|
Bloody Sign is a French band devoted to the
most obscure of the musical expression, their blend of Death Metal with
Black Metal vibes creates a quite unique sound…
“Vana Vigala Loits”
is their first full length album, and listening to it, there’s no doubt
about why John McEntee (Incantation) decide to release their debut album
under his own label Ibex Moon Records… Here is the result of some questions
I send to Mr. Kalevi (guitars) who kindly accepts to answer…
BB:
First I would like to thank
you for giving us this interview… and congratulation for your great with in
“Vana Vigala Loits”. Can you tell us about the band’s beginnings?
Thanks man, it's a pleasure.
BLOODY SIGN was created in 1995/96 by my brother (Ilmar our drummer) and I.
We're the only remaining members from the beginning.
We recorded 4 demos, had some shitty line up
problems, but now everything seems ok, we're a trio, believe in the same
metal hu!
We recorded our first album Vana Vigala Loits in 2003 in Estonia, and
it has been released through IBEX MOON REC (label owned by Mc entee from
Mighty INCANTATION) last year.
Some months ago has also been released a split tape with German band
RADEMASSAKER through TIME BEFORE TIME RECORDS. It consists of new songs (and
a cover of Autopsy) recorded in Czech Republik last year. The same split
will be soon released on EP through German label DEATHSTRIKE RECORDS.
We play the more we can, and we already shared the stage with bands like
IMMOLATION, INCANTATION, KRISIUN, BEHEMOTH, PENTACLE, CENTURIAN, SECRETS OF
THE MOON, INHUMATE, SKYFORGER, AVENGER, ROOT, DELIRIUM TREMENS, WATAIN... in
single gigs, or festivals, or tours. 2005 is our best year for the moment,
we toured east Europe (Germany, Austria, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia...), and
also had this fucking awesome tour in Peru and Ecuador.
BB:
What is Bloody Sign doing nowadays?
We are rehearsing a lot everyday, because we'll record our new album in
January 2006. we also have some single gigs here and there in France, and
we're planning to tour in South Europe in spring time with label mates from
America ESTUARY (www.tidesofestuary.com).
We already have some confirmed dates, so we try to build the others.
BB:
What the hell means “Vana Vigala Loits”? Why you choose this name?
Vana Vigala Loits
means "Incantation Of Vana Vigala" in Estonian language. Vana Vigala is an
ancient pagan place in Estonia, and it's also the place for the only summer
metal festival there. We plaid twice there, so it's a kind of dedication to
this place which mean a lot for us, as a band and also as human, because we
met for the first time true young metalheads to the bones, and they're so
different than in France.
BB:
I think the sound of your sound could be labelled, at first listen, as
Raw Death Metal, but when you continue listening you find some inexplicit
Black Metal sound…All this with an uncommon dark and hellish aura. How you
define the sound of Bloody Sign?
I don't know how to define it. And your description seems really cool hehe!!
I hope we really play like that. We play like we are man!! I cannot describe
our music, and I don't want to. But from the beginning, we already tried to
mix death and black metal, and we still try to create different atmospheres
and moods during a song.
Obviously it's death metal hu!!! But thanks I’ll keep in mind your
description hehe!!!
BB:
Can you tell us about your
previous works? What do you think the main difference between “The Nocturnal
Moans of the Fallen Angel” and “Vana Vigala Loits” is?
Our previous works consist of 4 demos (2 on tapes, 2 on cdr), with different
line up, sometimes immature music, because we were more young and more
inexperienced. Also features on different compilations tapes, split tapes
(notably with Oppression and Deep Vein on nihilistic holocaust prod, two
songs you can also find on Vana Vigala Loits), cd compilations (Altars
Of Mad Death on Diamond prod with only French death metal bands). Also
our last demo Estonian Sessions has been recorded one year before our
first album in the same studio in Estonia. In all this demo music is
everywhere more or less death and black metal... i cannot tell a lot more
about, sorry!!!
Did you listened to Nocturnal Moans of the Fallen Angel?? If yes, you
can easily see the main difference!! Hahahaha If no, try to find it!! Hehe!!
Seriously, we play more in a death way now; our first demo is 7 years ago i
think. My brother was something like 14 years old; we play the more we can,
make tours, record in studio. So, we're more experienced. Also, we play for
a lot of years now, and we know each other more year after year, and we see
where is going our sound (if you se what I mean...). We progressed a lot as
musicians and also as human (i hope!!!)... and as metalhead.
BB:
Some lyrics seem to talk
about ancient paganism… Can you tell us a little more about those lyrics?
We always spoke about nature and ancient believes, because i guess we’re all
from villages, the forest is close to us, it’s our environment, and we used
to drink and smoke there when others went to bars in city. Nature is a
mystical place, mysterious, uncivilized. For me paganism means : raw, pure,
strong, forces of nature… it fits to the power of death metal. I don’t want
to speak about humans, about the use of hard drugs, about porn stuff or
politics. It’s too late! I’m more in this kind of forgotten relations
between music, mystic, nature, stars… I’m a dreamer man ah!!!
But it’s not just paganism as a relation with nature, it’s
more a polytheistic relation.
Some of our new songs are more closed to a "concept" based on creation (of
universe, of life, of iron), with the enlightenment of books like Kalevala
(which is a kind of collected tales from old Estonian/Finland)
BB:
One of most disturbing moments of the album is the song “Vana Vigala
Loits (introduction)”…What about this song? Why you choose such uncommon
interlude to this work?
This song is performed by Setumaa people, who live in the south of Estonia.
These people sing all the day, and you can go crazy, staying there for few
days. All the time singing. It's like this is their religion. Music is Life;
Life is Music, that's the special meaning for me. Their life is still under
control of nature forces and power of the voice. They are totally devoted to
music, but they don't give a shit (like me hehe!!!), it's just pure
relationship with music, spiritual relation.
BB:
Can you tell us about the lyrics of “Vana Vigala Loits (part 2)”? Sorry
I can’t understand a single word…
Yeah, it's in estonian language. It's a song devoted to Estonia. It deals
about the first time we went there, we felt such a strong feeling in the
air, in the human being, that we decided to make a song about that. So, it's
a bit the story of our arrival there, but with Ancient words and Ancient
"mythology", with strong and alcoholic warriors
BB:
Is there any concept behind this work?
Yeah, you can check the concept in the previous answers
hehe. But it's not really a concept, we just said "hey what not writing a
song about that... and let's get rock!!!!" we didn't thought about it too
long, so it's just an idea!!
BB:
Have you some favourite song of this work? Which one? Why?
Maybe Unleashing..., Possessed by the Ancient Earth, Vana Vigala
Loits. They're cool straight ahead songs! I mean, i really like to play
them, but i don't listen to them.
BB:
The album cover is really good (…evil really)… Can you tell us about it?
It has been drawn by a good friend of us, Jean Linnhof, who is involved into
fantasy drawings and illustrations. Years ago, he told us that he wanted to
draw our first album cover. So we spoke a bit about, just to give him some
Estonian true music and our recording. Two years ago, when we went back from
Estonia, with our recording, some estonian recordings (try to check Iron
Incantation from the composer Veljo TORMIS and you’ll see what I mean)
which could help him to find a link. But we didn’t had an idea, he knew what
we wanted… something death metal!! He drew, and when we saw the result, we
were blown away. It was really perfect. I just hope the music is as good as
the cover ahahah!!!!
You have to taste your own idea about the drawing, about the eyes of this
pityfull/hatefull creature. Make your opinion hehe
BB:
Are you completely satisfied with the final results of “Vana Vigala Loits”?
It's our first recording, so we didn't knew anything in pro recording, and
lot of things would be different if we had to record it now. But it was fast
(3days) and spontaneous, and this is the way i want to keep playing and
recording our music. We rehearse a lot, so when it comes to record, things
has to be a bit clear, and you don't have to ask yourself too much
questions. Just fucking play, straight ahead.
BB:
How has been the reception of “Vana Vigala Loits” worldwide in comparison
with your previous works?
As we only recorded demos before, the reception is incomparable. I know that
first 1000 copies have been sold, so that's quite really cool. But as Ibex
Moon is an American label, connection with Europe is a bit difficult,
especially with France (because France mostly sucks hehe!). That’s it, but
for a first album I’m quite happy with the result, sales, promotion. Even if
i know some Brazilian guys who found one of our demo (!!!), our previous
works were only distributed by some undergrounds distros here and there in
Europe, a few in US.
BB:
Can you tell us about the experience with the “In The Name Of South
America” tour? How was the reception of the audience?
We were in Peru and Ecuador for one month, and we plaid
something like 15 gigs.
We met a lot of very good bands (try to check GORE, really
cool grind in the old way!), very devoted metalheads. We had some hard times
when we got stolen (yes, we're fucking naives French metalheads hehe), as
some hard drinking times.
People were crazy, lot of hospitality (at a peak where they
try to steel you hahaha). There was lot of people quite in every place,
which was a good surprise. We learned a lot with Peruvian and Ecuadorian
people, because relations and feelings are exacerbated. I think because of
hard life.
People from South America have to teach metal to European
nowadays metalheads, in terms of devotion to music! I'm really convinced of
that.
And i just hope to go back in South America.
BB:
How you get involved with Ibex Moon Records?
At first, after recording, I sent our cd to some bands i
really worship, just to have their opinions. So, I sent it to Mc Entee
because I’m a big fan of Incantation. And McEntee told me he wanted to sign
our band on his new born label. That's all and very simple.
BB:
When can we expect new material of Bloody Sign? Will be in the same vein
of “Vana Vigala Loits”?
Yes, because we always try to play and evolve in the way we began to play. I
think more personal metal of death, more mature, as we plaid a lot since the
recording of Vana Vigala Loits (the cd is out since one year, but the
recording is from summer 2003).
BB:
Thanks again for your words and your time… These last lines
are all yours…
Mega thanks for support and interview
Alvaro. People interested can check our
home page
www.bloodysign.fr.st
Or
www.ibexmoonrecords.com
See you into the BURNING BLACK !!!!
|
