 |
 |
 |
First of all, can you give us a short introduction about your band?
Massaker: We are an industrial metal band, I started the band in 2003, we recorded a demo CD, played a few shows in France and Switzerland. In 2005 I split up the band cause I didn’t like the way the band sounded and the line up we had back then. After a year in the USA and back to Europe again, I decided to restart the band with a new line up, and make it sound the way it should have sounded since the beginning. Dirty and aggressive, I also decided to be the lead singer instead of being a full time guitar player as I did in the past.
Now lets start with a practical question - what does the bandname mean?
Hrod: Elktronik Sciety is a contraction of electronic society. It refers to the so-called civilized world in which we live. A world made up of people who have lost all their free will, where humanity makes no more sense, giving birth to that pathetic notion of society, where all is formatted, where everything is brainwashing. One brain for all, welcome to an electronic society…
Massaker: Well, Hrod’s description is what I use to think back in 2003 and that description is still true, that’s how I got the band’s name. I didn’t change my mind about society since then, I actually even see it with a darker point of view than I ever did, but I don’t care anymore if most part of people in this world are still pathetic, their ignorance use to be my inspiration for this band, now my hatred towards them is really the core of my inspiration. Elktronik Sciety represents what society does to people who look and think differently, people look at us like murderers, in a certain way that’s what we turned to be in our minds. I hate humanity and I think that most part of it doesn’t deserve to live, even if I’m against serial killers and terrorism. So I think the name of the band means a lot things concerning the system we live in, there’s no real description to it, because many people will have their own way to describe what our name means.
How did things get started?
Hrod: For my part, it started in the middle of 2006, after having met Massaker thanks to a common friend. He was just back from the USA and told me about his will of reforming the band. After a show of Ministry, he asked me if I was interested in joining as guitarist of Elktronik Sciety. Being available, I have accepted the proposition and then we started working together to find other members before starting the recording of Industrial Cadaverous Demos.
Massaker: Living in the USA for a year was great, people are very open minded compared to most part of Europe, I wasn’t rejected at all for the way I look and think, unlike France. Even rock music and metal music is well accepted there. Soon I realized that the French are full of shit, they criticize America without even knowing what they’re talking about. In my opinion, the French are really pathetic, the way they think and live is just ridiculous, they are way behind Americans and they just can’t deal with it, because they wanna feel like they’re the best, and they’re not. After making my point, I decided to use my hatred towards French society as an inspiration for this band without dedicating my songs to it. And that’s how we got to this point, and this hatred gave me some energy to play again with more anger than I ever had.
Your music strongly reminds me to Rob Zombie. Is he one of your main influences? And what are your other influences?
Massaker: Rob Zombie was part of my life these past 18 years, as well as Ministry, Frontline Assembly and The Fields of the Nephilim, I grew up listening to their music, those bands are what I love the most in music, so I guess they had a strong influence on Elktronik Sciety, but it’s out of question for us to be just a copy of these groups. It’s important for us to have our own sound, I also know that many people compare us to Rob Zombie, just because of the way I look, that of course is totally stupid, because our music is far more aggressive and much darker.
Cyr: I'm always surprised when I read that because, except for how Massaker looks, the music is much more different, more aggressive. Especially with the voice, Rob and Massaker sound very different. Rob has a more speaking voice and when he screams, his voice is more on the treble than Massaker. Anyway, I prefer to be compared to Rob Zombie’s attitude than to the "normal" useless attitude of almost all these bands with no image !
Your most recent release, 'Industrial Cadaverous Demos', got an excellent rating on our zine, as well on various other zines. But, what do you think of the release yourself?
Hrod: Right, we had good feedback and one of the best reviews was yours, by the way , I thank you very much ! We spent a lot of time on recording / mixing that demo CD and, on the whole, I am very satisfied by the result. On the contrary of the old release, the samples are now considered as being a full-fledged instrument and the global aspect, more dirty I would say, fits in much more the concept of Elktronik Sciety. However, still in a production perspective, the sound would have gained to be more precise, as it would have been if it had been recorded in a bigger studio. From a musical point of view, I would say that the atmosphere we want to bring is properly rendered, through catchy and incisive songs, as well as mechanic and apocalyptic sound tracks.
