(A revised Revel In Flesh released a new album in September via War Anthem Records, and that exciting development motivated Zoltar to reach out for the following interview with Ralf Hauber.)
It may have happened behind closed doors, away from the public’s eye but effectively: after five great old-school death metal albums released over the course of seven years and bathed in pure Swedish filth, Revel In Flesh imploded, leaving on one side their founding Ralf Hauber and on the other, the rest of the band. Instead of calling it a quit, Hauber sought shelter in the darkness, focusing on his other bands Heads For the Dead and Rotpit while plotting his return to the forefront.
Released last month and now featuring two Swedish members, including his Rotpit and Heads For The Dead comrade Jonny Pettersson of Wombbath, Berzerker Legions and Massacre fame among (many) others, Revel In Flesh’s sixth full-length Flesh For The Kult Of Death isn’t just a true return to form, it’s an actual proof that a death metal band can rise, go on a rampage, then die, only to be resurrected and launch an instant killing spree as a result. You know what they say don’t you? What doesn’t kill you…
The starting question is an obvious one: what the fuck happened in 2024? Did the band, albeit briefly, cease to exist?
Well, to make a long story short: the old line-up (guitarists & drummer) parted ways due to personal, musical, and business-related disagreements. We were all connected in a company, so it was a hassle to dissolve everything. It was a pretty rough time back then, especially since I had health problems and a lot of changes going on in my life as well. It was time to do a reset and first of all put everything on hold.
Musically the old line-up went more and more into a melodic death corner while I said to myself, that this was not the formula I had in mind for Revel In Flesh. I had some trusted souls in my very inner circle that encouraged me to do it my way. I picked up the guitar again in September 2024. I am not a good guitarist, but I have a vision. I talked a lot with my good old mate Jonny Pettersson and pretty quickly I sent my first riffs to him and we started doing demos.
Although we had that geographical distance, it almost felt like sitting in the rehearsal room. I already had titles, lyrics, and some vocal lines as well. So, we started that journey that formed the new album Flesh For The Kult Of Death. Right from the start it felt darker, brutal, and more morbid with Jonny and pretty soon I’ve got the feeling that spirit for the Deathkult is rising again – of course from beyond the grave, Ha! Ha!
Did the band somehow remain active during that period? I remember it more or less officially split up for a couple of months…
Well, it was necessary to put it in a state of slumber to regroup in the background in a decent way. I was constantly active with Rotpit with our second full-length and a few shows here and there plus Heads For The Dead’s fourth album. I never disappeared. I worked with fresh people, recorded vocals with different engineers… learned and progressed. It felt like a relief doing music with fresh and like-minded maniacs.
You’ve just mentioned Rotpit… Considering that now both bands share members and songwriters and more or less play old-school death metal, weren’t you afraid that both would end up sounding a tad too much alike?
Nope, because Rotpit, Heads For The Dead, and Revel In Flesh each have their own formula. Of course, all deal with death metal, but with a clear look on details, style elements, lyrics, and artwork, all have a significant own identity. It’s the fine nerdy details that makes the difference. Furthermore, Revel In Flesh ‘s Erik is a very advanced drummer who can handle different styles and adapt to it whereas Jonny is like a good selected jukebox when it comes to songwriting. Three Bands – three different deaths.
Would you say this was the occasion to reboot the band so to speak on a musical level or is this new album in the direct lineage of, say, 2019’s The Hour Of The Avenger?
It was a reboot with the intention to go back to the roots – bringing back the vibe of the albums Deathevokation and Death Kult Legions and adding a new twist to it with the help of new musicians who add their very own branding to it. Shortly said: bringing back the old school brutality but adding a sort of extra sugar to it.
The biggest difference is that within the new line-up we again had right from the beginning a more common vision and a way of working where everybody respects the competence of the others. It was the way of going back to the roots but giving the skills of the guitarists and drummer a new headroom to bring in their own identity. Of course, it’s a genre album, but you have a lot of small details to discover.
