Here is a new interview done with Italy's old school metal band Barbarian who have a new 7 inch coming soon from Hells Headbangers and a tour in the U.S this summer so if you are a fan of old school metal then be sure to check the tour out if it is near you and pick up the band's releases and merchandise today.
Regards
Patrick
fiendformetal@live.com
https://twitter.com/PDeathrasher
https://plus.google.com/110515263288050247357?hl=en
Interview with Borys vocalist and guitarist of Barbarian done by Patrick
1.Hails Borys how are things going with you these days? Please introduce yourself to the readers?
Things are fine, I play guitar/vocals in Barbarian and guitar in Children of Technology, I run the label Ripping Storm Records, and that's all quite an engagament enough.
2.At what age did you first discover metal music and who were some of the early bands you listened to? Who are some of your current favorite bands?
I guess I was something like 12/13 years old and I was introduced to Metallica and Anthrax, and right after to Kreator, Sodom, Bathory, Slayer, Megadeth and Venom, great times, I could still listen to those early records of mine 20 times a day and never get bored. I used to listen to a lot of hardcore/punk as well back then, and I still do nowadays together with millions other different things, the list could be endless and you'd be surprised. Talking about newer metal bands, not mentioning the obvious 80's/90's classics, some of them still active, I like for example High Spirits, Midnight, Bat, Dead Congregation, Acid Witch, Toxic Holocaust, Cruciamentum, Abhomine, Coffins, Sonic Poison, Metalian, Deathhammer, Nekrofilth, Kaamos, Hooded Menace, Violator, Evil Army, Shitfucker, Warhammer, Apokalyptic Raids, Bone Awl, Throneum, Insect Warfare, Rocka Rollas, Tangorodrim, Mournful Congregation, and well, I will mention three great bands that I have released myself: Nightshift, Zoldier Noiz and Powerthrone.
3.Barbarian was formed in 2009 what gave you the idea to start this band? And who are some bands that have influenced Barbarian's sound?
I just wanted to play some kind of straight-forward no frills raw metal, we call it regressive metal because that's what it is, it's obtuse and unpolished. But it's personal nevertheless, the influences are quite obvious but the framework it's ours, the sound is ours, the lyrics are ours. I think we are a recognizable band, not just cut & paste one, that's because we listen to a lot of stuff and we are able to organize this mess in something coherent. Even though we aren't here to invent anything revolutionary, that's obvious. Don't know, I could name-drop a lot of classics but I'll choose some well known but less olympic bands that I love and may have been an influence on our sound, like Evil, Slaughter (Canada), Turbo, Cyclone, Atlain, Trance, Kat, Ostrogoth, Acid, Jaguar, Gastunk, Overkill, Anti-Cimex, T.S.A., English Dogs, Steeler (Germany), Taurus, Piledriver, Vicious Rumours...
4.What is the current line up of the band?
It's me on guitar and vocals, Blackstuff on bass and Sledgehammer on drums.
5.Barbarian will release a new 7Inch soon how long did it take the band to write the music for this release?Does the whole band take part in the writing process or does one member usually write everything?
The band was caught in the middle of some major line-up changes while writing those songs, so it took a bit more than usual to lay them down. We are usually a hard-working band, in 8 years we have released 3 albums, one split album and a 7", so a pace not bad at all compared to many, but that's simply because we enjoy ourselves writing and playing music. I usually bring riffs in and then we give the final shape to the songs all together in the rehearsal room, the old way...
6.Besides the upcoming Self-Titled 7Inch does the band have any copies of the debut release still available or any other Merchandise if yes what is available and where can the readers buy it?
Yeah, we have some spare copies of the earlier releases plus shirts and the likes, people interested can get in touch directly or go through our webshop: http://barbarianmetal.bigcartel.com/
7.Does Barbarian play live very often if yes what have been some of the bands most memorable shows over the years?
Well, Italy is not that huge country, so we play often enough without saturating people's evenings. We also had the chance to do two Euro tours over the years, and those have been definitely awesome experiences. We love playing live so I basically have good memories of every single concert we have played, especially when the promoters put their utmost efforts in setting the shows up.
8. Barbarian will be touring the U.S this August where are some cities the tour will be heading?Who are some bands you will be touring and sharing the stage with?
It will be a 3 week tour, so we'll have the chance to hit both coasts and the midwest. The coasts will be surely great, but I'm looking forward the midwest because that's an area I'm not familiar with. Nevertheless high fun expectations everywhere. We'll be touring with Peucharist and several gigs will be along Vile Desecration. We'll be play three shows on the east coast with Mortem, we'll share the stage with the mighty Nekrofilth in Denver, Funeral Nation in Chicago and more will come up in the following weeks.
9.Besides the U.S tour this summer are their any other tours planned this year if yes where will the band be playing?
We'll be playing in Slovenja in July at the Krastival fest. No plans after summer besides working on our fourth album.
10.In your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground scene today? And what does underground metal mean to you ?
Well, the so-called underground is nothing more than a mirror of the larger society, so there are people dragging on their lives, weak-willed mostly concerned on conforming to standards and on being accepted by others. On the other hand there are many interesting people, devoted to what they do, interested in cooperating, supporting and having a good time. Relating with them is what I enjoy most in my "metal social life". Underground to me means having the freedom of not having to earn money to survive through music.
11. Barbarian comes out of the Italian metal scene what is your opinion of Italy's metal scene over the years?
There have always been great bands in Italy, many of them didn't get the recognition the deserved unfortunately, or could have been way bigger if it wasn't that... they were italian. Now the boot is crowded with hundreds and hundreds of bands, like any other country I guess. So, the quality varies a lot, but the strong working ones will survive.
12.Who are your all-time favorite Italian bands and are their any new bands you feel the readers should check out soon?
How not to mention Death SS, Bulldozer, Schizo, Necrodeath, Incinerator, Nuclear Symphony, Headcrasher, Sabotage, Deathrage, Braindamage, Broken Glazz, Paul Chain, The Black... As for newer or relatively newer bands we have guarantees like Bunker 66, Baphomets Blood, Extirpation, Hatred, Saturnine, Violentor, Noia, Sickening, Doomraiser, Restos Humanos, Kinetik, Profanal, Gravesite, Corpsefucking Art, Voids of Vomit, Haemophagus, Terrorsaw, Overcharge, Abysmal Grief, Angel Martyr, Necromorbid, Axevyper, Vesper, Satanika...
13.When not working on new music or band business what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Besides my daily job (I'm a kindergarten teacher) I'm an engaged road cyclist training a lot, then I listen to a lot of different music, read books, watch movies... and then the day is already over!
14.Thank you Borys for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?
I'm glad you found Barbarian interesting enough for an interview, I wish your blog millions of readers!
Band Contacts
http://barbarianmetal.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/barbarianmetal
Label Contacts
http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/artists