Cyr: I entered the band after the release of the CD so I had listened to the music for the first time, the day a friend of mine told me "hey, they are looking for a new drummer". So, I took a look to their MySpace page, and listened to the mp3s. I liked the songs very much, because I felt there was something different then that of the usual metal (especially from a French band btw). But when I got the real CD in my hand I was sure it was not the same songs, I mean that there was so many more details, sounds & strength that the mp3s just didn't have. So I recommend to people to listen to the CD, because the musical production is so far better than the mp3 ! For me, I was also surprised to see the band consider this a demo, because this could be a first "mini" album as the quality of the recording is better and more professional than a lot of "real" albums… I like very much how it sounds like !
What do you consider to be the best track on the release, and why?
Hrod: Well, personally, I like all the songs, especially Chainsaw, Brain Factory and Third Degree Burn. That question is not so easy, because each song has its own personality and appeal, still keeping a global consistency. But if I had to choose only one track, I would keep Chainsaw, because it is an effective song, combining the power of metal with a kind of dance floor touch, through powerful riffs and aggressive singing. It well represents our approach, we do not beat around the bush !
Massaker: well, I like Chainsaw and Third Degree Burn the most, but if I had to really choose just one, I would have to go with Chainsaw, cause I am a huge fan of chainsaws, and that song gave me the concept to evolve our image.
Cyr: I like 3rd degree burn too, Dictators which has a really big feeling for the true metal addicts ! Anyway I agree with Hrod that all songs are very different and have their own personality.
Your band operates under a certain image. How important is image for a band like Elktronik Sciety?
Hrod: The visual we operate is part of the concept and it cannot be separated from the music. It is like a movie, you know, you like it for the video and the music, it is the same for us. Both illustrate what I would define as a decadent and horrific atmosphere. Considering the music we play, we cannot provide a standard visual, it would not fit in neither the music nor our state of mind.
Massaker: Since I was a kid, I always thought that a visual who illustrates the music is the perfect combination, and makes you feel like your in a different dimension. I use to feel that way with Alice Cooper, King Diamond and Mercyful Fate as an example. So I wanted to keep that shock rock image, even if in France the metal scene rejects shock rock bands. In the French metal scene, they will always say that you are more concerned by your visual than your music, we don’t care and fuck them.
Cyr: We need this visual to make the band complete with the music and the lyrics. It is essential to combine everything as one. This vision becomes more important on stage because both the visual and the music are aggressive and this gives a global vision of the communion between the music and the band.
Judging from the music and the image, I take it that you're probably (horror) movie freaks. What are your favorite movies, and do they influence the music and lyrics you create for Elktronik Sciety?
Hrod: The horror thematic is an excellent way to bring someone face to face with his/her own fears and demons. We are these demons, as they are mostly painted into horror movies. My favorite movies do not necessarily take place into horror movies, even if I like very much that kind of cinematographic genre. In that style, I would quote Evil Dead, Brain Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Hellraiser, Saw, Freddy, Silent Hill, The Grudge… Otherwise, one of my favorite movies remains the Name of the Rose and more recently the trilogy of Lord of the Rings.
Massaker: I won’t say that I’m a horror movie freak, but if I like some of these films, it’s because they mean something to me, one of my favorites is Texas Chainsaw Massacre: the beginning and the remake. The old Texas Chainsaw Massacre films are just too old now. And of course the first four Hellraiser fims are like classics for me.
What are your views on the industrial scene and the music industry in France?
Hrod: That question often comes in interviews. I guess that if the industrial scene was important in France, the question would not appear or else it would be formulated differently. As you mentioned in your review of Industrial Cadaverous Demos, we have some great bands here in France but it is not sufficient to consider the industrial scene as being very prolific, unfortunately. These bands would need further promotion worldwide to promote a French industrial scene. Instead, it is actually confined inside the country, what a pity ! Some bands like Treponem Pal have succeeded in having notoriety, representing that scene by remaining true since the beginning in the eighties, but finally this kind of situation is rare. Moreover, I think it is typical behaviour here, in France there is a sharpen inclination in auto-critic, with a kind of rivalry sometimes and it represents a real barrier for the metal scene, in general, to have a real success abroad.
