I started Eldritch Lunar Miasma Records at the beginning of 2011 when I wondered what FATHER BEFOULED's two albums would sound like on tape tape - the first one (Obscurus Nex Cultus) had been out for years but it wasn't too well known. I basically got inspired by Shand from Demons Gate Records doing the same for DECREPITAPH. ELMRex is a one-man operation, although my family does help me out with various bits and pieces. I do this to promote underground death and black metal, plus quite a few subgenres. ELMRex is also important to me on a personal level. Not a day goes by where I don't feel great disgust at humanity, and when I'm reminded that I am human too, despite feeling no connection to the human race, I start seething with anger. I feel more like a wolf or jackal than a human, at least spiritually. I just hate human beings so much. I strive to bring unto this world music that is an offence to these creatures and their ideas of religion, society and happiness, and ELMRex is my way of accomplishing this.

The FATHER BEFOULED tapes went a lot quicker than I expected; they sold out within a few months. There were only 125 of each title, and I was a total newbie, so I was shocked to find that people were as interested in them as they were. This January I released NEFTARAKA's Morts, Darkthrone-styled black metal. Because this was the first title that I had a part in bringing into this world, as opposed to doing another version of an existing work, I was very excited to release it. My latest is my first vinyl title, CULTFINDER's Black Thrashing Terror EP. I'd known about the band since one of their members was giving out flyers for their demo tape at a Watain gig I went to. I got the tape later that week and loved it. I had been in contact with vocalist Rob Belial since late last year, and we've been going back and forth since then, putting the release together. I couldn't be happier with how my releases have turned out. Availability... the NEFTARAKA is still available but most of the tapes are gone from me. The CULTFINDER 7" was only released recently, I should still have copies left by the time your readers gaze upon these words.

I appreciate and respect bands that put a lot of passion and thought into whatever they write and play, and that's what I tend to listen out for when checking out new bands. People that are in bands should be genuine in their beliefs and in this for the love of the music, as should anyone involved in underground metal, or music in general. I especially like music that evoke in me images and feelings of negativity, death, violence, despair, hatred, aggression, rage and so on, and inspire me to think about life in general.

Easiest way for bands to get in touch with me is by email. Almost all demo submissions get my attention from sitting in my inbox. First thing bands should know is that I serve the underground. If you aim to appear in shitey mainstream magazines, to share festival stages sponsored by skateboard companies, to have your merchandise worn by neon-haired metalcore kids as a fashion statement etc., then I'm not right for you, and most certainly vice versa. Satanic beliefs and political alignments that you may possess are not barriers to working with me - I'm not religious and consider myself politically neutral - though the music should come first. Next, I'm doing this on my own, and I'm not rich, so I am very selective over who I choose to work with, for financial reasons and the principle of quality over quantity. For the same reason, I'm not going to go printing thousands of CDs or do meretricious "die-hard" versions or unnecessary picture-disc editions. I do NOT tolerate happy optimistic positive party "metal". That cack is for the meek who do not question owt, the spoon-fed sheep, hipsters, pretentious and entitled college/university students that know little to nowt about life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fans ("bronies")... basically, anyone who is content with life, humanity and the world they live in. ELMRex exists as an antithesis of all of that. Plus, there's a line between not taking yourselves too seriously (which I have no objections to) and just being stupid. Basically, if you burn for the music, and are genuine in and committed to what you do, get in touch!

I take steps to create and maintain a decent relationship between anyone I work with, such as good and clear communication, total honesty, civility... I make sure I show that I'm fully committed to everything I do with the label and its releases. I try my hardest to promote the bands however I can, if anything bad comes up that would adversely affect any projects, I let the bands know what's going on and what I'm trying to do to sort it out.

A few months back, I had started on doing a proper webshop, osCommerce and all that, but loads of life events and problems got in the way and I still haven't gotten anywhere with it. I've always liked old-fashioned direct contact, but most folk like the convenience of shopping carts and automated payments nowadays. I have to admit I'm the same. I'll still keep email orders open, sometimes you get complications that can only be sorted out through email communication, and you can also have a friendly little chat while you're at it. 

Next releases planned are a split 7" between DECREPITAPH and HUMILIATION, and the tape version of FATHER BEFOULED's Revulsion of Seraphic Grace which I am looking forward to getting on with. There's a lot of bands I want to work with, some of them quite new, it's just a shame I don't have the money for it. Overall, I think ELMRex has a decent future. I just have to keep up what I'm doing, and hopefully I'll be able to put new stuff out more frequently. 

The ELMRex website and shop is at www.eldritchlunarmiasma.com. I am on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eldritchlunarmiasma and samples of my releases can be heard at Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/eldritchlunarmiasma. All questions to me at eldritchlunarmiasma@gmail.com.

Thank you for the interview. Stay morbid, everyone.

August 2012