Death Metal stalwarts Immolation are back! 20 years on from their seminal release "Dawn of Possession" and on the eve of their latest release "Majesty And Decay" we caught up with Robert Vigna.

As you say the new album “Majesty And Decay” is out mid March 2010. What can you tell us about the record? Where do you feel stylistically the album fits into discography?

I think this is the best one yet. Not because its our latest, ...but because it is our heaviest, most intense and best produced! I feel we get better with each record in our writing and now with a really strong production we are extremely happy with ‘Majesty and Decay’. This fits into the discography as our finest work, and really the beginning of some our best albums to come!

We all work our day jobs, family, regular day to day stuff. The time goes fast so it’s easy to get involved in the normal life and lose track of time. But once we realize it’s time for a new record, we get on that project non-stop until it is complete! We also did a lot of touring for the last record, including a bunch of fest shows over last summer. So for us, 3 years went very quickly!

The biggest difference in writing ‘Majesty and Decay’ was the pre-production. We have never had any kind of pre-production ever. This time around I had a computer and multi-track recording program which enabled me to create the songs from beginning to end, complete with drums, multi-layers guitars, solos, effects, etc. So it really gave me the power to be much more creative and hear the songs almost as they would sound on the album. This came in especially handy as our drummer Steve lives in Ohio. So I was able to email him the mp3’s of each song, and he would learn everything before we went out there to rehearse. It made the whole writing process so much easier than ever before and really gave us a very complete blueprint of the entire record. This was all very instrumental in making “Majesty and Decay” such a strong and dark record. As for any formula. I have to say that it usually goes as follows: Write riffs/parts, arrange parts and get music solid. Then get ideas and lyrics together. Although we had all the pre-production done ahead of time, the lyrics we wrote in the studio. That’s our basic plan of attack each time,..but it does vary once in a while.

Basically ‘Majesty and Decay’ looks at mankind’s obsession with power and opulence and how that greed and arrogance causes great suffering and dark events throughout our history. The album looks as different aspects of that negative effect in war, atrocities, violent regimes, failed religion, fanatical ideals, mankind’s disregard for our world and everything in it. We look at what is really wrong in the world and show it for what it is.

The band chose to record the album at Millbrook Sound Studios in New York again with long time producer Paul Orofino. What makes your relationship with Paul such a productive one from your perspective?

Paul is not only a great engineer and producer, but an awesome person too. He really knows his stuff technically, but at the same time is extremely personable! The studio is close enough to home in upstate NY to be convenient, but at the same time away from it all in a nice quiet town where we stay for the duration of the recording sessions giving us time to focus on the music. Paul even has an in-studio bar that would rival many of the regular bars out there, with rare Belgian beers on tap and the glasses and taps to match! Some of the best studio time is when we hang out with Paul after the sessions and drink some of the greatest beer you’ve ever tasted and talk with Paul and listen to all the great stories of his great career in the music business. From renting out rehearsal space to Anthrax in Queens back in the day to being friends with producer Eddie Kramer (Led Zeppelin), Paul has so many classic stories and experience over the years that it is always so interesting to listen to it all. It really sets a great mood and tone for the creative process.  

How long were you guys in the studio and is the studio environment a place the band enjoy, or is it a necessary evil in making a record?

We were in the studio tracking for 2 weeks. Yes it is definitely important to be comfortable in your surroundings when recording. It is just very easy going, and you don’t feel too much pressure. You need that when you are making a record.

The albums mixing duties were handled by Zack Ohren (Decrepit Birth, Suffocation and All Shall Perish). Did you have a particular sound in mind ahead of recording the album and did the final mix meet those expectations?

Yes we had a good idea from the pre-production, but in general we know that we want it to sound big and heavy, yet clear and sharp. I think the final mix really became the best sounding production we ever had! We just wanted to try something different this time, get someone who is more in tune with our style and the productions out there today. Zack nailed it and really captured not only the power of thye music , but the atmosphere!! Zack did a phenomenal job!!!!

The album is the bands first to be released via Nuclear Blast Records. Immolation had been with Listenable Records since 2002’s “Unholy Cult” what were reasons for you guys going your separate ways?

We were on Listenable in Europe and Century Media in the US. Our deal was up with both labels so we decided to check other options and NB was very interested. Although we had split the previous releases between 2 different labels, we decided that this time around we really needed to pick one label that could take care of the release worldwide, and we felt Nuclear Blast was the best solution for us.

For one they seemed very adamant about the band and working with us. That is very important. They seemed to have the capability to really push the band and they were pretty fair in their contract with us. So once we had all that in place we made the move. At this point in our career it was very important to have a label that could really push us all over the world and get the band to that next level. Being that NB is one of the largest labels, we felt that this was something we needed to propel the band and get us that extra advantage that we need.

You guys are currently on the road in the US with Nile, Krisium and Dreaming Dead. How have the first couple of shows gone? A truly killer line up.

The shows have been going great! We’ve known Nile for a long time and we are great friends with Krisiun, so for us this is an awesome tour!! Dreaming Dead are also very talented and great people, so we could not have asked for a better way to start off this new album’s touring! Things have been going real smooth and the crowds have been amazing! So far so good,...looking forward to the 4 more weeks ahead!

Then in May you guys are back in the UK at the Deathfest. How are you looking forward to this show and are there going to be any dates around this show across the rest of Europe?

We are definitely looking forward to it! We will be doing a few other fests around this time, like the Neurotic Death Fest. That is always a great one! We plan to do a full European run sometime after the album is out, possibly later in the year!

The scene is definitely on a come-back! Just from the past couple of years on the road and this tour especially you can see it in the crowds! Alot of young kids, but alot of veterans as well. It looks like the extreme music is surely going to be very prevalent in 2010!!

I don’t think so,...time is a factor that hasn’t stopped us yet,..if anything it has had the opposite effect on us!! We seem to get more creative, heavier, darker and push ourselves harder with each release, and “Majesty and Decay” is a testament to that for sure!!!

We will hit those fests in Europe in the spring, then probably do more fests it the summer. We should hit Europe and the US on full tours again before the end of the year and plenty more to follow in 2011!!! Thanks for the interview and thank to all who have been so supportive throughout the years!!! Looking forward to seeing you all on the road this year!!! All the best! www.myspace.com/immolation