Today, we sat down with Crom from Orkrist to discuss their start in music, type of music listened to growing up, and much more! Be sure to check out the music from Orkrist below after the interview.
Interview:
How did you get your start in music?
I (speaking for myself, Crom – vocals, keyboards and composing) never played on some instrument, but I loved atmospheric metal music. I was writing some reviews for a local underground zine, and once I told to myself: “Let’s try to play something real, not just write about the others”. My age was already pretty late (23 ???). Question was which instrument: I did not have a good relationship to the guitar (too complicated, even I love it’s sound), drums are too loud to have them at home and I decided for keyboards. That offers many possibilities, you can even produce some drums and guitar there, and I thought – to push the keys, that must be easy (wasn’t 😊 ). And I always wished to be a singer – what was a very challenging step through some fails, before it got to some normal shape.
What type of music did you listen to while growing up?
First metal band (before only Beatles)was Iron Maiden. I like them till today, the old albums. I just did not feel wellwhen they separated their ways with Bruce Dickinson, as it seemed to be a business step.For me there is no other band which has so much good songsand albums. And it is not just heavy metal, but also epic songs/hymns. Close after that Helloween and their early days. Also great voice and melodies.
Then a harder wave came into the world (death and black metal), which I did not find that interesting, but in the early 90’s some bands started to play atmospheric/melancholic (and still hard music). I was completely fck up when I heard piano and violin in 93 with My Dying Bride together with death metal growl, then female voice with Theatre of Tragedy, later fantasy touch like Bal Sagoth or Summoning (the last band inspired me mostly).
What are fun stories you can share while you’re in the studio recording music?
Well, 1st visit in the studio is always a surprise and checkpoint how ready you are. When I started to record vocals, after 1st verse in the 1st song the sound engineer has played to me how does it sound and I almost cried. It was sooo bad, and I even did not want to believe that is my voice. And what does somebody unskilled do in such a case? Of course ask the sound engineer which effects does he have to make it better 😊. But then it somehow came and I managed it also without effects.
What is your latest song or album you can share with us?
Latest album is called LUEA (Lived Unhappily Ever After) from last year (2023). Probably most famous track is Prince of Melancholy what was our first video clip ever. You might ask why so late (if we had 3 albums before). That is a cost topic. Underground bands simply don’t have money, are glad to record something and invest money there.
If people who does not know us would ask what they can expect from our music, I would tell: hard music, but melodies, female voice against brutal mail voice to keep the beauty and beast concept, keyboards, diverse songs and sometimes a medieval touch. There are more energic, more harder bands, but if you like melodies, you might try.
Where can our fans find you on social media for any music updates?
Classic social media like Facebook (facebook.com/orkristofficial) or Instagram. Feel free to follow us. But keep in mind please – the virtual world is not the real world. You will never absorb virtually a concert atmosphere. If we should once be closer to you, come to the concert and enjoy it together with us. Greetings from Slovakia.
https://www.facebook.com/orkristofficial
https://www.instagram.com/orkristband
https://orkrist.bandcamp.com/album/luea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YAlheOoIoE
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4e9WmaTst5qJ1jl0JpHs7x
Music:
