Questions by Mrik answered by Grabak. I) Hallo Leute! Hallo Jan! How are things doing in Leipzig ? Is it your first interview for a French magazine? Are we the only French bastards to know GRABAK is such a killer band ? Hi there, things are actually fine.
We returned from the “Satans Convention” having played with many successful
bands, e.g. Marduk, Lord Belial, Belphegor, Nile a.s.o. Now we prepare
our new bass player for his job. This will take some time I guess but
next year we’ll be back on stage. II) GRABAK has been a Black Metal act hanging around for more than 10 years in the depths of the blackest Underground. You guys released a few albums, but with Agash Daeva, I think your status will now change… How do you consider the new album? I mean, can this record open new gates, as you have reached an excellent level now ? That’s true, we founded Grabak in 1995 and released four records so far. In the past we got some positive response from fans and press but this time the reactions are overwhelming so to speak. We knew that the songs were/are on a very high level but we never expected to cause such a positive feedback. It all started when we fired our old drummer. From that time on we were unlimited in terms of style, riffs and hook lines and that’s what you can listen to. When we started to create new songs it was like getting fresh blood – pumped by a blasting drum kit. Our drummer more and more stretched his own physical limits up to the level he is now able to play. III) Some clumsy reviewers are comparing GRABAK with ENTHRONED or DARK FUNERAL, which I guess, is quite nonsense, or I should say “simplified”. GRABAK has much more personality! Hey Jan, sometimes your music makes me think of UNLORD, do you know this awesome band? Or some of the blast beats can remind TSATTHOGGUA, hey, you remember them ? Honestly, for us it’s no shame to be
compared with Enthroned or Dark Funeral. We like both bands and know
each other for certain years now. But I agree with you that a simple
comparison of the way “Grabak sound like …” wouldn’t work very well.
I think we represent a unique Black art. There are only a few bands
around who play that fast. IV) Still about clumsy reviewers, some of them are reproaching that drums are too loud in the mix… and once again, I do not agree, for I think it is the origin of this fucking chaotic result! Actually, that’s one of the most brutal stuff I’ve heard for a while! What is your opinion about the mix ? Well, there are some tracks on the album I would agree with the reviewers. Of course we wanted the entire record to be dominated by drums. They have become a kind of trademark for us in the same way as two bass guitars. But for example on “Homo Diabolus” the drums are extremely loud. Whatsoever, in the end the overall impression is important. This time we spent 17 days in studio. That’s three times longer than ever before. We put very much emphasis on the balance between guitars, bass and vocals because we knew that the drums would be a real force. V) This is the first record with your new drummer… Hell, where does he come from to beat the drums that way ? Did he play in other bands ? Did he take part to monster circuses when you can see people with 4 or more arms and feet ? Haha, no he is a just a normal octopus. We knew Basti for a very long time and he always wanted to participate in Grabak. But it took some months to part ways with our former drummer. However, Basti is very much linked to the extreme drummer scene – George Kollias, Derek Roddy or Tony Laureano. He always keeps an eye on new ways to beat the shit out of the drum kit. Sometimes this is very annoying because he can’t keep still. He is playing in a Death Metal band as well. It’s named Invocation – comparable to Morbid Angel I would say. VI) Is Agash Daeva a concept album by the way? What is your main message through GRABAK ? No, it’s not. This time we decided to have only a red line in terms of title, front cover and band pictures. As you might know, Agash is an Old Persian demoness who is responsible for sickness and decay. And that’s exactly what we wanted to express by cover and pics. Lyrically, there is no real red line. We have some mythological based lyrics, some blasphemous songs about the Nazarene and some texts which are adapted from Milton, Dante or Lovecraft. What is the main message through Grabak? Mhm, from my point of view it is “Think individual – be your own guide!” I put very much emphasis on a more intellectual level. Everyone who can read our lyrics might interpret them in a different way and that’s what I want. So far for the lyrical side of Grabak. Musically it’s just full speed ahead – no surrender. VII) GRABAK seems to be deeply implied in Satanism. But Jan, now in 2007, what does Satanism mean ? And second part of the question, how do you live your own Satanic philosophy and way of life ? For many years now I answer this question in the way. I live my Satanic philosophy in private. Though we are public people in some way, I don’t walk around saying “Look, I am a Satanist. I am that evil, huh!” Insofar, many so called followers of the left hand path are rather ridiculous. Satanism is part of the dark side – occult if you will. As far as I know, occult means hidden. Of course I can speak only for myself. Each of the band has his own opinion about it. VIII) The name GRABAK has specific roots stemming from Nordic mythology (with the Edda if I’m not wrong)… But what is the link between this origin and your Satanic approach of music ? There is no hidden secret in it. Grabak(r) is the name of the largest Serpent lurking underneath the roots of Yggrasil. It’s definitely Edda based – so you’re absolutely right. When we founded Grabak we were searching for a band’s name and after many discussions we were tired to find a evil satanic name. Recke and Dirk were very much interested in Northern mythology and they came along with that name. For me it was ok, I re-interpreted the Northern serpent as THE ancient serpent. IX) I remember I have read that you seem to hate bands mixing Black Metal and Punk, but why? What’s wrong with it according to you ? I’m not gonna ask you what you think about latest DARKTHRONE works then… Give me your opinion please. Is this a serious question? You’re right. I said I don’t like bands mixing Punk with Black Metal. There are various reasons for. Let me try to explain. First, I don’t like a punk attitude. It might sound strange to you but for me is Black Metal a sophisticated style of music. Punk always leaves a shabby aftertaste. Second, I don’t like the stylistic expressions of punk music. It’s not the kind of music I prefer. A mixture of both genres wouldn’t make it better anyway. Third, what the hell has a Punk based opinion to do with Satanic based thoughts? Simply nothing… X) Can Black Metal be Punk, and in another way, can Punk be Black Metal? What is Black Metal by the way ? As I said before, in my opinion Black
Metal is a totally different reflexion of emotion, ideology and belief.
