Saratov band Druknroll will not leave lovers of g
ood old heavy metal indifferent, making them raise a glass of beer and drink it down in one gulp to their anthemic songs! If Primal Fear is a heavier Judas Priest, then Druknroll is a heavier Black Obelisk and Kruger! The presence of keyboard passages in the music, the lyrics and the quality of the recording cannot but please. Let’s talk with the guys about everyday matters.
Interview prepared by Vitaly Manson Yavnov
1) Greetings! How are the stern guys from Saratov doing? Is everything okay? Tell us what’s going on in the band now.
Petr: Hello everyone! We are currently releasing a new album, which we have been preparing for two whole years, so we can’t help but say that we are just nervous! Yes, this is our third full-length album, and we are all nervous, like schoolchildren at a disco – will the listener like it or not. In any case, we tried very hard and worked tirelessly on it.
Horror: Hello everyone! Everything is great in the band! The general idea is supported by the desire to do something meaningful for everyone. So we create, enjoy life, and wait for spring…
Druknroll: Everything is fine! What are we doing? – The answer is obvious: we are writing a new 4th album!
And we will definitely shoot videos.
2) It is impossible not to note the high quality of the recording on your album. Who did the mixing and mastering? How did the recording go, tell us in more detail.
Horror: The quality of the recording is largely due to the Metalhearts studio and, first of all, our Sound Recording Guru Alexey Knip! Thanks to him, the recording is fast, productive and on a good wave!
Druknroll: Yes, we are recording in our own studio, we have assembled a good device. Usually, we spend 2-3 months making one song, coming up with the parts, recording and mixing, and then we start working on the next one. We can’t record several songs at once. Alex Knip not only mixes and masters everything for us, but is also a great guitarist.
3) Eastern culture plays a role in your work. What caused this interest?
Petr: Ah, well, this probably concerns our song “Samurai”. It’s simple. If you remember, on the cover of our second album, “On the Blade of the Knife”, there is a photo of a samurai girl. This is our model friend, in designer clothes from our mutual friend, Lena – she is a fashion designer. We decided to use a photo of her collection “Soul of the Beloved Warrior” for the design. And then Andrey Druknroll thought that in fact the samurai theme could be developed, and he initially came up with the idea of a video clip, not a song. Well, as they say, that’s where it all started. Lena lent us her collection again, moreover, she herself took part in the filming of the video (yes, that same red-haired young lady) and organized almost everything, since she herself is engaged in historical fencing together with Vladimir, who kept her company in the video. And by that time we had already recorded the song, inspired by the original idea.
4) What bands influenced the formation of your music? And who would you like to perform on stage with?
Petr: A difficult question. I wouldn’t mind performing with Hellyeah, Down, Black Label Society and Hypocrisy.
Druknroll: For me, it all started with Peplo, then Metallica and Accept, and now In Flames, Soilwork, Mercenary, Degradead, Children Of Bodom are rocking, and performing on stage with them is just a dream!
5) Do you think heavy metal is relevant in our time?
Horror: Heavy is relevant at all times, as is music in general! I think that metal can be compared to classical music of the 18-19th centuries, if you put it on the shelves, it even looks the same, only with modern instruments and the appropriate sound. I think that after many years, heavy metal will be listened to and perceived as classical music!
6) In the age of the Internet, compact discs are losing their value and relevance. What do you think is the reason why bands, including you, continue to release their recordings on physical media despite this?
Petr: I think that the compact disc will not die out. Because it is real proof of the existence of a band, a real historical fact. Because there are many bands that record albums, but only a few are released on discs. And this automatically elevates them to a higher level. In any case, the question here is not even financial, this is clear, but purely aesthetic and practical. Firstly, it is a good souvenir for fans, and secondly, CD is a very utilitarian thing. Fortunately, famous rock magazines and websites still refuse to accept electronic versions of albums and files, otherwise their review sections would grow to enormous sizes. Not long ago, the band Omela launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for recording a new album. However, there was no physical copy of the album in the campaign, since the musicians simply decided not to release the album on CD. As a result, the campaign did not collect the required amount – and I, and not only I, believe that this happened precisely because of the refusal to release on discs.
Horror: In fact, it is a very sad moment that people, for the most part, prefer to download everything from the Internet than to buy a disc or, even more so, go to a concert! Therefore, at the moment, most groups rely on their entire creativity on their idea, enthusiasm and belief that something will change someday…
7) What, in your opinion, does a group need to succeed? Is it a financial issue or, after all, more determination?
Petr: It is, of course, determination. You can ensure popularity and a fan base even with the most insignificant financial injections, or you can organize a solo concert in a large hall, with a ton of advertising – and no one will remember you the next day. You just need to answer the question whether you need it or not. Those people who work for music and the group constantly, they themselves answer this question positively for themselves, because this path is full of difficulties and obstacles, but, at the same time, productive. Money doesn’t play a decisive role now. I don’t mean the necessary expenses for recording, rehearsals, merch, etc., I mean paying for radio broadcasts, TV advertising, hundreds of useless interviews and invitations to concerts from useless celebrities. This is not an indicator of efficiency, it is rather an attempt to make a business. And if something goes wrong, this business will simply fold as unprofitable. And creativity is never unprofitable, it is only misunderstood, and that is a completely different matter.
8) I wish you victories and creative development!!! From you – a few invigorating words for the readers.
DRUK’N’F…’N’ROCK’N’ROLL!!!