Devilish Impressions Interview 2006

Interview with Quazarre of Devilish Impressions 2006

by Bradley Smith

You guys have recently unleashed your statement of creative intensity and individuality in the form of Plurima Mortis Imago. How do you feel about it and how do you think the audience should view it?

Hell(o) Brad!!! First of all thanks a lot for your opinion. Since we have given it all our hearts I am really glad that people like you appreciate it, glad that “Plurima Mortis Imago” managed to catch your fancy.

I wouldn’t point any particular way to view it as it all depends on someone’s private preferences and his/her personal life’s perception. This is supposed to be the only way when it comes to any music or lyrics interpretation. On top of it - having such a name chosen we consciously left the room for our potential listeners’ internal expressions.

As a musician do you find it hard writing songs that are so intricate and diverse? I mean it must be difficult weaving all those layers and instruments together to achieve a unified sound.

Well, it depends on your abilities of putting all these things together, on a way you see it arranged. It is definitely much more difficult than to play a song which consists of three riffs only. I mean, do not get me wrong, as I am aware of the fact that even the simplest song can be truly praiseworthy. It is just that it takes more time to find the best solution for more complex musical structures, especially when it comes with a lot tempo changes. We have spent a lot of time to find possibly the best arrangements while working on the “Plurima Mortis Imago” album.

I know that later this month you are making a live appearance in London and starting your European tour supporting Aeternus. What can we as an audience expect to see from you guys in the live arena? How do you feel about touring with Norwegian legends Aeternus?

We were previously set up to play with Die Apokaliptischen Reiter in London on 28.11.2006 and this is – I guess – the show you are talking about. Unfortunately due to the tour schedule starting at the same day in Germany we have been forced to cancel our participation in that gig. We will not play at this concert however all the other bands are still confirmed. Devilish Impressions will play some additional UK dates instead including London on 10.12.2006 (Sunday - London @ Electrowerkz; doors 6pm), Bradford on (12.12.2006) and Derby (13.12.2006).

“European Ageless Void Tour 2006” starts in a few days and we are there to support above mentioned Norway’s dark metallers. There are also two other bands going with us – Darkshine (France) and Arum (Brazil).

How do we feel about it? Well, there can not be negative answer I suppose…

We hope that – thanks to all these shows – Devilish Impressions will get more followers and will be able to play more and more in the future, especially knowing that finally there will be someone truly expecting us to come.

When it comes to the future - I always try not to look too far because life very quickly verifies all of our plans. Therefore, when I think of it – I only think of the nearest one. Luckily, the nearest one seems to bring us lot more than we expected. After European tour with Aeternus we will just have a few weeks to take a deep breathe before we hit the stages again, this time as a direct support for MARDUK on all of their Eastern Europe shows, including Russia, Ukraine and Belarus!!! Plans are also being scheduled to tour UK and Ireland on March 2007 although it is too early to reveal the details yet.

Devilish Impressions signed a two album deal with Conquer Records. How did you guys develop this relationship with Conquer Records and how has it treated you so far? I know I have seen them doing a lot of advertising in such mainstream metal mags like Terrorizer.

We actually knew Thomas of Conquer Records for a few years and he was the first one who proposed us a reasonable contract. At the same time we had few more offers to be considered but after all decided to sign to Conquer Records since the deal we have managed to get with them seemed to be the most promising one.

Yes, we are very pleased to work with Conquer Records! You see, my other band - Asgaard will probably be a good example to prove it… Having five full-lengths released, all of them critically acclaimed and having these titles distributed all over the world never have we gone that far as we go today with Devilish Impressions although we are just at the beginning of our way! That is a power of a proper promotion! Obviously, once you step onto a certain level you will always push the things to get yourself higher and higher but at the moment Conquer Records seems to fulfil all our expectations.

They are doing a lot of advertising not in Terrorizer or Zero Tolerance only but also in others, the biggest and most respected ones such as Metallian, Legacy, Ancient Ceremonies to mention only a few.

Do you think it is hard for a band to find their own voice and be heard as something new within the field of extreme metal? How does Devilish Impressions go about trying to say something that hasn’t already been said?

I think that playing some sort of music just for the sake of being more original than others simply do not work. What really matters is if music’s creators can really identify themselves with it, if they can truly say “yes, this is something we want to do because it reflects our internal emotions”. You know, you could always make up something totally different but what is the point of doing it? We could, for example, incorporate to our songs some jazz, hip hop, reggae, blues, disco or other shitty elements but the question is if it is really going to be interesting enough to claim that we have discovered the new path in metal music? No, because it wouldn’t be metal anymore, it wouldn’t have its spirit and primal feeling. Obviously, we are one of these bands which try to push the limits a bit further but we wouldn’t use influences which could ruin the song’s atmosphere. I think it is pretty hard to become something new within the field of extreme metal as you have said. It is actually amazing that – if you consider the history of a whole art, no matter if it is painting, sculpturing, music’s composing or anything else - most of all visionaries have been appreciated long time after death only while strongly criticized during their lives. It doesn’t change the fact that extreme metal should remain worth its name. What really makes us happy at this point is that “Plurima Mortis Imago” is getting respect of both fans of modern and innovative sounds as well as of those who admire older stuff. It is like an invisible connection between two sides of the genre and I suppose this is a voice we are trying to find. Not all the old bands are cult ones – they just played years ago when some today’s younger musicians weren’t even conscious of what they would do in the future. At the same time – not everything what we can describe as something new is worth saying that it redefines the scene.

