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This Philippine one-man underground act
has been spreading darkness and disease
in shape of extreme music since 1995…
“Over The Fourth Part Of The Earth” is
the long awaited first full length of
Kratornas, being the first album after
twelve releases (counting demos and
splits) this album definitely set a
milestone in the band’s carrier… So this
was the perfect moment to talk with
Bruno Zamora, Kratorna’s mastermind,
about his band, his carrier and his
planes…
BB:
Hails Bruno! First I World like to thank
you for taking the time in answering
these questions. Can you tell us what is
Kratornas doing nowadays?
Kratornas is currently finishing tracks
for an upcoming 2nd album
which is already scheduled for release
within this year (2008). It’ll be a
better and improved sophomore LP from
Kratornas. We’ll see about that…
BB: Your new album “Over The
Fourth Part Of The Earth” is a kick in
the face… How was the composition
process of this brand new assault?
The process is fast although delays on
recording did happen because of several
storms causing power failures resulting
to different recording sessions. Some
rushed songs also but that’s just fine.
BB: What were your sources of
inspiration for this album? Can you tell
us about the lyrical content of “Over
The Fourth Part Of The Earth”?
Lyrics simply deal about end times.
Nothing is changing. I’ve been doing
this kind of theme since 1999 and it’s
always interesting since the world
itself has a lot of surprises and a
never ending source of inspiration. It’s
not a ‘dead-end’ topic since the future
itself is unpredictable. Thinking about
what will happen tomorrow is uncertain
so there is always something new
happening (or might be happening) that
keeps my interest. The world is deep.
Explore it.
BB: Are you satisfied with the
final results?
I think that’s going to be yes and no.
If compared to the past releases, I will
say yes because this has improved a lot,
but in terms of satisfaction, I think
there are still a lot of spaces to get
it all fix. I hope that this 2nd
album will meet all those that I have in
mind.
BB: What about the album’s name?
“Over The Fourth Part Of The Earth” is a
pretty intriguing name… can you tell us
how you came up with it?
Rather taking it to be so complicated,
there were a lot of interpretations to
that. Reading this ‘title’ alone will
not let anyone understand it since every
word in the revelations got their
attachment to each other. I’ve come up
with it since the album was supposed be
entitled as “The Fourth Seal”, but I’ve
changed it last minute since I don’t
like doing title tracks.
BB: Your band has became very
well known in the international
underground… many people, including me,
were expecting this first full length
for a quite while… How has been the
audience response so far?
Are you really?! Haha! Thanks. Well the
response has been really great. So far
its gathering positive reviews and those
people who have bought the CD came to
send an email how they really appreciate
the stuff. Could be great, but I can’t
be comfortable on positive reactions
since I know myself that there are still
a lot of things to improve here and
there. We’ll see each other on the 2nd
album; hope to get it all fix…
BB: I understand Kratornas was
originally a trio, am I right? After
that, have you ever considered the
inclusion of more members?
No. I think that this is just a
misleading error appearing in the early
bios. I’ve started Kratornas all alone.
The trio is a band with a different
name. Kratornas is me alone. There are
no other people involved here. Inclusion
of FILIPINO FREELOADERS (read: band
members) in the future will simply
repeat history and will only bring me
back to the past. I’ve abolished this
idea for over a decade already. It
doesn’t work.
BB:
I guess you feel pretty comfortable
running the band by yourself… but what
do you think the main disadvantages of a
one-man-band are?
Disadvantages… I think that there will
be no live shows to promote your new
record and gather new people in there,
but if you ask me, I don’t consider this
to be a sort of disadvantage b-koz this
is already an accepted fact. I think the
only main disadvantage here is that 95%
of the ‘audience’ just cannot accept
one-man-bands in general. People are so
sceptical about it and would rather buy
a useless album made by a quintet just
because it came from a REAL band. I’ve
bought several albums in the past and I
can’t believe that there are FIVE people
making such garbage. That’s all from me.
Anyway, once the songs are done, all of
the advantages start pouring in my roof,
so in the long run… it really pays being
alone than working with someone stupid.
BB: How you get involved with
Grave Smasher Records? Are you satisfied
with the label’s work?
