EMQ’s With ORKRIST
EMQ’s With ORKRIST
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Slovakian Atmospheric Black/ Doom/ Heavy Metal band, Orkrist. Huge thanks to their Keyboard Player and Vocalist, Grom, 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?
Orkrist – name of the band. We play Atmospheric Black/Doom/Heavy Metal, with female vocals, flute and keyboards. History in a nutshell: started in 2000, very active 2001-2003 (2 albums, around 60 concerts mainly in our home country Slovakia, then Czech republic, Hungary and Austria), then a break (situations in our personal lives, burnout of ideas), comeback in 2018 (2 albums, 1 official video, concerts and 5th album in progress).
How did you come up with your band name?
It is the name of a sword from Tolkien’s Hobbit. We simply liked it, and Tolkien’s world was very close to us. (our 2nd album “Grond” is dedicated to his fantasy world)
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Slovakia. It is a small country. Even though we do not have many successful bands which made a visible footprint worldwide (most known are maybe some Black Metal bands like Malokarpatan or Krolok which release under Osmose Production). But we have a pretty strong and diverse local underground scene, bands who’ve been playing something like 20-30 years, but also new bands. I would not be able to tell you which type of metal is the strongest here, as it is actually all the kinds.
What is your latest release?
“LUEA” album, 2023 (our 4th album. The 5th is currently being prepared), if you want to get a taste, please try our video “Orkrist – Prince of Melancholy” on Youtube.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Definitely the music of the 90’s when many atmospheric bands came into the standard metal world known before. I would concretely mention Theatre of Tragedy, Cradle of Filth, Bal Sagoth, Therion, Summoning, Nightwish, Mystic Circle. Everything that is hard but has melodies, and does not say NO to keyboards or female voices.
What first got you into music?
As a passive metalhead the start came (referring only to myself, Crom – keyboards and vocals) with Iron Maiden, maybe Helloween, in the 80’s. Then, as mentioned in one of the previous answers, when harder Black/Doom Metal bands came, I switched from passive mode into an active mode. Even though I’d not played any instrument before, I started to do some keyboards experimenting (thought this will be the easiest instrument) and my first ideas came somehow, then I found some band members with the same music taste.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Probably Summoning. For me they’re one of the most unique bands with their typical style. What is funny, is we only live probably 60 km from each other and are not in touch at all.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I would choose Castle Party in Poland, because of the place – a castle, logically. Then probably any large festivals in Germany where masses of people come.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Heh, there is not something like that. But, we are an underground band, not Powerwolf or Sabaton. What I appreciated was a kind of situation where our fans and friends came with a painted banner with our logo. There is no other UG band in our country who got this, I’m so proud
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Those fans who are that close and come to our concerts: You are the best, without you there would be no motivation. Those fans who are too far away: We would wish to play close to you and meet you in person, but we are a small local band with limited possibilities.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
No clue, there are many. From metal world …. Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom) was a magician. I am personally missing Jon Kennedy from Hecate Enthroned (ex Cradle of Filth). Great singer, loved his voice.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy the people and their reactions on the concerts or positive words on social media (after an album, after a concert, …). As well, just to play and give the energy out – either with the band, or only when I go to the rehearsal room and practice alone. It takes my energy, but also gives me energy.
I hate the stress – to go to the concert and plan everything to come on time, prepare the HW before the concert. Worst is only one thing: packing down after the concert
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The model of virtual streaming. Many musicians complain about that, and it is not fair.
Linked to that: When I started 20 years ago, people came to the concert even if there were unknown bands – to socialise and find new music. Today everybody opens Youtube and knows after 10 seconds what the band plays and decides from home, by not seeing that band’s performance live.
And music is a dirty business. Many bands need to pay fees to make it to some visible festivals. I would like organisers who bring known bands (who will pull the people) to give chances and fair conditions to unknown bands as well, by helping them – with the promo and costs.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Oceanborn” from Nightwish. Why? There is no album with so many strong songs, or differently said: there is no weak moment on this album.
Another jewel for me – maybe Therion – “Theli”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Everybody has his/her own preference. I admire people who listen to vinyls and MC’s where you need to find the time to enjoy the full album (to skip between songs is more pain and effort). My situation is pretty dynamic (no time to just sit down and listen), so I prefer downloads which I have in my car – selection of my favourite songs from different bands/albums.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
There are many. One of them is definitely when we supported Nightwish (instead of 300 people we played for 2000, with positive reactions). Another one would be in Hungary for 9 people (you read correctly, no mistake in the number ), but those 9 people created a crazy atmosphere and begged us on knees to play longer. Last one maybe from Kosice, the city in the East of Slovakia with a great club Collosseum. There is no special reason for this concert, but sometimes you just feel great, enjoy, laugh with the people. Here we had actually an official introduction of our last CD and surprised our close friend by being the Godfather (not sure if this is the right word in English, but normally the small bands here select a person who does some kind of “blessing” for the new physical CD). He was speechless, but at the end we managed a nice dialogue and had true emotions.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I laugh always when I read this question . Everybody thinks we are professionals, but that is not the case. We all work and music is just a hobby where we do not earn money. (we spent it there ) Sometimes we wish all our costs were covered (recording, equipment, travel ….) but that’s not always possible.
The female singer works in Customer Service, drummer teaches kids drums (probably closest to music), bass guitarist has some director positions, guitarist is mainly around IT and I am in corporate IT and do some tree work besides.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
My band (we are 5, and would wish beside the work and family situations have the opportunity to spend more time together just so, without reference to music). Or any of our closest fans. There is nobody in the world who I would wish to have a dinner , I tend to avoid people (I know, hard when you play in a band )
What’s next for the band?
Album in 2025, concerts still in 2024 and hopefully some video. Beside that hard work to apply for 2025 concerts. Sometimes it feels like being Tom Cruise – Mission Impossible (when it comes to larger festivals)
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Facebook: Orkrist | Bratislava | Facebook
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orkristband
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YAlheOoIoE
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4e9WmaTst5qJ1jl0JpHs7x
Bandcamp: LUEA | Orkrist (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?
Something says to me that this is a tricky question, that even people in the UK can not align what is the right answer (I might be wrong). You caught a very wrong person for this type of question, the worst person ever You know, I am the last person who you would wish to talk about food with. What do people normally talk about ? (in jobs, at parties, when they meet, …) Always it comes to the topic of food. I don’t get it.
But…, I have a band member (guitarist) who eats all the time (in the car, on the rehearsal, …). I can’t remember when I saw him and he was not eating, no idea how he does that. He answered: “Fuck, no idea. I think it’s a batch!”.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
We thank you – for this opportunity to present our band. And to anybody who has read this and finds at least a very small interesting part in our music. Greetings from Slovakia.
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