Oct 3115 min read

仇恨，毁灭 - 加拿大Melodic Black Metal乐队Phlesh专访

今天采访到的是一支来自加拿大的Melodic Black Metal乐队Phlesh，组建于2006年的Phlesh乐队由Xeth一个人创建的，Xeth也是加拿大一名经验丰富的音乐家，但是Xeth想组建一支完全有自己掌握的乐队，2006年Phlesh乐队诞生了，但是早在1999 - 2002年开始Xeth就已经开始为Phlesh乐队创作歌曲了，2013年乐队的第一张Demo作品发行，虽然这张专辑之后短短的三首歌曲，但是完美的展现出Xeth的创作艺术和才华，优美的旋律给歌迷留下了深刻印象，紧接着就是，阴暗，冰冷的，连续，快速的Riff，鼓手Igor Cheifot麻木，快速的打击也是这张Demo作品最大的亮点，歌手的演唱邪恶，无情，如果你喜欢Cradle of Filth乐队的话，那么Phlesh乐队的这张Demo绝对会让你爱不释手，十年之后乐队发行了第一张正式专辑“The Decomposing”，这张专辑继承了上一张Demo的优点，但是更加的阴暗，冰冷，如果你喜欢Shining, Septicflesh, Rotting Christ, Chthonic，Belphegor这类Black Metal乐队的话，那么请你一定要留意Phlesh乐队的这张作品了，在前不久乐队的创始人也是唯一的成员Xeth与杂志取得联系进行了一次专访！

（V: 代表笔者 X: 代表Xeth）

Today I interviewed a Melodic Black Metal band, Phlesh, from Canada. The Phlesh band, which was founded in 2006, was founded by Xeth alone. Xeth is also an experienced musician in Canada, but Xeth wants to form a band that has its own mastery. In 2006, Phlesh band was born. But as early as 1999-2002, Xeth began to write songs for the Phlesh band. In 2013, the band's first Demo was released. Although there were only three songs after this album, it perfectly showed Xeth's creative art and talent, and the beautiful melody left a deep impression on the fans, followed by the dark, cold, continuous and fast Riff. The drummer Igor Cheifot is numb, and the quick blow is also the biggest highlight of this Demo work. The singer's singing is evil and heartless. If you like the Cradle of Filth band, then this Demo of Phlesh band will definitely make you fondle it. Ten years later, the band released its first official album "The Decomposing". This album inherits the advantages of the last Demo, but it is darker and colder. If you like Black Metal bands such as Shining, Separate Flesh, Rotting Christ, Chthonic and Belphegor, please pay attention to this work by Phlesh. Not long ago, Xeth, the founder and only member of the band, got in touch with the magazine and had an exclusive interview!

(V: for the author X: for Xeth)

采访对象：Xeth（Phlesh乐队创始人）

采访时间：2024.10.31

V: 你好Xeth很高兴见到你，感谢你联系我接受采访，我想这是你第一次接受中国杂志的采访，Phlesh成立于2006年，你是如何想到组建乐队的？

Hi Xeth it's nice to meet you and thank you for getting in touch with me for this interview, I think this is the first time you've been interviewed by a Chinese magazine, Phlesh formed in 2006, how did you come up with the idea to form the band?

X: 感谢你的采访！是的，这绝对是我第一次有任何形式的中国推广，真的很好。中国是一个如此神秘的地方，我不太听说那边的金属乐队。我总是在乐队里演奏，但我真的想要一些我可以完全控制一切的东西，音乐，形象和方向。2006年我开始为PHLESH写歌，然而其中一首歌可以追溯到到2002年左右，另一首器乐歌到1999年。

Thank you for the interview! Yeah this is definitely the first time that I have had any sort of Chinese promotion, so it’s really nice. China is band a mysterious place, I don’t hear much about the metal scene over there. I always played in bands but I really wanted something where I have full control over everything, the music, the image and the direction. In 2006 I started writing For PHLESH however one of the songs dates back to around 2002 and another instrumental song to 1999.

