TARANTULO, SECTORIAL, GROSS GROLLAND, DRUKNROLL and PERISHING HUMANITY (for Atmosfear №10)
The new section “Blitz” is gaining mo
mentum. We offer you the answers of five bands to the same questions. All the bands answered our questions in an organized manner with the assistance of the Metal Scrap Records label, for which we express our gratitude.
Blitz interview prepared by: Neophyteatmosfear 10Answering: TARANTULO, SECTORIAL, GROSS GROLLAND, DRUKNROLL, PERISHING HUMANITY
The name is the band’s calling card. What should it emphasize? The idea, the style or just be catchy and meaningless? What did you like about the name of your band?
Tarantulo – we believe that the name should not carry any idea or emphasize the style… But this is our opinion, since our music does not have any constant idea and we do not adhere to one style. Most likely, the name should be easy to remember and catchy. Our name, in principle, does not have any meaning, since the word TARANTULO does not exist. Let it be a proper name.
Sectorial – We believe that the name of the group should carry meaning and tell something to the listener who is not familiar with this group. Regarding us, we will say that the name came to mind spontaneously and outlines everything that we produce together in the most clear way. There are four of us, we are all completely different people and when we interact, from four parts we create something that is our common, holistic choice, opinion and decision. SECTORIAL – a part, a world, a constituent element of the Universe. From micro- to macrocosm – everything consists in a certain order of worlds of varying complexity. Man, along with his environment, is only an instrument, a manifestation of the Absolute, but not the “crown of nature”. We believe that humanity, in the person of each of us, has something to work on both spiritually and materially. Details in the lyrics of our songs.
Gross Grolland – From what you said, it is written correctly: the name is the band’s business card. It should emphasize: the idea, the style and just be catchy and meaningless. (In our case, it is)
Druknroll
Horror: Being catchy and meaning a lot, and I did not name the band.
Druknroll: Of course, the name is associated with the concept of ROCK-N-ROLL, but here, rather, the concept of ROCK is of a slightly different plan.
Perishing Humanity – In our case, the name is, first of all, a medical card, and the business card later. PERISHING HUMANITY is a kind of dotted line of relapses of social pathologies. While investigating the causes of the above mentioned ailments, it most successfully winked at us in the viewfinder of the diagnostic probe.
Various booking agencies are increasingly developing in our countries, which take our groups abroad, arranging tours for them. What is more important for your group: to spend money on a high-quality recording of an album in a studio with a good name, or to spend the same money on a tour? What will attract more attention to the group?
Tarantulo – we find a compromise in such things! We never refuse to go on tour, if such an opportunity arises. And recording an album is summing up a certain period in creativity. Like it or not, but albums need to be recorded, and it is not necessary to do this in a studio with a “name”, it is enough that we ourselves are satisfied with everything, and it does not matter whether this happens in the studio or at home. In general, we try to perform as much as possible. In our opinion, this is the surest way to attract attention. There is energy in our music, which is better felt at concerts than in a player.
Sectorial – Both methods are necessary. And a quality promo campaign does not end there. You can go on tour without recordings, but why record without performing? There are often cases when you listen to the recording – the guys are quite solidly pressing. You meet at the concert and everything falls into place.
Gross Grolland – Booking agencies? Well, we are not against cooperation. In the meantime, we will do a quality recording of the album at a studio with a good name. Which will attract more attention to the band!
Druknroll –
Horror: Recording at a good studio is, of course, good, but, in my opinion, there is nothing better than a live performance. Only at a concert can you feel the full power of our music and all the drive embedded in it!
Jester: In general, both are good, although, for me personally, live performances are more important. The recording can be polished, licked, edited, as you like, and performing live you, in fact, bring your band to the judgment of the audience. And either you will find recognition and success, or failure. It depends on how you present yourself.
Druknroll: Without a good recording, you won’t achieve results, because first you listen to the band’s recording, and then you go to their concert.
Perishing Humanity – These are the spokes of the same wheel. Without an awesome and properly recorded album, there is no point in going on tour, especially abroad. The quality of the tour directly depends on the quality of the band’s opus.
Who did you trust with the recording and sound production?
Tarantulo – We trusted the recording of our album to a very talented person, who is also a wonderful musician himself – Pavel Kardakov (Naked Sound studio). He did everything from start to finish. It is very convenient to work with him, we found a common language without any problems.
