Interview with GROG
!!!BRUTAL DEATH METAL FROM PORTUGAL!!!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about GROG (Members, Starting Year etc).
Hello Stavros, Pedra from Grog here, thanks for your support and interest in knowing us better. Well, we exist since 1991 and we are dedicated to extreme music, I'm the only original member from the first line-up. The rest of the band is Ivo (guitar), Rolando (drums) and Alex (bass). Currently we're promoting our fifth studio album intitled Sphere of Atrocities.
You have recently released your album ''Sphere of Atrocities''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
So far so good, the reviews have been fair and positive. For the two advanced songs we shared, the response also was motivating. Since the album is out in the 13th of June, right now we have to wait a bit longer to analyze the impact of our new songs.
The cover artwork has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
The cover concept deals with the rooted darkness and its connection with our blazing life whether we have pleasant dreams or nightmares. This duality is very important to understand the so called Human Harmony or Disharmony, I believe that we have to understand what's beyond flesh in order to understand how to get the best sollutions to reach the meaning of our existence in fullness.
And what about the lyrics?
Sphere of Atrocities approaches themes like the ego's desconstruction, the upcoming of IA, the core origin of our shadowself and the prevail of our biological and mystical higherself mechanisms.
How did your cooperation with Murder Records & Helldprod Records occur? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
We are a Portuguese band and these labels are run by Portuguese persons, there's a kind of a vow to respect our roots and support the ones who support us for so many years, that's the case of Helldprod and Murder Records.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
From electrical shut downs in stage, to torned snares or bass drums in our performances, running over sheeps whilst driving to a show in Spain, to have a bondage show whilst we're playing or to have a fan dressed as Jesus Christ doing stage diving, I guess we all have our share of hilarious stories.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Personally, I will go to the physical formats since they represent what I can call the artistic pinnacle seen as the highest achievement for the artist in this kind of creative process. This personal self realization is something digital simply can not compete with.
Your music style is Brutal Death Metal with Grindcore elements. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
I would say that we have a musical consciousness that enable us to create music the way we want, but I think that bands like early Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Broken Hope and Napalm Death or Cryptopsy and Nile suit us well at the present time.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
As anything else in life, if you have to make an investment with this passionate mistress, that is music, that means less time with your friends, your Family, more money in music equipment, sleep a lot less than a regular person, for instance. But, it must come from your heart, it has to have a mean to your life path otherwise it's worthless.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
What's ideal? Look, we already played in places where the conditions where scarce and had a hell of a time and the other way around also happened, so I guess this ideal has to do with your attitude, you have to be able to surpass all obstacles as so to rejoice and relax when you have it all. Attitude makes all the difference.
What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
I am into natural, organic, physical creation so AI for me it's an issue because it could corrupt the inspiration and the instincts behind creative deliverance. I believe in the might all and nothing and to me creating is a transformation power inner tool that helps you to grow as a being. AI doesn't promote that at all, it's like giving you all answers without effort, it allows you to access knowledge without learning for all I care.
What attributes do you think that a new Death Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Just play whatever you feel like and be true to yourself, in the end you might just have the luck to break through.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Death Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Digital platforms can help yes, but a professional promotional work has to begun inside the band or label, the ideas of who you are, what to do and where to go are very important. The better you know these answers the more you will succeed.
From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Death Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Once again, the most important advise I can give is, BE YOURSELF!
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Portugal (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
I can point out some of my favourite bands such as Monte Penumbra, Onirik and Anzv for instance, concerning metal clubs we have Bafo de Baco, Vortex-LX, RCA, Woodstock 69 Rock bar, just to name a few, fanzines we have Metal Horde and Metalegion and webzines, as na example, I can name Caminhos Metálicos, Metal Imperium and LOUD!.
What does Death Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
Death metal, let me see, I would say it's all about intensity, there's something about it that punches me ferociously and puts a smile on my face. Possessed - Seven Churches, Celtic Frost - To Megatherion, King Diamond - Abigail, Bathory - The Return, Artillery - Terror Squad, Holy Terror - Terror & Submission, Death Angel - The Ultra Violence, Napalm Death - FETO, Pungent Stench - Been Caught Buttering, Nuclear Assault - Handle with Care.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Necromantia is probably my favourite band from Greece, but I also know many other such as Ectoplasma, Rapture, Zemial...
What are your future plans?
Promote the new album and I would like to continue to expand our artistic creation towards Grog, I feel we might have yet something to accomplish with our music.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you so much Stavros, it's been real cool to talk to you. For all those who want to follow or contact us please use the following links:
grogpt@gmail.com
facebook.com/grogpt
insta - @grog_grind
grogpt.bandcamp.com
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
PS. Many thanks to my necro-brother Danihell Slaughter from MURDER RECORDS.
MURDER RECORDS:
https://www.murder-records.eu/
https://www.instagram.com/murder666records/
HELLDPROD RECORDS:
https://helldprod.com/shop/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/helldprod/
https://www.instagram.com/helldprod
https://helldprod.bandcamp.com/