Thanks to him
Hello Jimmy, could you introduce yourself ? (And when did you joined Loch Vostok)Hey, I'm Jimmy from Loch Vostok (obviously). Started playing bass some 14 years ago. I am probably one of few bass players who started with bass straight away and never even tried to play guitar (until much later). I began rehearsing with the band back in September 2010, right before a 30 date European tour, and the chemistry we had together was just great! So I finally ended up joining the band full time in January 2011. We have now recorded and released two albums since then.
Do you played in many bands before ?
I joined my first band at age 13 but I haven't really released anything of value before Loch Vostok. My most recent band, Planet Rain, this year finally released the album I recorded with them two years ago ('Antichton'). It's a death metal album with heavy focus on melody. Check it out!
How could you describe Loch Vostok ?
In my opinion the term extreme progressive metal suits us well. We can easily go from something inspired by, for example, Queensrÿche to something out of Watain's book in the same song, haha! There are no boundaries to what we are allowed to do in this band and that is what we and our fans love about us. We are not just another progressive band that rip-off Dream Theater.
How far are you involved with the composition of the songs ?
Arranging and writing my own bass lines so far. 'Dystopium' was already written and recorded when I joined so we just ended up re-recording the bass with some of my ideas instead. For the new one we put the songs together as a band even though Teddy wrote most of the material. We all live so far apart so we don't get together as much as we would need for all of us to be a part of the entire songwriting process. For the next album we are talking about having a different approach to it so it's probably going to be a while before we start to record something new.
Loch Vostok has already released 5 albums within 8 years, you are a very productive band, but each of your albums sounds differently; so how do you find your inspiration ?
From everything. Grocery shopping, driving, working, lawn mowing, doing laundry... The trick is to actually remember that great melody or rhythm you just thought of. Good thing we rehearse in Teddy's studion (BlueFlame
Productions) if inspirations strikes us during rehearsals!Why your lyrics are so dark ?
The lyrics are about what's ruining the world. Be it religion, politics, banks stealing from the people. That's where we gather our darkness. So far there has been an overall theme to each album: Dark Logic - serial killers, Destruction Time Again! - politics, Reveal No Secrets - conspiracys, Dystopium - religion, V: The Doctrine Decoded - capitalism.
No sweet songs in your band...are you afraid about it ? (Laugh)
We're not afraid of ballads, we really just don't like to play them, haha! But seriously, we do have a couple of "sweet" songs. "Marrow", "Navigator", "Common Ground" to name a few...
You where on stage 2 years ago with Therion and a norvegian band 'Leprous"; that year you played again with Leprous but your kind of music is very far from them, how about that choice ?
Leprous is just a great bunch of guys! When we were asked if we wanted to go on tour with them again there wasn't any hesitation at all. We get along really nicely (which is important if you're gonna share a tour buss for a couple of weeks). And music wise, I think that our music functions as a good warm-up for the crowd. We are both progressive bands but while they are more avantgarde we lean towards the extreme with a more "brutal" approach.
Well, in France, metal music has no help from our medias, what about the situation of metal in Sweden ?
Mainstream media tends to mostly write about those horrible "core" bands or the really, really big bands (Iron Maiden, Metallica, AC/DC...). It's a shame since we have tons of great smaller/underground bands that unfortunally go by unnoticed by alot people, even in this internet age. More and more bands are giving up on Sweden and focusing on the rest of Europe instead.
How was the audience in France with you during your last tours
France has always treated us nicely and we always love to play there! Great crowds, nice people, beautiful cities, good food and drinks. We can't wait to come back!
Xavier: So could we hope to hear and see you soon in our country ?
Jimmy: As soon as possible!
Well, I'm talking already about the next "Loch Vostok european tour"...wich choice should be better for you , to
be the healinner's band or be on stage with another one ? Of course it would be nice to one day tour in our own name with a full stage production, but at the level we are at it's better for us to be the support band and try to kick more ass than the headliners.
Do you have other projects ?
I've been touring with doom metal veterans Isole for about a year now, as a session member. We are talking about recording an album together sometime next year but that is not set in stone just yet. It's fun to do something completely different from what I normally do with Loch Vostok. Other than that I've just been confirmed as one of the guests on a project called The Experiment no Q. The Italian mastermind behind it is gathering musicians from all over the world. It will be fun to see/hear what comes out of it.
And maybe a silly question...why do you like to play metal ?
I was born into it. My parents listens to bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Europe, Bon Jovi, Kiss. I think I was 9 when I saw a guy on TV dressed up as Gene Simmons singing "I Love it Loud" and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen! That is when the dream of being a "rock star" began. Of course my taste differs a bit from back then (I still love Kiss, though). Later on my brother introduced me to Manowar and that is when I finally started to do something about my dream.
Do you listening music when you are at home ? Wich kind ?
I don't listen to as much music at home as I did a couple of years ago. It probably has to do with me practicing, rehearsing and being on stage more often than back then. I listen to everything from AOR to black metal, with a special place in my heart for heavy metal and 70ths rock.
The top 5 of your favorite albums ?
This list could be all Manowar, but I have narrowed it down to one album/band. These are the top 5 albums I regularly return too:
1. Manowar - Sign of the Hammer
2. Bathory - Twilight of the Gods
3. Hell - Human Remains
4. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
5. Journey - Frontiers
Do you believe that you can leave the metal music away one day ?
No. I even have a quote from Manowar tattooed on my arm. "Die for metal".
Thanks a lot Jimmy, and hope to see you soon
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Interview done by xavier74
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