IMPURITY was birthed in October of 1998 when guitarist/vocalist Damian Scott and drummer Andrew Thorkildson decided to collaborate on their first death metal project... Damian, guitarist and co-founder answered our questions:

1. Would you tell us Damian, in a couple of sentences about the actual lineup of Impurity, and whether any of the band members play or have played in other bands before ?
     Andrew Thorkildson plays drums. Ed Makowske is on vocals. Josh Townsend plays bass. Damian Scott (me) plays guitar and does backup vocals. We've all been in different bands, but none were really significant.

2. Florida is well known as to be the "ground zero" for the best death metal bands to rise from through the years. How do you feel there in the middle of all the best in death metal ? Do You feel sort of a preassure as a pretty young band, does it give you that needed kick in the ass to work even harder on your music ?
     Florida used to be a lot more of a spawning ground for new death. Not so much any more, but it is certainly something to be proud of. There is no doubt that most of the influential and original metal has come from Florida. Impurity doesn't necessarily try to live up to the reputation of the region as much as we simply desire to destroy with our music.

3. What are your main influences on the music scene these years and what were the first bands that injected you the need to create music yourself ?
     I think Impurity's music is mostly influenced (guitar wise) by earlier death metal and some black metal. Just to name a few bands, Bolt Thrower, Suffocation, At the Gates, Deicide, Dissection, Morbid Angel, etc. I was never really inspired to create music until I moved in with another musician (Andrew). I realized what I would be passing up if I didn't utilize the gift of an amazing drummer.

4. Impurity released in 2000, a 5 track + intro and outro LP, entitled "Subjugation of Mankind". I find in it lots of true American most brutal death metal, which reminded me of the Suffocation, Obituary genre bands, in the slowest parts. How would you describe your music and how was the material received by your scene there and perhaps in other countries aswell ?
     We've actually had an amazing response in countries like Indonesia, Spain and some other European countries. The US response hasn't been notable, but that's probably because the US fans are much more demanding. "Subjugation..." is a very outdated representation of our musical direction, actually. "Unearthly Affinity" will show our artistic progression over the last 2 years. Hopefully it's something we will be more pleased with.

5. Are You fully content with the final effect of "Subjugation of Mankind" production-wise?
     It is what it is. It was definitely the best we could manage at that time. We didn't have the money or the experience to record at a professional studio, so we did what we could. The songs themselves are severely underpowered, which is what we are not pleased with most.

6. Is Your upcoming release "Unearthly Affinity" go the same direction ? Can you tell us anything about it ? Where are you going to record, when is it going to see the light of the day? How many tracks/minutes are You going to record this time?
     "Unearthly Affinity" will be an MCD (3 or 4 new songs). The goal is to get some Label support in the US so we can release a full length. CD duplication is enormously expensive, so it is difficult for a newer band to come up with the funds to record and to put out a professionally packaged CD. Hopefully Label interest will fix this problem. As far as direction goes, Impurity will always stay true to themes and concept albums. We will always play monstrously heavy death metal with an explicitly evil overtone. As the songwriter, I will always express the importance of good composition over technicality. The music should always make active the listener's imagination, otherwise it is useless.

7. Florida surely gives you the possibility to share experience with the best in the business. I read you had the opportunity to perform live with Monstrosity, Marduk, Mortician, Diabolic, to name a few. How do you recall these gigs, do you play lots life lately ?
     Actually, as many in the States now know, Marduk never showed up to that show. Our Mortician show was a disaster (3 broken strings within 5 minutes of each other), but it was nevertheless an honor to play with a cult band such as them and Monstrosity. Diabolic is always a pleasure as they are not only friends of ours, but are also fellow Floridian death metal band with similar intentions to our own.

8. Is there still enough space there for new comers ? Are new comers welcome or rather looked at as some kind of "meneace" you have to share space and fans with?
     The door for new comers is always open. As long as the standards for the music remain and the bullshit commercialized "death metal" is disallowed popularity due to the lack of public demand, good bands will always rise and must be respected.

9. Name three bands that You'd love to go on tour and for what reason ?
     Suffocation; because I draw the greatest inspiration from them and because they broke up. Immortal; because they are an amazing band and would be great to play with. Bolt Thrower; because they are legends and truly a powerful force. Of course, I am only speaking for myself on all of these.

10. What do you think about the music scene these days ? Is death metal preparing for its great come back with its best shot ?
     Well, in all honesty I don't think the genre will ever surpass it's heyday, the early 90s. I wouldn't mind being proven wrong, though. We'll certainly do our best to contribute.

11. I asked you that question because we notice a growing number of Polish bands coming out into to the wide world with nothing bad results. Have you heard of any new Polish bands at all on your side of the Atlantic ?
     Decapitated is the only one that comes to mind. Good death metal there. Lost Soul is pretty good too. I believe they are Polish.

12. What do you guys from Impurity do for a living ?
     I am in the Medical Software industry (computer work). Josh does construction. Andrew is a mover of sorts. I'm not sure what Ed does.

13. Do You guys over there preffer your America school death metal bands or you get a bit of fed up with all of'em and search for new stuff overseas ?
     A bit of both actually. Andrew and Josh are really into the brutal death/grind from the US (Retch, Cephalic Carnage, Brodequin, etc) and some overseas stuff (Cock and Ball Torture), whereas Ed and I are into most of the "old school" styled stuff, some of the Brazilian speed/death, and various other European shit.

14. Now, this is a psychological one - if you were to become a fruit - what would that be and why ?
     Well that is a pretty zany question. I honestly don't care much for fruit unless they are ground up in an alcoholic drink, so I really don't have a preference.

15. How is it that your soccer team realy kicks ass (!), and loses with the Poles, who lost two games in a row on the World Cup ?
     I don't follow soccer... and I don't think anyone in the band does. I'm only interested in the sport when mass amounts of people riot and kill each other or get trampled. Then it gets interesting.

16. What are your plans for the nearest future with Impurity ?
     Well, if all goes well, we'll record our MCD in August, get signed to a label that will duplicate and distribute it, and begin work on a full length. Short term goals are reached easier in my book. I would very much like to tour Europe at some point, though.

17. Thanks a lot for this interview, and wishing you all the best guys for the future, I'd like to ask you to say something to all the guys out there.
     Sure. Well, I'd like to salute my friends in Negative Plane, Ares from Aeternus (if you don't let me design the next cover, I'll persuade the US to attack Norway - hah!), and all in Diabolic and the other Florida elite. To everyone else reading this: continue the war against the fools in the music industry and remember that through artistic creation, we can all be immortalized. Artists, leave your marks... there is definitely genius to be seen (and heard). And lastly, pray for war, riches and immortality... the only true values in life!

IMPURITY
P.O.Box 13045
Gainesville, FL 32604
USA

email:
http://www.demonicdeath.com