Stále častěji se rád ocitám v jiných dimenzích. Cestuji časem, nahlížím do světa za oponou. Jsem tulákem, nenápadným stínem, který potkává postavy bez tváře. Bolest i radost, smutek i smrt, dobro a zlo, vše je pomíjivé jako věčnost. Jsem malinkým zrnkem v písku, kapkou v moři. Získal jsem za ty roky, co poslouchám hudbu, ještě větší pokoru, než jsem míval. Jsou kapely, ke kterým se vždy rád vracím. Je mi dobře v jejich společnosti. Dokáží mě přenést do jiných světů.
PHLEBOTOMIZED jsou letos jako mraky, které se nikdy nerozplynou. Mají dar složit skvělé melodie, vytvořit zvláštní, těkavou a neopakovatelnou atmosféru. Jsou vznešení, majestátní, temní i chladní zároveň. Na novince pokračují v tom, co umí nejlépe. Přenést na mě pestrou paletu různých emocí. Zkrátka a jednoduše, jejich progresivní death doom metal stále obdivuji a skláním se před ním.
Jsme na stejné vlně, nové album se stalo mojí nedílnou součástí. Přemýšlel jsem, jestli mohu napsat i něco kritického, ale nejde to. Nic jsem nenašel. Pánové jsou totiž nejen skvělí muzikanti, kteří si dali pozor na to, aby měli skvělý zvuk i obal, ale také skladatelé, kteří dokáží napsat velmi pestré a zajímavé songy. Základem, který je stále slyšet, je klasický death metal. Nad ním jsou vystavěny ostré a svěží kompozice. Většina kapel s podobnou dlouhou historií ustrne a nikam se neposouvá, ale u PHLEBOTOMIZED to neplatí. Stále dokáží zaujmout a dostat se mi do hlavy. Fascinuje mě lehkost a samozřejmost, se kterou skladby plynou. Jsou jako řeka, která se mění. Dokáže způsobit povodeň, ale i pohladit po duši, když se díváte na krásnou zátoku. Od posluchače se vyžaduje jen jediné. Poslouchat pečlivě. Nejedná se rozhodně o dnes tak častý prchavý, povrchní zážitek. Album chce čas, klid a spoustu společných setkání. Bylo mi opět velkou ctí, zúčastnit se drásavého výletu vesmírem i lidskou myslí. Uvědomuji si, že bez podobných zážitků bych byl poloviční člověk. "Clouds of Confusion" by mohlo udělat dobře fanouškům třeba takových MY DYING BRIDE, AT THE GATES, DEMILICH, NOCTURNUS, CONVULSE. Otevřete svoji mysl, svět je obrovský a hudba je jeho nedílnou součástí. Stále častěji se ocitám v jiných dimenzích. Jsem tulákem, nenápadným stínem, který potkává postavy bez tváře. Temný, chladný, progresivní doom death metalový průlet věčností!
Asphyx says:
More and more often I like to find myself in other dimensions. I travel through time, peering into the world behind the curtain. I'm a wanderer, a subtle shadow that meets faceless figures. Pain and joy, sorrow, and death, good and evil, all as fleeting as eternity. I am a tiny grain in the sand, a drop in the sea. I've gained even more humility in the years I've been listening to music than I used to have. There are bands I always like to go back to. I feel good in their company. They can transport me to other worlds.
This year PHLEBOTOMIZED are like clouds that never dissipate. They have the gift to compose great melodies, to create a special, volatile, and unrepeatable atmosphere. They are sublime, majestic, dark and cold at the same time. On the new album they continue to do what they do best. Bringing a variety of different emotions to me. In short, I still admire and bow down to their progressive death doom metal.
We are on the same wavelength; the new album has become an integral part of me. I was wondering if I could write something critical, but I can't. I haven't found anything. The gentlemen are not only great musicians who have taken care to have a great sound and cover, but also songwriters who can write very varied and interesting songs. The foundation that can still be heard is classic death metal. Above it are built sharp and fresh compositions. Most bands with such a long history stagnate and don't move anywhere, but this is not the case with PHLEBOTOMIZED. They still manage to captivate and get into my head. I'm fascinated by the ease and simplicity with which the songs flow. They are like a river that changes. It can cause a flood, but it can also caress the soul as you look out over a beautiful bay. Only one thing is required of the listener. Listen carefully. This is certainly not the fleeting, superficial experience so common today. The album takes time, quiet, and a lot of coming together. Once again, it was a great privilege to be part of a harrowing journey through the universe and the human mind. I realize that without experiences like this, I would be half human. "Clouds of Confusion" could do good to fans of such bands as MY DYING BRIDE, AT THE GATES, DEMILICH, NOCTURNUS, CONVULSE. Open your mind, the world is huge, and music is an integral part of it. More and more often I find myself in other dimensions. I'm a wanderer, an inconspicuous shadow that meets faceless figures. A dark, cold, progressive doom death metal trip through eternity!
Už zase tančím na ostrých střepech. Bosý a od krve. Našlapuji do rytmu, usmívám se. Jsem jako nějaký tichý poutník ze starých časů, který se zastaví při svých toulkách pouze v momentě, když jej nějaká hudba zaujme. Jsem na cestě již dlouhé roky, pečlivě si vybírám, jaké kapely si pustím do své hlavy. Francouzští CARCARIASS jsou pro mě velkou legendou. Progresivním death metalem, otiskem v mé mysli i vzpomínkách. Když se objevily první informace, že budou mít novou desku, začal jsem znovu tančit.
Minulé album "Planet Chaos" je totiž na čestném místně v mém autě. Odkaz na recenzi je dole pod článkem. Pokaždé, když jej poslouchám, cítím se jako pilot vesmírné lodi. Jsem starý čtenář sci-fi a moje fantazie nemá hranit. Mám rád skupiny, které ve mě dokáží vyvolat nějaké emoce, sílu, předat mi energii. Francouzi jsou v tomhle velcí mistři. I letos se musím poklonit před jejich talentem, schopností napsat skladby, které mě opět rozdrásaly do krve.
"Afterworld" je velmi pestrým, hravým albem. Má v sobě temnotu, chlad, vesmírný prach, melancholii. Nejdříve jsem jej poslouchal doma, v tichu svého pokoje, pak jsme spolu vyrazili ven do ulic. Bylo hrozně zajímavé a fascinující sledovat rušnou ulici a k tomu poslouchat tohle album. Nechtělo se mi nic psát, slova stejně nedokáží obsáhnout všechny myšlenky a nápady. CARCARIASS stojí na pevných metalových základech (CORONER, ATHEIST, CYNIC, MISANTROPHE, DEATH). Jsou ale natolik originální, že berte mé přirovnání s velkou rezervou. Sledovali jste někdy zatmění slunce? Padající hvězdu? Krev, která vytéká z proříznuté tepny? V hlavě se mi při poslechu neustále promítají podobné obrazy. Je to důkaz, že nejsem ve společnosti Francouzů nikdy v klidu. Ne, přátelé. Jsem pokorný, dívám se k nebi a opět poklekám. Novinka je totiž dokonalé dílo a to vám podepíšu vlastní krví. Pro mě osobně se jedná o vynikající album. Zvuk, obal, ale hlavně nápady, atmosféra, nálady, tohle všechno dělá z "Afterworld" neskutečný zážitek. Děkuji ti vesmíre, děkuji věčnosti, že podobné nahrávky vznikají. Jinak bych byl ochuzen o něco velkého, magického, jinak bych zase o trošku víc nechápal věčnost. Jsme jen zrnka písku, vznášející se v oceánu. Už zase tančím na ostrých střepech. Bosý a od krve. Našlapuji do rytmu, usmívám se. Jsem jako smutný i veselý poutník ze starých časů, který se zastaví při svých toulkách pouze v momentě, když jej nějaká hudba zaujme. Jsem připraven na další let, na další tanec! Děkuji! Vznešený, majestátní progresivní death metal, diamant vybroušený k dokonalosti! Melodie z jiných sfér!
