Below you'll find a compilation of questions and answers taken from the latest Headhunter D.C. interviews in different 'Zines / Webzines / Mags worldwide. Open up a beer can and good reading!

Toxxik Mag. # 4 (Mexico): Could you tell to the lost souls who hasn’t been converted to the HEADHUNTER DEATH CULT a little biography about the Cult?

Sérgio “Baloff” Borges: Deathmetallic greetings to all! Let the annihilation of God begin... HEADHUNTER D.C. was formed in the Fall of 1987 by guitarist Paul Lisboa after the dissolution of TÚMULO, pioneering Death / Black Metal band in all the Brazilian Northeast side, in order to give continuity to his saga of total devotion towards the Death Metal Underground. There are 4 full length albums (“Born…Suffer...Die”, 1991 – reissued on CD in 2002 – on Cogumelo Records; “Punishment At Dawn, ‘93, also on Cogumelo; “…And The Sky Turns To Black…(the dark age has come)”, 2000 on Mutilation Records – later re-released in 2001 and 2005 through Mercenary Musik/WW3 and Dying Music respectively – and the newest assault of unholy brutality entitled “God's Spreading Cancer...”, unleashed in June last year by Dying Music for the South American distribution and Obscure Domain Productions for the European one), a split 10” MLP with SANCTIFIER (“...In Deathmetallic Brotherhood”, released in May 2007 on French Legion of Death Records), a live tape (“Brazilian Deathkult Live Violence...”, 2002, via Eternal Fire Tapes Live Series, France), a couple of demo tapes (“Hell is Here” from 1989 and “Promo Tape '96”), some rough rehearsal recordings spread throughout the scene in our early days and several appearances in different national and international tribute-albums in exactly 2 decades of uninterrupted activities in the Extreme Metal Underground. Currently the following death culters form HEADHUNTER D.C.: me, Sérgio “Baloff” Borges (vochaos!), Paulo Lisboa and Fábio Nosferatus (guitars), Zulbert Buery (bass) and Daniel Brandão (drums). This is HEADHUNTER DEATH CULT for a new age of blasphemy, chaos and rebellion!  

Necromaniac ‘Zine # 8 (Germany): When in 2002 the last interview was held „…And the Sky Turns to Black…“ was your newest output. A while ago you recorded „God’s Spreading Cancer…“. As far as I know the album was recorded in 2006, so give us a short summary on what happened in the past four years?

Sérgio: Hum… Too much has happened since 2002, let’s say, maybe not too much for you who live in Europe, but speaking about Brazil, where everything happens too slowly, yes, lots of blood have been spilled in our bunker. Actually we have worked on “God’s Spreading Cancer…” since that time, when the first riffs and ideas for the songs appeared. In this interim we had 2 simultaneous line-up changes, when Alex Mendonça (bass) and Thiago Nogueira (drums) were replaced by Zulbert Buery and Daniel Brandão respectively after we stayed for around 8 months resumed to just me, Paulo and Fábio; toured for 2 times (one through the Brazilian Northeast and the other through South America), with some really killer shows, as the ones with mighty INCANTATION, KRISIUN, SANCTIFIER, APOKALYPTIC RAIDS, MELEKTAUS and our partners in unholiness and depravation INCRUST; released a live tape, the “Brazilian Deathkult Live Violence…” on Eternal Fire tapes from France; recorded one song for the eternal delayed tribute to NECROVORE and the songs for the split with SANCTIFIER; re-released the “…And The Sky Turns To Black…” album through Brazilian Dying Music among other activities through the darkest Underground paths. As I told before, it doesn’t seem too much for 5 years bygone, but for the Brazilian scene it surely means a lot. Yes, “God’s Spreading Cancer…” was recorded/mixed/mastered between January and February 2006, and just as well as it happened with “…And The Sky…”, we had to wait more than 1 year to see it finally released. Once again some doors have been closed for us, but as you know that’s the price one must pay for keeping oneself loyal to its roots and opposite to the trends and fashions for such a long time. As I have said, perhaps this album had already been released there’s much more time (and possibly even on a bigger label) if we have wimped out and gave ourselves up to the current scene’s dictatorship. But we are strong, and exactly for that we’re still alive to give continuity to our saga on behalf of the Metal of Death, musical and ideologically wise, and there’s no sign of giving up at all! At last, we’re glad about where we are now!

Call To The Infernal Hordes 'Zine # 4 (Costa Rica): Before entering in the realm of “God’s Spreading Cancer…” and keeping ourselves focused in the history of the band, what would you say the most significant problems are that you have gotten to face as a band to keep it afloat during all these years? Would you say HEADHUNTER D.C. has put as lot of emphasis to the requirements a musician should bear on his shoulders to be chosen as a full time member?

Sergio: Actually we have never been that demanding when summoning a new member for the band. First of all it is needed that the person likes music we play and that he/she is available to dedicate him/herself to the band the way it needs. Of course a certain technique and experience with his instrument are important, mainly today when we already are 20 years on the road, with a certain musical maturity and a certain name in the scene, but not always it’s the most important. We have already worked with some very good musicians in the past, but who didn’t last in the band because it wasn’t the type of music that pleased them the most and consequently did not give enough blood for the band. Sincerely speaking, I prefer that the guy is only a reasonable musician and comes to get technique and experience with us with the passing of the time, but that he/she is a true metalhead, who has Metal running boiling in his/her veins and dedicates himself to the band with passion and feeling. Who dress the shirt of the band with pride, you know? We live in a region of Brazil where the conditions to keep a Metal band are the worse possible (even if there are 15, 20 years this picture was still worse), then we faced many obstacles until arriving where we are today, surely much more than the ones the bands from the so-called big Metal centers in Brazil, like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, use to face, therefore we are strong above all. We saw many doors being closed for Death Metal here in Brazil in the last years, also we hear much people declaring that the style was dead and buried here, the same ones who nowadays take advantage to profit on Death Metal like vultures on the carrion! But fuck them, because we know they will last just until the next trend appears, while our Cult is eternal. As I use to say, trends come, trends go...

