Fast, Brutal, this
is called Kronos. From France, Mike, a fucking beast at drums, tells
us more about his incredible brutal death band.
1.- Hi Mike!!!! Tell us a long story,
tell us how a group of guys between 13 and 17, who played heavy/thrash
in early 1994 become a brutal combo of pain and destruction!!! How were
the changes??? Tell us the story about kronos.
Hi my brother ! ! Kronos was founded in 1994 by our guitar player
Grams and myself. We were very young at the time (he was 14 and I was
13!!) and we had only started to play music by covering songs by AC/DC,
METALLICA, and we also badly covered songs by Jimmy HENDRIX or Eric
CLAPTON. Then after several changes in the line-up, we more and more
evolved towards a more brutal, fast and technical style. We recorded
our first demo and we released it as a tape entitled Outrance in 1997
and we sold over 300 copies of it in France but also in Spain, Canada,
Sweden and Japan… Thanks to this unexpected success, we decided
to go on this way. Finally, when Tom joined in as a bass player in 2000,
we really began to play brutal death metal.
Then we recorded our first CD album as an auto-production in 2001. Titan's
Awakening was recorded at Second Side Studio in France (DEPRAVED, BLACKHEADS).
Shortly after its release, the French label from Toulouse Warpath Records
(ex Shockwave) offered us to release it again under their name. Naturally,
we quickly accepted so as to benefit from a world-wide good distribution
and promotion since it was an old dream of ours to have a deal with
a label so we couldn't refuse this offer !! The second version of the
album was released in September 2001. Looking backward, I can tell that
this re-edition really launched us since it worked quite well and it
also enabled us to play in France but also abroad (in Germany, Belgium,
Switzerland, the Netherlands) and it gave us the chance to make ourselves
known. In June 2003, we have had a new change in the line-up as Richard
came to replace Tems as a guitar player and two months after that, we
entered CCR studio in Belgium (ABORTED, NO RETURN…) to record our
second album Colossal Titan Strife which was released on December 20th
by Xtreem Music (ex Repulse Records in Spain) with whom we signed a
two album deal since Warpath Records stopped their activities as a label.
To conclude on the subject, our name is related to the concept we chose
and above all to the last of the Greek Titans called Cronos (also spelt
Chronos or Kronos).
2.-
Why the classic mythology? Tell us about how you chose this thematically
way to the band?
We are very interested in Greek mythology but also in many others
such as Egyptian or Scandinavian among others. The name of our band,
as you accurately pointed out, directly refers to ancient Greece and
our texts are generally based on ancient myths from Mediterranean civilizations
(Rome, Greece and Egypt) but also others (Barbarian and Viking). As
you can see, we mostly deal with that kind of themes and it is more
or less our "trademark" and it enables us to be different
from the others and to develop our own identity. I can also say that
we will always deal with that kind of fantastic stories since our band
is turned towards that and if one day we change that, it will be time
for us to find a new name for the band! To conclude, this choice can
be explained by the fact that we wanted to create something new in the
style to bring a bit of freshness. Moreover, we are quite fed up with
commonplace subjects like Satanism, gore and sex. We prefer to concentrate
on our concept which might be considered as surprising but which really
illustrates our style and enables us to feel good in the band, which
is the most essential thing!
3.- Is classic mythology also the main
inspiration on your lyrics? What are your lyrics about? What is the
lyric you feel more proud from colossal Titan Strife?
Here is what our texts deal
with in a few words:
*COLOSSAL TITAN STRIFE : fratricidal war between the Olympian gods led
by Zeus and the titans led by Cronos for the domination on earth.
*SUBMISSION : enslavement of Barbarian people by their leaders which
was also used as a persuasion means.
*OPPLOMAK : bloody struggle between gladiators in Roman civilization
and more particularly in the Coliseum in Rome.
*WITH EAQUE SWORD : the legend of the headless horseman who chop off
the head of those he meets! !
*AETERNUM PHARAOS CURSE : the curse inflicted by pharaohs on traitors
or disobeying subjects in ancient Egypt.
*HATEREALM : strengthening of hatred and violence between Barbarian
people.
*MONUMENTAL CARNAGE : devastating and murderous raids on pagan people
from western Christian civilizations by the Vikings ! !
*PHAETON : the myth of a young Greek man called Phaeton who was persuaded
to be the son of the Sun and who will know a terrible end.
