Interview with vocalist and guitarist Jason Flippo
One of my favorite extreme metal albums comes from a relativity new band, Quinta Essentia, and their debut, Neutrality for Defined Chaos. This album is released by Deathgasm Records and combines thrash, death and black metal elements with intelligence and talent. Very few bands have the combination of brains and talent like Quinta Essentia. We emailed some interview questions and frontman Jason Flippo graciously answered them.
You formed Quinta Essentia just a couple of years ago, how did the band get together and what were your goals?
The band came to be in its physical form in 2004. Before then, it was an unborn child in my mind. The ideological approach was always intended to be deep rooted in the occult, physics, western and eastern philosophy, personal philosophy, and stripping down of humanity's inevitable death caused by its materialism. We strip down the morals and values of organized mentality and set them to be brought into the open by the individualist perspective. Only the sheep will be content in following the path of preset ideas and values. The goals of Quinta Essentia are of course to passify our own minds in creating music with depth. Besides the foundational goal that musicians share to express, I find that it is the only thing that keeps us sane sometimes. It allows a place to release explosive energy. Musically we all practice with intense endurance daily to try and improve our abilities. The drummer and I met roughly ten years ago and I joined Blood Stained Dusk in 1999. We put some songs together and met up with Thom. Then the three of us went through a few uninspired bass players before finding Matt Barnes.
I love the band's sound and that there seems to be no boundaries to your sound, do you feel Quinta Essentia is a forward thinking, progressive, yet still extreme project?
Absolutely, we try to incorporate a multiple perspective into our extreme metal. Bands that form boundaries within their sound limit their progression not only as musicians but as people as well. In general those who think in terms of digression constantly will be pleased with their death and the death of others but those of us who make an effort to live will be rewarded with our progressive endeavors. This could be taken as just simply releasing music or staying on top of life. People who live in disgust tend to need to put themselves out of their misery. Since the day we were born humanity has been cursed with emotions and sickness and all of the things that make us vulnerable. There are enough things counting against us from day one to live everyday in hatred and disgust. Although directed in the right places hatred and disgust can change things. I think the extreme hatred in our music is derived from humanity's inevitabilities which are really things that can't be changed.
The artwork is phenomenal, who created it and what ideas does it represent?
The cover art and three of the lyric sheets were created by Dennis Thomsen of Black Lodge Arts. The additional art including the artwork centerpiece in the layout pages and the different lyric sheets were created by Raven of Underworld Imaging. The cover depicts a man and woman representing humanity as a whole and the earth on fire which is its destruction through the holocaust of the enitre human race based on its materialism and greed. It's need for more. The black-robed sourcerer is symbolic of the darkness the enshrouds the earth as we deteriorate.
I found the literature and your lyrics to be depth and profound, what topics provide inspiration? Would you consider Quinta Essentia to be an intellectual band?
I definitely want to release some of my personal philosophies through our music. I think that being an intellectual is subjective to the individual's opinion. In my opinion what makes a philosophy intellectual is a broad understanding of viewpoints outside of your own although sticking to your guns. My biggest inspiration comes from natural landscapes, Nietzche, Crowley, Lawrence Krauss, and many others. I get into science, the occult, different "devil-worshipping" sects of the ancient past, and anything that is a good informative source.
How was the Chicago Metal Devastation Festival? I also see you will be coming to New York for the Death in the Forest Fest, how did you get involved and what are your expectations?
We had a great time in Chicago at the Fest. It was run by Unholy Trio Production which were very professional all the way around. Most of the bands we played with for the two days were grindcore so I think that by the time we went on they were ready for something different. It was a very welcoming response which we greatly appreciated. The Death In the Forest Fest was phenomenal regardless of the three venue changes based on weather. We shared the stage with Vital Remains, Immolation, and some other great bands that night. The club was three stories with vendors on one floor, and the two stages on the other two floors. It ended up being right smack in the middle of N.Y.C. which was cool anyways. Lots of great people, fans, bands, labels, and zines. All of the things to formulate a kick ass metal fest.
How do you approach your vocals when creating Quinta Essentia songs?
I usually come up with some subject ideas first and them work them around to vocal patterns after the riffs begin to surface. I try to keep the vocals suiting the changing atmospheres of the music.
I see Thom has a solo album coming out, what does it sound like? Is it a good showcase for his talent?
