You also do a label, Live Bait Recording Foundation. Can you give us an
example of some of the bands you've released over the years, as some of them
are obscure, at least to us. What are some of your personal favorites that
you've released?
Now all CDs are released as
shrink-wrapped manufactured CDs in edition of 1000 copies. The focus now is
top notch industrial music with artwork that is just as thoughtful and
worthy as the audio portion. All aspects of LBRF releases are important. Art
as a whole... As for favorite releases I would have to say Hollowing -
Sepsis (2000), Salvation Bloodletting Compilation (2001), Megaptera - You
Will Never Survive This Nightmare (2006) and Azoikum/Lefthandeddecision
(1999). I love each release for very different reasons, but these three seem
to mean the most, without including my personal works in there. As for MV, I
would say "Life's Blood Death's Embrace" and "The Times Without Gods".
You're most recent releases of Murderous Vision, 'Life's Blood Death's
Embrace (2006),' and the compilation 'Ghosts of the Soul Long Lost (2005),'
can you tell us about these releases, and what are you working on currently?
I am currently about 70%
through with the new album. This work is an investigation into my coming to
grips with the massive changes my life has undergone in the last two years.
Certainly my most personal endeavor. I am a bit nervous about it's release,
as it really brings back the feelings in me I had as it was composed. It is
like revealing my very darkest secrets. They may be hard to pick up on for
the listener, but undeniable for me. The music itself has become more
elaborate, and more classical elements have come into play. None of this
should scare off followers of my previous work, this is hands down the
darkest and most depraved work to ever come from Murderous Vision. If all
goes well wrapping up the studio sessions and getting artwork together I
plan to publish it in April or May.
You recently went to Europe to play some shows. What was it like doing
shows there? Is it difficult playing your brand of music live, to a crowd?
Did you get any spare time while there? Did you do anything exciting or worth
mentioning?
Tell us what things inspire you and your music. Is it hard to derive
inspiration in this rather mundane, yet chaotic world?
Venturing now into the more philosophical side of our interrogation...
given the continuing darkening state of the world, the general decline of
art, literature and music, on a general scale... mankind's soul, if we are
to assume he has one, is deteriorating with this world. What are your
thoughts on this and the state of this planet? Do you believe a dark future
awaits mankind?
When you contemplate death, what do you envision? Do you see a possibility
of a part of us living on? A 'soul'?
Much of man's history on Earth is yet unknown. Do you believe in
evolution? How do you suppose we got here?
We are so different than the other creatures that inhabit this planet, our
complex language, our curiosity, which has taken us to the stars, the
barbarity of our wars, our science and art... it goes on and on. But, for
our every advance and leap forward, it seems we, as a species, will never
cast away the dark part of the human spirit. The part of us that drive us to
murder, and through our greed and lusts destroy everything around us. Your
thoughts?
Your thoughts on the cosmos and the possibilities of life elsewhere? Do
you believe there is a possibility for man to cross the great expanse of
space? What about the creation of the universe, what 'existed' before its
creation?
What are your thoughts on the modern world versus the ancient one? Do you
have a favorite time in history?
If you were given the chance to step through a door to any time in the
past, but you could never return, would you? Hypothetically, if you did,
what do you think you could teach the past of the future?
What you hope to accomplish personally before your end here on Earth? If
there was a goal, what could you see it as being?
Hypothetically speaking, if you could ask an all-knowing being one
question, what would your question be?
Lastly, another hypothetical question and we'll leave your imagination
alone. If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for?
Before we draw this interview to a close, we'd like to know what we can
expect from you in the future? What goals do you hope to meet with your
music?
Lastly, we thank you for your time and thoughts. Your final comments and
words of wisdom to the world?
Greetings Stephen. Let's begin by the usual course and have you introduce
Murderous Vision to the world with some history.
