Interview with Sergio (vocals & guitars) and Tomas (bass & backing vocals)

https://www.facebook.com/Necrolisis

Necrólisis is Costa Rican thrash/speed metal band, established in 2002 in the city of Turrialba. Around 2005-2006 they released a self-titled EP, but due to some line-up changes, things never really clicked enough to get the full-length album off the ground. After the return of band’s Sergio (vocals & guitars) things changed in 2022, and the result is their debut full-length entitled Templo de Fraude. The release of this 9-tracker, through ‘Witches Brew’, was enough reason for me to say yes to an interview opportunity with this highly energetic and sinister thrash/speed trio from Costa Rica.

MR: Necrólisis is a great name for a metal band. How did you come up with the name?
Necrólisis: Thank you! When Sergio and former drummer Julio Díaz formed the band back in 2002, they had a hard time coming up with a name that was both memorable and not already taken. Sergio remembered hearing the word hydrolysis in chemistry class back in high school – so we thought, why not Necrólisis? It sounded mad and intense, with a sinister twist. The name stuck.

MR: On May 28th you’ll release your debut album Templo de Fraude through ‘Witches Brew‘. It’s a 9-tracker CD release, right? What more can you tell us about it?
Necrólisis: Yes, Templo de Fraude is a 9-track CD release that came out on March 28th through Witches Brew. But more than just an album, it marks the culmination of a long and winding journey for the band.

Necrólisis was formed back in 2002, and around 2005–2006, we recorded our self-titled demo/EP. It turned out pretty decent, considering the limitations of home recording at the time. As we gained experience, we contributed tracks to a couple of splits and started planning a full-length. Unfortunately, the band went through a rough patch – Sergio and his brother (our other guitarist) stepped away, and over the years, several different lineups came and went. But things never quite clicked enough to get the album off the ground.

Fast forward to 2022 – Sergio rejoined the band, and Jainer came on board as our drummer. With renewed energy and a shared goal, we finally regrouped to finish what we had started. We committed to recording the full-length and making it count. The result is Templo de Fraude – a mix of the old and the new. It includes four re-recorded tracks from our previous releases and five new songs, including the intro.

We began recording in February 2024 and received the final masters in September. By November, we had partnered with Witches Brew, and the album saw its release on March 28th, 2025, and we couldn’t be more proud to share it with everyone.

MR: Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks?
Necrólisis: Our most recent logo was created a few years ago by a local artist named Gilbert Miranda from Lingua Mortis Art. As for social media, the band handles all our pages ourselves. We try our best to make everything look sharp and engaging. It’s a lot of work, and while we could use some graphic design help to polish things further, we’ve learned to manage and make it work.

MR: I believe the recording and mix is really well suited to your style of music. How involved was the band in creating the album tones, and who did you work with to record, mix and master the release? Tell us about the recording process for Templo de Fraude?
Necrólisis: The band was involved in every step of the production process. From the beginning, we knew we wanted an album that captured the raw 80s thrash sound we grew up with. One of the tones we obsessed over the most was the snare – it had to hit just right. We drew a lot of inspiration from albums like The Dark by Metal Church and Spiritual Healing by Death.

Drums were recorded at MAS Studio in Costa Rica with Jason Guevara, the owner and recording engineer, along with other collaborators who helped us dial in the sound. Guitars and bass were recorded separately, and that part came together more smoothly since we already had the gear, experience, and references from previous recordings.
Sergio handled the mixing, and all band members provided constant feedback to make sure everything was balanced. Every instrument needed to cut through the mix but also shine when it had to. Mastering was done by Roland Rodas at ‘Cavern of Echoes’ in Toronto, Canada, who added the final punch to the album.

MR: Are all nine tracks in your native language? Ever considered doing a song in English?
Necrólisis: That’s right – all nine tracks are in Spanish. But if you buy the CD, you’ll find English translations of the lyrics included. Early on, we made a conscious decision to sing in our native language so we could communicate directly with our local audience. At the time, many Latin American bands were writing in English, but we wanted to represent ourselves more authentically. That said, we’re open to the idea of writing in English in the future.

MR: Who did the artwork and what is the meaning behind the image?
Necrólisis: The cover was created by the talented Chilean artist Elías J. Vergara (a.k.a. Elías Tormentor). Getting the concept just right took some time – we went through a long brainstorming phase, tossed around lots of ideas, and in the end, selected the strongest ones to send over to him.

