GRIMNESS 69 (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. What’s currently the band up to?
Hello Tania, thank you for let me have a chat about my band. Right now Grimness 69 is writing new material that will be included in our next release while changing some members of the band.
– Though you have recently released your third full-length album, I guess there still may be some people who aren’t familiar with you yet so; could you please make some history of the band? At least since you joined them.
I joined in late 2007, just before ‘Illheaven Hells’ was near to be released by Copro Recs (Europe) and EMF Recs (America) in 2008 and supported by a European tour with Disgorge (MEX) and Inhume. In 2009 ‘Illheaven Hells’ was reissued by Xtreem Music and we did another Euro tour with Avulsed and Emeth. In 2010 we have finished ‘The Bridge’ which was released by Rising Nemesis Recs / Sevared Recs / Butchered Recs while 2011 was coming in. This year we did a Euro tour, again with Disgorge (MEX), and we shared the stage with bands like Malevolent Creation, Soilent Green, Today Is The Day, Cough, Voivod, Atheist, Satanic Warmaster, Wormed.
– As I said, you have recently unleashed your latest «The Bridge»; how has been its response?
I would say good. Reviews were never bad, many people liked the stuff and I think is the live situation where we gained more fans and accolades: every night while touring many people was really crazy about our set!
– This time, once more, we can find two new members in the band; what have both Nerve and Gigi brought to the band? Specially Nerve, as changing the vocalist seems to be always a risky change, in any band.
Nerve, or better Gaetano, is a really good singer and frontman. He has a powerful and tight voice delivering growls, gutturals and screams. On stage he is very smart in letting people follow him, joining the crowd in the pit and saying the right things to catch the people attention.
Gigi is a cool guy and bassplayer, but he did only the 2009 tour with us. Work and distance didn’t fit well with touring issues, unfortunately.
– Though you are a Death/Grind band we can also notice some elements from different music styles, as some riffs that can sound almost at the Black Metal style on «The Shining Key». Was this something planned?
Planned? No, we just like a lot of Black Metal bands also, Marduk over all. We try to add their elements here and there. Anyway the original idea for ‘The Shining Key’ intro was taken from Vader (Wings intro) riffing style and mixed with a Marduk twist.
– As closer we can find another outstanding tune, «Doomsday Carillon», which has a Death Metal, really crunchy sound, its also quite slow and even with some almost Doom parts. What’s the story behind this song?
Ahahahah, yeah ‘Doomsday’! This was a fetish of our ex drummer. This is the third version of this song! Ahahah It was first recorded for ‘Grimness Avenue 69’, then we got an unreleased remix version and finally this one. While finishing an album writing process, he always came up with ‘Why don’t we do another version of Doomsday?’ ahahahah ALWAYS! Anyway this will be the last one, I promise!
– Anyway, the 8 previous songs to this one, really broke the formula on the album. What did you want to express with those ones? I’m curious about their titles as well, as they don’t seem to be «coherent».
Ahah, everyone has done this question! We always develope albums which total track numbers are prime numbers. So we got nine real songs and we came up with the silent tracks to reach number 17. Then every silent track is a prime number also. Finally having this silence separate new stuff from the old ‘Doomsday’.
– As I said, we can find nuances from different music genres and different structures but; how could you describe this album in just a few words for all those who haven’t heard it yet?
I think fresh, powerful, with strong melodies, a good songwriting and a nice production. The style we have is not so obvious, so I would say also interesting.
– And because of these diversity, I would like to know what are the main musical influences for the band.
We have a lot of different bands we like. But the result of what we play is between Bolt Thrower, Marduk, Napalm Death, Slayer, Obituary, At The Gates, Pungent Stench, early Death, Nile. In the songs to come there will be a lot of more dark atmosphere as I’m a lot into Immolation, Autopsy, Morbid Angel, Dead Congregation, etc. stuff.
– I think this new cover artwork if your most striking one so far. What did you want to reflect with it?
A nightmare Giorgio had during the writing process of ‘The Bridge’. He told it to us and we immediately thought it can be our next album cover. Also the lyrics of ‘Chariot Of Acrimony’ are based on a Giorgio’s nightmare, read them and you will be scared!
– There have been some line-up changes in the band during these last years, in fact you joined GRIMNESS 69 in 2007, with the previous album. How do you think has been your evolution in the band since then?
Evolution, I like that word! Even before I joined, they moved from the first grindcore/noise approach to something different. So I can say it’s a band that want to improve itself by shaping it’s output while time is passing by. My background in extreme music is first death metal, then grindcore and black metal. That’s why ‘The Bridge’ is closer to the death metal vibe. Now I think we have find the right way to express Grimness 69, we will just adjust the balance within these 3 worlds and try to use different melodies as I want to add a darker twist.
– Considering these line-up changes, how was the songwriting process like for this new effort? I mean, is a team effort?
Yes, the final risult is a team effort. Obviously the main songwriters are me and Giorgio, delivering more riffs as we can. Then put up the raw structure with the drummer and finish the the whle music. Lyrics comes apart and we choose the right one for the right tune.
– It nowadays seems hard to survive into the music industry, specially in this current days which seem specially rough for the music world but, how’s the Metal scene like in Italy?
Italy’s got talent! Ahahahah! Seriously there are a lot of good bands that seems to be appreciated all over the world, almost in every nuance of metal.
Here is difficult to find clubs to play anyway: it’s more DIY than other European countries and there are less places where to play. But I got to say there are a lot of boys and girls that are trying to create a better situation.
– As 2011 is about to finish; what are your 3 favourite albums released this year?
Tough question! Ahahah! Mmmm ok only 3, very hard choice… Autopsy – Macabre Eternal, Necros Christos – Doom Of The Occult, Ulcerate – The Destroyers Of All. But there are a lot of good ones!
– And your opinion on the new MORBID ANGEL’s effort?
I am a huge fan of MA, but since Vincent was back I was skeptic. Nothing to say about their live sets, they’re good (even if there’s no Commando at the drums right now and Vincent not always remember the lyrics…). But, hey are you kidding me? This is not MA, this is not genuine avantgarde experiments neither… I hope they will be back playing what they do best!
– Finally, what are your near-future plans? As it has been a while now since «The Bridge» came out; have you already started writing new material or do you have something in mind?
Yes, we started to write new songs and planning our future. 2012 will be all about songwriting and, if ready to do it, recording. Next touring duties will be on 2013.
– That has been everything from my side, thanks once more for your time. If you now want to add some final words; feel free to do it.
I wanna thank you for this nice chat and for keeping up Queens Of Steel hard work. Then I wanna say hello to all our Spanish friends, bands we shared the stage with and people we met in Spain during our tours. Horns up & see ya soon!
