FLESH PERVERSE at war with GURKKHAS.
GURKKHAS, the new band on Massacre Records, has recently released their first full-lenght CD "Engraved in Blood/Flesh and Souls" on this label, that represents the darkest sides of brutal Death Metal. The interview below was given to FP by GURKKHAS vocalist JF Rey.
1) Hail to thee! How are things in France?
JF : Things are ok, we are by monday, the weather is ok, i feel fine, thanks!!. The band is ok too, we are working on new songs and tours for the second CD!!.
2) Could you inform those who have never of GURKKHAS about your history, biography, current and previous line-ups.
JF: oK, before Gurkkhas, we played under the DAB name. we have made 05 tours in Europe, played over 500 gigs, played a tour in the USA, in Central America, done 07 Cd compilations, done 02 videos, done two CDs, one best off, and now we are signed by Massacre recs from Germany, and have a CD out. We are into Brutal Death.
3) How do you describe the musical direction that GURKKHAS follows. By the way, which bands influenced your activity mostly?
JF: The bans I like the most are Morbid Angel & Massacra but also Disgust, Disgorge, Abortus, Godless Truth, Disinter, and many others. We also like some Black metal bands like Darkthrone, and some songs of Marduk and Dimmu Borgir.
4) "Engraved in Blood/Flesh and Souls" is your third full-lenght effort so far. How can you describe the musical progression on this particular album and musical and conceptional changes that the band faced since "Stormbringers"CD?
JF : Well, I think that the real difference is with the incredible brutality coming out of this new CD if we compare it to the others.....there is no more solos, but brutal Death metal riffs, the vocals are stronger, straight in your face; It's a more direct music I would say, like a Bullet!!. Also if you hear it carefully, you will note that the structure is more complex, Richard DC, our main musical author (Guitars) has done a really nice work on this CD, and the new songs are again more powerful, so...
5) "Engraved in Blood/Flesh and Souls" is basically your first album that is out on a major, almost mainstream label (for those who may not know: Massacre Recs.) Are you pleased with the sales and collaboration with Massacre so far?
JF: Yes we are, we would like more promotional job in the direction of the underground, but they have printed 900 Cds for promo for us, so it's great, and a lot of people know us now!!. For the second Cd all will go one in a better way i would say. we have signed a long deal, so we have our time to become bigger, haha!!.
6) GURKHHAS... Does this word have any significance? By the way, what made you change the previous name (D.A.B) to the current one?
JF : we wanted a WAR name, you see,...something that could really et you imagine the concept of the band, and also we wanted to see a history behind the name, and we have foudn this ne "GURKKHAS", i think it suits perfectly to the band. The gurkkhas are the Elite soldiers of the British Army, since 1815, still active and made of Nepalese guys only, those dudes are considered as the most savage soldiers worldwide!!.
7) Tell us more about your live appearances and especially ones with THERION, LAKE OF TEARS, CREMATORY, VADER, SINISTER and alike masters. Performing on the same stages with such monsters is surely a great advantage for a less notorious band. So tell us, how was it?
JF: Without any doubts, the better ones were with SINISTER, those dudes are our friedns and don't have a big head, like the cows from lake of tears even Dark, who didn't take a look at us, they can die, they thought we would never sign with a big label, go to hell, we are on Massacre now!!. Therion & Crematory guys are really really nice, believe me, the singer of Crematory impressed me a lot with his atitude, a very nice person.
8) Your promo sheet says that you had 3 appearances on a National broadcasting TV show. Please, inform us of the details.
JF : Yes, we have appread in two ones from France, and the thord biggest TV channel from France (TV Audience!!) to talk about the life of a musician in our style, and the other one was for a CantralAmerican TV Show, the Biggest Metal one on this area!! caled Canal 21. It was a great experience, we were like children, frightened, because on to the two first Show in France we've had to play!!!!.
9) What are your future musical and non-musical plans?
JF: We are working on to the second cd and yours in all Europe and maybe worldwide, we'll see, regarding to our sells. We already have three songs and the cd title. Besides music we wanna stay with our own families, and friends of course.
10) Your final comments and words.
JF: Mega thanks for this interview, youhelp us and for this you are very very nice, everyone can hear the Gurkkhas, just take an ear on this CD, you will enjoy it, DEATH IS THE LAW!!.
Interview taken by Krasniy
Official GURKKHAS Homepage
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