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Interview for DEATHTHRASHER MAGAZINE by
ARMANDO MUTILATOR :
Greetings Peruvian Metal Brother,
How goes things? Here is the BALTAk interview completed, I hope all answers are well OR even good. Also find as attachment the BALTAK, BATTLEGOD logo's & photo's!
The BUIO OMEGA interview will be ready in the next few days!
Thanks again
Take Care & Chat Soon,
Best Regards
Gorgoroth
BGP
DT: Hello, how are you?.
B: I am very well, thank you. Always busy with promotion & distribution for BATTLEGOD PRODUCTIONS.
DT: When & why the band was formed? (current line - up).
B: BALTAK was born in 1993/94, BALTAK was formed to be a extreme Macedonian Thrash/Black Metal band. To inform people of the Ancient Macedonian history that Macedonia is & never will be OR was Greece but Macedonian. A lot is done through political measures & manipulations of the Macedonian country. A lot of this history has been printed on the BALTAK "Zaginatiot Grad" CD & the "Kral Na Dva Svetoj" CD booklets. I am sure a lot of people will find this a real interesting topic. The current line up of BALTAK is: GORGOROTH - Guitar, Bass & Vocal. LORD OF AEVERON - Drums. For live show I have another guitarist & also a Bass player. The German band SAXORIOR will be participating in the BALTAK live shows.
DT: Are you natural from Macedonia?.
B: Nah, I was born in Australia. My parents arrived in the country about 38 years ago or something like that. They left Macedonia because it was not a safe place. The Macedonians that later fell in the Greek territories were stripped from their pride & heritage of who & what they were. People were forced to speak Greek, Changed names to Greek versions, Cities, villages, Churches, schools everything later became Greek. 51% of the country later fell in the boarders of Greece in 1913. I have also featured in the BALTAK "Kral Na Dva Svetoj" CD booklet the Anti Macedonian Legal Acts from the Greek authorities from 1918 till present day. Then Bulgaria got a part of Macedonia as well. The other part went to Serbia later Yugoslavia. Fair enough in the unity of Yugoslavia the Macedonians finally saw peace but life was still very hard & also it was still corrupt. So that is why I am here in Australia. But a country is a country & the man's roots are mans roots. Blood is thicker then water & I myself am a very proud to be Macedonian.
DT: Why the name of BALTAK?... who put the name?.
B: The name BALTAK is an ancient Macedonian name for a Axe, but this Axe is not a normal axe it's a bit bigger & stronger then a normal axe. I myself call it the Battleaxe. I decided to use the name BALTAK, also cause it's a short work & very effective!
DT: Your influences?.
B: I listen to a lot of bands, I like all sorts of styles. From the 70's AC/DC, BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN, DEEP PURPLE, BLACKMORE's RAINBOW (Only with RONNIE DIO on vocals), KISS, THE SWEET, THE ELECTRIC ELVES (ELF-featuring RONNIE JAMES DIO). Then the 80's with OZZY OSBOURNE, W.A.S.P, TWISTED SISTER, DIO, BLACK SABBATH (with DIO & TONY MARTIN), MORTAL SIN, MOTLEY CRUE, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, MERCYFUL FATE & KING DIAMOND, AC/DC (with BRIAN JOHNSON), POSSESSED, KREATOR, IRON MAIDEN, CANDLEMASS, HELLOWEEN, SABBAT, VENOM, BATHORY, HELLHAMMER, CORONER, CELTIC FROST, MANOWAR & also I'm into a lot of Power Metal as well like GAMMA RAY, HAMMERFALL, PRIMAL FEAR, RHAPSODY etc… Also like Black Metal acts such as DARK THRONE, IMMORTAL, MAYHEM (only The True MAYHEM), BURZUM, (only the first 3 releases), MARDUK, SADISTIK EXEKUTION. I like a lot of music also guitar legends like JOE SATRIANI & MALMSTEEN, MARTY FRIEDMAN, JASON BECKER. I don't mind a little classical music & also Macedonian folk tunes etc… I love music in general but I hate all that gay poofter Rap, Techno, Grung & that new wave of Heavy Metal shit. I am a lover of great Classic Rock Metal from the 70's till now & more. Musicians Rule not some dance party shit. That's for poofter's.