Murderous Vision was formed around the final months of 1994. Originally it
was a three member project, but that slimed down to just me by the second
album. Since this time I have had a few friends appear here and there on
tracks, but for the most part it is a solo project. Those asked to
participate are exclusively close friends with skill to contribute. This
project has become more and more personal over the years, and now it seems
to have intertwined with my very sense of being. For someone to be involved
now means they must be quite respected by me. Otherwise I am better keeping
it for my own personal uses.
I launched LBRF in 1996 as an outlet for my own music after the realization
that no one at that stage wanted anything to do with it. It was successful
enough that after a year or so I was able to extend some invitations to some
of the friends I made who were on a similar path, and again who's author
made some kind of connection with me. Most of the acts I released in the
beginning were very obscure, with several giving us their debut release.
This had a great charm for me, as the releases were very much of the hand
made nature. Every attempt was made to assure that there was a great
personal touch to each release. I even hand numbered one release of 139
copies in my own blood, harvested from my wrist with a razor blade. Another
contained a bag of cremated remains acquired from a very generous friend. As
time went by I kind of lost the desire and energy for the unethical as well
as growing weary of all of the hand assembly.
Ghosts was created as a home for all the compilation tracks I did throughout
the years. I wanted it to be more than just a collection of comp tracks, so
I made it a double CD and also threw on all the material I did for split
releases and EP's. I have seen these items still sell on eBay for somewhat
silly costs, so I figured that people must still want to hear this stuff.
Judging by it's sales I was correct. I think it is a good overview of my
various mood swings for a nine year period. Life's Blood was the proper full
length follow up to "The Times Without Gods". This was to this date the most
complex piece of work I had ever done. Originally it was to be released with
different artwork by another label. When things fell through with that I
decided to bring it home to LBRF and rethink the art to make it more
personal to myself in order to match the audio. Working in conjunction with
two of my favorite artists, Astra and Rebecca Potter we created something
that was much closer to my heart. The original art was beautiful, but I
could never really form the connection to it that it needed to be attached
to my "Life's Blood". This album has gathered some great attention and has
definitely helped push my work a bit further.
The opportunity to go to Europe was a great moment in my life. I never
thought I would ever be able to do something like that. All this made better
by seeing some old friends I haven't seen for years. It was great to be able
to walk the streets of Prague catching up with them and enjoying a few
drinks! We played two shows, Dresden Germany and the prestigious Prague
Industrial Festival. What impressed me the most was that the people in
attendance actually paid attention to the bands. In the States people seem
to be more focused on the social elements. It is more common to see people
outside the venue discussing who they know and who is a cock in the scene,
while the bands are inside playing to an empty room. It's rather lame
actually. Playing the music live is usually a better setting, as I have also
moved into film work and always play live with a video created to match the
music. It makes for a much more interesting show, rather than some dude
twisting knobs on a synth and making wacky faces. Murderous Vision live is a
multimedia event. We had over a week to hang out in Europe. We spent a good
portion sampling various beers and absinthe's at the pubs. Also a lot of
tourist type things, but the highlight for me was our visit to the Kostnice
Bone Ossuary. It was quite a feeling to actually be standing there after
seeing thousands of pictures. The strangest part was finding graves at the
Ossuary with my surname on them, as I am of Czech descent.
Not really. The world is filled with inspiration. The things that influence
the sound of MV are many. Topics of a personal nature are becoming more
prevalent, but I still focus a bit on religious topics as well. Christianity
is a duel edge sword for me. I hate the ignorance it implies, but I do not
know what life would be like without it's existence. Most of the art I enjoy
has heavy religious connotations, mainly from the satanic perspective.
Besides, what kind of shitty world would it be without a good nunsploitation
film? Couldn't have those if Christianity did not exist!!!
