Interview for DEATHTHRASHER MAGAZINE by ARMANDO MUTILATOR : 

DT: Hello ROEL, how are you?
Roel: I’m fine thanx. Christmas and New Yearsday just past, so that is good. The worst of it is that the holidays are over and I have got to go back to work tomorrow!

DT: What memories do you have about your first day in AGATHOCLES? 
Roel: I play in AGATHOCLES now for two and a half years. When DIRK called me to ask me if I would like to come and play in AGATHOCLES, I had a good laugh. I was no grind-drummer at all, and it seemed to me impossible to replace BURT. But he kept asking and licking my bud (lol), so I decided to give it a try. It was a real honour to start playing in such a cult band like AGATHOCLES. In the beginning it was hard, following the rhythm (blast beats etc, but also the rhythm of recording and releasing stuff). 

DT: How did the idea of "Cruelty For Popularity" (Split EP) with the Finnish band SIVIILIMURHA? 
Roel: The recordings on that split are the first with me behind the drums, it was also the time of the start of the Irak War. The whole of that situation influenced us lyrically. JAN released the 7”. He wanted to work with SIVIILIMURHA, ‘cause of the fact they play Suomi Punk, in vein of old KUOLEMA (with who we also released a split 7”). You like SIVIILIMURHA or you hate them, nothing in between!

DT: How do you describe your Split with KADAVERFICKER? 
Roel: This is probably one of our best split releases from the last 2 years, good quality, nice artwork and left winged lyrics (a zine gave us a price for the best songtitle of the year for the song "Fucking Right, We Are Left". The split is with the long term gory Death / Grinders (whatever you want) of KAVERFICKER. A band that is pretty active the last few years, though, they exist over one decade now. Also check their split with UNHOLY GRAVE.

DT: What do you know about Peruvian Scene? 
Roel: I think you guys have a great scene. I really like the Punk / Hardcore coming from South America. SITUACION HOSTIL, KAOS GENERAL and DIOS HASTIO are bands I really like. I’am also in contact with Dino FPO from RENACERRECORDS who will release a Split CD of AGATHOCLES and DIOS HASTIO.

DT: How does the writing in AGATHOCLES?... how about lyrics?
Roel: Music is at this moment written by Jan and less by Dirk. I always search my own drum lines. The lyrics are always written by Jan.

DT: We mention a name, and you give us your thoughts:
Roel:

ANCIENT RITES: Belgian Black Metal band. Everybody knows their and our ideology differ but they have put Belgium back on the Metal - map, and ‘cause of that they earn respect. GUNTHER is probably a musical-genius ‘cause of all the different project he’s into.

ENTHRONED: Same story as ANCIENT RITES. Only they come of the French speaking part of our country.

AFTER DARK RECORDS: Belgian label, released old Ancient Rites stuff.

SHIVER RECORDS: Belgian Metal Label run by HANS DE WYNGAERT

NYCTOPHOBIC: German Grindcore band. AGATHOCLES did a small tour with them back in ’94 and from the gig in Manheim a split 7” was released. 

KUOLEMA: JAN AG’s heroes! It was a dream for JAN coming true, when the AGROMOSH Label released the AGX / KUOLEMA split 7”. Obviously the people like the release, ‘cause now the 2nd press in being sold.

ROT IN PIECES: A grindcore band from Canada. They splitted up a year ago. Great guys, great friends. We did a split with them. Also check their new projects! Dez now plays in Sick Sad World, I recorded some drumtracks for that project. 

DT: Tell us about T6T PRODUCTIONS, your productions, distro, etc... 
Roel: As you know AGATHOCLES releases a lot. We always get some copies from the labels of the releases. And to sell them I started T6T-PRODUCTIONS. At this moment I didn’t release stuff myself, but it’s possible in the future. If you are looking for AGATHOCLES releases you should check www.t6t-productions.tk. Trades are also always welcome!

DT: Which do you prefer : 
Roel:

ANAL TORTURE or HYBRID VISCERY? 
Difficult question. Out of ANAL TORTURE came LENGH TCH’E, and HYBRID VISCERY contains members of Mucus. I choose MUCUS! Hahaha, they have a great split 7” out with us.

JEAN - MARIE PFAFF or MICHEL PREUDHOMME? 
Haha… You know JM PFAFF has a reality-soap here in Belgium ? He is the Belgian OZZY OSBOURNE !!! Well if I have to choose, JM PFAFF was defiantly the best goalkeeper. But now at this moment I prefer MICHEL PREUDHOMME, ‘cause he ‘s at this moment the Manager of Standard de Liège, my favourite soccer team. 