Sectorial – The disc, in support of which we are now touring, was recorded at the Kyiv studio BlackLight Rec. They also did the mixing and mastering there. We know Shadar’s work, and this time we also decided to trust him with the disc.
Gross Grolland – Well, we were lucky with this!!! Our producer, who was previously a guitarist for GROSS GROLLAND, is in the subject to the marrow of his bones, ears… in general, one organism. Even at a distance. Sound production is his job, which he does well! And now, after some time, we are already tearing and throwing!
Druknroll –
Jester: We have our own sound engineer, whom we trust completely. It’s Lesha Knip. Although he is young, his brains work in the right direction. He is the best of those with whom we had to work, definitely the best.
Druknroll: He is not only the best sound engineer, but also an excellent musician, a virtuoso guitar player.
Perishing Humanity – Our guitarist Evgeny supervised the recording. We decided that no one could paint a better sound picture than the author of the idea and music of the band.
When forming your group, was there a goal for its existence? What is the purpose of your group?
Tarantulo – The formation of the TARANTULO group happened with a fairly clear goal. At that time, each of us already had experience playing in other groups. Everyone came to TARANTULO with fresh thoughts and a desire to play real metal, the way we imagine it. We were not going to follow the fashionable trends of this direction. Well, thoughts like “I’m a metalhead because it’s cool” and so on are a thing of the past.
Sectorial – Everyone has their own goals. The overall goal consists of many components. Some, like concerts, and generally musical pastimes, promoting a healthy lifestyle and thinking among young people, are achieved in the process and will never be able to reach the end point. Some, it is not worth voicing yet.
Gross Grolland – We like to play thrash, and we will do it!
Druknroll –
Horror: The band exists, first of all, as a realization of ourselves, and then everything else.
Druknroll: Of course, the realization of our ambitions is the main driver of our band.
Perishing Humanity – Of course, we kept our existence in the crosshairs, but it is very premature to talk about the formation of a band. The process has not lost its spark of relevance to this day. The process is not at all simple and stubbornly permanent. The main goal of the group’s existence is the process of ensuring its life functions. Of course, we can talk about super-tasks, but we’ll talk about that in the next issue.
What comes first for your group, lyrics or music? How important is lyrics in metal music in general? Tell us about the ideological content of your songs, what do you want to convey to the listener in them?
Tarantulo – in our music, the drive comes first, and everyone decides for themselves how to get it. We first pay a lot of attention to writing music, and then we work on lyrics no less. In our lyrics, we talk about various topical life issues. We often touch on various manifestations of violence and injustice. In general, we write about life.
Sectorial – There is no clear answer. Sometimes first music, then lyrics. Sometimes first impression, then lyrics, then music. But the idea always comes first. Our lyrics are closely intertwined with the concept of our work, a symbiosis of social and natural themes, the idea of the harmonious development of man. You shouldn’t ask us about the importance of the lyrics in metal. It’s important to us, but not to others. Everyone has their own path and goals.
Gross Grolland – An idea! First and foremost, there has to be an idea!
Druknroll –
Horror: For our band, everything is primary… both lyrics and music! A song should touch not only the ear… but also the heart and soul of a person!
Jester: Well, in general, it varies. Most often, the music appears first, then the lyrics are written. And sometimes there is already a ready-made text that suddenly fits the song being developed. Since the creation of lyrics and music goes hand in hand, we are already concerned with the lyrics at an early stage.
Perishing Humanity – The lyrics are important. They are important as much as they can be called lyrics, but in metal music everything is different. For the successful implementation of timbral ideas, the vocalist simply needs to have articulatory tongue twisters. The listener is primary for our ensemble, the rest are the means of communication with him, the conditions of the dialogue. For the sacred meaning of the verbal content, it is preferable to turn to the performers of the author’s song.
Do the images that permeate your lyrics illustrate real events or are they purely the brainchild of artistic intent?
Tarantulo – we have already said that we write about life, so everything in our songs has a real face to one degree or another.
Sectorial – Absolutely real. What we see, hear, and take part in in one way or another – everything is reflected in our songs. We left artistic and fictional themes for dreamers.
Gross Grolland – Certainly a brainchild! Of intricate art!
Druknroll –
Horror: There is artistic intent in everything, but reality is also present in almost every song.
Druknroll: “Reality” itself is presented in the composition “5 Seconds”.
Perishing Humanity – In creativity, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish fiction from reality. Both are doomed to artistry. What nourishes us when creating a particular story is the quintessence of internal experiences and individual experience.
