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We've seen a lot of truly great bands come out of Mexico over the last several years. I'm sure you know of THE CHASM, CENOTAPH, and maybe even SARGATANAS, but the most mysterious and dark of all was SHUB-NIGGURATH. When it comes to occult obscure death metal, the members of this band were the kings. They unfortunately only released a couple of albums, 7" vinyl and a demo, and the band members are now scattered far from each other. Perhaps this was the price they paid for the power of blackness they wielded for a short period of time. Guitarist Julio Vitterbo was one member. Chanes are that you know of him from several other bands he's been in. In my opinion, he's one of the semi-legendary figures of Mexican metal. I've always held the band in high regard, and to feature them in Metal Nightmare is truly an honor.

Could you give us a brief history and the beginnings of SHUB-NIGGURATH?

SHUB-NIGGURATH was formed by myself and the drummer. We were in the band TORMENTOR at the time. That band ended because of problems with the vocalist. He had health problems. We wanted to continue to compose good musical arrangements but we wanted it to be darker music than in TORMENTOR, with a magic touch. We contacted Arturo Alvarez to be the vocalist. He brought the concept of archetypal gods and cosmic horror, and of a real accursed entity. We incorporated those ideas into music that I'd come up with and that was the birth of SHUB-NIGGURATH. Tormentor

Why did you guys pick such an unusual name for the band? I know it's from HP Lovecraft, but it's still not a typical band name.

It's true. It's not typical. The name, like I said before, was Arturo's idea. He thought of two different names: Yog-Sothoth and Shub-Niggurath. We decided on the latter because the meaning was more appealing to us. "Shub-Niggurath" means "the black goat of the woods with a thousand young." It was darker.

At the time, did any of you have a strong interest in the occult?

Obviously, at that time, we did. In reality, we were into the darkside and the occult. We read satanic stuff and, back then, we did a lot of drugs.

Did the band perform all over Mexico?

We played in various places throughout Mexico, in the underground scene. We didn't do a lot of shows though.

What bands did you do gigs with?

We played with GOREFEST, CENOTAPH, RIPPING FLESH, MORTUARY, and some other bands that I can't recall right now.

How did the band end after the first album? Or was it still active while you were in CENOTAPH?

Well, we had two EPs, a demo, and the first album before we disbanded. Unfortunately, we were more into doing drugs and drinking than practicing. So we decided to break up. Then several months later I was asked to join CENOTAPH.

Was the groundwork set for the second album while you were in CENOTAPH, or did you guys regroup after you left that band?

Well, kind of. Towards the end of the time I was with CENOTAPH, the drummer of CENOTAPH and I talked about reforming SHUB-NIGGURATH because I still had some unfinished music from that time. So I got together with Arturo Alvarez [SHUB-NIGGURATH's original vocalist] and Oscar Clorio [CENOTAPH drummer] and reformed the band for another album.

How did things end after The Kinglike Celebration?

Everybody just went their own ways. I played some more with CENOTAPH and then we [CENOTAPH] split up after relocating to Chicago.

How fair were the label deals you had?

They were fair. We were with Oz Productions. We had a chance to be with Osmose but, at that time, they weren't very well known and so we didn't take it.

Any idea where the other members are now? Eduardo from the first album is in NECROCCULTUS, right?

I think Eduardo is an electrician with a big Mexican electric utility company. Paco, his brother, is into computers... maybe programming? Arturo is wasted. He got lost in the drugs. But he's still alive. Eduardo is also doing music with NECROCCULTUS. I don't know exactly what though.

Only you and Arturo were on both albums. Was it hard to find a replacement member? Had you wanted to continue on as a four piece, but were forced to be a trio?

It was hard. In Mexico it was hard to find somebody who had the same ideas and focus as the band had. That's why we got Oscar. He was into the same thing. And he was good. We decided three was enough. Four would've been good but anyways I can play the bass, the guitar, and the keyboards so I played all of those for the band on the last CD.

Is there any unreleased material? How about songs that were written after the second album but never recorded?

No. That's it.

What do you think of the sort of cult status that the band now has?

I don't give much thought to it. The band had its time and that was in the past. But, yes, I feel proud to have been a part of that band but my focus now is with THE CHASM. Maybe a touch of me from that band is in the music I play now.

How would you like SHUB-NIGGURATH to be remembered?

As it was. It was one of the darkest and more recognized bands from Mexico in the metal underground scene. Any final comments?

Thanks for the interview, and to the followers of SHUB NIGGURATH, a hail from the depths.