Call To The Infernal Hordes 'Zine # 4 (Costa Rica): Now well, let’s get it into “God’s Spreading Cancer…”. Honestly man, putting a side the possible tone of ass kissing it might sound, this album is one of the BEST DEATH METAL albums I ever heard in my entire life! It is powerful, brutal, technique and most of all: filled with FEELING, something really hard to find in today’s extreme bands. How did this album come to life and how much of participation had the other members in the crafting of the songs?

Sergio: Although “God’s Spreading Cancer...” is either a creation of mine and Paulo composition wise, all the members of the band have participated on its development in a very active way so that it was what it is. Every riff played, every lead, every bass line, every drum arrangement or vociferation has the heart of its respective responsible ones, then what we have in the final result of the record is a piece of Death Metal Musick made by Death Metal lovers for Death Metal lovers. “GSC” was created basically through the meetings between me and Paulo. We have what I could call a perfect syntony to write Death Metal songs, and when we seat to develop our ideas, we are sure that some new brutal songs will take life. I am happy for currently being capable to also write music, and much from what I know (little, still very little...) I owe to Paulo, a genius in the art of creating Death Metal riffs in my opinion. By the way, thanks for your kind words on “GSC”! I am glad to know that you have appreciated the album and absorbed its essence in the right way above all! It’s for people like you that our efforts are turned to.

Executioner Webzine (Spain): So, six years passed since “...And The Sky Turns To Black...” and finally here’s your new album. I must say I hadn’t listened to your music until now, but I was hugely surprised with it. Are you satisfied with the result? How does it feel to release an album after so much time and efforts? I think it must be quite different than releasing one every year, and that’s what you try to explain on the first page of the booklet of “God’s Spreading Cancer…”, isn’t it?

Sérgio: Yes “God’s Spreading Cancer...” is one more victory won over this arduous saga which has lasted 20 years – 21 next May. Once again, as it happened with “...And The Sky Turns To Black...”, we faced several difficulties to make this album could be finally released, since we are a band that NEVER shared with any kinds of fashions or musical trends that infest the scene time by time, which means that some doors are closed to us here in Brazil, so having it finally in our hands and spread among the metallic masses is another big reason of pride for us; it’s the ultimate proof that only the strongest survive.

We are very pleased with the final result of the album, both for its compositions and production wise. Of course we’ll try to improve more in some aspects for the next effort, but I can say that “GSC” sounds as faithfully as Headhunter D.C. is, musical and ideologically. Our goal was never to release an album every one or two years – though the whole delay between our releases is a consequence of various factors beyond our will. We write our songs with the real feeling that Death Metal musick gives us, then it doesn’t matter that much how much time we’ll take to write a new album, the most important thing is that it’s something done with passion – and not something mechanical as we see too much nowadays –faithful to ourselves, you know? It’s always great to know that people like you have absorbed what I tried to express through that text. That’s just a summary of a part of our history, an arduous, but honest history above all. And as you never have heard our music until now, well, better late than never, do you agree?

Toxxik Mag. # 4 (Mexico): “God’s Spreading Cancer…” in our opinion it’s near perfection, the artwork, concept, lyrics and of course the music! The riffing is neck breaking, the drumming is fast and precise (Brazilian style), and with your destructive vocals you can feel the hate and anger ¿Which’s the concept behind “GSC”, why do you choose that title for the album?

Sérgio: First of all, thanks for your kind words on our newest effort. The title of the album was taken from a song of an old Brazilian artist/singer (Bahian from Salvador) called Raul Seixas (1945-1989) – who actually was the great Rock’n Roll pioneer in Brazil – entitled “Love is Magick”. Raul made several partnerships with one of the biggest best sellers in the world nowadays, also Brazilian, called Paulo Coelho, and many of their texts questioned the religions deeply, always in an intelligently sarcastic way. If you look right in the booklet of the album you will see a dedication from me in our thankslist. Although it’s not about a conceptual album, the general concept behind “GSC” (the album and its title-track) is that we, the so-called "heretics" (according to views of the Christians and religious people in general) are the cancer that spreads out in God, I mean, all that He (or rather, His concept) fears and that was “imposed” on His son, according to the Christian fable. Everything revolves around this stupid concept of “God”, His “savior” son and His false words of virtue, hope and redemption. “God's Spreading Cancer…” is our offering of blasphemy against the true cancer of mankind called christianity and all that is so-hypocritically-called “holy”. Death, chaos, rebellion and our eternal fight for the true deathmetallic ideology are also a constant in the texts of “GSC”, so join us in a journey through the dark side of life! By the way, support the war against christianity! 

Necromaniac ‘Zine # 8 (Germany): Now, let’s talk about the music! I don’t wanna be too overwhelming with gay compliments and also I don’t want to overburden your ego but „God’s Spreading Cancer…“ is the best old school Death Metal album I have heard lately and for me it already is an absolute classic. Even though you’re not focussing too much on speed (logically, there still are lots of fast parts), the album has come out ultra brutal. I especially like those accents you set, for instance the intro of the first song saying „God is dead!“ in various languages. Come on, you might as well admit it, you are fucking proud of this album, aren’t you (haha)?

