PESTILENCE – Interview with Patrick Mameli (vocal & guitar)

PESTILENCE! The band that at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s undoubtedly set the canons of Technical Death Metal (along with DEATH, ATHEIST and CYNIC). Patrick Mameli is the heart and the brain of PESTILENCE from the beginning, and he does not give up and continues to spread the pestilence. Literally a few weeks ago, PESTILENCE, in the new line-up, released the latest album “Exitivm” and under the mark of Polish label Agonia Records!

Hello! How is PESTILENCE in times of present plague?

We keep trying to do our thing and not get too much distracted from all this pandemic stuff and keep on pushing the Pestilence.

First time I listened the music of PESTILENCE at the turn of the 80s and 90s of the 20th century, so let us go back in time… What did the adventure with Metal music begin?

Just trying to make a name for myself. I knew I wanted to be famous and so I proceed building a name for myself.

We all know that you and your friends decided to create the band and… The first was the demos of “Desentery” and “The Penance” in 1987. It was a raw and aggressive Tharsh Death Metal with technical ambitions. The wonderful thing is that we can listen to it officially on the Internet (and in really good quality) at present…

I’m not too much of a fan of my older work as I was imitating too much what I enjoyed listening too.

The debut album “Malleus Maleficarum” was definitely a technical Thrash Death Metal… So from the beginning you combined aggression with progression…

Being very young, excited and not having a true vision yet. Trying to understand the music industry.

If you want to compose these pieces again, would you change something about the tracks?

I do not want to redo them at all as I think the mindset is completely different now and I would change too much. The fans love it like it is!

In turn, the second album “Consuming Impulse” evolved to the status of Death Metal. Do you remember why you have play more brutal then and of course all the time with technical patents at that time?

Still listening too much too the other bands, this is what we wanted to do at that time. Possessed and Death were our main inflences. It was the European answer to Death`s Leprocy.

1991 … “Testimony Of The Ancients” was another step towards technical playing. The album was dark and still musically powerful. Although I remember during of listening to it then I had the impression that its sound was a bit synthetic…

Tell that to Scott Burns. But there was nothing synthetic about it. All was recorded analogue. So your ears are fooling you or you picked the wrong choice of words.

Well, that’s my subjective feeling… And those intros before each song and the addition of keys and atmospheric solos made Death Metal from this album more spacious…

It def. was something else at that time, since no one had done this before. I wanted to glue stuff together rather than having just songs.

You probably already know that the album “Testimony Of The Ancients” has become one of the canons of Technical Death Metal?

It’s considered a cult classic yes.

At that time, what bands influenced on you to make such progressive music?

It was the first time I actually stopped to listen to all these other bands out there as a reference.

You once said that you don’t listen to Death Metal much, or even Metal in general, so it’s a bit weird that you play Metal. But Quorthon from BATHORY also once admitted that he listened to Punk Rock rather than Metal, hahaha…

Sorry to say this but I do not have to listen to metal in order to be a metalhead at hart. I do not care what others say or do or to be compared to anyone to make my music valid. So I find that weird. I find it important to maintain my own style.

I asked because the “Spheres” album reached the apogee of progression in PESTILENCE! The combination of Death Metal and Jazz Fusion is something otherworldly, cosmic. I was delighted!

I really dislike that album because it was something I had to do to get out of the Roadrunner contract.

Do you remember any interesting reactions to this album?

Most metalheads hated it and people don`t realize how much it hurt me to smear the Pestilence name in order to get out of this contract.

This is last album that I have on a tape (licensed). Besides, I have the previous three albums on tapes (but pirate ones)… Taht was in Poland at that time. If not these tapes, I would never have heard PESTILENCE’s music at that time…

And what`s your question here?

I haven’t, it’s just my digression… Right, the album “Spheres” was too controversial for most Metal fans. It was probably a great risk releasing it? Why did you stop exist after the album?

See above answers. Well, the musicindustry is relentless and so I had to detach myself from this toxic environment.

After more than a decade, PESTILENCE returned to the stage… Recently, a friend asked me why such bands return. I answered, I think that their passion mobilizes them to comeback. Most older musicians have an established family or occupational life and they have time to play. They fulfill themselves in this way… And how was with PESTILENCE?

When you are an artist or musician that what you live for. I`m no different.

And in 2009 with the album “Resurrection Macabre” you returned a bit to the roots of your music (before “Spheres”)…

It was a logical step from “Spheres” to come back with something brutal yet very recognisable like the Pestilence compositions.

How have the fans and the media perceived your hiatus for so many years?

When I was gone from the scene I kept getting messages and emails throughout all these years that people miss Pestilence. I missed Pestilence as well.

In 2011 “Doctrine” has comes out… I have impression that you lowered your guitar tuning? The sound was more massive and heavier. A slightly different way of vocalization also appeared. This album definitely brought new arrangement solutions… Am I right?

