Bands
with one or more known musicians have always some kind of bonus
right from the start, whether they earn it or not. In the case
of GRIMFIST, with Horgh on drums, these pre-praise
is certainly not wrong, because the band was able to record a
very cool old school Heavy Metal CD with lots of Death / Black
Metal influences, especially in the vocals. Bass player / singer
Frediablo answers the question to the debut CD Ghouls
Of Grandeur.
Markus:
When came the first idea up to found a new band called GRIMFIST?
Frediablo: The idea to start GRIMFIST
came from Ole. He wanted to start a band that was more violent
and brutal than Deride, and I thought his riffs were fucking killer
when he played them to me, so him and me went searching fro a
drummer, and found that in Horgh. This was back in 2001 I believe.
Markus:
What is special to this band compared to other bands you are playing
in and what can you express here what you can't do elsewhere?
Frediablo: This band compared to all my other musical
outlets, is different cause it is more old school heavy metal
in it's playing style, and the songs are more straight forward,
very violent and razor-sharp. A lot of the bands/projects I'm
involved in, are often very raw and are not executed 'on the beat'
so to speak. Personally, I like it when shit is a bit off and
not to technical, and I leave a lot of room for personal errors
in what I do, but in this case, I play with one of the best guitar
players and drummers I have ever met, and they like the music
well played and that was a refreshing change for myself. The combination
of old school heavy metal combined with my extreme vocals, is
also something that isvery different from what I do in other bands/projects.
Markus:
Has your imagination of GRIMFIST changed from the first point
of founding the band up to the actual recording of the debut?
Frediablo: No, not really. We knew what we wanted, and
each one of us knew and still knows where we stand musically and
personally. The musical direction was clear from day one, and
we knew the music would turn out somewhat different to what was
already out there, cause when you combine the talent and ideas
of 3 such extremely different individuals like Ole, Horgh and
myself, you're bound the get something out of the ordinary.
Markus:
With what three words would you characterize Ghouls Of Grandeur?
Frediablo: Old School Brutality!!!
Markus:
What were the reactions so far like?
Frediablo: The reactions have so far been extremely positive.
It seems that people and the press like what we've created, and
all reviews I've received on email, have been very pro GRIMFIST.
I tend to not notice and care that much about what people say
or don't say about anything I do, cause at the end of the day,
I'm doing this for none but myself. I do music for very selfish
reasons, and as long as I'm happy, I couldn't care less about
others. But, if people like us, there is a bigger chance that
a tour will surface and we'll be able to play live in front of
our fans, and that is always very satisfying.
Markus:
With what other bands you would like to compare GRIMFIST and why?
Frediablo: I can't think of one goddamn band that sounds
like GRIMFIST. If you nail down each individual
instrument played on the album, you could probably pin the comparing
to a bunch of bands, but combined we are very unique I think.
Maybe I'm not the right person to answer that particular question,
cause I do not listen to metal at all anymore. I only watch movies
and listen to stuff like Ry Cooder, movie soundtracks etc... I
got to a point in the past where I was fed up with the whole music
business, and instead of leaving it all behind, I just left the
social part of it and stopped listening to heavy music. I now
just create music and take no part in metal happenings, gigs,
parties etc.. unless I am playing myself. Besides, comparing bands
doesn't serve any justice, cause no bands are ever the same, and
it all up to the ear of the beholder anyway.
Markus:
What was the recording of Ghouls Of Grandeur with P.Tätgtren
like, because he isn't producing so many CD's any more?
Frediablo: Working with Peter was a very positive experience
for us. He is a very cool guy, very down to earth, and has a great
understanding for many different styles of music, and he's a royal
bum like ourselves, and I mean that in a positive way. He's very
calm and professional, but knows how to not let things get to
serious at the same time. He was more a friend than a producer/engineer,
and that made it all much easier for us as well. Why Peter isn't
producing so many bands/CD's anymore is not for me to say. That's
for him to know.
Markus:
Could you accomplish in Ghouls Of Grandeur everything
you liked or is there anything you want to do the next time what
was left over now?
Frediablo: One can always improve, and the day I feel
I have accomplished the ultimate, I will quit music for good.
For me, part of this is about always trying to improve myself
from one album to another. I hate listening to my own music, cause
it just reminds me how I fucked up !!. I always have an idea of
what I would like to sound like in my head, but so far, I have
never ever managed to even come close !!. I will never become
the type of person that keeps releasing an album that is worse
than the previous. I will not end up like Metallica !
Markus:
You've used some very great clear vocals. Was it just a singular
experiment or will there be more of it in the near future?
Frediablo: You won't hear me doing too much of that in
the future, cause personally, I hate that high pitched castrated
shit, and most bands with that type of vocals, but in this particular
case I just had to do it. The opening riff just grabbed my throat
and told me to add some clean vocals, and I laughed my ass off
doing it, but it turned out to become a great contrast to the
rest of the anger and brutality on the album. I might end up using
similar vocals on one track on the next album, but not anymore
than that, cause then I would puke …ha ha ha !!!
Markus:
How close is the connection artwork - lyrics - music for GRIMFIST?
Frediablo: The artwork is linked to the title in the
sense that the creature on the front is a ghoul, but that's all.
The song Ghouls Of Grandeur, has nothing to do with that
type of ghoul, and is more a figure of speech, to illustrate something
about us as members in GRIMFIST. The lyrics in
general, could have been written for any of my musical outlets.
I pretty much write the same shit over and over, and it's always
pissed of and almost always very personal views and experiences
I deal with. I see no need to have a link between the artwork,
lyrics and music at all. As long as it sounds and looks right
together, I feel that is all that matters.
Markus:
Will we get the possibility to see you live somewhere next time?
Frediablo: All I know now for certain, is that we will
be performing at the With Full Force festival in Germany next
year. We are right now trying to put together a tour, but nothing
has been settled yet. All information regarding tours/live will
be posted first on the official GRIMFIST website
at www.grimfist.com
Markus:
What plans do you have for the next time and will you proceed
as a trio?
Frediablo: Our next album will crush Ghouls
Of Grandeur. This was only the beginning, and we
will take everything to a new extreme. Mark my fucking words !!
We will also get a permanent bass player in the nearest future.
Markus:
The last words are yours.
Frediablo: I probably said enough already, but to all
GRIMFIST fans I tell you this. Don't take shit
from anyone, be and think for yourself. Don't ever change to suit
other people, politics, religion or other corrupt ways of living.
Life is too short to fuck around, so make the best of it while
you can. Get drunk, fuck and have fun !!! Hail GRIMFIST
!! |