Asphyx says:
I'm back to dancing on the razor sharp shoots. Barefoot and bloody. Stepping to the beat, smiling. I'm like some silent pilgrim of old, who only stops his wanderings when some music catches his attention. I've been on the road for many years, carefully choosing what bands to play in my head. France's CARCARIASS are a great legend to me. Progressive death metal, an imprint in my mind and memories. When the first information came out that they were going to have a new album, I started dancing again.
The last album "Planet Chaos" is in the place of honor in my car. The link to the review is at the bottom of the article. Every time I listen to it, I feel like a spaceship pilot. I'm an old science fiction reader and my imagination has no edge. I like bands that can evoke some emotion in me, power, convey energy. The French are great masters of this. This year I have to bow to their talent, their ability to write songs that once again tore my blood.
"Afterworld" is a very colourful, playful album. It has darkness, coldness, space dust, melancholy. First I listened to it at home, in the silence of my room, then we went out on the streets together. It was very interesting and fascinating to watch the busy street and listen to this album. I didn't want to write anything, words can't contain all the thoughts and ideas anyway. CARCARIASS is based on solid metal foundations (CORONER, ATHEIST, CYNIC, MISANTROPHE, DEATH), but they are so original that take my comparison with a big grain of salt. Have you ever watched a solar eclipse? A shooting star? Blood pouring out of a severed artery? I keep seeing images like that in my head as I listen. It's proof that I'm never at ease in the company of the French. No, my friends. I am humble, I look to the heavens and I kneel again. For the novelty is a perfect piece of work, and I will sign it with my own blood. For me personally, this is an excellent album. The sound, the cover, but most of all the ideas, the atmosphere, the moods, all this makes "Afterworld" an incredible experience. Thank you universe, thank you eternity that such records are made. Otherwise I would be deprived of something great, magical, otherwise I would not understand eternity a little bit more. We're just grains of sand floating in the ocean. I'm dancing on the sharp shores again. Barefoot and covered in blood. Stepping to the rhythm, smiling. I'm like the sad and merry wanderer of old, who only stops his wanderings when some music catches his fancy. I'm ready for another flight, another dance! Thank you! Sublime, majestic progressive death metal, a diamond cut to perfection! Melodies from other realms!
Album was recorded and mixed by “Drop” (Guitarist of SAMAEL) at Downtone Studio in Switzerland. Mastered by Jens BOGREN (ARCH ENEMY, AMON AMARTH, SEPULTURA,...) at Fascination Street Studio in Sweden. Produced by GSI Records. Artwork by Headsplit Design (NAPALM DEATH, KREATOR, CRYPTOPSY,..). Physical distribution by SEASON OF MIST DISTRIBUTION, Digital distribution by TUNECORE.
U některých snů ještě dlouho potom, co se probudím, nevím, zda se jednalo o noční můru a nebo realitu. Vznáším se časoprostorem a sleduji šum města. Temné uličky, špínu a nenávist. Poslouchám hudbu, která je žhavá a pálí mě v mozku. Američtí HAXPROCESS mě zaujali ihned při prvním setkání. Přistupují ke kovu smrti progresivně, svěže a zajímavě. Připadal jsem si jako na lodi, která pluje po krvavých vlnách.
Kapela má na svém kontě jedno EP a jednu demonahrávku. Obě díla jsem pečlivě prozkoumal a pak si narval do hlavy debut "The Caverns of Duat". Najednou jsem cítil velký příliv energie, tlaku a bolesti. Přesně takový druh muziky mám rád. Nenechá mě v klidu a způsobí u mě děsivé noční můry.
Základem je zde klasický death metal ve stylu slavných OPETH, DEATH, NILE, MORBID ANGEL. Kapela se ale vydává na dlouhé výlety. Klidně až někam k IRON MAIDEN nebo k thrash metalu. Dovoleno je vše. A na rozdíl od mnohých jiných, zní skladby velmi uvěřitelně. Motivy mě řežou jako ostrý skalpel. Líbí se mi zvuk, obal, ale hlavně na mě dělá deska velmi dobrý celkový dojem. Pečlivě vystavěná struktura skladeb, které si zároveň zachovávají drive a sílu, ve mě probouzí spoustu emocí. Mám rád taková alba, která jsou neklidná, která rozdrásají moji fantazii. Je tu samozřejmě i efekt - baví mě to, mám to rád, bez toho by to nešlo. "The Caverns of Duat" ve mě zanechalo dlouhou krvavou rýhu. Chvílemi jen bublalo v pozadí, jako nějaká šílená kulisa, jako proříznutá tepna. Pak nastoupily mrazivé a temné motivy a měl jsem pocit, že mě někdo tluče kladivem do obličeje. Před lety jsem si dal za úkol, že se budu snažit podporovat kapely, o kterých si myslím, že jsou dobré, které mě zaujaly. HAXPROCESS vám předloží většina opravdových hrobníků. To mi věřte, sám patřím mezi ně. Obdivuji lehkost a samozřejmost, se kterou songy plynou. Podobný smrtící kov mě nenechá nikdy v klidu a určitě jej budu doporučovat všem, kteří mají podobný styl rádi. U některých snů ještě dlouho potom, co se probudím, nevím, zda se jednalo o noční můru a nebo realitu. Vznáším se časoprostorem a sleduji šum města. Temné uličky, špínu a nenávist. Jsem zde správně. Tohle album hoří jasným plamenem! Progresivní thrash death metalový opus!
Asphyx says:
In some dreams, long after I wake up, I don't know if it was a nightmare or reality. I float through space-time, watching the noise of the city. Dark alleys, filth and hatred. I listen to music that's hot and burning in my brain. American HAXPROCESS caught my attention the first time I saw them. They take a progressive, fresh and interesting approach to death metal. I felt like I was on a boat riding the bloody waves.
The band has one EP and one demo to their credit. I examined both works carefully and then crammed the debut "The Caverns of Duat" into my head. Suddenly I felt a great surge of energy, pressure and pain. That's the kind of music I like. It doesn't leave me alone and gives me terrifying nightmares.
