Interview with Scott of Maim 2011

By Bradley Smith

Hells Scott, can you give me a little back ground regarding Maim, where and how did the band form? What is your background as a musician and what separates Maim from the rising tide of old school Swedish death enthusiasts?

Hi Mate, first of all, sorry for the big delay on this interview.  I'd really want to put a big effort into all my interviews and it just hasn't been any time and I haven't had the inspiration for it.

Well back to the question then; Maim started off in the small town of Åtvidaberg, Sweden back in 2006. I honestly think that most of the bands of the new rise of underground death metal got their own little interesting differencies. Maim is perhaps looking for inspiration more towards the era when bands such as Napalm Death took on the death metal uniform instead of following the Swedish style, even though we of course can't deny the heritage that Nihilist and other bands have given us.

It was quite a quick ride from Maim’s inception to your first album, how did that come about and how does your debut stack up to your newly released album, Deceased to Exist?  Do you find that the new album is as a whole, more consistent?  Why?

I think it's the same for most bands that are active in the scene of today.  We among other bands arose at a good time for this kind of music, that is probably why everything happened so quickly. As I have stated earlier, we find Deceased to be superior to our debut. It's, as you say, more consistent and every song fills a purpose. I still enjoy the debut, but you can feel it's a bit patched together and everything is not as well thought through as on Deceased To Exist.

Where do you draw musical inspiration from?  What about old Swedish style death metal makes it so special?  Are there any bands that you really enjoy that you feel need more attention or were overlooked during their existence?

We as a band draw inspiration from a wide perspective of music, not only death metal. But the more obvious influences are bands such as Napalm Death, Autopsy, Morbid Angel etc. Also alot of demo bands that never really made it, for example; Crematory and Nirvana 2002.  They will always be a big inspiration for us. The latter examples were definitely overlooked during their existence. But it was so different back in the day, I think for example that Maim would never have reached out to such a big crowd without internet as a medium. We would probably still have been rehearsing in our own filthy rehearsel space without anyone giving a fuck about what we do. Well, we still are doing just that, but at least a few people care about what we are doing. Which is of course flattering. 

Recently Maim smashed the Norwegian countryside at the Til Dovre Faller festival.  Can you tell me about this show?  Word is that you guys did a Bastard Priest cover with Sindre of Obliteration on vokillz.  How did this all come about and why did you choose to cover Bastard Priest?

Yeah that's true. We did this drunken! show in a countryside hotel surrounded by the Norwegian mountains. It was a great weekend for sure even though the alcoholic influence took over hand for basically everyone including us and the rest of the bands playing. It's correct that we did a Bastard Priest cover, we played Under The Hammer Of Destruction a couple of times now actually and since Sindre is a good friends of ours and is a huge fan of Bastard Priest just like us, we invited him on stage to do this celebration to one of the truly great bands of the underground. We decided to cover Bastard Priest since we have a special relationship with the band and they have decided not to play live and we think it's simply a shame that no one will hear their music played on stage. We got Inventor’s and Matt Mendozas’ unholy blessing to do this so we might do it again. 

What is the “right attitude” for metal for you?   I know you have a sort of affinity for punk music and a punk approach despite playing death metal!  I also read you don’t really dig the Dissection/Watain approach to metal.  What about their approach turns you off?

I don't judge anyone’s attitude or whatever you wanna call it.  I personally just think that the laidback, easygoing approach to music in general is something I can affiliate with.  And that is something you more often find in the DIY punk attitude for some reason. Metal seem to be a bit elitist sometimes, which is not for me.

Regarding bands such as Dissection and Watain; they are truly two extreme cases. As far as I know they see and saw their whole existence as something more than just music, a cult maybe. That approach appeals to a lot of people which I understand. But for me it's only Rock 'n' roll. And I just don't understand why Watain for example need to go around and look like a motorcycle gang. What is that all about?

You lived in London for awhile when you were a little younger.  How do you feel that life and the people in general in the UK are different than that of Sweden?  Did you do anything extremely memorable while living there in the UK?  Did you catch any killer shows while you were there?

