Vorkreist
Vorkreist is an excellent,
highly promising and interesting band from France delivering high amounts
of energy and aggressiveness. They are actually the kind of band that will
satisfy even the most demanding listener. So, we've thought it interesting
to ask them a couple of questions. The answers have been given by the band's
vocalist, SRKSM.
1. FIRST OF ALL GIVE US A SHORT BAND BIO BY
POINTING OUT YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE AND PRESENT THE CURRENT
LINE UP.
Vorkreist was formed in 1999 in Paris by AK
and Silmaeth on guitars, LSK on bass, Aseal on drums and SohR KhaSM on
vocals. Influenced by Satan dedicated 90's Black and Death Metal bands
VKT began playing few gigs and received good response from audience in
France and Belgium. Soon a demo "Sermons of Impurity" was released in 2001.
The band started going more regularly on stage with new material and enthusiasm
raised around it motivated us recording the first album "Sabbathical Flesh
Possession" end of 2003. More and more VKT received encouraging responses
on shows. After Aseal left for personal reasons and D.Terror from Hell
Militia joined us we started recording "Sublimation XXIXA" and released
it early this year.
2. A COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE RELEASE
DATE OF “SUBLIMATION XXIA” AND I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF IT NOW.
ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED WITH IT OR IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE?
We are all still satisfied with the final
result though there are obviously always some details one would change
concerning production, things we didn't realized at that time or others
we couldn’t control. But these are only details …
3. YOU ARE A TECHNICAL DEATH/BLACK METAL BAND
OR IF I USE THE DESCRIPTION YOUR LABEL GIVES TO YOUR MUSIC WE’D SAY THAT
YOU ARE AN OLD SCHOOL SATANIC DEATH/BLACK METAL BAND. SO, WHAT DOES SATANIC
STAND FOR? HAS IT GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LYRICS OR DO YOU IMPLY OF
CERTAIN ELEMENTS IN YOUR MUSIC AS WELL?
I don't think we are a "technical" D/B Metal
band. It would sound presumptuous. I don't think we can absolutely acknowledge
any "Satanic" elements in music (unless you are a devoted musicologist).
For us Satanism is one of the sources of inspiration we use in Vorkreist
and of course most of the lyrics are satanic-based ones.
4. LET’S SUPPOSE THAT YOU WERE TOLD TO WRITE A
REVIEW ABOUT “SUBLIMATION XXIA”. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TRYING TO BE AS OBJECTIVE
AS POSSIBLE?
Tricky question… Moreover I truly hate writing
and reading reviews… And objectivity in that situation would be dishonest,
don't you think?
5. WHAT’S THE BEST AND WHAT’S THE WORST PART OF
YOUR MUSIC, ACCORDING TO YOU?
The best part for me would be the aggressive,
raw and doomed atmosphere, the impression of chaos and growing powerful
wrath that I usually feel and enjoy in all my favorite metal bands. I can't
really objectively speak about a worst part, of course, but maybe say that
we may have to work on and on to maintain a sufficient technical skill.
But it goes for all the bands I know.
6. YOU BOTH USE BLACK AND DEATH METAL VOCALS WITH
THE BLACK ONES HAVING THE FRONT ROLE. HOWEVER, I’D LIKE TO KNOW IF THESE
DIFFERENT VOCALS “PLAY” DIFFERENT ROLES. IF YES, WHAT DO THE BLACK AND
WHAT DO THE DEATH METAL VOCALS STAND FOR?
Actually the question of having the two main
different vocal styles playing a distinctive role crossed my mind many
times. And such a concept should certainly be used on new material on the
next album. But for the time being and concerning "Sublimation XXIXA" shrill
voice and growls are used according to the levels of intensity of the musical
parts. They enhanced the atmosphere and gave various substances, of course,
to the lyrics.
7. TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE LYRICAL CONTENT
OF YOUR ALBUM. WHICH ARE YOUR SOURCES OF INSPIRATION?
Sources of inspiration? This fucking life,
this world of shit. Then personal experiences, encounters, observation
of the extreme metal scene back here, drunkenness, fantasies, readings,
trips… Everything could be used as a fabric to write VKT's lyrics. Most
of the lyrics would start with a "demonic" or Satanic point of view, sometimes
ironic but always fed by hate, disgust, disdain for humanity and its principles.
8. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE ALBUM’S TITLE? WHAT
DOES “SUBLIMATION XXIA” MEAN?
Sublimation would be when you become vaporous,
as under the effect of drugs and alcohol, or in ecstasy. It is close to
"sublime" as well … XXIXA is easy to transcript… you'll have to check it
yourself.
9. COULD YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE THE COVER ARTWORK
AND GIVE US ITS CONNECTION WITH THE TITLE AND LYRICS?
The remains of certain human principles, symbolized
by the crown of thorns (but it goes for all these declining religions),
after the flesh has been sublimated by the ways of sins: Rot, doom, worms
…
10. DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS? WHICH
ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE YOUR NEW WORK?
Well, we recorded a few months ago a track,
"Dekadence Konumdrum", for a split vinyl with The Beast which is to be
released soon. Then we will fly to Madrid 3rd of June for a gig with Masacre
(Col).
11. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
It would be reductive to quote a sole emotion
… but it may be Hatred … And I don't think about a painting but much more
about a specific photographic work: "Penitente" by J.P.Witkin. Guess why
… Or simply our current cover…
12. BY THE WAY, WHAT DOES VORKREIST MEAN AND HOW
DID YOU SELECT IT?
We searched for a name, a code, something
which would summarize what we were and sounded "catchy" to us. It would
be a barbarism but "Before Christ" could be a transcription. You can also
see our trinity inside, Vice, Khaos, Torture …
13. HOW’S THE METAL SCENE IN FRANCE? I THINK YOU
HAVE A POWERFUL SCENE MAINLY CONSISTING OF TECHNICAL AND BRUTAL DEATH METAL
BANDS. AM I RIGHT? ARE THERE ANY BANDS YOU THINK THAT DESERVE OUR ATTENTION?
You're totally right, France possesses lots
of deserving and worthy acts, but also great black metal bands. I would
personally recommend Arkhon Infaustus, Ubik, Temple of Baal, Otargos, Hell
Militia, Diapsiquir, Antaeus …
14. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THERE WAS NO MUSIC IN
THE WORLD? HOW AND WHERE WOULD YOU CHANNEL ALL YOUR CREATIVE AND AGGRESSIVE
ENERGY?
Our creativity? In anything else, such as
writing and pictorial art, etc. Our aggressiveness could have been tamed
through drugs and alcohol, maybe it's already the case, actually.
15. THANK YOU! IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE
TO MENTION AND I FORGOT TO ASK YOU?
Thanks for your interview and hail to all
Greek metalheads who support us! HS!
Christine Parastatidou
|