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July 20, 2008 |
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Alex Camargo
August 7, 2005
By Tony Antunovich
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When it comes to defining the true meaning of strength, honor, and pride in the soaring world of metal, you don't have to look any further than the Brazilian death metal machine known as KRISIUN. For the last fifteen years, these guys have been forging their own path, bowing down to nothing and to no one. They're leaders, not followers. In a world where "rock stars" seem to relish in their own fame, fortune and self-centered attitude, KRISIUN remain one of the most down-to-earth musical institutions you'll find anywhere. While the band were on tour with HATE ETERNAL and INTO ETERNITY last month, I caught up with vocalist/bassist Alex Camargo after the show, and as you'll find out, KRISIUN are one of the truest bands in metal - to their music, to their fans, and to themselves.
How has the tour been going so far?
It's been alright. We had a couple of shows cancelled in Canada - we took a couple of days off - besides that we're having a great time. I think it's a real good package - like us, HATE ETERNAL and we have INCANTATION and INTO ETERNITY playing the American shows. It's an interesting package. Some of the shows are doing really great, you know. We're glad we're up here in Vancouver for the first time. The show went really great and we want to thank all the kids for coming out and supporting the show. We're having a great time for sure, man.
Obviously you know that HATE ETERNAL had some problems with their vans.
Yeah, dude. You never know what's going to happen out on the road, you know. You have to be ready. It just sucked! People don't realize how hard it is to be on the road and making it out there every day to deliver the show. People only have an eye on what's going to happen on stage, you know. But besides that, there's a whole lot of shit going on. You have to deal with the promoters, the companies, etc. So I'm glad that those guys (HATE ETERNAL) made it and hope they go for it and can finish the tour. You never know what's going to happen, you know. But whatever it takes, we'll fucken deliver the show; we'll fucken go for it. We started it and we're going to finish it, man.
You guys are one of the true bands that stick to your guns - and to metal. You're true to your music.
I'm glad that you realize that, man. There are some places that we'll be playing for a couple thousand (people); there's some places that we'll be playing for fucken fourty thousand people. But it doesn't matter if we're playing in a club for one or two hundred people. We're going to deliver the same show, man. We know those kids who paid for the tickets deserve it, because without them, we are nothing, you know. That's how metal goes. I mean, there's no rock star bullshit. So we're really grateful to those kids who are coming out to the shows, man - no matter what. We'll deliver the show anyway, man. It doesn't matter.
How has the response been from the North American fans?
Just great, man. As I said, some nights we'll be playing to not so big crowds but all those guys out there will be singing along. We're pretty much satisfied with the tour and we're glad the kids are showing up. And tonight was just great, man. I hope we get a chance to come back to Vancouver pretty soon.
In your opinion, is there a difference between the two countries (Brazil and the U.S.) in terms of the hunger for metal and for your music?
It's hard to say, man because each country has a different background as far as their culture goes. But in the end, metalheads are pretty much the same. In some places, there will be more people, but that doesn't really matter because - as I said - it doesn't matter if we're playing for a fucken thousand or a fucken hundred. At the end of the day, the metalheads are pretty much the same, regardless of the difference in the countries.
After this tour, you guys are heading over to Europe for some festival dates and other shows. What are your expectations for that?
Well, we're playing these festivals that we've never played, so you never know, man. Sometimes people don't give a shit; they'll be waiting for another band or something - because festivals are festivals - but I'm expecting a lot of energy, man. As long as we have the chance to be there and play, we'll go for it. We fucken try to bust it out no matter what. But there are always surprises. You never know what's going to happen up there. Besides that, we are really focused on the next recording, which is going to happen right after that. So it's pretty much a balance in between - the road work and the studio work. We have to keep it up with the old songs for the live shows and we have to stay focused on the new songs for the new recording. So we'll pretty much embrace that out there. We're going to fucken go for it no matter what.
As you mentioned, you'll be heading into the studio to record the new album while in Europe. How did you decide to record it in Germany?
We had the chance. We were supposed to record it maybe in Brazil or even the U.S., but we've been listening to some of the stuff this guy from Stage One (Studios) has been delivering - which is the same guy who worked on our third record called "Conquerors Of Armageddon". We wanted to bring that spirit back. Some guys were always complaining about this and that and that we're not sounding the same. So we're fucken going right back to the roots. We tried to get into the same studio - not to get the same sound, but try to get the same frequencies. Of course we're going to try to sound updated and loud, but we want to keep the old metal spirit. So we had the chance to go back into this studio, so fucken hell yeah! We're going back into the same studio where we recorded "Conquerors Of Armageddon". We're definitely going to try and do a good album, man.
