Reign of Terror is made up by members of three American bands Severe Beating, Mortis and Obscuratio. Tell us something about them.
Marc: Well, from Severe beating, we got CJ, from Mortis came myself, and from Obscuratio, our original guitarist Thorben (as well as our later guitarist Dick Osmond). Severe Beating was in the grind vein, Mortis was similar to Grave, and Obscuratio a black/thrash style.
Are these bands active?
Marc: No.
How did you get together to start Reign of Terror? Did you know each other from before?
CJ: In a nutshell, Severe Beating broke up and Mortis needed a bass player. Then, Mortis broke up due to the main guitarists lack of interest in continuing in the extreme metal vein. Obscuratio had lost half of it’s members as well, so the fragments of each band came together to form Reign of Terror.
Were you trying to get a more aggressive, darker sound by forming Reign of Terror?
Marc: We were attempting to form a band that was faster and much heavier than our previous bands, and with our various tastes we feel we are achieving this.
Different from your previous bands?
Marc: Reign of Terror is different from all the previous bands in that as our old bands focused on one style, we utilize all different styles.
What makes you dark and aggressive?
Marc: Our true passion for evil music.
What are your influences?
CJ: Everything from old school thrash to black and death metal with some doom.
Why did your vocalist Ex -mortis David Subia leave the band so soon?
Marc: He left due to internal problems between him and CJ. They have since reconciled.
Why did you stay as a three piece band instead of looking for a new singer?
Dick: CJ’s voice was ample enough to cover the vacated singer’s spot.
What makes your first C.D "Traversing of Realms of Acheron" different from "Inverted beliefs of sanguine god"?
CJ: Where "Traversing.." was more thrash/black/death oriented, "Inverted.." is more death/grind oriented. Plus, between the two, we improved as musicians.
Do you consider there aren't any big differences?
Marc: As stated above, there are some slight differences.
Your first guitar player Thorben Rathje was forced to leave the country (and therefore the band) and go back to his native Germany due to an INS red tape. What is this?
Dick: This means that he had to go through a lot of paperwork to become a legal US citizen, and his Visa having run out.Is this a common procedure in USA?
Dick: Well, as we all know, the US has strict immigration laws.
Do you keep in touch with him?
Marc: We are in constant contact.
Has he thought about coming back?
Dick: He’s thought about it, but probably won’t.

Thorben's spot was taken by Dick Osmond, and Gilbert Sanchez joins the band later on becoming a four-man band. (Two guitars) Did you see the need for more heaviness at the time?
Dick: Yes, as well as increased versatility on stage and on recordings.
What does the title "Inverted Beliefs Of Sanguine God" mean?
Marc: I thought of this title, because to me, the ideologies of all religions and the gods that people worship in some way or other, always end up contradicting each other.
What are the title track's lyrics about?
Marc: The lyrics reflect my personal belief of evil as a force that can never be defeated.
What do you mean with the sentence "Curse the white god's lie"?
Marc: This is a verse rebuking all the lies of the christian religion and all the hypocritical devotees of jehova.
Who is Rene Lopez?
Dick: He is a local tattoo artist who we thought talented enough to do artwork for "Inverted.."
The type of Death Metal R.O.T plays, is not the usual American Death Metal. Your music changes. What's your opinion of today's American Death Metal scene?
Marc: First of all, thank you for the kind words. As far as the American death metal scene, there is good and bad just like anywhere else in the world. Although we hope to become one of the better bands in the scene.
On Malevolent Creation's web page's guestbook your entry reads "You guys easily wipe out the new boring shit by so called "Giants" like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, etc. Glad you're back, Hoffman! Why do say this? I think Cannibal Corpse's "Bloodthirst" and "Gallery of suicide" as well as Deicide's latest works have been very good. What do you think?
This was Dick Osmond’s comment, and because he is back in town, here is his answer:
Dick: This reflects my personal taste of these new albums. While passable for decent death, it sounds to me that both mentioned bands are getting "comfortable" rather than pushing the boundaries of quality. "Legion" and "Tomb.." are much better than this new stuff they have. Malevolent continue to get better and better, while the "big boys" are relaxed.
I.B.O.S.G is also self-produced. Hasn't any label shown interest on Reign of Terror?
Marc: Yes, several. We are in early negotiations with a label called Primitive Recordings (run by Roger of Mortician). Hopefully things will work out some time in March.
Have you thought about starting your own label like many bands do?
Marc: We have, however our financial resources are very low to achieve this.
"Sado Sodomite Comunion" and "The solemn grandeur of malevolence" contains short intros. How did you decide on these intros?
CJ: We heard them and thought they would accent the songs. In

the future, we plan on using these intros and others live.Which bands do you consider started including intros and what influences a band to use them?
CJ: Bands like Impetigo and Carcass, just to name a couple. When you hear a good sample, you get a better visual of the song/lyrics.
Bands from El Paso TX aren't that common. How's the scene in El Paso?
Dick: You’re right, heavy bands are not common. There is no scene. A lot of musicians are good, and talk a lot of shit, but don’t have the drive to make anything happen. The only "scene" that this town actually has includes Korn metal and cover bands.What local Bands do you recommend?
CJ: ASCO and Stonege are worth checking out.
Marc: Nobody.
Except for Dick Osmond, all of the band members have Latin Names. Where do your families come from?
CJ: The gutter.
It's not a secret the fast way the Latin community is growing in the USA: What do you think about the tough anti-inmigration laws there?
Marc: We are all citizens of the USA so this doesn’t affect us.
El Paso is a city near the Mexican border. Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua are very close, too. It's no secret that a large amount of Latins have illegaly entered the USA through the so-called "Hueco" (The hole). To make it through "El Hueco" is a real oddisey. People encounter police brutality in both sides of the border, you have beatings, rapes, and even tales of snuff movies. Being so close to the border, have you any knowlege about this?
CJ: Nope.
What would you advise our readers in case one day they decided to make this trip?
Reign of Terror: If you are in some way slaughtered on your way over here, let us check it out or photograph it. Please.
Could it be to get their asses in shape? Haaaa....
Marc: Hahaha, that might be the case.
This ending year has been a good one for Death Metal. What's your playlist for 2000?
Marc: Hateplow, Abhorrence, the new Mortician and the "Best of Destruction".
CJ: The new Dying Fetus, Malevolent Creation, and Immolation.
Dick: Krisiun and Vader, as well as the new Malevolent.
The most reknown metal festivals is the USA are the Milwakee Metal Fest and the November to Dismember. Have you played any of these shows, or are you planning to do so?
Marc:We are hoping to play The Milwaukee Metalfest next year or the year after.
How do you get to play there?
Dick:Unless you are invited, you must pay around $1,000 to play.
O.K, Marc. Thank you so much for your words. Any final message?
Thanks a lot for the interview, Jimmy. We hope that our music will reach you and the bloodthirsty South American fans! Death to false metal!! Hails!!