The basis here is classic death metal in the style of the famous OPETH, DEATH, NILE, MORBID ANGEL. They go as far as IRON MAIDEN or thrash metal. Anything goes. And unlike many others, the songs sound very believable. The motifs cut me like a sharp scalpel. I like the sound, the cover, but most of all the album makes a very good overall impression on me. The carefully constructed structure of the songs, while retaining drive and power, brings out a lot of emotions in me. I like albums that are restless, that tear my imagination apart. Of course there's also the effect - I enjoy it, I love it, I couldn't do without it. "The Caverns of Duat" left a long bloody furrow in me. At times it just bubbled in the background, like some crazy backdrop, like a severed artery. Then the chilling and dark themes kicked in and I felt like someone was hitting me in the face with a hammer. Years ago I made it a point to try to support bands that I thought were good, that I was interested in. HAXPROCESS will be presented to you by most true grave diggers. Believe me, I'm one of them myself. I admire the ease and ease with which the songs flow. Similar death metal will never leave me in peace and I will definitely recommend it to anyone who likes this style. With some of the dreams, long after I wake up, I still don't know if it was a nightmare or reality. I float through space-time and watch the city noise. Dark alleys, filth and hatred. I'm right here. This album is burning bright! A progressive thrash death metal opus!
Znáte takové ty obrazy, u kterých se v galerii zastavíte a kroutíte nevěřícně hlavou. Nejdřív nevíte, co tím chtěl vlastně umělec říct, co má tenhle motiv vlastně znamenat? Jdete dál, ale stejně vám to vrtá hlavou a nakonec se několikrát vrátíte. Nejste přímo šokováni, spíše se vám dostane do mozku zvláštní neklid. S hudbou to mám velmi podobné. Koneckonců, umění je jenom jedno.
O francouzských ATHANATHEOS jsem již jednou psal. Z minulého alba "Prophetic Era (Or How Yahveh Became the One) (2020)" jsem byl nejdřív pěkně zmatený. Nakonec ale vše zapadlo krásně do sebe a já si nahrávku neskutečně užíval. Stále jsem se k ní vracel a když jsem dostal na recenzi novinku "Cross. Deny. Glorify.", už jsem věděl, jak k téhle hudbě přistupovat. Opatrně, dávkovat si ji pomalu, postupně.
Trvalo mi to opět nějakou dobu, než došlo k vzájemnému přenosu. Smrtící kov v podobě, v jaké ji předkládají ATHANATHEOS, v sobě nepostrádá pořádnou porci techniky, progrese, ale i tlaku a energie. Zároveň je obsažen již zmiňovaný neklid. Francouzi jsou zkrátka jiní, odlišní. Pro mě osobně zajímaví, ale dokážu pochopit, že někomu vonět jejich tvorba nebude. V dnešní povrchní době je těžké přijít s muzikou, která vyžaduje plné soustředění. Kombinace vlivů od MORBID ANGEL, NILE, IMMOLATION, MONSTROSITY, ale třeba i EMPEROR a black metalu obecně, je náročná na poslech. Přesto, nebo právě proto, mě novinka opět zaujala a stala se na dlouhý čas doslova mojí nedílnou součástí. Pořád objevuji nové pasáže, momenty, nad kterými přemýšlím, přehrávám si je stále dokola. Jsem absolutně mimo, v jiné dimenzi a jsem tam hrozně rád. Pro mě osobně asi nejdůležitější věc - "Cross. Deny. Glorify." mě baví poslouchat. Novinka mi opravdu připomíná návštěvu morbidní galerie, kde se před vámi odehrává historie lidské špíny a nenávisti. Mozek se vám uvaří ve vlastní šťávě, kosti se rozpadnou v prach. Budete vnímat skvělý, čitelný a masivní zvuk, s chutí oceníte i obal nahrávky. Vše je v nejlepším pořádku, jenže to by bylo v dnešní době málo. ATHANATHEOS přidávají ještě něco navíc. Kus zhmotněné tmy, energie a nepopiratelného talentu. Monstrózní, masivní death metalová lavina z temných lidských myšlenek!
Asphyx says:
You know those paintings you stop at in the gallery and shake your head in disbelief. At first you don't know what the artist actually wanted to say, what is this motif supposed to mean? You move on, but it still puzzles you and you end up going back several times. You are not directly shocked, but rather a strange uneasiness enters your brain. It's very similar with music. After all, there's only one art.
I have already written once about French ATHANATHEOS. From the last album "Prophetic Era (Or How Yahweh Became the One) (2020)" I was pretty confused at first. But in the end, everything fell into place beautifully and I enjoyed the record immensely. I kept coming back to it and when I got the new release "Cross. Deny. Glorify.", I already knew how to approach this music. Careful, take it slow, gradually.
Again, it took me some time to get a reciprocal transfer. Death Metal as presented by ATHANATHEOS is not lacking a good portion of technique, progression, but also pressure and energy. At the same time, it contains the aforementioned restlessness. The French are simply different, different. For me personally interesting, but I can understand that some people will not like their work. In today's superficial times it is difficult to come up with music that requires full concentration. The combination of influences from MORBID ANGEL, NILE, IMMOLATION, MONSTROSITY, but maybe also EMPEROR and black metal in general, is a challenging listen. Nevertheless, or maybe because of that, the novelty caught my attention again and became literally an integral part of me for a long time. I'm still discovering new passages, moments to think about, playing them over and over again. I'm absolutely out of it, in another dimension, and I love being there. Probably the most important thing for me personally - "Cross. Deny. Glorify." I enjoy listening to. The novelty really reminds me of visiting a morbid gallery, where the history of human filth and hatred unfolds before you. Your brain will boil in its own juices, your bones will crumble to dust. You will feel the great, clear, and massive sound, and you will appreciate the cover of the record with gusto. Everything is in the best of order, but that would not be enough in this day and age. ATHANATHEOS add something extra. A piece of materialized darkness, energy, and undeniable talent. A monstrous, massive death metal avalanche of dark human thoughts!
Recenze/review - ATHANATHEOS - Prophetic Era (Or How Yahveh Became the One) (2020):
„Hudba je nejdokonalejší typ umění: neprozradí nikdy svoje tajemství“: napsal můj oblíbený spisovatel Oscar Wilde. Na citát jsem si vzpomněl, když jsem nějaký čas poslouchal nové EP "Premiant" od kapely !T.O.O.H.!. Muzika, texty, atmosféra, nálady, všechno se mi spojilo v jedno. Pro podobné okamžiky mě stále baví o nových deskách psát a podporovat je. Pokaždé si připadám jako objevitel nových světů. Nahlížím do autorovy fantazie a surfuji na zpěněných vlnách spolu s ním.
Určitě to znáte, vzájemné propojení. Když si řeknete, to je přesně ono! Začnete si podvědomě podupávat nohou, utkví vám v hlavě nejdříve úryvky textů a pak, po nějaké době se vyryjí do mozku celé rýmy, spolu s melodiemi a rytmem. No není to krása, říkáte všem okolo a když na vás udiveně civí, tak se raději stahujete do své ulity. Jen já a hudba. Neexistuje nic jiného. Žádný svět, žádné problémy, práce, nic - pouze bicí, vokál, riffy.