A question about the album design. Is the concept of the artwork exclusively the designer’s own development or did he implement the idea you proposed?
Tarantulo – the entire idea of the design down to the last point belongs to us. Our designer very clearly captured our idea and conveyed it 100%, for which we thank him very much!
Sectorial – The album designer is our good friend. We hatched the idea together, tried many options and agreed on one. We agreed together on what we wanted to see, and in the end he expressed it “on canvas” with his understanding of our images. It’s great when your music is understood the way you understand it. This means that we are on the right path.
Gross Grolland – The concept is exclusively the designer’s own development.
Druknroll –
Jester: Well, in general, we did the design ourselves. We simply weren’t satisfied with the initial sketch, and we started looking for other options, starting from the already approved title “On the Blade of a Knife”. Suddenly, an idea came up with a girl with a sword, since “knife” and “sword” are close concepts. My friend is a fashion designer, and she just happened to have a collection dedicated to samurai, and what you see on the cover is her creation. Actually, this collection was one of the first versions of the new artwork – and that’s how it was approved. The only thing left was to do a photo shoot. True, since the deadlines were tight, everything was done a little spontaneously, and we also had to change the photographer at the last moment, and the photo shoot itself was fun – in the wind and cold. But it seems to have turned out well.
Perishing Humanity – The idea was formed simply during the intra-group tension. The creative mite anointed all members of the creative orgy with an unbearable burden. Then, the reins of implementation were solemnly handed over to the skilled master icon painter Vyacheslav Nurgeslag Smishko. It is to him that we owe the picture.
And what idea, or meaning, is hidden in the album title?
Tarantulo – very simple: this is our debut album and we called it TARANTULO without thinking, like many already famous musicians. Again, I repeat that the themes of the songs are very different and it was difficult to come up with a title that would cover the entire album. It could have been called abstractly, as BLACK SABBATH once called the song Paranoid, but we decided that it would be better this way.
Sectorial – This album touches upon both the relationship between man and nature, and between people. It was decided to name it in honor of one of the sectorials, the element Earth. The name “Erase And Reborn The Humanity” came from it and symbolizes a call for a new life, the rebirth of the old into a new, high-quality stage of existence.
Gross Grolland – The title of our album is a play on words, but in its meaning and character it accurately conveys the right mood.
Druknroll –
Horror: The title symbolizes the line between normal life and madness, the madness that creeps into our lives unnoticed. It is precisely the line that separates a person as a person and a person as an animal. Sometimes you have to balance on it.
Druknroll: Yes, when playing heavy metal, animal feelings are more likely to manifest.
Perishing Humanity – Most ideas are false, and the meaning is often a product of hypocrisy. We have raised these moral categories to a pedestal as a spiritual protocol of the decay products of a metabolizing society.
It’s no secret that most bands, having just got together, immediately tr
y with all their might to get on stage. Without even polishing their material. As a result, with the assistance of not very high-quality equipment at concerts, the listener gets another “ear cancer”. What do you think, when a band is ready for live performances, what stages should it go through?
Tarantulo – it all depends on the attitude of the musicians themselves to their music. The most important thing is, of course, the teamwork of the musicians among themselves, as well as a clear rhythm section. There will always be bands that rush to the stage, because it is very cool, but the result does not always live up to expectations. We ourselves work a lot on our technique, and we approach this quite self-critically.
Sectorial – That’s right, alas, in the CIS, most bands on their way to “stardom” forget or do not pay due attention to the technique of playing and sound production. This is due to many things, including the cultural characteristics of the post-Soviet space. What should happen for this scheme to break? Yes, Armageddon for sure. Unfortunately, technology allows you to hide your true “skills” on a recording, but at concerts it immediately becomes clear who is who. Since we are more of a concert band, and our music is better perceived “live”, we rely on concerts. Many organizers know us as a group that carries everything with them – from drums and guitar cabinets to various switching cables. The recorded disc is an educational attempt to convey the energy of concerts to an unfamiliar listener and remind fans of our performances.
Gross Grolland – Experienced, well-played musicians – good trash! Bad ones – ear cancer!
