Interview with VIOLENT BREED - FILTHY DOGS OF METAL

11 Jun

From left to right:
Ivan Diaconescu(bass)
Luca Petreus(drums)
Selen Crimson(vocals)
Natan Lajos( lead guitar)
David Matefi (rhythm guitar)

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about VIOLENT BREED (Members, Starting Year etc).
Selen: We are a speed / heavy / thrash metal band from Arad/Timisoara (Romania). I started the band way back in December 2022 . At first it went it had many changes , from glam to speed , from different line ups every week , and from changing names. Somehow we got here and its better than I expected. The members are : Selen Crimson (vocals), Natan Lajos (lead guitar), Ivan Diaconescu( Bass), David Matefi (rhythm guitar) and Luca Petreus( drums) .

David: Selen already said it.

Ivan: David already said it.

You have recently released your debut album ''Alcohol is the Solution''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
David: I don't know about the press but my friends and people i've talked to seem to like it.

Ivan: Too much echo.

And what about the lyrics?
Selen: The lyrics came by itself. I was all alone in my room trying to figure them out and then I thought of my past experiences and emotions and I started writing. And to me the most “emotional” lyrics are from “Diamond”. I made it like I was talking to my past self, “when will you stop? when are you going to get better?” And that’s pretty much it.

David: I don't know because i didn't write them.

Ivan: Whatever Selen wants.

Natan: I wrote the lyrics to “Wicked Pleasures” based on my past experiences with substance use, and I want to share my story with everyone who has gone through that struggle alone.

Label or DIY and why?
David: I don't know.

Ivan: Dunno.

Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
David: On our first show after a solo i tried to switch back from my solo tone to my regular tone and kept going in to the tuner mode witch completely mutes my guitar.

Ivan: Idk my guitar caught a radio frequency on the first concert.

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
David: I prefer digital format because its easier to find and the quality of the audio is better.

Ivan: Digital, convenience.

Natan: I prefer vinyl for music from the 60s and 70s, and CDs or digital formats for everything else.

You are very very young in age, and the genre you play is old-school speed/thrash metal, the way it was played in the glorious decade of the ’80s. What made you choose to play this genre instead of something more modern that someone might say “fits” your age better?
Selen: Even when we played glam metal , I still wanted to try and make them feel like they re from the 80s (in a way or another). I honestly just don’t really like the new stuff , I don’t. The old school has my heart . And besides that we don’t really care what people say about “play something for your age” , we play what we want and listen To everyday.

David: Cause i don't really like the new music and especially the people associated with it.

Ivan: Preference.

Natan: I’ve always liked the 80s, the cars, the clothes, and especially the music.

Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Selen: On top Nr.1 I get my inspirations from the band VICTIM they re my favorite. Because I’m the vocalist Ive always looked up to Kate from ACID and Doro. I try as much to have that heavy sound but also make my own.

David: Speeder, Hellripper, Children of Bodom, Evoke, Bestial Mockery, etc…

Ivan: Fun.

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?
David: A lot of time and other hobbies.

Ivan: The wallets of everyone involved.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Selen: Seeing people moshing to our songs and singing the chorus with us.

David: Many people,good sound and a lot of energy from the crowd.

Ivan: 20 people present is already ideal.

Luca: I have already experienced my ideal live show, watching the crowd cheer for us and having a fun time listening to our songs is an experience I can’t forget.

What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
David: I think its a good thing which is used in the wrong way.

Ivan: Big bad.

Luca: “AI music” is a whole bunch of nothing and it shouldn’t be compared to music made by humans.

What attributes do you think that a new Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Ivan: Doing things differently.

Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
David: I think they help a lot and its especially good for a small band because its free and most people have some form of social media and its more likely that someone comes across your band on social media than in real life.

Ivan: Yeah.

Natan: I think the media is a huge help for us (new bands) because we can easily reach more people and share our work.

From your experience so far in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Heavy Metal band to avoid or what to do?
David: That the saying “Practice makes perfect” is very true.

Ivan: Don't try too hard.

As young metalheads in Romania, what kind of difficulties do you face, if any?
David: Discrimination pretty much.

Ivan: None, nobody cares.

Luca: My age doesn’t bring any difficulties to me, but being a metalhead... people tend to make fun of me because of my long hair and my taste in music.

Natan: I don’t think we’ve encountered any problems so far.

Because you feel (and I think it is you way of life) old-school metal not only in your music but also in your appearance. Tell us: if there were a time machine, which decade would you like to travel to, and for what reason?
Selen: I would travel to the year 1985 on Sunset Strip when everyone had big hair wore leather and good music. To me it’s a decade that represents me.

David: '90s because that's the time in which the biggest band today started to get attention.

Ivan: 2000s, seems fun.

Natan: I would travel back to the early 80s because, as I said, I like the cars, the style, and the music from that era.

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Romania (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
David: It's pretty good but some people can be pretty bad.

Ivan: idk.

Natan: We are a tight community here. We help and respect each other.

What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
Selen: Metal for me means passion. A passion so powerful that give you a reason to live.

SDI- Sign of the Wicked
Pink Cream 69 - Self Titled
Nasty Savage - Self Titled
Tank - Filthy Hounds Of Hades
MadamX - We Reserve the Right
Death Angel - Frolic Through the Park
Bengal Tigers - Metal Fetish
Mindless Sinner - Turn on the Power
Exodus - Fabulous Disaster
Dokken - Under lock and key

David: Metal music is something very important for me because it really started my life. Albums:

COB - Hatebreeder
Hellripper - Black Arts & Alchemy
Sacred Reich - Ignorance
Speeder - Speeder
Evoke - Seeds of death
Bütcher - On Fowl of Tyrant Wings
Metallica - Kill 'em All
Sadist - Above the Light
Devil Master - Manifestations
Death - Symbolic

Ivan: Superior music taste. Don't wanna.

Natan:

Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Dio - Holy Diver
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Tank - Filth Hounds of Hades
Whiplash - Ticket to Mayhem
Holocaust - The Nightcomers
Pokolgep - Pokoli szinjatek
Slayer - Show no Mercy
Sepulutra - Schizophrenia

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
David: No.
Ivan: idk

What are your future plans?
Selen: Making a new album and more concerts.

David: Follow the music career and also build up my education.

Ivan: Cool bike.

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work!

By Steve the Filthy Dog.