Recenze/review - CONCRETE - Absent Mortality (2026):
Interview with death metal band from Bulgaria - CONCRETE.
Answered Kalin Kolev (guitars, vocals), thank you!
Ave CONCRETE! Greetings to the Bulgarian underground. I hope everything is going well for you. It should be, since you have released the fifth great album of your career this year. I must admit that it literally pinned me to the wall. It's dark, energetic, and cuts like a sharp knife. It's clear that you've done a great job and that you have a lot of talent. How do you perceive the new album in relation to your previous work? Where did you want to go with it, and how do you think the recordings are different?
Kalin: Hello! Thanks for having me! Everything is going well with the album release, so far it’s getting hot attention and scores high. I think “Absent Mortality” picks exactly where “Ethereal Atrocities” left off. It is the natural step forward from the previous album. We try to push ourselves and top each album with the new one. I think we managed to do that with “Absent Mortality”. It was certainly a challenge to write down and record the material, which means we really did push it. I’m really happy with how it all laid out.
"Absent Mortality" has all the attributes of good death metal. For me personally, it's an album I love to come back to. How did it come about? How does CONCRETE compose new material?
Kalin: The writing process was not so different than what we usually do. I’d usually gather some riffs and put them to a song, then take it to the rehearsal room and fine polish it. Sometimes things get cut away, sometimes we add stuff, right until we are happy with how the song goes. Sometimes I’d start a song based on a title that I like, then build riffs and lyric patterns gradually. Peter would come up with cool ideas too, we string those together. Maybe add some fitting riffs and before you know it the song’s skeleton is done. I stopped trying to sit down and force myself into writing, because it never works out. I just jam whenever I can and ideas start flowing themselves.
I found out that Todor Voynski is responsible for the mastering and mixing. I have to say that the sound is literally killer. It still makes me turn up the volume on my hi-fi system. Todor Voynski created a sound that is cruel, raw, dark, and animalistic. How was it working with him, and why did you choose him? In which studio did you record, and how did everything go?
Kalin: Todor is a long-time friend of the band. He really knows his way around death metal – a fact that eases the work process profoundly. He has this chill way of work that really makes the artist feel secure and in great hands. I can’t be happier with the album production – it really pumps up the band’s name and adds to the album’s energy. The drums and vocals were recorded in Varna’s Playground Studio with Atanas Matchev but under constant guidance of Todor, cause he wanted to make sure we capture the best of the kit and my voice. We did all guitars and bass tracks in my home studio, then Voynski reamped and mixed the whole thing over at his Seaborne Studios in Sofia. It was a seamless recording process in a really relaxed, friendly and professional environment.
An integral part and a kind of bonus for fans today is the CD. You released it on Rebirth the Metal Productions and it has a macabre cover. Who is its author? How did you choose the motif and how does it relate to the music on the new album?
Kalin: I’m really picky with the album covers. In fact as picky as when I listen to how the album is turning out in the early stages. I’ve always considered the artwork as equally important part to an album as the music itself. It’s the first thing people notice prior to listening to the piece. All classic death metal albums adore killer front covers, you know. That being said – I knew we’re in good hands when commissioning Angel Ivanov to do the cover for „Absent Mortality“ because we‘ve worked with him ever since our second album „Chambers Of Afterlife“. As the band progresses, so do the artworks and this time it’s no different. My jaw dropped to the ground when I received the finished work for „Absent Mortality“. I think it fits perfectly with the album’s dark and macabre nature. It’s an oil painting on canvas – just the way it should be. All I did was share the structural idea I had in mind and Angel put it on canvas in such a great way.
I've been wandering around the underworld for over thirty years and I only know a few death metal bands from Bulgaria (I really like ENTHRALLMENT). Still, I think we have a similar nature and taste when it comes to metal. I really like your bands and follow your scene closely. How are extreme metal styles doing in your country? How do you perceive your scene, fans, labels, as a musician?
Kalin: It’s a small but really tight scene! It’s even flourishing because I see a lot of younger bands currently gaining speed. I’d recommend checking Unbaptised and Certain Demise. Those kids are vely talented with their instruments and already have the right mindset on things. Old-timers are still around and holding ground – bands like Past Redemption and Mortal Remains. We’re happy to have a strong and solid fanbase that really make each live show a hell of an experience.
You play old-school-influenced death metal. Today, bands can't avoid comparisons, but I'd be interested to know how the idea to form CONCRETE came about, who your role models were and are, and where you want to take your band. Are you attracted to big international festivals, are you willing to go on tour with a more famous band?
