Talking Gross With Ernie Fonseca!
For those who live outside of Mohave County, specifically Kingman, AZ, normal people just think it’s an old gold mining town that truck drivers stop to catch some rest. The town to the humble folks who live there can really see how fast things are changing and growing for them, but let’s dig a little deeper. For those hunting the most gruesome, nasty, unrelenting music would never think of Mohave County to have a music scene, let alone a metal scene.
Today I’m here to really open your eyes to see what hides in the crevasses of Mohave County when the sun goes down. The ghouls really come out to play. Metal becomes alive and awakens in the dark. Kingman being the biggest example of this, they’ve had international touring acts stop to play (and brag about) in our small town’s bars. (Yes, they really do brag about it, because it’s really something special to see.) The Mohave County community has passion for this music like nobody else, and has proven this to these grateful bands many times.
Right now, I’m not going to be talking about the international acts (no matter how great they are), I’m going to give some recognition to some of our amazing local underground bands. Today, I’m talking about Bullhead City’s very own up and coming goregrind project “Perineum“. Oh? You didn’t know that Bullhead City had a goregrind band? Well, guess what? We do, and it’s just as nasty as you think it is. It will make your skin crawl off your bones and leave you feeling disgusting. That’s exactly what they want you to feel, and by everything these guys are doing… they’ve accomplished exactly that.
Now, I’m going to give you an inside look of “Perineum” by letting you get to know my great friend Erine Fonseca. He’s mostly known for his ultra gross gore art under the title of “Era Ov Failure“. He also happens to be the vocalist of this project. Without anymore waiting, let’s have you get to know him, shall we?
Let’s start with the easiest question, everyone loves a great background story. How did Perineum become a band? What was the foundation?
Absolutely! So Perineum started with Sean Eck and being tired of listening to metal and having the urge to make something out of nothing. We wanted to make something that we could get into for ourselves and our friends to experience as well. It all was founded on our love for gore and the macabre! (And maybe a little help of liquid courage.)
How’d you decide on the band name? Was it a group effort or was it just agreed upon that the name is sick?
The group name was made by Sean, we had so many obscure and grotesque names but something about Perineum really hit the spot if you know what I mean. (Wink wink) There’s nothing more metal than the spot between your anus and genitals and having some mean riffs.( and brutal lyrics to back it up with.)
What influenced you to start doing death metal vocals? What gives you your specific sound?
My influence for the vocals that I do are all centered on old school death metal. Bands like Impaled, Carcass, and Massacre really impacted me when I had first got into extreme metal. I don’t know what attracts me most, but when I hear a vocalist really bring that primitive brutality to a track or album it makes me want to growl like a garbage disposal at a pissing party.
As a huge horror fan. Loving the B rated Troma films. How do you capture the horror movie style into your music?
Horror is all over! We try to write about the most bizarre or macabre things out here, our first few songs are about shit and how you can eat it hahaha. Movies and comic books are all so influential to the writing process of the lyrics.
The writing process must be a cesspool of ideas. Can you elaborate about that?
Sure! We start with our two guitarists Sean Eck and Dylan McFarlane roasting up some sweaty riffs, and they repeat that riff a billion times until the song is all done. I start writing the songs lyrics up by how the track sounds like. Does it sound like Lash at Christ? Or does it sound like you are rummaging inside of a recently occupied tomb? It’s all about the feeling of the song, and what it makes me feel. Also we just write songs sometimes about really ridiculous things, like eating booty shit Mcsmoothies.
Who comes up with title track names and the overall sound?
I usually come up with the track titles, but it’s all up for grabs! Dylan wrote this really cool song up called “Mustard Gas Mouse Trap” about a real life experience hahaha
It’s really all up to everyone to agree or disagree on our music.
Recording it to give us the frightening production must be the most fun aspect of goregrind. How does that go for Perineum?
You would be so surprised on how we record our tracks. We have Sean’s and Dylan’s half stacks blaring the riffs and my iPad is recording the whole thing on some audio recording app. We upload it after we are happy with the sound of it all and usually have our drummer bash out some tracks on GarageBand. Big shout out to Brian Ortiz from “Xibalba“. I record my vocals using the same technique and mash it all up on my computer using way to out of date programs and hope to hell that it sounds as raw as possible at the end.
With that being said, what’s your all time favorite horror movie?
