Genre: Epic Metal
Country: Brazil
Questions by: Nick Parastatidis
Site: Bandcamp
1) Hello. How are you? How are things on the KRULL
camp at the moment?
Luis Domingos (Vocals) : We are well, thank you, happy and looking forward
to the release of our new album "The Black Coast".
2) Although the band is introduced with the EP “Metal
Swords and Fire” to the metal audience, the truth is that you are quite
experienced as a band. Can you tell us a few things about the story of the band
so far?
L.D.: Yes, actually I am currently 38 years old, 25 are dedicated to Heavy
Metal, and 20 years with my band; The band KRULL was born in mid-1998, when our
first guitarist Tony Fernandes and I Luis Domingos decided to set up a Heavy
Metal band during our high school years.
In the beginning
we had the fantasy name, SUPREME, but over the years, we decided to adopt the
name ETERNAL FATE, which remained for a long time, in the meantime, much
happened, good and not so good, we had some not so long lasting formations, and
always remaining Tony Fernandes and I, recorded in 2003 our first record the
Demo EP entitled "Warrior Angel", with 4 tracks, then in 2005 our
second Demo EP, called "Promised Land" with 4 tracks came out.
Between 2008 and 2010, we recorded our last Demo EP of studio called
"Metal Swords and Fire", it got good reviews and a great repercussion
on the part of the specialized media (Brazil and abroad), In 2011, we were
selected by the printed magazine called Roadie Crew, (among more than 500 bands
throughout Brazil), to be part of the renowned "Wacken Metal Battle Brasil
2011" festival, where we got the second place.
Also in 2011,
our penultimate remnant of the band, Guitarist Tony Fernandes leaves the band
to pursue his studies, where he graduated as a Journalist, a few years later
(he currently resides in the United States).
In 2014 the band
KRULL signed a contract with the Italian label Heart of Steel Records/Defox
Records, for the release of this same EP "Metal Swords and Fire"
(Remastered), to more than 100 countries.
In the same year
2014 the band changed its name from ETERNAL FATE to KRULL, due to the respect
to the old members who passed through it, the new theme to be approached (Epic
Metal), and to be in a new "clothes".
In 2018, the
band KRULL signs a contract with German label Iron Shield Records / Pure Steel
Records, for the worldwide release of our new album (CD + LP + Streaming),
titled "The Black Coast", which is conceptual, based and inspired in
the work of Robert E. Howard (Creator of the fictional characters Conan, Kull,
Solomon Kane, among others).
The album will
be released on April 27 at one of the biggest Heavy Metal festivals in the
world the prestigious "Keep it True Festival".
After the launch
we will do a Brazilian tour, and by the beginning of 2019, we have plans for a
European tour.
3) It seems that you had a lot of trouble to find a
stable line-up. Which were the reasons for this and did this difficulty ever
make you think to quit?
L.D.: Certainly!!
Today our biggest enemy is undoubtedly ourselves and keeping a stable lineup is
very difficult.
We've had a lot
of formations over the last 20 years, however good proposals are slowly coming
to us, our greatest difficulty within the band has always been to maintain a
stable and long-lasting line up.
Many reasons can
justify this, among them is that many musicians do not have the commitment that
others have, or this new generation that is coming does not have the same
strength and strength of will that the older ones had, today there are many
problems in the world, conflicts, wars, fights, politics, I hate talking about
politics, but currently Brazil is facing a great political, social and economic
crisis, many families are going through many problems here in our country
(Unemployment, lack of infrastructure, a chaotic health system, lack of
security, basic sanitation, education, among other social problems). This
causes a lot of people to have no commitment because they put their families
first and not the company, and the band is a company. I had some friends
musicians who played in my band, and left the band for the simple fact of
finding a job someplace else.
And I confess to
you that I already thought about giving up, but I never gave myself up, I have
a lot of love and passion for what I do, my life is music, it's literally stuck
in my soul, and if I've come this far, in those 20 years, I do not intend to
throw in the towel so soon.
4) The EP “Metal Swords and Fire” was recorded in
2008 under the name ETERNAL FATE. Why did you decide to release it again as
KRULL and are there any differences between them?