Jako bych znovu létal vesmírem a nahlížel do jiných dimenzí. Jsem starým budhistickým mnichem, který ale moc dobře ví, co je pořádná pařba. "Premiant" je dalším zběsilým útokem na vaše podvědomí. To vyplave ve skladbách na povrch jako špína z odpadu. EP je opět velmi pestré, košaté, neučesané a zároveň drží pohromadě. Slova nestačí, lepší je si pomoci ukázkami. Neptejte se, zda je to normální, nechte na sebe songy jen tak působit. Smějte se, vztekejte, nadávejte, ale vězte, že přenesených emocí bude velká spousta. Jedná se sice jen o necelých 11 minut, ale přesto - rochnil jsem si jako růžové prasátko v bahýnku. Novinka mi moc chutná. Broukám si ji, chodím s ní po ulicích, i do postele, než jdu spát. Přetransformovala se i do mých snů. Je to tak! Gradace, legrace, zamyšlení, trepanace, smutek i technické finesy. Vše skvěle zahrané, jdoucí na hranu i kousek za ní. Možná se tentokrát neobjevují úplně nové sféry, vše mi přijde zemitější. Přesto je zajímavé nové rovnice řešit. Parádní zvuk plus spousta zajímavých nápadů, děleno progresí a násobeno velkým tlakem a šílenými texty - výsledek dvakrát podtrhnout! Tohle všechno připomíná větrný vír, ze kterého není úniku. Harmonie zloby, pánové opět dokázali rozvibrovat všechny mé kosti i zubní sklovinu. Prostě lovískuju! Epické, jak by řekla mladá generace. Avantgardní, death grindová mozaika!
Asphyx says:
"Music is the most perfect kind of art: it never tells its secrets": wrote my favourite writer Oscar Wilde. I remembered the quote when I was listening to the new EP "Premiant" by the band !.T.O.O.H.!. The music, the lyrics, the atmosphere, the moods, all came together for me. For moments like that I still enjoy writing about and promoting new albums. I feel like a discoverer of new worlds every time. I look into the author's imagination and surf the foamy waves with him.
I'm sure you know, the interconnectedness. If you say to yourself, that's exactly it! You start to unconsciously stomp your feet, first snippets of lyrics get stuck in your head and then, after a while, whole rhymes are etched into your brain, along with melodies and rhythm. Isn't it beautiful, you tell everyone around you, and when they stare at you in amazement, you prefer to retreat into your shell. Just me and the music. There's nothing else. No world, no problems, no work, nothing - just drums, vocals, riffs.
It's like flying through space again and looking into other dimensions. I'm an old Buddhist monk who knows what a good party is. "The Premiant" is another frantic assault on your subconscious. It comes out in the songs like dirt from the garbage. The EP is once again very colourful, vibrant, unpolished and holds together at the same time. Words aren't enough, better to help yourself with samples. Don't ask if this is normal, just let the songs work on you. Laugh, rage, swear, but know that the emotions transferred will be a great deal. It is only less than 11 minutes, but still - I was crawling around like a pink pig in a puddle. I really like the new stuff. I hum it, walk the streets with it, even go to bed with it before I go to sleep. It's transformed itself into my dreams. That's right! Graduation, fun, reflection, trepanation, sadness and technical finesse. All superbly played, going to the edge and just over it. Maybe this time there are not entirely new realms, everything seems more earthy to me. Still, new equations are interesting to solve. Awesome sound plus a lot of interesting ideas, divided by progression and multiplied by great pressure and crazy lyrics - the result underlined twice! This all feels like a wind vortex from which there is no escape. Harmonies of malevolence, the gentlemen once again managed to vibrate all my bones and tooth enamel. I just love it! Epic, as the younger generation would say. Avant-garde, death grind mosaic!
The Czech prog-grind entity !T.O.O.H.! has arrived to close the year with a brand new, 4-song EP Premiant. The creative outburst of the new material has been crafted with quantum mechanics' perplexity and while getting more frantic, nastier, musically expressive and complex than ever, there's still a contrast maintained with sparkling harmonies and synth-waves which add a memorable boost to the intricacy of new songs. Listen to the complete EP now:
The EP is out now digitally - exclusively available from the !T.O.O.H.! Bandcamp - and will be released as a limited tape edition via Lavadome Productions in January. The tape version can be pre-ordered from Lavadome productions web store or Bandcamp page.
Track list:
1. Premiant
2. choco_afro
3. Na všech životech záleží
4. V lóži
Total time: 10:55
!T.O.O.H.! are:
Humanoid: Guitars, Bass, Vocals, VST Instruments
Schizoid: Drums, Backing Vocals
Premiant was recorded at Studio Šopa, Studio 53 and Studio 27 (2021)
Vždycky jsme byli přesvědčeni o své velikosti a dokonalosti. My jsme přeci ti, co vládneme žebříčku druhů. Jenže to není pravda. Kdysi tomu tak možná bylo, ale ta doba je dávno pryč. Příliš mnoho hloupých a průměrných způsobilo, že jsou ti chytří stahováni dolů. Do temnoty. My vlastně ani nepotřebujeme žádný zásah z vesmíru. My se zničíme sami. Žijeme příliš rychle a kus žvance je nám bližší, než chvilka zamyšlení. Ještě, že jsou kapely jako EXOCRINE. Ty přinášejí do jinak zatuchlého death metalu svěží vítr.
Nejsem vlastně nijaký příznivec různých progresivních výletů. Raději se držím ve starých katakombách, ale dokážu ocenit i progresivní záležitosti. Jen to nesmí být prázdné mlácení slámy, ale musí mi přinést něco nového. Novinka "The Hybrid Suns" se poslouchá tak nějak samozřejmě. Člověku se nechce ani psát. Raději bych seděl nebo chodil ulicemi a sledoval bídné lidské snažení. Novinka mě baví hrozně moc. Tím bych vlastně mohl skončit.
Jenže formát recenze (pokud tak budeme tedy mým postřehům říkat), si žádá víc. EXOCRINE jsou hlavně skvělí skladatelé. Prosím neplést s dobrými muzikanty. Těch běhají po světě zástupy, ale jen někteří mají dar složit songy, u kterých budete létat vesmírem. Ano, je to tak, při poslechu "The Hybrid Suns" mě nejčastěji napadají zážitky spojené s létáním. Každá muzika na mě působí jinak a Francouzi jsou v podstatě dokonalí po všech stránkách. Zvuk, obal, náplň textů, všechno stojí za pozornost. Ale to by dnes nestačilo. Mohl bych napsat, že se jedná o záležitost ovlivněnou třeba takovými CRYPTOPSY, ARCHSPIRE, DESPISED ICON, GORGUTS, ATHEIST, GOROD, CYNIC, OBSCURA, BEYOND CREATION, ale to by bylo málo. Umně vložený ženský vokál, který na albu doslova miluju. Kruté, surové vyhrávky, spousta progresivních výletů. Navíc deska nepůsobí roztříštěně. Vše je jako jeden velký monolit, který se sune dopředu. Bez kompromisů, přesto promyšleně a chytře. Fantazie mi pracuje na plné obrátky. Podobné záležitosti si dávejte odpočatí, s dobrou náladou. Případně po četbě nějakého slušného sci-fi románu. EXOCRINE nám vyprávějí svoje příběhy a já jím visím na rtech. A to po celou dobu, pořád a stále dokola. Je to vlastně jednoduché. Pokud se rádi necháváte překvapovat, jste tu správně. Tohle je totiž neskutečný, promyšlený nářez, který jinde neuslyšíte. Progresivní, technický death metalový opus! Temnota z vesmíru!
Asphyx says:
It's a simple fact that some music has to mature. It's like good wine. When you taste it for the first time, it seems sour and you have a bitter taste on your tongue. You last a few weeks and you still don't like it anyway. Something similar happened to me when listening to French progressive technical death metal maniacs EXOCRINE. Even though they like to discover new bands and I like to let new and new records always work on me, this time I somehow couldn't get through their new album "The Hybrid Suns".
