Cesspool is a 3 piece Brutal Death Metal band hailing from Gastonia, North Carolina. Members include myself (Derek Haymore) - guitars/bass, Jay Barnes - vocals & Jordan Varela - drums. We formed in 2006 as a side project of Lust of Decay but quickly disbanded. Reformed in late 2007 as a full time project after Lust of Decay was put on hold. Now Cesspool is our number one priority.

The bands latest album ‘Bestial Necrophilia’ has been out for a little while now. What has been the response to the record thus far and how pleased were you with the end product?

The response has been great so far. Of course there's been some negative comments here & there, but that's to be expected when dealing with something as extreme as Cesspool. For the most part everyone has been really positive. As for the end product.. if I had to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 for me personally being pleased with it I would give it a 8. There's always room for improvement in my opinion. Especially when I'm the one writing it.

The writing process is simple. I write all the music & make a demo recording of all the songs. I take them to Jay's house & he records vocals. We give Jordan the demo album, he learns the songs & we go record.

Rumour has it that you have already begun work on new material, how is that shaping up? Is the material in the same vein as ‘Bestial Necrophilia’?

Yes, I've been writing for a while now. It's coming along nicely. I'm not gonna rush it this time. I was on a deadline with Beastial & felt like I rushed a few things. This time I want it to be the absolute best it can be. The new material will be like Beastial with a slight progression. I'm not gonna totally change our style or anything if that's what you mean. We've decided to ditch the really slow breakdown parts because they're boring as shit & replace them with more high octane breakdown & maybe a little more technical riffing. I don't wanna go too over the top with the technicality because that's not what Cesspool is about. There's a million other bands that have that stuff covered.

Where do you draw inspiration for your songs, given the gory content I hope it isn’t from real life?

All our songs are based on real events. I know that's hard to believe but it's true. We actually knew a few of the inspirations personally on this one.

Where, when and how long were you guys in the studio? Do you find the studio a creative or stifling environment?

We recorded at The Soundlab in Columbia, SC with Bob Moore. We were in there 4 days I think? hahaha! Can't quite remember. I don't find the studio to be a creative or stifling environment, especially since nothing was written in there. We had a gameplan before we went in & stuck to it. Everything came out pretty much like planned since we did that. To me the studio is just the place you have to go to get your album out. We aren't Metallica or someone that stays in the studio for a year. I'm sure they have to write a lot in there & lots of things don't go as planned.

Cesspool is a full time band for me & Jay. As for the other bands... I think they are just for different styles & to get to jam with other friends. You'd really have to ask Jay & Jordan because I focus on Cesspool exclusively at the moment.

‘Bestial Necrophilia’ has one of the sickest covers ever! Who came up with the concept and who actually created it for you? You guys seem to really dig being the sickest out there!

Me & Jay came up with the concept & Jordan suggested Phlegeton to do the art & layout. I don't really look at it as us TRYING to be the sickest. We just wanted an extreme album & we wanted to make an impression. Our thought process was more like "What hasn't been done?" "What kind of album cover will grab the potential buyer's attention?" You know... stuff like that. We don't really have to try to be the most extreme or anything... that kind of thinking just comes naturally to me & Jay. We're just some sick bastards I guess! hahaha!

The album has been released through Sevared Records. Appears to be a marriage made in heaven knowing Barrett’s love of sick Death Metal. How did you guys hook up and what lead you to signing with Sevared?

More like a marriage made in Hell!! lol! nah... Jay & Jordan had worked with Barrett on their Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement album & we thought it would be the best choice for the band. Jay got me to contact Barrett to let him hear our demo. He liked it & asked us to sign with Sevared & the rest is pretty much history.

The band have yet to really support the album in the live environment, what plans have you guys got to hit the road (if any)? Is Cesspool a live band or more a studio project?

Well, Jordan can't tour because of his job but we are in the process of trying to find a live drummer. We have a few potential drummers that we've talked to but nothing concrete yet. We're really trying to get out there to jam for all the people that dig our stuff!! Believe that!

ummmm... pretty much the day Lust was put on hold Jay called me & said let's do Cesspool. I said ok & we did! After the music was done we contacted Jordan & he learned it & recorded it for us. Pretty simple actually.

Many of the old school Death Metal bands are enjoying resurgence in popularity, why do you think people are turning to the likes of Obituary, Suffocation, Deicide rather than the new crop of DM bands?

Because they know how to write MUSIC! Not trying to trash the new bands but alot of what I've heard of the newer stuff isn't music. It's jerking off on a fretboard & seeing how fast they can play & how many sweep arpeggios they can throw in to each bar. I listen to early 90's stuff mostly & I enjoy Death Metal music... not Death Metal note salad.

What’s next up for Cesspool Of Vermin? Any final words to all the fans across the globe?

I guess the new album is up next. And from Sinister has been confirmed to do some guest vocals for us along with our brother Crisco Diablo doing some guest vocs. Thanks to Barrett & Sevared, to all our friends & fans THANK YOU! We appreciate every one of you guys! Thanks for this interview bro & keep jamming Cesspool of Vermin! www.myspace.com/cesspoolofvermin