I always try to come up with new stuff and introduced the 8 string, to show that you can do more with it than just the Meshuggah or Djent stuff with it.

In turn, on “Obsideo” from 2013 you additionally accelerated… This album clearly emphasized that you remained in the atmosphere of Technical Death Metal and you do not intend to experiment anymore like on “Spheres”. However, there were some surprising moments, some strange sounds, unexpected bass licks or psychedelic solos, because PESTILENCE does not stand in the same place…

Exactly. Always pushing the boundaries of the Pestilence realm. And this time we showed all how to execute speed and brutality.

Although some people accuse you that you not creating anything new and duplicating your patents…

These people clearly aren`t aware that this is a style. Also critics can only critisize if they have profound knowledge of musical theory and or play an instrument. Otherwise it`s just based on feelings. And I really do not care about these accusations.

2018 … “Hadeon” is progression and crushing strength in one piece. The PESTILENCE style is undoubtedly recognizable and unique… Very powerful and aggressive, even psychotic compositions, but at the same time exploring other areas…

Progressing all the time.

Your distinctive symbol almost always appears on the cover-arts. Who came up with it? It is probably taken from the symbolism associated with the geocentric theory…

It was a joint venture of Dan Seagrave and my idea of something timeless and powerful.

After this album, you changed the line-up again. What was the reason for this?

I always change line up until I find the right people to execute my music. But first let me clear something up. All the people I worked with have their own main bands and they only participate for one album and then go back to their own projects. Rumours about me being a dictator or treating people badly is total nonsense. But people just love to believe these lies. That tell more about them than me.

But the current musicians are also experienced in battle, so they can easily handle this technical encounter…

My name stands for quality, so finding people is never a problem. But to find chemistry and honesty is pretty difficult. Now I have an all Dutch line up which suits me just fine. We have a lot of respect for eachother and that’s key.

Probably the coronavirus supersedes other viruses. After all, PESTILENCE did not give away!

Trying to get away from the propaganda is the best one can do. But EXITIVM tells this story and hopefully people are open to my way of thinking, which is always very critical.

Well, PESTILENCE also attacked again… And I’m proud that it happened thanks to the Polish label Agonia Records! Why did you choose this label? You already have a lot of experience in this field.

Another thing is, why I change label so often. I don`t want to be imprisoned by a label for more than 2 albums. I have learned from my mistakes in the past. Agonia contacted me and we have a healthy musical relationship. They have been very good to me so far.

Literally a few weeks ago, the album “Exitivm” was released. Probably it is a very personal material?

Not more personal than any other album, but it’s the most mature one.

What did you mean by naming this album? Apparently the word “Exitivm” has a connection with Latin language and it means “total destruction”…

As we are heading towards total destruction, the way things are going right now in the world.

The lyrical layer of the album touches the themes of mental illness and global destruction. And more broadly…?

The essence of good and bad, and how bad always seems one step ahead. But people need to realize as a collective they are stronger than a few globalists. Eventually things will come out.

What are the differences in the arrangement between “Exitivm” and even its predecessor?

I always try to become a better composer and come up with new ideas, staying within the boundaries of Pestilence. The real difference is the line up.

The website was created especially for the promotion of “Exitivm”… Apart from information about the album, video clips, photos, you also offer a lot of merch… CDs, vinyls, tapes and of course T-shirts and hoodies. Currently it is essential for the band to have their own merch… Who is responsable for the job at the website?

This is a collaboration of Agonia and Pestilence. A great opportunity for all. We also have our own website www.pestilence.nl. And all the other media outlets.

Wasn’t your disposable C-187 project a substitute for PESTILENCE? Well, musically was different, very in groove style, slightly mathcore, more progressive, but here can still feel the stigma of the arrangement of PESTILENCE (and rather of Patrick Mameli)…

What I find odd is that people tend to want to categorize someone. I am capable of much more than just Pestilence. The fact they compare it to Pestilence is their own weakness and not digging into the music I done for C-187. I do alot of projects not even metal related just because I can. I think a person should never limit themselfes if you have multiple talents.

So, have you thought about continuing with C-187?

No not really.

Do you have any favorite guitarists?

Allan Holdsworth, Andrea Nieri……

Recently, guitarists often playing Extreme Metal are starting to use the guitars with more than “6” strings. You already mentioned „8”. Is “6” not enough for you? 🙂

I have done 8 string but 6 string is just fine for me now.

What else PESTILENCE will prepare for the rest of 2021?

Let’s hope the Testimony of the Ancient tour will happen. We want to tour South America again. But these restrictions are making it very difficult at the moment.

Thanks for the interview! Finally, I always leave a message from the band…

Pestilence will always continue to evolve and become a better version of itself. Stay positive and stay safe. We love you all.