It’s been over two decades since Mondo Medicale carved its gruesome path into death metal history, but Impaled’s latest release, Demo Medicale, is more than just a trip down memory lane. It’s a long-buried artifact resurfacing in tribute to late guitarist Andrew LaBarre—who passed away in June 2022—and a defiant workaround against label purgatory.
In a recent conversation with Decibel, Sean McGrath, Ross Sewage, and Raul Varela pulled back the curtain on Demo Medicale, the band’s tangled history with Necropolis Records, and their unwavering DIY ethos. What emerged was a story of resilience, rediscovery, and a fight for artistic ownership.
Grave Tapes
The existence of Demo Medicale came as a shock to the band itself. LaBarre, who had engineered and mixed Mondo Medicale, gave the demo recording to his wife, who in-turn gave it to McGrath—almost like a last testament.
McGrath vividly remembers the moment: he arrived at LaBarre’s home, expecting to see his bandmate, but was instead greeted by LaBarre’s wife at the door. She handed him the demo, explaining, “Andrew had an accident, and he can’t come to the door right now.”
“I just thought he hurt himself,” McGrath admits. “I didn’t realize the situation was so grave.”
Only weeks later, the band was hit with devastating news. Varela confides, “Andrew notified us on May 5th, 2022 that he had ALS and on June 27th he passed away.” Sewage recalls, “It was crazy to hear that recording, and then just a month later, we hear he passed away. It was a gut-wrenching moment.”
The recordings, laid down on a primitive digital eight-track mini-disc, capture Impaled in a rawer, yet surprisingly polished form. While slightly rougher around the edges than the final album, the tracks showcase a band firing on all cylinders, tightening their craft. LaBarre, in particular, left an indelible mark on the record.
“Andrew brought a level of professionalism we didn’t have before,” McGrath reflects. “He shaped that album—both in performance and production.” Now, two decades later, the demo serves as both a memorial to his contributions and a tangible piece of history for fans who never got to hear Mondo Medicale in its infancy.
LaBarre’s influence extended beyond Impaled. In his post-Impaled years, he formed Altar the Sky, where he continued refining his signature sound—playing all instruments himself and handling the recordings. Raul Varela, who released Altar the Sky on his label Evil Morgue Entertainment, recalls, “Andrew played everything on that album, It was entirely his vision.” Varela, describes another of LaBarre’s projects, Addiction King, as “a total Entombed tribute band,” reflecting LaBarre’s lifelong admiration for Entombed and their signature death metal sound.
The Necropolis Curse
Despite Mondo Medicale’s cult status, it remains locked away in label limbo. Necropolis Records, long defunct, refuses to release the rights, leaving the album unavailable outside of grainy YouTube rips and overpriced Discogs listings.
“We’ve had multiple labels try to buy the rights, and they just won’t let it go,” McGrath says. “It makes no sense. It’s not even an active label anymore.”
The hostility between Impaled and Necropolis dates back to Mondo Medicale’s release. “We definitely didn’t help our case,” Sewage admits. “The last track on Mondo Medicale is basically a giant ‘fuck you’ to the label. They didn’t notice at first, but when they finally read the lyrics… let’s just say that bridge was fully incinerated.”
Andrew LaBarre had direct insight into Necropolis’ dysfunction. “Sean told me about Paul [Thind] and the difficulties working with him—I’m amazed you worked for him for so long!” he once wrote in a conversation with Varela. The band’s efforts to reclaim their rights have been ongoing for years, with little progress. “I have the contract and have not looked it over again in a long time. I keep wishing something in there can get us out,” LaBarre admitted.
Rather than accepting defeat, Impaled chose another path: releasing the demo as a way to reclaim a piece of that era without stepping on Necropolis’ legal landmines. Sewage, however, remains open to a resolution.
“If Paul [Thind, Necropolis Records Founder] reads this—Paul, I would love to work with you on this,” he says. “I want you to make money off this. I don’t care. I just want people to be able to listen to it.”
DIY and the Lessons of Time
The band has gained hard-earned wisdom over the years, particularly when it comes to navigating the music industry.
“Get a lawyer before you sign anything,” Sewage advises bluntly. “And if you can, license your music instead of selling the rights outright. We learned that the hard way.”
McGrath acknowledges that their younger selves were far more combative. “There was definitely some youthful arrogance involved. We pushed back hard against labels, and while some of that was justified, we could have played things smarter.”
But if given the chance to go back and do things differently, would they? Sewage doesn’t think so. “I regret nothing,” he says. “I don’t regret pushing Paul’s buttons because it was a bad situation. Everything was really fun at the time, and I don’t think I would have acted differently even with all the experience I have now. I think I still would have been the same angry young person.”
A Lasting Influence
While Mondo Medicale may have been a cult classic rather than a breakout hit, its impact has rippled through the underground scene in unexpected ways. Over the years, the band has met younger musicians who cite it as a major influence.
Sewage recalls a particularly memorable moment: “I was driving a tour with the band Woe, and after a few days on the road, Grzesiek [Czapla]—who now plays in Sonja—came up to me and said, ‘I don’t think you understand how much that record means to me. Can we please listen to it with you in the van?’ So we put it on, and they were all rocking out, pointing out riffs, vocal parts, everything. It was a cute moment when I realized, ‘Oh, I’m not a young man anymore.’”
For longtime fans, Demo Medicale is a rare glimpse into Impaled’s formative years. For newer listeners, it’s a lesson in how history—and the music industry—can be both cruel and absurd.
“I hope people appreciate the chance to finally own a piece of this era,” Varela says. “And if it makes some younger musicians think twice before signing a bad contract, even better.”
As for Necropolis? Impaled has long since stopped waiting for justice. “If we ever get the rights back, great,” Sewage says. “Until then, we’ll just keep doing our thing.”
And their thing, as Demo Medicale proves, is still as sharp as a scalpel.
Use the following links to order Demo Medicale out now via Tankcrimes:
CD: https://tankcrimes.merchtable.com/tankcrimes-music/cd/impaled-demo-medicale-cd
LP: https://tankcrimes.merchtable.com/tankcrimes-music/vinyl/impaled-demo-medicale-vinyl-lp
Tee: https://tankcrimes.merchtable.com/clothing/impaled-t-shirt
Bandcamp: https://tankcrimes.bandcamp.com/album/demo-medicale
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