Interview with OTREUM

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about OTREUM (Members, Starting Year etc).
First of all, I would like to thank Filthy Dogs of Metal Webzine for giving me this space and for the interest in my work. It’s an honor to be able to share this with your audience. Without further ado, Otreum is an Ecuadorian Speed Metal project born in Quito city in 2025. Conceived as a solo proposal, it was born after years of been known as the pseudonym Otreum in bands like Conjure and Ángel Negro (AN). During this stage, the name is kept as the central axis, but takes the form of a personal project, forging an identity marked with speed, rawness and the classic spirit of this genre. Nowadays, in Otreum I perform as a guitarist, arranger and composer. Although It’s a solo project, it has not been built complete in solitary. At this stage, this project has been had key contributions that have defined its sound, especially from Sage Zavage, who participated as the leading guitar and musical producer and Andree Insane as the drummer. Both have been fundamental in this process.

You have recently released your EP ''Condena Metálica''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
To be honest, the EP Condena Metálica is a very personal work since it represents the affection and respect I feel for this kind of music. I conceived it as a form of gratitude to the genre, and particularly, to the public but from a new perspective. Since its release the response has been positive. I’ve seen that people really liked it and have made comments and posts about it with a very good reception.

The cover artwork has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
Well, while I was recording the songs for this EP, also I was thinking about the cover art. For me it was important that the artwork had coherence with the music. The idea was to represent someone being possessed, not by an entity but by metal itself. I share this concept with Sage and he suggested a photo of myself within this context and idea. The picture was taken in my studio, surrounded by old sound equipment that belonged to my father and my personal vinyl collection. Always aiming to capture this real bond with music. From this picture, Sage could develop the cover artwork.

And what about the lyrics?
Regarding to the lyrics of Condena Metálica, for me it was fundamental to write in Spanish. First because it’s my native language and it transmits a lot of rawness. Although because it also represents a challenge at a rhythmic level. The core idea was to picture more than a story, but an experience of someone that listens to metal and how their state begins to change; where the euphoria and emotions grow until you reach the climax of hearing your favorite metal band. The “Condena Metálica” name also comes from there, being understood as a permanent devotion, almost as if it was a lifetime sentence to this music that you never get tired of.

Are you in searching for a record label? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
By now I haven’t managed to record with labels outside Ecuador. Although in the future I would like to work with some international label. At the moment, I have been in conversations with a national label that would be in charge of release this first EP in tape format. So, when it’s ready, I hope you can have your own copy. On the other side, to work with labels seems like a great opportunity to me, since it allows to create network from different perspectives, as a band and as the label itself. Even so, this DIY approach keeps to be essential because it’s the core where historically, the underground has been supported on. An honest network, independent and moved by the passion for metal.

Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Well, a curious story is that I was doing rehearsals to record the “The Flame of Victory and Glory” track that I had previously recorded with my old band Conjure, I found out that I couldn’t play the riffs and solos that I had composed in the past. It was a pretty ironic moment. Now it is a song that a practice and study every other time hahaha.

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Particularly, the vinyl format is amazing from every point of view. Since graphic artwork where you can appreciate every detail as if they were true pieces of art; to the way you are forced to give it the value and respect that each track deserves letting the needle run through the record from beginning to end. Listening to vinyl involves a ritual: taking your time, preparing the space, and fully immersing yourself in the music. Then there’s the tape format, which also really appeals to me because of its essence and the very particular way it presents music on cassette. It has something special that’s hard to define. However, the digital format is also completely valid, especially since we live in a time where technology is inevitable. Rather than rejecting it, I think it should be embraced as an ally.

Your music style is Heavy/Speed Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
The bands that have influenced Otreum are:
In Spanish language heavy metal, I could mention Muro, Sobredosis, Riff, and Acero Letal, each contributing to the classic sound in our language. In a direction closer to hard rock, I would also highlight Svartannat and Night, which have influenced my compositions, especially through their dual guitar melodic lines. To this are added fundamental names of traditional metal such as Chariot, Heaven’s Gate, Running Wild, and Iron Maiden being undisputed pillars of the genre. In the more aggressive side of speed metal, bands like Bewitched, Witchtrap, and especially Morax and Black Magic stand out for their powerful, catchy riffs, as well as vocals that alternate between clean and guttural styles. Finally, in South American extreme metal, the influence of Sepultura and Sarcófago has been decisive. They have clearly marked the path.