Sérgio: First of all thanks for your words, Thomas! They coming from a true deathmetalhead like you sound totally sincere – a bit gay though, hahahaha!!! As all can read on the CD booklet on a text written by me, we worked really hard to conceive “God’s Spreading Cancer…”, from the creation and development of the songs, passing through the arduous (but always pleasurable) rehearsals, until the stressing (and most of the times disappointing too) process of looking for a honest label who got interest on releasing it, so when we hear eulogies and compliments like yours we’re sure still more that all the efforts were worth it, as although it sounds totally cliché, that’s the best response we can get for all our arduous work, I mean, to hear positive words from people who, like you, understand and absorb in the right way all the concept that exists behind our work in general. To play Death Metal in the Northeast side of Brazil for 2 fuckin’ decades in an uninterrupted way is not the easiest of the missions, so it’s more than notorious that we are, at least, a honest act, and it makes us really proud of ourselves. Too many people out there claims to support the Brutal unholy Death Metal the old school way, but it’s not exactly like this as we know. Anyway, yes, we are fuckin’ proud of this album, and we hope it satiate the thirst and hunger for pure Death Metal of all the true deathbangers around this dying world! As for the intro, the original idea for “Dysangelium” was to say “God is Dead!” in at least 8/10 different languages, but we hadn’t time to research about it, since I came with it just a few days before the recordings. Anyway, I hope it hasn’t sound too shitty when I tried to pronounce “Gott ist Tot”, but hopefully the message was spread in an universal scale just the way it should be.

Bloody ‘Zine # 16 (Spain): The album title, “God’s Spreading Cancer”, is really critic towards Christian morality. What kind of cancer would be God’s favourite in your opinion? I personally think that every god, from any religion, is an authentic cancer that poisons people’s mind and the will of the weak. Do you agree with me?

Sérgio: I totally do!!! The concept of God coming from religions (mainly Christianity) is the worst form of anti-life and anti-nature that exists: a dominating, punitive God, who cripples the human being in his/her capacity of evolution and blind him/her before the real world. The concept behind “God’s Spreading Cancer…” is that we, the so-called “heretics” (under the view of the Christians and religious people in general), are the cancer that spreads in God, I mean, all that He (or better said, the concept about Him) fears and that was used against His son, according to the Christian fable. It’s against this stupid concept about God and His “savior” son, His words of “salvation” that our war is turned to. “God’s Spreading Cancer…” is our offering of blasphemy against that real cancer in mankind called Christianity and everything that’s so-called “holy”. Support the war against Christianity!!!

Call To The Infernal Hordes 'Zine # 4 (Costa Rica): And, what would you say the favorite aspects of this new album are in your ears? Is there something you would like to do different?

Sergio: As I told previously, playing Death Metal Musick and true Metal in general is an eternal search, a perpetual learning, then you will always find one or another imperfection in your works to correct it on the next one, that’s the point! But sometimes it’s in the imperfections that one reaches the best results. See in the “...And The Sky...” album for example: we recognize some imperfections on it, mainly on the mixing, however perhaps it did not have the aura and the atmosphere it has if it had been better produced. And thus, other examples like this in the history of the Metal are there. With “GSC” it’s not different, however although we recognize some imperfections on it too, I wouldn’t change absolutely anything on it. In my opinion the main aspect in “GSC”, besides its compositions on itself, is the union of the rawness, roughness and bestiality of the music with the clearness and the quality of the production, keeping the heaviness and the dirt characteristic of Death Metal Musick untouched. It made that the album got a good sound quality within a dense and obscure atmosphere, the way we wanted it was.

Necromaniac ‘Zine # 8 (Germany): Aside from your own tracks you also covered a THRASHMASSACRE song („Angelkiller“), a thrash band from the 80ies. This was one of the first extreme bands from your hometown Bahia. Tell us something about the band, funnily enough I never heard of them before.

Sérgio: Don’t blame yourself Thomas, as THRASHMASSACRE doesn’t even recorded any official material, what’s really a pity since the band had an incredible potential as a raging Thrash band. THRASHMASSACRE was formed in late 1985 and was the very first real extreme band from Bahia along with TÚMULO (pre-HEADHUNTER D.C.) and were like our mate-band, sharing the same rehearsal room (and the same drummer as well) and fighting hard for the true local scene at that time, so the recording of “Angelkiller” is a honest and sincere way to pay a tribute to real Extreme Metal pioneers in Bahia (and surely one of the first extreme acts in the whole Brazilian North/Northeast) and to eternize their magnificent work. For the older ones (not ourselves of course, hehehe…) there’s an interview with Kléber (TM bassist) in U.S.D. (Ultimate Speedcore Dislocation ‘zine) issue # 3, a very old French underground fanzine made by the infamous Ludo “Evil” Lejeune, Arnaud Battez, Herbaut Hervé and Laurent Merle back in ‘87/’88, so start taking out the dust from your old ‘zines’ collection and read it. The idea from now on is to record one THRASHMASSACRE song on each new HDC release and thus definitely perpetuate their great music for the metallic universe. More thrashy massacres are on the way… Pseudo thrashers, beware!!!

Necromaniac ‘Zine # 8 (Germany): Is it right that you used to be a member of THRASHMASSACRE or is that wrong?

Sérgio: Yes, you are right. I was the latest singer in THRASHMASSACRE and stayed in the band until joining HEADHUNTER D.C. in late ’89. Actually I’ve never got to do a complete show with the band, just sang some songs on their last gig in 1989, at a small festival in Caldas de Cipó, Bahia. After that there were just some few months until the band stop its activities definitely.

Necromaniac ‘Zine # 8 (Germany): After some back and forth you signed with Obscure Domain Productions for the European sales and distribution. It still is a very young and small label, but I think you couldn’t have chosen a better one, cause Hacker and Soenke are true fans of your music and will do their very best to sell the album. You have been in touch with Hacker for a couple of years anyway due to his fanzine Unholy Terror. What did you think when Hacker came up with the deal? You are still looking for licensing partners in Brazil and the United States. Have you found a label by now?

