Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Interview with Orbstruct


 


1.Hello please introduce yourselves to the readers?

 1. Hey everyone! This is Goreon — founder, leader, and vocalist/guitarist of Orbstruct. Great to be here!


2. At what age did you first discover death and black metal? And what is it about these genres that drew you in? 

2. I truly got into death and black metal around the age of 16. These more extreme genres were always nearby thanks to older friends, but it took time to really understand their depth. Before that, I was mostly into groove, thrash, and industrial metal. Once I started thinking more seriously about life, society, and identity, death and black metal felt like the right space to explore those questions — and sometimes to face uncomfortable truths. 


3.Who were the first bands that you discovered in the Underground? Who are some of your current favorite bands that you have been listening to? 

3. The bands that truly pulled me into the underground and revealed the real world of heavy music were Sepultura and Pantera. It was their raw energy and sheer power that struck me deeply and made me want to dig further — searching for even harsher, more intense expressions of that same force. Nowadays, it’s hard to name a single favorite band, simply because the quality and diversity of heavy music has grown so much over the years. There are countless masterpieces out there that deserve attention. But if I had to highlight personal favorites that left the strongest impression in recent years, I’d say Analepsy from Portugal in death metal, and Mgła from Poland in black metal. Both bands managed to surprise and captivate me with their sound and artistic vision — even though I discovered them as a listener already well-versed in the most extreme forms of metal.

4.Orbstruct was started in 2016 what gave you all the idea to start this band? How did you choose Orbstruct as the name of the band does it have a special meaning?

 4. The idea to start the band came naturally — it was a response to the need to release accumulated experiences and creative energy into the world. Like a scream you can’t  hold back, or an itch you just can’t ignore. Before Orbstruct, I had played in several bands over the years, some of which were quite promising at the time. But none of them allowed me to fully express both my creative ideas and personal ambitions. Orbstruct became a logical continuation of my artistic path — a project where I could fully realize myself and correct the mistakes I saw in previous bands, especially those that negatively affected the internal dynamics and external presence of the group. As for the name, it came to me spontaneously while reflecting on how we perceive the world. It’s made up of two parts — “orb” and “struct.” So the meaning can be interpreted as “structure of the eye.” The human eye is our primary organ of perception, through which we absorb everything around us — beauty, ugliness, good, evil. From a philosophical standpoint, the eye filters and reflects the entire spectrum of reality, and its structure is truly fascinating and precious.



5. What is the current line-up of the band? Who would you say are the bands biggest influences? And for the readers who have never heard the band how would you best describe the music?

 5. The line-up has been quite complex in recent years. Due to the war, our members were scattered across different parts of the world, which made it difficult to define who was actively involved at any given time. But the most important thing is that no one ever chose to leave the band — everyone continues to support Orbstruct in any way they can. Since the war started, our first drummer Fok Lok, who played in Orbstruct from the very beginning, was forced to leave the band and the music in common. From around 2022 to 2024, the core line-up consisted of three original members - Goreon – guitar/vocals, Samurai – bass/backing vocals, Redied – guitar/backing vocals, and the new member Viktor – drums. Since 2024, Redied has been unable to perform with us as he joined the defense forces to protect Ukraine from the invaders, and Viktor had to step back due to  personal family circumstances. Still, they remain part of the band and continue to contribute creatively remotely whenever possible. To keep the band active both live and in the studio, we were fortunate to welcome two amazing musicians: King ov Hate on guitar/backing vocals and Sevanoid on drums. Their arrival gave Orbstruct the strength to move forward and continue our work. In between, we were also supported by several session musicians who helped us through difficult times, and we’re endlessly grateful to them: Olha Ishchenko (guitar/backing vocals), Vadym Matiiko (drums), and Dmytro Kim (drums). As for our influences — over the years, our musical horizons have expanded significantly. Early on, we were heavily inspired by bands like Morbid Angel and Bloodbath. More recently, we’ve drawn influence from acts like Immolation, and — perhaps unexpectedly — Triptykon and Mgła. Their impact might not be immediately obvious in our latest album, but it’s definitely there, filtered through our own perception of their sound, as it is for any listener. How would I describe our music? ORBSTRUCT is the adept of the darkest side of Death. Paying great attention to the grim and oppressive atmosphere of their music, the band manages to give their compositions an unusual for death metal coldness and disturbing emotions that are constantly intertwined with bursts of aggression and fury, leaving an indelible impression on the listeners.


6. Ostracism is the bands third full length which will be released through Paragon Rec. when did you all come in contact with this great label?

 6. We’ve been lucky to work with Paragon Records since our very first album. In fact, my personal connection with the label goes back even further. Mike Zanchelli — the founder of Paragon — is a truly important figure in the metal underground. He’s been behind an incredible number of releases and has helped launch many high-quality and now well-known bands. His contribution to the metal scene is hard to overstate — I don’t think there’s a single underground label out there that hasn’t heard of Paragon Records and Mike Zanchelli. We managed to catch his attention back in 2019 with our debut album Phobos Rising, when we were looking for a label to release it. At first, it didn’t work out — the label was overwhelmed with releases at the time, and Mike politely declined. So you can imagine my surprise when, eight months later, he wrote back saying: “Hey! I haven’t forgotten about you. Your music is great. I’ve finally cleared some space in the release schedule — if you’re still looking for a label, I’d be happy to work with you.” That message made my day — honestly, it was one of the happiest moments of my life. 