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?
To be honest, I’ve been able to make a living from music. Not specifically from metal, but my path and life decision has been to be a musician. More than talking about sacrifices, I think it’s about investing time, dedication, and above all, passion to grow in what you do. And I’m not talking about being the most virtuosic or the fastest, not at all, but about developing your own identity within music. I prefer to see it as an investment: of time, money, and energy. The best part is that all of this isn’t done for any reward, but out of genuine enjoyment and personal conviction.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
For now, Otreum hasn’t yet stepped onto the stage, but when the time comes to record and release the first full-length album, I’ve envisioned that the live performance phase will be brutal.

What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
Honestly, I haven’t heard anything done with AI within metal, but I think its use could interfere with the essence of this music. Metal has to be born from the guts, from the pain, the passion, the experience and human sensitivity. Without it, for me, it’s not metal anymore.

What attributes do you think that a new Heavy Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
To me the most important is to do it because you really like it. From there, you have to work and keep on a constant search of your own sound, with identity. And if you reach something solid, the next step is to push it further. To make the new stuff sound different, better quality, tell new stories. That’s what it’s all about, always improving.

Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Heavy Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Absolutely. For me, platforms have been a key tool for gaining global exposure, but I believe it has to be approached in an integral way without neglecting traditional channels like records, tapes, and live shows, now complemented by digital media.

From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Heavy Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Honestly, I wouldn’t say anything specific to others. I think everyone has to follow their own path and process. In making metal, you go through difficulties, successes, and all kinds of experiences, but that’s part of the journey. And it’s also normal that not everyone will like what you do. In the end, that shouldn’t hold you back. The important thing is to stay true to what you want to do and what you truly enjoy.

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Ecuador (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
From what I’ve observed, in Ecuador several old-school bands from the underground scene are still active and continue to release material consistently. However, I would like to highlight a new wave of projects that is emerging with great strength. Within this new movement, acts like Sage Savage stand out, with bands such as Bitter Velvet, Blade’s Edge, and WrathForge, as well as Curse Breaker by Andree Insane and the project Ripperwolf. These are groups that stand out for their quality, their sonic approach, and their fresh insight of metal. In my opinion, they are driving an important evolution in the local scene and exploring paths that had not been developed in this way in Ecuador until now.

What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
You know, I owe everything to metal. I listened to it for the first time at 12 years old, since there it became part of my life. Thanks to it I accomplished my dream of being a musician. It also allowed me to meet great friends that are present nowadays. Sincerely, without metal I wouldn’t be anything. The albums that I consider to be brutal, without a particular order, are:

1. Destruction: Infernal Overkill
2. Sodom: In The Sign Of Evil
3. Exodus: Bonded By Blood
4. Heaven’s Gate: Livin´ In Hysteria
5. Bewitched: At the Gates of Hell
6. Sepultura: Arise
7. Morax: The Amulet
8. Muro: Pacto de Sangre
9. Acero Letal: Veloz invencible / Pacto infernal
10. Riff: VII

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
To be honest, I haven’t listened to much music from Greece, but Rotting Christ always comes to mind. It’s interesting to remember that when I was a teenager, the brother of one of my best friends, who is now part of the band Nocturnal Manifesto used to make us listen to the album Thy Mighty Contract. At the time, I didn’t fully understand it, but over time I began to find in that atmosphere and rawness a very particular identity. Over the years, that sound stopped feeling chaotic and began to feel honest, even necessary. Today, I see it as one of those influences that not only define a phase, but stay with you and reappear in different ways, even in the music of people close to you.

What are your future plans?
At the moment, I’m slowly composing what will be Otreum’s first full-length album. I’ve already spoken with Sage Zavage about working together again and going into the studio to record around 10 tracks by the end of this year. That’s the plan I have for now speaking of future releases. At this stage, I’m defining how I want everything to sound. It’s something that keeps me constantly thinking, but I’m clear that I need to surpass what I’ve done so far.

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
This is great, brothers. Once again, I want to thank FILTHY DOGS OF METAL for allowing me to share a bit about my new project and even parts of my life. It has truly been an interview that made me remember my beginnings, when I was a teenager just starting to listen to metal. All that’s left for me is to say thank you and to everyone reading this, thank you as well for allowing my music to be part of your listening experience. For me, it is a privilege and an honor. A huge embrace from afar.

By Steve the Filthy Dog.

OTREUM CONTACT:

https://www.facebook.com/Otreumofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/otreumofficial/

https://otreumofficial.bandcamp.com/album/condena-met-lica