But then I read a great sci-fi book and word got out. I literally saw it. Suddenly I sat and sucked in individual songs, as if my brain were a sponge, like in my young years. The fantasy flew through space and I suddenly found that the news was a great thing.
If you like CRYPTOPSY, ARCHSPIRE, DESPISED ICON, GORGUTS, ATHEIST, GOROD, CYNIC, OBSCURA, BEYOND CREATION, then don't hesitate for a moment. You will be thrilled! The riffs are breakneck, complicated, at first maybe a little lifeless, but if, like me, you like to discover, I think you will spend many beautiful moments with the record. It is old and modern at the same time, it is restless, reminiscent of a living organism of unknown origin. The universe will be small for you. You just can't keep your mind and imagination closed. Personally, I like the band's ability to write a good song the most. It's not just a frequent prelude without ice and storage today, but full-fledged songs with a high octane number. It is not a problem for the French to play very fast, complicated. Screaming here and there, cutting with a claw, then suddenly calming down and swinging out a passage behind which old metal legends would not be ashamed. EXOCRINE may think too much about music, but they do it in a way that is interesting, attractive, I wouldn't be afraid to write magically. I float in a state of weightlessness, with headphones on. Once you're down, once you're up, there's only one music. The one on "The Hybrid Suns" is noble, elegant, furious, crazy, but above all really very high quality. Progressive, technical death metal opus! Darkness from space!
Někdy se díváš na svět přes krvavou mlhu. Bývá to v momentech, když ztratíš jakoukoliv víru v lidi. Přečteš si ošklivý článek, komentář, který chce jen ublížit. Nebo když jdeš temnou ulicí a od stěny se odlepí dva stíny. Nůž zabodnutý do břicha, cítíš velkou bolest, ale hlavně ponížení a strach, že našemu druhu už není pomoci. Utíkáš do pokoje, lížeš si rány jako raněná šelma a vnímáš jen hudbu, která ti přináší energii. Italské SADIST mám velmi rád. Pro jejich schopnost zaujmout.
Pro jejich schopnost napsat zajímavý, pestrý song. I letos se vše odehrává v tmavých barvách a deska musí udělat radost každému, kdo se dívá na svět podobným pohledem. Když poslouchám "Firescorched", tak mi připadá, že mám rentgenové oči. Dokážu poznat vaše nejtemnější myšlenky. Těch je na nahrávce velké množství. Surové, syrové, šílené. Jako death metal se spoustou progresivních prvků, které nám pánové opět předkládají ve velmi vysoké kvalitě.
Připadám si jako na velké hostině někde hluboko pod zemí. Podávají se shnilé kousky masa. S elegancí, nadhledem a spoustou zajímavých ingrediencí. Jako tohle album, v některých momentech odkazující na kapely jako CYNIC, SADUS, ATHEIST, NOCTURNUS, DEATH. Jako bych chodil za oponou a sledoval tep ulice velkoměsta. Jen s tím rozdílem, že vidím lidem do hlavy. Všechny jejich myšlenky, nápady. Někdy je to k zbláznění, ale novinka na mě takhle zkrátka působí. Je svěží, zajímavá, neotřelá, s velkou porcí tlaku a energie. SADIST mají navíc tu velkou výhodu, že je díky jejich rukopisu a originalitě poznáte ihned mezi ostatními. Stačí jen pečlivě poslouchat. Zpočátku to bude pro některé fanoušky možná příliš složité, ale věřte tomu, že stačí dát nahrávce čas a budete odměněni skvělým zážitkem. Věříte na život po smrti? Existuje Bůh a nebo jen Satan? Ano, podobné otázky jsem si při setkáních s "Firescorched" často kladl. Někdy je zvláštní, co ve mě hudba probouzí. Italové hrají inteligentně a pro chytré lidi. Donutí vás přemýšlet, vyvolají u vás spoustu představ. Někdy se budete dívat na svět přes krvavou mlhu. Ucítíte jed na jazyku. Všechno kolem vás bude pálit a žhnout. Progresivní death metal, u kterého shoříte v plamenech!
Asphyx says:
Sometimes you see the world through a bloody fog. It's when you lose all faith in people. You read a nasty article, a comment that's just trying to hurt. Or when you're walking down a dark street and two shadows peel off the wall. A knife stabbed in your stomach, you feel intense pain, but mostly humiliation and fear that our species is beyond help. You run to your room, licking your wounds like a wounded beast, and all you feel is the music that brings you energy. I like Italian SADIST very much. For their ability to impress.
For their ability to write interesting, colourful songs. Again, everything takes place in dark colors and the record is bound to make anyone who looks at the world with a similar perspective happy. Listening to "Firescorched" makes me feel like I have x-ray eyes. I can recognize your darkest thoughts. There's a lot of them on the record. Raw, brutal, insane. It's like death metal with a lot of progressive elements, which the gentlemen once again present to us in a very high quality.
I feel like I'm at a big feast somewhere deep underground. They're serving rotten pieces of meat. With elegance, perspective and lots of interesting ingredients. Like this album, in some moments referring to bands like CYNIC, SADUS, ATHEIST, NOCTURNUS, DEATH. It's like I'm walking behind the curtain and watching the pulse of the streets of a big city. The only difference is that I can see inside people's heads. All their thoughts, their ideas. Sometimes it's maddening, but the novelty just works for me. It's fresh, it's interesting, it's innovative, it's got a lot of pressure and energy. SADIST have the great advantage that you can recognize them immediately among the others thanks to their signature and originality. All you have to do is listen carefully. At first it may be too difficult for some fans, but trust that you just have to give the recording time and you will be rewarded with a great experience. Do you believe in life after death? Is there a God or just Satan? Yes, I have often asked myself similar questions during my sessions with "Firescorched". Sometimes it's strange what music brings out in me. The Italians play intelligently and for intelligent people. They make you think, they make you fantasize. Sometimes you look at the world through a bloody fog. You'll feel the poison on your tongue. Everything around you will burn and glow. Progressive death metal that will burn you up in flames!
Tracklist: 01. Accabadora (04:24) 02. Fleshbound (04:59) 03. Finger Food (04:00) 04. Burial of a Clown (04:17) 05. Loa (03:49) 06. Aggression Regression (04:06) 07. Three Mothers and the Old Devil Father (04:13) 08. Trauma (Impaired Mind Functionality) (03:53) 09. Firescorched (04:05)
Nebude to trvat dlouho a své budoucí dítě si vyberete z katalogu. Jako obyčejné zboží. Už teď je spousta lidí ovládána na dálku. Mnozí si to ani neuvědomují. Budoucnost bude krásná, růžová a samozřejmě dokonalá. Ale jen pro někoho. Jako vždycky. Pořád existuje až příliš lidí bez morálky, bez svědomí. Technologie jsou dál, než většinová inteligence. O podobných vizích dost často přemýšlím. Když si přečtu dobrou sci-fi knížku, když vidím skvělý film a nebo v momentech, když poslouchám kapely jako ARTIFICIAL BRAIN.
Pokud jste hledači a objevovači a nevadí vám disharmonie a skřípot, tak jste zde správně. Progresivní, technický death metal, samozřejmě s příměsí blackové atmosféry. Složité kompozice, spousta různých odboček, preludií. Orgie pro všechny, kteří nechávají rádi svoji fantazii létat podzemím.