Kalin: We’re still handling Concrete the way we started from the beginning. I just gathered friends in 2011 and we wanted to play death metal much like the bands we enjoyed listening. The US death scene has tremendous impact on my song writing and attitude to the genre. If I had to pick a few, I’d say Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Morbid Angel... Suffocation and Malevolent Creation, etc. As far as gigs go, we enjoy the small crowded venues better than the bigger open air festivals, simply because it’s a more tight ambience and the crowd interaction is there. Bigger festivals are cool too. They have something that smaller venues can’t offer – bigger audience and sound projection. We love playing both, but venue shows will be in our hearts forever. Through the years we’ve had the privillege to share stages with lots of favorite bands like Asphyx, Incantation or Malevolent Creation. It’s always awesome to be up there with the people that nurtured you into the scene.
When I started my website ten years ago, I had a vision that I would try to support bands that I thought weren't so visible. To let the world know about them. I think I'm doing pretty well, at least according to the feedback. How do you approach promotion? Do you leave it to the label, or do you send CDs out for reviews yourself? For example, I buy albums that I really enjoy. How about you? Are you also fans who like to support your colleagues often? Do you go to concerts? Do you party?
Kalin: You’re doing a great job! Keep up the good work! As far as Concrete and promotion goes – it’s a mutual effort between the RTM Productions and the band. Andreas is really great with the bands on his roster and takes good care for us. I’m also a CD collector and always try to get whatever catches my ear and support local bands – be it by going to gigs or buying merch. Concrete is a pretty party-loving band. Afterparties are always on the go when we finish a gig.
On the one hand, bands starting out today have lots of opportunities to make themselves known, but on the other hand, there are so many bands that fans get lost in the crowd. Lots of people just download MP3s from the internet and instead of going to concerts, they prefer to spit venom on Facebook. How does modern technology affect you as CONCRETE? What do you think about downloading music, Google metalheads, streaming music, etc.?
Kalin: Internet is a wonderfull tool for bands to promote their music. It just happens so fast. A couple of clicks bring your stuff to huge audiences and you’re ready to go. If the music is cool, you’ll make it. If not, you’ll get lost in the noise. Stronger bands will endure, while incosistent ones will weed themselves out. I guess we’re doing allright, because we’ve been on the road for 15 years now. Tape trading and analog zines are cool. I really loved those times and I still get some through mail, but times are changing and digital now takes hold over the most of the promotion.
I like to ask musicians what death metal means to them. How would they define it, whether it is more of a philosophy and lifestyle for them or "just" relaxation. What does it mean to you? How do you perceive and experience it?
Kalin: Death metal is a huge part of my personal life too. I've really embraced it as my lifestyle and look at it that way. I’m always at shows, I love getting home and putting something appropriate on the stereo. I love digging up obscure stuff on YouTube, those hidden gems of bands. I love band trivia. So my passion for the genre doesn’t end with me being in a band. I’ve seen a lot of people that just do the rehearsals and play the gigs, but listen to little to none death metal in their spare time.
Finally, a classic but important question. What does CONCRETE have planned for the coming months? Where can we see you in concert and when will you visit the Czech Republic? If you have something on your mind and would like to say something to your fans, promoters, or labels, here's your chance...
Kalin: We’ll do our best to do as many shows as we can for „Absent Mortality“. We are already working on some gig shows. One of those will be Romania. If we can visit Czech Republic, that would be awesome. We’re always open for opportunities and try to set up things so it would work for everyone. All of us have everyday jobs which sometimes gets in the way of plans, but so far we’ve managed to work things out. If any zines or promoters want to get in touch – feel free to do so. I’d like to thank all the fans we’ve gained through the years and all the people that have been there for us in any form – zines, venue owners and even soundguys. Thanks to Deadly Storm Zine for this interview. See you on the road!
Thank you very much for the interview. I wish you a lot of success with your new album and hope that your fan base grows as much as possible. I look forward to seeing you live somewhere and wish you success both musically and personally. I'm going to stuff "Absent Mortality" into my head again!
Kalin: Glad you like the album! Blast the hell out of it loud!
about CONCRETE on DEADLY STORM ZINE:
Recenze/review - CONCRETE - Absent Mortality (2026):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sledujte nás na sociálních sítích - follow us on the social media:
instagram:
facebook:
