Genre: Gothic doom metal
Origin: Russia
Current line-up:
Alexey Kozlov - Vocals, keyboards
Irina Lovchikova - Vocals
Dmitriy Akulov - Bass
Sergey Vagin - Guitar
Alexandr Mironov - Drums
Irina Drebushchak - Flute
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Current label:
Stygian Crypt Productions
Discography:
Escape to the Dreamlands - 2008
Official Site:
http://www.evokethylords.com/
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1. Hello Alexey! How are you? “Escape to the
Dreamlands” is your debut album. How do you feel about it? Does the final
result approach the expectation you had before recording this album?
The main feeling after each release was the
relief that we had finally done it. It could have been explained by the
fact that it was the first experience in recording an album for EVOKE THY
LORDS and we made some mistakes we had to correct later. Besides, we had
certain problems in the studio so it also affected the result. Finally,
by the end of working on the album we got tired of it, especially taking
in account that that material had been created about 4-5 years before.
As to the sound, the achieved result did not quite satisfy us, but we decided
to keep it in mind for the future.
2. By the way, is EVOKE THY LORDS your first band?
Did you play in any other bands before? Have you recorded anything with
them?
I had played in several bands before EVOKE
THY LORDS, but I can hardly call them serious bands now, so EVOKE THY LORDS
happened to be my first “real” band. I also used to sing in EMBERLAND,
where our ex-guitarist was playing. We played something like deathcore/death
metal. I still like that material. We released one album with the Russian
label Blacksmith Prods., and after that the band parted. I don’t know if
this album is still available there, but if someone wants to purchase this
disk, let us know by email (evokethylords@gmail.com),
I still have some copies.
I am also doing my one-man-project GARNATH,
its style is changing continuously. Based on the last material I released
the demo (the style is something like ETHEREAL), but haven’t found a producing
label yet and ceased the project for the time being.
3. Your music combines many elements that range
from melodic death metal to more symphonic parts. How would you describe
your sound? What has someone to do, when he mixes lots of genres into his
sound, in order to release something interesting?
Well, trying to name the style of our own
music has always been and still is the problem or us. Say, “Escape to the
Dreamlands” is too dynamic and aggressive for the so-called gothic metal,
there’s too much “air” for the doom-death and it is too poetic for the
death metal. There is something inherent of all of these styles in it,
but we cannot define it in a few words. Maybe this is because we did not
care to stick to any of those laws and stylistic rules while creating this
music and we just did what we did.
4. I think that you are big fan of the Cthulhu
Mythos. Did the name of the band also refer to the Cthulhu mythology?
Yes, I do like Lovecraft’ books; we tried
to express our vision of the atmosphere of his ideas in our music, both
frightening and fantasy-attracting.
As for the name of the band - the name, having
had occurred as a reference to those books, later changed a row of its
notions, and by now it does not have a clear definition. The one who had
made it up, and each one seeing it now – they all have their own perception
of its meaning. Every man has his own Gods, and the music has always been
a channel to communicate with Them.
5. The album is a concept based on the H.P. Lovecraft
books. So is it a concept album? Is there a specific book of H.P. Lovecraft
that you have decided to turn into music?
On this album we tried to embody the atmosphere
of the entire world of Lovecraft. The various songs of ours were based
on his works of art, one or a few at the same time.
6. By the way, Hollywood plans to do a movie of
H.P. Lovecrat’s “Mountains of Madness”. What do you think about it? How
easy or difficult is it to transform Lovecraft’s works to any other form
of art?
I will be pleased to see that movie, though
I do not know how successful the movie is going to be. The Mountains of
Madness seems to be the most difficult story to make the movie on. Basically,
I have seen both successful and poor attempts to transfer his art to movies
and music.
7. Although Russia has a very strong metal scene,
the western metal fans don’t know many things about it. Why do you think
this happens?
The basic reason for this is the poor infrastructure
meant for the metal music and the lack of the major labels.
8. I believe that there is a contradiction between
your dark music and the optimistic/dreamy title of the album “Escape to
the Dreamlands”. Did you do this on purpose?
Well, the “Escape to the Dreamlands” music
is not that dark, and the name of the album is not that optimistic – you
should read some Lovecraft on this matter. We think the name of the album
quite fits the atmosphere inside it.
9. Do you plan to add more symphonic parts to
your music in the future? Do you have any new songs ready?
We have recorded a 4-track EP that is meant
to be a split-CD edition together with another band, and it’s full of symphonic
sound. Apart from that, we are making another album in a little different
music concept.
10. Thanks for your time answering my questions
Alexey. You have released a great album! The last words of this interview
belong to you…
Thank you for the questions. Quite soon we
are expecting our web-site to be done (www.evokethylords.com),
where you will be able to find more about us and our new material. We’ll
be glad to see you there.
Good luck to your webzine and to your readers.
Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis
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