V: 乐队里只有你一个人，所以我想说到写歌，你完全可以随心所欲地写歌，你能描述一下你的写歌过程吗？

You're the only one in the band, so I guess when it comes to songwriting, you're completely free to write the songs the way you want to, can you describe your songwriting process?

X: 是的，当涉及到与PHLESH有关的一切时，我是100%控制的！对我来说，当我有一个想法时，能够完全按照我在脑子里的想法去实现它是非常重要的。当你在一个民主乐队时，有时你的想法会与你计划的大相径庭。有时合作增强了歌曲，但同时有时你的想法需要保持接近它的原始形式，这是我在PHLESH要做的事情，我要做我想要的事情。当写一首歌的时候，我通常从吉他开始，我写这首歌的基本框架，我会在我的脑海里添加一些主吉他或基本想法，但大多数的魔法都发生在工作室里。在没有乐队的情况下，很难将一首完整的歌曲拼凑在一起，这就是为什么工作室让事情变得更容易，因为我一次录制一首歌，我可以将东西层层叠加，基本上就像建造一座房子一样建造宋立科。创作和录制音乐是我活着的目的，现场演奏很有趣，也有它的目的，但对我个人来说，是创作和录制音乐让我活着。

Yes, I am in 100% control when it comes to everything to do with PHLESH ! It is very important for me when I have an idea to be able to see that idea through to completion exactly as I do in my head. When you’re in a Democratic band sometimes your ideas end up being way different then you had planned. Sometimes the collaboration enhances the song, but at the same time Sometimes your idea needs to stay close to its original form and that is something that I get to do in PHLESH, I get to do things exactly as I want them. When writing a song, I usually start out with the guitars and I write the basic shell of the song, I will add some lead guitars or base ideas in my head, but the majority of the magic happens in the studio. It’s quite difficult trying to piece an entire song together without a band, and that’s why the studio makes things easier because I record one track at a time and I can layer things on top of each other essentially building the song like you would build a house. The writing and recording of music is what I live for, playing live is fun and has its purpose but for me personally it’s the writing and recording of music that keeps me alive.

V: 你的专辑录制非常出色，你是在哪个录音室录制的这张专辑？哪个制作人制作了你的专辑？

Your album recording is outstanding, what studio did you record the album in? Which producer produced your album?

X: 谢谢夸奖！我在加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省三角洲的EarArt录音室录制了这张专辑，它是由Tim Neuhaus录制、设计、混合和控制的。我制作并混合了它。我在Tim和他的工作室很多年了，我在那里感觉很舒服。

Thank you for the compliment! I recorded the album at EarArt Recording Studio in Delta, B.C. Canada and it was Recorded, Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Tim Neuhaus. I Produced it and Co-Mixed it. I have been using Tim and his studio for years and I feel really comfortable there.

V: 你的乐队logo设计很漂亮谁给你设计的这个logo？你的专辑插图真的很漂亮是谁为你设计的插图！

Your band logo design is beautiful who designed this logo for you?Your album artwork is really beautiful who designed the artwork for you!

X: Logo和艺术作品是由Jeremy Hannigan完成的，他是一个非常有才华的人，我很抱歉地说，我已经和他失去了联系，将来我肯定会对和他一起工作感兴趣。照片是由我的一个朋友Alexandra (Ola)拍摄的。Ola还创作并演奏了这张专辑最后一首钢琴曲。

The logo and the artwork was done by Jeremy Hannigan who is beyond amazing, he’s a very talented individual and I am sorry to say that I’ve lost contact with him. I would definitely be interested in having him to work with in the future. The photography was done by a friend of mine, Alexandra (Ola) Cholewa. Ola also wrote and performed the piano piece that is the final track on the album.

V: 抑郁、仇恨、自我毁灭、上瘾、邪恶是你的音乐主题，你为什么选择这样的音乐主题，你想通过它们表达什么？你为歌曲写过歌词吗？

Depression, Hatred, Self-destruction, Addiction, Evil are some of your musical themes, why did you choose them and what do you want to express through them? Have you written any lyrics parts for these lyrics?

