The Scum, based out of Colombia, released their second full length, The Hunger, back in April of this year and it’s a savage ode to the old school days when bands like Deicide, Massacre, and Morbid Angel were cutting their teeth. If you’re a fan of the genre, their lyrical themes will not disappoint as they cover horror, wicked nightmares, death, and gore. So basically, a death metal fan’s wet dream. We recently posed our set of Profile questions to vocalist José Fernando Ospina to get some backstory on him and the band so head below to read how it went down and be sure to pick up a copy from the links contained within.
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How did you first get into playing music, and have you achieved the level of success that you hoped for?
I’ve been singing extreme metal in bands since I was 17 years old. I started singing in a thrash / death metal band in 1990 named Ritual, we only recorded a demo in 1994. Later, I was in a death / black metal band named Nepente for fifteen years and we recorded and released three albums and one EP via some small underground labels from the USA and Singapore. I joined The Scum in 2015 and have recorded and released two full lengths and one EP far. I am very happy in The Scum and I think we are in a good place to gain a higher level of success within the extreme metal scene.
What’s the most you have ever debased yourself to get your band onto a show, into a magazine or otherwise promoted, covered, and praised? (If you don’t have a story, please tell us any funny/embarrassing story.)
I don’t know…maybe the worst thing I did was to send a ton of personal messages promoting a video that Nepente made in the myspace times to many people and I received tons of messages from people insulting me for that. Anyway, I am a very proud individual!!!! Hehehehe
What do you see as some of the great things happening in metal and what are some of the worst things happening inside the scene right now?
The good things are related to the advantages the internet offers to bands to get their work out there. The worst part is, weirdly enough, related to the good which results in the overpopulation of bands in the scene.
It seems that now everyone has a passion for some cause and that those people are very open about displaying their passions. This is probably a very, very good (and progressive) thing socially. What are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you and how do you insert those issues into your music?
I think to make people more conscious about animal rights is a good thing. But I don’t use the music of the band to spread the message.
What, or who, got you into metal and how old were you? How did your family take the news?
I’m a very old fart!! I’m 50 and started listening to metal around 15. I started listening to metal because some videos of bands like Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister were in heavy rotation on national television and a few radio programs that were devoted to heavy metal played bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, DIO, Ozzy Osbourne and the like. But one day when I was 15 a friend of mine in school showed me a tape that of Slayer, Celtic Frost and Bulldozer and turned me into an extreme metal fanatic immediately!!
What advice do you have for aspiring music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?
Total objectivity is something that doesn’t exist, therefore a critic should review material from bands that play a genre that they like and have knowledge of.
What’s your goal? You guys thinking world domination? Maybe saving a continent? Maybe invading one? Any interest in starting a cult? Do you guys have day jobs or hobbies you want to share? Whatever it is, please let us know.
In the band we have two younger members that are university students. The other three of us are old folks and we all have jobs. Santiago, guitarist, is an executive in a state company devoted to promote Colombia companies in exporting their products. Mauricio, our drummer, is the owner of a veterinary business and I teach philosophy in a local university.
When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently? (Feel free to include non-metal)
Celtic Frost “Morbid Tales” and “To Megatherion,” all the albums of Bolt Thrower, the first three LPs of Benediction, Slayer “Reign in Blood,” the first four albums of Entombed, the first three of Unleashed, all Dismember albums, the first three of Grave, the first five of Bathory, and a ton more!!
What is the 12-month outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?
We hope to play in some of the more important festivals here in Colombia to more widely promote our recent album and video. And, to do a Mexican tour in the first part of 2023.
Summarize your band in exactly one word. (Disclosure: If you include additional words, we will select our favorite for the final publication.)
Ferocious!!!!!! hahahaha
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Many thanks to José and The Scum for their time!
The Hunger is available now on Satanath Records. For more information on The Scum, visit their Facebook page.
Nine Circles 