Halloween is around the corner, and what better way to set the mood than asking one of death metal’s underground legends about his favorite horror flicks?
For this edition of Ask The Artist, we turn to Paul Zavaleta, guitarist, vocalist, and founder of DETERIOROT — one of the true cult pioneers of American death metal, active since 1988 and still spreading darkness more than three decades later.
We asked Paul one question:
“What is your top-3 of the most frightening horror movies of all time? And what’s most impressive for you in each of them?”
Here’s what he said:
“For me, I know many people today are desensitized to horror movies since things have become much more extreme later on, but as a kid growing up in the ’80s, these really stuck with me:
1. Friday the 13th Part III — It was originally released in 3D and truly frightening at the time. Jason was this unstoppable figure who wouldn’t die, killing numerous young people at Camp Crystal Lake.
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street — Freddy Krueger killing kids in their sleep, and the idea that you’re afraid to even fall asleep… that was groundbreaking for its time, both in concept and special effects.
3. Return of the Living Dead — I saw this in the theater when I was 12, and watching zombies eat humans alive was tremendously frightening then. I’ve always loved those 1980s horror/slasher films — they were so unique for their era.”
And while we’re talking about things that rise from the grave — DETERIOROT is doing exactly that this fall with their long-awaited return.
“Awakening” – The New Chapter of True Death Metal Darkness
The forthcoming DETERIOROT album, Awakening, will be released on October 21st, 2025 via XTREEM MUSIC.
As one of death metal’s first-generation acts, the band has been spreading uncompromising darkness since 1988 — standing proudly alongside genre pioneers like Entombed, Carcass, Obituary, Bolt Thrower, and Immolation.
After 35 years, mastermind Paul Zavaleta continues to carry the torch of true, old-school death metal, unpolished and pure.
Four singles have already been unveiled from Awakening: “Read Between the Lies,” “Winter Moon,” “In Battle to Survive,” and “Deliver Us from Fiction.” Each track gives a glimpse into the band’s current direction — a sound that feels grimly atmospheric, rooted in the early 1990s, yet sharp and alive.
The material hints at a darker and more restrained approach than before, while Zavaleta’s corrosive growl still anchors everything in pure American death metal grit. There’s a strong sense of mood and menace — the kind that creeps rather than crushes, relying on suspense and tension more than sheer speed. When the band does accelerate, the ferocity feels earned — raw, furious, and unmistakably DETERIOROT.
If these four singles are any indication, Awakening is shaping up to be a cold, shadowy, and deliberately haunting record — one that honors the old ways while proving that death metal’s spirit hasn’t faded with time.
Order merchandise and physical releases at:
👉 deteriorot.bandcamp.com
