Ave Noctum’s Mark Eve recently caught up with Destroyer, bass player for UKBM war machine, Eastern Front for a quick chat about the stonking new record – ‘Descent Into Genocide’
AN: What have people’s responses to the new album been like?
Destroyer:: So far the response has been really positive from fans and press alike. I must admit finding our album reviewed in Kerrang and receiving such high praise (KKKK) was a surprise. Don’t get me wrong, I am really pleased with ‘Descent Into Genocide’ otherwise we wouldn’t have put it out but to be reviewed in such a main stream publication AND to nail it was a kick for sure. So yes on the whole it’s been really well received, ‘worth the wait’ never gets old.
AN: Obviously you’ve drawn on a lot of WW2 history for inspiration on both records, is that something you’d like to continue on the next album and beyond?
Destroyer: Certainly, it wouldn’t be Eastern Front if we didn’t but then the subject matter is also a firm source of inspiration and interest to us collectively I doubt we’d want to do anything else. So much occurred during that period of military history that it would be impossible for us to run out of drive to continue down that path of discovery and conveyance. Nagant and myself have already been researching subject matter for the third outing and I can confirm this looks set to be even darker than Descent. Perhaps it’s just the mood we’re in but I find as you dig deeper into this subject and observe, albeit from a great distance, what human beings have endured for the sake of freedom you can’t help but marvel at man’s vitriol towards his fellow man. There are some things you can’t un-see or un-imagine but in order to do this subject justice you can’t look away. Perhaps I have given too much away there but one thing I am certain of is if we can we will definitely be recording at HVR Studios with Danny B again, despite appearances that guy really knows his stuff. Seriously though, we’re blessed to have that place (and him) right on our doorstep.
AN: Has your image caused any issues re allegations of being Nazis etc?
Destroyer: From the start Holocaust (founder of Eastern Front) made it perfectly clear that we were a non- political entity but that hasn’t stopped this subject being mentioned. I remember even before I joined there were whispers locally as to the ‘mission’ of the band, which of course I didn’t believe or I wouldn’t have accepted his invitation to join. I think also as we’ve been around for a while now and having two releases out on such a well-respected label has quashed any doubt people may have had regarding our intentions. It’s ironic that now we have a recognisable image we have had fewer accusations. I was expecting the jump to military wear would stir that up again but no, so that’s a positive, means we can get on without being tagged as something we’re not.
AN: The new record is light years ahead of the first in terms of musicianship and song structure, how has the dynamic in the band changed between the two releases?
Destroyer: That’s very kind of you to say. I must confess I am more ‘into’ this album than the first, that’s not to say I’m not proud of ‘Blood On Snow’ but I feel that now the band IS a band and the cracks are gone Descent is a more true representation of where we’re heading. It’s interesting that you mention the musicianship as Holocaust did in fact write and record 90% of Blood with other member filling in the gaps purely from a ‘band’ perspective, in hindsight I think he should have put his foot down and played it all. But that was what was so refreshing about the recording process of this album as it was justifiably a group effort. I played guitar for the two tracks I wrote (Retribution Sky and Die Reise in Den Tod pt.1), Holocaust played the rest and we were all there to jump in with production ideas to ensure it was spot on. To that end I think whatever has happened in the past was A: for the best, and B: the only way we could continue, aside from that the only difference in the dynamics of the band we’ve noticed have been overwhelmingly positive ones.
AN: The band sound much tighter on stage now with just Holocaust on guitar, is that something you’re looking to keep or do you see yourself adding a second guitarist again?
Destroyer: Again thank you, yes we’ve had some really good feedback regarding our live shows since we decided to perform this way. I’ve been told I play bass like a guitar anyway (which is my first instrument) so perhaps that helps? It has been discussed and I’m sure we will be revisiting this subject a lot but whatever happens live the core of the band now will stay as it is. This is by far the strongest line up we have had since the bands inception, certainly since I joined in 2008, wow, has it been that long?
AN: With the new release I know you’ve given a percentage of the profit to Help For Heroes, a very worthy cause. How did that association come about?
Destroyer: This initially came about when Nagant and I were writing lyrics and researching down to the last detail what military personal have endured for the sake of freedoms we all enjoy today. It’s a constant with the human race and I for one refuse to take for granted what freedom I have to openly express myself. I learn a lot about political oppression when we last played Romania, hearing the stories and still being able to see the bullet holes outside the now rebuilt Bucharest library really brought it home. In this case I attendeded a Help For Heroes event in Colchester and spoke to organisers and veterans present explaining who we were, what we did and how we wanted to do something that went some way to raising awareness and well needed funds for a cause that we believed so strongly in. To be honest they admitted they didn’t fully understand our music per se, but they were hugely supportive of the idea and as it turns out the boxset sold out in 5 days so we were able to donate 10% of all profits to them. This worked so well for all concerned that we are already looking into a similar concept for the eventual vinyl release of Descent but we will have to keep you posted on that.
AN: What other projects are you currently involved in?
Destroyer:I do studio and live work for other bands … Extreme Noise Terror, Raw Noise and more recently Death Dealers; that project being the last record to feature the amazing Mr. Phil Vane on vocals. In fact I am now in the process of writing a new DD album with some of the remaining members despite saying I would never touch that project again out of respect for Phil. I now believe it would be what he would want and the tracks are sounding too good to just sit on a shelf gathering dust. It does surprise people sometimes to hear my punk rock credentials as apparently black metal and crust punk doesn’t mix. Well I disagree and the fact that I have written and performed on many of the above bands releases proves that. Outside of being a musician I still produce all the art and design work for Eastern Front as well as other bands and projects which is something I’m equally passionate about. I find that part of my role really cathartic actually, making the stage props and outfits by hand or producing the boxsets for the last release afforded me much needed time to reflect. Despite appearances on stage, I can be quite an introspective character when I’m knee deep in a new product.
AN: What’s the current plans re touring the new record?
Destroyer: There are a few yet to be confirmed but we are doing CandleFest 2014 at The Underworld Camden and a few select shows with label mates Winterfylleth and Shrapnel. The other members will kill me for admitting this but I am enjoying the studio work we’re doing at the moment so much that for me it’s nice to have a break before the next tour cycle.
AN: What is your opinion of the current state of the BM scene in both the UK and Internationally?
Destroyer:I think there is some really interesting bands out there but I feel it’s still really hard for BM bands to break through to attain a modicum of recognition. It’s still one of the true underground pursuits playing the music we do, perhaps that’s why it breeds so much passion and support from the scene.
AN: Who do you see as the current leaders in BM?
Destroyer: Leaders personally or media perspective? That’s the issue there. Sure there are leaders that sell a lot of records and merchandise but some of the best shows I’ve been to recently, <CODE> and Forgotten Tomb for instance never cease to amaze me personally but they are still a relatively small bands compared to the media perceived leaders.
AN: Any up & coming bands you’d advise the readers to check out?
Destroyer: It’s ironic that in a local scene otherwise devoid of anything remotely interesting BM wise that two of my favourite bands in recent years ARE local and also feature good friends. Jøtnarr and Nine Covens are essential to my record collection, perhaps because they have elements of punk/BM crossover for me, can’t say enough good things about them and we were lucky enough to have Jøtnarr at our album launch show at The Black Heart as our special guests. That line up really did show case some of the best UKBM out there at the moment, our new label mates Ethereal, the irrepressible Primitive Graven Image among others… was a killer night.
Interview by Mark Eve
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