Tahle smečka je úkaz, zjevení. Shromáždila ve své hudbě vše, co dělávali a hrají třeba takoví GORGUTS, ULCERATE, DODECAHEDRON, BLUT AUS NORD, DEMILICH, KRONOS, IMMOLATION. Poslech se tak stává zajímavým výletem do oblastí, ve kterých je všechno jiné, odlišné. Vnímám hudbu spíše pocitově a nikdy mě nebavilo ji matematicky rozebírat. Pokud by byla totiž jen obyčejným vzorcem bez emocí, nebavila by mě. Mám to za ty roky poslechu extrémních stylů na sobě ozkoušeno. ARTIFICIAL BRAIN nejsou ale jen dnes tolik typickým zástupcem nekonečné řady skvělých muzikantů. Oni na rozdíl od ostatních umí skládat. Dokáží napsat skladby tak, že po nějakém počátečním zmatku a zdánlivém chaosu vyplují na povrch nosné kompozice. Zvukově skvělé, s obalem, který připomíná tichou smrt na lesní pěšině, s nápady, nad kterými budete dlouho přemýšlet. Alespoň já to mám takto nastaveno. Chodím tichým ranním městem a sleduji tlukot a tepot města. Hudba je jako obřad, infúze, kterou mi kapela píchla přímo do žíly. Do práce přijdu rozebraný na prvočástice. Kolem se potulují lidé s dávno mrtvými obličeji, ovládáni na umělou inteligencí. Davy bez názoru, šedé a tupé, krásná nová společnost. Ještě, že existují podobné smečky, dávají mi přeci jen alespoň malou naději, že na konci tunelu může být světlo. Jen musíte projít peklem. Alespoň takhle novinku vnímám já. Tak slyšte a poslouchejte bedlivě. Konec se pomalu blíží! Apokalyptický, temný, technický death metal ze světa za oponou!
Asphyx says:
If you're a seeker and explorer and don't mind discord and screeching, you've come to the right place. Progressive, technical death metal, of course with a touch of black atmosphere. Complex compositions, a lot of different branches, preludes. An orgy for all those who like to let their imagination fly through the underground.
There are albums that cannot be written about immediately, I have to listen to them for a long time, let them drift, inspire and after that I can write a few lines. In fact, the American ARTIFICIAL BRAIN does not belong to a group of bands that I would meet so often. But their before work "Infrared Horizon" has taken me to a completely different dimension than where I normally move. It is uplifting, grim, sad and cold at the same time.
Yes, the basis for the creation of ARTIFICIAL BRAIN is the old album GORGUTS, ULCERATE, DODECAHEDRON, BLUT AUS NORD, DEMILICH, KRONOS, IMMOLATION. But the superstructure is interesting, the added value, which further develops and fills the thoughts. Have you ever seen torn webs in the wind? Did you feel the lightness, grandeur, beauty? I do. I played the album when I read mysterious hero stories. The songs literally shine by cold, sadness. "Artificial Brain" acts as an icy touch of death, chilling and burning at the same time. I like albums that make people think. They wake up the imagination and let the thoughts fly through the air like the wings of moths. For me personally, it is a recording that is not worth to describe. Words are not enough here, music is a better expression. I am already looking forward to sitting in a dark room again, spreading a white screen in front of me and waiting and listening. A great thing for everyone who likes to think about music! I walk through the quiet morning city and watch the beat and pulse of the city. The music is like a ceremony, an infusion that the band has injected directly into my veins. I come to work stripped down to its elemental parts. There are people wandering around with long-dead faces, remotely controlled by artificial intelligence. Crowds without opinion, grey and dull, a beautiful new society. It's a good thing there are packs like this, they give me at least a little hope that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to go through hell. At least, that's how I see the news. So listen up and listen closely. The end is slowly approaching! Apocalyptic, dark, technical death metal from the world behind the curtain!
Interview with avantgarde, progressive death grind band !T.O.O.H.!.
Answered Schizoid, thank you!
Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.
Ave !T.O.O.H.!! Hey, I do experiments like this sometimes – I take some music, in this case your latest CD "Free Speech", and I play it to people who have no idea what it's about. They're pure as a lily, untainted by listening to thousands of metal albums. You know what's interesting? Everybody likes your record! The girl who listens to disco, the old dad who rides a fox tail to the potlucks. At most, somebody had said that it was creepy, but they always say it was great! Can you please explain how that's possible? How do people, listeners, reviewers perceive you anyway? And what kind of response do you get to the record?
Hi Jakub! That's interesting, those experiments of yours. If people who don't listen to metal tend to like our record, that may be because it's musical and it has vocals one can clearly understand. So that's probably the reason. Otherwise, it's nice of you to broaden people's musical horizons. And how do other people perceive us? I don't really know. We've read some reviews, but there haven't been many. The response has been mostly positive. The main thing is to make ourselves satisfied with our efforts. And so we are.
I'll admit it without torture. I have my rituals, like everyone else, I guess. Monday through Thursday at work, I listen to whatever I feel like to, but on Friday I'm so tired that I either put on something totally off metal or !T.O.O.H.!. I return home happy, with a clean head and feeling just fine somehow. I am not afraid to say, your music has literally a chilling effect on me like a way of meditation. What state of mind do you have to be in order to compose music? How did "Free Speech" come about? When do you say to yourself - okay, it's time, let's go, let's compose!?
The music on Free Speech (hereafter FS) was composed quite quickly. Of course, one has to be in a good state of mind, which Humanoid usually was. Composing FS was a continuous process. With Humanoid grabbing guitar and recording his ideas with his phone. Later on, he transcribed those into GuitarPro and I laid down the drum patterns which we programmed into the demo. Everyone of us practiced his parts separately, we didn't even have one rehearsal together. My brother practiced directly with GuitarPro and I practiced with the Wave file he emailed me. We then tweaked and improved the songs for the better here and there. At the end of the day, the drums I recorded on the album turned out to be completely different from the ones we demoed. I improvise a lot...
When I listen to contemporary progressive and technical death metal bads, it's some mad stuff. Seventeen-year-old boys playing like gods. Technically, they're actually perfect. It's just that quite often their music doesn't have any balls. You guys aren't really young anymore, but tell me, how do you actually play so fast and complicated? How much time do you spend practicing? I would see it that you have to sleep with the instruments or am I wrong? Correct me in case I am wrong but I can imagine you even sleeping with your instruments.
We don't overdo it with the practicing. I think the main thing is talent. When working on FS, my brother grabbed guitar and played two to three hours a day, sometimes more if needed. Once the album was done, he played it once or twice almost every day to stay in shape. I practiced as needed and as the mood took me. Sometimes I would sit behind the drums for two hours, sometimes just an hour. Sometimes I sit somewhere else... ie. behind the computer screen where I spend more time than behind my drums... :-) And yes, you're right. Today's youngsters play like gods. It's because there are expanded learning opportunities. That's something our generation could only dream of. Speaking on behalf of drummers, nowadays you can find everything on YouTube – from the way of how to hold drumsticks to learning what techniques to use when playing the snare, drum kicks... Everything. But I listen to these new bands just out of curiosity. The vast majority of them sound very similar. It's as if the music has been manufactured in one and the same manufactory...