That’s such a hard question! I’m going to have to say my most favorite horror movie of all time has to be “City Of The Living Dead” by Lucio Fulci! The true horror and gore that that man brought to the big screen was so fucking brutal for the time it came out! I loved that movie so much we sampled it on “ Face Fucked by Fecal Matter”. If you haven’t seen that movie buy it on amazon or something, it’s worth the watch!
This will be the best time to bring up your up and coming podcast “Graveyard Tapes”. How’s that going? Tell the readers about what we should expect from that?
“Graveyard tapes” is a podcast that’s in the works right now! My lady Brittany Ferris and I are going to start up a horror movie, true crime kind of podcast up for everyone to enjoy! If you love movies that will make you laugh and be grossed out at the same time… (also hear about some of the most bizarre and macabre murderers and crime.) You’re going to be head over heels for it! We will launch an episode here pretty soon, describing what else you can find when we do launch! Our first episode will be…groovy, to say the least! 😉
Where can we listen to your podcast?
It should be up on Apple Music or Stitcher late 2020.
Everyone has something drastic that gives us chills down our spines. What’s the scariest thing that has happened to you?
Well my nightmares are pretty out there man! I have some really insane dreams of being tortured in hell and some of the things I see inside of those dreams freaks me out. I feel like some of the nightmares I have could be written into fucking movies or something.
Let’s get out of the dark corner for a split second. Sean and yourself are usually up to no good. Give us a funny story about you two.
Oh shit, where do I begin, there’s so many stories I can tell you about this guy. Once in Vegas him and I were pushing the boundaries of our livers… (and drank all of our money we had for the night away.) To make this story short, I got into a fight with some dude and that guys friends started punching Sean too! His glasses fall off of his face and some trans lady picked them up. When Sean asked for them back he had to buy them back from that person for 3 bucks! Shit was hilarious!
You’re into craft beer. We’ve drank plenty of brews over the years together. What’s the most metal and noteworthy beer to you? Why?
Yes we have! To me the best beer to chug while listening to ANY album has got to be “Dead Guy Ale”! In my opinion that beer has the right fit for your stomach, it’s not heavy on you, the taste is so specific, but not overwhelming. On top of that I think the only beer to listen to while playing “Mortician” and “Exhumed” is “Dead Guy Ale”!
Era Ov Failure is your art project. I’ve seen it grow since the days we went to Mohave High School. How’s that going?
ERA OV FAILURE is going really really good! I’ve worked with so many different types of artists and music genres over the years. I’m still trying to expand! I’ve done artwork for some pretty gnarly gore grind bands and have gone all the way over to artists like Getter! The folk punks, the punx, rap artist and some clothing companies have all shown support and bought some illustrations from me! I’m usually always up for commissions so shoot me an email or the best and most effective way is to shoot me a DM on Instagram!
Speaking of Era Ov Failure. Didn’t you do work for “Fluids” the Arizona based goregrind project as well
Oh yesssss! They are some of the sexiest souls slaughtering the earth right now! I was so exited to draw up some of their merch and a tape cover for them! Go listen to them and you’ll understand why they have to be one of my favorite groups out right now!
Wasn’t “Perineum” featured on a split with them? Who was all on the release? Where can we find it?
We were blessed to be on one of the splits with them on it yes! If I do recall they closed out the split with the most splashiest milk to ever drip! There were sooo many bands on that release some being: “Parasitic Infection”, “Chainsaw Decapitation”, “Abscess Pool” and so many more! Check it out here https://genitalgrindhouse.bandcamp.com/releases
What’s next for yourself and Perineum?
Perineum will be releasing another e.p very soon! Sean, Dylan and I have been working very hard on a 3 song track list that’s going to be something that you absolutely need to get! We are going to release them possibly on cassette and to be streamed as well. Wait till the end for a secret song 😉
Finally, what would you like to shout out? What’s on your mind?
First and foremost, I want to say rest in power to Sterling, one of my greatest friends this earth has ever blessed me with. Also shout out to Brian Ortiz and they boys in “Xibalba“, all of the homies in “Oppressor God“, Brandon from “Punk With A Camera“, Brendon from “Antivision” and literally all of my friends and family that have shown not only me support but this band support!
Keep up with all of Ernie’s projects here!
Ernie would like to also take this time to ask all of who can help to donate to his great friend Sterling’s “Go Fund Me”. All proceeds go to his family to help with his funeral and medical expenses. Thank you.
