You surely know that it is damn cold in Russia!But there is one band which resists and spreads hot music there.Their name is HATECRAFT and they come from Ryazan.I talked with Alexander Stepashkin (vocals and bass),mastermind of HATECRAFT, about their new CD,Russia and the future!Enjoy!
First I want to thank you for answering to the questions of MFG!
No problem
1)First,we want to know a bit more about the band history!Tell us about
HATECRAFT!
Well, I met with Stoneface (Alexander Kharavin) in the end of 2001 and
we
decided to create a band. Before this we played in many groups but were
not
satisfied with all of them. So we wasted a lot of time trying to make
really
good metal crew changing musicians and we had done it just in November
of 2002.
The line up is kept before now and I hope it will last as long as
possible.
2)How would you describe the style you are playing?Which bands do you
think
influenced you the most?
Our 1st album “Finally Free” was written under the influence of
Soilwork, At The
Gates and Carcass. Many people identified it as “Swedish melodic death
metal”.
I think they were right :) The new album is going to be more angry,
dark and
brutal, but we keep some nice melodies for refrains :) Also we are
working on
mixing it with some electronic stuff but not too much.
3)Why took you the name HATECRAFT for the band?Is there a specific
reason
behind?
I thought over the name of the band during 5 months. And the basis was
the word
HATE – there are two the strongest emotions in this world – hate and
love. They
are two sides of a coin and it’s just one step between them. Hatecraft
means
that everybody must keep control of this emotion cause it’s too
dangerous and
could burn you. Also it’s a skill to choose the object of antipathy.
We hate
greed, cowardice, betrayal, meanness, arrogance.
4)Do you and Alexander (Kharavin) are writing all the material for
HATECRAFT?What do the other guys do?
“Finally Free” was written just by me and Alexander, but songs for the
new
album were written together with the other guys, so the style changed
and I
suppose the music is much better than on debut album.
5)You re new album ´Finally Free´ is released!It took a long time to
record it…why?
The record started in May of 2003 and we had finished the mixture in
April 2004.
The causes of such a long period were many, but none of them depended
on us.
But we got great experience and our future studioworks will take less
time.
6)Tell us more about the album! Is a concept behind the whole record?
What makes
your debut so strong/good? Are there also some things you would make
better?
Our next album is a result of a year of really hard work and the
material for it
was created under producing of Miron from famous Russian black metal
band
Tvangeste. He is very clever and talented man.
7)Is it difficult to be a band in Russia?Tell us a bit about your
situation!
I hate to complain… It’s too damn hard! Ordinary people have so little
money
that they can’t buy good music equipment. Also European labels prefer
to sign
European bands – it’s easy to understand why: no problem with visas and
it’s a
pity to say Russians are disliked by Europeans. Lots of Russian
immigrants
commit crimes so people used to distrust and beware of Russians. But if
you
have a dream and if you are ambitious and strong-willed many things are
possible. Maybe soon we could become a civilized country…
8)Some catchwords for you, tell us what you think about each:
-Russia
I have a complicated feeling about my country – I love it very much,
but so
difficult to live here…
-Luxemburg
Nice little country, I read about it when I was 5. From that time I
admire of
Luxemburg.
-Metal
It’s my life =)
-Religion(s)
Choose what you like but be merciful to all.
8)What are the future plans of HATECRAFT?what about a tour?
We had some little tours in our country and I hope will get some tours
on
Europe. We are planning to finish the new album in September and get
good
contract – everything is ordinary =)
9)Why do you make this kind of music? Don´t you think that you are
sick?;-)
We likes many type of music but wish to play only metal!!! Maybe we are
sick but
if so it’s a right desease!
10)What are your favorite bands? which band would you support?
We like Dimmu Borgir, Pantera, Carcass, Slipknot, Slayer, Soilwork,
Opeth,
Katatonia, Children of Bodom and many others, it’s impossible to say
about all.
I wish to support all of them =)
11)Last question: If HATECRAFT would be an animal,which animal would it
be and
why?
Haha, it’s unusual question! =) I guess it will be gorilla - we are
calm and
peaceful but mighty=))
Best wishes, Alexander, Hatecraft
Thanks!Hope we see you soon down here!
Interview made by Inflamer