NICO CLAESEN or VINCENZO SCIFO? 
Do you know NICO CLAESEN in Peru? Lol. Well SCIFO was the best soccer player, but in my opinion he’s a fucking bastard. I prefer NICO CLAESEN, he ‘s from the same area in Belgium as me and I ‘ll never remember his action when playing for Ostend. The goalkeep had the ball in his hands, he ‘came from behind with his head he took the ball and made a goal. Hilariously! 

DT: Do you know who is ANDRÉS MENDOZA? 
Roel: It’s a soccer player from Peru. He played for Club Brugge here in Belgium. They had always trouble with him, it was never good enough for him. He wanted to go to a top-club, and went to Russia or something like that. Well I hope the Peruvian people are not all like him.

DT: What do you think about the Norwegian Black Metal Scene? 
Roel: Sorry, I don’t understand it and I’ll never understand it. Most of it are in my eyes just a bunch of Nazi’s. Listening to it only gives me headache. There is only one Black Metal band I like musically (and defiantly not for his sick thoughts) and that’s DISSECTION. 

DT: Why some people talk about "the Organization" called AGATHOCLES? 
Roel: I really don’t know. Probably ‘cause of a few reasons. On of the reasons will be ‘cause we release that much. Another reason ‘cause of the fact we bring more than only music, we also try to deliver some food for the mind, hahaha.

DT: Your fave North American bands? 
Roel: Don’t shoot me, but I’m a Hardcore and Punk fan. There I have my musical roots. SICK OF IT ALL is probably my favourite band of all time. SOIA’s first 7” took me to the underground. Besides of that I also like METALLICA, “Nothing else matters” was the opening song on my marriage. For the rest I don’t follow the American scene that much. I don’t like the USA domination. Bad bands from the USA get much attention while very good bands from South America or Asia don’t get the attention they deserve. 

DT: Which one do you think is the best AGATHOCLES production? 
Roel: For many people it’s “Razor Sharp Daggers”. My favourite is “Theatric symbolistion of life”. I only felt myself the drummer of Agathocles when I could play the title song of that album. 

DT: What can you talk me about the old NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS and BOLT THROWER?... do you like them? 
Roel: Stupid question. Of course! You know, that JAN AG organised one of the first NAPALM DEATH gigs in Belgium? CARCASS is without any doubt DIRK AG’s favourite band.

DT: What can you tell me about "Mincemania In Bulgaria"? 
Roel: In the summer of 2003 JAN AG was on holiday in Bulgaria, where he met people he was writing with for many years. There he discovered that AGX releases where hard to find in Bulgaria, but that the band was well known their because of the big tape trading system. As a big thanx to the Bulgarian fans we decided to release the “Mincemania in Bulgaria” CD. It has been released by a Bulgarian label and is only to find in Bulgaria, a great release with nice full colour artwork that contain AGX-tracks from the beginning till know. 

DT: Of all your productions with AGATHOCLES, which one has given you the most satisfaction? 
Roel: I have good feelings about the “AGATHOCLES / FAT ASS FUCKERS” split 7”. On that split we play an oï-song about the working class, on the frontcover you see my father in riot. He worked whole his life as a workman in the Ford factory here in Belgium. Last year the factory closed and 3000 people lost their job, including my dad. He worked there many years what gave me the opportunity to study. 

DT: What CD's / bands have you been listening to lately? 
Roel: Hmmm… Today I listened to SWISH, KAOS GENERAL, SITUACION HOSTIL, CONVINCED, SEKTOR. The last weeks I’m often listening to JANSE BAGGE Bend. It’s a band that only bring covers with lyrics in our regional language, very funny, very good and socio-critical lyrics. Besides that I’m getting more and more into the South American and Azian Punk / Hardcore. DISCARGA (Brazil), NEGATIVE CONTROL (Brazil), GES RESTAE (Columbia), MY PRECIOUS (Singapore), BREAKWAR (Russia),…

DT: In what musical direction will AGATHOCLES be heading in for the next production? 
Roel: I think you don’t have to expect a different musical direction. The songs JAN writes are in the vein of old material, DIRK’s new songs are longer and more technically. I think it will be a good mix between Grind, Crust and Mince.

DT: Your last growl for DEATHTHRASHER's. Readers?
Roel: Our best wishes for the whole Peru scene! You got a great scene, defiantly keep mincing! If you are looking for AGATHOCLES material please check www.t6t-productions.tk. If you are looking for the last band news check www.agathocles.com. This year we celebrate our 20the anniversary as band. Expect a new studio full length in the second half of 2005. Hopefully we’ll soon meet on a tour through your country! Thanx for doing / reading this interview and supporting AGATHOCLES.