Hit The Floor caught up with the metal legends otherwise known as Escape The Cult. Check out what happened right here:
HTF: So, you are all from opposite sides of the globe. How did you all meet?
ETC: It’s simple, really – my initiative and the internet. The power of the internet give us an opportunity to let the world hear us. I’m immensely proud and happy that my musical ideas in general has found their way through the heart, soul of Tim, Mike and Matthieu and they have given a new breath and new life to the creation named ESCAPE THE CULT.
HTF: Three out of four of you used to belong to previous bands or are currently in other bands. What made you want to branch off and create ESCAPE THE CULT?
ETC: The beginning was way back in 2008. I’d always hoped to play with the fantastic Tim Alexander from Primus – he was and is my favorite drummer and I really wanted to cooperate with him. After sending him the e-mail I was really happy to get his prompt reply to my request: “This is cool!”. The work started practically immediately after that.I demo’ed all drum parts and was impressed that Tim kept all ideas, improving it to the highest level. I kept all Tim’s drums as they were delivered by him in the first recording. In fact, he recorded it in his home studio using the same custom TAMA/Zildjian drum setup that he plays and records with Primus! There were absolutely no edits by my side – his performance is top notch, tight and like a clock, so it was no problem to fit with the rest of the old and new arrangements. Through these 5 years I’ve tried to find the musicians abroad who will completely understand my music, will dig it and bring some personality and soul into it… There were numerous attempts with different guitarists and vocalists all over the world… I’m trying to count but seem there were around 20 musicians or more. It was a real pain that has lasted for 4 years. The final line up was formed just more than year and half ago.
Mike Wead is my very long time partner. He’s a truly gifted guitarist from Sweden, very famous from the old 90’s metal bands as Memento Mori, Candlemass, Abstract Algebra, Hexenhaus and now as a current guitarist of King Diamond/ Mercyful Fate. He was with me from the very beginning of our project, and also handles all lead parts in my other international band, Kamlath. He has developed and re-recorded my demo riff guitars, put leads/solos with the kind assistance of Simon Johansson of Memory Garden, Abstract Algebra, Wolfat Solna Sound Recording in Sweden. I rely on him in everything. Finally I found the vocalist in France, a true gifted spirit – Matthieu Romarin of Uneven Structure. It was the blessing in disguise. He has brought his own charisma and personality with new vocal lines and harmonies, every single song has turned into absolutely unexpected direction with more power and expression. The last and the very special words I’d like to say are about our art concept. It’s another chapter that has lasted through the years too. The artist is also from France and also in Uneven Structure – his name is Igor Omodei. A truly talented artist! We wrote “the story” behind each song and from that he created all arts, illustrations and layout to the debut.
HTF: What is the best thing about being in a band?
ETC: The most important and thrilling feeling? When your idea is transformed and amplified via the ideas of another musician. The magic that no one will be able to convey or explain. I’m proud being in the band with such amazing artists.
HTF: Your latest album ‘All You Want To’ was released back in August; did you receive the response that you wanted?
ETC: To be more correct our debut is not released yet. I do everything by myself without any major support. Unfortunately I’m faced with a lot of delays and stuff preparing this release and with deep regret I was forced to postpone it for a month. My aim was to bring to our new listener a product of its highest quality: music, videos, artwork so I spent much time to reach the best quality manufacturing digipak, merchandise printing. My most sincere apologies for so many delays but I’m sure our new audience will be rewarded for their waiting.
We are open for any kind of response and criticism, it’s a very individual thing and points of view sometimes are different. Sometimes we see that a single person paired their expectations of Escapethecult with the individual bands and members – what to expect from Mike Wead? Heavy death metal riffs? Probably. But sorry, not this time. Great solos? Yes! Just don’t forget a horizon of Mike’s talent is wider and deeper and out the frames of the work, for example, for King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Hexenhaus in a name but a few.
The same with Tim and Matthieu – they are truly unique and forward thinking artists, sometimes they are “blocked” (figurally speaking) in the “limits” of their bands. Sometimes it’s hard to get away from the stereotypes connected to this or that artist involved. Consider Escape The Cult as a challenge, the experiment that shows that we are all together can bring totally unexpected music.
The years of experience shows the artist wants some fresh air and to think “outside the box”. I’m pleased that my musical ideas were forged with their individualism and soul and we’ve got absolutely unusual outcome. If you’d prefer to classify our debut to this or that field – progressive, rock, metal, avant-garde…yes, why not, it’s quite exciting if you hear something parallel to compare us with any other band. The reviews and feedbacks are totally opposite from the highest shouts to disappointment. Everything goes as it should go. Our child was born and we sincerely love “him”.
HTF: Who generally tends to write your material?