All your songs sound different from one another. The mood, the energy differ. Does that mean the songs are composed in different moods or settings? Things coming more aggressive when you're angry, etc.? How does all that you feel, see around you, all the politics, human dullness, but also joy and humility, mirrors in the music you create?
I'm glad you noticed that. In our case, it's a very natural thing. It's not like we would compose only when we were angry or something. My brother sends me a song that's composed from A to Z. With a clearly defined tempo. Occasionally, we may speed up the song during the process but I am not involved in the composing process as such that's all my brother's thing. I'll just run with what he delivers but at the same time, in return, my brother has no say in whatever drum patterns I create for the song. It's a mutual respect and I think it works for us. And the world around us and the emotions it brings, that's rather imprinted in the lyrics...
You are both very talented. And I don't mean just technically, but also compositionally. Plus, you're brothers. Is music in your genes? Did you trace a great-grandfather who composed, let's say, some classical music? Did anyone sing in your family? Oh, and not to forget, I have a brother too, but we don't get along at all, he's completely different from me. Are you arguing with each other? Who does usually have the final say?
Thank you. Music is definitely a part of our genes. When it comes to immediate family, my mom used to sing when she was young. And very well. From the age of 10, she went to a singing teacher once or twice a week. At 16, she was preparing for the State Conservatory. But because it was 1969, the specialization in Musical Comedy she wanted to apply to got cancelled because a lot of people were fired and stuff... In the end, she was offered to enter an Opera Singing course. But my mother declined that opportunity since she always hated opera singing with all her heart. So she joined the Folk-art Conservatory and started singing various (also jazz) songs in Prague. Those songs were written straight to fit her mezzo-soprano. But then she met her dad and... the singing was over. Eventually, she finished medical school and worked in a nursing home. Her singing career was over. Her dad, our grandfather, played mandolin. And his whole family, his sisters, they all played musical instruments. So my mom liked to sing with them even when she was a little girl. On my dad's side, his grandfather, my namesake, played the clarinet. Maybe I'm his reincarnation... hahaha.
It's sad to hear about your brother. I mean, from my point of view. Having a sibling I don't get along with, I don't even want to imagine that... I always got along well with my brother.
You know we argue with each other. But only sometimes. When one of us is irritated which is mostly myself. We had a few fights. But that was a long time ago, and it was always caused by the demon alcohol. My brother's been abstinent and a non-smoker since 2008. So there's no danger of a fight anymore... -)))
I really liked the reaction to your board from an old gentleman at the workshop. He said, dude, that's passion in disguise. And he was smiling like me. I'm telling you straight up, you just have a gift for conveying emotion, for shocking or even more shocking, for captivating. Tell me, what were your beginnings, why and how did !T.O.O.H.! come about? Please dive deep into the history with us.
Thank you very much. My brother and I decided to start a band sometime in elementary school. We discovered a beautiful style of music. We discovered metal. I remember at the cottage, we were fooling around in front of the mirror with badminton bats that represented guitars, swaying to the beat of Kern's "Blízko nás. There was no internet then, it was before 1989 and we had a complete lack of information. When my friends and I were scavenging in salvage yards, I would cut out all the mentions of metal in the press at the time. We knew a lot of bands just by name. It was better just before the revolution. My brother used to go to the Havel market with his friends, so he experienced the police raids on metal record sellers. We didn't have a gramophone at home, so he just admired the covers. Then we found a contact in the Holešovice market. We used to buy recorded tapes from him. Overkill, Sodom, Coroner, Living Death, Laaz Rockit... And of course Polish original tapes... That was after the revolution. There used to be stock exchanges at Letná, at the Sparta stadium. That's where we discovered other bands. After that, it got easier and easier...
Our first project was called VVD. That is: Veselý, Veselý, Dvořák. It was actually pure noise. We made noise on everything and recorded it on a cassette recorder. It had funny names and we screamed, shouted and mutated into all this mess. That was fun. My brother and I still have the tapes. Then me and another friend started a band called Devastator. We had just discovered Napalm Death, so it was clear that we wanted to do the biggest shit of the time. Heavy metal was the style of a different generation, thrash metal was slowly peaking and death metal was coming on the scene. It was clear what direction we were going to go in. It took us quite a long time before we decided to come out with our own work. That was in 1995. Demo You guys are pieces of fucking meat. I think our fans know the story by then. From our online biography.
You went through the beginning in the 1990s, then the turbulent period in 2000-2005, and then suddenly it was gone. You've been coming back at greater intervals since then. Why is that? Have you been consumed by work, families? Or "not so many ideas", the desire? I'm asking because you know, nowadays if you don't see the band, it's like it doesn't exist.
We first came back in 2011. My brother decided to buy a guitar again and rebuild the band. Before that he was always creating, writing electronic music and painting pictures. I had no objections -) The work definitely didn't swallow us or our families. We are both childless. Neither of us has ever been married in our lives. Could you imagine us being bothered by the families with the lyrics we spawn? Maybe so, but it would be very strange... -))
We disbanded in 2013 for the second time. It was because of my brother being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He just decided to call it quits again. I had no objections whatsoever...
In 2017 we announced a comeback again. The impetus came again from my brother. I'm glad it happened. I think we still have a lot to offer. My brother is just a pioneering soul. Our music and lyrics are constantly evolving, so it makes sense. If I, or my brother felt we lost our drive and inspirations, I'm sure we would put the band to rest.
!T.O.O.H.! You two are Schizoid and Humanoid. But Android, Freedom, Wokis have played with you over the years. Always just for a little while. Why is that? Didn't anyone fit in with you guys?
No, no, we've had guys fit in and get along well with us, but it has usually been the circumstances that did not work to our favour. Pavel Slavíček (Android) started a family and his own band Misogynist. He started writing his own music and playing guitar, something that he enjoyed more doing than just playing bass guitar. And at the time of the release of "Order and Punishment", we were also a great bunch of friends. But again, circumstances didn't favor us. The only one guy who was able to keep up the pace with whatever my brother came up with was the bass player Freedom. Guitarist Wokis was in college at the time and had other hobbies... And then the problems with the label occured and some unpleasantness in personal life. So my brother decided to lay it down to rest.
If I'm not mistaken, you haven't performed in a long time. I think you still have a lot of fans. How about Prague, maybe my favourite Modrá Vopice, invite a few friends to make the possible embarrassment less (joke) and get it back on the boards? How do you feel about gigs? Smaller tours?
We are planning to start playing gigs again. It's going to be a very interesting experience. Since my brother is schizophrenic, he doesn't have as much energy as he used to have. Still, he made the decision to give it a try. We've already started practicing together a compilation of songs from the demo and old albums. We've upped the tempo of the songs by a bit and added synths here and there... We're still figuring out how exactly we're going to perform everything live. We will use playback for electronic bass and the synths. I will be drumming on the electronic drum-kit set. We're going to play to a click which we are used to... We're going to try out the performance at a private event first, to see how things will work out and if my brother can perform the songs live in front of people. After that we'll see. I'm confident he will pull it off. In fact, I can even tell you where our first show will be. It's going to be at our friends' place in Studanka, North Bohemia. The guys have a band called Evil Regiment. We made a promise that our first public performance will také place there and we will keep that promise. And I hope it won't be a shame, don't worry... -)) You can be there if you want. You're entitled to that just for making these great questions. It's going to be an exclusive event and I'm looking forward to it.
