Interview with QUASARBORN - FILTHY DOGS OF METAL

20 Nov

!!!THRASH METAL FROM SERBIA!!!

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about QUASARBORN (Members, Starting Year etc).
Quasarborn was formed in 2016 by myself (Luka Matković – Vocals, guitars), Marko Danilović “Tihi” (Drums), Miloš Tomasović (Bass) and Đorđe Luković (Guitars). The idea at the time was to play technical/progressive thrash metal with melodic vocals, but we have since evolved our style into something we feel is unique and without boundaries. Đorđe left the band and was replaced by Dimitrije Čuturilo in 2020.

You have recently released your album ''Novo oružje protiv bola''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
The reaction has been amazing! All the reviews range from 7.5/10 to 9.5/10, and the people really love the record. I love that everyone lists different songs as their favorites, but still love the album as a whole. And the songs work really well live too.

Label or DIY and why?
Mostly DIY, mostly because of the creative control and the insane and terrible contracts presented by big labels. However, our cooperation with Doc Gator records was great, but it was on a more friendly level than what’s usual.

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
I personally prefer CDs and I have a collection of somewhat 500 of them. I don’t like vinyl as much, because it’s hard to transport, easy to damage, and no matter what the elitists tell you – sounds inferior. However, I’ve been listening to digital in the past couple of years, since it’s hard to even find a CD reader. I still buy CDs though.

Your music style is Technical Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Well, we would never call ourselves that, but everyone insists on putting these labels on us, haha. If I had to pick a name, I’d say were a post-thrash metal band. We all listen to very different music, but I’ll try to add it all up in one big pile: Anthrax, Cynic, Cannibal Corpse, Converge, Toxik, Mayhem, Gojira, Decapitated, Megadeth, Dying Fetus, Avenged Sevenfold, Wu-Tang Clan, Jinjer, Jojo Mayer, Bijelo Dugme, Voivod, Slipknot, various types of pop and dance music, instrumental experimental jazzy stuff, and even anime openings…

Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
It’s mostly your free time. Being in a band is a full time job, and if you want to be successful, you have to put in a lot of work on all fronts, be it promotion, social media, booking and playing concerts, practicing, writing music… I personally wouldn’t call is a “sacrifice”, because I really enjoy most of these activities.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
My ideal show is one where people know and love the songs we’re playing and are there for the music! I guess our Belgrade concerts in 2021 and 2023 were my favorites, as well as this year’s show in Siegen!

What attributes do you think that a new Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
For one, stop copying the 80s. I was guilty of this myself for a long time, but it leads nowhere. The 80s are gone, and a lot of music has happened since from which you can learn a lot. I think everyone should listen to a lot of different music and/or find inspiration in various places and incorporate it into their own style. Stop copying your idols, because your idols wouldn’t be your idols if they’d copied their idols! And lastly, stop producing your bands to sound “perfect”, allow for some “liveness”.

Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Thrash Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
I hate social media, not for some obscure ethical reasons, but it’s just so boring, and you have to be there, or you don’t exist. It’s not a tool to help you anymore, as much as it’s a huge minus not to have it, people forget about you. As far as streaming platforms go, they suck, if you want to support bands, buy their stuff, or go to their Bandcamp page. The ideal promotion is playing concerts, and presenting yourself to people directly. There’s so much content online, you’ll just get buried in it.

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Serbia (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
I feel like the scene would be a lot stronger in Serbia if we had better financial opportunities, but it is what it is. There’s no “metal only” clubs, but a lot of local clubs will host your show, or party, like Vrtoglavica or Fest. The webzines that have persisted are Serbian Metal Potal, Balkanrock, Headliner.rs, Helly Cherry, Plejer… As for bands, there’s so many, I couldn’t possibly list them all, but just to name a few: Alitor, Nadimač, Infest, Centurion, Deadly Mosh, Mud Factory, Lavina, War Engine, Bombarder… And also, wee keep in touch with a lot of bands from the hardcore/punk scene like Polywhy, Violent Chapter, Majak, Nabod!, Reckoning…

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
The first things that come into mind are Rotting Christ and George Kollias, haha! There were also rumors some 15 years ago that Thessaloniki had an insane thrash/crossover scene, but I never had anyone confirm it. I contributed to a song on the Metal Against Coronavirus compilation on which Fotis of Septicflesh has played the drums. We have played in Greece only once, it was the Horns Up festival in Trikala, and it was fun, but we hope to return ASAP.

The last 3 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange & new situations in our everyday life (covid, lock-down etc.) Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
Honestly, the covid lockdown was like a vacation to me. I slept and rested, and once It was over, I was really refreshed and ready to take on new challenges. As for this stupid war that’s going on, nothing good can be said about it, and Serbia is really in the middle of the clash between the east and the west.

What are your future plans?
We will try to play as many shows we can promoting “Novo oružje protiv bola”, and then we’re off to write a new record!

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you for the opportunity to present ourselves! See you soon, Greece!

By Steve the Filthy Dog.

Credits:

Logo: Quasarborn
Artwork & Layout: Marko Danilović Tihi
Photocredits: Jovana Uzelac

PS. Many thanks to Markus (https://www.facebook.com/MetalMessage.Global) for this interview (Cheers mate!)