Politics are something I have forced myself to weed out of my life. I used
to get worked up thinking about how fucked up the world is and how our
leaders are ruining everything. War will always exist, famine will always
exist. I can't change these things, so why try? I realized finally that all
it does is take away energy that could be expended on something that will
actually do some good. These are things I can never change, so I don't waste
my time on them any longer. Face it, there is nothing we can do to stop the
course of actions laid out by dictators like George Bush, Tony Blair or
Ariel Sharon.
I feel there is definitely something else after death. Is it a rosy heaven
with angels, gods and little Christ dudes? I highly doubt it, but I believe
in the existence of a spirit or life force, and I don't think this energy
just disappears after the physical body is dead. Where it goes next is
anybody's guess.
Evolution is about the only thing that makes any sense to me. The other
explanations seem to me to be fairy tales made up by a body of people who
absolutely needed an answer. Some people are so afraid of dying and the
uncertainty that comes along with that and it forces them to have to believe
in something as ridiculous as religion. It is like a comforting hand on
their weak little shoulders.
Again, a duel edged sword... we have all the technology, but with that comes
the advances in military and business. So, without a doubt many people will
die. This is inevitable. Power of any variety will always lead to
corruption, lead to people dying. I guess as selfish as this sounds, I no
longer care. As long as it doesn't effect me or one of the very few people I
actually love I have little concern. I am just focused on achieving my own
agenda in this world as I know I won't be alive very long. Most people
probably match my opinion on this, but they just don't admit it. People like
to be viewed as caring and loving, but at the end of the day they are the
mechanisms that cause these things, enablers... Care and concern for fellow
man is a joke. We all know this, but who is man enough to actually admit it?
I would say that I am unsure about these topics. The logical man would have
to look into the sky and see all the stars out there as yet another
possibility of something else intelligent existing. So, with all of these
chances I would venture to think it is pretty likely. It may be a bit
arrogant to think that our species is the only one in the whole universe
with the ability to evolve.
It is amazing to me how progressive technology is. The leaps made over the
last hundred years are mind blowing. Things are moving at such a fast pace
in this area that it is impossible to keep up on. It is a great time to be
alive for an artist. The tools at ones fingertips are many and it certainly
has helped me to further my interests. I like to read about the Black Death
era, that would probably be my favorite time as far as reading and film go,
but I think the current world is the most interesting.
Honestly, I am quite happy living here in the present. All areas of history
have their charms, but I would not want to live there. It does sound nice
sometimes to fantasize about various eras of the past, but in reality if one
is able to step aside from worry about the end of the world than it is a
great time to be alive. Mainly due to technological advances. I can put 100
hours worth of music in my front pocket and head out into the world. That
speaks volumes to me. I don't think I would want to give these kinds of
things up now to travel in a horse drawn buggy.
I want to use my time here to do something other than rot away. Many people
in this world tend to just go with the flow and never really do anything
that puts their stamp on the world. An empty existence is one of my greatest
fears. When I am dead I would like to know something I've done will linger
behind me, even just for a little bit. I am not merely satisfied occupying
space on this planet waiting to claim my grave.
I never really thought about this, as I don't feel that there is any type of
all knowing being. I guess it would be something like the standard "what is
the meaning of life" type question. I guess that one would be able to answer
any question on their own with some focus and soul searching.
Sorry, this may come off a bit material but...
More equipment to make art (video and audio gear)
A more self sufficient life for myself and the ability to lose my day job
and focus on my art and other things that bring myself happiness.
To move into a place out in the sticks away from the ghetto I live in. If I
see one more crack head today I think I will lose my mind!!!
The main thing is the completion of the next album. As stated this is well
underway. Outside of that I will continue to delve into film work, and try
and make some improvements in that area. There are many possibilities out
there, and I feel I am only just now starting to find my legs in the art
world. My future should be pretty interesting!
I don't really have too many words of wisdom, I honestly don't think I am
all that wise!! I just want to thank you for taking the time to interview
me. Also I thank you for your continued support and friendship over the
years. It has truly meant a lot, especially since I also have a great
appreciation for your art as well.
