TERRORIZER Guitarist Comments On New Album And His Split From NAPALM DEATH

TERRORIZER guitarist Jesse Pintado recently spoke to Rockdetector.com's Welsh interviewer Anthony Morgan. Topics of discussion included the group's recent reformation, the recording of their upcoming album "Darker Days Ahead", the uncertain future of side-project LOCKUP and the circumstances surrounding Pintado's departure from NAPALM DEATH after 15 years of service. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Rockdetector: What were your motives in resurrecting TERRORIZER?

Jesse Pintado: "Basically, we've always spoken about it, and jammed even. We went to Florida and rehearsed some music. Enough material had been compiled for a full-length record, and we enjoyed playing the songs. So we decided 'Why not? Let's do a record.'"

Rockdetector: How would you compare the new songs to the old songs from years back?

Jesse Pintado: "I think they're in the same vein. If anything, they're more brutal though — I think it's way faster, the guitars are downtuned, it's heavier and it's got a different feel."

Rockdetector: Why was "Dead Shall Rise" re-recorded?

Jesse Pintado: "When we were rehearsing I brought out my demo tapes just to listen to. The original version had a 32-bar blast in the chorus line, but when we listened to the album version, it had a skank beat. This was slower, like 'da na da na da na,' yet the demo take had blast, like 'daaa naa da naa (aggressive).' We started rehearsing the track, so I thought 'Hey we should do it.' That's really the original way."

Rockdetector: Could you talk me through your final days in NAPALM DEATH?

Jesse Pintado: "The departure was basically due to a variety of reasons. We shared a house together, we toured together, we were always together, but people move on. Along the way there was a little rough bumps, though I don't know. In my situation it got to the point where I needed a little fresh start. I'm still good friends with the guys; there's no animosity there, we're all cool, and they're happy with what I'm doing."

Rockdetector: Did the media twist the situation in some ways? The media reported that the band stated you had personal problems and alcohol issues, so did they manipulate the facts?

Jesse Pintado: "Yeah, of course. The other day I was browsing the Internet, and they stated I was dead! I thought 'Oh shit, I'm dead!' I really don't pay much attention to that."

Rockdetector: Did you do any soul searching after you left NAPALM DEATH, because you'd been in the group for well over a decade?

Jesse Pintado: "Hmm no, basically I lived in England for such a long time. In a crazy way I moved to Holland, and from there I was working on TERRORIZER. I wanted to visit California so I could spend time with my family, because my parents are quite old. Also, I heard some bad news about my grandma, so..."

Rockdetector: In a few years to come and if the timing was right, would you consider rejoining NAPALM DEATH if asked?

Jesse Pintado: "I don't know. If the timing was right, maybe, but I don't think that'll come. I can't foretell the future though, but we'll see."

Rockdetector: Do you regret the way things turned out with your former bandmates?

Jesse Pintado: "No, not at all. Like I said, we're still mates and we keep in touch. I don't regret one bit."

Read the full interview at Rockdetector.com.