The final artwork shows a temple in ruins – chaotic, collapsing, full of destruction and symbolic elements. You’ll see coins, cash, and gold scattered throughout, representing the corruption often tied to organized religion. That’s a central theme in the title track “Templo de Fraude”.

We also made it a point to bring back our mascot, Necros. He’s the skull-faced figure in the battle vest, bullet belt, and chains, wielding a blood-soaked chainsaw. He’s just finished slaying corrupt priests, politicians, and congregation members. It’s a brutal scene, and it perfectly reflects what Necrólisis is all about: chaos, violence, and confronting social and political hypocrisy – both in our lyrics and our visuals.

MR: What is your favorite track on Templo de Fraude? Is it hard to choose your favorite or…?
Necrólisis: It’s definitely hard to choose, but “Cuando la Lengua Traiciona” and “Rebelión en el Magreb” are two of our favorites. Both tracks have strong tempos and rhythms, along with just the right amount of technicality – without ever straying from the raw, raging essence of our sound.

MR: What is it like being a metal musician in Costa Rica?
Necrólisis: Being a musician in any genre comes with its challenges, and metal is no exception. When we first started out, one of the biggest struggles was simply finding a place to rehearse and saving up enough money to buy decent gear. On top of that, there were very few venues that supported metal, and most of them were concentrated in San José, Costa Rica’s capital. Some of these challenges have definitely improved over time, but it can still be tough – especially for up-and-coming metal musicians.

MR: What other bands would potential listeners of your music enjoy? Maybe some other Costa Rican acts we should know of?
Necrólisis: There are plenty of active bands in Costa Rica right now – rehearsing, recording, and playing live shows. It really depends on your taste, but if you take the time to explore, you’re bound to find some great and professional acts. Some bands have been part of the underground for years and proudly remain there, while others are starting to gain recognition abroad and receiving a great response.

Rather than listing names and accidentally leaving someone out, we’ll leave it up to the reader to dive in and discover what the Costa Rican scene has to offer. There’s a lot of talent out there – you just have to look.

MR: I will. When did you begin to develop an interest in metal?
Necrólisis: As with many of us, we had older siblings or family who introduced us to rock music by their very own listening when we were kids. Then during our early teenage years we started discovering some more mainstream metal bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden. These bands were our entry to more underground music and from then we just started collecting or getting to know other bands over time.

MR: If you had to pick one song that epitomizes (thrash/speed) metal to you, what would it be?
Necrólisis: There are countless tracks that capture the spirit of thrash and speed metal, but a few that stand out to us are “Screams in the Night” by Hellion, “Stronger than Steel” by Iron Angel, and “City of Damnation” by Razor. Each one showcases the intensity, energy, and raw attitude that define the genre.

MR: Tell us an unusual fact, or a funny story about your band.
Necrólisis: It may not be an unusual fact, but it’s definitely an interesting one. Before YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, or Instagram existed, MySpace was the go-to platform for bands to share their music. We had a profile there, and that’s actually how Yuki Asai from Deathrash Armageddon found us and reached out. He invited us to be part of a split CD — Total Poser Extermination — with a Canadian band, Demonthrone (R.I.P.). Social media back then was way more rudimentary and less invasive, but even so, we managed to make meaningful connections and get our music out there.

MR: I was on myspace too, remembering ‘the good old days’ very well. How can fans and future fans locate, listen to, and buy your music & merchandise?
Necrólisis: Our music is available on Spotify, Bandcamp, YouTube, and other streaming platforms. If anyone wants to reach out for interviews, merch orders, or anything else, you can email us at: necrolisis.thrashmetal@gmail.com

You can also support us by visiting the official websites of the labels that released our material. Buying directly from them helps both the label and the band.

MR: What about your long-term and short-term plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?
Necrólisis: Our next event is the Templo de Fraude release show. After that, we’ll shift gears and start writing new material – faster, heavier, and meaner.

We’re also looking forward to partying with old friends and meeting new ones on the road. Playing outside Costa Rica is a huge goal for us – we’d love to hit places like South America, Mexico, the U.S., Canada, and Europe. There are so many killer festivals and underground scenes out there. Promoters, if you’re reading this – let’s talk!

MR: Is there anything else you would like your fans to know?
Necrólisis: Thanks for sticking with us all these years. We hope Templo de Fraude and all our music continues to spread and reach new ears. If we ever play a club near you, come hang out – grab a beer with us (or several).

MR: Looking forward to it, cheers mate. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview!
Necrólisis: Huge thanks to everyone at Metal Revolution for reaching out and giving us this space. It means a lot. We hope to catch up with you further down the road. ¡Pura vida!