Hail bro, what’s up there?
Hey Bugra, everything’s ok here, just chilling a little before lunch. By the way thanks for this cool interview.
Let’s start with a short bio of Grog for our readers…
Well, Grog hail from Portugal and have been spreading their deathgrind madness since 1991. We have made de old school path all the way with demos-tapes, promo-tapes, 7´´ till we got to our first cd back in 1996. Macabre Requiems was its name, then we had a few line-up changes and in 2001 we recorded our second cd named Odes to the Carnivorous. After that we had a long time fixing, composing and planning what to do with the band, musically speaking, and though we still played live only in 2010 we release more new material including a 3 way split cd with Pussyvibes and Roadside Burial, a 18th anniversary cd with unreleased and live material and finally in 2011 we put our 3rd full length out. For the matter, Scooping the Cranial Insides also was released in 2012 in vinyl.
During all these almost 22 years as you can imagine we played a lot live in Portugal and outside also with many great bands as Nile, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Cephalic Carnage, Origin, Dead Infection, Rotten Sound, Haemorrhage and many others. The actual line-up is: Alex – Bass, Ivo – Guitar, Pedra – Vocals and Rolando – Drums.
“Scooping the Cranial Insides” album is a high quality work. Would you tell about preparation ranks of this album? How difficulties did you face?
The main issue about the Scooping planning was knowing what to do concerning the cover and artwork and band photos. We hadn’t the so called difficulties instead, I prefer to call them challenges mainly in the band photo department because we wanted to do something really bloody and maniac. So when we started the photo session we didn’t knew what to expect, but at the end we all had enough motives to be very satisfied with the outcome. Musically speaking we had a cool time as the songs where very well rehearsed and we would work with the same producer that recorded us back in the time of the 3 way split. So we were confident about the results.
During and after records. Did you face any Technical problems? Have you ever faced any hardness in your country while doing this job?
We already lived many experiences with the band some good others not so good, there isn’t a lot of support to the music outside the mainstream circle, so when you decide to play metal usually you do it with your own resources. We don’t live from the music we play, we all have jobs and we play mainly because we love to do what we do. When the band was younger normally we would go all around the country to play live and many times we would pay to play for instance, we also have been ripped off in some shows but all in all I think that’s all part of the experience of having a band.
Nowadays, we try to mange things differently and because of that we are able to settle fair conditions for us when we play live. Live sound wise it all depends if you have a good sound technician or not, fortunately most of the times we do, also in several cases we had to create a technical solution to overcome some equipment malfunction or loss, although sometimes that’s not possible. For instance, last month in London, Ivo, our guitar player, had to play seated on a chair because its guitar strap got loose from the holder that fell under the stage and was never seen again.
How did you come to an agreement with Murder Records? What are the possibilities which they present to you? How much do you allow your rec. to interfere your band’s image?
Murder Records was one the labels that participated on our “Gastric Hymns In Mummified Purulency” cd, the one that celebrates our 18th anniversary as a band, so we decided to contact them for the album. We were searching for a label with experience on the underground scene especially dealing with brutal music and also with an office in Europe because we intended to be more central concerning all promotional and distributing matters. We showed them our songs to be included on the record and they liked it, soon we agreed to sign a contract with them and that was it. They still are our label and they have made a great with both (digital and vinyl) Scooping the Cranial Insides versions.
The only demand we made was to create as much as possible the opportunity to play in Holland a couple shows, which they accomplish to do. As far for the rest, they took over almost all the promotional and distribution tasks and they succeed on doing it. As we can see we are two separate entities working together so no one interferes with each ones work. When there’s something to be done we propose each others the task and then we see its viability.
What does the band do in nowadays? What are the last news and developments?
Right now we are writing the new songs for the next album and we have made a couple live appearances in Portugal and England. We will have more dates towards October in Portugal also, but our full commitment is towards the new album which we want to record during early 2014. That’s all I can advance right now.
Lets talk about lyrics some. What do you mention in lyrics and who is writing them?
I am responsible for the lyric concept in the band and for that I write all of them. I think it’s part of the vocals duties to do that. Grog deals with dark, deep, sordid emotions and behaviors of the human being. I am very interested about the human behavior because since forever, in the early days it was just a matter of pointing out some of the most atrocious and perverse aspects made by the human kind. Some of them are studied under the anthropological point of view, like cannibalism or the perception of death, under the perspective of the neurosciences like serial killers, sadomasochism and other subjects. Nowadays I am more focused on the human internal angle, because I believe that we all have a dark side that we need to know and deal with it. Those who can do it evolve to a state of knowledge that allows them to manage their own disturbs in a peaceful way, those who don’t, expose themselves to acts of inner violence that also can affect others.
What about your concerts? How is its mood? For instance do you play cover tracks?
We love to play live, we are always enthusiastic about our gigs and we like to put a good and intense show. It’s nice to see everybody happy at the end including ourselves. If the audience pays to see a band, the band has to leave 500 % of its energy on the stage that’s what we try to do as much as possible. We don’t have the habit to play cover songs live but we have already made and recorded some. For instance MISFITS, NAPALM DEATH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, AGATHOCLES and EXTREME NOISE TERROR. By the way, soon we are going to record another NAPALM DEATH cover for an Iberian (Portuguese / Spanish) tribute, so stay tuned!
Portugal Metal scene has presented very quality bands to the world. What are your opinions about this? And is there hardness of doing this job in your country?