Sérgio: I’m in contact with Hacker since 2000, when I sent him a copy of “…And The Sky…” for a review in his mighty Unholy Terror ‘zine. Since then we have developed a real deathmetallic alliance. He’s about a person who’s capable to absorb the true essence of Death Metal musick like a few ones, at last, a true death metallion in my eyes! It was a fuckin’ great news that Hacker was running with his own Death Metal label, and when he came up with his offer to unleash “God’s…” in Europe I got sure it would be a perfect union, since it’s about a mutuous admiration, besides knowing he’s a huge appraiser of our work, so we’re more than sure he will do his best to spread the Cult through European lands. We’re really glad for being under the obscure domain now! By the way, hails Hacker and Söenke!!! In Brazil we’ve signed with Dying Music for the South American distribution, which have already done a good job with the re-release of “…And The Sky…”, however we’re still looking for a licensing partnership in the US. Hopefully we have already been found one when this intie is published.

Cadaverous Smell ‘Zine # 2 (France): Karnage from LEGION OF DEATH REKORDZ released a live tape of your band. I haven’t the luck to listen to it! So, can you describe me this tape? What are the current news for maybe an European tour of HEADHUNTER D.C.?

Sérgio: This tape features an old live recording from a gig in Itabuna, Bahia, in 1995. The idea came when I sent 3 or 4 songs from that live to Karnage around 6 years ago. He simply worshipped that recording and asked me to release it as a whole on a live tape format through his Eternal Fire Live Tapes Series as a kind of homage for our, at the time, 14 years of existence. The result is the “Brazilian Deathkult Live Violence…” live tape which was released on an ultra limited edition of 100 copies only. It was probably sold out in the first or second month of released. As for a possible European tour, well, we have always been very realistic about that. We never had that obsession of playing out of Brazil at any cost just to have an Euro tour in our curriculum as some current Brazilian bands do. Anyway, now that we have a label that represents the band in Europe, the possibilities for it finally happen soon surely increases, so hopefully we can help Obscure Domain to grow up and thus they can support us with some gigs through your continent. Let’s wait and see what happens…

Call To The Infernal Hordes 'Zine # 4 (Costa Rica): Recently you put together a split 10” LP with your mates in crime SANCTIFIER with the well known underground label Legion of Death Records. Just by looking at the cover is obvious that the relationship between both bands is bounded in blood and as far as I know you covered each other and both also delivered new songs. Please, would you like to detail us everything worthy of being know of this 10” LP?

Sergio: Well, in result of the huge partnership and brotherhood we have developed with our brother Hugues “Karnage” Vallot (hail!) after the release of the live tape “Brazilian Deathkult Live Violence...” in the beginning of 2002 through Eternal Fire Tapes Series, I had the idea for the split with SANCTIFIER – a band which we’re in touch with since early nineties – inspired by the DESASTER/PENTACLE “...In League With...” 10” on Iron Pegasus, on which each one played a cover of the other more new stuffs. I sent the idea to Karnage, who at once accepted to carry through the project, and the result is the split 10” MLP “... In Deathmetallic Brotherhood”, (limited to 500 handnumbered copies), on which we appear with a brandnew track entitled “Hymn to Babylon”, plus a SANCTIFIER cover (“Cycle of the Entity”) and a live version for “Falling in Perdition”, recorded in 2005, while SANCTIFIER offers 2 brandnew tunes (killer ones by the way!) and a brutalizing version for “Am I Crazy?”, the opening track of our debut from 1991. At last it just remains me to say to all of you, true defenders of the Brutal Brazilian and South American Death Metal tradition, to get you copy now, therefore they’re about two bands really engaged to the real essence of the Metal of Death from the old school. 100% untrendy!!!!!!

Bloody ‘Zine # 16 (Spain): It’s really difficult to find bands playing the same style for 20 years being loyal with their beginning, in your case playing Death Metal and being loyal with your antichristian lyrics and principles. Many bands that appeared when you did have disappeared or changed or maybe they talk about other subjects in their lyrics. Do you think that there’s any trick to be loyal to your own style, to your antichristian fight and to be so strong during so many years? Would it be because you don’t try to be rich with your music and you just want to die playing the music that comes from your hearts?

Sérgio: First of all, one must be loyal to oneself. Starting from this principle you will always be naturally loyal to everything you’ll do and everything you’ll do will always sound true. As I use to say, Death Metal is about a passion for us, not a shit of a business, so we’ll NEVER made music for money – and I also include there the ideological side of it, which for us is as important as the musical side. Although we still didn’t deal with atheist/antichristian subjects on our first album – but a certain dark / morbid vein was already evident through titles as “Beneath the Hate”, “Winds of Death” and “Decomposed” –, when most of the texts dealed with subjects such as wars and serious questionings about life, death and our role in the world, my antichristian consciousness was already formed, however I only had the opportunity to show it through lyrics from the “Punishment At Dawn” album (1993) on, when I wrote “Deadly Sins of the Soul” in partnership with MYSTIFIER’s Beelzeebubth – the lyrics from the debut album were written by the first singer Eduardo Falsão, Ualson Martins (the bassman at the time) and Paulo Lisboa. At last, you can be sure that we’ll be always playing the Musick that comes from our dark hearts and we’ll NEVER betray our principles as many from our era did. It’s a matter of character and personality for us. Forever Death… Forever Cult!!!!!!

Call To The Infernal Hordes 'Zine # 4 (Costa Rica): By the way man, in spite that you are one of the most respected bands in the whole South American scene you still keep that humble underground spirit and I don’t know, at least to me, you keep yourselves rooted to the ground. Is it important for you to keep that underground approach? Is the relationship of you guys with other Brazilian bands as strong as the one you have forged with Sanctifier?

Sergio: Underground for us is far beyond just plain speech: you are or you are not, and so we are, totally! Death Metal in general is a style totally rooted to the Underground, and when one exceeds this border, I mean, when one passes from the Underground to the mainstream, I think the music loses its true essence and becomes something dismissible. We have many examples to be mentioned. Moreover, Underground is much more than a simple status, but so a state of spirit, mainly nowadays, when its principles are more and more forgotten.

