Some time ago, I rediscovered the Depression albums in my personal collection and listened to them again very intensively up and down. If that's not a good reason to take a closer look at this German veterans of the scene, which have been playing great, goovy death/grind since 1989. This year also saw a split release with Swedish death metallers Repuked on vinyl and CD. I spoke with band founder, drummer and guitarist Kai and vocalist Ron.
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Hello, first of all. After a long time, I've rediscovered Depression, which is also the reason for this interview. It's a bit obscure - when I searched for your band page on Facebook and entered the band name, Facebook gives you a kind of warning that you should seek help if you have any complaints. But if you enter terms like "Murder", for example, it's no problem for Facebook, haha.
Kai: Yes, hello Gerald! Nice that you've rediscovered us. Nice to meet you! Haha, yes, when I decided on the band name Depression almost 35 years ago, I had no idea that at some point there would be Facebook and you'd get this warning. I've experienced that too. Also, when you search the net in general, you get all kinds of pages when you search for us. We've actually been contacted by people who had depression and were shocked to end up on our site, haha.
Ron: Hi Gerald, yes, it's a bit strange with Facebook, but you shouldn't be surprised these days, should you?
Kai: We haven't had any line-up changes so far! I founded the band as a one-man project. Then Marc joined as the singer and then Ron as the second singer. That's Depression. To be able to play live we need a guitarist and you're right, Stefan from Insignium is the third guitarist in that position. But that's not going to change. And yes, friendship is very important and also supports the band. It's the only way to get through all the lows of life, changes in life situations, etc. together and maneuver the band through (personal) crises. For me, a partnership of convenience as a band is out of the question!
Ron: I think friendship within a band is important. Maybe not essential, but it makes the whole experience more intense. Everything you experience/go through together connects you even more. I've known Marc and Kai for a lot longer than I've been part of this story, and I'm sure that if we should ever call it quits, the friendship will remain. It's a really fulfilling feeling.
Kai: First of all, thank you very much! It kind of developed that way. I'm actually a drummer, so I always have the drum beats in my head when I'm composing on the guitar. So in principle I compose quite drum-related. I suppose that's one of the reasons. Secondly, I'm really into a certain groove, a bit in the crustcore direction. Well, and my guitar playing always refers to full chords, so it's a "wall". This mixture is what makes Depression. It's cool to hear that you can somehow sound independent in the vast masses. And if others like it too, perfect!
Ron: Another factor is perhaps that the songs are usually not created while jamming, but separately. It's often the case that a song ends up sounding or coming across differently than it was originally intended due to the vocals and their rhythm. This can sometimes turn the overall picture of a song on its head. But since we have a relatively similar musical vision for Depression, there's always a good consensus.
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"We are definitely still underground and we want to stay that way, but the level of appreciation is at a very comfortable level."
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Kai: We definitely had motivational problems from time to time. It would be a lie to say otherwise when you've been making music together for more than three decades. All three of us had and still have phases in our lives when the band tends to fall behind due to other circumstances. And we've also thought about breaking up. But that's why we're friends, so we have less output for a while. There was never any question of breaking up because of something like that. Hm, it's very difficult to judge your own status. When I started out, nobody knew us, of course. The first really noticeable boost came with the first EP "Ein Hauch von Moder" and then especially with the split CD with Agathocles. Then again noticeably with the split with Haemorrhage, of course. And then I have the feeling that our current status has been reached since "Die dunkle Dimension". It's hard to say. We are definitely still underground and we want to stay that way, but the level of appreciation is at a very comfortable level.
Ron: Yes, definitely! But I suspect that this is not an exclusive phenomenon for us. Everyone goes their own way in life and will have to motivate themselves for certain things from time to time. Private life, work, family - it's a broad field. For example, I'm very happy that we've been playing live here and there all these years. When Kai moved to another federal state in 2005, we expected to stop playing live. That's why there was a supposed farewell gig in 2006. When the offer came for the Mountains of Death Festival 2009 in Switzerland, we decided to do it despite the distance while rehearsing. And it's been like that ever since. You have to motivate yourself from time to time, but it usually works out. Kai's relocation and the resulting time off from live gigs is also a very good example of the friendship within the band. Kai had offered to play live with another drummer. And regardless of the fact that he founded the band and is therefore the "mastermind", we immediately said that it wouldn't feel right without him. Either right or not at all. I can't say anything about the size of our band. I really have no idea. If people know us and like the music, then of course I'm happy. And yes, there does seem to be more positive feedback in recent years. Does that change our status? Probably not, and that's completely ok. Being a small part of the big picture is enough.