Druknroll –
Jester: Well, nothing can replace experience here, so you need to play more often and constantly work on yourself. And I mean not only rehearsals, but also public performances and communication with other musicians. And you need to get on stage, but gradually. I have seen with my own eyes how bands seem to play well at rehearsals, seem to move freely, but on stage they instantly get lost and go numb, and it turns out to be a mess. Stage fright should be eradicated by any available means, starting, at least, with short performances for friends and friends of friends. In addition, you should not be afraid to admit your mistakes. If, after a concert, you are told where you did something wrong, you should not take it as an insult – this is also experience. And you need to know your place. It is bad when completely green youths after three rehearsals declare themselves rock gods and, with their parents’ money, buy an opening act for some famous visiting band, “so that people can see where the stars are in our city.” I have seen this too.
Perishing Humanity – We have not taken part in oncology and otolaryngology until now, therefore, we will try to talk about cancers abstractly. In the conditions of our state, we believe that the readiness of the formation of the group is determined by two stages: 1) Barvy (a club in Kyiv for the underground); 2) MHM (a high-level festival in Crimea). Intermediate – are not corrective. Therefore, we will allow them to be omitted.
What, in your opinion, should a label do for a group signed to it? What should it provide, how to help the group?
Tarantulo – The label is, first of all, “coming out into the world”. The label publishes and distributes us, thereby making us very serious advertising, and this is a very serious foundation in creativity.
Sectorial – No one owes anything to anyone. If a group knows what it wants and sincerely desires it, taking certain steps – it will get it. The label can only help in this. This can be promo, Internet PR, all kinds of interviews and reviews. Therefore, to those bands who think that something will be done for you, we say thank you for not cluttering the market with your creativity, stay sitting in your ass.
Gross Grolland – The label should have a good reputation. And help the band find the largest number of listeners. Well, and tours, concerts, of course!
Druknroll –
Jester: The label should always help its protégés. If not financially, then at least in terms of advertising, organizing concerts, the right connections and all that. In the West, a band usually writes only a demo on its own, and a full-length recording is financed by the label or sponsors who are interested in a good product. This is impossible here, and labels only deal with the publication of ready-made recorded material. It is bad when a band spends a lot of time, effort and money on an album, and the label says – there is no time to deal with you, we will publish you, and sell the discs yourself. This is wrong, otherwise there will be no mutual assistance. Now everyone is shouting that sales are falling, making CDs is unprofitable and all that. Yes, everything is profitable, if only there was a desire to promote the product. We have a lot of talented bands, it’s just that no one knows about them.
Druknroll: In this regard, we are very grateful to our label Metal Scrap Records not only for publishing, but specifically for promoting our music to the masses.
Perishing Humanity – Usually, for a band, the label makes CDs, or rather only a certain part of the total circulation. Often, it uses the rights
Does your music have its own listener? We’ve all heard stories about how both young and old listen to us, but who is your listener?
Tarantulo – Our listener is more likely the younger generation under 30, but that’s mostly it, and in general, there are many who listen to us. According to the statistics of our group’s attendance on social networks, girls under 24 and guys from 18 to 27 are interested in us. To be honest, we didn’t set a goal to direct our music to any particular audience.
Sectorial – The target audience of our work is, of course, young hot guys and girls. Those who don’t sit still, are looking for or have already found a solid foundation in themselves, are ready and act towards self-development. We try to ignite a spark in people, give them an energetic kick. So that one morning, waking up, you realize – I can do anything!
Gross Grolland – We have a listener! The overwhelming percentage are people aged 20-25.
Druknroll –
Horror: The listener is actually diverse! Starting with bikers and colleagues in the music industry, and ending with complete strangers who write grateful reviews and letters to our group!
Druknroll: I think we are listened to by those who want to go beyond the standard framework of styles and trends.
Perishing Humanity – Of course, our efforts are aimed at having a listener. And the focus is, naturally, on the youth segment. And old people are always respected.
All groups want the halls to be completely packed, and the excitement for tickets to arise immediately after the announcement of the group’s arrival in the city, but our reality is somewhat different. What number of people who come to the concert do you not consider a failure?
Tarantulo – in our city, if 50 people come, then the evening was a success. In general, if there are even a little more listeners than the musicians performing at the concert, then you already understand that it’s not in vain!
Sectorial – First of all, we play for ourselves. Those who think that a concert can be a failure – they do not take into account the experience gained. We always learn something. Another thing is whether we see it or not. If the organizer fulfilled our conditions, but the people did not come – well, it was an off-site rehearsal. Now it’s worth thinking about how to avoid this in the future.
Gross Grolland – It all depends on the venue, if it is not a big club, then 100 people are enough. And if it is a stadium, then figure it out yourself.
