. It was a recent new style that we have been on the slicing fringe of, in order that was cool. A lot of the gigs have been nice, however there’s at all times those the place you drink greater than you make, or there’s 10 folks within the crowd, however you play prefer it offered out and soldier on!

Cutler: More often than not you needed to surprise in the event that they charged the canine admission!

You additionally hit the street with Pestilence, Bolt Thrower and Morgoth in Europe. After which a second time with Paradise Misplaced. Any particular reminiscences of your European excursions?
Cutler: Insanity! Look, what’s that over there? It’s a windmill! Numerous good occasions. The ability of the music every night time was phenomenal. Such a killer lineup. You don’t see excursions like this anymore. All of us acquired alongside so effectively we turned buddies for all times. Apart from that one man. Fuck him!

Coralles: Are you kidding me? Approach an excessive amount of to listing right here. These have been among the funnest occasions of my life! Cheese rolls, windmills and completely satisfied drunken folks!

Reifert: That shit was enjoyable as fuck! We by no means made any cash. We really acquired ripped off, however by some means that didn’t dampen the temper. We had nice gigs and plenty of laughs. Like Danny stated: means too many reminiscences to suit right here. It was complete rock and roll steel mayhem all the best way! We really acquired to play with Bolt Thrower and Benediction once more not too long ago and it was simply as a lot of a blast as earlier than!

What was the suggestions like? I bear in mind folks have been stunned that Post-mortem wasn’t all quick. You had sluggish, doomy components, a primary of their sort in dying steel.
Cutler: The turnout was good each present. The crowds beloved all of the bands. I feel the sluggish doomy components went over rather well. Taking part in that type stay provides folks an opportunity to soak up the heaviness. Let it eat you! You are actually powerless!

Reifert: We went over actually rattling good on that tour. Killer crowds, killer followers, killer bands and plenty of beer! It felt like victory.

Coralles: Fuck folks!

Did you ever assume Post-mortem could be so influential?
Coralles: Effectively, the plan was to dominate your complete planet. Then, we go crush the aliens with the facility of steel. So, yeah.

Cutler: Hell no! We simply need to get pleasure from what we do and if others prefer it then that’s nice.

Reifert: I’m at all times trying ahead to the following factor, so I don’t actually take into consideration stuff like that. However because of anybody kooky sufficient to love what we do. Large, ugly cheers for that!

DiGiorgio: Trying again on how the band hit the world is sort of attention-grabbing. It was Chris’ rebound. It was critical, however it wasn’t that critical. They by no means took themselves critically. Nobody knew the way it was going to prove. It’s cool the cult following they’ve developed. It’s a mission that began in a storage with the fluorescent mild blinking within the background if you realize what I imply. In some way, it simply grew.

Is there something you’d change about Severed Survival?
Coralles: Effectively, it’s means too late for that, isn’t it?

Reifert: It’s important to change sides when you’re listening to it on a report or a cassette tape.

Cutler: No, you possibly can’t assume that means. It’s nice the best way it’s. No trying again. Effectively, perhaps add a canopy track or two. Perhaps just a little Leo Sayer! Thanks for studying this garbage!

DiGiorgio: In the event you would’ve requested me the day after we recorded it I’d’ve advised you a bunch of issues. [Laughs] I bear in mind, I confirmed as much as report. They’d every little thing already arrange. I used to be going to vary my strings and so they stated, “Why?!” I used to be like, “This can be a fucking album recording!” They have been like, “Nah, simply play with what you bought on there.” I ended up placing on the brand new strings, however they didn’t perceive. [Laughs]

—

Now keep away from the approaching dread of lacking out seeing Post-mortem carry out Severed Survival in full and get tickets to Metallic & Beer Fest: Denver now. Every day lineups and ticket information under: