Interview With MORTA SKULD

questions answered by Kent Truckenbrod

1. PLEASE GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF MORTA SKULD'S PAST. Morta Skuld was formed in Milwaukee, WI in 1990 by the vocalist/guitarist Dave Greggor and bassit Jason Hellmann. Later the guitarist Jason O'Connell and drummer Kent Truckenbrod were added to the band to solidify the line-up. Since then Morta Skuld has played with such bands as Obituary, Death, Deicide, Napalm Death, Fear Factory, and Cannibal Corpse. Morta Skuld has recently been signed to Pavement Music.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCIBE MORTA SKULD'S MUSIC? Morta Skuld's music is definitely classified as death metal. I guess the best way to describe it is fuckin' death metal with a lot of hooks and tempo changes. Pick up our latest release "Surface" on Pavement Records and you will see what mean.

3. WHO ARE SOME OF MORTA SKULD'S INFLUENCES? Morta Skuld's influences include Morbid Angel, Death, Paradise Lost, Fates Warning, Obituary, Judas Priest, Nevermore, Napalm Death, Carcass, Black Sabbath, Dream Theater, Malevolent Creation, Cannibal Corpse, and King Diamond just to name a few.

4. MORTA SKULD WAS PREVIOUSLY SIGNED TO A LABEL. WHAT PROGRESSION DO YOU THINK MORTA SKULD WILL MAKE WITH YOUR NEW CONTRACT WITH PAVEMENT? Before signing to Pavement Music, we were on a label called Peaceville Records who was the home of the acts such as My Dying Bride, Autopsy, Vital Remains, Anathema, and Paradise Lost. We released three albums with Peaceville thus fulfilling our record contract. The biggest complaint we had with Peaceville was their inability to secure U.S. distribution for any of the releases. The progression we made when we signed with Pavement was huge. We finally are going to get what we have been trying to get the last four years, A U.S. RELEASE!!!! With Pavement, we are getting a strong label who back their bands with excellent distribution and promotion. At this point, Morta Skuld has received more attention from Pavement than we have ever received with Peaceville. I think a strong relationship with your label is very important.

5. YOUR LAST SEVERAL CD'S WERE RELAESED IN EUROPE. DO YOU THINK THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE DEATH METAL SCENE IN EUROPE COMPARED TO THE U.S.? I don't really know because I have never been over there to see what it is like. I can see what is happening in the states and I truly believe metal is coming full circle. I think the metal scene will have a strong resurgence in '98. As far as Europe goes, all I hear from some people is that the scene is dead and other people say it's strong. It's like a double-edged sword.

6. WILL MORTA SKULD CONTINUE DOING LOCAL SHOWS FOR AWHILE OR ARE YOU GOING TO EMPHASIZE PRIMARILY GETTING A TOUR PUT TOGETHER? Yes, we will probably continue doing local shows but our emphasis will be getting a tour. We also are going to start booking out of state gigs as well. We hope to be on tour sometime in the spring but we'll wait and see how that develops. It definitely has to be the right situation for us.

7. WHAT WILL YOU OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE TOURING WITH WHEN IT HAPPENS? Morta Skuld would like to do a tour with either Morbid Angel, Death, or Cannibal Corpse but it would be a long shot. I would also like to go on the road with our metal brothers Broken Hope or Opressor. A Malevolent Creation/Morta Skuld tour has come up but nothing definite yet.

8. IS MORTA SKULD MERCHANDISE STILL GOING TO BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BAND OR IS PAVEMENT GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF ALL THAT? Yes, merchandise will continue to be available through Morta Skuld mail order. Pavement also plans to carry most of our merchandise so it should be easy to get a hold of. Write to us or check out the Pavement website at http://www.pavementmusic.com for up to date merchandise.

9. ANY FINAL COMMENTS? Pick up our new album "Surface" on Pavement Music and write us for a complete merchandise list. Support death metal and keep the underground alive!!!