Massaker: I would say that the metal scene and the music industry in France totally sucks, most part of the bands wanna play thrash/death or black metal, and just a few bands have the balls to play something else related to metal. However, the big issue is that metal music will never work in France, because if you have guitars, there’s no hope, you have to export yourself. That’s the only way to have a chance, even French labels do a very bad work for French bands, they will do a better job if you are foreign, that shows how stupid it is here.
Cyr: France have tons of good musicians but no innovators ! Everybody plays the same shit that been heard a million times before. French bands always want to play what they are listening to and when an innovative band comes along, critics said "oh, it's unusual… so, that sounds like shit". Anyways, in "strong" metal we have had some pearls, the first Treponem pal was a very strong album. In the 90' Proton Burst was innovative with their tapes and then with the "La Nuit", probably the most innovative industrial French band, but they never had the support they needed, Dirge is also very unique and experimental. None of these bands had a future outside France, just because they are French and because they did this before "the right time", as stupid as this could be ! With the last 10 years, more people used to listen to metal, but I think it's just because of the trend due to Black Metal, Gothic or even Hard-core attitude, blah, blah, blah… but still there’s no specific radio stations that cater to this type of music, and no hope to hear Metal on "rock radio". Here when the DJ says "this will kick your ass", you can hear the new Placebo (!). When the trend will end, people will follow something else. Tons of sheep in France…
What are, next to music, your other passions in life?
Hrod: Music has always taken an important place and it is definitely a life engine for me. Actually, Elktronik Sciety takes a lot of time, especially because at the moment we are making the promotion of Industrial Cadaverous Demos, trying to find a label and dates to play live. So, it does not allow spending too much time in something else. However, far away from a post apocalyptic universe, I'm interested in middle age; also, drinking beer while listening to music with good friends; walking far away from this crazy world, even if it is not so evident for instance.
Massaker: Elktronik Sciety takes a lot of my time, because I’m writing music all the time for this band, but my other passion is my wife, spending time with her is one of the things that I enjoy the most, and in a certain way she’s part of the band visually, she’s my Elktronik girl.
Cyr: Music is the main thing I want to devote my time to, ans it is something I will never get sick of. So, to play my instruments, to learn more and more instruments because I want to feel the magical way of them all, to listen to music and read books. I also run an independent label named Kaosthetik for Dark Ambient and Industrial (non-metal) music and I practise Martial Arts too. Also, I love to walk alone in the forest listening to acoustic or dark-ambient music or just the noise of the wind. Sure, last but not least, my girlfriend is someone I want to spend time with too. Since I'm in the band, I spend alot of time for Elktronik Sciety, working on the songs for rehearsals, doing promotion, etc. Music is more that a passion, it's just my life !
What can we expect of Elktronik Sciety in the near future?
Hrod: Actually, I would ask the question in a different manner : "what can we expect in the near future ?" ! Because at the moment, as I have already said, we are looking for a label and gigs where we could play and so it will largely influence our advance. If we find a label with honest agreement, you can expect an album, including new stuff we are working on. We hope that we will succeed in finding some dates, so that you can expect the arrival of hell on stage ! In all cases we will continue providing the best of ourselves, musically in the same vibe than our last recording, as well as visually.
The interview ends here, thanks a lot for your time. As always on our zine, the final words are reserved for the band.
Hrod: Many thanks to you and Industrialized Metal, for all your support and consideration, we deeply appreciate ! To the readers who like our music, do not hesitate to support us by spreading worldwide the name of Elktronik Sciety !
Massaker: It was a pleasure to participate in this interview.
Cyr: Thank you for your support !
Interview by: Gerardo - November 2008 |
|
|
|
|