It stands for the most extreme expression of hate against false and
hypocritical manipulation of mind. Of course both, Punk and Black Metal
respectively deal with certain forms of protest but their individual
background differs fundamentally. In terms of thoughts, lyrics and deeper
claim we talk about a manifestation of rebellion. For me it’s the art
of rebellion against predetermined dogmata of religion and society.
In a way it’s an ambition to establish a state comparable to the system
of the TOTBL. XI) As we said, you have been a part of the scene for many years now… So, what are the main differences between the mid 1990’s and today? How do you regard Black Metal “evil-ution”? Do you regret the time when Black Metal was scarring (with murders, blasphemy and fiendish mood), contrary to nowadays when bedroom Black Metal bands can only frighten their parents, pets and neighbours ? Nowadays bedroom Black Metal bands?
Have you ever stood besides some Swedish guys? I don’t want to have
them in my bed room. Would you? Nevertheless, you are absolutely right.
There are some significant differences between early 90s and today.
That time you were able to know almost all bands being involved in a
so called Black Metal scene – at least by name. Today you need more
than one glance to get an overview. Today’s scene is much more anonymous
and regionally organised only. Mhm, as I said before, I don’t have
any problems with Black Metal that’s a little slower than we play. But
what is suicidal Black metal ? Shall the musicians kill their selves
or the audience when listening to? In my opinion suicide has nothing
to do with Black Metal. Suicide is for the weak even when some of the
best have been killed by their own hand. XIII) More and more Black Metal bands follow the NS path, either for their own beliefs or just (and especially) to be as trendy as possible… Any comment? Does NSBM make sell more copies and enable you to fuck more girls ? Well, we are a Black Metal band. We don’t give a fuck about NSBM, Pagan or Neofolk. If the press wouldn’t track this trash it would belong to where it came from – dust and mental shit. Enable to fuck more girls? That’s bullshit, too. XIV) Some years ago, the German Black Metal scene was actually not that amazing; I remember some mediocre bands that I obviously won’t quote… But I also notice that German bands have had much more personality for a few years now, I found out many interesting bands! How do you consider your native scene ? I honestly think that German Black Metal has grown up. By now it stepped out of the Northern shadow and gave birth to some really good bands. That’s not quite true. The bands I am talking of are also part of the scene for a long time. They all developed their very own way to interpret Black Metal. It’s a fairly unique way that really differs from Scandinavian roots. Insofar, I can only salute to several bands in Germany. XV) Are you personally into other musical genres? Or is Black Metal your only reason to live ? Of course we listen to other musical genres. Each of us has its own preferences. We are not that poor in terms of inspiration to live for Black Metal exclusively. Grabak is a very important part in our lives but not the only one. XVI) On your website, we can see that the band is mainly (so as not to say “exclusively”) touring in the area of Leipzig / Berlin. Do you contemplate to cross the borders? Are you ready to invade other countries? Do you have plans for 2008 ? Shall we meet each other in Luxembourg (where I live) to drink some free beers (I say “free” as I work for a beer company, and it may urge you to come here huh huh) ? This is rather a logistic problem. We can only accept cost-covering tour offerings. Very often we get totally “underpaid” offers of promoters and tour managers who deny paying even travelling costs. In those cases we have to call the gig off. Nonetheless, we plan to conquer Germany, Benelux and surrounding countries in 2008. Perhaps it works and we’ll meet in Luxembourg. Unfortunately, one beer won’t be enough... XVII) Can I send you free beer in trade for a dedicated record of yours ? Ah ah ! I doubt that it will arrive save in Leipzig. But we can send a signed copy to you. XVIII) Hey, last but not least: what’s your opinion about MySpace ? Is Black Metal dealing with virtual friendship ? Or is it rather a good tool to promote your music? Would it be better to create a HateSpace with all your enemies in your hate list ? I think MySpace started as a good way to promote your music. Nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to be discovered when you have millions of “friends”. It turned very much into a superficial self-portrayal. “Hey, you want to be my friend? Then add me.” What the fuck. It used to be a kind of mass masturbation – who has more clicks and friends than others. XIX) Bye Jan! Many thanks for your time, the very last words belong to you… Well, I just want to express my appreciation. Thanx for your interest in Grabak and your questions. They have been really diverting. Contact : |