From Moscow, today BLACK PHOENIX RISING has the pleasure of interviewing the Death metal band GROND, specifically their guitarist "Raze".
With three
albums among his discography, this prestigious Russian band brings us up to
date on the group's current affairs, all the details of his recent work
"Howling from the Deep" and the plans for the future.
¡Priviet Raze! Thank you for this interview and
for your kindness!
1) Grond you are a formation that plays Death
Metal "old School". What are your main influences?
Well, actually we not hold onto the
term “Old School”. We prefer just “Death Metal” without any specifications and there is a lot of very different influences
in our music.
We're inspired by many kinds of music from old death, black, thrash and heavy bands to blues, jazz, classical and electronic music and things outside of music as well. It's difficult to pick out the main influences. So I can say our music is based on the original natural picturesqueness. Maybe it sounds too highbrow but I dare say that's true, hehe.
We're inspired by many kinds of music from old death, black, thrash and heavy bands to blues, jazz, classical and electronic music and things outside of music as well. It's difficult to pick out the main influences. So I can say our music is based on the original natural picturesqueness. Maybe it sounds too highbrow but I dare say that's true, hehe.
2) H.P Lovecraft is a great source of
inspiration for you. This is what you declare in your Metal Archives file and
in fact, a kind of Cthulhu / Kraken appears in your works and merchandising
(even in the logo!) However, the GROND is because of the hammer of Melkor,
character of "the Silmarillion" by JRR Tolkien, or am I wrong?
Yes, that's right, Lovecraft definitely has an influence on our material but not all. The songs from the
second album devoted to the sea and the ocean
in one way or another but there are few direct references to Lovecraft.
And you're right that we took the name of GROND from Tolkien. It is the Hammer of the Underground World in the Silmarillion, and it is battering ram with a head in the shape of a ravening wolf in the Lord of the Rings.
Blunt smashing weapon — the best way to describe our music.
And you're right that we took the name of GROND from Tolkien. It is the Hammer of the Underground World in the Silmarillion, and it is battering ram with a head in the shape of a ravening wolf in the Lord of the Rings.
Blunt smashing weapon — the best way to describe our music.
3) How was the reception of "Howling From
the Deep", your last studio album?
Actually “Warship the Kraken” is the
latest studio album, haha. The album got a lot of reviews and all of them were
high. We have gained many new fans and haven't lost the old ones.
“Howling From the Deep” was re-released in a new design by Raw Skull Recordz last year and it was received well by the audience.
“Howling From the Deep” was re-released in a new design by Raw Skull Recordz last year and it was received well by the audience.
4) Future plans, next album?
Now, after enforced period of
inactivity, we are beginning work on new material. I believe we will release a new record in 2019. We already have some new
killer songs so you better prepare!
5) Let's go to your country: The arrival of
Heavy Metal in the former Soviet Union is quite peculiar given the
circumstances during the Cold War. During the 1980s, large groups such as
Kruise, Aria, Chornie Coffe, Legion, Master and many others emerged, most of
them still active with many followers. However, they are little known outside
the post-Soviet space. Somebody say the language barrier. But it is not
credible (Brujeria sing in Spanish, Rammstein in German, Moonsorrow in
Finnish...)
Of course the language is not finally the point. But I think it's not entirely correct to put the bands you've given as an example on the same plane to compare. Modern Russian music industry is not yet 30 years old. And the shadow of the Iron Curtain is still here.
Of course the language is not finally the point. But I think it's not entirely correct to put the bands you've given as an example on the same plane to compare. Modern Russian music industry is not yet 30 years old. And the shadow of the Iron Curtain is still here.
6) What are the differences between to be a
Metalhead during 80´s years in the USSR and to be it today, in the Russian
Federation?
I don't know, ha-ha. We weren't
metalheads in those days. I was just five years old when the USSR fell
apart and was quite far away from music. But we can speak about the mid-90's. There was a time of mainly cassettes which we used to play to
death because we didn't exactly have much of a choice (and money). If you wore
long hair, leather and so on, you were like an alien. Someone would just stare at you, someone would want to smash your face, hahaha. You know, in a way, it was a beautiful
time, a time full of the spirit. As for
now, there are tons of music and nobody cares how you look like. Although, there are some
fucked up freaks with their gangs, so-called orthodox
activists, trying to put a damper on concerts or
cancel shows and so on, and most regrettable, that sometimes they are succeed
in doing it with the acquiescence of authorities. We can recall situations with
Nile, Belphegor, Behemoth, Batushka and many other bands. So we
see the same USSR shit now in Russia, just in
different way.
Anyway, there are different charms
for every time period. I prefer to think that every next year is better than
previous.
7) Lately, great bands like you have appeared
in the Russian Death Metal scene like Wombripper, Pyre and in general all the
formations with which you have coincided in the compilation "Faces of
Death" of 2016. What is the relationship with all these groups?
There are not many really good death
metal bands in Russia and the purpose of the compilation was to show real
Russian death metal scene at the moment. Many of these groups we know
personally, we perform together, we communicate. The rest of them we know just
through email only and they are apparently good guys.
8) And with other genres of Metal type Manic
Depression, Epidemia, Arkona etc ... What can you tell me about it?
These bands are certainly very
professional. Manic
Depression and Epidemia are quite popular in Russia and Arkona is even
more popular in Europe than here. But all of us are not fans of these bands and
such music.
9) What is it like to tour the biggest country
in the world?
It's not easy, hahaha. 10 hours drive to the nearest big city is
considered normal. And this fact defines
many organizational difficulties. So in my opinion, densely populated areas
like european countries are more appropriate for touring with a band.
10) Last question: When will you come to play
for Spain?
I hope that there's interested party from your
side and believe it
will not be long before we
come to your beautiful country. It will be great pleasure for us to perform for
Spain.
Stay Brutal! See you in Spain!
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