Interview with SMORRAH
!!!THRASH METAL FROM GERMANY!!!
We had a conversation with Pumper. Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about SMORRAH (Members, Starting Year etc).
SMORRAH are Rapha on drums, Kraje on bass, Marius on vocals and I (Pumper) on guitar. We started out in 2017 in our hometown, ex-industrial/coal mining city of Gelsenkirchen, also home to the football club FC Schalke 04. We play a style of metal mostly derived from Thrash, but also utilizing characteristics of other metal sub-genres.
You are going to release your new album ''Welcome To Your Nightmare''. Tell us a few things about this project.
It being our very first full-length release, we're super stoked and happy to finally get it out there. We had a blast recording and producing it together with Michael Streckbein at Vyrah Studios. With 9 uncomprisingly hard hitting and refreshingly varied songs we hope to leave a mark in the metal scene and kick some ass.
Label or DIY and why?
We decided to team up with the local underground label Sick Taste Records. With Andreas we found a great partner to help us release our first album. For us this was the best option, since all band members are working in regular jobs and releasing an album comes with a whole shit-ton of work on the side, so we're glad for every help we can get.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
If you ever read the term "Loik", or " Auf Loik" on our social media and are wondering what that is about, it started out as an inside joke of the band when our bassist Kraje accidently mixed up two german words, creating the word "Loik". It basically describes doing something with ease and in a calm and confident way.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
In everyday use, digital definitely is the most convenient, but when having a couple of beers with your buddies, nothing's better than putting on some of your favorite records on vinyl. There's just something special about putting down that needle and appreciating an album in it's entirety.
Your music style is Thrash Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
For me personally, Pantera was a huge influence from an early age, as well as bands like Sepultura, Exodus, Death, Metallica, Slayer, Bolt Thrower, Meshuggah, Black Sabbath of course and many others. I also really enjoy listening to a lot of 70's style jazz rock/fusion and progressive rock, so that also has an influence on me.
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?
Well, of course it depends on what your goals are as a band. For us, with two of us having kids and all of us working in regular jobs, we're trying to keep a healthy work/life/band balance, but in our spare time the band generally comes first.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
For me, the ideal live show is, us banging our heads off and jumping around stage while still playing tight and the crowd reflecting that energy and enjoying the show with some moshing and a lot of beer. Luckily for us we generally achieve that goal, thanks to our great supporters and fans.
Photos credit: By Baalphemor
What attributes do you think that a new Thrash Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
I think the most important aspect is, really doing it for the love of the music, doing only what you really want to and not trying to fit one very specific branch or style. When doing that, being authentic and unique should come automatically.
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?
They definitely help, but i also think playing live shows is the truest form of promoting yourself as a band.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Germany (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
The metal underground really is alive and well. Being able to choose shows pretty much every weekend and also during the week really shows that. In our area there's really a lot going on, with a lot of cool bands coming from here. Be sure to check out our buddies from Old Ruins, the Void's Embrace, Rotting Demise, Teutonic Slaughter, Darkness, Bonded, Fashion Killers to name a few.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
I must admit, apart from a couple of bands i've heard of, i don't know a lot about the scene, but it would be awesome if we were given the opportunity one day to play some shows in this beautiful country and be able to experience it first hand.
Photos credit: By Anna-Lena Hickmann
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?
Well, i think most people were affected mainly negatively by all that has happened, but as a musician, you've been pretty much paralyzed, not being able to play live and for a certain time not even being allowed to meet in person to rehearse/jam and write new songs as a band. Not to forget all the bars, clubs and other venues that struggled. Thankfully the situation has somewhat normalised for now.
What are your future plans?
For the near future, we're really excited to see how people will react to the album and are looking forward to play some live shows in our area. We'll also keep on writing new stuff and see where the journey will take us.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thanks for having me, thanks to everyone who reads this and thanks to everyone listening to our music and supporting us. Keep it Metal and stay healthy! Auf Loik!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
PS. Many thanks to Markus (https://www.facebook.com/MetalMessage.Global) for this interview (Cheers mate!)
SMORRAH CONTACT:
www.smorrah.com
www.smorrah.bandcamp.com
www.instagram.com/smorrah_official
www.facebook.com/smorrah
www.youtube.com/smorrah
www.twitter.com/smorrahofficial