*KRONOS : a kind of biography of the last titan and father of Zeus in
ancient Greece.
*INFERNAL WORMS FIELDS: the description of the devastated battlefield
after the war between gods and titans and also what will happen to the
corpses after all these acts of violence.
As I said before, we only deal with that kind of theme in Kronos. To
conclude, I'd say that I am very proud of the tracks entitled KRONOS
because I do think it is very good as far as the lyrics but also the
melody is concerned !! I love that tune and it is always a great pleasure
for me to play it.
4.- You really hit the drums guy!!!!
Give us some tips about playing drums for the people that are just not
that good!!!
Thank you very much for all these nice remarks, I am really touched
! What pieces of advice I am entitled to give to anyone since I don't
think I am a boss at all?!!! I would say that people have to work as
much as possible, be perseverant and very serious in everything you
do. It is also necessary to listen to the other drummers (how they play
but also the pieces of advice they can give) so as to grow up and improve
oneself. Finally, it is also better to practice sport so as to be in
good physical condition as it is essential in our musical style. Here
are the humble pieces of advice I could give to your readers, at least,
that is what I try to do…
5.-
I have read that you are a total fan of Morbid Angel!!!, Talk us about
your musical influences, can you tell us the CDs and the songs that
fucked your existance up to now? the music that make you that fucking
beast at drums?
I am indeed completely crazy about MORBID ANGEL!!!!! This band is
my main source of motivation to keep on playing death metal. Pete Sandoval
is my god, my everlasting idol and I think that if one day I could meet
him, it would be the most wonderful moment of my life!!! I do feel the
same about Trey, he really is the best guitar player in that musical
style and I think he is a genius, with a personal "madness"
and an exceptional sense of creation… As far as I am concerned,
MORBID ANGEL is in death metal what Zidane is in football!!!!! I can
tell you that the fantastic Domination & Covenant that really gave
me the feeling that this was the kind of music I wanted to play. I remember
that at that time, I really wondered how a human being could be so fast
with his feet!! : I think that since that day, I have tried to go as
fast as Pedro on the double bass drum but I still have a hell of a lot
of work! :
But of course, there are other albums that gave me a slap in the face
when they were released… for example None so vile by CRYPTOPSY,
Joe Black and Eternal by MALEVOLENT CREATION, Despise the Sun by SUFFOCATION,
The Bleeding by CANNIBAL CORPSE, Litany by VADER and the one before
the latest album by DECAPITATED.
All these records influenced me but I really don't think that I belong
to the same category as these drummers even if I hope that one day,
I will be able to be one of them…I am doing my best!
6.- How is a Kronos song composed?
In general, the bass and guitar players compose the riffs that
we arrange all together when we rehearse. Each one of us gives his opinions
and his ideas, Kronos is a real democracy. We work on the melody with
a metronome to place correctly the structures and the tempos, then we
work on the harmony, solos and finally the vocals and backing vocals.
There! It is not really original except for the fact that we all work
together so as to create songs that are as diverse and original as possible.
7.- What is your favourite song in your
last CD?, Why? What is the song the fans seem to like more in your live
shows?
As far as I am concerned, I really like "Colossal Titan Strife"
because I think it is very complete. I think it holds every good element
necessary to a good brutal death metal song in the Kronos fashion :
furious riffs, blast beats, fast double bass drums, breaks, a melodic
touch brought by the solos, slowing down then speeding up….Otherwise,
I also like "Monumental Carnage" because even if it isn't
the fastest songs in the album is for me one of the most powerful and
catchy.
About songs that people like us to play, it is a very good but difficult
question! It seems to me that people like songs as "Opplomak"
and "Monumental Carnage". But it is very difficult to make
general statements as everybody has their own taste…
8.-
What is your experience playing live? What Groups You liked to play
with and what group you wish to play with? Are there any plans to play
in Spain soon? It should be great!!!
We gave a lot of concerts since we have begun but today, we look
for as many dates as possible everywhere to promote our new album around
the world, but as you know, we are not professional and it is very difficult
to match work and music! That is why we only play in the week end and
we can't play far away from home. however, we will try to organize a
European Tour one of these day because it is our goal! It would be fantastic
and I hope we will be able to do so very soon !! Of course, we would
like to play live with great famous bands such as MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE,
CANNIBAL CORPSE, VADER, MALEVOLENT CREATION, MONSTROSITY, DYING FETUS,
CRYPTOPSY…. One day, it may happen, who knows?! About playing in
Spain, we will certainly happen and we would be very proud to play in
your country!!! We will work with Dave on this project as soon as possible!!
