Ever Metal – EMQs With Eternal Drak
18/07/2024
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Black / Thrash Metal band, Eternal Drak. Huge thanks to co-founder and vocalist / guitarist Drakar, 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’m Drakar, co-founder, guitarist and singer of the band Eternal Drak, a Thrash Black metal band enriched with small touches of Groove and Rock & Roll. Founded in 1997 in Colombia but now based in Quebec Canada for 5 years. During these years we have released 5 Long Plays and 2 EPs, as well as several videos and video lyrics. We are 3 friends who enjoy making the music we make and above all we enjoy creating and performing.
How did you come up with your band name?
The name of the band came up at a meeting of friends where between alcohol and laughter we were looking for a name for our project. The dragon (Drak) emerged as a representation of the power and magic that we wanted to imprint on the band, and we added the concept of eternity to give it a character and make the music we were making last.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are a band based in Quebec Canada, the Quebec Metal scene is varied and united, there are a lot of bands that strive to offer a quality product, there are very prepared musicians who enter and enrich the scene more and more. The musical production is also excellent, there are recording studios of the highest quality and spectacular stages. It is one of the places where people still come to a bar just to meet a new artist and even better support them by buying merchandise from the band.
What is your latest release?
July 17, 2024 we released our 5th Long Play called ‘Imprisoned Souls’, an intense and liberating experience. We delve into the darkness and depth of our souls to give life to a set of songs that reflect our evolution as a band and unbridled passion for the genre. Every riff, every scream and every note was carefully crafted to convey the raw energy and brutality that characterizes our style. In the studio, we felt like prisoners of our own emotions, but in the end, we managed to free our souls through music. For our loyal fans, ‘Imprisoned Souls’ will be a 10-song horror journey into the darkest depths of music. We hope this album catches you in a whirlwind of dizzying riffs, frenetic rhythms and lyrics full of desperation and rebellion. We want you to feel the power of Thrash Black Metal in each song, immersing you in a state of trance and liberation.
Who have been your greatest influences?
The inspirations have varied over the years and according to the stage of life we are in. Initially bands like Venom, Metallica in the beginning and Sepultura. A little rock from QOTSA and Motorhead and currently some of Watain and Dimmu Borgir influenced us.
What first got you into music?
Seeing our family gathered at bohemian gatherings singing and playing guitars was something that made us appreciate the power of music. Those family gatherings showed us how music has the ability to make people receive messages, get excited, sad, angry and happy.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
It would be a great honor to one day collaborate with some of the great Thrash Metal bands, they are great, and they are Thrash Metal LOL. Slayer, Kreator, Megadeth, etc.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I have 3 big events that I would like to participate in due to their trajectory and scope, Rock in Rio in Brazil, Rock al Parque in Colombia and Wacken Open air.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
I know that we have been away from the stages, and I would like to clarify the reasons why we have not returned to the shows in shape. A few years ago, I received a diagnosis of visual impairment that hit me hard. I have been adapting to this new condition and that took me time. We are currently working hard to get back on stage and to deliver live to our fans what they want to hear.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
I would definitely bring back Kurt Cobain, I think his creation time was too short, he lasted very few years in stardom and left. Although I am not a fan of Gruch, it seems to me that his particular style contributed a lot to Rock music.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Both answers are easy for me. What I love most about music is that it has allowed me to transmit my thoughts, ideas and emotions to many other people without even knowing them. On the other hand, there is the difficulty of making a decent living from music; dedicating yourself to it is a brave and risky task.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Clearly the percentage of royalties paid by large companies and streaming platforms would change, what they monopolize is an abuse and exaggerated. These platforms provide a great advantage to artists and that is making our work available to the entire world, but the vast majority of the work is done by us musicians, not them, they should charge a small commission but not give us a small royalty.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
That is a really difficult question, I would say impossible to answer but I will give one of my favorite albums, Dimmu Borgir’s 3rd, “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant”, musically and conceptually it seems excellent to me.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl is something nostalgic for me but without added value, they charge more for something that really doesn’t make a big difference, the difference in sound is only noticed by the most exquisite ears and those who have very good audio equipment, for the rest of us mortals, it sounds the same. The cassette has a similar problem. Downloading music is something that leaves us without contact with the artist, it is something without soul because music is one of the facets of what an artist offers. I think that among the options the best is the CD, it has good sound quality and still has that graphic beauty without being as expensive as vinyl.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
In the early 2000s we had a concert with one of the best Black Metal bands on the scene, I’m talking about the Inquisition. This concert was great both because of the size of the audience and because of the setting.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
In addition to being a musician, I am an engineer, so that makes it easy for me to choose that profession.
What’s next for the band?
With this very new line up we are working very hard to be able to return to the stages as soon as possible. We have several invitations for festivals but until we are ready, we cannot commit to anyone. One thing that is certain is that we are very, very eager to feel the contact of the public again.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Eternaldrak.com | Facebook.com/EternalDrak | Instagram.com/eternaldrak | Spotify | Youtube.com/@eternaldrak1684 I https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/eternal-drak/1397392702
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?
Whaaaaatt???
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for your interest in us and for letting us share our thoughts with your public.