X: 我过着艰难的生活，这些话题是我日常生活的很大一部分。我一生中的大部分时间都沉迷于海洛因和芬太尼，这留下的破坏痕迹至少令人震惊。毒品摧毁了我的生活，在经济上、情感上、身体上、精神上以及你能想象到的生活的几乎所有方面，PHLESH源于DSBM(depressive和suicidal black metal) 歌词和主题。音乐虽然很难描述，更适合旋律黑金属Melodic Black Metal形式。PHLESH的歌词是纯粹的自我表达！它们非常私人，也是我出门的必需品。我相信这张首张专辑“The Decomposing”确实拯救了我的生命，它让我表达了我头脑中所有的负面情绪和想法。

I have lived a difficult life, and these topics are a big part of my everyday existence. I have spent most of my life addicted to heroin and fentanyl and the trail of destruction that that leaves is astonishing to say the least. Drugs have destroyed my life, financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually, And pretty much every other aspect of life you can imagine. PHLESH has its roots in DSBM (depressive and suicidal black metal) lyrically and thematically. The music however, though hard to describe, fits in a more melodic black metal format. PHLESH’s lyrics are pure self expression ! They are very personal and a necessity for me to get out. I believe that this debut album “The Decomposing” quite literally saved my life, by allowing me to express all of the negative emotions and thoughts that take place inside my head.

V: 你的作品都是自己发行的数字版，你有没有考虑过接触正规的唱片公司发行CD，到目前为止你有没有接触过一些公司？

Your work is all self- released digitally, have you thought about approaching regular labels for CD releases, and have you been in contact with any of those labels so far?

X: 至今没有发行实体CD的唯一原因是严格的财务问题。我花了这么多钱录制这张专辑，我现在没有经济手段来获得CD的压力。你看当你在一个有五个人的乐队中演奏，然后你得到12000美元的钞票，每个人大概要花3000美元。因为我是一个人做所有的事情，所以我必须自己支付100%的钱。我不会牺牲质量，所以现在这张专辑仍然只有数字版本。我已经带着一些短暂的兴趣把这张专辑寄给了许多唱片公司，但是还没有促成签约。我当然希望尽快与一家唱片公司签约。我已经完成了15张CD小册子的所有艺术作品，所以这只是钱的问题。

The only reason that there has been no physical CD release yet is strictly a financial issue. I spent so much money recording the album that I don’t have the financial means right now to get the CD’s pressed. You see, when you play in a band with five people and then you get a $12,000 bill, it would cost roughly $3000 for each person. Since I am doing everything on my own, I have to pay 100% of the money on my own. I will not sacrifice quality so for now the album remains digitally released only. I have sent the album around to many labels with some brief interest, but nothing that has led to a signing yet. I am definitely hoping to sign with a label sooner rather than later. I have all of the artwork completed for a 15 panel CD booklet, so it is just a matter of money.

V: 你的创作非常缓慢，2006年组建乐队，但第一张demo作品2013年才发布，第一张专辑10年后的2023年才发布，是什么让你创作如此缓慢？

You're a slow writer, you formed the band in 2006, but the first demo work was only released in 2013, and the first album was released ten years later in 2023, what makes you create so slowly?