DT: What memories do you have about your "MACEDONIAN DARKNESS AND EVIL" (1995)
B: Very fun moments, enjoyed every second of it. I loved writing my first songs. It was a cool challenge for me.
DT: When did you start playing?.
B: I first started playing guitar from around 10 years of age. I have always enjoyed playing & writing new material for every album. Every album is a challenge for me to write new different tunes of Macedonian carnage Metal.
DT: What do you think about Religion, Church and Pope?.
B: I don't really think about it. I follow the ways of the Anceint Macedonian Gods. Before Christianity was spawned. I believe in my 13 Olympian Gods which are today the property of Ancient Greece since 1913. All Gods are all printed in Macedonian in the CD pages of "Kral Na Dva Svetoj" where all the Ancient Macedonian Kings were printed in the pages of the "Zaginatiot Grad" booklet. In todays times all of us Macedonians are Orthodox, Macedonian Orthodox NOT Greek!
DT: Do you think that wearing chains, blood, make-up and all that stuff is important for you image?.
B: In some ways wearing makeup, chains & blood is cool. I have nothing against that. It's cool for all the Satanic evil grim Black Metal bands. But for BALTAK I think it's not properly sorted. BALTAK is more about Ancient Wars, Death, Destruction, History, political contents & truth. I normally hate politics but we're it is concerning Macedonia politics is always involved. I hate it totally but there is nothing I can do about it. The Greeks have made it that way. The Greek laws etc… I think wearing armor, shield & sword, stuff like that is more suited for BALTAK.
DT: Your musical productions? (include rehearsals, demos, etc…)
B: At the moment are released only album length CD's except the MORTIFIER "Darkness My Eternal Bride" was a MCD released in 1997. The MORTIFIER MCD was originally their Demo which I got re-mastered for a MCD release.
Battlegod Productions Releases:
*BALTAK (Mac)"Macedonian Legions Rise! BP001 CD (sold out-out of print)
*BALTAK (Mac)"Zaginatiot Grad" BP356-002 CD
*MORTIFIER (Ita)"Darkness My Eternal Bride" BP003 MCD (sold out-out of print)
*ABORTUS (Aus)"Judge me Not" BP004 CD
*BUIO OMEGA (Ita/Mac)"Thy Dark Conquest" BP005 CD
*BALTAK (Mac)"Kral Na Dva Svetoj" BP006 CD
*BALTAK (Mac/Ger)"Makedonski Boj" BP007 CD
*BUIO OMEGA (Ita/Mac)"Pandemonium Unleashed" BP008 CD
*SAXORIOR (Ger)"Never Ending Battles" BP009 CD
Also distributed by Battlegod Productions:
*DARK ORDER (Aus)"5000 Years Of Violence" CD
*DARK ORDER (Aus)"The Violence Continuum" CD
(Thrash Metal in the styles of Slayer etc…)
DT: What topics do you consider in your lyrics?.
B: The lyrical content of BALTAK is nothing but ancient wars being captured in modern society & news to inform all people about the morality of Macedonia & that we were the first in the Balkan region. The lyrics are all sung in Macedonian with also Macedonian lyrics are typed in the booklet. There are only 2 tracks sung in English & those lyrics were written by DARKO from VAMPIR MAGAZINE from Skopje the Capital of Macedonia in today's knowledge.
DT: Do you practice Satanist Rites?.... are you into Black Magic?.
B: Nah, I am not into Satanic Rites & Witchcraft. I used to enjoy it a lot more & more fascinated but it 15 years ago. I have read a lot of books & other interesting stuff concerning this topic but these days I am more & more tied up in my Macedonian heritage, history etc…
DT: How is a gig with BALTAK?.
B: A gig with BALTAK is a very extreme experience. Baltak has played 4 gigs ever. From 1994 till the new eve gig of 1995/96 (last show) they were all great shows, full of energy & hate. I try to plan BALTAK shows in the future for Europe & see how I & maybe even South America if I can find myself a good tour promoter etc… Of cause BALTAK is a totally different band these day's since the early days. I personally think the music structures & lyrical contents are a lot better!
