Interview with legendary death metal band from Poland - STILLBORN.
Answered Killer (Guitars, Vocals), thank you!
Translated Duzl, thank you!
Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.
Recenze/review - STILLBORN - Cultura de la muerte (2022):
Ave STILLBORN! Greetings to the Polish underground. I hope everything is fine with you. It should be because this year you have released a sixth full-length album in your band's career. I have to admit it has literally blown my mind. It is dark, energic and as if it cuts by the sharp edge of the knife. I can hear from the record you did a really good job and you added a big portion of the talent, too. How do you perceive the new album in comparison to the previous one? Where did you want to move and in what are these two records different?
Hail Jakub! Nice to now You like our album. The impressions you describe are a perfect reflection of what this album is meant to be. The main difference is the return to the roots of brutal and raw Death Metal, colored of course with a hint of furious Black Metal. There is no hidden philosophy. All the time my music is image of my actual life and point of view of surrounding reality. On album you can hear what I have in my mind. But don’t worry – I’m fine.
“Cultura de la muerte“ includes all attributes of good death metal. For me personally, it represents the record, which I really like to listen to. How did you produce it? How look the writing process of new material in the case of STILLBORN?
I don't have a special recipe for new songs. It happens naturally. The so-called moment of inspiration comes, a given time in which the mind opens up to new ideas. And then I play it on the guitar until I decide that it is ok. In this case, our drummer Darek "Młody" Płaszewski got the ready structure of the riffs from me and next made a fantastic arrangement for the drums. Last step was a line of bass created by Hunger. Summing up, it can be said that the main idea comes from me, and the rest of the band builds the final whole on it. It comes quite easy because we feel the music in the same way.
I found out that Darek Mlody is signed under the mix and mastering of the new record. I have to confirm that the sound is literally killing. It still makes me add volume to the player. Robert has created a sound that is cruel, raw and at the same time dark and organic. How went the work with him and why did you choose him? In which studio did you record it? How did the recording process look like?
Everything was recorded in his Panzerstudio. The choice was obvious. Darek plays with us, he co-created the material, so he knew exactly what to do behind the mixing console. To achieve this sound, we used three amps and two different guitars. The hardest part was to achieve a perfectly matching bass sound, so we deleted the first recording and after experimenting with Darkglass and Schecter, Hunger re-recorded the entire bass line again. Then it was time for vocals. Everything was clear here from the beginning. Three lines, a little reverb and extreme energy release. After getting the perfect sound for us, there only one task left. To set up the details in the mix. With Darek's perfect hearing, there were no problems with it. And that's all.
An important part and a kind of extra bonus for fans today is the physical CD. You released the new album at CD through Godz's War productions, and it has a corpsy cover art. Who is the author? Do I explain well the picture when I would think it is a Madonna with Jesus? How did you choose the motif and how does it relate to the music at the record?
The album is also released in MC format, and we are currently waiting for a vinyl version. The author of the cover is Maciej Kamuda, who has been cooperating with Godz Ov War for several years. For us he already made the cover for "Crave for killing" Ep. With this divine mother you hit the spot perfectly. Besides, it is a metaphor for the rotten fruit that religion can bring you and at the same time an act of blasphemy against one of them. The most famous one - Christianity. Maciej got a sample of our music and the title of the album. Then he proposed the cover concept. This was amazing. This is perfect visualization of the title and music from our album. This cover art shows everything, my point of view of surrounding me reality in context of slavement by religion.
I have been wandering the underground for over thirty years and I still go to Poland for music with certainty. I think we have a similar nature and taste when it comes to metal. I like your bands a lot and I monitor your scene carefully. Maybe I envy you a little, because we only have a few death metal bands that are worth it. How do you explain that black and death metal are doing so well in your country? How do you perceive your scene, fans, labels?
I don't know if I can explain it even though I've been sitting in the middle of it for over 25 years. I think this is a matter of our mentality. Note that Metal from the Polish scene is not fun with a few exceptions. It always touches upon the dark side of life and the music takes its extreme form. Besides, since the 80's Metal has been a form of rebellion, a way to freedom and an extreme means of self-expression. So it is deeply rooted in us. If we were a cheerful and peaceful society, it could all be completely different. Our scene is doing very well because, the Underground is our kingdom where we can do exactly what we want to do. For most of us (I mean bands and maniacs) metal is a way of life not a trend. Hence this strength and power.