We always look to have a good friendship with every real Death and general Heavy Metal band here in Brazil. Some of them who are part of our deathmetallic brotherhood’s circle besides SANCTIFIER are INCRUST, IMPETUOUS RAGE, EMBALMED SOULS, APOKALYPTIC RAIDS, NAUSEOUS SURGERY, DECOMPOSED GOD, PATHOLOGIC NOISE, QUEIRON, GEMINICARIOS among others, which besides being great friends of ours are also excellent bands.

Executioner Webzine (Spain): Even if you’ve been playing since 1987, Headhunter D.C. is not a very reknown band. As I said before, I hadn’t listened to your music until this new album, and I only heard your name because of some Pentacle interviews, where Wannes always spread your name, but, are you keeping your music and name underground on purpose or you simply didn’t get the proper promotion in the past? By the way, what do you think about the internet and how it is affecting the extreme and underground Metal scene on that side? Do you think it is a useful tool or you still prefer paper zines and the old feeling? Which are the best and worst things of nowadays extreme Metal scene in your opinion?

Sérgio: Wannes is a huge brother and leader of one of the best bands of today’s Death Metal in my opinion. His latest two releases, “Under the Black Cross” and “Archaic Undead Fury” are nothing but true masterpieces of highest class Ancient Death Metal. Hails Wannes & mighty Pentacle! Well, do not doubt that we are a 100% Underground band and thus we will remain until the fuckin’ end, even because Underground for us is far beyond than just a status, but an ideology with principles that need to be preserved, and to it we are totally loyal. The fact of we not having had a greater recognition outside of South America is due to several factors, but mainly to the little promotion offered by our previous labels, not to mention that everything becomes more difficult when you live in a country like Brazil. Fortunately I think this framework has been changed slightly since the release of “...And The Sky Turns To Black...” and slowly we are conquering the space we deserve in the worldwide scene, yet we know that we are capable of conquering still more. Loyalty and honesty, always!

Although recognizing some benefits brought with the advent of the Internet – as a greater agility in the contacts and... what else? –, I think it was the great causer of the slow degeneration of the Underground in the world, turning what formerly was a cult into a too virtual scene, banal and lack of real emotions. For sure I prefer LPs, EPs, cassettes and printed ‘zines and I think these traditional formats are where the real UG feeling is, as it was there where it all began. Nothing against the current CDs and webzines (since they keep the true UG in their works), but as a good-old orthodox I am, nothing replaces the pleasure of admiring a huge LP cover (without mentioning the delight in its listening), doing tapetradings or browsing a fuckin’ printed ‘zine. Anyway, that’s the sign of the times...

Cadaverous Smell ‘Zine # 2 (France): You play Death Metal since 20 years!!! CRUELTY, FLESH TEMPTATION, AZOTH, NAUSEOUS SURGERY, GOLEM, SEPULTURA… Argh!!!!!!!!! Which are your memories of childhoods, when you passed from MANOWAR, IRON MAIDEN to POSSESSED? Do you remember the first time when you’ve listened to “Seven Churches”? Which were the elements that one always allowed you to remain faithful to this way that others as SEPULTURA forgot?

Sérgio: I was presented to mighty POSSESSED’s music in 1986 when “Seven Churches” was released in Brazil through Enigma Records. I will never forget that moment! I had already heard about POSSESSED through some Brazilian HM magazines as Rock Brigade and Heavy Metal Maniac, and I was astonished only by reading the reviews for the album. When I finally held that record on my own hands it was love at first sight only by seeing the cover with that classic flaming logo and the infamous white inverted cross and the back cover with those brutal pictures. Since it was the most brutal and noisy shit I have ever heard (it was even more brutal than Venom, Slayer, Metallica, Motörhead or even all of them together!), I took some days (weeks?) until I finally assimilate all that satanic sonic violence. I was only 15 years old at that time. The rest is history… You stated right there! I always was an IRON MAIDEN and MANOWAR fan, and “Piece of Mind” and “Into Glory Ride” are 2 of the best HM albums of all time in my opinion! Maybe “Piece of Mind” and “Seven Churches” are the 2 albums I’ve listened to the most in my entire life! I also used to listen a lot (and still do) to SATAN, OMEN, METAL CHURCH, DEMON, MÖTLEY CRÜE (2 first LPs), W.A.S.P. (1st LP), SAXON, PICTURE, MOTÖRHEAD, BITCH, LOUDNESS, TED NUGENT, SABBATH, PURPLE, OZZY and then I was presented to more extreme stuffs as VENOM, METALLICA, SLAYER, KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, POSSESSED, SODOM, ONSLAUGHT, NECRONOMICON, DARK ANGEL, BATHORY, HELLHAMMER/FROST, BULLDOZER, EXODUS, SACRIFICE, DEATH ROW, WHIPLASH, DESTRUCTOR, EXORCIST, INFERNAL MAJESTY, so a new dark horizon has opened before me. As I use to say, one must be always loyal to oneself. We just play the musick that come from our dark hearts, without worrying if it’s “in” or “out” these days or if it will please the big masses. We just do what we love and love what we do. We truly are Death Metal and deathbangers to the bone and can’t imagine ourselves playing another kind of music which is not Brutal Death Metal, at least not under the HEADHUNTER D.C. monicker. This is what keeps ourselves alive (“Long Live The Death Cult”)!!!

Bloody ‘Zine # 16 (Spain): Let´s go back in time..... In the pictures of your first album you wear Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Blasphemy… t-shirts and in the thanks list you include bands as Death, Morbid Angel, Morgoth, Merciless, Sadistic Intent, Necrophobic, Immolation… I suppose that back then there should be a big friendship between the bands, with tape trading… something as a big Death Metal brotherhood now disappeared with internet, mp3,… For example, what do you remember of Chuck Schuldiner? With what bands do you still maintain contact? Do you own any rehearsal, special demo or EP from that times that you consider to be a jewel?

