"I don't really care about Russian metal scene"
 

Band: ABSURD
Country of origin: Russia
Style: Swedish school death / black metal
Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied by: Victor Chertkov (guitars) ** translated by Ingvar
and conducted by Herr Stalhammar **

First off, should we consider ABSURD a death or a black metal band?  Personally I consider your efforts quite successful attempt of leveling both genres; what do you think?

- I guess, to say that we play death metal would be closer to the truth. Swedish death metal – which refers to so-called "melodic death metal" – serves as a basis of all of our works. And you should know that melodic DM absorbed elements of traditional death, black, power, thrash and even heavy metal. When it comes to ABSURD, I guess there's more death and thrash, lesser – black, and a little – heavy metal. Generally speaking, we don't put ourselves in strict bounds and just play what we play.

Strangely you don't even try to escape comparisons with GATES OF ISHTAR and other representatives of so-called “Gothenburg school”, but holy hell, where's your striving towards originality?!

- I wouldn't say we try to escape comparisons. Most possibly, we're just picking up where the Swedish bands left off. If looking deeper, I, as a fan of this style, think that GATES OF ISHTAR don't sound like your typical Gothenborg-school band, however these are only details. We're attempting to bring two branches into one – Swedish old-school death metal (DISMEMBER, HYPOCRISY, GRAVE) and this Gothenborg school (AT THE GATES, DARK TRANQUILLITY). Let others aim to come up with anything super-original; we play the music all of us alike, that's it. If you would like to know which bands are closer to us in spirit, these are GATES OF ISHTAR, THE EVERDAWN, DUSKFALL (from the North of Sweden), and probably EBONY TEARS. The first two don't exist anymore, and EBONY TEARS play thrash metal which seems to become fashionable once again.

And by the way, why did you choose exactly Swedish school as your leading star?

- For the first time I got acquainted with Swedish bands in 1995-1996. What I liked is that they combine different styles, however I already said enough about it few lines above! Other guys in ABSURD have similar tastes. At that moment, it was exactly the kind of music we wanted to spend our time on. We didn't even think about choosing a particular style, although we were closer to thrash metal in the very beginning.

The contemporary metal – be it death or black metal – scene is, to say the least, overflowed with bands trying (or not) to find their own niche. Don't you fear to stay unnoticed, literally get lost in this multitude?

- Yes, there're more than many bands playing in every possible genre. Worthy are few in number, though. Lately it became much easier to be engaged in music, perhaps that's why there's a great number of bands popping up everywhere. Do we really fear to stay unnoticed? Well, we never really thought about it. We realize that the music we play will never become super-popular, super-original, however there always will be those who like what we do, who listen to what we've done – and that's all we need. We make music for ourselves in the first turn.

Is “Beyond The Dawn” the only recording of yours that you still consider to be of importance (I mean, four efforts already have been released under the banners of ABSURD, while it seems like “Beyond The Dawn” is the only one available at the moment)?

- "Beyond The Dawn" is our latest recording as of yet. And yes, there were some works released before we made it available. We don't consider "Beyond The Dawn" outdated or whatever you may think of. The CD wasn't vastly spread, since originally it was supposed to be only a promo-material.

Here comes one more  why, this time regarding the reason which made you to incorporate drummachine. When I watched you playing live, I couldn't pass on excellent drumming – so what's the sense in using drum module in studio works?!

- First of all, the use of drummachine was caused by impossibility to record with a "live" drummer well. In such cases, programming drummachine is much easier. Perhaps there're some who think it's bad, but I believe you should care about how the recording sounds on the outcome – and if it sounds better with a drummachine, then why not? Actually, there's enormous number of bands worldwide doing just the same, and no one considers it a drawback or whatever… Most listeners don't care about it. The main point is, everything should sound good.

You weren't too original in choosing a moniker, were you? Anyway, what does it stand for in your own interpretation?

- When we were picking up a moniker, we wanted it to be understandable in all languages. Or at least, many. As to what it stands for... Well, today we behold rather strange picture... the world is on joint of technological and natural basis... sometimes death is more preferable than life... many people don't see any way to escape... there's no future...