L.D.: The EP,
"Metal Swords and Fire", was never released, in fact it was only
recorded between the years 2008 and 2010, as ETERNAL FATE, at the time when we
thought about releasing it, we had some problems in our line up, and so it was
stored in the drawer until 2011, when we stabilized the band again, we released
it completely INDEPENDENTLY.
It was then that
we managed to be selected by Impressa Roadie Crew Magazine, to be part of the renowned festival
"Wacken Metal Battle Brasil - 2011", getting second place at the
festival.
In 2014, with
the same EP, we received a proposal from the Italian label Heart Of Steel
Records/Defox Records to make the definitive release of it. (Only in digital
format).
In 2015, when we
decided to change the name of the band to KRULL, due to the respect for the old
members who passed through it, the new theme to be approached, the musical
style we were doing, and the new lineup, we decided to do a remake, a reissue
of the EP. A reissue, with the name KRULL, with an extra track, for those
people who still did not know our music, the only difference between them is
Capa art, but it will always be an EP, from the band ETERNAL FATE, whose continuation
is KRULL, it is the same band, since I founded it in 1998, I am the only
remaining member and founder of it. A band is like a family, good moments of
love, but problems are always inevitable. In my band it is not different, after
all who does not have problems ?? LOL
5 - How did you come up with the name KRULL? Did you
take it from the cult 80’s fantasy movie?
L.D.: The name KRULL
was my decision.
I do not know if
you know, but I am an Indian from two ethnic groups here in Brazil, and the son
of Krenak Indians, my father, and Guarani, my mother, were born in an
indigenous village, they are real Indians from Brazil, proud of it.
Based on my
indigenous family culture and tradition, which is rooted in my childhood, as
everyone knows, I have changed the name of the band to KRULL. Also due to
respect for the old members who have already passed through the band, for the
new theme to be approached in the band, KRULL has several meanings, such as:
He is a
mysterious obscure being, living in the forests of Brazil (according to my
father and several Brazilian indigenous ethnicities), he is a mystical,
mysterious and enchanted being, the ancient ancestors say, that he is the
"Messenger of Death" and brings a bad omen and warns the Indians that
something very bad is about to happen, echoing with their cry and song of
agony, pain and terror.
KRULL, is also a
pun to the name CROW, which in English means Corvo. Both have the same
pronunciation, but different writing.
KRULL is also an
allusion and a pun with the name in Portuguese "CRU", which in
English means RAW. In Portuguese CRU.
Also a simple
homage to the great master of "Sword & Sorcery", Robert E.
Howard, creator of the fictional characters: Conan, Solomon Kane, and KULL, homage
to the character KULL the Conqueror, KULL of Atlantida, created by Robert in
1927, he is one of the most celebrated, devastating, and violent character
created by Robert, according to the tales.
KRULL is also a
tribute to the 1983 Adventure, Fiction and Fantasy Movie, in which KRULL is a
planet where evil and good fight.
KRULL, is also
the meaning of an acronym K.R.U.L.L, meaning Knights ruthless unite league of
Lucifer, hahahaha
06) You already have your debut full length album
entitled “The Black Coast” finished. When will it be released and from which
label?
L.D.: Yes, we already
have, actually the new album titled 'The Black Coast', was released on April 27
at the renowned 'Keep it True Festival' festival (Germany).
For the German
label Iron Shield Records/Pure Steel Records/SoulFood Music GMBH.
07) There is a big time gap between your debut album
and the EP and also now you have a different line up. How has this affected the
band’s sound? Which are the new elements that we will listen to the sound of
KRULL in your debut album?
L.D.: Yes, in fact
since the band's appearance in 1998, we needed 5 years to stabilize a line up
that could record their first record, only in 2003, called 'Warrior Angel'.
The last EP
"Metal Swords and Fire", since the release of "The Black
Coast", was 8 years old. It did not really affect the sound of the band,
because in the meantime everyone was busy with their side projects, and solo.
For example I
with the band BRAVE, recorded an album in 2012 called "The Last
Battle", and the other members recording and touring.