Sérgio: Yes, you’re right. There really was a big brotherhood between the bands back then, and in spite of all the difficulty in communication, the trading of handwritten letters and tapes brought a bigger unity / friendship with the real Underground essence, something I miss a lot in these Internet times. There were only a very, very few bands in Brazil at that time who were in touch with the bands featured on our thankslists, and that’s the proof that we always gave the right value to that brotherhood circle in the Death Metal scene, no matter where the band came from. Back then it was our bassman Ualson Martins who took care of almost all the band’s mail, and besides these bands you’ve mentioned he was also in touch with SADUS, FILTHY CHRISTIANS, NUCLEAR DEATH, BLOOD, IMPETIGO, MACABRE, Neal Boback from IMMOLATION, MONSTROSITY, INCANTATION, ORDER FROM CHAOS, MALEVOLENT CREATION, UNLEASHED, MORGOTH, INVOCATOR, Bob Yost from the second period of POSSESSED, among others. From the bands we were in touch with between ’91 and ’93 we’ve unfortunately lost the contact with many of them, but we’re still in touch with SADISTIC INTENT, IMMOLATION, MONSTROSITY, POSSESED and INCANTATION. If I remember well, Ualson got to receive one or two letters from Evil Chuck himself, and today I’m proud that my band has been in contact with this great icon and pioneer of Death Metal Musick one day. Yes, I have some items from that period (early / mid ‘90’s) in my humble tapes’ collection which I’m very proud to own, be them originals or just copies from the originals, but all of them acquired in their respective eras. Let me remember some: SADISTIC NOISE (GRE) demos, SUFFOCATION demo, BEHERIT demos/rehs, MYSTIFIER demos/old lives, BLASPHEMY lives/rehs, many Finnish/Swedish/Dutch bands on demos and rehs like TOXAEMIA, SINISTER, DISGRACE, EXCRUCIATE, TRAUMATIC, MACRODEX, BEELSEBUB, ABHORRENT/THY ABHORRENT, ABHORRENCE, OBSCENE, FUNEBRE, CONVULSE, CEMETARIUM, CARNIFEX, AUTOPSY TORMENT, PHLEBOTOMIZED, OBTRUNCATION, MACABRE END/GOD MACABRE, NIRVANA 2000 among others. Coming back more in time, mid/late ‘80’s, there are too many to mention. The list is huge…

Executioner Webzine (Spain): How do you feel with nowadays extreme Metal scene? You know, I’m not that kind of “past was better” person, and I think it’s just great to see how much bands of all the styles we have now, so if you like one particular style you can find a lot of bands of it, it doesn’t matter if it’s old-school Death Metal or hyper grinding Brutal Death, although perhaps there is not so much originality now. Which bands and albums have surprised you these last times? Any of all those “back from the dead” reunions of classical bands that you think is worth it a listening?

Sérgio: I haven’t been so happy with the directions that Extreme Metal has taken in the last years and so very little from what has been launched recently has called me to attention. Though neither label myself as a kind of “past was better” person, there’s no way to deny that the former bands had a special feeling and atmosphere, so hard to find in the newer bands. Anyway I am happy that there are exceptions among younger bands that are able to keep the old feeling alive, and some bands and their albums that have surprised me lately are Necros Christos “Triune Impurity Rites”, Drowned “Viscera Terrae” ( I am currently addicted to these two albums!), 9th Plague “Apocatastasis Reversed”, Kaamos “Lucifer Rising” and “Scales of Leviathan”, Apokalyptic Raids “The Third Storm – World War III”, Anal Vomit “Demonic Flagellations”, Incrust “Baptized in Unholy Gore”, Sanctifier “Awaked by Impurity Rites”, Nocturnal Vomit demos/EP’s, Dead Congregation “Purifying Consecrated Ground” (I've checked one song from their debut CD/LP “Graves of the Archangels” and it fuckin’ shreds!), Impetuous Rage “Inverted Redemption”, Repugnant “Epitome of Darkness” and a few others.

As for all these comebacks from classic bands, hum ..., I am somewhat sceptical regarding this, as most of them sound for me like a way to take advantage of this new Metal boom in the world to earn some money. My big question is "where were all these bands when Metal was really underground and hadn’t all this massive support from the media?" Better not know... I trust more in the bands that have remained 100% active through all these years despite all the difficulties and that there are today, alive and strong to tell the story, and bands such as Incantation, Immolation, Morbid Angel, Malevolent Creation, Cannibal Corpse , Mortem, Nunslaughter, Sadistic Intent, Cianide, Dismember and Headhunter D.C. itself are living proofs of that. Perhaps what have called my attention the most was the controversial return of Possessed, my fave band of all time, even if it only counts on Jeff Becerra from its original line-up – but I think he could not have made a better choice if not the Sadistic Intent guys to continue the legacy of the masters. Impossible not being surprised with Jeff’s strength after that return after everything he struggled, so I can say that I am at least curious to know what fruit will born from that return besides the shows. I hope they really come to Brazil soon!

Toxxik Mag. # 4 (Mexico): You have influenced lots of bands worldwide, we know you have been invited to participate in some Tribute albums for Possessed, Sepultura, Kreator, Dorsal Atlantica, but ¿Who could be named as the main influence on Headhunter D.C. sound? You know that band that made you think…”Damn! This is how I want to sound…”

Sérgio: I think that when the first songs began to be written, in mid ‘87, the influences came from bands like POSSESSED, SODOM, BATHORY, SEPULTURA, KREATOR, DEATH, POISON (Ger), MUTILATOR, HOLOCAUSTO, BLOOD FEAST, NAPALM DEATH among others, and from my entry on other influences were incorporated – but without ever forgetting the first ones – such as MORBID ANGEL, NECROVORE, DEAD CONSPIRACY, MALFEITOR, IMMOLATION, AUTOPSY, MORGOTH, Swedish bands from late ‘80’s / early ‘90’s etc. Indeed there is no way to cite this or that band as a major influence on HEADHUNTER DC’s music, as it was from the union of all these influences mentioned and more a long search for an own identity that made the band sound like it is today. 

