Stalwart Interview

Who answered: whole band.

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1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

We are on tour right now. We had gigs in Helsinki, Finland, Tallinn, Estonia. Currently we are buzzing the brains out in Ukrainian tour where we have 10 gigs and almost a half of it was already handbanged together with crazy ukrainian metalheads. 

And of cause we are looking forward to our new album  release scheduled on May 22th. It is our first worldwide release - all previous CDs were released locally for Russia/CIS states, so it is quite a big step for us.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album?

"Manifest Of Refusal" is our 5th album. I would say it combines more fast and brutal sound of our previous CD "Annihilation Begins" with more eclectic approach of our earlier albums. We turned back keyboards, and even added some electronics. What we were trying to do with this release is creating massive sound combining various elements into one monolitic picture. We always have troubles to say which exactly style of metal we play. Of cause, we have some elements of death and thrash, which are initially basis of our music, rythmical groove, some polyrythmics, and dark atmospheric moments.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Our lyrics play around some mental aspects of human exsisting in modern world with projections of some social problems to mental area of a human as a single being.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

Stalwart is old English which is a synonym of "strong". It is how we think our way in metal music, against all trends and tendencies.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

It is difficult to distinguish the best show, may be it was support for Carnifex or support for Kataklysm last year. By the way, our latest gig was in Kirovograd, Ukraine, just yesterday, and it was fucking great! Fans are realy crazy there, we played  in Kirovigrad 4 years ago, it was a real quintessence of true metal madness. We are happy that last 4 years doesn't change the metalheads here, as it usually happends nowadays.

About our stage performance - we don't have complex show with costumes or decoration - just our music, we, metalheads and maximum drive and energy.

6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?

Yes, as we said earlier we are currently on tour.

7.Currently you are signed to PRC Music, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support that they have given you so far?

We were searching for a label with actual album and got various offers  from Europe and America, and we choose contract with PRC Music after analyzing them. One important factor was that PRC made us its priority release for 2012. It is too early to estimate our collaboration, because album is not yet released, but we feel that label is interested in us, and we hope they will help us to make our name known in Canada and US.

8. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?

Yes, some of band members are involved in various local projects, mostly as session musicians.

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

We never followed trends  and we are not going to do it in the future. We are trying to develop our own sound - dark, massive, complex, saturated. Also, we never did 2 similar albums - we are always trying to do something new with each CD. We are just starting to make new stuff at the moment so we can't say exaclty how it will sound. Of cause it in somewhat will continue line of “Manifest..” and will have some new elements at the same time.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Nowdays we are listening a lot of music, and each band member has its own priorities. Among our main influences we can mention Slayer, Meshuggah, Pantera, Testament, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Fear Factory, Dimmu Borgir and many more.

11.Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Some of our bandmembers have a lot of interests in exploring the nature of the things by means of investigating some aspects of modern physics, some other are crazy computer gamers. And of cause, all of us have regular job besides music - in our band we have radio newsmaker, software engineer and even PHD in math/physics.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

STAY METAL!!!