(interview)AMBASADOR ROUS-“Forest can also be very emotional, beautiful and brutal at the same time.”

This mysterious band comes from nearby Prekmurje region in Slovenia and they play black metal with some not so ordinary touch, so it was about time for me to go look for them in the Prekmurje forests. I found them and did an interview with them for my zine.

Welcome to my webzine. First, this is a very unusual name for a black metal band. How did you come up with the name because many black metal bands have more generic and evil names?

„Pozdravleni Kraykulla webzine“, as we would greet you in prekmurian dialect. The name Ambasador Rous is interpreted as in someone being a connection or an „ambassador“ between a nature and a mortal man. Rous is a paronym of a word rose, which in our way can have a lot of meanings, and in a way, it can represent a „regnum plantae“.  The highlight of it all, is the fact, that the idea arose in a youth club  called Ambasada, where an organiser by the name of „Rous“ held an event.

How many of you are in the band and could you present the members to the readers of this zine?

There are currently 9 ambasadors, being and performing in the forest of Büdinci, Goričko. Lord Büdin – father of our hills with his chosen messengers, forest troubadours and night bards.

I suppose that you live somewhere near the woods. Why are the forests and woods such inspiration for you? What do you think about less and less nature and more and more concrete and steel taking over this planet?

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Yes, we live in the woods. We are the woods. For all of us, the forests can be a whole „universe“ and we can find everything there. Not just food,shelter,resources,etc.. but also danger,fear,death, and even somewhat of a deeper connection. Our philosophy is not based on a ecological problem of Goričko, but more on a demographic issues of the land. The majority is old and dying, their offsprings are leaving, leaving the beautiful hillsides and fertile soil behind.

Are you Satanists? What do you think about Laveyan Satanism? Is the antichristian theme present in your music and lyrics?

No, we are not abrahamic, nor pagan. We are monotheistic forest religion, that is devoted to Lord Büdin, father of our hills and protector of all woods.

You had some live shows. Is the look like corpsepaint, spikes, bulletbelts and other stuff important for adding drama to the black metal show? Do you use it? How does your gig look like?

Like we stated before, we are not an ordinary black metal band, therefore those addons are not included in our arsenal. We perform as a forest with our Lord Büdin, spreding the words from the woods, about the woods.

Norwegian black metal vs rest of the world black metal. Which is better?

Every forest has its own flora and fauna, beautiful and special in its own way.

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Do you have lyrics in English or are you singing in your own Slovenian language? I heard the song on Bandcamp, what is that song about? When is the full ep, demo or album coming out?

Our lyrics are in Slovenian language, to be more specific, in a prekmurian dialect. The first lyrics were in English, but as time passed, woods changed and with it the inner circle, it all steered to a new course. „On je iz Büdinec“ means „He is from Büdinci“ and it is about Lord Büdin.  To answer the last question phrase: we have released a full live show from Breka Fest X, where we play a full set of our limited EP „Lejs je nej več isti“. If the forest and soil will be fertile, our debut album will be released in the red solistice of 2018.

Why is black metal so emotional, brutal but beautiful? I heard once that black metal is an ugly thing, not for everyone. Do you agree?

Well, forest can also be very emotional, beautiful and brutal at the same time. And even for someone, a forest could be an ugly thing. Do you agree?

Thank you for this opportunity, we are grateful.

„Sakši san svoj krijž nosi“

https://ambasadorrous.bandcamp.com/releases

(record review)From Paris with melody-HIGHTOWER:”Club Dragon”(Krod Records)

CLUB DRAGON FRONT COVER

The new album by French melodic punk hardcore band Hightower is out on the great label Krod Records. France has a great music underground scene and I enjoy discovering new bands, like this one. The album contains twelve songs of beautiful structured and played melodic punkrock with some hardcore influences. The lyrics are in English language and they deal mostly with personal issues. There are also some faster paced songs on the album with energetic fast drumming and short in your face attitude like “Ernests Castle” or the excellent opener “Numero Uno”. The only thing that could be a little tighter and kinda more harsher and a bit more convincing are the vocals. Dont get me wrong, the vocals are melodic, the singer is great, but it wouldnt hurt to do some shouted parts with the more clean and melodic parts. But, thats only me, that is the beauty of punk zines that we can blabber about the records we like and the records we like less. This one is a great record and I am very happy I discovered this band. I would love to see the guys live, I am sure this songs sound just awesome live. Top songs for me:”Numero Uno”, Titty Twister”, “Tournesol”.

8,5/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxieU2cFuWY&feature=youtu.be