ETC: The entire album has been done in my home studio. It took no more than 2 weeks in total to compose, record and arrange all ideas. I’m a lefty, all my musical ideas are based mainly on bass (custom lefty) and sometimes on acoustic guitar turned upside down (I never change the order of strings). No success in finding the right rhythm guitarist led me to demo it myself and then pass on to Mike.
HTF: Who are your influences, both musical and non-musical?
ETC: Musically I’m from early 90’s … I always wanted to be a bass player and my first musical instrument was the 6-string acoustic guitar where I removed 2 strings straight away and began learn to play. I never did covers and didn’t play the songs of other bands. I always play my own music. Active bass playing with a strong and individual presence in the mix is what I love best… Jaco Pastorius, Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, D.D. Verni of OVERKILL, Ron Broden of CORONER and Robert Trujillo of the INFECTIOUS GROOVES’ era.
I like everything that “breaks the borders” and “on the edge”: from the great composers as Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, Schnittke to the bands like Mekong Delta, Cynic, Voivod. I collect old non-adapted Afro-Latin, Disco, Lounge & Cinematic music. I’ve completed more than 30 international projects in electronic/dance music, mainly in Soulful, Latin, Deep House styles.
Our “All You Want To” debut has in its in its bass core rich bossa nova, samba, funk influences.
HTF: How would you describe your sound to people?
ETC: It’s a celebration of good musical taste and art. A dialogue between mature musicians who don’t need to prove again and again to the listener what they can achieve. Our music is very demanding from our start to the end. From the beginning – the basis of compositions I‘ve delivered, further arrangements which Tim, Mike and Matthieu have improved, until the final model where every single note now has its own place, and where all ideas and meaning is embodied in the final story we call “All You Want To Escape The Cult”. It’s honest music, music on the crossover of many styles with a heavy bass influence and a touch of progressive, psychedelica. Not for a pure metal listener only, and there are few bands to compare to, I must admit. Escape The Cult is authentic and unique! If you are a sincere admirer of Tim Alexander’s diverse drumming, Mike Wead’s captivating leads and stunning solos, Matthieu Romarin’s powerful vocal magnetism in a really eccentric way of songwriting – you’ll get it in full!
HTF: What has been your most memorable experience in the business of music?
ETC: The most memorable experience is that I’m a lucky one who has a dream that came true. A chance to work with amazing musicians around the globe in different styles of music – it’s so exciting! I found that a creative person that lives in Brazil or Sweden wants the same as I do – to be heard and understood with their art. Every single collaboration has lots of an exceptional feeling, vibe and emotions. In my case I’d not call it business as well, all my projects were created in the name of music first.
HTF: If you could pick two bands to collaborate with, who would it be and why?
ETC: I’m a kind of a crazy and passionate musician. For me there are no borders to reach this or that artist or musician. Besides I’m the owner and head of independent electronic music label Kolonki Recordings from Krasnoyarsk City. As a producer-songwriter-remixer, I did several projects in Afro-Cuban-Brazilian (El Ritmo Siberia, Samberia), deep house /jazz-lounge (Le Nouvelle Audio Symbiozis), soulful / disco house (Deep Vintage) styles. I’ve done absolutely crazy collaborations with death metal vocalists sung in a deep house style, which was fun – the song ‘Your Sins’ with Per Johnansson of Satariel.
I’ve worked with Dan Swano and he was so kind to allow me the right to remix the NIGHTINGALE’s song ‘Glory Days’ and even re-sing the vocal hook. In the pipeline is the second album of my main international “Siberian Metal” band Kamlath together with my closer old time friend Max Konstantinov, our long-time axeman Mike Wead again and the wonderful Italian singer Marco Benevento of The Foreshadowing. A melodic mixture of death/doom with our own twist! Following my inspiration I never know which way I’ll go and which door I’ll knock on in the near future. There are some ideas to cooperate with other artists for the second ESCAPE THE CULT album.
HTF: What are your long term career goals?
ETC: To raise my projects to the highest level as possible. To go the distance is very hard, I think. I move forward to make everything in a time and place together with the artists I cooperate with.
HTF: Do you have any advice to give to fellow bands just starting up?
ETC: Be honest playing music. Try to create/compose your own thing. I personally think: it’s absolutely unimportant how many notes you play in a second – if you don’t want to, then just don’t do this. Make the chords resonate as if they are the last ones in your life! You are the best judge in everything you do. It is you who will say that you were weak here or the best. Listen to your heart and follow your inspiration. Being in a band is a tricky thing but if you found the ones who understand you – damn, you are a lucky one, when the creative process of composing is going smoothly try to take care of this feeling, protect it and keep the fire burning… do the best you can with your bandmates and never give up.
HTF: What has the next six months got in store for you and Escape The Cult?
ETC: Straight after the release there’s a plan to record the second album by the end of this year (2014). It will take much more time of course. I already have demos ready at least for 10 compositions, and lyrics for 5 songs are done!