X: 这有几个原因，首要的是钱的问题。在一张专辑上花费超过12，000美元不是我能立刻负担得起的，我仍然在支付这张专辑。这并不是因为缺少素材，因为自从我完成这张专辑以来，我已经写了很多素材。所以我必须仔细考虑我的下一步行动。对我来说，接下来做一张EP可能比一张完整的专辑更可行。缺乏素材的另一个大问题是我的上瘾。很多年来我都不适合写音乐。当你对芬太尼上瘾时，那几乎占据了你的整个生活。我很高兴地说我已经戒酒10个月了。上瘾在“The Decomposing”中扮演了重要角色在这张专辑的歌词中，我提到了我的毒瘾，更具体地说是海洛因和芬太尼，比喻成一条龙。

There are a few reasons for this, first and foremost is the money issue. Spending over $12,000 on an album is not something that I can afford to do at the drop of a hat, I am still paying off this album. It’s not for lack of material as I’ve had plenty of material written since I completed this album. So I have to think long and hard about my next move. It might be more feasible for me to do an EP next rather than a full length album. The other big issue for the lack of material has been my addiction. For many years, I was in no shape or form to be writing music. When you’re addicted to fentanyl that pretty much takes up your entire life.

I am happy to say that I am 10 months clean and sober. Addiction plays a big part in “The Decomposing” And lyrically in the album, I refer to my addiction and more specifically heroin and fentanyl, metaphorically as a dragon.

V: 老实说我是第一次听到你的作品，但我对你的作品印象深刻，冷酷，无情，诡异的氛围，你的作品整体来说不是很快，但它给人一种无助，孤独的感觉，冰冷的重复片段给人一种暗示的意义，鼓很快，旋律优美，给人一种难忘的感觉，你的歌声邪恶无情，你对你的工作有什么想法。

To be honest this is the first time I've come across your band but I'm impressed with your work, cold, relentless, eerie vibe, your work as a whole isn't very fast but it gives a feeling of helplessness, loneliness, icy riffs that give a hint of meaning, the drums are fast and melodic, giving a memorable feeling, your singing wickedly Relentless, do you have any thoughts on your work.

X: 作为一名音乐人，我永远不会对我所做的任何事情完全满意，但话虽如此，我对这张专辑还是尽可能的满意。某些东西，比如吉他的音调和一些伴唱让我有点困扰，但总的来说我对事情的结果很满意。在录制专辑的过程中，我是清醒的。试图解释或定义你自己的音乐总是非常困难的。对我来说这听起来相当原始，就像我不能说出另一个听起来完全像PHLESH的乐队，这是一件好事。不幸的是由于多年来对我身体的虐待，它已经影响了我作为一个吉他手的技能，这一点对我来说变得越来越明显，现在我是清醒的。在这张专辑中，我请来了鼓手Igor Cheifot和主唱名叫Alexei Melnikov。在演唱方面我准确地写出了所有的歌词和声线，我不得不说Alexei Melnikov完美地完成了它们！！！印象非常深刻！当Igor敲鼓的时候，我对结构有了一定的想法，但至于实际的鼓部分，Igor有很多的投入。Igor还为第五首歌的后半部分写了一段编程，这让这首歌真正走到了一起。在制作这张专辑的过程中，我学到了很多东西，我可以把它们带到下一张专辑中，我认为这很重要，要边学边进步。

As a musician, I will never be fully satisfied with anything that I do, but that being said, I am as happy with this album as I could be. Certain things like the guitar tone, and some of the backing vocals bother me a little bit, but overall, I am quite content with the way things turned out. I was clean and sober during the recording of the album. It’s always very difficult to try and explain or define your own music. To me it sounds fairly original, like I could not name another band that sounds exactly like PHLESH, and that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, due to the years of abuse on my body, it has affected my skills as a guitar player, which is becoming more and more evident to me now that I am clean and sober. On this album, I hired the drummer Igor Cheifot and a lead vocalist Named Alexei Melnikov. With the vocals, I had all the lyrics and vocal lines written in an exact way, and I have to say that Alexei pulled them off perfectly !!! It was very impressive ! And with Igor on the drums, I had certain ideas for Parts and the structure was all set but as far as the actual drum parts, Igor had a lot of input. Igor also wrote a programming piece for the last half of track five which really made the song come together. I learned a lot making this album that I can take with me into the next one, and I think that’s important, to learn as you go, to improve as you go.

V: 2024年你有什么新的作品即将到来，比如写作，录制一些新的东西或者发行新专辑，你能透露一些信息给大家吗？

What new work do you have coming up in 2024, such as writing, recording something new or releasing a new album, and can you reveal some information to people?

X: 我慢慢开始写作并从我停止写作的地方继续下去，但最令人兴奋的消息是我一直在制作的歌词视频。我开始只是为单曲制作歌词视频，但我在创作和编辑中获得了如此多的乐趣，所以我决定，为什么不为每首歌都制作一个歌词视频呢？所以我已经发布了4个视频，另外还有3个正在等待发布！这样人们既能听音乐又能看歌词。

I am slowly starting to write and continue on from where I left off with my writing. But the most exciting news is the lyric videos that I’ve been making. I started out making lyric videos just for the singles, but I had so much fun creating and editing that I decided, why not have a lyric video for each of the songs? So I have 4 videos released already and another 3 more done and awaiting release! That way people can read the lyrics as well as listen to the music.

V: 你的乐队去过什么音乐节吗，哪些音乐节让你印象深刻，你能描述一下气氛吗，2024年你还受邀去过哪些音乐节？

Has your band been to any festivals, what festivals have impressed you and can you describe the atmosphere and what other festivals you have been invited to in 2024?

X: 不，我在专辑中使用的鼓手和歌手只是临时成员，所以基本上现在PHLESH只是我。如果我决定召集一群志同道合的音乐家一起现场演奏，现场演奏可能是以后的事情。就节日而言，住在加拿大温哥华，我有时觉得被敲诈了，因为我们这里没有任何节日。我们有奇怪的小型音乐节，基本上只有当地乐队，但它不像在欧洲举行的大型音乐节！！！我多年来一直梦想着能看到地狱节，但我必须分清主次。我得到的钱需要去PHLESH，而不是为了好玩去旅行。

No, the drummer and singer that I used on the album were only session members so essentially as of now PHLESH is just me. Playing live is something that may come later if I decide to get a group of like-minded musicians together to perform live. And as far as festivals go, I feel ripped off sometimes living in Vancouver, Canada because we don’t have any festivals here. We have the odd tiny festival that basically just has local bands, but it’s nothing like the big festivals that take place in Europe !!! It has been a dream of mine to see the inferno fest For many years, but I have to make my priorities straight. The money that I get needs to go towards PHLESH and not towards travelling just for fun.

V: Phlesh是一个有着悠久历史的老乐队，我会永远支持和关注你的乐队，我也希望通过这次采访让更多的人关注和支持你的乐队，最后你想对你的中国粉丝和朋友说些什么？

Phlesh is an old band with a long history, I will always support and follow your band, I also hope that through this interview let more people pay attention to support your band, in the end what do you want to talk to your Chinese fans and friends?

X: 我只想对所有支持我的人说谢谢，就此而言我想对所有支持地下金属的人说谢谢。，我真的很想更多地了解中国金属行业。我听过的最接近中国附近的亚洲国家的乐队是交响乐团，我想他们来自台湾，还有一个来自吉尔吉斯斯坦的乐队叫“Darkestrah” 我喜欢这两个乐队，但他们不完全来自中国。非常感谢你的采访，如果我能要求每个人传播我的音乐，告诉他们的朋友去听，喜欢并订阅我的YouTube，Spotify，Bandcamp，TikTok，Instagram和Facebook页面！兄弟姐妹们，干杯，让金属的火焰继续燃烧！！！

I would just like to say thank you to anybody who supports me and for that matter anyone who supports underground metal in general. I am really interested in learning more about the Chinese metal scene. The closest bands that I’ve ever listened to from any of the Asian countries near China would be Chthonic, I think they are from Taiwan, and then there is a band from Kyrgyzstan called “Darkestrah” I love both bands but they are not exactly from China. So thank you so much for the interview, and if I can just ask everyone to spread the word on my music, to tell their friends to listen and to like and subscribe to my YouTube, Spotify, Bandcamp, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook pages ! Cheers and keep the flames of metal alive brothers and sisters !!!