So we can expect it to be pretty much like the normal KRISIUN we're used to?
Yeah, but we're bringing a few surprises, man. I mean, it's pointless just to try keeping it fast or something. We're not fucken leaving the blast beats or crazy riffs behind, but we have to give the people a little air in between the riffs to breathe and shake it. We're going to try and accomplish more things, even though we're going to keep the same style. We're not changing it. We've got to keep it vicious, man. We've got to keep it brutal - whatever it takes. We're not going to prove anything to anybody else. We'll start it and we'll finish it. That's our compromise with the death metal legions. We're not going to give up for shit. Each album is a different step, man. So we're definitely going for it no matter what.
That's the KRISIUN way.
Yeah man! As I said, people figure "Oh these guys are fucken talking all this shit and whatever." We're not trying to save the world, man. We're not trying to deliver the youth-made album or something. The world is already full of shit - so many crappy bands - all those labels pushing their bands...hooking up with festivals and shit. We don't care, man. Whatever we're going to accomplish - we're going to try to deliver no matter what.
You guys are probably one of the most true bands I've ever encountered.
That's what I'm saying, man. If it happens to happen that people will appreciate our way of thinking, we're glad about that. We appreciate it the same way. I know there are people out there who don't give a fuck - "Oh these guys are done. This shit doesn't work anymore." I say that this shit works! I know there are some kids there waiting for some brutal death metal and not guys that are just trying to deliver noise with insults or something. We want people to understand that we can make music out of death metal - to bring them a message.
Do you have any idea when the album might be released?
Early next year, man. Somewhere in between February/March or something like that.
How has it been working with Century Media over the years?
Man, I know it's hard to talk about labels. Labels are labels. You never know. Bands always bitch and shit. But you know, we're satisfied with them. I have no complaints about them. As far as being a fucken brutal South American band, we're still getting the chance to be around, you know. We're still getting the chance to deliver our shit and express our ideas. So it's pretty much like that. I know they have bigger bands on their cast, but ever since we signed with them, they're always giving us a chance no matter what. I know there are people there who are really involved in music. People should know the honor of Century Media man. I will never say that I like all their bands. There are bands there that I'll never fucken listen to. But somehow, they're still giving us the chance to be there, so we're pretty much grateful for that.
Well, they have a good band behind them.
Thanks man.
How would you compare the scene in your home country of Brazil with let's say North America and Europe?
As far as attracting people, in Brazil we attract a lot more people - like in our hometown. If we play Sao Paolo, we might be playing for fucken five thousand people. The two set ups are different. You don't play every single day of the week. Most of the shows are during the weekends, so we have to hook up with the key shows. It's not like going out on the road and playing every single town on every single day. It's a different set up. So it's pretty much like that, but in the end, it's all the same, man. Like the whole South American thing - on one hand, we have all the rough shit and all the social problems; on the other hand we can make it happen somehow. Like since the early days of SEPULTURA - they broke up a lot of barriers. They made it happen and they gave us the motivation and inspiration to make it happen. I'm not comparing ourselves to them. There will never be a second SEPULTURA, but I'm pretty much inspired by what they've done.
They showed us that we can make it happen - no matter if it's in Europe or the U.S. or fucken Brazil, you know. Like I said before, at the end of the day it's all the same. You go to my house; I go to your house. We're not the same people or the same culture, you know what I mean? But metal people - we're all the same. It's pretty much like that.
I know what you mean. We're all brothers.
Otherwise we'd be fucken hanging around at fancy parties or some shit. That's what I'm saying. That's why I appreciate you here, man - giving me a chance to express my ideas and my shit. So, we're all the same, man. There's no bullshit around here. No rock star bullshit. Fuck rock stars! Fuck all the trendy shit! We stick to metal, man - no matter what.
What would you like to say to the North American fans, the South American fans, and our readers?
For those who are there for metal - not even for KRISIUN, man - if you don't like KRISIUN - but you like metal, we appreciate it anyway because somehow you guys are supporting it no matter what. We're not like a fucken rock star band, man. We start it, we're going to finish it, you know. If it happens that we get fucked up tomorrow for whatever reason, I'll be dying happy because I'm dying fighting for metal. So it's not like we're just trying to succeed in the music business, you know. We're trying to keep alive no matter what. If I try to succeed in the music business and try to earn money any other way, I'll be playing some other shit and hanging out with hip-hop people or some of that shit. I don't care. We're going to stick with metal because we fucken love it and respect it and we respect the kids who are coming out to the shows and supporting this tour and metal. And thank you, man, for being around and supporting us.
That's all I have to say. We are grateful. [FIN]
» Official KRISIUN Website
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