Fleshgrind have been around since forming in 1993. That year they released the legendary, "Holy Pedophile", demo. It went on to sell over 2500 copies. After recording another demo, they got their first record deal with Pulverizer Records and released their debut album, "Destined for Defilement" in 1997. They then signed with Olympic Records in 2000 and released their second album, "The Seeds of Abysmal Torment". But then they were inactive for awhile because of Rich Lipscomb injuring his leg which required several surgeries and time to heal. Plus their drummer quit right as Rich got better so they recruited Derek Hoffman as his replacement and got to work on a new album, "Murder Without End", that was released in 2003. Now with their lineup problems and injuries in the past they are ready to take on the world.

James: Thanks to you Eric for the interview, you sick son-of-a-bitch you! WHAT?

James: Quite overwhelming actually. I mean, we definitely aren't selling in the league of Arch Enemy or Deicide but we're happy. Anyone who has heard the album loves it. People who doubted us before aren't doubting us anymore. It's good, I think it's our middle finger in the face of those who oppose.

James: Well Eric I thank you, you've been a long time supporter of the band and we greatly appreciate it. We've heard that from a few other sources too, people saying that we've released the best death metal album of 2003, and while we're completely shocked by these comments, we also feel it is definitely our best work and we're glad people are getting into it.

James: Actually, it just happened through chance. We just figured that Fleshgrind has utilized Griffin's skills for every piece of recorded material so far, why not try someone else and see what happens? It happened to be a great decision. Chris was amazing to work with, very patient, very animated, VERY funny! There was no pressure, we were actually able to relax and let it flow out, which is one reason I think the album came out so good. I believe we'll probably use both producers in the future as we still consider Brian to be a very close confidant, but we'll see, you never know.

James: The artwork was created by artist Mike Bohatch who is quite talented and easy to work with. We just sent him some ideas and some lyrics and shit and told him basically the feel we wanted for the cover. We wanted it to be dark and disturbing, not gory. We wanted the fans to look at the cover and use their imaginations in determining what horrible atrocities the man on the cover had just committed! I think the artwork came out stellar and we definitely do not rule out using Mike for future artworks too! Mike has a killer site too, you can visit it at www.eyesofchaos.com

James: I don't think we just threw it in there. That's our most popular song, for some odd reason, and for the past few years we've been playing it much differently than on the demo version. We felt the newer version was much more powerful, so we recorded it. Of course, when "Holy Pedophile" was first written ten years ago, there was a lot of controversy in the news with the Catholic priests and their deviant ways, that was why they wrote the song to begin with. In the news lately, these sick priests are at it again, which we felt was a perfect time to re-record the song and put it out one more time. Another finger in the face of the biggest farce of humanity...Christianity... Yes, we will be releasing the two demos on CD sometime soon, we're working on all that right now, with the mastering, and I found a great piece of artwork for the cover, I'm just trying to get ahold of the artist so we can use it, but I can't find his ass anywhere!

James: Lyrically, to me, just everyday life. The actions of humans and their hunger for something better, no matter who they hurt to get it. Humans really are a pathetic species. So much time and trouble spent on being an "upstanding member of society", when life is truly meaningless. Just an all around hatred for society and humans. Musically, it's just what flows from our beings. We can't write any other way, it's just not in our programming.

James: Well it originated with an intro that Steve made that had Robert DeNiro dialogue from the movie "Taxi Driver" but the label put the nix on that real quick, I guess because they didn't want to deal with the copyrights and crap, not that I think it would have been some HUGE problem, but whatever. So we narrowed it down to just the basic piano, with the exception of "Duct Taped and Raped" which has a little sample in the intro. Now we use the original DeNiro intro that Steve made in our live set.

James: Derek has been great to work with, musically as well as personally. We get along great. I've known Derek for about 10 years before he joined so it wasn't anything new to me. Getting used to his style as opposed to Alan's was the task. I loved playing with Alan, he was a great drummer, and I miss the guy, but it's just not for him anymore. Derek is an all around fun guy to hang with, a great drummer, and my only smoking partner in the band now, so it's good to have him aboard!

James: So far it's been decent. They put out the record, did the promotion for it, sent out the promos, got it in all the stores, so that's really what counts. We have some contacts over there that look out for us and our best interests. Basically, they've done what has been asked of them. Century Media Germany has been good to us too, taking good care of us. Making sure we get interviews and crap, you know?

James: That's what we're waiting for, to get the fuck out and tour! I don't think the label is a booking agent, so I don't know if they are looking to get us anything. We're trying to work with several booking agents in the U.S. and abroad. So far we really have nothing in the works, although there is talk of a tour with Mortician soon, we're just waiting on the word, so we'll see what happens with that. Other than that, we can't wait to tour. Can't want to get back to Europe too! There is also talk of a visit to Indonesia this fall, where bands cover Fleshgrind songs! Haha! But we'll see how the promoter over there handles things.

James: I can answer both questions with one answer: Fuck The Commerce 3 Festival in Germany in 2000. Biggest crowd we've played for, a least a few thousand, and it was also the craziest show. People over there don't seem to really "mosh" or anything like that, it was quiet all day, but when we played Rich got in their faces and got the crowd all juiced up and the place went nuts! Plus Nasum went on right after us and completely decimated the place! Can't wait to go back to Germany, I tell ya!

James: Man, we've seen all kinds of crazy shit. The one thing that comes to mind is we were at a gas station at like 2 in the morning filling up, and me and Steve are outside bullshitting and we hear "clop, clop, clop" and we look at the road and there was an Amish horse and carriage just cruising down the road. The guy in the carriage was totally Amish with the beard and all. I was drunk, Steve was drunk, we just started throwing snowballs at the horse's ass! haha! Everyone was dying from laughter! Maybe a cruel thing to do but fuck it, you only live once

James: Oh man, there are so many bands I'd like to tour with, if even just for the camaraderie. Personally, I want to tour with Carpathian Forest who I can only imagine are the sickest fuckers! I think we'd get along great with those guys! I can imagine the conversations we'd have! Also we always have the best time with Mortician, talk shit about them all you want, those guys are FUN and work hard! I'd also like to tour with our brothers in Forest of Impaled. Of course, we'd LOVE to tour with the big names: Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, etc. and of course all our friends. It's best to tour when you completely enjoy the company of those you tour with.

James: "Scenes" fluctuate all the time. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are bad. When they are good, they are usually really good. I think death metal has some of the most loyal fans. One problem with "scenes" is: In the US, people seem to think that any bands that comes from America, sucks. If it didn't come from Europe, it sucks, and that's just a horrible attitude. In Europe, people seemed to be grateful that we came over there to play for them. They were more inquisitive and cared a lot more about the actual music instead of whether or not we could help get their band signed. I truly loved it in Europe.

James: Chicago is home to many great bands! I don't think they need the plug from me since I see their fucking name EVERYWHERE but Forest Of Impaled is a great band from Chicago. Disinter is another great band, although I don't know if they are still together or not. We have Chicago metal drunkards Usurper, whom are just killer! Enforsaken is an amazing band from the area too. We have Novembers Doom also and they are kick ass. Of course you can't forget the granddaddies Macabre, they pretty much started it all. Hmm we got Yakuza who are heavy and original. We got Corphagy who are a twisted form of mathematical grind/death. Oh and let's not forget Pelican, listen to Pelican! They are great! The list could go on and on. Check out the Fleshgrind links for many of these great bands websites!

James: Actually, it was a mutual dissolving of our relationship together. Avernus just wasn't truly in my heart anymore at that moment in time, some of those guys just didn't "get it". To me doom is DOOM, not pseudo-doom-rock like Lacuna Coil or new Paradise Lost or some crap like that. Rick McCoy from Avernus is my brother though, we'll always be bro's, and I wish him personally the best of luck at whatever he does. So after that I hooked up with former Avernus drummer William Hamning and Usurper vocalist Daniel Lawson to work on a new project which is called Dead Of Winter. Well, now Lawson is full time in Usurper and doesn't really have the time for the project, so we'll see what happens with that. I also have another project called Grim Anatomy which is total doom also. I just like doom metal dammit!

James: Who knows man, we could still be doing Fleshgrind for another ten years, or it could all dissolve tomorrow and we'll all be in new bands, who's to say? No one can see the future so we'll just have to see, won't we? As far as the immediate future, I foresee Fleshgrind to tour all over the US and Europe, maybe get a video on TV sometime, and record at least two more kick ass albums!

James: Currently? Here is my playlist:

Virus - Carheart
King Diamond - The Puppet Master
Radiation 4 - Wonderland
Napalm Death - Noise For Musics Sake
Forest Of Impaled - Forward The Spears
The Mars Volta - De-Loused In The Comatorium
Orodruin/Vinterriket - Split CD
Judas Iscariot - To Embrace The Corpses Bleeding
Skepticism - Farmakon
Morbid Angel - Heretic
T.Rex - Electric Warrior

James: Well most of my favorites are classic death metal bands, the ones the influenced me at a young age. Here are a few of them: BoltThrower, Carcass, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, Obituary, Pestilence, Death, etc.

James: Just much thanks to you Eric, for your years of support! Thanks to the Metal Coven staff and readers! Everyone should have "Murder Without End" by now and if you don't GO FUCKING BUY IT! It's cheap! Mostly 10 bucks in big chain stores! Also out now we have a split 12" vinyl with Mortician featuring live songs from both bands! Any and all Fleshgrind information can be found at our official Website at www.fleshgrind.com! Thanks again!