You are involved with another musical project in Poland, the well known Asgaard. How do you feel these two outfits differ and how do you separate your writing and emotional involvement between the two?

It is not as hard as it seems to be as while in Devilish Impressions I am the main composer of its music and responsible for most of the band’s things, my obligations in Asgaard are limited to creating the vocal parts and writing lyrics only. Both bands play totally different stuff, use different forms of expression and concern different emotional themes. I would say Asgaard is definitely more melodic and progressive; there is a lot of clean vocals, massive use of synthesizers, loops, and other electronics. Devilish Impressions also serves very complex music but in a totally different way, more aggressive and ass-kicking. It is also obvious that its creation is much more representative of what I truly am as an artist.

In your Bio it says you guys are a Polish band but with a base in London. What does that mean exactly? I have noticed a large polish community within the London metal scene. Why do you think that is?

We moved to England five years ago mostly in purpose of changing our lives, of redefining their meaning. That was a time we all needed some change, having enough of being into the middle of false christian morality. There was also economical reason behind our decision as it is much easier to live on respectable social level down here than in our country. I mean, do not get me wrong as I love, we all love Poland and - knowing where our hearts belong to – we wouldn’t be able to settle down over here for good. Turquoissa and I for instance are even making plans to move back to Poland as soon as we fulfil all our commitments in England such as studies etc. It is just completely different because you do not have to get some serious and really well-paid job to survive over here. At the same time we also discovered other, definitely less colourful side of London and after that just came to a simple conclusion that places you can not be in always seem to be better than those where you are now.

You guys have a female member. Do you think that too many bands try to exploit that aspect of their band? I know sometimes I see a band that highlights that fact and it makes me a little sick with sadness at such cheap gimmickry.

Yeah, I think I got your point. You see, our case it is slightly different as when forming the band we needed keyboard player and luckily my wife (that days – my girlfriend) was good enough to take it over. That was the simplest and the most comfortable option which just turned out to work really well later on. Honestly speaking she is the only one musically-educated in Devilish Impressions and thanks to her knowledge we have improved the band’s internal communication. At the same time I do not have to find any excuse to explain some girl that I would love to play concerts – haha.

You guys did an excellent video for SataniChaoSymphony. Can you tell me your vision of the concept for that video? Whose idea was it for a video and who financed it? What made you decide on that particular song?

Firstly, “SataniChaoSymphony” is one of the shortest tracks from “Plurima Mortis Imago”, secondly – its apocalyptic atmosphere and expressive premises seemed to be perfect material to create visions which could be well-presented in form of video clip. Having the song chosen we got in touch with Lukas Troup whom we wrote the scenario with. You know, this track is full of symbols which enable you to create your own way of their interpretation and that was also the concept when finally filming it. At the beginning there is that guy taking some drugs as an attempt of escaping from his own problems. Unfortunately – he steps into different dimension of his psyche and faces various personifications of his internal demons…

“(…) The dismal hosts of Angels will blow into the horns of war
Those, whose dreams had been forgotten before they had time to tell it
Those, whose wings were burnt never to let them reach the godless idea of freedom

Now they rise, one by one holding the stones of vendetta in their bleeding hands
And they swear death for all, they swear conflagration…
seas full of children’s blood and spaces filled up with scream

The dismal hosts of Angels will blow into the horns of war
Like a black storm thunderous with fury
will roll as a plague through that fucking world
And the blades of their wrath will quench the thirst
in the stinking body of the human mankind” (SataniChaoSymphony)

To me it is a little surprising at how fertile the Polish metal scene has been at producing quality acts. What do you think makes Poland such an important and creative land when it comes to extreme metal?

Our hunger for playing I suppose. Years ago, in the times when Vader started it was incredibly tough to play, to find a rehearsal studio not to mention recording or organizing some gigs. I mean – there were a lot of metal fans around, much more than there is now I guess, but musicians have had their possibilities strictly limited. You wouldn’t get proper equipment back then or it would cost you a fortune. You know, I think it makes a huge difference that everything is accessible now for us, that we can spread our message via internet or that we can finally cross the fucking borders without giving a reason to any authorities.

As artists do you feel that Devilish Impressions is an expression of your own personal philosophy? How do you feel that you express your ideals and inner thoughts through your music?

Devilish Impressions itself is kind of my philosophy indeed. For me lyrics are as much important as the music is, being indissoluble part of the band’s creation.

You see, I have been asked by some interviewers whether there is or not any concept behind our activity and when I have remarked that we do not consider our band as a messenger of any particular concept they summed it up that is strange that band playing this sort of metal and having such a name chosen does not have anything to stand for. What the fuck?! – I thought. Obviously there is some although it is not a part of our interest to convince someone to our way of thinking. The other thing is that I can not see any reason for which we should claim to possess any knowledge which enables us to be bearers of “the only one true” or whatever. Everything has a lot of various meanings therefore it all should be considered individually.

Final Words as we attend the Funeral of God?

Oh, yeah! Do not forget to buy flowers – haha. Thanks a lot Bradley for giving us your support!!! Thanks to all of those who have managed to get to this point. We are looking forward to see you all at one of England’s forthcoming gigs.

On behalf of Devilish Impressions – Quazarre