Hails
Here is a second interview with Russian blackend,thrash band "BloodRain who have just released their new cd "Bloodrain V:Adorae Satanae" through Possesion Rec.For more information on the bands past and present plans be sure to read the interview and buy the new release today.
Regards
Patrick
fiendformetal@live.com
Interview with Jan vocalist, guitarist of BLOODRAIN done by Patrick
1.Hello Jan when did you first discover metal music and who were some of the first bands you listened to?
It was approximately in 1986-1987 year when I was in the first grade of primary school. My classmate was familiar with one student, who was older than us, so all together we listened to such tapes as W.A.S.P., ACCEPT, RUNNING WILD, MOTORHEAD and other old bands.
2. Jan you formed Bloodrain in 1995 when did you get the idea to start this band?
In 1993 or 1994 I played bass in thrash metal band DISASTROUS SOUND, but I had to leave because the other guys were much older and more experienced than me and I played on a very low level. Then I decided to create my own band in February of 1995 and it is interesting that both musicians of the first BLOODRAIN line-up were also 10 years older than me but less experienced in terms of playing instruments.
3.What is the current line-up of Bloodrain ? And how would you say Bloodrain's music has changed since the beginning til present day?
At the moment line-up is: Jan – guitar/ vocals (since 1995), Set – bass (since 1996), R666 – guitar (since 2008). We do not have a permanent drummer now and we use a drum machine for our rehearsals. It is very hard to find a drummer corresponding to our musical level who would share our views and satanic ideology. Again, he needs to understand our twisted sense of humor and be able to drink with us.
Of course, the music has changed a lot. Let's not talk about the demo, it was still raw material, especially the first two. Our debut album «De Vermis Mysteriis» (2001) was created under the influence of scandinavian bands, especially MAYHEM (old) and DISSECTION, but on the second hand we have already found our own style I guess. Although there is a view that it is not necessarily good to play this style of music, we believe that musical and lyrical parts are equally important.
4.How did you and the band come in contact with Possession Prod.?
Anatoly from Metal Race Records wanted to release our new CD but couldn't do it alone and he offered to make a joint release with Possession Prod. We thought why not? Possession Prod is an old and respected label, in addition, a few years ago they released our compilation «Ultimatum / Nomen Nostrum Legio» together with Satanath Records. However last time all negotiations with Possession performed Alexey from Satanath Records. I exchanged a few emails with Possession after the release of the new album.
5. Bloodrain is getting ready to release the newest release "Bloodrain V:Adora Satanae" How long did it take the band to write the music for the new release? Does the whole band work on the music or does one member usually write everything?
It could be recorded much earlier but we changed four drummers in the last 4 years and each of them threw the group a few steps back. One retired from music, the other was killed and the third was just a fucking wimp. Our last drummer Ruslan left due to health problems but not everyone in the group believes that… Generally, the problem with the drummer is the eternal scourge of our band. But we do not lose hope. All to the will of Satan!
I write almost all music including the drum parts, then each musician makes arrangements and complications as well as reprises the lines of his own instruments. 90 to 10 percent approximately…
6.Who usually takes care of writing the lyrics for the band? It seems the band is inspired by Satanism, occult themes what are some topics you write about on the newest cd "Bloodrain V : Adora Satanae"?
I write all lyrics, but on the album «Ulimatum» (2003) there's one song co-written with Uglook from Black Metal band NIGHT REICH. This is the song «Let The Blood Spills!»
Our lyrics mainly affects Satanism, darkness, evil, hatred of mankind, but not the occult…Now it's too trendy and uninteresting for me. I can find inspiration in books, movies (and it doesn't have to be something terrible or evil), conversations with friends or just in my sick imagination.
For example on the new album there's a song «By The Owl Creek». It is inspired by the story of Ambrose Bierce and tells about the experiences of a person before execution. Or take the song «Beyond Law, Beyond Morals». It's about a shitty time in which we live when in fact reviving the new inquisition and under the guise of support of the authorities trying to suppress any nonconformity. «My Hell» is about the life of a Satanist in a society when every day you get to see around only stupid bastards concerned about their fucking problems of money, work, children and TV…Fuck them! Here are a few examples…
7.Besides the newest release does the band have any past releases or merchandise available for the readers? And if yes where can the readers buy it?
You can find it in different distro. Red Stream, Negative Existence, Deathgasm, Paragon, Hells Headbangers, Morbid Winter, Fog Of The Apocalypse ,Obscure Abhorrence, Old Temple, Seven Gates Of Hell, Propaganda, Todestrieb, Northern Heritage, Hammer Of Damnation, Cold Breath Of Silence, Possession, Primitive Reaction and others.
