Interview for DEATHTHRASHER MAGAZINE by ARMANDO MUTILATOR : 

Armando,

Here's the Psychotogen inteview, done by the drummer,
Chris Pernia....

cheers/thanks,
Ferg

DT: When and why the band was formed?.
P: PSYCHOTOGEN formed in late '99. My brother TONY (bass) and I, along with our ex-vocalist ROB, were part of PESSIMIST for their first two releases. We left PESSIMIST at various times and eventually regrouped a while later under the name EXCATHEDRA along with guitarist JEREMY GRANDE. We never intended to leave PESSIMIST and form another band together, it just kinda happened that way unintentionally. We changed our name to PSYCHOTOGEN prior to recording our first album "Perverse and Unnatural Practices."

DT: Why the name of PSYCHOTOGEN?.
P: A PSYCHOTOGEN is defined as a drug or chemical agent that induces a psychotic state. Our then-vocalist ROB works as a forensic psychologist, and a lot of his lyrics were inspired by his experiences within the prison system and working with the criminally insane. Although not all of ROB's lyrics dealt with serial killers, we thought the word PSYCHOTOGEN just seemed to fit with the overall lyrical theme of the band.

DT: Youre fave beer?
P: Call me a lightweight or a homo if you will, but I usually ask for COORS LIGHT or MICHALOB ULTRA. I need the low carb stuff, gotta watch the 'ol beer gut!

DT: Your current line up? and the former members?.
P: Current lineup is JEREMY GRANDE (guitars), TONY PERNIA (bass), CHRIS PERNIA (drums) and LARRY GAMBER (vocals). Former members include MIKE BARON (guitarist during our EXCATHEDRA days), ROB KLINE (ex-PESSIMIST, current FLESHTIZED singer) on the "PAUP" release, and MIKE HARRISON (ex-MISERY Index) on the second album "The Calculus of Evil."

DT: How was your experience on MILWAUKEE METALFEST 2000?.
P: Uh, it was ok I guess. Back then we played as EXCATHEDRA, and we had just started jamming together and really hadn't had much time to know each other as musicians by that point. We really didn't start to gel as a live unit until we became a four piece as PSYCHOTOGEN. Also, back then nobody knew who EXCATHEDRA really was, people only knew us as the "ex-PESSIMIST guys." But it was an ok learning experience, it was not my best nor my worst performance at the MILWAUKEE FEST.

DT: Tell me about your Demo 2001.
P: We recorded two demos. The first was done as EXCATHEDRA, but we never released it, and then we did the second demo as PSYCHOTOGEN. It was just a two song deal, just "Chaingod" and "Tear at the Flesh" off of the first release. 

DT: Do you like the old Heavy Metal?.
P: Fuck yeah. I started to really get into Metal in the mid-eighties, and a lot of the albums from that era I still listen to quite frequently to this day. Whether it be DIO - era RAINBOW / SABBATH or early thrash like NUCLEAR ASSAULT, DESTRUCTION, OVERKILL or METAL CHURCH - a good majority of the stuff I currently listen to is from that era. 

DT: What do you think about ELIPHAS LEVY?.
P: Sorry dude, I don't have a fucking clue what you're talking about!

DT: BIG BIRD is your idol?.
P: RON JEREMY is my idol. He gives hope to sweaty, hairy guys the world over. 

DT: Are you interested on Serial Killers?
P: Sure. I came to the band with the title "The Calculus of Evil" based on a documentary I had seen on the Zodiac Killer. In a weird, twisted sorta way it's kinda fascinating to discover what would drive someone to do such fucked up things, like GACY with the handcuff trick and the bodies in the crawl space, or even the bizarre thoughts that drove CHARLES MANSON to instruct others to murder (check out the PESSIMIST song "Cult of the Initiated" for more on that one!). 

DT: Do you like Punk?
P: No, not really a big fan of Punk. I don't necessarily hate it, I just don't really dig it all that much. I'd rather listen to RAINBOW or PRIEST over something like The SEX PISTOLS. The RAMONES I kinda dig though.

DT: What can you talk me about "Perverse and Unnatural Practices"?. 
P: Talk me about the release BRING OUT YOUR DEAD RECORDS (June 2001) and the Re-Released on CRASH MUSIC INC. (May 2002). We initially released "Perverse..." as a self-financed effort, and then sent some promo copies of the disc to various labels hoping someone would be willing to pick it up. We needed better distribution than what we could do on our own. Crash was the first label to really contact us, and we were one of the first few bands to sign to the label.

DT: Do you know who is Reverend AL SHARPTON?.
P: Sure I do. It's hard to live in the US and not know who AL SHARPTON is. I kinda look at the guy as being a bit of a joke. The African-American community definitely needs a strong leader/spokesperson, in my personal opinion however, MR. SHARPTON just ain't the man for the job.

DT: What do you know about VINCENT CROWLEY and MARILYN MANSON?.
P: You mean the singer for ACHERON VINCENT CROWLEY? When I was in PESSMIST we played with ACHERON in NY, and VINCENT CROWLEY was a really cool guy. I may not agree with his religious views, but the guy was definitely cool to hang out with. As for MARILYN MANSON, I kinda liked Anti-Christ Superstar, but I really think that his time is done. He has definitely hit his peak, and is on the way down.

DT: What is the gender of PIKACHU?.
P: That's a rather interesting question, as retarded as it may be. I'm surprised the same right wing religious loons that attacked the TELLIE TUBBIES and SPONGE BOB for supposedly being gay haven't gone after PIKACHU.

DT: Are you into drugs?.
P: Not anymore really. I might smoke a little weed once in a while, but that's about it. I'm 30, with a house and family, so my days of constant parties are long over.

DT: Do you prefer, BEAVIES & BUTTHEAD or SOUTHPARK?
P: Definitely SOUTH PARK. Every episode of SOUTH PARK has a message of some sort, it's not just the mindless retarded shit that BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD are known for.

DT: What do you think about ANTON SZANDOR LA VEY?.
P: I never really got into the whole Satanism thing. I worship no diety.

DT: Do you like H.P. LOVECRAFT?.
P: I've never read anything by him, so I can't really say whether I do or don't like him. I know plenty of people that admire his writing so I know the guy don't suck, I just don't know if that kind of writing would appeal to me.

DT: Are you into INNER CIRCLE?. Tell us about the Anti Semitic Community.
P: No! Fuck all that man, I ain't into preachin' hate.

DT: Tell us about your experience with bands like MORBID ANGEL, KREATOR and DESTRUCTION.
P: Absolutely killer! I grew up listening to all three of those bands, and to this day I still listen to albums from all three of 'em quite frequently.  There ain't nothin' like watching the old school guys come out and show the young guys out there how it's done.

DT: Tell me about your "CALCULUS OF EVIL" on CRASH MUSIC INC. (Released August, 2003), thanks for the CD !!!
P: "TCoE" was recorded in the same studio (NIGHTSKY studios) with the same engineer as last time (Ron Vento from AURORA BOREALIS). The album is eight songs (+ 1 cover) of over-the-top technical yet brutal Death Metal, featuring MIKE HARRISON of MISERY INDEX fame on vocals. There's a wide variety of influences on this one, everything from Flamenco to Jazz, yet we still managed to make it heavy.

DT: Do you like drink blood with piss?.
P: You're a fan of THE GRIMOIRE OF EXALTED DEEDS, aren't you?!

DT: Talk me about MD DEATH FEST 2003.
P: Awesome show. Big stage, professional sound and lights, the sound guy DERRICK is killer, and the turn out was pretty decent. I think it's one of the better fests in the US, I think it has the potential to grow into something really big in the next couple of years.

DT: Do you have STAR WARS action figures?.
P: No, though I wish I did. The original Star Wars figures are worth a good bit of money. There's always people out there looking to pay good money for shit like that.

DT: Your last growl for DEATHTHRASHER readers?.
P: Thanks for the interview. Fans of left-of-center bands such as DEATH, GORGUTS, ATHEIST, BELIEVER, THEORY IN PRACTICE, MARTYR, CYNIC, DEP and ANACRUSIS, check out our new