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Ataman Tolovy
| How is everything going on your end? I hope all is well for you. |
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Ataman:
Thanks, I think so.
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| First of all, the band has gone through a number of line-up changes through the years, most recent being the departure of Ikaroz (guitar/vocals). Do you think his departure has hurt or strengthened the band since? |
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Ataman:
It has set the band free. Free from looking at others. Now, I think Stillborn just found its own style which went missing somewhere in time. The prime style. Until now I regarded our debut best. It changed.
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| Do you feel that Los Asesinos del Sur is a stronger album without him involved in it? |
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Ataman:
Of course. The music is usually so strong as people which are writing it. This album is one step ahead but a thousands back. It has been written, then recorded, in a natural way, without the fear of future responses.
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| After reading some of the reviews for your last album, Esta Rebelion es Eterna, do you feel that the band has really matured musically for Los Asesinos del Sur, or maybe taken some of what fans and critics said about the last one and improved what went on this album? |
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Ataman:
EREE is a fuckin' great work but there's one thing still deprecating it in mass receipt, the lack of promotion. Asesinos is an album containing the music which wasn't possible to write on EREE. People aren't able to understand that we can play with the convention. They expect from us the same music all the time. EREE has its own concept, this is different album. Asesinos, well, we matured, for example the title song I wrote in 1990.
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| I see the album has hit store shelves already. What has the fan reaction been like to the album? Is it what you expected? Better? Worse? |
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Ataman:
Too early to talk about. Let us wait some time. Reviews are good at this moment.
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| It took the band about three years to put this album together. About how much of that time was spent working on the songs for the album, and do you feel you put enough time and effort into these songs? |
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Ataman:
We started work in 2009, still with Ikaroz. He didn't like these three pieces we've got in this time. So we redeployed forces to our second band, Genius Ultor. It's some kind of raw Black Metal band, with the same line-up as Stillborn deduct Ikaroz. Then we recorded the debut album "Dzien Nocy". After Rzulty's appearing we organized third edition of Legions of Death Attack, little annual tour in Poland with some extreme crews. We returned to work on the album in Fall of 2010, just after fourth and last Legions of Death Attack. After three months we recorded it. It is enough much effort.
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| The material on Los Asesinos del Sur really stands out from a lot of bands today in the Black/Death Metal style. Was that a goal when writing the material for this release, or any Stillborn release in general? Or did you guys not really focus on that aspect? Please explain. |
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Ataman:
What is supposed to answer questions asked on this way? We want to be original? We write the songs which were written earlier thousands of times, we want only to play them in the vein of Stillborn. We must have an erection playing these songs.
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| Of all the songs on the CD, "Son of the Holy Motherfucker" is easily one of my favorites. It also sounds very diverse from the rest of the album. Did the band intend the song to sound somewhat different, or even just have a bit of a "fuck you" kind of attitude to it (at least, that's what I gathered from it anyway)? |
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Ataman:
I think the answer to that question is on our debut album. Just take a look at the tracklist. However, better to listen to.
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| So, what's next for Stillborn at this point? Is the band lining up tour dates or anything to help promote the release? Are you all kicking back for a while to see how the album does before anything is set into stone? |
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Ataman:
Just at that moment I am promoting the album. As for concerts an optimal way for us is to play from 5 to 10 performances in the year in Poland, maybe a few abroad. On our conditions and in the competent company. Next for us is the new album of Genius Ultor.
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| Straying from the album a bit, I'd like to get your take on this. What is your opinion of the whole Black/Death Metal scene today anyway? |
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Ataman:
My opinion on this subject is similar as the one about the current position of the west civilization. On one hand too many philosophers, on the other the recipient more important than the author. The lack of the primitive charm and animal but curbed power.
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| Is there anything else you would like to mention before I let you go? |
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Ataman:
Thank You for the support. Beware of those coming from the South...
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Interview conducted via e-mail thanks to:
Ataman Productions
via Godz of War Production.
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