http://www.myspace.com/psychonaut4
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Psychonaut-4/130368643662027
http://www.lastfm.de/music/Psychonaut+4
Nepho - Drums
André - Bass
Drifter - Guitars
Glixxx - Guitars
Graf von Baphomet - Vocals
Every scene needs some bad boys to keep things interesting, to fuck stuff up, to deliver the scandals for the stories told in the pubs of this world, in short: to keep metal dangerous. There's a fine line between genius and madness, between transcendence and chaos. One band to tread this fine line between fire and fire are PSYCHONAUT 4 from Tbilisi. The suicidal live antics of these maniacs have a grim reputation which has already started to spread to Europe. Is it all just about image? All just show? Like it or not, but PSYCHONAUT 4's music can definitely live up to the hype. Their split EP with UNJOY and EURYTHMIE is pure gold and their current album "Have a nice trip" even goes one step further and totally lives up to any international standards.
One of the standout trademarks of P4's sound is the sick vocal performance of singer Graf von Baphomet, which is disrupting the depressive atmospheres with feeble screams from the abyss and a creeping hysterical madness, only the likes of It (ABRUPTUM) or Varg Vikernes managed to deliver. Graf von Baphomet, how do you come up with weird stuff like this?
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| Graf von Baphomet |
Your first demo was titled "40%", which is the amount of alcohol in Vodka. How does Vodka influence your songwriting?
Vodka plays a very "important role" for our band during songwriting and also the recordings in the studio. I can't say that I am an alcoholic, but I like to drink. Probably, vodka helps us to open our soul and to write and to record tracks that many users like because of their sincerity.
While listening to your stuff I somehow felt reminded of BURZUM's "Filosofem" and the early SHINING (S) material. Which bands are the most important influences on P4's sound in your opinion?
I never thought that our music could be compared to BURZUM's music. Nevertheless everyone sees different influences in our music. Many people think that we're taking inspiration from the music of such bands as SHINING or LIFELOVER. I can't say that they did not influence us at all, it would be silly to deny. We greatly respect the music of these bands. But I am a more versatile person to derive inspiration only from music similar to P4. Talking about inspiration, I've been greatly influenced by the image of a vocalist of one Georgian post punk band called "Grapefruit" – the image of a silent, modest, sometimes pretentious, psychopathic addict. Also I've been influenced by such bands as AGATA KRISTI, NAUTILUS POMPILIUS. Regarding Black Metal I would choose such bands as: HORNA, SATANIC WARMASTER, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, LEVIATHAN, BURZUM, GOATMOON and many others. I can't name everyone, one blog wouldn't be enough.
You've been around since 2010. Can you please give us a short history of PSYCHONAUT 4?
As you probably already know, we formed P4 in the summer of 2010. We started out with a different drummer, Borger, but he left the band for personal resons. Anyway we are still close friends. Our first concert was a shock for Tbilisi's underground. Everyone talked about the band which was performing in such a hysterical manner and that vocalist who was almost brought on a scene with cut hands. It was something new for Georgia. We never hoped that someone would actually be interested in releasing our demo. The band was almost unknown, performing an underground genre in Georgia. We just wanted to make some copies as souvenirs for us and as a gift for friends. But as it seems, some labels found our music quite interesting and at last the demo was released. And after the release we got a great number of letters with delighted responses about our music. I personally was not ready for that, I don't feel at ease regarding such an attention from people listening to our work. Generally I don't like to make a lot of contact with people, but during this year I had to get in touch with too many people. For me it was like torture, and I decided to delete my account from Facebook. Sorry, but talking to some of you was a drag for me. So let's return to 2011. Later we got proposals for the recording of a split and taking part in a compilation etc. So 2011 was quite satisfying for us. 2012 was the first time we played a concert outside our country. And we released our debute album. That's how our little history looks like.
What's your fascination for Depressive and Suicidal Black Metal? Is life really that bad? There has to be something positive, too?
Black metal plays a great role in my life. Probably it's the only thing that I can say I love. In DSBM and Suicidal Black Metal I am attracted by the atmosphere, the atmosphere of crazyness, hysteria, solitude, loneliness, pain, sorrow, despair... I would not say that I am a highly depressive person. I am rather a psychologically unbalanced person with suicidal inclinations. I have a feeling that I have a split personality, and these persons who live inside of me deeply hate each other. I am often obsessed with it. I prefer to be alone, lie with a pillow on my head not to hear outside sounds. I don't like guests, don't like to watch movies, don't like to communicate with unknown people. By the way it brings me a lot of problems on my work.
What's the effect of your music on yourself? Does it give you strength? Does it heal you in a way? Or is it a way to get rid of bad emotions, depressions, sadness?
For me it is a way to pour out my heart. It does not decrease the negativity, but sometimes it helps me return to reality. Like the self-mutilation releases me from apathy, the music of P4 reminds me that I am still alive.
Yeah, I saw the pictures from your live shows with your arms totally covered in blood. So it's not only a show effect to shock people?
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| Graf v. Baphomet |
But the pictures look really grim. Did you ever get in trouble with promoters or club owners because of all this blood and excess at your live shows?
Well, the photos from our concerts were banned on the official homepage of a club, where we often played our live shows. The organizers from Armenia strongly prohibited me to cut myself on the scene. Moreover, they even banned me to drink or smoke during a show!
