Galvanizer Interview: Swedish bands have always been heavy influence for us, but this time you can hear it more clearly.
"Sanguine Vigil" (2018) was an album that brought me to the mind many memories because after seen them in 2015 at the first Finnish Death Metal Maniacs 6 years ago. Having a full-lenght production of these lovers of the rotten and corrosive music was a great thing .Because it had that Finnish influence of a lot of bands from the 90s. That's why their first album was great in any way and at 2015 they played live and were young because were just debuting with a demo and an EP. After 3 years they released their first album which was a complete grindcore roots madness like Xysma or Disgrace with Death Metal incluences like Purtenance, Depravity, Abhorrence. Wich remains me the great deather scene from the 90s. Then, after 3 years of hat debut they have a new production called "Prying Sight of Imperception" and released through the Italian label Everlasting Spew Records in its digital version and CD, then the vinyl is released by Me Saco un Ojo Records.
Leer la entrevista en español: Entrevista a Galvanizer
DARGEDIK: Welcome Vili to Dargedik webzine pages, it’s a great pleasure to talk with you about the band and your new album “Prying Sight of Imperception”. Which for me lean to other influences if we compare with your first album “Sanguine Vigil”. Tell us, what are the influences of the band has for this new album? And how was the recording and composition process for this album? is it during the pandemic? Or was it before?
GALVANIZER: Hi and thank you, what a pleasure to me as well. Album material was written before and during pandemic, recording of the album was done in the autumn of 2020. I had a huge block for writing new material during 2019 but in the beginning of 2020 I took advantage of the pandemic, and got some fresh ideas to push forward with new music. We have been more influenced this time by Swedish scene, American giants like Deicide and Morbid Angel, and truly advanced scene of 90's Eastern European bands.
DARGEDIK: When "Sanguine Vigil Vigil" (2018) came out, I listened to it many times and even traveled to Mexico to see other bands from your country in Total Death Over Mexico 3. What was the feeling that the band had when you couldn't play on their first date outside of Europe and in Latin America? And can the date be rescheduled with a tour of this part of the world for 2022 or 2023?
GALVANIZER: It was a sad moment for us that we weren't able to perform at the festival and tour in the country. I believe it would have been amazing and unforgettable time for us, as well as for the fans. We have actually played outside Europe once. It was in Tokyo, Japan in 2018. That was an amazing trip as well.
DARGEDIK: Relating the question of touring. How many people travel with the band apart from the members? And which are your investment limits in a possible tour here? Would you solve some parts of doing an extensive tour in Latin America?
GALVANIZER: Sometimes some friends travel with us, but no crew, so usually only the band on the road. The only limit is to get the most travel costs covered. Long tour would of course help in that situation.
DARGEDIK: "Sanguine Vigil" (2018) was an album influenced by bands like Disgrace and Xysma. But with this "Prying Sight of Imperception" the music leans to the Swedish side. Why did you decide to add some Rock N’ Roll elements to this new album? And how does the band take the good and bad reviews of a new production?
GALVANIZER: Swedish bands have always been heavy influence for us, but this time you can hear it more clearly. We have become more skilled with our instruments and song composing than couple years back when "Sanguine Vigil" (2018) was released. We take all feedback positively, all the reviews are important whether those are good or bad.
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| Nico Niemikko (batería) |
DARGEDIK: One of the reasons why I bought "Prying Sight of Imperception" was because of the cover made by Stench Graphics. Which reminds me perfectly the glorious Death Metal era from the 90s. Was the cover your idea? o Did you let the artist guided by the music and the lyrics of this new album?
GALVANIZER: Actually I am the artist behind the Stench Graphics, so yeah the cover was my creation and idea. I was guided by the material of the new album and enormous, unhealthy amount of black coffee.
DARGEDIK: I see that “Prying Sight of Imperception” is release by Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Everlasting Spew Records. Do you think when a band releases a new production with different labels, the band stops going underground?
GALVANIZER: I don't think that releasing music through different labels stops band going underground, but it definitely helps bands to share their music more widely for the people when there are multiple labels promoting your material in the underground scene. "Sanguine Vigil" (2018) was also released by Me Saco Un Ojo and Everlasting Spew.
DARGEDIK: Now we’ll speak about other matters into the metal scene. Nowadays, how do you see the situation of the bands in the face of this new pandemic, ¿How will this pandemic affect to musicians, bands and crew? ‘Coz these days the majority of the bands live with shows or gigs in different parts of the world.
GALVANIZER: This pandemic has been disastrous for the whole live music industry. It has led people to be pretty innovative with streaming services and in other ways, which I am happy about. Nowadays we have all kinds of technology with us. Although,nothing can beat the feeling of a band playing live, when the wall of sound pierces through your body and ears. Nevertheless I see it is better than nothing!
DARGEDIK: Into the matter of how an underground band and a conventional band was should be considered, there are patterns that more vinyl or cassette productions stick to the underground concept, and the CD only expanded the collections of the fans. What do you think are the factors for fans to stick to this underground metal concept? And where is located the digital platforms?
GALVANIZER: The vinyl and tape have some kind of nostalgic vibe. The sound and experience is just somehow more warmer and cosier comparing to CD. While listening vinyl, you have to really listen to and enjoy the music, and of course vinyl makes more justice for the artwork, nothing beats that experience. Bandcamp is highly used by bands and fans from digital platforms, as well as Spotify for example.