It's such a weird time these days, everyone's commenting on everything. The problem is that most of them are people who have not been given much by nature, God or Satan. You're musicians, you must be a little crazy, different, different. Still, do you have anyone whose opinion you'll give? Who's gonna tell you, like, this is over the line, this is too much. Or on the contrary, you can lean into it here?
We are setting that line, that boundary ourselves. But we actually have such a person. It's our publisher, Honza. I think that if he had any problem with our lyrics, which he hasn't had so far, we would definitely take his recommendation or opinion. I recently sent him the titles of our new texts and wrote to him what they are about. He wanted me to send the lyrics over, so he could read them. But then it wouldn't have been a surprise if he knew the content in advance. So we'll see what he'll say when he hears the new madness in the complete package (with music)... -))) We just like it when the lyrics are provocative. And since the boundary is constantly being pushed further (who is shocked by brutal scenes nowadays?), we decided to push it a bit...
!T.O.O.H.! cover arts and the band's sound. Those are the two things that take your band into a whole different realm. I love the cover art for Komouš, I love it, and if I had a gallery, it would take pride of place. Where do you go for those ideas? They're so fresh, fresh, funny. And the sound by the master Standa Valášek. Why him? Is he the one who understands your fuzzy souls the most?
I'm so happy to see how you perceive our band. As for the ideas, I guess we ate a lot of funny porridge... -))) Do you know what it really is? It's a program we have been already born with. I'm very interested in astrology. When I saw our horoscopes, it's all written there... My brother often laughs at me, saying that I'm like an old woman who believes everything... But I see it there. It's all there. My brother's imagination, his energy, his artistic inclinations and, after all, his illness... In my case, it includes artistic inclinations too, of course, and I also got to know that „sarcasm is my second language“, etc. etc. It's a very interesting subject.
Also, about the ideas which grace the cover-arts my brother paints. It has always been his imagination and his ideas. But on Free Speech we agreed to come up with the content together. So we sat down together in front of the computer screen and had that something going on, I think it's called brainstorming nowadays.
And why Standa Valášek? He's just a professional and a nice person. We've had a great experience with him since the album Order and Punishment. At that time my brother and I wanted to go back to the Hacienda Studio. But the guitarist Wokis was worried about analogue equipment, so he persuaded us to try a digital studio. So we went to the Šopa. In the end it was a very good idea. Dodo from Hacienda Studio was also able to manage the recording process digitally but but he just prefers analogue sound. When we relaunched the band in 2017, we decided to go with Standa again. Although he also does analogue, of course. We wanted to symbolically start where we left off with our most successful period...
My wife is a teacher and she told me that it's starting to scare her how kids today don't read books at all. It's like they're losing perspective, imagination. I don't know, I'm not an educator, but I always liked your lyrics. These are masterpieces! Where do you get the inspiration for them? What influences you?
It's a gift, as I mentioned before. We were born with that gift. When we first started, my brother wrote the majority of lyrics. But he always encouraged me to write something too. Nowadays, he doesn't have to do it anymore. Speaking for myself, it's like when you want to poop... Your stomach hurts, you know you're full of inspiration... -)) Then comes the first rhyme. If I laugh at it and don't forget it by the other day, it's almost certain that something will come out of it. It's stuck in my mind for a day, a week, it doesn't matter. Or things simply happen when the setting is really good, I'll get right at it and if it continues to evolve smoothly, I know it's going to be good. When I finish the lyrics, I am not revising it in any way. It has to be coming out of the same water, so to speak. Well, sometimes I'll fix some details. Or if my brother has a note, we adjust the lyrics.
And the kids are not reading books anymore, it is a plague. It's modern technology. The new people will soon be completely demented... Even monkeys can learn to operate devices at a user level. I've read about how there was an experiment to teach monkeys to use tokens to obtain food when they were hungry and things soon went downhill. Prostitution and shit like that occurred amonst them, just the way like in our society. Humans are still basically animals. Critical thinking is being suppressed. Just be obedient, follow the entertainment...
I'm quite conservative in my personal life, but I do like science fiction, for example, and in music I also sometimes choose things that move me from our stinking planet to higher realms. I love VOIVOD! Who influenced you? What music do you like, do you listen to, do you go to concerts? What about books, movies? Other hobbies?
I totally understand. My brother loves Alien and Terminator. He's still watching those flicks a lot and relaxing. He's seen the last Terminator about 20 times... -)) Or now he's obsessed with Underwater with Kristen Stewart (his other favorite actress)... He's seen that one about six times. I like sci-fi, especially movies. It attracts my attention. I barely read science fiction books.
VOIVOD. The first time I heard them, it didn't grab me at all. I think it was some of their early albums. Compared to what I was listening to back then, they were a flop. So it was a quick resolution and I didn't bother following them. But after some time, Petr Korál played some songs from Negatron on a radio station “Radio 1“ and I liked it a lot. So I am still not a real fan, but they have some great songs.
If I wrote down what music I like, it would be a very long list. I like mostly good music. The genre doesn't matter. I love Depeche Mode. I like all their albums, even the new ones. I also listen to a lot of remixes from different artists. I like classical music. I like rock. I like jazz, especially from the '50s. I appreciate a well-written pop song. I'm pretty picky.
I don't go to concerts. Music occupies most of my time already. And you can't talk much in the noisy environment that live events are about.
I love books. I've always loved to read. Nowadays, I more read the news about what's going on in the current world. Alternative media that brings serious topics. With links to sources of information (evidence based), of course. I'm interested in what's going on around us. I don't follow disinformation news of the mainstream, and when I do, it's just for fun... Corporate media tells you nothing. They just lie, cover up and obfuscate. Filthy stuff.
In your email you told me that we fans can look forward to a new EP from your stable. Can you tell us more? What's it about, where have you been trying to push it, where did you record it, where will you be releasing it? Tell me, exaggerate.
The EP is called Premiant. The recording process was the same as with FS. We recorded the guitars at Šopa Studio, the remaining instruments and vocals were recorded in our home studio. Mixing and general supervision by Standa Valášek.
This material is probably the peak of our work in my opinion. Seriously. I'd probably just be bragging if I had to describe it... -))) And the cover-art my brother painted is just perfect. It's got four songs on it. Compared to FS, the EP sounds different. Everyone would be able to hear the progress. I can't wait for it to be out.
Damn, I'm talking again, but you know, if I like a band, I don't know my brother. Anything you want to say to the fans? To the promoters? To the government? To the Facebook debaters? There's room.
Jakub, first of all, thank you so much for the opportunity to speak out. We could probably have conducted the interview with ourselves, but that wouldn't have been the right thing to do... -)) You did a great job. I like reading your site, you know that.
To the fans I want to say: By supporting Lavadome production, you are supporting us too, thanks. To the promoters: We don't play gigs for the travelling costs anymore -)) I won't say anything to the government. I didn't vote for this bunch. To the FB debaters: Wake up and just be factual. Everyone can just criticize.
Thanks for your time!
Thank you so much for the interview. I appreciate it. I look forward to more music from !T.O.O.H.! or just a beer concert somewhere. I wish you all the best in your personal lives and may strength follow your steps.
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