8.Does Bloodrain get to play "live" very often or do you prefer to work in the studio? What have been some of the bands most memorable shows over the years?
We like to play live but we prefer to give 2-3 concerts a year that is infrequently. We played about 130 concerts or more over the years, some were better some worse. The main thing is not to drink a lot of alcohol before the show, otherwise everything will be very poorly performed, by the way it happened often enough, ha-ha…It was a good performances at Helvet.Ru Fest in St.Petersburg (2008) with GRAMARY and others, at Volh Fest in Moskow (2010 or 2011) with URGEHAL,BLACKDEATH and STURMKAISER, with BLACKDEATH and NARGAROTH in Moskow in 2014, many concerts in Tver with local friendly bands, such as IN DEATHS EMBRACE, SMERTOKREST and GODHATER…
9.Are there any upcoming tours or shows the readers should watch out for?
As I said we have no drummer right now, so until the concert plans. Although it is possible we will play all the same with the use of a drum machine.
10.Jan in your opinion what does Underground Metal mean to you?
Underground is not an empty phrase. It is extremely anticommercial position and the principle which we have been maintaining for more than twenty years. We never got money for your recordings and concerts but nobody tells me what to do and how to compose music and create lyrics. Now I see a lot of young bastard bands who are trying to climb on large commercial labels. For this they make compromises in their creativity. They call their style different stupid names and it pisses me off. Remember! There is no sympho, depressive, melodic, depressive and other Black Metal. It is either «True Black» or «wimp black». In summary, if you play in a Black metal band, you can't earn the living with music, you don't get money, you don't receive support or attention (if only the police)… Do you think a lot of groups decide to go this way?
11. Bloodrain comes out of Russia's blackend thrash scene what is your opinion of the Russian metal scene from the mid ninites to present day?
I like the old Soviet heavy and thrash bands from 80-90, such as ARIA, MASTER, SHAH, TRIZNA, HELLRAISER, IRON STREAM, JOKER, ASPID, E.S.T., BLACK OBELISK, HARD DAY, KORROZIA METALLA (only old), KRUIZ, KLINIKA, TRUPNY YAD and others. They managed to create masterpieces in absolutely intolerable conditions. In those difficult times, all kept on enthusiasm and had a lot of talented musicians and especially original and charismatic vocalists. Unfortunately now most of these bands either split up, or produce crap, but some are still producing killer material, for example, ARIA…Nowadays, even the worst musicians can afford good instruments and studios, also appeared internet, where they can share their shitty records, so the quality of metal music has fallen dramatically. You can not say about the quantity... However, this does not apply to the Black metal scene, who did not find the strength to survive, was eliminated in the late 90s or early 2000s...
12.Who are your all-time favorite Russian bands? And are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?
If we talk about black metal, my favorite russian bands are : OLD WAINDS, NAV’, BLACKDEATH, SPITEHOWLING, STORHET AV MORKE, ODOR MORTIS, FULLMOON RISE, NORGARD, FORGOT, BLACK WOOD, MOR, FOREST, SMERTOKREST, BRANIKALD, BEYOND THE GRAVE, POGOST, DEMONS OF GUILLOTINE, PENTSIGN, BAAL ZEBUTH, KLANDESTYN, RUIN, NEBELWERFER, SS-18…Some of them split up unfortunately… Among new bands I would advise: TANVARPMENKV, SERPENT SELF DEVOURING,GODHATER…
13.Besides playing in Bloodrain do any of the members of the band currently work with any other bands or solo projects? If yes please tell the readers a little about them?
None of us are involved in other groups, all of our time is BLOODRAIN. In 97-98 I was the vocalist in the Black metal band ISCARIOT, also R666 prior to joining us not for long was in Black metal band THALARION LATI. There were no other projects.
14.When not working on new music or band business what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
We all work at different jobs. R666 is an engineer at the factory, and I’m with Set work in the door business. We rehearse 2-3 times a week. If there's no rehearsal, we spend evenings going to each other's homes, watching movies and chat about different things. Sometimes we just go out to the countryside and drink some beer or vodka…In winter it's mostly cinemas and cafes. Also, we all enjoy reading various books and then discussing it…So, music and literature are our main interests.
15.Thank you Jan for taking the time to fill this interview out. Do you have any final comments for the readers?
Thank you, Patrick for the interest and good questions. Stay Satanic and metal !
Jan/ BLOODRAIN
Label Contact
http://possession.ru/
https://twitter.com/Possessionprods
http://possessionproductions.bandcamp.com/