We’re in contact since 1995, so there’s
been a long story from then to now.
There is no label work b-koz he’s not
exactly a label. There are no other
releases but Kratornas in there, so it
was more like an independent release. I
got two other offers before we’ve talk
about this but since those two REAL
labels will only schedule me by October
2007 - I think that’s just too far. I
can get this all done by 2006 and
someone will get it out by January
(2007). So quick decisions were made to
collaborate with him and exactly as my
plan goes, CD was released by January
2007. Nothing more to complain on that…
 BB:
I read your main influence has
always been the labour of Quorthon… Am I
right? But I guess you have been also
deeply influenced by other styles such
Thrash and Death Metal… Can you mention
some other influences?
Qourthon invented a new genre and any
band that is able to shape a genre will
always be my interest. I am not so aware
what I take as an influence. I just
DON’T follow any rules while making this
kind of “music” like: you have to be
brutal all the time, keyboards are not
allowed, melodies are not allowed,
slowing down is not allowed, etc. Those
are really making no sense to me.
UNLEASHED (Where no Life Dwells) and
MORBID ANGEL (Abominations of
Desolation) tops my list. Also some
great bands like THORNS (nor) and my
recent pick ABIGOR (Fractal Possession).
The rest were superfluous recycled
releases that I have no idea why it
keeps on growing and growing. To each
his own…
BB: What is Black Metal to you?
Kratornas is not Black Metal. I simply
got disillusioned on the whole thing
since 1998 and onwards. People always
claimed of being “true” and hardly
insisting how great they are and a lot
of bands coming out of nowhere acting to
be really hard to get along with,
heeehee! There’s been a lot of drama,
more so these recent years. Hah! This
seems to be an ideal nowadays!? Enter
the “metal forums” where a cheap nobody
could be somebody by acting mr-know-it-all
with thousands of albums taken from file
sharing sites, etc. So instead of
wasting time, I rather focus myself
finding what is good and beneficial to
me and ignore the rest.
BB: Your lyrics have always
treated Satanic themes… What is Satanism
to you? To, basically, worship the devil
or to find a personal way far from
dogmatisms?
I don’t think I have written something
really “Religious” or things like that.
Lyrics were like pictures translated
into music. Although I’m not good at it,
I consider lyrics to be really important
because you mould the music with it. And
no, those themes were not Satanic in any
way, maybe it is to some, but my idea is
about destruction, chaos, darkness and
thirst for power. Knowledge is
essential. Keep on learning, always
seeking. Once fulfilled on something,
I’ll explore new things. I don’t need
any shepherd to guide me on what I do. I
am my own fate.
BB: What do you think about the
so called “Orthodox” Black Metal
movement?
As always, I have my support to the
originals. I mean those people who
started it all and not those who are
just following it. I have no opinions on
the new bands’ ideals since I’m only
familiar with the old bands and they’re
just few…
BB: Philippines are the most
Catholic Asian country… How’s to live in
there? I mean as a Metal activist…
Like what I’ve said earlier, I’m not a
Black Metal person. I’ve seen a lot of
young people claiming to be “Black
Metal” but all they do is collect,
listen and get drunk. Philippines never
cared for all these non-sense! It’s all
about music and musicians that I don’t
have any interest meddling with.
Christians, college nerd or what doesn’t
matter now. Priests raping children and
college gooks running amok were all
great, never happens here, but he who
brings destruction and immorality
towards man will always have my support.
BB: What about the future plans
of Kratornas?
There are no more plans. I’m taking it
for what it is. Kratornas already meet
it’s end last 2002. It exists until now
only to correct the errors made in the
past. If things were accomplished
(better songs/improved production), I’ll
then put this to rest and simply
disappear on thin air. It’s more about
self satisfaction for me, not contests.
Let the swarm of bees do that. I’ve just
answered this earlier or something
related on the 12th question
I think…
BB: Thanks once more for your
time and answers… These last lines are
all yours.
Expect a much
better Kratornas in this upcoming 2nd
album (CD/LP). I’ll see you all in there
soon and thanks for this interview.
Visit the website for more updates and
info @
www.kratornas.com
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