Despite The Netherlands having once been big in Death Metal with bands like Gorefest, Sinister and Pestilence, the Dutch Death Metal scene has been somewhat thin on the ground in recent years. However, every now and then some new bands emerge, one of these new bands is Mancuerda, hailing from the west of the Netherlands. With a fresh EP (Seed Of Doom/Brutal Insanity Records) in their pockets and a head full of future plans, the four gentlemen shortly introduce themselves below…
Anyone who has been reading our pages, if only every now and then, must have seen that we have covered quite a lot of bands from our native Dutch Black Metal scene, both through reviews as well as interviews. But about the Dutch Death Metal scene we only rarely report, so: welcome to The Whispering Darkness. Mancuerda: who, what and why?
Ferry: guitar
Donny: bass
Deniz: vokills
Ed: drums
Although Mancuerda is a relative new band, it was already formed four years ago, yet it took you guys until the summer of this very year to come with a first feat, the ‘Through Skin, Muscle and Bone’-EP. Did you just use these years to determine your musical course and perfecting your sound, or is that a bit of an oversimplification?
Lineup change, covid, that’s it… we began as a 2 piece outfit (Fer & Ed) after Deathhammer split up. We started searching for new members, and finally we dug up Donny from the gutter an re-animated Deniz and then we were complete.
You are not quite in your teens (sorry guys) and if the all-knowing Encyclopeadia Metallum is correct, this is the first band for most of you, right? Or have you already gained some experience elsewhere?
Thank you…
Fer: Beheaded (DM ), EUH!? (thrash), Deathhammer (DM covers)
Deniz: our rookie….just got his pubic hair
Donny: Bloodtomb (warmetal), Deathhammer
Ed: Leprechaun (DM),Mudkings (stoner), Jack’s on Five (classic rock tribute) Deathhammer
Musically Mancuerda can be put in the more slow and old school corner of the Death Metal spectrum. Although it might be quite obvious that your fairly simple but effective brand of Death Metal is based on the musical heritage of bands like Incantation, Purtenance or Anatomia, what do you consider as your main musical influences on the sound of Mancuerda?
We grew up with bands like Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Metallica, Autopsy, Entombed, Asphyx, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Death, Incantation… so I think we all put little pieces of our influences in our music… but we try to create our own sound.
As a non-musician myself I am always interested in the creative process behind the recordings of a certain release. So, how do you look back on the coming about of ‘Through Skin, Muscle & Bone’? Is there anything that you have learned along the way that you will be able to use for future recordings/releases?
Well, you always learn….but one specific thing is ‘don’t rush’… we think that’s the main thing. We did the recording in a live setting, in one day. With a big help from Jonathan (Redpack studio). He just did the right adjustments and additions to get the songs to a higher an filthier level. But considering I guess that we take a bit more time for a next recording.
Your debut EP was released on CD through Brutal Insanity Records and on cassette tape through Seed Of Doom, I guess you are content with how this all worked out?
Yes that for sure! So big thanks to both labels! They put in a lot of effort and energy in it for us… layout, cassette design, publicity… everything turned out great.
As already cited in the introductory question, Dutch Death Metal has not been featured so much on our pages, but there is a reason for it: there is none! The Netherlands used to be well known for its active Death Metal scene with bands like Gorefest and Sinister gaining big success as well as more underground bands like Pentacle or Thanatos. Where has all that gone? Or am I missing out on some interesting bands?
We certainly think there are interesting bands, but to much beneath the radar. Glad to say is that you can attend a deathmetal act almost every week somewhere. Although gigs in the west of our country unfortunately are few and far between. Fortunately there are some (Dutch) labels that are giving the right attention to some Dutch acts.
Just out of curiosity, we have already discussed your main musical influences as well as the Dutch Death Metal scene. Which albums, overall, would you consider your favorite ones and what were your most recent purchases? Any recommendations perhaps?
Fer: favo: Obituary – Slowly we Rot / latest: Mortiferum – Preserved in Torment
Deniz: favo: Cannibal Corpse (Chris Barnes era) / latest: Mancuerda EP
Don: favo: Autopsy – Severed Survival / latest: Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific
Ed: favo: Autopsy – Severed Survival / latest: Pissrot – self titled
The name Mancuerda comes from an old torturing method in which a tight cord is cutting through skin and muscle by pulling on a certain weight. Grizzly stuff! Are you generally interested in this sort of business or was it just something you came across by chance and realised it sounded like an interesting band name?
Fer discovered a name that fits our music like a glove… Most of our members like horror, but Deniz really has a sick mind… he should be locked up… institutionalized! Haha… that dude created some insane and sick vids. Every song on our EP has its own video… drenched with horror and gore thanks to Deniz. Check them out on YouTube.
Of course, after the release of your debut EP, the obvious question is: what can we expect from Mancuerda in the (near) future?
Hopefully some nice gigs in near future… we would love that! By the way, we’ll play next year on a big deathmetal fest in the north, Drachten Deathfest with Suffocation. We are busy now with a t-shirt design. And just after our release we were approached by a German label to realize a vinyl version of our EP on a split-album an by a Mexican label for a full-length. We’ll see if this will happen…
Thank you for this introductory interview, I’d like to leave the last concluding words to you…
Well, we’re happy and overwhelmed by the positive reactions after releasing our videos and EP. Bookers!… book us. DM freaks!… buy at Brutal Insantity and Seed Of Doom.
And of corpse big thanks goes out to you guys for this interview! THANKS!
