Interview with Orthodox 2008

By Bradley Smith

 

Your new album Amenecer En Puerta Oscura has seen the light of day and I must say it is an exciting and refreshing take on what can be a stale style.  How do you see it as a progression from Gran Poder? 

We see “Gran Poder” as a nucleus or a seed.  So our evolution takes different directions at the same time.  It’s not like a ladder with different levels.

 

What was your thought process when creating this album and do you think you achieved everything you set out to with it?

Musically we never use a same sketch.  We didn’t with Gran Poder, and we didn’t for the new one.  So that’s our process: try something different for each time. It’s just a matter of not getting bored.  About the technical thing, we had to record it very fast, due to matters of money.  Maybe it would be better if we have had one month for the recording, but we’re tired of overproduced stuff, so it’s cool that our album has that “fresh food” feeling.

 

Do you think it is more important that the music do the talking for the band rather than some sort of constructed image that you see with a lot of other bands? 

Absolutely.  I can tell tons of shit in an interview or make thousand of cool pictures, but in the end it’s music what it’s all about.  And you must be sure that your music has really something to say.

 

What sort of moods and images do you want to convey to the listener through your art?

Anything special, everyone can feel free to fill their heads with their favourite shit.  That’s the beauty of music, isn’t it?

 

Speaking of image, can you tell me about your dressing as penitents of the Sevillian brotherhoods? 

It’s the traditional clothe for the penitents in eastern processions.  It’s a symbol of death and meaningless of the human being.

 

What are your views on Catholicism and its rituals being as it is the main religion in Spain and has had such a huge influence on shaping Spanish society? 

The true influence it’s not far from other Christian countries, but here it is also very tied to our folklore, including music... Christianity is full of recycled Pagan rites, and here it’s very obvious because there’s a politest concept of God, which is divided in hundred of different images that you can adore while despite others. But everything is very superficial and full of hypocrisy so at the end we’re just like a mirror where they don’t want to be reflected.

 

I read in an old interview that your knowledge of production and amps and all the typical instrumentation and such with in the doom scene these days was very limited.  How has your knowledge of instrumentation grown form Orthodox’s infancy to its maturity today?

Mmmm, maybe a 001%… we find it very boring.  Anyway, I was able to buy an old Laney amp head to Viaje a 800´s bass player that sounds like a beast.

 

It seems to me that there used to be a pretty strict guideline for what would be considered Doom.  But these days the boundaries surrounding the scene seem to be ever-expanding and crossing genres.  What is your view on the state of the current doom scene and what do you think of how large it ahs become in this modern era?

The doom genre has become a place where true metal feel comfortable and sure to grow and try lots of new things.  But also is full of shitty bands with nothing to say.

 

Lyrically what are important topics that you try to convey?

Guilt, sin and old Pagan mythology.

 

There are not many vocals to be found on the new album so do you find that vocals are not very important to what Orthodox represents?

We think vocals are very important, that’s why we think you need to have a good reason to use them.  We don’t feel the need to sing over everything.

 

Will you feature more vocals on the next album or continue in the same manner?

Mmm, I’m not sure...

 

When you are playing live, what do you give the audience and what should they take from your performance?

We just give music.  What else can we give?  We’re not good as showmen.

 

What sort of atmosphere and mood do you try to invoke at your concerts?

An atmosphere of honesty and creativity.

 

In September you played live with the famous flamenco dancer Israel Galvan.  How did that performance come together? 

We live in the same city and he thought we could make some music for him to dance to.  He’s amazing and we really enjoy working with him.  We’ve made a few shows and we’re going to make more in he near future.

 

What was the thought process behind the collaboration and how was the actual performance?

He made a choreography based on the Bible’s apocalypse.  So we’re the soundtrack of the apocalypse and he’s the dancing whore from Babylon.

 

It seems to me that Spain has a different “feel” to it than the rest of Europe.  Spanish culture is a mystery of sorts.  How do you view Spain in comparison to the rest of Europe?  What do you think has made Spain so unique when compared to its neighbours?

It’s hard to say, being from here.  Every place in the world is special for some reason.  It’s just a thing about who we are.  There is a lot of things I can hate, but it’s part of us, for the good or the bad... our weather, our food, and most of all, our ancient mix of cultures.  Not just Spain, especially the south, Andalucia, which was known as Tharsis in the ancient times.

 

What are some of the Traditions and regional culture that make Sevilla different from the rest of Spain?  Is it important to you to be from Sevilla?  I mean do you feel some pride stemming from your homeland?

As I said before, it’s not a matter of pride or shame.  We are strange guys here, but we would be strange anywhere in the world maybe.  So we are the strange guys from here.  And we love it!

 

What are your future plans for Orthodox?  Any new music or performances on the horizon?

Lots, we don’t stop trying new things.  We’d like to record a new album this year.  For the gig dates you can check our myspace: www.myspace.com/orthodoxband

 

I’ll leave any last words for you.

Thanks for the interview... and listen to Manowar!