GODKILLER - INTERVIEW

GODKILLER is a nonsense band...come from the little Monaco country, it begining with a black epic metal act and in six years change your music to a dark deep gothic electronic and guitar act!! However, this change is wonderful because your new album DELIVERANCE (released by AVANTGARDE) is a dark dream of melodic ethereal guitar electronic songs!! Krepuskulum interviewed DUKE the solitary man behind this history.

Krepuskulum: What is the reason for your extreme change: coming from black metal and now play darkwave electronic metal ?

Duke: I've tried to be a little bit different from the mainstream and to follow my   own path, as much as possible. I changed everything between 'The Rebirth of   the Middle Ages' and 'The End of the World' because I was so fed up with  that black metal clichés. Too much bands. It was not interesting anymore.  The difference between 'The End of the World' and 'Deliverance' is less  important. But there is a big evolution again. I go on my way, still further  from the metal clichés in general, I guess. I try to do something a bit more original, and something which represents what I am and what I feel.

What is your opinion about your first albums "THE REBIRTH OF THE MIDDLE AGES"& "THE END OF THE WORLD"??

I'm still proud of them. Black metal scene was not too much overcrowded at  the time of my first CD (1996) ; moreover I received quite a good response  to this effort. About 'The End of the World', I still consider it as a good   album, better than 'The Rebirth of the Middle Ages' and far more original   than usual black metal stuff. I think 'Deliverance' is a kind of normal   evolution from 'The End of the World'.

The lyrics of the new album is very deep and interesting, in it we talk about great existencial questions and polemic themes. Why do you search inspiration in Holy Bible?

First of all, the Holy Bible is quite a beautiful work, the Old Testament in   particular. Then, the Holy Bible has been one of the first try to find a   meaning for life. When you read Job, Ecclesiastes, it's so intense, so true.   They ask : to live is such a hard thing, God where are You ? Do we have to   believe in God as we suffer ? Is it God who give the meaning of life ? This
is maybe the most interesting and the most fundamental questions ever.

"I Am A Stranger in The Earth" is one of the best darkwave songs that I listen in my life. It is deep, intense, sad and reflexive. Talk to us about the meaning behind the music's name.

'I am a stranger in the earth' is a sentence taken from the Psalm 119. For  me, it seems that I'm not where I should have been (but there is no other  world : I don't believe in a better or a worse world ; this world is like  this, that's it, this is the only one). What am I doing here ? I don't like  most of the things that people like. To feel different as much as this is  sometimes so painful. Sometimes I'd rather be so common. Have a work, a  wife, a house... but these things bother me so much !

Do you listen metal now ?Wath are the 10 best bands in the world now (all styles!)?

I still listen to metal today, but less than before. But I've always  listened to quite a lot of other music styles. To quote the 10 best bands of  today and of all styles is a hard question. I cannot be sure of my answer;  but today I would say :
Aphex Twin /  Wumpscut  / Suicide Commando /  Deftones /  Rob Zombie /   Mirwais / Atari Teenage Riot / Dive / Speedy J /
Neurosis.

Why do you opt for "one man's" band?

I cannot work with other people. I know exactly what I want, and I don't  like to depend on someone else than me.

The electronic and synths is the future of the music for you?

Absolutely ! Rock is dead, Metal is dead ! There is only electronic music  that can make them live still. I don't see a bright future for pure metal.  Even bands like Korn or Limp Bizkit sound quite mechanical and sound more  and more electronic. There are so much excellent bands in electronic music,  so innovative : Autechre, Speedy J, Mirwais...

Is the gothic bans of 80's like BAUHAUS,  SISTER OF MERCY e THE MISSION your great influences now??

No, they are not. There have always been one of my influences. I listened to  new wave and gothic before listening to metal. In the second half of the  eighties, I was a goth. I've listened to electronic and industrial music for  many years. Godflesh and Ministry were the first bands I listened to in that  music style. Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Foetus, Die Krupps, etc. I
was more fond of that kind of music than metal, and I'm still.

 
Talk to us about your creative process to create marvelous songs like NOTHING IS SACRED, WHEN ALL HOPE IS GONE & DELIVERANCE.

I have no formula, but in general I write a guitar or a synth riff, or sometimes a rhythm first, then the rest comes naturally. I always do the lyrics and the voice last.

Contacts:

AVANTGARDE MUSIC:  www.avantgardemusic.com / fireice@libero.it

GODKILLER MARKETING: wounder@tin.it