Inner Missing Interview

1.


    Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?



Hello everybody! Now we are mapping out concerts in 2016: our participation in Metal Blast Festival (Cairo, Egypt) and Noise Metal Fest (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) is announced and we are still looking for more shows! And, of course, we do not forget about working at new songs – some of them will be performed at the upcoming gigs.



2.In August you had released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?



On the new album we tried to make the structure of the tracks more complicated, the arrangements deeper and the sound more atmospheric – and we guess we’ve done it. Of course, betterment of the sound’s quality was also a very important part of the work and, thanks to our sound producer Max Morton who not only made his best to unlock our material’s potential, but also helped us with the arrangements, our album sound much more mature than any of our previous works. The Sentinel And The Murderer was as well the first album on which violin was used –a great thanks for it goes to Oleg Kalayda.





3.In the beginning the music was more doom/death metal, but the newer material has been more goth metal and depressive rock, what was the decision behind going into this musical direction?



I cannot say there was a decision at all – when I’m going to compose a new song, it is not like: “Well, now I want to write some funeral stuff – let’s do it slow then” or “OK, now gothic genre is more fashionable, so, I’ll add more lachrymose melodies”. I just write what comes to my mind and in most cases this process is uncontrolled. Maybe it’s not the way professionals do it but I suppose it’s the way to make sincere and original music.



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?



As usual, in most cases lyrics are based on my own experience or on the stories which I face in my professional (as a forensic pathologist) life - for example, “Arrows” is about a man who shot himself with a crossbow. Sometimes I use works of literature for inspiration – it is the way “The Castle” was created. I never feel lack of inspiration for creating new lyrics – I just write words which claim it.



5.Originally the band was called 'Odium', what was the decision behind the name change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Inner Missing'?



The reason to change the band’s name was trivial – there were too many bands with exactly the same name (18 if to believe Encyclopaedia Metallum). The name 'Inner Missing' was invented by our drummer RF (left the band soon after the release of “All The Lifeless”)and I think that even for him the meaning of the band’s name is a riddle. We knowingly do not give any exact interpretation of the band’s name providing this opportunity to the listener.







6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?



In 2011 we supported Saturnus in Minsk (Belarus) and it was incredible! We haven’t seen such a passionate audience nor before, nor after this show – I hope, one day we will return to Belarus again. If to speak about our stage performance, I can honestly say that we’re not a professional band, and so, in most cases our performance depends on the public’s response and on our own mood as well. Another peculiarity is that in most cases on the concerts we play only the songs that are not recorded and released yet – we live through these songs until the album’s release and then they become independent and obtain their own separate life which does not need our participation.



7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?



As already stated we will visit Egypt and Mongolia in 2016 – and I hope, some other countries, but, of course, it depends on local promoters.



8.The new album was self released, are you open to working with another record label again in the future?



The new album is still not released at all – it’s just available for download. As all our previous works, it will be released on CDs by Darknagar Records – it’s just a matter of time.



9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by your fans?



As usual, we get a lot of positive comments and reviews from all over the world and a bunch of displeased grunts from Russia – local fans, obviously, cannot forgive us for betrayal of orthodox Doom\Death. I never take any of the comments seriously because I do not earn money by music, and so, I can afford doing whatever pleases me and nobody else.



10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?



We share our drummer Albe with Karma Rassa, but I think that it will be more correct to ask Karma Rassa about their state of affairs – I simply do not have any actual data.



11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?



As practice shows, in planning of the band’s development and future I’m always wrong. In 2008, when it all began, I never imagined that I’ll use opera singing or that keyboards will become the leading instrument. Of course, the band’s evolution obeys some laws, but these laws are a mystery for me.



12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?



I still listen to Doom, Gothic metal and Darkwave, and even now I often find new original bands in these styles. My Dying Bride, Katatonia, Moonspell, Paradise Lost, Diary Of Dreams and Novembre are still my favorites and I do not think that time will change it. Besides, in recent years I become interested in Progressive metal and rock and post-rock music and bands like Agora Fidelio and Naïve had a great impact on me.



