Daniel Dismal Interview: Crematorium, The Process of Endtime and Murdercore

Following the release of The Process of Endtime, Los Angeles extreme metal outfit Crematorium continued refining the aggressive sound it had developed throughout the previous decade. Blending death metal, hardcore, thrash and melodic influences, the band entered 2006 determined to expand its audience while pushing its self-described "Murdercore" style even further.

In this exclusive interview, Rockum's Gino Alache speaks with vocalist Daniel Dismal about the making of The Process of Endtime, the album's lyrical concept, the origin of the term "Murdercore," the evolution of Crematorium, the modern metal scene and the band's touring plans for 2006.

Gino Alache: Congratulations on The Process of Endtime. Who was responsible for writing the music and producing the album?

Daniel Dismal: Thank you! Writing the music has always been a group effort. I write all of the lyrics, but musically everyone contributes. Even if someone brings in a complete song, each member adds ideas until it truly becomes a Crematorium song. That's one of the things that defines us as a band.

Gino Alache: Why did you choose the title The Process of Endtime? Is there a concept behind it?

Daniel Dismal: Absolutely. Every Crematorium album follows a timeline. The Process of Endtime represents humanity reaching what I consider the modern era of that story. Looking at today's world, we're facing the possibility of destroying ourselves through war or watching nature do it for us. The album reflects that process and the choices humanity has made.

Gino Alache: The artwork is outstanding. Who created it?

Daniel Dismal: Anthony Clarkson from MindsI Studios designed everything. We sent him rough recordings of the album, and he came back with several incredible concepts. We gave him some direction regarding the logo and colors, but most of the artwork came directly from his imagination. We'd definitely like to work with him again.

Gino Alache: What do you think is the biggest difference between this album and your previous releases?

Daniel Dismal: This album is faster, tighter and much better produced. For the first time, every song flows naturally into the next one. We also introduced more guitar harmonies, more solos and different vocal approaches. D.D. Ehrlich did an amazing job producing the record.

Gino Alache: Which songs stand out as your favorites?

Daniel Dismal: "Testicular," "Infinitesimal Acculturation" and "Born Of The Deadtide."

"Testicular" is extremely aggressive and has become my favorite song to perform live. "Infinitesimal Acculturation" allowed me to explore different vocal styles, while "Born Of The Deadtide" is one of the heaviest songs we've ever written.

Gino Alache: Crematorium has been around since 1991. Could you tell us how everything started?

Daniel Dismal: The original lineup was formed by Frank Escalon, Marvin Escalon, Adam Perez and Moshe Alvarez. After several lineup changes I joined the band, followed later by Mark Uehlein. We built a strong reputation in the Los Angeles underground scene before splitting up in 1998.

We reunited in late 2000, recorded A World Where Only Nightmares Begin, signed with Prosthetic Records and continued moving forward. Although none of the founding members remain today, they'll always be part of Crematorium's history.

Gino Alache: Crematorium is often associated with the term "Murdercore." How did that name originate?

Daniel Dismal: I actually came up with it. Labels and journalists kept asking us what style we played, but we never felt we belonged entirely to death metal or hardcore. Someone once said our music made them feel like murdering someone, so I combined the words "murder" and "hardcore." As far as I know, we were the first band to use the term.

Gino Alache: What are your biggest musical influences?

Daniel Dismal: Everyone in the band has different influences.

Personally I listen to Sick Of It All, Metallica, Obituary, Carcass, Napalm Death, Agnostic Front, Black Flag, Doom, Dead Kennedys, Suffocation, Hatebreed, Ice Cube, N.W.A. and DJ Quik.

Mark is influenced by Testament, Overkill, Metallica, Megadeth, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and Hypocrisy. We all bring something different into the band.

Gino Alache: What do you know about the Latin American metal scene?

Daniel Dismal: I know several bands, but what really stands out is the loyalty of the fans. In the United States people often follow trends, while fans in Latin America and Europe stay loyal to bands for years. We're hoping to tour Mexico in late 2006 and eventually play throughout Latin America.

Gino Alache: How do you compare today's metal scene with the one from the 1990s?

Daniel Dismal: I think the '90s were much more creative. Many bands were creating original sounds that people are still copying today. Today's scene is healthy, but it needs loyal fans if it's going to keep growing.

Gino Alache: How do you see the future of metal?

Daniel Dismal: Right now it looks very strong. Metal always goes through cycles. It's becoming more accepted again, but I hope people continue supporting it for the music rather than because it's fashionable.

Gino Alache: What are your thoughts on religion, occultism and Satanism?

Daniel Dismal: Everyone has the right to believe whatever they want. Personally, I don't think music should divide people because of religion. I have Christian friends, Satanist friends and everything in between, and we all get along because music comes first.

Gino Alache: What's been your favorite Crematorium show?

Daniel Dismal: The final night of our tour with Immolation, Grave and Goatwhore. It wasn't the biggest audience we'd ever played for, but after spending weeks together on the road, none of us wanted the tour to end.

Gino Alache: What are Crematorium's plans for 2006?

Daniel Dismal: We're already writing new songs, planning West Coast tours, organizing a Mexican tour and trying to reach Europe. We expect 2006 to be a very busy year.

Gino Alache: Any final words for Rockum readers?

Daniel Dismal: First of all, thank you to Rockum for including The Process of Endtime among your Top 20 Albums of 2005.

Thank you, Gino, for all your support, and thanks to everyone who has supported Crematorium through the years. You're all part of the Crematorium family, and we hope to see you on the road very soon.

Gino Alache: Thank you very much for your time, Daniel.

Daniel Dismal: Thank you! We truly appreciate the support.