So I would have to say that overall it is 'Warrior Metal', although I think that we are still good old fashioned Death Metal.

The basic fundamentals which make up Metal are all there.

Gospel of the Horns formed in Brisbane (Aus.) in '94. Howitzer and the other guys released the 'Satanists Dream' Demo.

Howitzer moved to Melbourne (Aus.) to help Destroyer666 with 'Unchain the Wolves' and in '98 he joined up with Marauder (who at the time was jamming with me in Bestial Warlust), and they re-opened 'The Gospels' with the 'Sinners' demo and the 'Monuments of Impurity' 7".

After helping Anatomy with 'The Witches of Dathomir' album, I joined 'Gospel'. We recorded 'Eve of the Conqueror' and did a bit of an Australian Tour. After a couple more shows in Melbourne we embarked on our European Tour. We trampled

Holland, Paris, Dublin, London and Belgium and played with the likes of Pentacle, Enthroned and Primordial.

How have bands like Bathory influenced your band?

Bands like Bathory, Iron Maiden, Frost, Judas Priest etc. would have influenced just about every metal band known today. They were the first ones to do this stuff. We all grew up listening to it . So naturally our music would be of a similar style.

It's these influences and similarities that makes us Metal. I'm sure 'the Backdoor Boyz' are influenced by Michael Jackson and The Village People.

Our lyrical content mainly deals with Satanism, the forces and energies which surround it, the Pagan suffering which we've endured at the hands of the Christian/Judaic God, his people and their false beliefs. Which is what Metal is all about. This message obviously hasn't gotten through to some people. Even in Australia. Right Stevey?

How big is Australia's Black Metal scene?

The Black Metal scene and the Metal scene in general is pretty healthy. There's a lot of good bands and some shit ones aswell. There's a wide variety of styles, but as far as Black/Death Metal bands go, I think we have some of the most intense in the world. Bands like Destroyer666, Sad-Ex, Nazxul, Abominator and Vomitor. We've got some Classics like Bestial Warlust, Necrotomy and Slaughter Lord. There's some good new bands also like Grenade, Hellspawn, Anarazel and Encabulos. Unfortunately not all these bands play on a regular basis and sometimes there's a bit of a wait between gigs.

What do you think makes Gospel of the Horns a unique band?

The fact that we've only released a M.L.P, 7", a couple of Demos and we've already done a European tour before even doing an album. That's unique I think. And we haven't strayed from our original sound, even with all the line up changes.

I'm not too sure what the exact agreement is, I'm only the drummer. I think it's for a M.L.P and a Full length. You'd have to ask Howie about that one.

The new stuff is coming along slowly. We don't want to release an album just for the sake of getting one out We've completed a couple of songs and the rest are still being worked. I've still got some drum arrangements to do and there are still lyrics, leads and art work to worry about before we even consider going into the recording studio. We should be recording in the next few months. That's our main priority rather than playing gigs which we've done a lot of recently. We also need some more new songs live because we've played this set to death. That'll happen when we release the album.

I don't think there are any new influences in our new music really. The basic Gospel style is still there. I'm a big wrap for the song on the M.L.P called 'Desolation Descending'. It's more in tune with my natural drum style so I'll be looking at putting in a couple more faster tracks. Marauder has some Rockier type tunes and Howitzer's got some epics. It will be a fuk'n killer album overall.

These are all important aspects of our music. They all have there place. If a riff is going flat out and the drums are following the tempo of the riff the vocals have to compliment the piece also. Or you can't be playing a Blast beat if the music, picking and vocals have been toned down . Certain riffs or a certain piece of music ask for certain elements. Some suit, and some don't.

Interviewed by Federico Marongiu

SINNERS -demo (1998)

MONUMENTS OF IMPURITY - EP (1998)

EVE OF THE CONQUEROR - CD (2000)

Howitzer - bass, vocals

Marauder - guitar

Hellcunt - drums