In this new
debut album, “The Black Coast”, you will clearly notice a more evolved sound,
but with the same footprint that we have always had.
A more classy,
raw, and calm sound in the vein of great classic bands of the 80s.
The art of the
cover will also be developed to refer back to the 80's, this is our new theme
and approach in our music, to make a sound that takes us to Epic Metal, with
one foot in the 80's without losing the essence of Heavy Metal, and not soar
Modern.
08) How different is it to create individual songs
and songs that are part of a concept story?
L.D.: It's different
in every way, it's surreal and exciting.
Making songs for
an album, or a simple EP, is like doing all the same things every day. (Even
knowing the difficulties)
But composing an
album, a totally conceptual one, which tells the story of a literary work, with
its own words, is insane, is wonderful.
Creating a song,
it's easy, creating a song that has feeling, life, soul, lyrics easy to
assimilate, content and common sense, is not something easy.
Now creating a
song with all these elements, and moreover with a story that you read and
reread, and still have to write the lyrics that you will narrate in an album,
it is certainly not easy, it is a double-edged sword.
You can either
fuck it with the album, or get into the story.
I tried to do it
this way because it was always a dream of mine, to create a plot of a story
with my own words, an already existing work. I know it's a shot in the dark,
but as the saying goes: "No risk taken, no snack” lol
I'm trying,
somehow, if we get there where I've always longed, I'll be very happy and
honored, and if we do not arrive, I'll be happy the same way, because I'll know
that at least I've tried (There are people who are afraid to try). Lol
09) Brazil has some great true metal bands like GREY
WOLF and HAZY HAMLET. Do you think that as a scene it draws the necessary
attention from fans from all over the world? What do you think you need to do
in order to help the Brazilian metal bands get more noticed?
L.D.: Brazil is a very
large country in territorial proportions. These bands that you mentioned are
great friends of mine. Here in Brazil there are numerous bands and musicians
within Rock / Metal. In fact Brazil is a continent, not a country, some states within
Brazil, are the size of a European or Asian country, we cannot deny that SEPULTURA
and SARCÓFAGO opened great doors for Brazilian bands to become famous around
the world. Many foreign bands always mark their tours as Brazil on the Rota,
because the public is very faithful and big here in Brazil. There are
statements by bands such as IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS, METALLICA, that they report
they love playing in Brazil, not only because of the huge audience, but also by
the insanity, intensity, fidelity and Madness of the Brazilians. This in a way
or another ends up drawing much attention from the public and metal bands from
other countries.
For me, SEPULTURA
and SARCÓFAGO are great Brazilian Metal bands, they made history, they recorded
a page in the history of Metal World.
As well as these
great bands, they later came VIPER, ANGRA, KORZUS, VULCANO, who also left their
legacy throughout the world.
That's why Metal
fans around the world are still interested in Brazilian Metal, because they
always did it for passion, for love, for fidelity to what they set out to do.
I own a Mini
Company called Steel Metal Press, it serves independent bands, and Metal
musicians, we have good partnerships with several companies from several
countries, including a great partnership with the Italian label Heart of Steel/DeFox
Records, where I always help other younger, more independent bands, launch them
to the market. I do my part helping in this way. I have many friends here in
Brazil and abroad who have Stamps, Zines, Distros, Sites, who also do their
part. And so on. Each one doing his part in his own way, we are stronger.
10) As a metal musician in Brazil, can you tell us
which the biggest difficulties that you have to surpass in order to make your
dream real are? Are the metal fans there supportive of the local scene?
L.D.: Brazil is a
country very rich in its biodiversity, fauna, flora, ethnicities, mineral
wealth, soil, export, and water in abundance, but the mismanagement and the bad
distribution of income, added to corruption, and the money here, causes many
people of power, politicians, businessmen, and other bigwigs to corrupt
themselves, summing up an outdated policy, a totally flawed system, and totally
soft, backward and backward laws, made by those same ones in power, the whole
population, Brazil is certainly a country that had everything to be the biggest
and best in the world, but we pay for the mistakes of these men who call
themselves "Grandes", who wear ties and make themselves saints.
