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GRENOUER from Perm is an interesting band to know more about. It's really cool Death Metal act from Russia. From 1992 (the year when the band was formed) they had many problems with line-up. Nowadays GRENOUER consists of Sergey Lyalin-drums, Andrew "The Indian" Merzlyakov-vocals, Viatcheslav Koltchin-bass and Alexander Shatov -guitars. Their first album "Border Of Misty Times" was released by Metal Agen only in MC format. Our questions have been answered by all members of the band. Read this interview to get more wide information about this great band.
First of all, what is the meaning of the name GRENOUER?
- Well, first of all it should mean our band. We find it splendid that there's no such word in any dictionary. So that no one can use it for the name of the band, zine, etc. It's even possible to say that the name has no actual meaning, the same as Quorthon's "Valhalla" has no actual meaning. But there is some ground for such combination of letters - it originates from the famous book GRIMOIRE or GRAND GRIMOIRE. But GRIMOIRE is a "tasty morsel" and so we just changed some letters and believe it to be a good decision because now in the world there are not less than five bands bearing GRIMOIRE name and the only one GRENOUER.
As we read your biography the line-up of GRENOUER had changed many times. How do you think will be this line-up constant?
- The endless change in the line-up is the damned thing about the band, and every time it happened it caused lots of nervousness. Right now we are full of hope to keep the line-up stable or at least to go by the way of addition of people but not losing or changing them. But all the changes do not mean that the original GRENOUER spirit is lost. Somehow varied a bit.
What can you tell us about the anathema of patriarch? I think nowadays anathema is a big bullshit (It is not medieval catholic times). As for me normal people don't give a fuck about this now.
- Oh, the anathema episode we just find funny. We know it a big bullshit but not many people nowadays manage to get curse from the official head of a consession. We managed - ha, ha, ha! In fact, the whole affair shows how stupid and awkward this grand priest is.
You make many gigs. What is your image on this gigs?
- Nothing very special. Spinning heads, swinging bodies, loud, fast, brutal. Appreciation of fans. Sometimes the vocal guy jumps like a madman, once he fell on drums, the other time he hit his head against bass finger-board and was finishing the gig bleeding. Occasionally we use special showman, his name is MAO, between songs he tall us to audience and tells funny stories.
As I understand you have many problems with cops during the concerts. Why this assholes invade in your business?
- It happened twice. The first time they came just because they heard something was going wrong in the concert hall. Their invasion was the last stroke that broke the patience of the fans. The second time came because of the whole-country mourning (the bus with schoolchildren got into accident and the president ordered to stop all entertainments). Fortunately the cops came too late and we were just about to finish. Cops in our country is pretty big problem, they are real saboteurs. Especially when it concerns rock-concerts. They don't have a slight idea about the atmosphere that reigns there. We never invite them and hire special security but then may come without invitation and spoil everything. We glad that it has been already a long time since they invaded the last time.
On your flyer's photo we saw Mjölnir (Thor's hammer) on the neck of your vocalist. Does he like Scandinavian mythology?
- Oh, we care about mythology of different nations and about Scandinavian definitely too. Mythology is mental pabulum. It can teach a man and humanity a lot. We don't mean to say we study it thoroughly like scientists but we read book, watch films, etc. Concerning Thor's hammer ... when The Indian was in Denmark (as an exchange student) he told to himself - I'm in Scandinavia now, what I really want is Thor's hammer - And finally in Vikingeskibshallen
(The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde) he bought Mjölnir and he is very happy about it. Not just a souvenir but the souvenir from some sacred place.
Give to the readers description of the Perm's underground?
- Not very promising. Not much people really want to make anything significant. There are some bands but none of them has a good demo tape. We hope that the situation will be increasing but in reality there are no prerequisites. Extreme music is already not so much popular as several years ago. Young fans confine themselves to NIRVANA, METALLICA or PRODIGY. And the old fans are growing older. Nevertheless we always try to support a new extreme band if it appears. But it is too early to mention the names of the bands 'cause as we've mentioned they have nothing to show.
Have you any contacts with foreign bands? Have you ever played live in foreign countries?
- Not very many. We correspond with some bands from Malasia, Costa Rica, Czekhia, Poland, Lithuania and of course - Ukraine and Belarus. We never played abroad and we dream to play in the other country. We'd love to.
Something about your lyric conception. One track of yours entitled "Ahriman's Heart". Is there any connection with Persian mythology?
- There definitely is Persian mythology interests us as well as Scandinavian mythology, and we couldn't just pass the thrilling name and story and wrote the song.
What literature you prefer to read? Name us some of your favourite books.
- Different. Very wide scale from ancient classics to modern literature. It's time to demarcate, mentioning favourite books. Sergei says - Strugatsky bros "Lame Fate", Andrew - O. Wilde "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Alexander - F. Nietzsche "Antichrist", Slava - L. Tolstoy "War And Peace".
What is your opinion about religion?
- Religion is a huge deception which aims to frighten and rob weak people. During centuries it has been the means of oligarchy. Which is more such hypocrisy perverted the original idea and made it absolutely unprepossessing. Also, religion serves a consolation for the weak who don't have an idea about afterlife. No one has. But should we, people, speculate and make ourselves more feeble, helpless? We shouldn't. We should live without tears
and indulgences.
When we can expect your next recording and on what label?
- This year. In July we go to Moscow to the same studio (ARIA-Records) to record drums & bass. Several months later we shall record the resting instruments. We are unlabelled band and we don't know anything about which label will issue the material and also maybe it is a bit early to speak about it.
Count us your favourite bands. Who are your influences?
- Too many to mention all the favourites and influences. Just some of them - HYPOCRISY, UNLEASHED, GOREFEST, DISMEMBER, SENTENCED, CARCASS, CRADLE OF FILTH, MORBID ANGEL, THERION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, BENEDICTION, DEICIDE, ATROCITY, SODOM, TYPE O NEGATIVE, CATHEDRAL, BATHORY, IMMORTAL, FAITH NO MORE, DIE KRUPPS - many many more and also not metal stuff. Impossible to mention everything.
What associations appears when you hear these names : Cronos, Jeff Becerra, Schmier, Tom Warrior and Euronymous.
- Blitz. Viva old masters! Euronymous - Rest In Peace.
Your wishes...
- Tons of thanx for the interview. Wishing you good grinding luck to everything you are involved! Readres! Believe in underground and never lose your chance to pick new bands from it. We need you, your support. Viva guttural powerful evil harsh!
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