DARGEDIK: According to you, where is located the vynil, tape and CD into the metal scene nowadays, are these physical underground formats? Or are these mainstream formats? Coz as I said into the previous question, some people of this new generation prefer to hear an album in Vynil or Tape and not CD.
GALVANIZER: Vinyl especially has come back from the dead and it is going strong. Many albums have now come out on vinyl; albums which were never released on vinyl, only CD. I could say vinyl and tape are coming back to mainstream use, because many big artists and bands have started to release those formats again.
DARGEDIK: Other detail is about the listening methods of the fans, coz this new generation prefers to hear one or two songs into the digital platforms. What are you think about the albums doesn’t have the same impact in compare of the 80s or 90s? And what does bands need to do for improve the listening’s of all songs in albums?
GALVANIZER: It's sad that nowadays there is less impact in the albums comparing to 90's, I prefer to listen to the whole release instead of just a song or two. In my opinion 90's Death Metal is sometimes more progressive with song structures & styles, also the way of production in music had big differences too. I think an album must be solid but it has to contain some unexpected twists that will keep the flow going on. Also arranging songs just to the right order makes some big changes. Rehearse together as much you can before studio, so you can capture the energy of the band onto the recording.
DARGEDIK: In recent years, According to Tomb Mold, Necrowretch and other bands more about old school Death Metal going to saturate in the next 5 or 10 years and the style will decay in creativity. Do you think old school Death Metal will saturate in the next few years? Is there a way to expand the style without looking the past?
GALVANIZER: The old school Death Metal has now a high rise going on already, you can notice it from the amount of new bands forming and record labels taking more interest to release their material. There will be for sure some creative bands evolving in future also. Music has always been changing and new styles are forming, but there will always be the first ones who created such a genre like Death Metal, you cannot leave those behind.
DARGEDIK: Talking a bit about the Finland Death Metal style scene in recent years. Bands like Cerebral Rot, Fetid, Necrot, Witch Vomit, Torture Rack and a few more. What do you think of all this resurgence in Finland sound over the world? And why did many bands from other parts of the world decide to have a European focus on their Death Metal style?
GALVANIZER: Nowadays there are bunch of bands imitating the sound of early 90's Finnish Death Metal, which is cool to see that it has got pretty big attention in the scene. Of course sometimes it's bit frustrating when many demos sound all the same with that murky, doomy, echoing production. Finns have always done their own thing and have had some kind of melancholic touch with the music, maybe that's what got peoples' attention. In the past, the main influences for the bands came from the US, groups like Death, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, but nowadays less known European bands have got more attention than those big bands - thanks for the internet.
DARGEDIK: Personal question. I saw that you play at Wrathrone too, where the sound of that band is much more Swedish than Finnish. How do you separate Galvanizer ideas from Wrathrone? and why did Wrathrone go for the Swedish sound? Was it something thoughtful or spontaneous?
GALVANIZER: In my opinion, Galvanizer's songs are always more grindy, fast music without forgetting heavy grooviness. On the other hand, Wrathrone has some more melodic elements from the mid 90's era Death and Black Metal, like Dissection, Dismember, At The Gates, Desultory and Katatonia. It was just a natural direction of music to go the way of Swedish sound. Some band members have grown up at the time Melodic Death Metal (especially Swedish) was a big thing.
DARGEDIK: One of the biggest events into the Finnish scene was the Finnish Death Metal Maniacs. Where big names like Purtenance, Demilich, Depravity, Convulse, Festerday, Rippikoulu, Pestigore, Necropsy, Galvanizer and many more gathered in more than one line up. What did you feel like to share the stage with legends from your country that the world venerates today in the edition that you played? Coz I was there in 2015, screaming loudly (lol).
GALVANIZER: We played at both editions of the fest. At that time it was just amazing for the lads who had just discovered the Finnish oldschool bands some years earlier and started their own band - and then you suddenly got to play together with your idols in the same festival! It was just fucking mindblowing! It was also a big big opportunity for us to show that death metal is in good hands even though we were young kids (lol).
DARGEDIK: Due to this pandemic, one of the biggest problems is not being able to play in other countries. But the initiative to do concerts with bands from the country is one of the best options. What would be the best line up for you of Finnish Death Metal bands at a supposed festival? For me it would be Purtenance, Demigod, Convulse, Demilich, Funebre, Rippikoulu, Xysma, Disgrace, Festerday, Abhorrence, Pestigore, Depravity, Galvanizer, Scum, Necropsy, Desecresy, Galvanizer, Krypts, Morbific.
GALVANIZER: My lineup would be pretty similar comparing to yours with a few differences: Paraxism, Demigod, Funebre, Xysma, Disgrace, Depravity, Agonized, Demilich, Lubricant, Necropsy, Scum, As Serenity Fades, Deepred, Sonic Poison, Phlegethon, Dicktator, Morbific, Perinei, Scumripper, Asphodelus, etc. There's too many to mention (lol).
DARGEDIK: Well, Vili, the sad time arrived at this interview, I hope you enjoy this one as I did and thank you very much for your time. Congratulations for the new album. Take care during this pandemic situation and our best wishes from this part of the world. Any last words for your fans in Latin America and Dargedik readers?
GALVANIZER: Thank you for the interview, it was an honour. I hope everyone reading this interview had some good time with us! Support the bands, now or never is the right time for that! If anyone would like to contact us, it is easily done by sending an email for us at:
galvanizerband@gmail.com.
Follow us at Facebook: www.facebook.com/GalvanizerBand
Stay safe and keep on grinding!
