Ed Price, the founding member of the Death/Progressive/Black Metal Malignant Inception stopped by to answer some MER questions.
Metal Express Radio:
First of all, is anything new regarding a record deal.
Ed Price:
Unfortunately not. We have only sent out a small number of press packs, though. So far the only response has been Metal Blade, which was “Not interested at this time.” We have recently had to replace two members of the line-up, so our focus has been on catching them up for shows and such. But, we are very much seeking a record deal that can help us grow.
MER:
How difficult is distributing your work on your own?
EP:
Oh Man, it is VERY difficult. Not to mention expensive. We have learned a lot. But, we still have a lot to learn and so many more contacts to make regarding distribution. We are also looking for some sort of help with that (distribution deal or something).
MER:
Can a band survive without a record deal?
EP:
I think they can, for sure, if the band can pull in enough income from their day jobs to pay for what needs to be paid for and work well together with footing the bill for everything. Not to mention getting out and playing a lot of shows in the surrounding states and bring in some merchandising sales and exposure. Again, it is very hard work. I know just about every day I go to bed at night exhausted! A record deal would help out with distro/advertising as well as some studio and duplication costs (which are huge!). But, if you can do it by yourselves and do it right, you make more money and have a lot more freedom to do what you want.
MER:
Malignant Inception was formed in early ’92 and Path to Repression is just the second full length release. Why did it take so long?
EP:
Well, after Black Death was done and duplicated in cassette form in 1997, we got about 4 new songs done for the next album, but our drummer had decided he was going to go to school and get a degree in Physics/Electrical Engineering. He thought he could do both, but couldn’t. So, due to time commitment, he left. At that time, the band had a little falling out between some members and we disbanded for about 6 or 7 years. During that time, I was itching to do another project, but there were no takers until finally Dave and I were discussing it one night and decided to do it again. It took a few years, but eventually he came around too (haha). That is really the reason for the delay. Since Path to Repression, we have had a few line-up changes that have set us back, but we are productive now and are already 3 songs into the next album.
MER:
Ok, going to Path to Repression … for how long did you work on it?
EP:
Well, we worked on it from About April 2003 until September 2005, when we went into the studio.
MER:
Did you face any difficulties during that period?
EP:
Oh yeah, lots. We went through 2 practice places, 2 drummers, 3 guitarists, a keyboardist, and two bass players (we went into the studio without a bass player the bass was played by me and Tyler). Our problem has always been line-up issues and finding the perfect line-up. Since the album’s release, we lost Dave as the keyboardist and he went back to bass, and then we lost him as a band member all together. So, we had to find a keyboardist and a bass player. For this, in the next album, there will be 2 new faces.
MER:
What is your writing process … is it the lyrics or the music first?
EP:
Well, with Black Death it was a little of both … we wrote some first, some after, and then some were written during the writing of the song. For Path to Repression, I had the lyrics written before we even had a solid line-up.
MER:
Your music could be described as a Death-Black Metal mixture with a touch of Progressive … do you agree?
EP:
Totally. I think the talent in this band gives us the ability to pretty much play an extreme version of many genres, and if done right, can turn out very cool. The next album will be a little more diverse as well as darker and heavier.
MER:
What are your musical influences?
EP:
Well, everyone kind of has their tastes. Mine are more on the Black and Progressive/Classical side. Others in the band range from Grindcore to Folk/Viking, Death, and Gothic Metal.
MER:
What is the current band line-up? How did you come together?
EP:
Our current line up is: Ed Price – Guitars and Backing Vocals
Zakk Muffett – Vocals
Todd Weir – Drums
Tyler Harvey – Guitars
Carreen Price – Keyboards
Kurtis Kyllo – Bass
Todd came from another band that was around many years ago called DISORDERED — he has always been a friend, so when the need came about, he was the logical choice. Zakk was just a young kid that loved Metal … when he told me he was a singer for another local band, we checked him out. Despite his age at the time, we recruited him and never looked back. Tyler was also in another project that he was not happy with … he showed up for tryouts one day and the whole band agreed he was the one. Kurtis came from another local band called NECROPHACUS. Not sure why he tried out — he just did and we recruited him (haha). Carreen is my Brothers wife … I had no idea she played piano … she came and tried out and it worked out pretty well for us. We are very tight and all focused on the same goal right now … we are gaining momentum and are looking to take over the world!
MER:
What is the situation of the Metal scene in the USA?
EP:
From what I can tell it is thriving … maybe not with the type of Metal that I would prefer, but at least it is growing. Most of the music is turning Hardcore or Metalcore. We do have quite a few really good Extreme Metal bands, though.
MER:
Do all the band members contribute in song writing?
EP:
Not at first, but I think that has changed since Path to Repression, and you will definitely hear it in the next album!
MER:
Tell us about the lyrical content of the album since you write all of them.
EP:
Oh man, where to start? I guess that is the problem with having the idea in your head. It is hard to say it in 50 words or less (haha), but here goes: Path to Repression is a concept album, and part 1 of 2 to a story about society’s reliance on moral values … how we take life for granted because we trust that everyone has the same moral belief. But, to make the lyrics deeper, I made it psychological in Path to Repression. I made it to be a story of a great bestial battle that is supposed to symbolize what it is like to, in an otherwise unstable persons mind, to choose between what is the right decision and what is the wrong decision. The catch is that Path to Repression‘s lyrics are what goes through his head, as a dream, every time he is sedated (while being restrained in a cell within a mental hospital until he is put to death for his atrocities). He doesn’t actually wake up until the second song of this next album (the first song is the actual battle), then you learn more about the character and his past, as well as the moral to the whole story. So, Part 2 is the next album. There is more to it, but that’s it in a nutshell.
MER:
What are the differences between Path to Repression and Black Death?
EP:
Everything in Black Death was Technical, straightforward, brutal Death Metal. Path to Repression is a blend of brutal Death, Black Metal, and Progressive Metal. Also, we didn’t have keyboards in Black Death, so the Melodic stuff is HUGE now.
MER:
Do you have any tour plans? Is there any possibility of getting Malignant Inception in Europe?
EP:
We would love to tour! We had planned on making a small Western USA tour this past summer, but because of the line-up changes, we had to cancel it. Bu,t we will for sure this year. Europe now? That, my friend, would be superb, but unless you are paying for it, or we get a label contract, it won’t happen for a bit!
MER:
With what band would you like to tour?
EP:
Emperor, Dream Theater, Arcturus, Moonsorrow … man there are so many!
MER:
What is the next step for Malignant Inception?
EP:
Focus on playing out and writing this new album. But, first things first … we are going to go into the studio and record this 3-song demo and start the push for a label again.
MER:
What do you do when you don’t play/write music?
EP:
We like to drink and play pool or poker, darts, go bowling. Do some camping or 4-wheeling, hunting …
MER:
Thank you for your time, feel free to say anything I forgot to ask …
EP:
Thank you for your time and interest. Malignant Inception works very hard to make good music and gain more fan appreciation. We welcome all comments good or bad and love what we do. I hope to shake your hand soon. Maybe on that European Tour?? Keep it sick, twisted, and brutal Metal! \m/
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