Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Hailing from Italy, KRAMPUS is an 8 piece folk death metal band who launched themselves to the forefront of the folk metal scene. Krampus offers an eclectic array of folk sounds with the usage of bagpipes, flutes, whistles, violins, and the Irish Bouzouki partnered with the modern metal sounds of heavy guitars, aggressive vocals, and melodic keyboards. In addition to creating a new breed of sound, Krampus focus’ on their lyrical content while addressing themes such as issues with humanity and nature, and environmental awareness. Some days ago I had a chance to interview Filippo, Krampus’ lead vocalist, please join our conversation…

Hi Filippo and welcome to MSFinland. How’s your day going?

Hi! Fine thank you!

In a short time you’ve managed to launched Krampus to the forefront of the folk metal scenes. Please tell me how all began? and please present me your band-members…

Well, it all began when i read an announcement for another band looking for a singer. Unfortunatly the band wasnt exactly my genre but they forwarded my contact to Davide, Krampus at that time were looking for a new singer and after a first reharsal i knew it was what i wanted to do!

Omg, we are so many, well: Davide (bass), Marika (violin), Leonardo (Lead guitar), Alessandro (rhytm guitar), Carlo (drums), Tommaso (Keyboards and Synths), Matteo ( Bagpipes, whistles, bouzouki and all that folky stuff) …and me, Filippo (lead vocals).

I’ve found out that “Krampus” is “a mythical creature recognized in Alpine countries and it has something to do with Christmas and naughty children”… so why did you chose this name and how are you related to its origins?

Well, Krampus is the demon of winter that rages his anger once a year. In the 5th of December they are set free to unleash their rage and free the villages from the rage of winter for the rest of the season. As Krampus punish bad childrens we go against the misbehave of mankind.

Which bands have influenced you the most?

Well all the music i listen to, influence me in a way or the other, i grew with black metal, power metal and melodic death metal and that’s something clearly hearable in our music. We try to bring something fresh and innovative inside a very “traditional” genre, that might sound as an oxymoron but that’s our goal.

Your bio says that “Krampus offers an eclectic array of folk sounds with the usage of bagpipes, flutes, whistles, violins, and the Irish Bouzouki partnered with the modern metal sounds of heavy guitars, aggressive vocals, and melodic keyboards.” Quite an interesting mix… so with other words, how would you explain your genre to someone who hasn’t ever heard of “modern melodic folk metal”?

We tried to do a step forward in the folk metal genre, we aren’t mixing the classical folk jigs with metal but we fused everything in a new shape. We are looking at the future and not at the past. Usually folk metal is too focused on what was, rather than what will be, we are aware of our roots and aware of our history, and we try to bring all this on our tomorrow.

You released your first EP, Shadows of Our Time on march 2011 and the second EP “Kronos’ Heritage” came out a couple of months later. Why this choice to release them so near to each other?

The shift in the music was so strong that we felt the need to communicate it to everyone, Kronos Heritage was a statement , a declaration of intents. We wanted to start to spread our message as soon as possible, with music and lyrics.

In 2011 you won the Rock the Nation Award which lead Krampus to ink a deal with Noise Art Records. How this contract changed the band’s life and activities?

Winning that award changed our life completely, we started to make our first steps in the professional world of music and that is a dream that every musician would love to come true. We have the great opportunity to spread our word to a way bigger audience thanks to the support of NoiseArt and Rock the Nation and that’s a chance that we won’t waste.

Now you’re working on your debut full-length, which will be released in august 2012, right? Technically speaking, will the sound follow the foot steps of Kronos’ Heritage? or how it differs from it?

The sound of the new album is a continuation of what we started in Kronos Heritage. This is our first full lenght where we try to define our own style following the modern and powerful direction we started before.

What can you tell me about the songwriting process and lyric-themes?

I’m the author of all the music with help from the other band members to define the songs, Lyrics are written by me and Davide, sometimes alongside Leo. The lyrical process is really hard since we usually come up with something we want to say, to communicate and we spend countless hours trying to find the perfect form to reach our message. Lyrics are a strong part of our work since it’s where we put our message to the people. We have the dream to make people think on what we are telling them, we would like our fans to think over what we are saying and maybe someday act to change their world.

How the things are proceeding in the studio?

We are finally over with the studio-recordings, and now we’re working on the mastering!

Anything else you would like to tell me about this new album? cover-art? album title?

Still top secret, we’ll update you as soon as we can 😉

You’ve been confirmed this years Heidenfest and Metalcamp, compliments! Do you have already other things in mind to support your upcoming album?

We’ll attend as you said Heidenfest and Metalcamp, those are wonderful opportunities to spread our music and words to a brand new audience, we hope the future will bring us even more great chances with the support of our label and booking agency.

Just recently your guitarists Alessandro and Leonardo have signed an endorsment deal with Charvel guitars. Would you like to tell us more about this deal?

We are very proud of this endorsement deal, Charvel guitars has seen something in our two guitar players and we are sure that this collaboration will bring great things for both.

If you could have an unlimited power for one day’s time, how would you use it?

Probably to feel sorry for not being enough to beat Chuck Norris.

Where do you wish to be in 5 years from now?

I would lie if don’t say that i would like to tour the world and spread my music to everyone. That’s what we are working for 🙂

Thanks for this interview Filippo, and to close it with glory, what would you like to say to our readers and to your fans?

First of all i would like to thank you for this interview, then i would like to thank our fans for the immense support and love they keep giving us, if we are here it’s because of You! .. and as always… Fear the Krampus!

Interview by Tarja Virmakari

For more information, please visit:
www.krampusfolk.com
www.myspace.com/krampusfolk
http://twitter.com/Krampusfolk