interview with MORTHUS
How was the band formed? We are big fans of metal music and always wanted to have a band. The beginning was before eleven years ago we established the first band, I (Miro) was only 10 years old and my mate David 12. Of course it was just meaningless noise. We both like also black metal and dark ambient music so I decided in December 2011 to inform David (who had a few dark ambient songs) that I want play dark ambient and making music on PC. We decided to try it and see how it goes. Beginnings were difficult but here we are.
Can you tell about your band? MORTHUS is black metal/dark ambient project with two members. Now we have one self-released demo record called "Forest Poetry".
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? We are from Slovakia. I (Miro) programming drums and doing the samples. David - vocals, guitar and samples.
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? No ambitions. As I mentioned we are big fans of metal music and play for our pleasure. Of course, it pleased when we receive feedback that someone likes our music but first of all we do music for our pleasure.
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? It´s pure underground and our music is dark, sinister and very important is atmosphere. Imagine your nightmare and our music is soundtrack for your nightmare.
Where was your first gig? We don´t play live yet and probably we wil never. We are studio project without gigs.
Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics? I (Miro) wrote all the lyrics yet. David does not write lyrics yet, but if comes with good lyrics so we use it. And music we make together but sometimes I doing whole music or David. But mostly make music together.
Who has the best since of humor in the band? Ufff...I would say that both. Especially when we drink beer haha. I think that we have no problem with humor.
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? Good is that we make music which we like and freedom, we don´t have any dates, nobody us hurry. And bad things? Maybe lack of time. Genre is black metal/dark ambient.
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? I don´t play any instrument and David know play little bit on guitar. So we are decided make music on PC and dark ambient does not play a lot of bands/projects is it still underground and of course this music we like. Our songs with lyrics are about death, ghosts, darkness or anti-religion and in songs without lyrics we focus on the atmosphere.
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? We write only own material.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? Only self-released demo record "Forest Poetry" Is it our first demo so we are on this record a "searching our face". Originally there should not be vocal and black metal songs. But we decided that with vocals it will be better. Contains three dark ambient songs a two black metal songs. This demo record I would say expresses feelings. Although this probably not be predetermined. We just wanted to record our first songs.
Do you have any clips on YouTube?
Yeah we have some videos on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LmMqqokkhk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9cXLDbWDN8
How old are you?/What got you started in music? I am 21 years old and my band mate is 24 years old
At what age did you start playing? With MORTHUS we started in January 2012 so 19 years old
What year was the band started? Officialy January 2012
Witch band is the best you´ve seen? I don´t visited gig some "big" band yet but best show I´ve ever seen was gig Italian grind band ULTIMO MONDO CANNIBALE three years ago in Slovakia
What are the plans for the rest of the year? Nothing important. We are still working on as-yet-untitled new record which I hope will be really sinister!
What are your goals with your music? Make dark music and get into a awareness
When did you decide to go all in for the music? I listen metal music since 2003 and from first moment I wanted to create own stuff
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Certainly from older bands I am old-school type of metalhead
What are your sources of inspiration? Forest, horror movies, other metal music, books
What's the first step when making a new song? It´s various. For example: riff, focus on the atmosphere or in PC program I try various sounds and often comes interesting idea.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? Illegally I don´t think it's right. Yes, I also download but on the other hand I buying albums/DVD´s of my favourite bands because mp3 format has no value for me. I want record with good sound and look booklet and have album in hand. I also have some rarities on cassettes. Legal downloading belongs to the present modern time but I am fan of physically albums.
What would be your dreams for the band? Release official record through label I guess.
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to? Death metal, Grind, Crust, Thrash metal, Brutal death metal, Dark ambient and bands: Dying Fetus, Slayer, Behemoth, Metallica, Death, Darkthrone, Triptykon, Cannibal Corpse, Haemorrhage, Mortician, Autopsy, Carcass, Septicflesh and many more...
What do you hold most dear? My family, life, metal music, friends, sport
What would be your greatest fears for the future? That something happens to my family. In this world are many threats but I hope that mankind doesn´t lose healthy mind.
What songs and what years were they released? Officialy we are self-released five songs: "Cold Path", "House In The Mist", "Voice From Darkness", "Midnight Dreams" and "Abandoned In Forest" released on "Forest Poetry" demo record at 8.June 2013
Have you been part of any other projects? No.
Have you been in any other bands? Yeah, but nothing serious. There was an effort about death-grind genre. Mostly after few weeks or months the bands broke up.
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? I write reviews of metal albums for Slovak metal webzine Valhalla.sk and David work as a logger.
What would you do if there was no music? Professional footballer haha. I don´t know probably something in sport
How important are your fans? Of course it pleased when we receive feedback that someone likes our music, honestly I was surprised when people wrote us that they want our CD. It gives energy to further work.
How often do you rehearse? We make music on computers so we don´t have rehearsal. We work on music at home and sending each other the stuff and talk about our ideas. Work together when song is almost done and when go to record vocal parts. And of course work together when editing final sound before release.
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? "Midnight Dreams" and "Voice From Darkness".
What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? So far ULTIMO MONDO CANNIBALE.
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? It´s a simple - Love towards metal music.
Do you have any webpages? Yes - https://morthus.bandcamp.com and http://bandzone.cz/morthus
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Enjoy your music and support metal scene
How do you view the musicindurty of today? In the past held the metal scene together. It had more charm, nowadays is everything available and probably less valuable but it also has advantages, just one click and your music is available for whole world.
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Huge amount of bands but on the other hand, it is a challenge, resources, lost of motivation...
How would you describe your sound in one sentence Rawness and dirty with a dose of atmosphere.
sv: Tack så mycket!