Resulting in an
extremely poor country, with a very large deficit in education, Public Safety,
Health, among others.
Because we know
all this, and suffer from the current economic and financial situation that the
country is going through, many families and people live below the poverty line.
Many neighboring countries in Brazil are experiencing many difficulties and
migrating to Brazil (It is not different in Europe).
Here in Brazil,
there are many marvelous Heavy Metal bands, full of willpower, talent and
passion for metal, many of which could be bursting around the world, but due to
financial difficulties, they end up being extinguished and shut down.
The biggest
difficulties that we have to face here in Brazil to make our METAL dream real,
without doubt are the socio-economic (financial) problems.
Metal fans here
in Brazil are very supportive of the local scene, but with a few exceptions,
they prefer to support internet bands, etc and hahaha, the so-called
Webbangers, hahahah
And outside the
pots that are formed here, if you are not part of which you are boycotted… but
this is everywhere on the planet, it is called 'Evil of man'.
11) How have the fans and press so far reacted to
your music? Which was the best comment that you have received and which the
most bizarre?
L.D.: The press and
the specialized media have always helped us a lot, we would not have the little
we do today with the band, if not for them, in those 20 years of KRULL, if it
were not for the media and the press.
Elivelton,
Douglas, Willy, Evandro, Luan, Lord, are fans, they have always supported us,
are faithful, and have never abandoned us.
The best comment we received was from a German
site / magazine called 'Metal Only', Sebastian Schwarz, better known as Blacky,
a great guy, he reviewed our new album with a 10 out of 10 rating and praised it
a lot, comparing it to great world-renowned bands such as ACCEPT, GRAVE DIGGER,
KING DIAMOND, MAIDEN, JUDAS, and we were very happy and honored by this
beautiful and great review made by him.
The most
bizarre, was a fan, who went to see a show of ours once, in mid-2010, I was in
a pair of tight pants, singing on stage in the city of Votorantim / São Paulo /
Brazil, and when I noticed her, she had already pulled my pants down, and I was
almost in my underpants, hahahaha
It was an
extremely embarrassing situation for me, I confess to you, I did not know what
to do at that moment, and when the song was over, I told her, in the
microphone:
"Expect to
end the show, and we'll talk better, behind the stage." hahahaha
People laughed
and laughed a lot, and at the end of the show, she came to talk to me, she
looked very drunk, with a very strong makeup, she told me:
"We can go
now, I've waited for this moment all my life, I love your band, and I love you
too." hahahah
But we laughed
after that, and had some beers together, but there was nothing more between us,
just friendship, we took photos, we signed her records, and that's it.
(I hope my wife
does not read this interview, I don’t want to be single by the end of this
interview) hahaha
12) I like the south American metal scene and the
Brazilian one very much. So can you suggest any other bands from there that
deserve our attention?
L.D.: How cool,
Nick!!! Yes, I could, it would be a pleasure and an honor for me.
Come on then, there
are several wonderful Brazilian bands, which I've heard a lot, and I like a lot
too.
Here in Brazil
we have the guys of HELLISH WAR, MOREBEERDEATH, DOMINUS PRAELLI, METALTEX, DRAGONHEART,
STEEL WARRIOR, GUERREIROS HEADBANGERS, LECHER, and many others.
Already in South
America, we have the guys from THUNDERLORD from Chile, COBRA from Peru, REVENGE
from Colombia, and so many other great names that I do not remember now.
13) Thanks for your time answering my questions. The
epilogue of this interview belongs to you and please use it in any way
L.D.: Thank you very
much Nick and Behind the Veil, We are very grateful to you and your entire team
for giving up this space for us to be published and show our humble 20-year
job.
Thank you very
much indeed, to all of you, to all the public, brothers and sisters Bangers
from all over Greece, and from all over the world, thank you very much, we
would be nothing without you.
Thank you guys!!
See you on the road!! Hail & Kill!!!
For more
information on the band KRULL:
BandCamp:https://krullofficial.bandcamp.com/
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/krullofficial
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