You're probably talking about your stunts at Highland Metal festival. I heard a couple of stories about your show and some of you guys being totally drunk and out of control. What exactly happened there in Armenia?
In my point of view, nothing special happened. Apparently some people in Armenia have never seen how one must drink beer and vodka in a proper way. To be more exact, during our tour in Armenia we were always drunk. In some pub we just had some fun: we were pouring a beer (by the way we were doing this because Armenian beer sucks ...), our drummer was eating something from the floor, and we were singing. Oh, and Nepho, our drummer, hit a car. So the next day everyone knew about it and said that we are rowdy drunkards and hooligans. In Tbilisi we did much more savage things, but no one ever said anything. And we are on the black lists in all pubs now. But it didn't stop us from drinking the whole night in a park in the center of the city. By the way, the only plus of concert organizators in Armenia is the ideal sound they're getting on their shows and in their venues.
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| André (bass guitar) |
The main part of the music was written by Andre. Glixxx is also involved in the songwriting process. "Antihuman" and "Have a Nice Trip" were written by him. But mainly he's participating in the arrangement process. By the way, Drifter also wrote a song for Psychonaut 4. It entered the album under the name "Hate Parade".
In the past few years there have been quite a lot of Depressive/Suicidal/Post Black Metal Bands. What makes you guys different from the rest?
The first difference between us and other bands is that we are from Post Soviet Georgia and we are playing Post Soviet Suicidal Black Metal. And what the difference is in terms of music and visuals, I think the listeners will find out by themselves better.
Obviously some labels from all around the world have already found out that you're kinda special. In fact you're one of the very few bands from the Caucasus which had a contract with a label from central Europe. Your Split-EP "Tired, numb and still alive" was released by Der Neue Weg in Germany. How did you get in touch with them?
Quite a lot of labels from Europe are interested in our music, and we are cooperating with four european labels at the moment. We got in touch with "Der Neue Weg" due to the guys from EURHYTHMIE/SHROUD OF DISTRESS. They invited us to participate in a split release. And I think that split turned to be very amazing and interesting. Crystoph - the owner of "Der Neue Weg" is a very nice and communicative person, we are happy that we will cooperate with him during our "40%" Demo re-release on CD.
You're also in contact with Kim Carlsson (ex-LIFELOVER, HYPOTHERMIA). I've read about your tour plans ...
Yes, thats true, Kim Carlsson proposed us to go on tour in Europe with Hypothermia. I was pleasantly surprised that he decided to invite such a new band like us to tour with him. The tour was supposed to take place in October, but we had to postpone it till March/April next year. I think that the people who will come to our shows in Europe will get much emotions, as we are working really hard on the material for this tour. We will perform songs from all our releases and also some new material, which is not recorded yet. But I am sure, people will like it. Kim also puts a lot of effort in the organization of the tour. Special thanks for that to him.
Let's talk a little bit about your new album "Have a nice trip", which was just released via Depressive Illusions records. First of all congratulations! I think it turned our really well. Can you tell us more about the "Trip" in the title? Where do you want your listeners to go to while they're listening to the album?
Thank you! We'd like our fans to enjoy themselves, while listening to our album, just like they were tripping on DXM. Myself I love to listen to our album very much. It's like a drug, which you want more and more. But maybe it seems so only for me.
My favourite track on the album is "Lethargic Dialogue". I love the dynamics and the heavy midtempo drumbeat, which reminds me of BURZUM once again. But every time I listen to the song I feel like killing myself. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
I think it's good, because you've touched the emotions that we put in this song.
You released the album on tape only. What's the reason behind this decision? Are you planning to do a proper CD or vinyl release at some point?
"Have a nice trip" will also be released on CD by the Korean label "Solitude and Despair Music" in the near future. The release is planned for November/December this year. Also it is planned to release the album on vinyl, but it's still too early to talk about it. The album was released on tape first, because the Korean label ran into some problems and could not afford an album release simultaneously to the tape version. But I think our fans weren't too disappointed, because we uploaded the album to the internet for free downloading.Do you think you'll survive long enough to do a second album? What are your plans for the future?
We already have some new material, we only need to record it. So I think that we will shoot several releases in your head, or rather in your ears. We have plans to release a split with MOLOCH (Ukr) and FORCE FED LIFE (USA). Then we are planning to record another EP, which will probably be done by March 2013.
Discography
Depressive Illusions Records
Tape, limited to 100 copies.
Special edition comes with razorblades & patches.
1. Serial Lier
2. Parasite
3. Antihuman [Drug=Друг]
Der Neue Weg Productions
CD, limited to 500 copies
1. Unjoy - Suicide Devotee
2. Eurythmie - Outbreak of Catalepsy
3. Eurythmie - Failed Healing Practicable
4. Eurythmie - Eicosapentaenoic Acid
5. Psychonaut 4 - Drop by Drop
6. Psychonaut 4 - Nackskott (Lifelover cover)
Depressive Illusions Records
Tape, limited to 500 copies
1. Intro
2. Parasite
3. Lethargic Dialogue
4. Have a Nice Trip
5. Overdose was the Best Way to Die
6. Intro
7. Pseudo
8. Drop by Drop
9. Hate Parade
10. Antihuman [Drug=Друг]
11. ყლე