We really had the guts to work out our own mix for the album instead of walking in the safe zone by passing all to Dan Swanö. It was the first time that Revel In Flesh got a drummer in the line-up who went into the studio and simply nailed it with his human resources, instead of cutting things together or doing programmed stuff. Furthermore, Simon really adapted his style of leads/solos to our basics and added a sort of climax to the songs, something that we could not reach in the past. But without big blah blah, the main difference is that the FUN and the JOY in doing this is back. Creativity gets killed when there are too many discussions involved – it needs a sort of spontaneous gut feeling that makes the difference. The magic in the metal, so to say.
What was the very first song written for the album, the one that set somehow the tone for the rest?
‘Graverobber’, followed by ‘Hellhole’. The final one was the title-track. A sort of last minute ‘Paranoid’. Right from the beginning the feeling of the tracks was darker, more morbid, and heavier.
Would it be fair to say that the songwriting is split evenly between you and Jonny? If so, did you give a specific ‘frame’ so to speak?
Jonny and I delivered the basics, but also Erik on drums and Simon on lead guitar left their own signatures. We aimed for very natural drum production and Erik nailed it in the studio. Simon added a sort of new climax in the guitar work, something that really extended our formula of death.
Then again, there’s a strong sense of continuation somehow, with Juan Castellano gracing the artwork once again, this time in icy-blue, a bit like your third album…
Juanjo Castellano is our Dan Seagrave. He is the architect of the Deathkult landscapes. His artwork became a trademark for Revel In Flesh. If you put all album artworks on your desk, you’ll discover they are all following the same red line. Revel In Flesh have been the first German band working with him and many followed. Yes, these nightrealm blue colors have been new to the Revel In Flesh look. You see it right away that it’s a new album. The album artwork had a long evolution and production timeline. I am glad we did it that way also with the help of the layouter from War Anthem Records.
Tricky question but to which of your past albums would you compare the new one?
Deathevokation and Death Kult Legions are the to-the-bone albums in our discography. The new album revives these spirits and the new members added a new formula with their own identity.
I would say that obviously one of this new album’s biggest assets compared to your older material is the lead guitar work, very expressive and far more present. Was is the plan from the beginning or was it suggested by Jonny?
The lead guitar work was a big problem with the old line-up and I was truly aiming for a guitarist who has the capacity and guts to add a sort of climax to the Revel In Flesh songs. Simon did a perfect job to add the right toppings on our song structures. It’s really a step ahead compared to the earlier albums. I am sure we have more to say with this setting in the future. Furthermore, with Erik we have a drummer who is ambitious and really has the will to deliver in studio, live, and to add his own kind of branding to our sound. To me, Flesh For The Kult Of Death sounds soooo much like a union again.
If I’m not mistaken, the album was recorded as a four-piece, with Jonny handling both the guitar and the bass. Why?
There was no need to add a full bass player at that period of time. Jonny knows how to do the basslines in a groovy and fitting way. We might keep the bass position as a session slot. But you never know…
You did get someone for the live duties, haven’t you though?
Yes, Niklas from Simon’s band When At Night helps us out. A really talented and handsome dude who plays guitar as well in a decent way.
How would you qualify Revel In Flesh in 2026 : Ralf’s band with his mate Jonny and a few other dudes or an actual, proper band, like it used to be?
Well, we rehearse, record, share discussions on songs, sound and organizational matters, and we work together. That’s what a band usually does, right? My name is connected with a lot of stuff, but to deliver on full force it needs a healthy union.
Last but not least: what’s coming next? Any new Heads For The Dead and Rotpit material scheduled, for instance?
All irons are in the fire to deliver more rot, more horror, and in the flesh ridden metal. Rotpit are close to finish the songwriting for album No.3, Heads For The Dead have a bunch of movie concept based tracks in the pipeline, and yessss, the Deathkult does not sleep either. It’s great to write dedicated music with dedicated people. In the end it’s about the passion for the music that matters.
https://revelinflesh.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044540135116#
https://revelinflesh-war.bandcamp.com/album/flesh-for-the-kult-of-death