We caught up with Mumbai based death/black band, DEMONIC RESURRECTION, after their latest release ‘Return To Dakrness’
Could you tell us something about the new album ‘Return to darkness’? You logo was designed by Michael ‘Xaay’ Loranc. How did you get in touch with him?
‘The Return To Darkness’ is the definitive DR album. It’s the evolved sound of the band and it’s our best album musically and sonically, there are definitely many more elements to the music that were not there previously. The album continues a story that was started with ‘A Darkness Descends’ continued through ‘Beyond The Darkness’ and now comes full circle. Xaay not only did the logo but he also did the cover artwork, inlay and new DR poster. Actually people have a misconception that it’s really difficult to get in touch with people, we just sent him and email asking if he can do the artwork and he replied saying yes.
How’s your touring schedule to promote the album?
We are definitely going to have a very busy year playing as many shows as humanly possible to support the album, we’re pretty booked post the 15th of Jan for college festivals across India as well as a 5 city tour being organized by our label Demonstealer Records. We have also confirmed Brutal Assault 2010 in Czech Republic and are also looking to book some more international festivals this year.
You mentioned it is the last of the trilogy, so what is the next direction for DR?
I think it’s a bit too early to know what we’ll write next. Musically it will definitely be taking the current musical direction we’ve found and refining it further and developing this sound we’ve got going on right now. Lyrically there are many ideas in my head but nothing concrete.
You opened for Textures an Amon Amarth at Deccan rock, Bangalore 5th Dec, how was that experience? Also compare this concert with your opening performance for Opeth in Jan 09?
To be brutally honest it’s a great high to be opening for bands that we’ve been inspired by and are fans off but the organization at these shows is not up to the mark and it’s the Indian bands that get screwed in the bargain. With the Opeth show we got to play only 4 songs, however we had great sound on stage and off stage and we really enjoyed the whole experience. With Deccan Rock it was a great event but due to time mismanagement we didn’t get a proper sound check, played 3 songs and had the worst sound on stage ever. So that part was really disappointing but our fans who were there and supported us really made us forget all the bad stuff.
DR is going to play at Brutal Assault Fest in Czech Republic alongside heavy weights like Cannibal Corpse, Devin Townsend etc? What are you looking forward to?
The experience, apart from playing at an international festival this is also the 1st time anyone in the band is actually attending an international metal festival so we are just going to soak in the experience of what a metal fest is all about and really enjoy our time there on stage and off stage. And if we are lucky we’ll get to meet all our hero’s and fav bands backstage.
DR (DEMONSTEALER RECORDS) recently got a deal with Behemoth to release their album in India? How did they happen? Any more bands to be released?
Well it was pretty simple, Behemoth’s management contacted me to release their new album Evangelion in India and after much consideration I decided to take the risk and release the album. Needless to say it backfired and put me in serious financial loss but that’s mainly because fans in India don’t believe in buying music, I mean don’t get me wrong there are ALWAYS passionate fans who will pay money for their music and they cherish that but by and large everyone else has an excuse not to pay for music. So while this exercise has really hurt me financially I’m not looking at giving up so easily and I will definitely try and release one or two more albums and see if I can make it work, else that’s the end for my label and releasing foreign bands.
Do you think that the scene in India is improving as compared to couple of years ago? What is facilitating this change? What needs to be done to get the Indian bands recognized in India and internationally?
I think before Indian bands get recognized internationally they need to be recognized in India. People also need to stop passing off any average band as the next big thing. The fact is in India even an average band can become popular because the chances are there is no competition, however on a global platform there are a million bands like them so no one from abroad is going to care unless the band can really kick some ass live and has some really good original music, they don’t need another Lamb of God or Metallica they already have them. Also it’s the bands that have stuck it out for almost 10 years like DR, Kryptos, and MyndSnare who will probably pave the way for the younger bands. The scene is changing slowly mainly because bands said let’s stop playing covers and start with our own music and fans said ‘ok we’ll listen’ from there it’s started and the scene is going to grow as a result of that.
Could you tell us about the ‘The Great Indian Retail Project’? How did you come up with the idea and how would it benefit?
It’s just an idea right now and I want to see how I can develop it over time, its essentially a support system for bands, by the bands to sell their music and reach corners of India where they can’t normally get their music out too. It’s to avoid having to depend on a Planet M or a Music World to sell their CDs it’s to make sure their payments are not made after 6months its to sell a CD and get paid. Basically it’s what independent labels do abroad, trading albums among themselves. It works for them, so we need to make it work here in India.
Do you think social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut are useful in promoting your band?
They are essential in today’s times. The web is a boon for a new band, it’s a medium that puts the entire world in arms reach and you can really promote your music to the max. Also these websites lets you interact with your fans and it builds a more personal relationships.
Bands are giving away their music on sites like Gimmesound.com? Do you think bands make enough money to cover recording costs or use it to spread their music?
For most bands recording the music is an investment that will pay off in the form of live shows which they will get paid for. So if you have more listeners and fans it means you will have a bigger draw for a concert so it makes sense to get the music out first and then worry about money. However a lot of bands believe their music is worth something and their fans believe that too which is why some music sells and you recover your recording costs etc.
With more international bands coming to India, do you think it helps our band get international exposure or the international bands have discovered a new market in India?
Honestly it doesn’t do much for Indian bands, honestly ask the big Indian bands who tour how many of them care to even watch their opening acts let alone push their music to the right people. So it’s the same when a foreign band comes here, they might enjoy watching a band here to see what it’s all about but they aren’t really going to open any magic doors, they are musicians not tour managers or booking agents or label scouts. But yes it opens a market for the Indian metal fan who at one point could only hope and pray he’d get to watch Maiden, Megadeth, Machine Head, Opeth etc and now that is actually happening and there is a chance your fav band will tour India.
Rapid fire!
1. Old Vader or new Vader?
2. Symphonic black metal or brutal death metal?
3. Prog rock or art rock?
4. A slayer concert in India for you or a Slayer concert abroad?
5. Biggest Metal band ever?
6. One band you want to see live before you die?
1. Old Vader \m/ R.I.P Doc!
2. Symphonic Death Metal
3. Prog Rock
4. Slayer concert in India
5. Metallica (commercially speaking)
6. Cynic, Immortal, Emperor, Dimmu Borgir etc, everyone in the band has their own favorite.
Any special messages for old fans and new set of DR fans?
Get a taste of what DR is all about from www.demonicresurrection.in . and Cheers & Stay Demonic!
Thank you DR for your time, we wish you the best for your album!
Thank you Metal India, it’s been a pleasure.
Interview By Hetal Bhagat & Atul Sharma