Interview with NIGHT ROAR
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about NIGHT ROAR (Members, Starting Year etc).
Conan: Before Night Roar we play together with Ilia in another band, Moratory, but after the war between Russia and Ukraine we were forced to move away to live in Haifa, Israel in 2023. After a several months of doing nothing we decided to start a new band in the blackened speed/thrash genre. We found the drummer Misha who already lived in Haifa and had experience with local bands. So early spring 2024 is our starting point.
You have recently released your EP ''Satanic Ritual''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Conan: In general, most people don't care about this, but first of all, we like this release ourselves.
Misha: We were really proud to release our first EP as a band. Not to brag about it, but the amount of work done on this release is quite ambitious for the freshly made gang.
Ilia: I see that part of Russian metalpunk community like it, but for international audience we need to push this and future releases harder. For people we are fresh band.
The cover artwork has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
Misha: Mostly the idea of the cover was invented by our mastermind guitarist Conan. We think that his vision really catches the mood of all things metal and satanic, although sometimes he's going too far with it.
Conan: The cover simply captures the rock atmosphere and message we want to convey to our fans: a cemetery, evil spirits roaming among the graves, motorcycles, metalheads, beer and all-around fun.
And what about the lyrics?
Ilia: Classic satanic rock ’n’ roll lyrics about cults, rituals, sacrifices and worship of an all-powerful devilish world.
Are you in searching for a record label? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
Misha: Yeah, being signed to a label must be a strong advantage for musicians who work their day jobs to support their passion for music, like ourselves for example. However, it's clear that today's labels and labels from 30-40 years ago are completely things.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Conan: Of course. Once, after a show in Jerusalem, people liked our material so much that we were even offered to participate in a major Heavy Metal festival in Europe, but it didn't work out because I'm a stateless goy who can't travel abroad.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Ilia: I’m most into vinyl, because you can instantly feel the energy of an album pressed onto it. Vinyl is basically the final, physical embodiment of the release as it was intended and created by musicians, artist and designer.
Misha: We do prefer music on physical copies in general, and we guarantee you that our debut album will be released on some of them. In terms of which one is the best, I would definitely say CD, it's a peak technology.
Conan: Tapes and vinyl, because they're old-school and cool.
Your music style is Black/Speed Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Conan: Nightprowler, Omega, Wasteland Riders, Deathhammer, Terrorhammer, Alcoholocaust, Inepsy, Korroziya Metalla...
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?
Ilia: Depends on how do you understand the success, play on stadiums like Metallica or just regular shows in local venues ahaha. But seriously no matter what the level of success, we are always sacrificing our personal time, health, money, relationships and so on.
Conan: Of course, I didn’t work in my field, because it’s boring and not cool.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Conan: The perfect live show is when every last metalhead and punk rocker comes to the gig, there’s a lot of fun, and everyone at Night Roar gets paid 666,000 shekels.
What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
Misha: If we are talking specifically about Speed Metal, I think it's highly unnecessary to use AI even as a tool. It may harm the metal spirit in your creation, if you can even call it 100 percent "yours".
Conan: Nothing. People will still want to pick up an instrument and play it themselves.
Ilia: Sure, it’ll carve out its own niche on streaming platforms, but people will still love rock heroes - their lives, their shows and their adventures.
What attributes do you think that a new Black/Speed Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Conan: You have to be yourself first and foremost, but success is not guaranteed.
Misha: Only time will tell. Follow your heart, if you have one.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Black/Speed Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Conan: Of course! We need to use as many platforms as possible to spread our material.
From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Black/Speed Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Ilia: Interesting music, a stylish visual image, different video content and, unfortunately, in today’s digitalized era, constant social media activity (unless you’re going for an anti-hype concept and almost total isolation from the internet, which gives you a mythologized aura).
Conan: You need to write cool riffs, I don't know what else to answer.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Israel (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Ilia: I can recommend the bands with whom we shared the stage - Kea, Nail and Impale, Ragum, Shesh Shesh Shesh. And aslo booking collective Chaos Cartel Production.
What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
**Manowar - Kings of Metal.wav playing**
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Misha: Personally, from all of the Greek metal bands, Suicidal Angels is considered the most prominent representative of the scene. I'll never forget their "Division of Blood", it's pure joy.
Ilia: I listened before different anarcho punk bands from Greece, but I don't remember their names. One band that I still can listen from there is Sarabante.
What are your future plans?
Ilia: Releasing the 1st full-length album, official videoclips and a lot of shows as much as possible.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
No compromise! No Apologies! Only Forward!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
NIGHT ROAR CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/nightroar666
https://www.instagram.com/night_roar_666
https://nightroar666.bandcamp.com/album/satanic-ritual-maxi-single
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6FQVsKoBXTqeRzwOmzfjkk