DT: Rate the following Aussie bands on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being somebody who totally sucks, and 10 being great.
B:
AC/DC - 10
ACCURSED - 5
AFTERMATH - 5
ANARAZEL - 5
ARMOURED ANGEL - 7
BLACK MAJESTY - 9
DARK ORDER - 9
DESTROYER 666 - 9
DUNGEON - 9
EXCARNATED - 5
GRUNGEON - 9
HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH - 8
INXS - 0
LYCANTHIA - 5 - (like MY DYING BRIDE)
MANTICORE - 7
MORTAL SIN - 9
MORTIFICATION - I am not into Christian Metal
NAZXUL - 9
NINA MUTAL - Never heard of them
NUCLEAR WINTER - 8
PEGAZUS - 9
RABBIT - Never heard of Them
ROSE TATTOO - 9
SADISTIK EXEKUTION - 9
SAKKUTH - 8
THE ANGELS - 9
WHERE ECHOES END - Never Heard Of them
DT: Tell us about your work with BATTLEGOD PRODUCTIONS please.
B: BATTLEGOD PRODUCTIONS involves CD layouts, Promotion & Distribution World Wide for all releases & getting interviews for the bands etc… Promotion is very important for me
DT: What do you know about Peruvian Scene?.
B: I am sorry to say, I don't really know that much about the Peruvian scene. I am always happy to listen to new bands etc… If there are any Peruvian bands would be interested for a release on BATTLEGOD PRODUCTIONS? Feel free to send any demo, CD material & we can see what can be done?
DT: Your fave European bands?.
B: It's a very hard choice with my 5 fave bands from Europe. I like a lot of style of Metal. I will just stick with my top 5 Black Metal acts:
B: BATHORY 1
MAYHEM 2
DARK THRONE 3
BURZUM 4
IMMORTAL 5
DT: Do you have the recordings from old times availables?.
B: At the moment the only old time recording available from BATTLEGOD PRODUCTIONS are the 2nd & 3rd releases. The debut BALTAK "Macedonian Darkness & Evil" CD has been out of print since 1998. I plan to re-release the debut CD again end of the year as a limited edition 10 year anniversary release. As for the GORGOROTH Demo before the times of BALTAK, that is not available & have not been available since 1994.
DT: What do you think about the Norwegian Black Metal scene?.
B: I really like it a lot, a lot of the bands from Norway are pretty cool & evil sounding. I like most Scandinavian Black Metal!
DT: Who designed the BALTAK logo?.
B: The BALTAK logo was designed be the guitarist of SADISTIK EXEKUTION the REV KRIS HADES.
DT: Which
one do you consider your best recording?.
B: I would have to say the latest BALTAK release is probably the best BALTAK album released to this day. Their was more time & money spent of this to make it a true Macedonian Battle album.
DT: Of all your productions, which one has given you the most satisfaction?.
B: I would have to say at the moment with my latest 2 releases the SAXORIOR & BUIO OMEGA. I would have to say SAXORIOR is my best release to this date next to the latest BALTAK release.
DT: "MAKEDONSKI BOJ" is the best Metal Macedonian gem from ever?.
B: Yeah, a lot of people say it's the best album to this date but also there are a lot of people who would rather the debut album because it sounds more raw & chaotic. All BALTAK releases are as good as each other but also different. The 1st 3 titles were more chaotic & devastating but the latest is a lot more musical & variety.
DT: Your future plans?.
B: Their will be a 5th BALTAK release in the next year OR so. Have to travel to Germany again to record. Also a tour is being looked at as well.
DT: Your last growl for DT. Readers….. where can they find your stuff?.
B: I would like to say thank you ARMANDO MUTILATOR for this interview & to be in your pages of your Metal Magazine. Also I would like to say Hails to all BALTAK supporters in Peru. Hope maybe one day we can all meet at a local BALTAK gig & have a few beers!
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