Yes, that’s true, it’s about time for the world to seriously support Portuguese Metal bands because when I say Metal I mean that we have great bands in all different styles, from the traditional Heavy Metal , to Thrash, Death, Black Metal and Grindcore. On other words, there’s so much more good pearls besides MOONSPELL! I think that Portuguese bands have done a great job in the last few years. They have improved a lot in the musical field and also they have been able to play outside Portugal more often which helps a lot their promotion. It’s not easy to be a professional and full time band, but you can be in between that and still maintain the required quality standards. Like I said previously, if you really want to have and keep a metal band alive you will do it no matter what, so the difficulties sometimes are a little subjective and only exist to test your will!
Well, to you what’s the difference of Grog from other Grindcore bands?
I feel that we really do our music, the music we feel inside our guts and heart, you know? It’s difficult to put this into words, but we have an identity as a band, of course we have our influences, but we try to keep our mark present and alive in the music. Many of our fans come to us when we play something new and usually it’s said that’s a Grog song. We mix the old school spirit with new ideas, with many non metal influences, sometimes, and all mixed it’s Grog. Better for you to listen and feel what I’ve explained.
How much importance do you give to your band’s advertisement? And how much important are other people’s thought?
The advertisement it’s crucial, there’s no way we can reach people without it. Back in the 90’s you had flyers, radio shows, stickers and paper zines especially, but nowadays almost all of this has disappeared and evolved to online and web contents. Still, it’s fundamental to promote and to share your music with the rest of the world.
I always said that Grog makes music for themselves, firstly and above all. Never the less, we have all the interest to know what people think about our music. All good reviews and opinions are more than welcome, but when you receive a bad one you need to know if it’s a fair one or not. Sometimes, it isn’t, sometimes when someone grabs your cd to review it and isn’t into brutal death grind of course it’s normal to write bad things about it, but when someone who likes the genre does that you got to stop what you are doing and reflect just a bit on the words because they can lead you to some inner revelations you hadn’t sort it out yet.
What are your opinion about mp3 problem? Are you an mp3 listener? F.I. if you see your tracks in an mp3 format at internet, what do your reactions be?
Well, to be honest sharing mp3 isn’t the real issue on this matter to me. For me the people who are behind the creation or better saying the conversion of the digital or analogic sound files into mp3 and all the market circuit that support music are the main reason that lead to the massive mp3 consumption we watch every day.
Many labels not to say almost all the labels in the planet work with mp3 when the promotion of the bands start, that’s the beginning of all of this fuzz, also when you make a pre-order there groups that are responsible to distribute the release over the internet. Why? Maybe music in many ways became expensive, maybe everybody knows that 90 % of the money earn in the musical industry goes for the labels, maybe the internet works out as a first filter to listen the new releases for the fans across the world, maybe just because there’s too much good music out there and people want to embrace it all…the point is, music is culture and culture shouldn’t be chained. On the other hand, one thing is for sure, when you play good music and people like it, your fans will buy your merch and will go to your shows and will support you till the end. I listen to mp3, I dare to ask who doesn’t? I also buy vinyl and cd’s so when I find my bands music in the internet I know that it’s available for more people to listen. Can I fight against this tendency? Hardly, I think, so I try to concentrate in what’s most important and that’s to make the music I and my mates enjoy the most!
Sex, Narcotic and Rock’n’Roll. The best known slogan of the Rock’n’Roll. Is that a cliché or does it really tell us about Rock’n’Roll?
It’s a slogan that finds many stories and images inside rock’n’roll culture, but not only this kind of music. I think the everybody inside rock music is considered a villain and the media always enjoyed exploring this side of the story, but there’s a lot more about the rock attitude and way of life than those aspects. It’s a way of life sure and we also find a lot of good examples and positive messages inside of it.
Imagine that You are in a boat with two people; You, George Bush and Eminem And you are caught in a storm and your boat take in water, for that reason you have to throw one person to the sea. Which person do you throw to the sea? And Why?
I would throw myself to the water and swim as fast as I could to shore and let those 2 eat each other. Why? Surviving it’s not a matter of dirty politics or neither is a matter of hip hoping songs about the problems politics create!
Can you tell a comic event that happened with your band?
I think I can, once we were rehearsing and a gecko was on the room ceiling. So one of the guys grabbed a broom and smashed the poor little thing spilling its blood all over his face. As we were rehearsing an untitled new song this one became Blood in my face. It’s a tragic but somehow funny story I say!
What do you say about Turkey and Turkey Underground? Have you been in Turkey?
Unfortunately never been to Turkey but I think Rolando, our drummer, did since he played drums for AVA INFERI, though I am not sure to be honest. Regarding the metal scene I only know Cenotaph since they are, like we are, a old band and Decaying Purity. All in all for what I know both kick ass seriously.
It’s time to end up the interview but before I want to ask what would you want for written in your tombstone? I wish Grog a successful future and have a abundantly prizes!
Honestly, I think I want to be cremated and my ashes scattered in the ocean but for this purpose I think that something like this would be fine. Here lays Pedra, once He was born as Stone and know He returns to the World of Stones. Till dust do us a apart. Grind Up! Thanks so much for your support Bugra, all interested on following us you can check us out on the following addresses:
Grog contact: http://grogpt.bandcamp.com http://www.facebook.com/grogpt http://www.doomstarbookings.com/roster_grog.html \m/
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