EMQ’s With STRATUZ
EMQ’s With STRATUZ
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Venezualan Atmospheric Death/ Doom Metal band, Stratus. Huge thanks to their vocalist and keyboard player, Franklin Berroterán, 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?
My name is Franklin Berroterán, I’m the vocalist and keyboardist of the band. Stratuz was founded in ’84 but it was in ’87 when we made our first performance.
Stratuz was one of the pioneer bands in extreme music in Venezuela, and the first to use guttural vocals. We played many concerts in various cities of the country and toured Europe in 1998. We released our third album with the Belgian label LSP Company and then disbanded in 2006.
The band reunited in 2019 and started recording the album “Osculum Pacis” during the pandemic, and this album was released in April 2022.
How did you come up with your band name?
It was a play on Latin words and was given an internal meaning, the dividing line between good and evil, duality.
We are immersed in a duality that frames us in almost all of our actions and can even reach as far as our thoughts.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from the city of Caracas, Venezuela. Our country has an intermittent scene, with very strong and very weak periods. It’s an unfortunate situation because Venezuela has a lot of musical talent.
What is your latest release?
Our most recent work, after 22 years, is “Osculum Pacis” released in April 2022. Our most recently released music video is titled “Back to the Sun” which is from our latest work.
STRATUZ – BACK TO THE SUN – YouTube
Who have been your greatest influences?
My biggest influences have been Black Sabbath, Witchfynde, Blue Öyster Cult, Venom, Wagner, Tchaikowsky, PFM, Tangerine Dreams.
What first got you into music?
Music is energy capable of moving the fibers of any organism and transforming even thoughts. This was the first thing that attracted me to music and awakened my interest to explore and experiment.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
It would definitely be with Ulver. This band explores very exciting and immersive sonic dimensions with extraordinary mastery.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Any big festival is exciting, but I don’t have a preference. Lately, I’ve been impressed by Hellfest and its organizational structure.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Many years ago, we received a letter from Spain written on an animal hide. The person who wrote it was inspired by even the smallest detail. I hope he didn’t kill the animal to write that letter, because that would be disgusting.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Wake up and start changing the world, because you have the capacity to generate great changes, and those who come after you need you.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
No, that would be absurd! The same tombs inspire others to carry the torch and keep building. We can’t live on nostalgia and the past, we lose the present.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
What I like most about being a musician is being allowed to share emotions through music; it is a universal language without borders. I can hate the moments of music composition, where it doesn’t reflect exactly what I want it to.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I would change the business model, allowing artists to earn a better income to justify their sustainability over time. The whole industry is affected at every link in the chain, but the artist bears the brunt.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Black Sabbath – “Sabotage”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl!
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
For us, the best concert was recently, on March 10th, where we performed the song “Back to the Sun”, to make the video clip.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I am involved in other activities besides being a musician. I have a systems consultancy company.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Nina Hagen, Ozzy Osbourne, Pope Francis, King Diamond, Peter Tägtgren.
What’s next for the band?
We are planning to tour our latest work “Osculum Pacis”. Then we will dive into working on our next album.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stratuzofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stratuzofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/stratuzofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stratuz_official
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4V6ieXcKGpk7AyHxvgSFs1
Bandcamp: https://stratuzofficial.bandcamp.com/
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
A Roll.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
After studying all the buns, I would have nothing more to add but to wish you and those who read us every success.
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.