EMQ's

EMQ’s With DREKAVAC

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EMQ’s With DREKAVAC

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview, courtesy of Melissa Rod and Victor, with Aberdeen, Scotland based Blackened Death Metal band Drekavac. Huge thanks to lead vocalist Hyperion, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

I am Hyperion and I am the lead vocalist of Drekavac.

Drekavac started on a cold evening in 2013. I approached the drummer, Mephistophelles, outside of a nightclub called the Tunnels and I asked him if he wanted to start a Black metal project. When we started out, we did not really know what kind of sound we were going for. We just let things develop organically and we let the guitarists really define the sound and write material. Stylistically, back then, we had a lot going on. We weren’t really focused on anything.

After some time, we released “Incipit Daemonas Pandorum” (2014). Shortly after that, most of the members left Drekavac and we went on hiatus for a year. After some time to rethink, the way forward, we got back together with a more focused and mature sound. Caorthannach joined the band during this time on bass. It was after that we released our strongest material up until that point. During this period, we brought Draugr in on lead guitars, whose technical skill brought a sophisticated dynamic to the music. As time went on previous daemons started to rear their ugly heads again and after making some tough decisions we brought Aderan on board. Aderan brought a darker feel to the music, as well as a strong solid riff foundation that we could build on.

How did you come up with your band name?

The Drekavac is a Slavic mythological creature known as “The Screamer”. A friend suggested it and it fits the rough intensity and pain of the band’s sound.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We are from Scotland. I would not like to say what the scene is like right now here, because the plague has changed a lot. A lot of bands have broken up, a lot of venues have closed down. There is no way to tell how things will be until we get out there and start tearing shit up again.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Our latest release is our demo “Insentient”. The lyric video for ‘Chthonic’ from it is here.

‘Chthonic’ (Official Lyric Video)

Who have been your greatest influences?

I draw influences from everywhere. It varies. Sometimes Behemoth, others Lamb Of God. Mushroomhead, Gorgoroth. If I feel the energy and I like it, I will use it.

What first got you into music?

Trading music cassette tapes at school. Back then, my music list was filled with shitty 80’s and 90’s music to Pantera, Cradle of Filth and Korn. There was always something about the rawness of metal that that blew my fucking mind. Even when I didn’t get it as a kid, I was like I’m going to fucking understand it and be a part of it.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Alex from Slaughter to Prevail, the guy has got an insane range and has a great mind for vocal dynamics. He mixes that shit up which is what I love to do as well.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Wacken, it always has stellar line ups and I love German food. Fuck, I love all food, but give me a plate of Spaetzle, a bottle of Jager and some good metal music and I’m happy.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I once received a cassette tape with all this ritualistic shit on it. It had our music on it. Some kind of occult thing.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Dedicate yourself to what you love. Work hard, work smart and never give up.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Joey Jordison. He inspired a lot of people and all his music came from the heart. There is a piece of his soul in every song he was a part of. Something like that is a rare and amazing gift.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Hanging with the fans. I love hanging with the fans and shooting the shit (chatting). Performing on stage. Getting up there and laying the darkest corners of my soul bare for the viewing horror of the audience. Every time I go on stage, I expose the raw flesh of insanity and rage.

The politics man. It’s all bullshit, in this business it’s who you know not what you know. I’m not a people person, never was, never will be. I’m not the cool kid or whatever the fuck. I just do what I love and I don’t compromise on that. If you like me then cool, set up a shot of Jager for me. If you don’t like me I couldn’t care less, you know where to find me if you want to man up and hash it out.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

The way the scene is completely focused on older established acts. There doesn’t seem to be any development with young talent, not as much as there used to be.

I get it, it’s a business and a business has to make money. Bringing in established names that you know sell tickets makes sense from a money making perspective. However, it’s like reheating yesterday’s dinner over, and over, and over, and over again. Eventually the food just becomes bland mush and disintegrates. You can’t sacrifice your future for making money in the now.

Festivals like Ozzfest were founded on the principle of giving grand stage to new and exciting acts. To create a legit and huge buzz about them. There is still a place for that.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

“Iowa” by Slipknot.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

Vinyl. Every vinyl was a piece of art from the covers to the actual music on them. I used to love opening up the vinyl sleeve and exploring the art. The sound from a vinyl has this otherworldly warmth that you can’t replicate with modern technology.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Hordes of Belial. Always love the energy and the setup of the fest.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Banging your mom into next week!

I’m an artist at heart. If I wasn’t making music I would be writing fiction, painting or drawing comics. Something where I could express myself artistically.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Ghaal, Alice Cooper, Corey Taylor, Clive Barker and Mike Tyson.

What’s next for the band?

At the moment we are focused on getting out there again, post plague, and assaulting the masses with our dark sonic misanthropy.

Right now, we are working hard in the rehearsal studio, but when we come back it will be business as usual: putting on brutal shows and tearing shit up like maniacs.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Our music can be heard on or purchased:
www.open.spotify.com/artist/3jwIw4HBmC6NL5s3LASaUq
www.youtube.com/Drekavacmusic
www.drekavac1.bandcamp.com/
www.facebook.com/Drekavacmusic/
www.instagram.com/Drekavacband/

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

It’s a jaffa, wrapped in a cake, inside a biscuit.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Of what use is a philosopher who doesn’t hurt anybody’s feelings?

See you awesome motherfuckers out there.

Victor here. Thanks to Melissa Rod for always supporting us at Ever Metal and for sending this EMQ’s interview to the band. Your work to promote bands from your country (Dominican Republic) and all others around the world is very important for Heavy Metal music.

Drekavac Promo Pic

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

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