Interview with M. Pavlovic
Introducing Creeping
M. Pavlovic - Bass / Vox - Joined at Inception in 2004 - Influence: The Devil
S. Blomfield - Guitar - Joined at Inception in 2004 - Influence: The Devil
J. Wallace - Drums - Joined at Catalyst in 2007 - Influence: The Devil
How did you come about obtaining the band name?
Blomfield and I needed to find something scummy and unpleasant to match the trash we were writing. ‘Creeping’ seemed applicable as we spend most of our time lurking around cemeteries digging up corpses to re-baptize with Lucifer’s light.
How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you before?
Scumbag deadbeat rock crossed with crusty doom and vitriolic, hateful black metal. Black doom rock if you like. But someone who has never heard us before might describe us as ‘shit’.
What one thing do you feel sets you apart from the rest in this genre?
We all have short hair, we don’t play dress-up when we perform and we fucking hate metal as a whole. That last one might not be a point of difference though.
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RELEASES
Ten Horns
Demo 2005
Funeral Crawl
Full Length 2007
Rites Of Spiritual Death
Split with Glorior Belli 2011
Order Of Snakes
Full Length 2011
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How long did it take to record Order Of Snakes? And is there any particular message you are trying to relay to your audience with this album?
We recorded ‘Order Of Snakes’ in the practice room over a few of weekends back in 2009 with our good pal, Jamie Saint-Merat (Ulcerate) engineering the thing. With regards to message, there really isn’t anything in particular we’re trying to get across because I don’t particularly believe we have anything worthwhile to add to the world. The only things I sing about are the apocalypse and the Devil.
Which label, if any, have you produced this album through? Do you think record companies actually make the recording process any easier?
We decided to release it ourselves after there was literally zero good label interest. In fact, after two years of procrastinating, we decided to give it away for free on the internet (we have got plans to release it on vinyl at some point in the near future though). In our previous experience with record companies (not much), they had very little to do with the recording process. We’ve never taken a handout from a label, so I can’t make an accurate, first hand comment.
Any plans for a music video? And, if applicable, which is your favourite video thus far?
No way. Who the fuck would want to see our ugly mugs on TV?
When you go into recording mode, do you find it easy or challenging?
Easy as fuck. We just set the shit up and play. But it’s not like our music is very challenging.
Who’s responsible for the bands artwork?
Our friend, Sally Gates designed the logo in 2004. We told her to draw something up that didn’t look like a fucking scribble with a mirror put beside it, and she came up with what we use now. I still really like it. Regarding album art, Jamie (Saint-Merat) handles all of that. He generally takes a few reference pointers from us (which are usually ‘yuck’, ‘creepy’, and ‘black and white’) and we let him go for it. He knows what we’re all about, so he generally always delivers the goods.
How hard has it been to get to this point?
Easy! The only real twist in the plot was the replacing of a drummer. Wallace had been a friend of mine and Blomfield’s for a few years; since we started going to see Ulcerate in 2003, whom he originally sang for. The bottom line is Creeping isn’t our fucking lives. We all have other commitments and while we do enjoy playing in this band, it’s not like we were all bonded by blood in an oath at the throne of Satan. We all struggle to deal with the pieces of shit who listen to this kind of music, so the last few years have seen us performing live less and less. Everything kinda fits really nicely.
Where does your main fan base / support tend to lie?
I have no idea. We’ve only played in New Zealand and most people here hate us. Here’s hoping we’ve made an impact in the staunch, European Kerrang scene. Wouldn’t we fit in nicely?! I mean, ‘Order Of Snakes’ basically sounds like the last Satyricon album, right?
Can you recall a favourite venue?
Yeah, Blomfield’s Crypt; the basement of his house in 2005 where we used to practice and played the demo release show.
What are some of your favourite Australian and New Zealand acts? And have you had the chance to play alongside them?
I love this plugging question, because it’s the one your friends read to see if you mentioned their band. I’ll put a (yes) or a (no) beside them to indicate whether we’ve played with them or not.
New Zealand wise, things have kind of died off in the last few years. Well, I think they have anyway in the extreme metal sphere at least. There were some great bands who have unfortunately expired also, but i’ll still mention them. In terms of metal: Nekroterrorist (no), Ulcerate (yes), Skuldom (yes), Burning Solitude (yes), Vassafor (yes), Stone Angels (yes), Graymalkin (I can’t remember), Forced to Submit (no) and Aphelon (yes).
There is also a plethora of excellent rock bands like Second Gear Grind, Soulseller, Shallow Grave and Arc of Ascent, none of which Creeping has played with, but Blomfield’s and my other band ‘The House Of Capricorn’ have many a time.
Regarding Australian bands, Thrall, of course, are a massive favourite; the only Australian band we’ve played with. Both Wallace and I have been big Nazxul fans since just after ‘Black Seed’ was released. Speaking of which, fuck those Sydney Christians! I made the trip over in November of last year to catch Nazxul at Black Mass (for the first time), only to find it cancelled and picketed. I did however get to catch Erebus Enthroned who have quickly become one of my favourite bands. I also really like Spire and Order Of Orias. I’m not really a fan of the whole black/thrash thing that the Australian underground is famous for (although I have plenty of friends who are) and I think a lot of the bands emerging around the sides of that tidal wave of patched up denim jackets and bullet belts are sounding great. Having said that, I did go to see Destruktor when they played in Auckland recently and they were killer!
After a live performance do you tend to go and hang out with the fans or do you prefer to keep to yourself?
We usually pack up our shit and either get the fuck out of there or get wasted. I don’t think we really have fans though. More just a bunch of people we’ve seen plenty of times.
What would be your most memorable gig / performance to date?
None.
Have you got a favourite song you like to play? And is there one in particular your fans seem to prefer?
I personally prefer ‘Temple of Graves’ because it’s a fucking drag.
If you created your own metal festival, who would you prefer was playing alongside you and where would that be?
Type O Negative, Babylon Whores, Glorior Belli, Craft and Martyrdod in some filthy club in the middle of Paris.
What kind of instruments do you use?
I use a busted Charvel Fusion from the 80s, through to a distortion channel (Big Muff) running to a 1979 Rockit 300 and a Sovtek 4x10 and a clean, bassy channel running through to an SWR SM-400 and a non-branded 4x10. Blomfield uses a crusty Jackson V into two Marshall heads/quads, with a few pedals here and there. Wallace uses a beat up old Pearl kit he originally sold to Jamie in about 2002, then bought back off him when he joined Creeping (as Jamie had just upgraded to his current, fancy rig).
What have been some of the more bizarre signings you’ve had?
No one would ever want our autographs.
Have you ever had any Mystical experiences?
I was once visited by Nosferatu on a Tuesday evening.
Where can people purchase your music and merchandise from?
Ami Holifield, our bandmate in The House of Capricorn, runs a distro of New Zealand and some Australian stuff. You can generally get our shit there, if it’s available.
- See links below interview
What was the main reason you chose this career path and has it turned out as expected?
It’s not a career. It has turned out exactly as expected. Channelling a sublime sense of misery into music can only lead you one way... down!
Let’s pretend you were creating a tour survival guide. What would be your top three tips for surviving a long tour with the band?
Drugs, Chicken 65 and a gun with one bullet.
What words of advice can you offer anyone looking to enter the music industry?
Don’t bother.
Anything you'd like to add or say to your fans?
Fuck off.
LINKS
Creeping Myspace
Heavy Down Under
‘Interview with Creeping’ by Déa di Morté © 30 August 2011
Hails! to Marko for agreeing to participate and taking the time to complete this interview
All pictures courtesy of Creeping