Druknroll –
Horror: The number of listeners at a concert does not play a fundamental role, even if only musicians from the bands you are playing with this time are standing in the hall. The main thing is to show yourself, what you are capable of. You can give it your all in front of 20 spectators, and they will become your fans forever, or you can play half-heartedly in front of a full house, and the next day they will forget about you. If few people came, I will not consider it a failure. On the contrary, we will try to play in such a way that these people will then point their fingers at those who did not come and say – dude, you missed it.
Perishing Humanity – One. But, even if such an excellent situation develops, this interested person will join the ranks of our army of passive pacifists.
How much does the band’s residence matter? Is it easier for capital bands to achieve their goals? Or is it better to be a recognizable team in your city than one of many in the capital? What is your opinion?
Tarantulo – Perhaps it is easier for capital bands, but this is not the most important thing. If there is a desire, then everything will work out anyway, without changing the place of residence. In addition, lately there has been an awakening of interest in bands from the provinces. And again, in our opinion, it’s more comfortable to work at home.
Sectorial – It makes no difference. Most of the capital’s bands soon break up. Since the band has no foundation and the guys are just going to play there. If you set real goals and storm them at all costs, your place of birth and residence does not matter.
Gross Grolland – If your material is pale and uninteresting, then even on the periphery the attention to you will be weak, and maybe there will be no attention at all.
Druknroll –
Horror: The capital is a completely different story!
Jester: The capital is already full of good bands, if you go there, then the maximum you can become is “one more”. So, it’s better to become someone significant at home. Besides, good provincial bands are of interest in the capital, as a curiosity.
Druknroll: In terms of concerts – it’s easier, and in terms of publishing material – the same, since everything is at the mercy of the Internet.
Perishing Humanity – All factors that shape the mentality of members of a rock band and other creative associations matter. The state, the yard, the first teacher, the taste of grandma’s jelly – to one degree or another determine the consciousness and create the character of an individual. As for representatives of capitals and megalopolises, let’s say so – according to Senka, the cap is too big. The aspirations of each almost always have a share of exclusivity: for some, to bang for friends is the pinnacle, and for others you can’t surprise even a vacken. In any case, it is good to be a popular artist, regardless of the location. The level of fame corresponds to the competitiveness of the group. It is logical to assume that in the capital the conditions are tougher, but the possibilities are also wider.
One of the reasons for poor sales of physical media, such as compact discs, is their exorbitant cost. So, your band’s album was released on this very compact disc. How much should your band’s disc cost?
Tarantulo – in fact, the reason is certainly different. In general, 250 rubles (about 60 hryvnia) – we would not call the cost exorbitant.
Sectorial – Exorbitant cost? First time we hear. Exorbitant cost is $ 1.5 for a pack of cigarettes. Yes, $ 1.5 for poison for yourself is a lot. We need to make poison more accessible so that everyone who wants to die can do it faster. The main factor that affects the sale of discs is Internet piracy. Many do not even have equipment to listen to compact discs. Such are the realities, nothing can be done about it. Buying a disc is more of a fetish, a personal confession of the group. Why buy a disc if you can download it for free. The paper artwork, the box, the disc itself are already collector’s items.
Gross Grolland – The album should be accessible to all segments of the population. The main thing is accessibility, not profit.
Druknroll –
Jester: As much as people can pay for it. You can raise the prices to the sky, like “a new album of a super-duper group from there”, or you can set a very democratic price tag and sell the entire print run in a week. We do not aim to make money, the main thing is that people can afford our work, if they want it.
Druknroll: The disc should be accessible, and this depends on the print run.
Perishing Humanity – Our disc should cost according to the recommended prices of the international audio market.
Thank you, guys, for such interesting and varied answers! And finally, your suggestions/wishes to our readers?
Tarantulo – Listen to real music, play what you feel! Be true to yourself! Thank you!
Sectorial – Thank you to your publication for normal questions and to the reader for his time. Suggestions\wishes? It’s simple – don’t lie to yourself, love yourself and those around you, become better day by day. Plant trees, build houses… After all, life is short! See you at the concerts!
Gross Grolland – Thank you! Listen to good, gut-wrenching music and live long and happily!
Druknroll –
Horror: Be fruitful and multiply!!!
Jester: Listen to rock!
Druknroll: Enjoy heavy music!
Perishing Humanity – Thank you for such interesting and varied questions. We want to wish you strong and vivid sensations, listen to lots and lots of diverse music. Don’t bend internally and develop in many ways.