Kai: Well, Depression is still very important to me. Of course, as you say, it changes. As a teenager, I spent almost every free second with the band. Writing letters, creating and copying flyers, composing, etc. It's much more routine these days. A little bit every day. More organized. In terms of time, of course, it varies a lot. When a new release is due, I spend a lot of time composing, practicing and recording. Then layout, concepts, cover, label and all that. Later, when the record is released, the promotional work, sending it out and so on. At some point it gets quieter until something else comes up. The highlights for me were actually all the releases, that's always a cool feeling. And a few gigs, like on Mallorca or in Switzerland. I've blocked out the low points, haha! The development has definitely gone in a more professional direction. The recording process in the studio alone has developed enormously. As has the communication between the three of us. A Whats App group is easier than calling each other and then informing the third party. Layouts, promotion and all those things, including interviews, are simply much easier and quicker via the networks.
Ron: For me, Depression has always been a hobby with heart and soul! A hobby because it's not my job but my free time, but with heart and soul because you can't/shouldn't do something like this half-heartedly. Some enjoy club life, others have a regulars' table...we have the music.It doesn't take up quite as much time, which is sometimes a shame, but we try to use the time together more intensively. The highlights are actually always the moments when you have new recordings in the can and then hold the respective release in your hand. That fills me with a good feeling and gives me a boost. Some gigs can also be highlights. Simply because it's such a great day/evening, you get to meet great people, work yourself to the bone on stage and party hard. I can't name any real low points. There's a disappointment here and there, but that usually goes away quickly.
Your influences are not that hard to guess and have already been mentioned by you several times. If we stay in Germany, which bands would you be able to name as an influence, reference or have at least impressed you - whether still or in the early days? Blood, Dead or Ulcerous Phlegm perhaps? Wouldn't a little mini-tour with Blood and Dead together be a great thing?
Kai: Of the German bands, Blood were definitely a big influence in the early days. But then not so much anymore. I think Dead are great, but they actually had little influence. More like Gut, for example. Ulcerous Phlegm are also great, but I got to know them too late, so they're not a reference either. The influences and references were more likely to be found in foreign countries. A tour with Blood and Dead would be awesome! We're also on friendly terms with Dead.
Kai: Unfortunately I haven't read it yet, but I think it's super exciting and long overdue that a book like this has been published. We were also asked various questions, but as far as I know, we didn't get a mention in the book. Of course, the first release of Depression was formative. That was a big step out of the nursery and into the wider world. And when the first letters started rolling in and we became part of the underground. That was a great time.
Let's get back to the trademarks of Depression outside of the music, namely the cover artwork, which doesn't exactly have the typical characteristics of an average death metal or grindcore cover. That's a bit of a unique selling point, has that helped or hurt you? Especially in the days when the internet was not yet so widespread, did people buy your stuff and expect other music, perhaps more gothic metal or something similar, especially in connection with the German-language titles? Personally, I always found your artwork based on photos more appealing than the drawn ones, what do you think? Furthermore, I think the impressive cover of "Chronische Depression" reminds me of the original cover of the CD version of Malignant Eternal's "Tarnhet" on Hot Records.
How are things looking on the live front? You're playing a festival in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, next March, are there any other dates planned? Which past gigs do you particularly remember? And how are you observing the at least partial crisis in the live sector? Everyone is running to see Iron Maiden, but recently a small death metal festival in Anthisnes, Belgium (the location there in a medieval castle is highly recommended) had to be canceled because despite the headliner Sinister, only six (!) tickets were sold in advance...
Ron: Yes, exactly. Next year we have two concerts confirmed so far. In March in Hagen/Hohenlimburg for the "Death Smashers Night" and in June we're playing the "Godless Mountain Open Air" in Saxony. No other gigs are scheduled for now, but that could still change.
