A few questions - interview with death metal band KHNVM.
Answered Obliterator, thank you!
Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?
Ans: AVE COMRADE! Thanks a lot for the opportunity and inviting us for the interview.
As a normal introduction of the band, we are KHNVM (pronounced as Khaa-noom), founded in 2018 as a one man project (Obliterator aka Showmik Das) in the vein of death metal. Our debut album, Foretold monuments of flesh was released in 2019, which was fast paced, aggressive death metal. It was released via Testimony Records. Our second album, „Portals to oblivion“, which is death metal in the style of storytelling, juggling within tone, tempo and darkness of the composition itself, is set to be released via Neck breaker records on 17.12.2021.
Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?
We started the final recording session of the album on 2nd of January, 2021. As you know that due to covid, there are not much things happening around and we wanted to use the time to create something together which turned out to be 38 mins long aural madness. We started with the drum recording, which was magnificently done in one single day under supervision of Thomas Noetzel from the German legendary band Abrogation. Guitars were the next to record. I recorded all the guitar layers in my home studio. The bass and vocals were done within 2 weeks.
After receiving all the files from Thomas, I sent those to Charles Eliott from mighty abysmal dawn/Tastemaker audio for reamp, mix and master. I have known Charles for a while and it is super easy to work with him. He did the magic he was supposed to do, and the final output came out so epic!
How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?
Neckbreaker Records is releasing the CDs, 500 copies and 2 different splattered vinyls 166 copies each. Digital is out there in our bandcamp, also will be uploaded in other online platforms soon. Unfortunately no cassette’s to be released, but if the response is high, we would go for a cassette production. Also we have limited album artwork tshirts, long sleeve, alternative artwork tshirts and long sleeve, logo patch, stickers and A3 posters.
Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?
Well, the lyrical concept mostly deals with ultimate descend of human mind towards the end. In some of the songs (No solace) is written on duality, human suffering (heretic ascension), psychotic visions of a new realm(baptized), etc. All the lyrics are written by Obliterator. Vivid imagination are needed to write lyrics, also experiences in real life.
Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?
As you have noticed, we have changed our logo from the debut album. The previous one and the new one is done by this amazing @mfaxii from Indonesia. Highly recommended!!! The album artwork was created by the Serbian legend @stephan from @khaosdiktatordesign. The layout of the cds and vinyls and other merch were done by Rai Mino from Rawskull records. For me, artwork, logos are really important to portray the vision of the songs. Those are also the first step to grow interest on the audience whether or whether not to listen/buy the album.
All the social media platform is managed by Showmik Das. Nowadays this is something very crucial to not to disappear in the ocean of thousands of releases. As i have a full time job as data analyst in Berlin, I kind of don’t have the luxury of spending a significant amount of time in social media, but I try my best to promote the art, promote the music which I am doing and which I like.
Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takés care about you?
Debut album, “Foretold monuments of flesh” was release via @Testimony Records which I think was a successful release. For the second album we are working with Neckbreaker Records. So far the collaboration is going really good. Also the full package with vinyl, cd, patch, sticker, merch, poster are pretty insane.
Which bands do you idolize and where do you get your inspiration?
Oh man, this will be a huge list. I would like to start with Black Sabbath. They are the ultimate band and every guitarist who plays metal are bound to bow to this man, Tony Iommi! So yes, Sabbath has a huge influence on fixating my appetite towards music. Then would like to name, Death, Suffocation, Nile, Dying fetus, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Bolt Thrower, Vital Remains. These legendary bands are the reason why I chose to play the extreme form of music. Later on, as the days passed, I moved into more blackened and atmospheric and dissonant style of death metal. Bands like Immolation, Gorguts, Time ghoul, Dissection and of course dead congregation. It is not like this that some of the giants from the thrash metal scene also has inspired me throughout the different phases of my career as a guitarist. Slayer, Exodus, Testament , Kreator to name a few of those bands. As I am from Bangladesh, also there are few bands which has an impact on my musical journey. Severe Dementia, Warhound, Cryptic Fate are the bands I would name.
Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?
Well, yes I did pitch ‘portals to oblivion’ to some labels. Some of them got back to us with a positive response but later on the deal didn’t work out. Some of them gave the release date in 2024, which was also not possible from our side as we have plans for more releases in the upcoming years.
How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?
We have played around 12 gigs in the last 3 years of KHNVM’s formation. I came to Germany as a masters student, so obviously going on full fledged tours were not ideally possible me. For 2020 we had a short European run planned, but due to covid, everything got cancelled.
I like clubs more than playing in festivals. The only reason is that in club gigs we can connect more with the audience and can share the energy with more intensity. Festival gigs are always like a heavy weight stuff. For a small band like KHNVM, it is also difficult to have more connections with the community, but we think we are there now.
So far they best experience was in JENA, Germany where we opened for Swedish death metal legends LIK. The professionalism from the organizer were top notch and also our highest paid gig. Also another memorable show was the only gig we did in this year, the infamous INFLAMMEN OPEN AIR 2021. I had to be in touch continuously with Thomas, to get a slot there.
What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?
On Jan15,2022 we are playing in our record release gig in Factory magdeburg, with death metal legends like MAAT, DRILL STAR AUTOPSY and DEMORED. Also we are playing in Metal frenzy 2022, Masters of Unicorn 2022, DAMNED DAYS 2022 to name some festival appearances. Also there is a tour in the pipeline with possible bands GOATH and OXYGEN DESTROYER. This will be a full fledged European league, for 17 gigs. Fingers crossed to make this tour happen.
How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?
For all kinds of communication we prefer to be contacted via Email or through our official facebook page.
Email: khnvm696@gmail.com
Thanks to everyone who has supported us and will support us for the music we create.
Thanx for the interview.
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