13.What are some of your non musical interests?



Literature, photography and tourism.



14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?



Listen to the music and support your favorite bands. Hope to see you soon!

Grime/Circle Of Molesters/Argento Records/2015 CD Review

 Grime  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  heavy  form  of  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2015  album  "Circle  of  Molesters"  which  was  released  by  Argento  Records.

  Dark  and  experimental  sound  effects  start  off  the  album  and  after  a  few  seconds  the  music  starts  getting  more  heavy  and  melodic adding  in  doom  metal  style  riffing  along  with  some  drum  beats  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  leads  to  the  music  going  into  more  of  a  sludge  direction  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

   Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  screams  and  some  of  the  fast  parts  use  semi  blast  beats  and  also  add  a  touch  of  grindcore  to  the  music  while  they  are  not  rarely  used  with  the  music  being  mostly  sludge/doom  metal  and  some  songs  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  crust  and  hardcore  style  shouting  and  when  solos  and  leads  are  used  briefly  they  are  very  dark  and  melodic  sounding  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length and  one  song  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  growling  vocals.

  Grime  creates  another  album  that  remains  true to  the  sludge  and  doom metal  style  of  previous  recordings  and  keeps  everything  very  heavy  from  beginning  to  ending  of  the  recording,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  hate,  drugs,  suicide  and  despair  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grime  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  sludge  metal,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Get  Immortal"  "Sulphorous  Veins"  and  "Orgiastic  Rite". 8  out  of  10.

     

The King Is Blind/Our Father/Cacophonous Records/2016 CD Review

  The  King  Is  Blind  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Our  Father"  which  will  be  released  in  2016  by  Cacophonous  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  old  school  death  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  blast  beats,  growls  and  screams  a  high  seconds  later  and  you  can  also  hear  a  lot  of  blast beats in  the  music  along  with  a  touch  of  grindcore  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  sound  very  dark  and  melodic.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  back  up  gang  shouts along  with  a  touch  of  d  beat  can  be  heard  in  the  music  at  time  while  some  of the  slower  riffs  bring  in  dark  sounding  melodies  and  doom  metal  elements  and  they  also  update  the  sound  by  adding  in  modern  metal  style  riffing.

  There  is  also  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants  on  one  of  the  tracks  and  they  also  add  in  keyboards,  clean  playing  and  spoken  word  parts  at  times  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  throughout the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts and  you  can  also  hear  a  slight  black  metal  influence  at  times.

  The  King  Is  Blind  continue  the  old  school  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  from  previous  recordings  while  also  updating  the  style  and  adding  in  atmospheric  elements  and  a  touch  of  grindcore  to  evolve  into  a  different  style,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  care  a  concept  album  based  upon  Satan  from  John  Milton's  "Paeadise  Lost"  and  "Paradise Regained"  point  of  view.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  the  King  Is  Blind  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fragility  Becomes  Wrath"  "Mourning  Light"  "All  The  Daemons  Are  Here"  and  "Mesmeric  Furnace". 8  out  of  10.

Inner Missing/Defeat/Satanath Records/Darknagar Records/Niberu Productions/2014 CD Review

  Inner Missing  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  started  out  as  a  doom/death  metal  band  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  goth  and  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Defeat"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between   Satanath  Records,  Darknagar  Records  and  Niberu  Productions.

  Classical  guitars  start  of  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  later  and  it  also  leads  up  to  a  heavier  and  atmospheric  direction  that  also  uses  a  lot  of  melodic  guitar  solos  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard at  times.

  Melodic  vocals  and  spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  at  times  along  with  elements  of  post  and  progressive  rock  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  starts  incorporating  more  gothic  doom  metal  elements  and  some  of  the  whispers  and  guitar  riffs  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction.