You play devastating death metal influenced by, among other things, the American school. Today, the band can't avoid comparisons, but I would like to know how the idea to start STILLBORN was born, who was and is your metal idol? Where do you want to move your band? Are you attracted to large foreign festivals, for example, are you willing to go on tour with a more famous band?
First, I have no business plan for Stillborn. I know my place in the universe and I know exactly how to manage my life. I'm not interested in any contracts or branding in the Mainstream world. I want to be a free man and independent person for the rest of my life. But to be clear, I respect big labels and big bands. I know how hard work this is. However, this is not what I would like to do. I'm not a maniac of big open air festivals, I prefer club concerts with people who know exactly why they came to this particular concert. When I was 12, metal took my heart and I knew right away that I wanted to play. Only listening the music wasn't enough. Until today I am under the influence and great impression of such bands as Sarcofago, Impaled Nazarene, Mortem, Crucifier, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Angelcorpse, Order from Chaos, Sextrash, Tormentor, Death, Asphyx, Kat, Vader, Bulldozer, Unleashed, Entombed, Morbosidad , Phlebotomized, Darkthrone, Funeral Winds, Holocausto, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost and so on. I have no dreams related to a tour with a great star, but Stillborn has already had the opportunity to support Impaled Nazarene, Angelcorpse, Morbid Angel, Revenge at several concerts. It was a great honor.
When I started my blog six years ago, I had a vision that I would try to support bands that are not so much popular, or they are lost in underground. To let the world knows about them. I think I'm doing quite well, at least according to the responses. How do you approach the promotion of your music? Do you rely upon the label or do you send the CDs for various reviews by yourself? For example, I buy albums that I really enjoy. What about you? Are you also fans who often support your colleagues? Do you go to concerts?
Of course I go to concerts and wholeheartedly support bands that I like. As for the Stillborn promotion, I have a problem with that. I can't quite find myself in it. I value peace of mind above all else. I leave everything related to the release of the album to the label, except the artistic side, of course. As you well know, I even have a problem responding to interviews quickly (laughs). This is not laziness. I have a really busy and varied life and I like it. When it comes to buying records, I know exactly what you are talking about. I am not a supporter of overproduction and having everything in the world. Sometimes I get albums by chance, but I try to have only what I really like.
On the one hand, today the new band has a lot of opportunities to make themselves more known, but on the other hand, there are a huge number of groups and the fans are getting lost in this big metal sea. A lot of people just download mp3s from the internet and instead of to visit the concert they prefer to spit poisonous saliva on Facebook. How do modern technologies affect you as STILLBORN? What do you think about downloading music, google metalists, streaming music, etc.?
Internet warriors are so funny. Real life will always verify the victim. And I'm not talking about physical or psychological violence. I'm talking about how you deal with yourself. What quality is your life. About mp3 and all these stuff, I will answer to you in the same way as I did to Javier from Metallerium. I was against digitization when that's all crazy was started but now I don't care. I know that its easier for new generation so let it be. I personally prefer traditional way like Vinyls, Cassettes and CD's but of course I use the Youtube channel for searching the old goods from times when I was to young to have it on my shelves. Also sometimes I find something new and next I buy it.
I like to ask the musicians what death metal means to them. How would they define it, whether it is more the philosophy and lifestyle thing for them or "just" relaxation? What does it mean for you? How do you perceive and experience it?
It is a method of expressing myself. If I am a different person someday, if I change in some way, it might not make sense anymore.
Finally, a classic but important question. What is STILLBORN planning in the upcoming months? Where can we see you at the stage and when will you visit the Czech and Slovak Republics again?
I don't plan any concerts this year. Maybe something spontaneous in November. I'm gathering strength to strike in Spring 2023. Darek Młody has several contacts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, so there are many chances that we will visit Your territory.
Thank you so much for the interview. I wish a lot of success to the new album and let the number of your fans expand as much as possible. I will look forward to seeing you somewhere live again. I wish you a lot of success both musically and personally. I'm going to push "Cultura de la muerte" into my head again!
Jakub, thank you very much for your substantive and honest questions and for your time. I am glad that we could make you happy with our interpretation of Metal. Fuck the false brotherhoods! Cheers!
killer/stillborn
Recenze/review - STILLBORN - Cultura de la muerte (2022):
Recenze/review - STILLBORN – Testimonio De Bautismo (2016):
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