9.- European Metal or USA Metal?
Simply METAL because I don't think it is a matter of nationality!!
I listen to any group as long as I feel good vibrations be it from the
USA, Sweden, France, Japan, South Africa or China!!!
10.- How was the signing with a spanish
label? are you satisfied?
Warpath records stopped their activities as a label a short while
before we entered the studio so we really had to find a solution for
the production of Colossal Titan Strife. So we sent copies of few songs
recorded quickly to record companies from all other the world. Then
we received several positive answers and we have finally chosen Xtreem
music. Our choice was influenced by several factors. First, the contract
clauses gave us the means to promote and distribute the album all around
the world. Moreover, it is a two contract album so it leaves us time
to improve quietly and it brings us the necessary stability to create
in a good conditions. We must also add that the great qualities of Dave
Rotten also weighed in the scale. Indeed, we must not forget that he
launched bands like DERANGED, CENTINEX, DEEDS OF FLESH, AVULSED when
he led Repulse Records. So we can benefit from his influence and his
knowledge of the underground to promote our music in the world! These
are the main reasons of our choice and we are very pleased with it and
we don't regret it at all. May it continue for a long time.
11.- French Metal scene is really high
now. What is your opinion about the sweet moment of extreme metal in
france? Which bands would you reccommend us?
France can now count on many talented bands, I think of NO RETURN,
SCARVE, LOUDBLAST, MISANTHROPE, DUNGORTHEB, RECUEIL MORBIDE, BLOCKHEADS,
MORTUARY, INHUMATE, CARCARIASS, ZUBROWSKA among others. However, we
are not fully supported in our country or even somewhere else as a great
deal of labels or French concert organizers sometimes prefer to support
American, German or Scandinavian bands instead of French ones !! It
is deeply regrettable since we undermined our own underground stage
as it is composed of many excellent bands. Finally, I really hope that
this mentality will change one day and that the magazines or labels
all around the world but above all in France will trust the French school
of extreme metal a bit more !!!
12.-
How was the recording of your last CD??? are you totally proud of it?
or do you want to change some things?
We recorded this album in CCR
studio in Zulte, Belgium with Kris Belaen who has already produced bands
like ABORTED or NO RETURN to cite only a few of them. We worked there
for 20 days, which is for us the minimum required when you hope to do
something serious. However, we will try to spend 30 days there if it
is possible when we record the third album so as to be able to work
more on details and atmosphere.
We recorded each instrument separately starting with the drums and we
finished with the lyrics using the metronome each time. Then, we went
through all the passages that we were not sure about so as to improve
them. Finally, we had all the arrangements and effects when we mixed
it. To finish with this question, I can say that we are very satisfied
now and very proud of the sound of our album !!
13.- What are your future plans for
kronos, are you going to play this summer? festivals? When the next
CD?, i´m anxious!!!
We will indeed play in a huge
festival this summer (in August) in France. It is the equivalent of
"Fuck the Commerce" in Germany or "Obscene Extreme Fest"
in Slovakia and it is called the "Brain Dead open air". It
is the first time such a big event takes place in France and we are
extremely proud of playing there. If you want to know more about it,
there is a website where you can find all the pieces of information
you need about it!! All I can tell you is that there will be fantastic
bands! We also start to concentrate on our future third album. we hope
we will be able to record it in Summer 2005 to release it in December
2005 if possible. We will see how things go but don't worry, you will
still hear about us for a while!!! :
14.- Thanks for your time, mike, i know,
that beeing a student, like me, leaves not much time free. Good luck
with everything and now tell spanish fans whatever you want!!!!
Thank you very much for this interesting interview and for your
support my friend!! Thanks also to all those who daily support us in
Spain and in the rest of the world. I also invite everyone who don't
know us to visit our website to know everything on Kronos and to download
MP3 extracts of our albums. http://kronosbrutaldeath.free.fr
Finally, for everyone who is interested, our new album is distributed
in Spain by the following labels:
Xtreem music (of course ! !) / www.xtreemmusic.com
Donosti rock / www.sayma.es/donostirock
Goi Music / www.goimusic.com
Voliac / www.voliac.com
Abstract Emotions
STAY METAL ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
MAYO 2004
Interview by Fran
