KRULLUR - Interview

***Originally printed in Feral Noise #1 (2012)***

Krullur is one of the longest lasting Houston bands. When exactly was the band’s origin date?

We started KRULLUR in the summer of ’89, but Marty and I have been jamming since  childhood.

Could you give us a little history on the band’s early days?

It was way cooler in the beginning. There were more venues to play at and better bands to play with. Also was a lot easier to get on with a national act. We’ve played/opened for shitloads of great bands such as Hellwitch, Exhorder, Morbid Angel, dead horse, Anal Cunt, Incantation, Total Chaos, Grimple, Napalm Death, Destruction, EyeHateGod, etc.

What has been the key element to your longevity?

Kicking out the dead weight/meat and having a good time rehearsing/playing live-even had to ax Marty once or twice! Ha-ha. Also, have a goal set. Ours is world domination. What else?

Throughout the years the band has gone through many line-up changes. Despite that, the band has remained loyal to its trademark style. Although I feel that Krullur has a unique sound, how would you describe your music?

KRULLURKORE w/ a dash of death. Kinda like to mix up early crossover, thrash, death, hard rock, punk and modern and classic metal. You get more hardcore/punk songs written by Marty and more techno type metal stuff from me. Diego also writes songs-the ballads.(joke)

In your existence there have been quite a few releases (demos, cassettes, CDs, compilations). Below is a list of some of items from your discography. Please comment on each. Give any recording details or memories you can recollect.

Enormity (1990):

Our first “official” demo. Recorded in 4 hrs over 2 days in Baytown, TX. Engineer was a poser-didn’t have a clue what we were trying to do. Demo was never mixed. It’s basically a sound board recording. Raymond on vox & Scott on bass. That demo has had a long life. We still play a couple of those songs.

Embalmed with Hate (1991):

This was a rehearsal demo recorded in my bedroom at my parent’s house. Remember that shit? You used to come over w/ Dave. Anyway, most of these songs were recorded on Churlish. Raymond on vox and Brian on bass. Placed a condenser mike in the middle of my bedroom and pressed record on a tape deck connected to 16 track mixer. Sounds like shit but was heavy.

Ahh yes I remember those old days of coming over for your practice, great times, memories of being packed in your bedroom and having my eardrums blown out. I also remember your drums elevated on some contraption over your bed haha. That was an ingenious idea for making more space in the area.

Churlish Rubbish (1993):

Our first mega-multi track recording. Had 4 mics on Marty’s amp and was tuned to “C”.

15 mics on drums. Was a nightmare to try to mix along w/ all the sampling. It’s an unfinished work, but one of our best sounding demos. Recorded at HotDog studios in Bellaire, Tx. Owners were cool-let us get high/drink/bring chicks. This demo had the most airplay when it was coming up on local/regional radio stations. Chad on vox and Dave on bass.

Open Ass Surgery (1997) cassette:

We don’t really acknowledge this as a demo. This was also a rehearsal recording but on a 4-track. Pretty bad sound quality and more hardcore (as in crossover/punk) than anything we’ve recorded. Greg on vox and Will on bass. Mixed by Will also. Funny thing about his mix is that his background vox are set higher than Greg’s lead vox!

Haha yes when Will’s parts come in, they overpower everything in volume.

Open Ass Surgery CD (2001):

The demo we had the most fun recording. We drove to Santa Fe, TX to record it because it had one of the cheapest rates available. We got there and they had pictures of all these country dudes w/ cowboy hats on the walls. Should have seen the engineer’s face when we started jamming. It was a motherfucker to get a good sound there but we did ok in my opinion. Our sickest demo up to that point and the most successful selling wise. Robert on vox and Kevin on bass. Underground crust punks favorite by us.

We also recorded another demo, although vocal-less, at U of H in 2009. Self titled. We were looking for a vocalist at the time. Friend of ours had some free time in his sound engineering class and asked us if we wanted to record so we took him up on it.

Of all the old material, how much of it do you still play live?

We play one or two from each demo along w/ metal/hardcore covers. The demo we play the most off of is “Enormity”. At every show seems like someone yells out a song from it. Most of our songs are new though.

PLF (Houston, TX) covered “Stalker Of Time”.

How many new songs do you have that are yet to be recorded?

About 20.

Speaking of recording, do you have anything planned or any new releases?

We are in the process of recording now at my home studio w/ Pro Tools. Should be out the first of the year along with a covers CD.

It seems your current line-up is one of the strongest. Would you agree? How did it come together?

It took forever to find the right matchup. Didn’t think we were ever going to make it happen but a friend of ours brought Diego over and it was the right timing and the right person. We’re fortunate to find a singer/bassist these days –know what I mean? We’re off and running now. Ready to incinerate a path to oblivion.

As in the past, Krullur seems to be hitting live circuit quite a bit. How have the shows been? Are you getting any gig offers outside of Houston?

Shows have been great. We were wondering if there was a demand for us but every show has been better than the one before. Going to San Antonio in January-Friday the 13^th.

In the current music scene is there anything that warrants your interest?

No-not really. Most all new metal/hardcore nowadays are watered down versions of their predecessors.-you know? But there are a couple of alright bands I guess.

For readers interested in correspondence or merchandise, how would they contact you?

Facebook or bo7338@sbcglobal.net.

Any final thoughts?

Thanks Jeff- Now everyone must die.