7. How long did it take the band to write the music for Ostracism? How long does it usually take the band to complete one song?

 7. It’s hard to say exactly how long it takes us to write a single song — we usually work on several tracks at the same time, so we’ve never really measured how long each one takes individually. It’s more of a process where ideas come in fragments: today you get a riff for one song, tomorrow a vocal line for another, and over time you piece together this massive mosaic in a chaotic but organic way. As for Ostracism, the writing process stretched over quite a long period. We started working on the material back in May 2020, and by the end of 2021, the album was nearly complete. We had planned to enter the studio in early 2022, but then the war began, and everything collapsed. We never made it to the studio, and the raw demos were left gathering dust in a dark corner. When we finally began to recover from the initial shock, those early drafts no longer felt the same. Under the weight of the new reality and the constant shelling, we completely rethought and rearranged the material between June 2022 and March 2023 in Kyiv. The album was eventually recorded in Kyiv as well, between June 2023 and February 2024.


8. Where does the band draw inspiration for the lyrics and what are some subjects written about on the new release?

 8. Just like before, the core of our lyrics revolves around the inner struggle of a person against themselves and the external battles with forces beyond their control — all on the path to self-improvement through inevitable, sometimes painful, transformations of the soul. In the past, these themes were fueled by life experience and observing the world around us, but a big part of that inspiration came from literary and cinematic heroes. Now, things have changed. When you witness suffering and injustice firsthand — the kind brought by war in your own country — those emotions burn brighter than any fictional image. They became the foundation of our lyrics on this record. 


9. Besides the upcoming Ostracism cd are the bands previous releases still availible for the readers to purchase? Besides physical cd's does the band have any other merchandise currently availible? If yes what is availible and where can the readers buy it?

 9. Absolutely! All of our previous releases — and a lot more — are available on our official Bandcamp page. And if anyone has questions about merch or other ways to get our stuff, feel free to reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram, or through our official email.Besides CDs, we’ve got vinyl editions and a whole range of clothing and accessories with the band’s logo — think T-shirts, beanies, keychains, and more.


10. Has Orbstruct had the opportunity to play live very much over the years? If yes where has the band performed?

 10. Even during the war, we were able to play shows in Ukraine — charity gigs to raise funds and donations for those defending our country against the invaders. Later, when two members of the band could no longer take part in its life and the remaining crew moved to Europe, they found the missing musicians here, and Orbstruct got back on stage. Since then, we’ve played in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Latvia. And the map keeps growing — next year, in addition to the countries listed above, we’ve got shows lined up in Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. 


11. What have been some of the bands most memorable shows over the years? Are their any tours or shows planned in support of the new release? 

11. Every single show we’ve played — every city, every country — has its own magic and leaves us with something unforgettable. Honestly, there wouldn’t be enough space to describe all the highlights. But if we had to pick two that really stand out over the last few years, here they are. The first one was in Kyiv — the very first metal concert in Ukraine after the war began. We were lucky to be part of it, and it was pure madness! The crowd was huge, and everyone went wild like it was the last night on Earth. That sense of unity against a common enemy, and the feeling that tomorrow might never come, gave both the audience and the musicians an insane surge of energy. People were moshing so hard that the club owners had to call an ambulance five times that night! The second show that burned into our memory was in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. Just like the Kyiv gig, it was unforgettable thanks to the fans and their dedication. They welcomed us warmly even before the show started, and their support during the set was so intense that at one point we had to stop mid-song just to calm the crowd down! As for upcoming shows in support of the new release — absolutely, they’re happening. Next year we’ll hit several European festivals to bring the new material to to life on stage.And there’s more: Orbstruct turns 10 next year, so every show will carry double the meaning and double the power.


12.When you all need to take a break from working on new music what do you like to do in your free time? 

12. Honestly, we’re into the simple things — just like anyone else. Spending time with family, having a barbecue with friends, relaxing with bandmates at a bar or playing pool, and sometimes making something useful for ourselves or for the house by hand. 


13. Besides Orbstruct do any of the members currently work with other bands or solo projects? If yes please tell the readers a little about them?

 13. No. When it comes to music, all of us stay focused mainly on Orbstruct. Sometimes we jump in to help friends with their projects — maybe a live show or a studio session — but those are one-off things, more like doing a favor or a quick side gig, not something permanent. 


14. Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?

 14. Thank you to everyone who listens to our music and stays with us — your support gives us the strength to keep creating. This year was really difficult for the band, but we managed to recover and become even stronger, louder, and heavier! Next year already looks very promising, and we can’t wait to finally make all those plans and hopes we had to postpone for so long a reality. See you soon!          Orbstruct                                                                                                                                                         https://orbstructofficial.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                        https://www.facebook.com/orbstructofficial/                                                                                               https://www.instagram.com/orbstruct_official/                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAHnrifiT9DxRfiKVkB0ldQ                                                            Paragon  Rec.                                                                                                                                                 https://www.paragonrecords.org/                                                                                                                  https://www.facebook.com/paragonrecordsli/                                                                                              https://www.instagram.com/paragon_records_official/