Hope everyone's weekend is starting off good? Here is a new interview with the one man death metal band Grotesque Ceremonium who discusses his debut cd "Demonic Inquisition" and the Turkish metal scene so check out the interview and if you like the music be sure to buy the debut cd today.
Patrick
fiendformetal@live.com
Interview with Batu C. vocalist and all instruments of Grotesque Ceremonium done by Patrick
1.Hello Batu how are things going with you these days? When did you first get into metal music and who were some of the first bands you listened to?
Hi Patrick ,just released the debut album of Grotesque Ceremonium ‘Demonic Inquisition’ and promoting right now this album , things are going well so far.i started listening metal music when i was 11 years old with with def leppard hysteria , iron maiden - the number of the beast , slayer –south of heaven – metallica master of puppets were the first tapes which i bought at those years and since 28 years i m listening metal music.
2.What gave you the idea to form Grotesque Ceremonium and how did you choose the name for the band?
i was always a big fan of early 90 s death metal bands , and i love early albums of Incantation and Autopsy much , in 2014 i decided to form a one man Project old school death metal band in purest traditional death metal way and Grotesque Ceremonium borned. As you can see on our album artworks and lyrics the concept of the band about dark satanic rituals , obscure demonic ceremonies under the full moon eclipse , occulticism and mysticism,baphomets demonic army,hooded undead monks and priest and such obscure stuffs , thats why the name Grotesque Ceremonium fits %100 percent with the music i play i think.
3.Batu you are the sole member of the band when you first started Grotesque Ceremonium did you plan to work alone or would you like to add more members soon?
Yes i m the only member right now but i actually wanted to make this band full live band , and i found drummer and bass player now and we'll start rehearsals with those guys this summer ,i ll see what will happen , if it works we will continue as full band if things not Works how i want than it will stay as one man band in the future too.time will show everything.
4.If you had the opportunity to work with any musicans{past or present} who are some you would like to work with?
İf you mean if i have opportunity to work with some international famous names! Than would be cool for sure to work with Incantation John McEntee or from Mighty Autopsy Chris Reifert,also legends like Jeff Hanneman (r.i.p) probably would be amazing like hell.
5. Grotesque Ceremonium is getting ready to release the debut cd "Demonic Inquisition" how long did it take you to write and record the songs for the debut release?
İ started to write songs during end of 2014 and end the spring 2015 period , than i started to record them summer 2015 to january february 2016 , ,without any time pressure or stress just to get the best result and sound which was in my mind.
6.Besides the debut cd "Demonic Inquisition" coming out do you have any past releases or merchandise available for the readers? And if yes where can the readers buy it?
İ released 4 song ep in 2014 , it released by American Line Prod(Mexico) as 100 limited pro tapes.You can check our bandcamp web page for future merch and releases.
7.Grotesque Ceremonium comes out of Turkey's death metal scene what is your opinion of the scene in Turkey?
We have a growing Scene , it seems to people who are living in Europe or Usa that we have very small scene and less number of bands but its wrong , there are lot of bands in my city Ankara and Istanbul into Death Metal and other styles of extreme music.
8.Who are your all-time favorite bands from Turkey? And are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?
İ dont have any personal favourite band from Turkey , but if you are into Death Metal i recommend you Cenotaph , Decimation , Suicide , Burial Invocation , Drain of Impurity , Thrashfire , Carnophage.
9.Besides death metal do you listen to any other forms of metal music? And other then metal do you listen to any other genres of music and if yes who are some of your favorite bands and artists?
İ listen a lot of brutal death metal , because my main band brutal death metal band Cenotaph from Turkey since 1994 active and we are working on new album with this band , also doom ,sludge , grindcore,crust every kind of bands i m listening , besides metal i also like celtic and pagan musics , exprerimental musics , doom drone , lately i m listening much Adrian Von Ziegler amazing musician and composer from Switzerland whos is composing celtic fantasy dark medieval musics.
10.Batu you handle the vocals for the band when did you first start growling and singing? Do you do anything special to keep your throat and voice healthy?
I m growling since 1993 , in cenotaph i m using another style of gutturals and vocals , on my Project bands like Grotesque Ceremonium i use more traditional death metal growls and stuffs.
Before i was running and making breathe exercises at the first early years just to keep my voice healthy but after all those years of alcohol drinking and smoking i m not doing anything special for my voice now a days, i just try not to drink very cold beers before the gigs and tour with Cenotaph thats all.i think i already found and discovered my voice point and its limits during those metal years.
11.Beside the vocals you also handle the guitars when did you first become interested in playing the guitars? Are you self taught or did you take lessons when first starting out? Other then the vocals and guitars do you currently play any other instruments?
Actually i started with Bass Guitar at 2000 to 2004 , i was doing bass vocals at Cenotaph , coz we couldnt found suitable bass player at those times , but i hated doing bass vocals because normally i m vocalist and i couldnt gave my full energy on bass playing and doing vocals at the same time , it was %50 %50 performance , so i decided to quit bass playing and do only vocals, i made through those years , later few years before i bought guitar and started to learn it alone , i didnt took any lessons , i just learned it from my own ,there are a lot of lessons and tuttorials in youtube now a days , if people really wants to play guitar or other instruments its more easier i think now a days to learn it , than i started practicing from tabs of my fave bands , i m still learning guitars , i m doing daily exercises to progress my guitar work.
12.In your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground scene today? And what does the term "underground metal" mean to you?
Good thing is there are a lot of bands , and its more easier to reach and discover new bands , but otherside is bullshit because ppl just listen few songs from the bands and just jumping on the next band or album , they consume the music very fast and unmerciful now a days , ug scene form me was tape trading times , paper photocopy printed zines and flyers and return my stamps days , i dont how to describe ug now , because in internet you can find anything and any band.
13.When not working on new music or band business what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
İ enjoy travelling a lot , going festivals and concerts , nature , watching movies or playing computer games.
14.Thank you Batu for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
Thanks a lot for this interview and support Grotesque Ceremonium
Pls check out those pages
