Interview with RYGHAR
!!!BARBARIC HEAVY METAL FROM THE WASTELANDS OF TEXAS!!!
We had a conversation with Kyle.Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about RYGHAR (Members, Starting Year etc).
KB: Hails! I joined Ryghar November of 2019 as the bassist, right now Ryghar swells it's ranks with myself and 2 other members of my black thrash band, Black Jackal. We're currently recording for both bands simultaneously, so we go from Black speed metal punk to epic warrior heavy metal throughout the weeks.
You are going to release your album '"Thurmecia Eternal". Tell us a few things about this project.
KB: Rob really has all the concept and artwork planned out and in motion, we add our musical parts to his skeleton and it's been shaping up to become some really powerful heavy metal. The songs on the release follow the Silver company through tribulation and battle, which makes for great storytelling.
Label or DIY and why?
KB: Both have their advantages and disadvantages, we're currently going DIY though, we were not impressed with our first contract offer for Thurmecia Eternal. We basically want to put out our music and vision our way and be successful enough to travel and play live, and make more music & merch, if a label can't execute that concept with us then they aren't doing their part being a record label. Rob is a very hard worker and so far for this release we won't need a label, although we are still open for decent offers.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
KB: Vinyl will always be the best, you can't beat the feeling of opening a record, looking at the artwork, reading the lyrics and putting the record on a turntable. Whatever a band means to convey to a listener always comes across strongest on vinyl, the artwork is more substantial, it's more powerful to hold vinyl in your hands!
Your music style is Heavy Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
KB: We all love different types of metal and music, but the band as a whole is really inspired by bands like Manilla Road, Angelwitch, and Glacier. I think Eternal Champion and Savage Master are really important metal bands bearing the heavy metal standard these days, they've shown the world that heavy metal is not just a ghost from the 80s, it's still alive and it still rips! I think artistic vision is important as well, we're all into swords and sorcery/sci-fi horror, we love Robert E. Howard (who is also from Texas), Frank Frazetta, Stephen King, Michael Moorcock and Ken Kelly, to name just a few, and that's some of our inspiration for the aesthetic of Ryghär. We're nerds but with tattoos and swords, who will kick your ass and run head first into your army!
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 of your Band?
KB: You need to practice like a rockstar instead of party like one (anyone can do that), the energy you put into music is what the band turns into, that's how it becomes real. Real musicians respect making music as if it's part of their everyday life, you plan for it, practice every week even 2 or 3 times, you have to miss going to shows and being with your loved ones/family, but it's worth it in the end result. If it's not a serious part of your life then being in a band isn't for you and you won't get far. To quote Destroyer 666, "if we called in the dead of night, would you leave your woman and fight? Would you join us?"
Describe your ideal live show as a performance Band. Have you already experienced that?
KB: Our first show was supposed to be back in May playing Legions of Metal fest, opening on the day Exciter headlined, hopefully we'll be able to play our first show by next year. We take playing live very seriously, we will all be wearing armor on stage, I have actual metal armor that's very heavy and very uncomfortable, but I look like I belong in a warrior metal band! People want riffs, falsettos and barbarians shredding on stage, and they'll get it 100% percent from Ryghär.
Which attributes, do you think, that a new Heavy Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
KB: Bands need to make their own image and own it, I think a lot of bands are too "cool" to put effort in the way they present themselves. You're conveying thoughts, images and emotion when you're playing music, if you want to stand out you have to have conviction and not care about social opinions while giving everything you have and becoming what you want your music to be.
Do you believe that Bandcamp and other Digital Platforms help the new Heavy Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a Band to promote its work?
KB: I think they help a little bit, to make the music available, but metal music is sustained by going to live shows, to record stores and festivals, you have to do all that first to prove yourself. There aren't many metal bands who get popular off of just releasing music online like pop music, it's really up to bands to work hard, and also for record labels to know what good bands are and not just the popular stuff that will die once it's not trendy anymore. A lot of times people have to be told what to like, so bands really have to assert themselves and be tough when it comes to promoting and marketing.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Texas, USA (Bands,Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
KB: Texas has some amazing metal and punk bands! Aggravator, Steel Bearing Hand, Churchacide, Trenchant, Imprecation, PLF, Drink Fight Thugs, Oath of Cruelty, Morbosidad, Funeral Ash, Sniper 66, Flesh Hoarder, Destroyer of Light, Defiled Crypt, Witchcryer, Daggra, Night Cobra, Venereal Baptism, Sacrocurse, Necrofier, Insect Warfare, Blaspherian, Pious Levus, SA SLAYER and Necrovore just to name a bunch! There's really good promoters such as Honey and Vinegar, Sell your Soul, Last Nightmare & Brokenboard productions, we have some awesome record stores like Hogwild and End of an ear records. We get our gear worked on at Robot Monster Guitars which is the best music shop in Texas. Austin has an awesome vegan metal/punk rock bakery called Zucchini Kill.San Antonio and Austin have some cool metal nights when DJ's spin metal/punk/rock vinyl at places like the Mix & Lost Well. I first met Rob when I was DJing at the mix haha. We may be a little far away from other major cities, we don't get as many tours because of the distance and the fact that Texas is basically big enough to be its own country but we manage.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
KB: Greek black metal is some of the best, I love Ravencult, Rotting Christ, Varathron and Thou Art Lord!
What are your future plans?
KB: We can't wait to show you the rest of Thurmecia Eternal, get started on the next release and to play live!
Thank you very much for your time & Keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
KB: Cheers, thanks so much for this opportunity, hopefully we can make it to Greece in the next year or two and have a drink!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
RYGHAR CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/Ryghartx/