Happy Friday, everyone! It’s time to kick off the weekend – the Metal way. To do that, Metal Southern Belles Media brings you an interview with a kickass Metal musician, yet again! For this one, we have Israel Carrillo of Psychotrauma, based out of Ecuador. As the band’s bassist, Israel shares his long history with the instrument and Metal music, what impact the genre has on Ecuador, the story of Psychotrauma, and what badassery is in store…

MSBM: Hey, Israel! When did you start playing bass? Was there a particular bassist or sound that attracted you to the instrument?

Israel: I have been playing the bass for 20 years now. I have played in various bands and musical groups, of various styles. My favorite bassists who I admire and have been my biggest influences are: Jaco Pastorius, Flea, Cliff Burton, Steve Harris, Les Claypool, Rex Brown, among others…

MSBM: Wow, you’ve been playing bass for a very long time! And you were certainly influenced by some of the best in the business. Also, what bands inspired you to pursue Metal music as a career?

Israel: I am fascinated by styles like Hardcore, Thrash, Death, and Grind. The bands that are a direct influence for my music are: Slayer, D.R.I., Death, Carcass, S.O.D., Sepultura, Cryptic Slaughter, Agnostic Front, Ramones, CroMags, ProPain, Sacred Reich, Metallica (old works), Anthrax, Megadeth, Brujeria, Impetigo, Napalm Death, Testament, Benediction, etc…

MSBM: Hell yeah! Can you briefly walk me through your own history with the band life?

Israel: I formed my first band in school time; it was a band that covered songs from the bands that reigned at the time. Then, together with two friends, we formed a band where we made our first compositions and we began to have a musical identity. The band was called M-amen, a pun on the name…
Then, the following years, I was in some temporary projects until we formed the current band; in which I feel very comfortable.

MSBM: Can you provide me some details on Psychotrauma?

Israel: The current band, Psychotrauma, was formed in 2008 after the union of two sister bands that shared the stage. We had interests and musical tastes in common, we shared the same drummer, and we decided to form a project where we would shape our musical proposal. We formed Psychotrauma and from the beginning, we thought of leaning towards the creation of our own material. Although, in each presentation, we play one or two versions of other bands that we like. We have released two EP’s and a Split with local bands and a 7-track CD called “Antinuclear”. With this work, we have toured a lot throughout the country and we were invited to be part of the band lineup at the Cali Undergroud Festival in the sister Republic of Colombia. This being our first international experience and where we gained a lot of experience sharing the stage with bands from all of South America.

MSBM: What can be expected from Psychotrauma throughout 2023?

Israel: The pandemic and personal projects of the members delayed the songwriting process for the next album. But in the following weeks, we will continue to focus on creating the themes for a release tentatively planned for the end of this year… At the moment, we have participated with some songs in some compilation albums.

MSBM: Good luck on the upcoming music creation! I’m sure you guys will make something totally badass! Now, let’s focus on the live shows. What do you enjoy the most about them?

Israel: The best thing about a live performance is feeling that outburst of strength and the intensity of people’s dedication; that is something really gratifying and motivates you to give 100% of your performance… Due to the style of our music, we always have a very active, wild, and energetic crowd.

MSBM: Great answer! Concerts bring on one of the best feelings in the world, no doubt about it. So, you’re based out of Ecuador. What is the Metal scene like there?

Israel: The Metal scene in Ecuador is intense. Now big bands visit us, which didn’t happen before. That motivates the appearance of new bands in all styles. I think the scene has grown a lot; bands emerge daily, some of great quality in many cities, and many massive events are organized. Plus, the clubs are always full and there is a lot of dedication and intensity in the shows.

MSBM: That’s awesome! What is the best Metal show you’ve ever been to?

Israel: As an assistant, without a doubt being able to see Slayer in 2019, D.R.I. in 2012, and Sepultura with its classic formation in 2004 have been unforgettable events. Although, shows like Ozzy, Anthrax, Megadeth, Misfits, Lamb of God, Hatebreed, Exodus, and others were also spectacular.

MSBM: You’ve seen so many of the Metal greats! Which is really damn cool! Also, what are your favorite Metal albums of all time?

Israel: My favorite albums of all time are: ‘Abbey Road’ by The Beatles, ‘Reig’n in Blood’ by Slayer, ‘Thrash Zone’ by D.R.I., and ‘Arise’ by Sepultura; the ones that really blew me away.

MSBM: Great! Now, back to your band! Is there anything else you would like to share about Psychotrauma? Does the group have any social media profiles or music on streaming platforms?

Israel: We have some visual material from presentations on YouTube… It has been a true privilege to chat with you and I can only thank you for the opportunity and congratulate you on your initiative and greet Metal fans around the world… Long life to the Metal…

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