Cadaverous Smell ‘Zine # 2 (France): By the way, on your first album, “Born…Suffer…Die”, the song “Death Vomit” is close to this kind of Metal, do you agree with me? Is it the influence of BLASPHEMY? Did you make trades of demos with them at that time? Which are the feelings you have when you listen to this kind of Metal? Is this different from a good old Death Metal album?

Sérgio: I wouldn’t say that Eduardo Falsão (first HDC singer and responsible for “Death Vomit”’s lyrics and music) was influenced by BLASPHEMY when he wrote this song – BLASPHEMY would appear in an international scale from 1989 on with their “Blood Upon the Altar” demo and “Death Vomit” was possibly written in late ‘88/early ’89. I think he was more into NAPALM DEATH/REPULSION to write this song, but surely I brought some BLASPHEMY influences when I recorded it for “Born…Suffer…Die”, and I’m glad that you’ve noticed this. Even if “Death Vomit” is definitely a total Death/Grind tune, the BLASPHEMY inspiration is there. “Demoniac”? I never was directly in touch with any of the BLASPHEMY members at that time (but I got an interview with Gerry “Black Winds” for my fanzine at the time called “Rotten Death” through my ‘zine partner Paulo Brasil, former THRASHMASSACRE singer), but I used to be in contact with the infamous BLASPHEMY fan club from France back in early nineties, through which I got my unholy “BLASPHEMY kit” which consisted in the “Fallen Angel of Doom…” LP on Wild Rags (red vinyl), a “Fallen Angel…” original two sided t-shirt, stickers and the so requested (but very hard to get) “devil’s card”, haha!!! I think bands like BLASPHEMY and BEHERIT have a very characteristic sound, raw and bestial as fuck, and I simply love it! Some younger bands tried to sound like them; some were successful, others not. Even if you have some different aspects in a traditional DM album comparing to this kind of Metal, I think the feelings when I listen to both are almost the same, I mean, total hatred, total darkness and total fuckin’ death!!!!!!

Bloody ‘Zine # 16 (Spain): Try to imagine for one moment that there’s no gods and everybody is totally free and can think by themselves. Don’t you think that human nature will continue creating the existence of slaves and masters, oppressed and oppressors and all that kind of things that exist nowadays because of religions?

Sérgio: There’s an ending verse on “Stillborn Messiah”, a track from our new album, that says the following: “The Messiah was born dead, no life, no resurrection; but his sons still to gnaw his rotting carcass…”. It synthesizes perfectly what you told there in your question. A “world without God” (remember CONVULSE?), without Christ, without Christianity would really be the idea of a perfect, let’s say, “healthier” world for us who walk with our own legs, think with our own brains and follow our own instincts, but as far as we know from the human being, he/she very probably would feel the need to create another fable to give some sense to his/her existence and to bring some redemption for his/her “sins” (or better said, “guilt”), so we can reach a conclusion that men is the creator of his own disgrace.

Necromaniac ‘Zine # 8 (Germany): Tell us something about the South American Tour you just completed. Where did you play, how long were you on the road, which bands supported you, etc. J. Just go ahead and tell us everything.

Sérgio: The “Spreading The Death Cult… Tour 2007 (destruyendo Sudamerica)” did last exactly one month and reached Chile, Peru, Bolivia and 6 cities from the South and Southeast sides of Brazil, in a total of 12 gigs. Although its title already refers to the new album, it was only a pre-release tour of “God’s…”, since it hasn’t been released yet. It was an unforgettable experience, with some really memorable gigs and great meetings with our South American brothers. One of these great moments was when we played in Santiago, Chile, on the release party of the mighty Noise And Shit mag. issue # 7 from our deathmetallic comrades Huaira Herrera and Jose Ruiz-Tagle (all hail friends of hell!!!). The bands who shared the stage with us were MELEKTAUS, FORCE OF DARKNESS and EJECUTOR, all of them great bands by the way. GORHOTH was also summoned to play, but they had problems with his drummer just some days before the show. We got a fuckin’ big support from all those maniacs there in Santiago, what made us feel as if we were at home. Lots of 1 liter beer (Escudo and Becker are the best!) and ‘churrasco’ (barbeque) in the best South American tradition! Mega thanks to Huaira, Jose and Carola for the great receptiveness, support and true friendship and all the crazy maniacs who were banging their fuckin’ heads off at the Addictive Bar that unholy cult night! Other gigs as the ones in La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia and Maringá, Cuiabá, Osasco and Campinas in Brazil were also amazing! Some of the other bands who supported us on this tour were HIDDEN, DECREPIT CADAVER, PROSATANUS, DEMENCIA, CARION STENTOR, MORTOFOBIA, SABATHAN and the Brazilian ones HOLDER, QUEIRON, DESDOMINUS, BESTIAL ATROCITY, BLOODSHED, MESEMON ECROF, CLAWN, MORTAGE and AMASARAK. Now we are planning to do a new Brazilian tour to promote the new album from June on and come back to brutalize through South America again as soon as possible, this time reaching countries as Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and the North of Peru. Hails to all the South American legions of death!!! DEATH METAL HASTA LA MUERTE!!!

Call To The Infernal Hordes 'Zine # 4 (Costa Rica): By the way, you guys in Brazil have a strong tradition for cult formats such as vinyl and tapes. Why is that? I also know that you are a big zine collector, how many zines have you collected so far and recently, which zines have convinced you? Why is that need for you to collect this kind of publications? There are guys who claim printed zines are dead due to the explosion of Webzines, what do you think about it?

