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!!!

Regicide Decease/Calcined/Death Illumination..In Memory Of Evil Chuck/Metal Scrap Records/2012 CD Split Review

  This  is  a  split  review  of  an  album  between Poland's Regicide Decease and  Switzerland's Calcide  called "Death  Illumination...  In  Memory  of  Evil  Chuck"  which  was  released  by  Metal  Scrap Records  and  we  will  start  of  the  review  of  Regicide  Decease  which  plays  a  brutal  form  of  death/thrash.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming with  a  great  amount  of  brutal blast  beats  being thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  tone  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  the  most  brutal  elements  of  death  and  thrash  metal  together,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  chaotic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  all  deep  death  metal  growls,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  occult  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Regicide  Decease  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should c heck  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Revelation  Of  Gnosis"  and  "Born  Dead"  which  is  a  Death  cover.  RECOMMENDED.

  Next  up  is  Calcined  a  band  that  plays  brutal  death  metal  in  the  early  90's  vein.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  great  amount  of  brutal  blast  beats  being thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  tone  with  heavy  riffing that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  death  metal  riffs  that  are  very  brutal  sounding  and  combines  the  early  90's  sound  with  the  modern  sound  and  there  are  little  to  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  on  their  side  of  the  recording  except  for  the  last  song.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  with  some  high  pitched  screams  being  utilized  on  the  last  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  violent  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Calcined  are  a  very  great  sounding  brutal  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Call"  and  "Evil  Dead"  which  is  a  Death  cover.  RECOMMENDED.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  this  to  all  fans  of  death  metal.  RECOMMENDED  BUY.    

Inside-Project/A History Of Violence/Domino Media Agency/2012 CD Review

  Inside-Project  are  a band  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  hardcore,  metalcore,  thrash  and  death metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "A  History  Of Violence" which  was  released  by  Domino  Media  Agency.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  tone  with  riffs  that  dominate  throughout  the  recording,  as  for  the  sound  effects  and  synths  which  are  only  used  on  one  song  they  bring  a  very  dark  and  avant  garde  sound  to  the  music.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  hardcore,  metalcore,  thrash  and  death  metal  together  to  create  as  sound  of  their  own  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  distorted  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  utilize  some  melody.

  Vocals  range  from  hardcore  style  yelling,  back  up  gang  vocals  and  deep  death  metal growls, while  the  lyrics  cover  hateful  and  everyday  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Inside-Project  are  a  very  good  sounding  hybrid  of  thrash,  metalcore,  hardcore,  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  History  Of  Violence"  "White  Trash  Whore"  :The  Gravedigger"  and  "The  Firnament".  RECOMMENDED  BUY. 

Mass Burial/Of Carrion And Pestilence/Wydawnicto Muzyczne Psycho/2012 CD Review

  Mass  Burial  are  a  band  from Spain  that  plays  death  metal  in  the  early  90's  Swedish  vein  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Of  Carrion  And  Pestilence"  which  was  released  by  Wydawnicto  Muzyczne  Psycho.

  Drums  range  from slow, mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  death  metal  riffs  that  are  in  the  old  school  Swedish  vein along  with  some  dark  sounding  melodies,  while  the  lead guitars  are  early  90's  style  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  utilize  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  with  some  spoken  word  parts  along  with  a  brief  use  of  high  pitched  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  death, gore  and  violence,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  heavy,  raw  and  primitive  sound  while  you  can  still  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Mass  Burial  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  style  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Carrion  And  Pestilence"  "Post  War  Psychosis"  "Deathlike  Dream"  and  "When  Fury  Became  Blood".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.
  

Stalwart/Manifest Of Refusal/PRC Music/2012 CD Review

  Stalwart  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  very  progressive  form  of  death  metal  with  a  groove  edge  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Manifest  Of  Refusal"  which  was  released  by  PRC  Music.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  good  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the synths  bring  a  very  dark  and  atmospheric  sound  to  the  music,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  riffs  that  dominate  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  death  metal  riffs  that  are  very  heavy  and  brutal  sounding  with  a  great  amount  of  technical,  progressive  and  groove  elements  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  as  a  great  amount  of  melody   while  the  lead  guitars  are  a  mixture  of  death  and  groove  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls,  groove  metal  growls,  high  pitched  screams  and  some  clean  singing  as  well  as  a  spoken  word  part  being  utilized  on one  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion   Stalwart  are  a  very  good  sounding  prgressive  death  metal  band  with  a  groove  edge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Karma  Cycle"  "Idol  Of  The  Time"  and  "Renaissance  Through  Devastation".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.    

Rumpelstiltkin Grinder/Ghostmaker/Candlelight Records/2012 CD Review

  Rumpelstiltskin  Grinder  are  a  band  from  Philadelphia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  thrash,  death  metal  and crossover  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Ghostmaker"  which  was  released  by  Candlelight  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing h as  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffing  that  combines  thrash,  death  metal  and  crossover  along  with  some  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  to  create  a  sound  of their  own  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  soft  and  clean  playing  on  a  couple  of  songs  that  brings  an  80's  metal  feeling  to  the  music  with  some more  traditional  metal  influences   while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  raw  and  primitive  sounding  80's  underground  metal  style  guitar  solos  and  leads  with  a  good  sense  of  melody  and  talent.

  Vocals  range  from  high  pitched  death  thrash  screams  to  deep  death  metal  growls  laong  with  a  brief  use  of  thrash/hardcore  style  gang  yells,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  hateful  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Rumpelstiltkin  Grinder  are  a  very  great  sounding  death  metal/thrash/crossover  hybrid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ghostmaker"  "Fucking  Wild"  "A  Lurking  Their"  and  "Desert  Goblins". RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Dehuman/Black Throne Of Creation/Kaotoxin/2012 CD Review

  Dehuman  are  a  band  from  Belguim  that  plays  a  very  progressive  form  of   old  school death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Black  Throne  Of  Creation"  which  was  released  by  Kaotoxin.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  death  metal  riffs  that  are  in  the  early  90's  vein  and  contain  melodic  and  progressive  elements  in  the  riffing  as  well  as  some  thrash  influences  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  talented  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  all  mid  80's  to  early  90's  style  deep  death  metal  growls  along  with  a  spoken  word  part  being  used  on  the  last  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  anti  religion  and  evil  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  strong,  powerful,  professional  and  heavy  sound  to  it  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Dehuman  are  a  very  great  sounding  early  90's  style  progressive  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Monstrosity  In  The  Hands  Of  God"  "Down  With  The  World"  "Harvest  The  Sun"  and  "Black  Mamba".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.