After my adventurous interviews with AUSSITOT MORT and SUNDOWNING, IDIOTEQ’s back with the newest chat with SHRINE, also from Moment Of Collapse Records.
This Swedish sludgy intensive post hardcore / post metal machine released a demo and now they’re back with the newest EP called “Aether”. We took this perfect chance to chit-chat with these guys and catch them before it’s too late and before they become metal stars ;) There’s no need for a longer introduction. Just play the song below and learn about the band in this brief chat below.
Hey! What’s up, guys! Thanks for taking this interview. Please introduce yourself and your new pack.
Hey man, no problem! We are a four guys from Sweden trying to make some unique hybrid between hardcore-sludge and progressive metal. Daniel on drums, Marcus on bass, Linus on guitar and Gus on guitar and lead vocals.
What’s the story behind the name? I see darkness! [laughs]
Our name represents the way we think of music. Music has its way of being almost religious to the listeners. The initial idea of the name came from putting words to how we heard our music.
OK. Do you all live in Linköping?
Yes.
[smiles] What are some of your primary influences?
We all listen to different styles of music. Daniel listen to lots of death and black metal while Linus listen to underground sludge bands and 70’s prog rock. Gus is into hardcore music and psychedelic rock. Marcus is a straight up rock/metal guy. Our musical differences makes this entity really exciting.
What were some non-musical influences on the new record?
We tend to draw our attention to more psychological influences, how the human and reptilian mind works. But movies and books are also a big influence on us.
Is “Aether” your only record apart from the 2010 demo? You’re not very productive, are you? [laughs]
Yes it is. But it’s basically just a demo for our upcoming album. We have spent almost entirely 2011 and 2012 writing songs. I guess we’re just a bunch of perfectionists.
Tell us about the artwork of the EP. Is there a deeper story behind it?
The majority of our lyrics is in a way dystopian kind of like george orwell’s “1984”.
We decided to make the element of aether, that of what the higher gods breathe rather than air as regular humans, like a metaphor for how the individual feels towards the ‘big brother-society’.How the individual tries to feel free but always realise that the feeling of freedom is controlled.
The artwork represents controlled freedom, aether and the “big brother”.
How did you team up with Moment Of Collapse records to put it out on vinyl? How did you form a relationship with those guys?
We first heard of them through Victor, a friend in IN THE HEARTS OF EMPERORS that is signed with MOC. When we started the booking of our tour we sent them an email for a request to set up a show for us in Hamburg. Which resulted in the label hearing us and offered us a deal.
Are you distributing it in other formats?
We are distributing a CD-Release of Aether on our own that we’re still selling on our shows.
How are you feelings about that record at the moment?
We are very thankful that we’ve got so much positive feedback and response on our EP. This EP got us signed to Moment of Collapse so we’re really happy.
Please pick one song on the EP and share a writing/recording story – something we’d only know because you told us [smiles].
At one time Gus left the band and was gone almost 8 months. This was in late 2010. We didn’t know what to do and if we were about to breakup the band. Then we wrote ‘Delusional Kings’. That’s the first song we did after our first 2010 release. We recorded a crappy version of it with my phone and in some way Gus luckily heard this and immediately joined the band again. At that time we all agreed on what sort of music we wanted to do.
What or who would you say is your biggest inspiration when writing lyrics and why?
Something that’s always been a big inspiration is how our mind works and what terrible things we’re able do to each other.
What about the full length? Any plans to release one?
We’re doing at tour through Sweden, Denmark and Germany in March and April with our friends in SNAILKING. After that our plans are to find a suitable studio and producer and start the whole recording process.
You’ve played only a handful of shows so far. What caused the big gap between September 2010 and April 2012?
The biggest cause of the gap is when Gus decided to leave the band for a while and then come back. But also the time of writing songs and being in the studio recording. But I guess, at the time, we didn’t realise that you really need to put yourself out there to get any attention.
What are your touring plans for this year?
We start our spring tour in Sweden 29th of March and end our tour in Germany 5th of April.
Do you have any other side projects going on right now?
Gus sings and plays guitar in another band that’s doing some atmospheric-rock music. But the rest in the band doesn’t have the time.
Tell us something about the scene in Linköping? There is quite strong hardcore scene in your hometown, right? Do you go to punk shows?
We all grew up in this town. As kids there were nothing much to do than go to punk shows. Some of us still try to go, but the scene here is almost gone. There are still great bands around here but it’s not as big as it used to be. Gus usually works as a sound engineer at most of the underground shows around here.
What do you think the future of music looks like? How would you prefer it to be?
To make a living as a musician nowadays almost seems impossible. As music is being seen to be something that’s supposed to be free. And with the Internet there’s just so many bands and artists available to us.
There’s a lot of bands out there today that just sounds like one band doing the same song over and over again. The metal scene is starving and it needs new exciting bands with new ideas and that’s what we’re trying to do with SHRINE.
Cool [smiles]. We’re still not that far from the New Year’s Eve [smiles]. What music have you been into this year?
Linus is really into underground bands like KEELHAUL, KONGH and RUSSIAN CIRCLES but also lots of 70’s progrock. Gus is into BREACH, WOVENHAND, THE CURE and AUTOLUX. Marcus iPod is filled with CULT OF LUNA, RED FANG, KVELERTAK and THE GHOST OF A THOUSAND and Daniel has been into some AMENRA, GHOST, DRUDKH and WOVENHAND.
Do you have any resolutions for 2013? [smiles]
To make a great tour and a great record and hopefully make friends along the way.
Thanks for the chat, guys. I’m sorry if I asked you questions you hate to answer [smiles]. Hope there weren’t too many of them [laughs].
No problem.Thanks for taking interest and I hope you got what you need! Let’s keep in touch!