It is very different! I personally enjoy the diversity you find in a city like London where I lived. It gives you as a person so much to just be aware that there are cultures in your very near surroundings that are completey different and with people who look at the world with competely different eyes than yourself. Swedes can be very ethnocentric and egotistic on many points even though we have come far in a variety of different social issues.

I saw many good shows, Morbid Angel back in 2008 is a high-light, especially after what they have turned into now! Damn.

I noticed you took a stand against idealism (among other things) in another interview(AFITFOG).  What is it that you have against idealism?  What does this theme mean to you and how do people corrupt it for their own twisted end?

Idealism is a word with many different meanings but for me it's a concept with very strange and many times religious undertones. For me idealism means that you should live after certain ideals that most of the time are told by someone other than yourself, living or non-living, many times even a ”spiritual” character, whatever that means. Of course you can have your own ideals, but those also change over time so I just find it odd that you need to have that sort of guideline. Just trust yourself and make the best of it, no reason to try to live after someone else’s ideas about things and life in general. 

Do you personally feel strong about Political/social issues, and do you mix these opinions/views within the framework of Maim?  Or are you strictly about death, gore, destruction and other traditional topics?

I do personally, but not in the framework of Maim. Sometimes in interviews just as this, but never in the music. The music speaks for itself and it fits a certain frame which includes general fucking cool topics just as the ones you mentionend.

Maim was one of the bands that was honored with being named Fenriz’s band of the week. How does it feel to have such a scene legend praise your band with it being so young?  What has being featured on his blog done for Maim?  I am sure there were many good things that came from it, but have there been any negative effects from being featured there?

It is of course a great, great honour!  He seems like such a cool guy and has done so much for all the bands that he has taken under his wings.  First of all it just gave us some attention the we normally would not have gotten.  Second we got to play The Live Evil festival in London which is one of the best experiences in my musical life. (more on that subject later).  And there are no negative effects as far as I know.

I know you have  Live Evil coming soon and you will be on the stage twice I believe for Maim and then with Morbus Chron.  Does it ever get confusing?  Do you have any special activities planned for when you are up on stage there in London?

Maim will always be number one and since we played on different days it was not confusing whatsoever. It is just fun to be a small part of Morbus Chron as well since I really like the band and the members are good friends of mine.

What are some of your upcoming plans for Maim?  Any other live shows or any recordings? Any activities scheduled for you outside of Maim?  Will you ever become a recording member of Morbus Chron as opposed to just a live member?

We will soon do a small tour here in Sweden with Miasmal, Vanhelgd and Obnoxious Youth, we have called the whole event christmas bloody christmas. It takes place in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Linköping in the end of december. Really looking forward to this of course! Will be a blast. Then we have some loose plans of recording a 7” but no more details than that, time will tell.

Regardig Morbus Chron; they don't need me outside the live part since both Robba and Edde the two guitarists are way superior than I am musically. I just handle the guitar part live since Robba want to focus on his vocals.

You gave Dylan(Vice Mag) some substantial Final Words to close out your interview with him.  Can I expect the same?  I sure hope so…the podium is yours, sir!

I think I have told you enough of my bullshit already ;) so I just want to say thanks for your patient waiting and for supporting the underground! The scene lives on because of people like yourself!

I also promised you a small take on the Live Evil Festival;

The festival in itself is truly one unique happening. Mark and Marek the organizers are both such good guys! They know exactly what it is all about and have done an amazing job. As I said before, it was one of the best weekends and experiences ever. You could touch the atmosphere. It felt like everyone was there for the exact same purpose on those two nights at the Underworld. It was a true celebration of the underground movement. It felt like you were back in the late 80's when the scene was in its cradle. So many good killer shows in one weekend. Nekromantheon and Deathhammer started the whole thing at the pre-fest with two fucking killer sets and Antichrist and Aura Noir folded the whole thing likewise. The thrash attack of those four bands are my most memorable experiences, among many others of course!