What about your namesakes from Germany?

- Horrible band with nazi ideology. Besides, their CD assured me that they can't even handle their instruments properly. Sounds ridiculous. When I found out a bit more regarding this band (the murder, etc.), my opinion on them became even worse. I often hear people saying, it's pity that we can be confused with Germany's ABSURD. By the way, there're two more bands with the same name I know about - one from Poland, another one from France.

"Beyond The Dawn" has celebrated it's second birthday quite a while ago… It's still good, however isn't it time to get things going and come up with a full-length CD…?

- Currently we have all the songs ready for a debut CD. It will be comprised of both new and old songs. Old ones re-arranged, of course. During last year we had a lot of problems to resolve and resistances to overcome, that's the cause of delay. We're entering the studio at the moment.

If I'm not mistaken, there's a strong relationship between ABSURD and MUSICA.MUSTDIE.RU. Are you going to keep cooperation? Have you gained anything thanks to their efforts?

- The guys at MUSICA.MUSTDIE.RU, I mean the administration and those who developed the actual site, helped us a lot. Nothing bad to say here… Almost all of them are good friends of ours. Thanks to them our site has a permanent hosting, our song was included in a compilation CD they released…

In brief, tell us about other bands you take part in.

- Normally, we don't participate in side-projects. Our singer Dmitry was a bass-player for Moscow's SEDUCER'S EMBRACE, however he 'em that band some time ago. Our drummer Alexander also takes part in angry-metal band HOSTILE BREED. Others play only in ABSURD.

Any comments on Russian death / black metal scene? On one hand, some say endures some kind of a revival, which is bullshit if you want to know my opinion, but on the other one, many – me too as you have probably understood already – consider it weaker than ever.

- Honestly speaking, I don't really care about Russian metal scene. We have some friends amongst musicians… but in the whole, I heard only few bands. The main problem is, most of those Russian bands who managed to issue a CD, fail to gain a recognition they deserve due to the poor distribution. I'm more than sure that Russia has lots of talented acts, but in most cases they don't have a possibility of releasing a CD. And even if they have, they can't attain a good sound due to a couple of reasons: first, it's very expensive; second, sound engineers simply aren't keen on metal music. Of course, there're few exceptions, but unfortunately, they're very-very few. In general, I don't see nor revival nor decline. Everything's just the same as before. Some bands only changed their monikers, but that's all.

Many bands of your kind seem to be fond of putting the word "depression" into each and every lyric. I don't know if it's the same with you, but I guess I have to ask this anyway: do you know what it really is? I mean, I often witness homo sapiens confusing melancholy with depression and vice versa.

- I don't really understand your question. Does it regard me personally, or the whole band? Anyway, as to me, I never endured depression. There's a solution to every problem, although of course all of us are different, and not everyone is capable of overcoming depression. This is just what we sing about, by the way. Melancholic state of mind is something different. Sometimes some of us tend to long, to find one's own happiness in sorrow, however being sad, we stay calm... don't do anything extreme. Depression is man's deep mental crisis, and it's way more serious.

And what about sorrow? Does it appeal to ABSURD and you personally?

- There're many things to cause sorrow. Sometimes, it's just bad mood, autumn outside, sorrowful music… It's not anything negative. However, if sorrow's caused by such things as the death of someone you love or his / her serious illness… I wish no one of those who read these lines would ever experience it. Perhaps, I'm giving a bit different answer from what you expected… but these two questions are somewhat strange…

Thanks for spending your time to answer this questionnaire. The time has come for… yep, exactly – final words.

- It's always sort of difficult to invent those final words, at least if you don't want to be considered banal. And I'll most likely be banal. First of all, thank you for this interview and your long-lasting support. Thanks to everyone who knows, likes and loves us, as well as all those who find some spare time to read this intie. Stay yourselves!

Stay heavy!
 
With best regards,
Victor Chertkov
 
Website: http://absurd.musica.mustdie.ru/
Email: victhor@mail.ru