  Inner  Missing  moves  away  from  their  doom/death  metal  background  on  this  recording  and  goes  for  more  of  a  progressive  goth/post  metal  direction  on  this  recording  while  still  adding  in  a  touch  of  doom.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  insanity,  suicide  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Inner  Missing  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive,  gothic/doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Secret"  "Defeat"  and  "The  Parting".  8  out  of  10. 

   

Nexus Clandestine/Church Of The Poison Mind/Satanath Records/Rebirth The Metal Productions/2014 CD Review

  Nexus  Clandestine  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Church  Of  the  Poison  Mind"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Satanath  Productions  and  Rebirth  The  Metal  Productions.

  Avant  garde  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric elements  which  leads  up  to  a  more  heavy  sludge  metal  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  melodic  sounding  guitar  leads  and  after  awhile death  metal  growls  make  their  presence  known  on  the  recording  along  with  some rough  yet  melodic  vocals.

  Elements  of  post  metal  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  music  also  brings  in  the  energy  of  punk  at  times  along  with  some  of  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  dark  sounding  melodies  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  as  the  album  progresses  cello's  are  used  more  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  some  songs  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  and  elements  of  traditional  doom  metal  can  be  heard  in  some  of  the  melodic  riffing  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  musical  direction.

  Nexus  Clandestine  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  takes  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  and  the  experimental  yet  melodic  nature  of  post  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nexus  Clandestine  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  doom,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Descent"  "Church  Of  The  Poison  Mind"  and  "The  Coordinates  Of  Resurrection".  8  out  of  10.

Angakok/Self Titled/Satanath Records/Metallic Media/The Smoking Goat Records/2015 CD Review

  Angakok  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  mixture  of  sludge,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2015  album  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Satanath Records,  Metallic Media  and  The Smoking Goat Records.

  Melodic  chanting  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  distorted  amplifier  drones  and  guitar  noises  and  after  the  intro  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  slow  yet  heavy  doom/sludge  metal  direction  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  yet  melodic  shouts  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  very  distorted  yet  melodic  at  the  same  time  and  some  of  the  riffs  add  in  a  touch  of  post  metal  and  hardcore  as  well  as  the  vocals  adding  in  more  high  pitched  screams  at  times  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording and  the  music  starts  incorporating  more  drones  as  the  album  progresses  while  all  of  the  heavy  riffs  remain  true  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction.

  Angakok  plays  a  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  that  is  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  and  also  adds  in  drones  to  create  a  style  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Shamanism  and  Dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Angakok  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  sludge,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sacrifice"  "Samsara"  "Dead  Birds"  and  "Empty  Cups".  8  out  of  10.  

     

Steak Number Eight/Kosmokoma/Indie Recordings/2015 CD Review

  Steak  Number  Eight  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric mixture  of  sludge  and  post  metal and  this is a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Kosmokoma"  which  was  released  by  Indie  Recordings.

  A  very  distorted  sound starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  drum  beats  and  melodic guitar  leads  which  leads  up  to  a  heavier  musical  direction  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  post  metal  and  after  awhile  high  pitched  sludge  screams  start  becoming  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  you  can  also  hear  a  touch  of  stoner  rock  at  times.

  Clean  singing  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the solos  and  leads  the  band  uses  are  done  in  a  melodic  fashion  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  some  songs  also  bring  in  spoken  word  samples  and  elements of  grunge  and  punk  rock  and  some  of  the  riffs  add  melodies and  grooves  to  the  recording.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  gets  more  atmospheric  while  later  tracks  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars and  psychedelic  elements  along  with  a  brief  use  of  slide  guitar  leads  and  female  vocals  and  the  clean  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  gives  the  music  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  either  to  a  slow  or  mid  paced  musical  direction.

  Steak  Number  Eight  creates  another  very  atmospheric  post  sludge  metal  album  with  this  recording  and  also  gets  a  bit more  experimental  and  melodic  this  time  around,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Steak  Number  Eight  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Your  Son  Deserves  To  Die  Twice"  "Knows,  Sees,  Tells  All"  "It  Might  be  The  Lights"  and  "Fruit  Punch".  8  out  of  10.