Sergio: We were formed at a time when there were only vinyl and cassette. Our two first albums have been originally released on vinyl only as there wasn’t CD yet, therefore it is about something natural for us, and being vinyl something that is part of our history, we will always be releasing material also on this format.

Yes, you can call me huge ‘zine maniac! I collect fanzines since 1985, and currently I must have something around 300/350 ‘zines from almost all over the globe. I already was a ‘zine maker in mid/late eighties. I got to start the works of a ‘zine called Rotten Death in 1988/1989 and knew closely all the difficulties one faces to give life to an Underground Metal fanzine, then perhaps all my passion for printed ‘zines comes also from there. Printed ‘zines are the oldest basis of the true Underground (what would we be without them?), therefore they ever shouldn’t disappear. Collecting printed fanzines is like collecting LPs, 7”s, cassettes or even CDs, or either, having the pleasure to handle them, to turn their pages, to read and re-read them years later is an emotion that no webzine will replace, therefore hopefully printed ‘zines will stay around for much time yet. Some of my current faves are Necromaniac (hails Thom-ass!!!), Unholy Terror (printed version R.I.P. unfortunately…), Carnage (all from Germany), Poltergeist (Brazil), Psychosis Death (Brazil, currently only with the web version), Crypts of Eternity (Peru), Liquid of Life (France - still waiting for the new issue...), Medical Genocide (Brazil), Osculum Obscenum (Brazil), Metal Blood (Brazil), Alerta Subterranea (Bolivia), Metal Storm (U.S.A.), among others. As for past ‘zines I can mention U.S.D., Peardrop (both from France), Satanic Death (Japan), Necronomicon, Revenge (both from Brazil), fuckin’ Slayer Mag. from Norway (still alive! Hails Metalion!!!), Balance of Terror (Canada), Morbid (Norway), Rotthenness (Brazil), Holocaust (Poland), Mortician (Holland), United Forces (both from France and Brazil) and others. Anyway, in spite of my preference for printed ‘zines, I also support the current webzines, but since these ones keep the true Underground spirit in their work.

Executioner Webzine (Spain): Some short choosing ones: (please explain us why did you choose them)

- Politics or religion: Sérgio: Two big malignant tumors in the life of the human being where reign the corruption and hypocrisy, even though I must admit that politics is unfortunately a necessary evil in the world. Despite religions are our main target, we automatically also attack the politics (even indirectly), as one shit comes from the other. I totally hate both!

- Slayer or Possessed: Sérgio: Despite one being influenced by the other, both have had such an impressive revolutionary power in Metal! “Chemical Warfare” and “Burning in Hell” are insurmountable classics in brutality and destruction! These hymns of total death injured and marked bones! Anyway, Possessed is my # 1 band of all time, and even if I am an addicted to “Show No Mercy”, “Haunting The Chapel”, “Hell Awaits” and “Reign in Blood” for more than 20 years , “Seven Churches” is THE ultimate masterpiece of Metal of Death. Death Metal came in the wind ...

- Satanism or atheism: Sérgio: I am an atheist by nature. I do not believe in such fantasies as God and the Devil, heaven and hell etc. because everything is creation of christianity. I am my own God and do not lack my precious time with parasitic thoughts. What makes me identify myself with Satanism is the Will for freedom and rebellion against christianity and its stupid dogmas, but when viewed as religion and enslavement both stink the same way.

- Past or future: Sérgio: Present. The ‘here and now’ is what counts the most. It’s through it that you can build (or destroy) your future and be proud (or ashamed) of your past.

- War or peace: Sérgio: I am not a fuckin’ pacifist nor do I walk out the streets handling posters calling for the end of wars. The Men is the creator of his own misfortune, then it’s even better that the world perish in flames at once, but saying that war is cool without ever having experienced the true horrors of a real war or even have a close relative cut into pieces in a battle ground or decimated in a concentration camp just to show how ‘evil’ one can be is at least a childish thought. The same for these “pro-suicide” persons who remain alive and taking their full breakfast every morning. Claiming for the theory without having lived the practice is too, too easy, don’t you think?

Necromaniac ‘Zine # 8 (Germany): Okay Sérgio, I hope I haven’t left out too many important questions and I really hope that you guys will make it over here some day to show us what true live Death Metal is all about! Thanks for your efforts!!!

Sérgio: It was a nearly orgasmic pleasure to be here spreading the plague once again, Mr. Thomas (“orgasmic pleasure”? how gay it was! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!)! Necromaniac rules supreme!!! Luckily it’s not needed for me anymore to join a German course to read it, hahaha!!! Next release plans include a 20th anniversary commemorative CD (possibly a double CD) featuring only rare & hidden HEADHUNTER D.C. materials (old rehearsals, promos, demos, live recordings and other archaeological pieces) which will be entitled “1987-2007: The Darkest Archives…From the Death Cult” through Colombian Trauma/Warhymns Records, and a possible split 7” or 10” with our Peruvian hellmates from mighty MORTEM, so just wait for more assaults of pure old school brutality coming torward your eardrums soon. And of course we also hope to land there in Germany as soon as possible to finally spread sonic horror and unholy abominations with live Death Cult rituals through your lands. 666 thanks Thomas for the interview and your always precious support! One thousand hails go to my German brothers in Death Cult blood Hacker, Marcus “Gay” Schwitalla, Tormentor from DESASTER, Frank Stöver, Robert Posch and Alexander Tiebel, and you, necroreaders, let your eyes and ears bleed for “God’s Spreading Cancer…” now! Stay untrendy!!! Death Metal rules supreme… the glory is ours!!! LONG LIVE THE DEATH FUCKIN’ CULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!