Awesome! Six pre-order tickets for Sinister! I wouldn't have expected that. But of course we also get stories like this. Innumerable Forms and Faceless Burial were supposed to play at the Junkyard in Dortmund in September 2022. But as too few tickets were sold in advance, that was also canceled. We were still wondering, because after the whole Corona-craze, I thought people would be totally ripe for live concerts. Nope! Apparently not. Or they were insecure, as some things were canceled and you might end up running after the money for the ticket you paid for. We can only hope that things will improve again.
Actually, there are always experiences at concerts that somehow stick with you and that you talk about from time to time. That's what makes it special. Everyone who goes to concerts knows that. It's just different to listen to the music at home or to spend time live with like-minded people.
If there are still people who have never been to a concert - make sure you do. Support the bands/organizers/scene in general, enjoy the live experience, have a good time - the experience is priceless.
Ron: Yes, exactly. Those were two gigs in March 2005, our second and third gigs ever. Before that we only played the NRW Deathfest 2004.
I'm not quite sure, but I think we also had some kind of tour story in Fatal Underground Mag called "Strangers in a strange land". The Goreminister was there with us and we wrote down our impressions and he wrote it up as a story. The trip was a really cool experience. To tell you all about it now would probably go beyond the scope, but there were many, many crazy activities. It's hard to believe that it was almost 19 years ago.
Which releases, whether death metal, grindcore or something completely different, have particularly impressed you recently? And are there any bands you would like to do a split release with?
Kai: I was really impressed by Galvanizer, Eyemaster and Morbific. And Caustic Wound. And of course Death Breath! I have to admit, I prefer to listen to the "old heroes". Of course there are some bands we'd like to do a split with. For me personally it would be Bombs of Hades, Funebrarum, General Surgery, Dead, etc.
Ron: Phew, there are a few bands and albums. I prefer to rate albums, as there are considerable differences within different albums by the same band.
"Corpsessed - Succumb to rot", "Disfuneral - Blood Red Tentacle", "Guts - Decay" and "Serpent of Old - Ensemble under the Dark Sun", for example, are albums that inspire me. Not all of them are totally up-to-date, but I can think of them right now. "Caustic Wound - Death Posture" is also pretty great. Of course, there are also bands from other genres that have excellent albums. Recently "Primordial - Here it ends", "Cân Bardd - Devoured by the Oak" and "Misere Luminis - Ordalie" are my favorites.
Split partners? Hmm, first of all I'm very grateful for the split partners we've shared a record with so far. There are still numerous bands with whom a split release would be great, but I don't have anyone in mind right now. It has to remain realistic - the Scorpions would certainly refuse, hehe!
Kai: That's the daughter of a friend. It wasn't a commission. She sat down at a piano at an exhibition and just started playing. No lessons, no experience, just went for it. It was recorded and when I heard it I immediately wanted to have it for Depression. She doesn't play the piano anymore and yes, she laughs at the end because she realizes that she was recorded.
What does the near and distant future hold for Depression? Any last words?
Ron: I don't think we have any plans for the future yet. But there is still a lot to do in the near future. We just got the CD version of the split with Repuked. It was previously only available as limited vinyl. As mentioned before, there will be at least these two concerts next year. Whether and when there will be more remains to be seen, the crystal ball is still silent. Then we are in the final stages of recording a new split album with our buddies from Reckless Manslaughter (see an interview with the band HERE). It should be available around March 2024.
After that, we'll be working on our next full album for the band's 35th anniversary relatively soon. There will probably also be some merch to go with it. So, I think it's busy as fuck by our standards, haha. Apart from that, all that remains is to thank you for your interest in Depression and the opportunity to do this interview. It's nice that even today there are still people who want to shed light on the scene and keep it alive, even if it means a lot of personal initiative and work.
Otherwise, people, go to concerts when you can. The memories last a lifetime...and the last shirt has no pockets anyway, so what!
In this sense, Gerald, thank you very much and good luck with your work. Support the Underground!
Kai: I can only agree with the previous speaker! Thanks Gerald for the support and to everyone else: Stay fast, heavy and brutal and keep the underground spirit alive!
