JH: Give us a brief history of the band.

DR: Manîas has been gigging since late '93. Recording since '95. I have gone thru many members.

JH: How did you come about naming the band Manias?

DR: Back in the day, we were called Abacinate, taken. Then Avulsion, taken. So the band got together, we had a meeting my bass player thru the out my middle name Manîas. Said it was original enough, & if any one else had it, we've got proof we had it all along (my social security card)! So we stuck wit that.

JH: After great fan response in Mexico, you decided to write lyrics in spanish. You also had a different name for the band. Sale Sangre. How did/does this work out for you? Man, let me tell you fuckin' confusion! Any way we intended Salé Sangre for Mexico audiences & they already knew us as Manîas. So Salé Sangre wound up taking off here locally. (Salé Sangre is a way to say blood flow; so in essence the entire name Manîas' Salé Sangre is Manîas' Blood Flow). We get requests for Salé Sangre now, but it's the same band! Any way that was the concept for our first full length "Identity Crisis". Coz we definitely had one! >4. Do you still go by Sale Sangre when playing in Mexico? No, They still know us mainly as Manîas which is cool, I mean we haven't been able to go there yet, but I hear from fans & other bands that they crave a Manîas fix. Hopefully soon though.

JH: Do you incorporate the spanish lyrics whenever you play in the states?

DR: Yes! There is a demand for ethnicity here in the US. For shows here in 'Burqué I go all out! I wear an Aztec regalia head dress & do an Aztec "blood ritual".(Check out the site for pics). I actually am still writing in spanish.

JH: The band went on a hiatus so to speak for over three years. A personal mishap of yours. Would you care to elaborate?

DR: Well I got in wit these fools, made a bad judgement, & got busted with 864 lbs. of weed. I got 5yrs in 'club fed', did 40 mos. & I'm out now. The funny thing is I did it for for money to fund our first full length, and at that same time there was Joe H.(then Entrapment rec. now DWS rec.) trying to get a hold of me to put out that same disc. Had I known at the time I never would have done what I did. Hind sight is always 20/20.

JH: If so, how has this effected you, your songwriting and the band?

DR: The experience was profound in my part, I really found out exactly who I am, & what I want to do. As far as my song writing, You can imagine all the anger from being stripped of everything you are, not to mention everything you do. I am doing a lot of venting thru my writing. I mean I'm not political in any way, a lot of the anger I have is with myself, for making that kind of judgement. There was alot of lost time. But there are positive ways to deal with shit & writing is one of my outlets, along with some pretty brutal jewelry & leather crafts I make. If you want to see some of my shit, check out pretty much any Deicide interview Glenn Benton is always sporting my pentagram.

JH: If so, did you get a lot of writing time in while you were in?

DR: Well I only got to play acoustic guitar in there, I fuckin' hate acoustics! I live for the violence & volume of my electric! So back to the question; yea I did write a few riffs in there, but most of the new shit was/is getting written out here. I did write an acoustic passage that may be included on the new disc.

JH: Vivisection E.P. is a very brutal release. What can we expect from your soon to be released,' ...And Blood Soaked The World'?

DR: You can expect to see me on bass for a majority of the new tunes. It has always been my intention to re-record the 'Vivisection' songs, hence the "contest". So those just may rear their ugly heads on the new release. Also there will be a surprise hidden track. The vein of music I write, & I know most musicians say this shit but here it goes; "is very diverse" there I said it too! There will be a few different styles, grind, death, even a thrash track is thrown in there. But first they have to go thru a rigorous training program! Nah, just kidding. They will be full of hate for the system & anger as usual.

JH: How is/has the production process going on this?

DR: It's going good right now. we started on fri. the 13th ran into a snag on the 14th but we are back on track now. As a matter of fact I have to track the vokills tonite. I think the whole thing sounds killer, but after all, these songs are my murderers of main-stream perpetrators.

JH: Will this be a self release or is there a label chomping at it?

DR: As far as labels are concerned, if they can do for Manîas what Manîas isn't capable of doing. then I'll hook up. Funds are kinda low now, & we don't want me to go on another run....

JH: When can we expect it out?

DR: Nah, right now I need to talk w/Joe from DWS records, & find out what he wants to do. He said he wants first crack at it, if things don' work out I'll shop it around. So I guess the answer to the question is a couple of months? But definitely before '05, even if I have to self release it!

JH: Any touring plans for the near future?

DR: I'm on the hunt for some reliable musicians, you see, we have a shortage of drummers here in Burqué. I have my old drummer helping me out for this recording & a few shows. Shout outs to Eric Salazar and END TO END!

JH: What earlier releases of yours are still available?

DR: Right now just the Identity Crisis full length cd & Vivisection E.P. cd, however I am looking for a studio to remix & remaster old demos. Just for the fuck of it, show people a natural progression. From pissed off to fuckin' pissed off!

JH: How is the underground metal scene in and around Albuquerque?

DR: It actually grew some what since I was down. There are some brutal bands here. Cadaveric Engorgement, Victimas, End to End, Necromemisis, Noisear, alot of punk & noise bands I can' remember all the names, But those bands are the ones I'm down wit

JH: How did you come about to put forth such a brutal death, grind metal band?

DR: You're much too kind! I can only say, I don't fucking know! I just pick up the guitar and this noise comes out, I like it so I do it. I've not done this shit by myself however, I've been fortunate to be able to jam with some talented mutha fuckas, Some help w/ the writing most don't, But props to those who stuck it out as long as they did! I listen to a plethora of musical genres, But the riffs in Manîas have a mind of thier own.

JH: Is there any other genre of music/metal that you would ever be interested in playing?

DR: Actually yea, I do this shit in another band called Black End Future, it's mostly black metal. We don't play out much but should be recording early '05. Riffs that are too different from what Manîas is doing go to BEF. That band is more an experimental thing.

JH: Anything you'd like to add?

Just keep on with brutal ass site. Props to you for giving bands like Manîas exposure & a chance to speak their minds...Legalize it! If you really feel like punching that fucker that pisses you off...Do it!....OH & that bitch?...she ain't worth it. Keep an eye out for Manîas' Salé Sangre, product or show, coming to a theater near you, str8 outta the Burqué Zoo. Thanx John!!!!!!