I feel that Thom could answer this question better. So here goes; mindcraft is a combination of all of my influences over the years. Everything from Paul Gilbert, Chuck Shuldiner, Jason Becker, Alan
Holdsworth, Iron Maiden, Genesis, and etc. blended with my own interpretation of what instrumental shred metal should be. People who are into the Quinta Essentia guitar sound should like this record as well although there are some different approaches taken as a whole because it was entirely written by me. I beleive that on this particular record I showed more of my ability as a player because the songs revolve more around the guitar playing as opposed to the guitar playing revolving around the songs. If you order the Quinta Essentia album through deathgasm.com you will get a free three song promo of the Mindcraft album. The official release will be in June or July of 2006 and will be available through Black Flame Records.
How did you come to pick up the guitar and play metal? Do practice often? How would you describe your style?
Metal has been there for me since the beginning of my early teens. I listened to bands like Slayer, Death, Megadeth, Sabbath, Priest, Celtic Frost, Metallica, and then from there is just exploded into the extreme stuff. I just knew that guitar and music was where I wanted to go with it just because when I started playing it seemed somewhat natural with the exception of practicing to improve. I practice everyday along with working a full time job. Sometimes for eight hours a day I will work on something whether it is exercises, techniques, or new songs for each band. I think the style is complex and technical yet dark and extreme.
When will you have the new Fleshtized album ready?
As of right now we have recorded five songs. We are looking for a label to release the album. We still have a few more songs to do and it will be finished soon. The songs are very fast, brutal, and technical. It is a step up from the past and a new reckoning in death metal.
Will there be a third Bloodstained Dusk album?
Yes, this final album is titled Black Faith Inquistion. It will be a lasting tribute to Dageth. We have recorded the first four songs which is 45 minutes. We will do the last three songs in a later session. There are lots interesting things about this album. Pest from Gorgoroth/ Obtained Enslavement will do guest vocals. The album will have some of Dageth's vocals taken from old rehearsals that were recorded on a seperate track. We can lift these and use some of his anguish filled screams on the new record. I am doing guitars and bass, Thorgrin is doing guitars and keys, and Profana is doing drums. We arranged and wrote this material before Dageth's death. We intend to fully represent his vision of this music. Some holes were left to be filled in from his sudden death but the album's completion is upon us. All of these new releases are in the works which is why I am so insanely busy at this point. Also, on August 25th and 26th there will be a Dageth tribute Fest titled Hellfire Manifest. It's the 2nd annual. Quinta Essentia will be performing there. It will be held in Huntsville, AL. For more info and band listing stay posted to www.hellfiremanifest.com. This will be the biggest metal fest in the South.
Dageth's death must have been heartbreaking, how have you been able to deal with this tragedy?
His death was an incredible loss to me as a friend and bandmate. We were cut short of the things we had planned as a band because of it. He had many plans for the future of Blood Stained Dusk and Black Flame Records but I suppose that his plan was side tracked. This final Blood Stained Dusk album and the tribute fest is the best way for all of us to deal with losing him. It allows us an outlet
for this negative loss. Dageth's viewpoint was quite misanthropic anyways so he was quite a visionary of death. I suppose this may be relative to dying young. He was a true brother of mine and it is very sad losing someone who is close to you. Just so all of you know about Dageth his house was an occult shrine which was definitive of the Black Arts. His connection to this and my connection to this is how I deal with his death as well.
What future plans do you have for Quinta Essentia?
We are working on new material. We will bring another ritual creation to the masses soon. I just spent seven hours yesterday making a demo of a new song for the rest of the band just so you know its in the works. We will be around until we die ourselves. It's too early on to give a date to start recording the next album but we plan to be in by the beginning of next year.
Final comments?
That covers it. Check out Neutrality for Defined Chaos at www.deathgasm.com. Thanks for your time and Invoke the Powers of the Most High!
Discography:BR> 2006... Neutrality For Defined Chaos (Deathgasm)
Current line-up:
Jason Flippo... vocals and guitars
Thom Mathews... guitars
Matt Barnes... bass
Lee Hurst... drums
| TTM reviews of albums by Quinta Essentia: | |
 | 2008 - 'Archetypal Transformation ' |
 | 2006 - 'Neutrality for Defined Chaos ' |
