Line Up:
Jester Of Destiny-Vocal\Bass
Kohld-Guitars
Damjan Stefanovic
Well,Friends of Aristocracy!
We speak again of our newsroom, where in a little while, we will have in all its emotions, the interview 184 of the Aristocracy.This time, we talked about a very complicated project to describe. But, we can say that it is a band that plays Black Metal allied to the folklore of its country of origin. Mainly under the pagan concepts.Another detail is that we also have a Doom\Death energy in the band, even if it's not their main style. We're talking about a band from Hungary.The band is called Taltos and they show us their new EP entitled Érezd hogy élsz".Another fundamental detail is that they sing in their own language, it is an intricate job but it deserves our attention because it is something inherent to human beings, their freedom. from Polish producer Solid Rock for introducing us to this curious project.Let's go to one of their songs so that this unprecedented interview with a Brazilian vehicle can begin.
A1:Talking about the composition work in Érezd hogy élsz?
Taltos:There's paragraphs that I could talk about how each song was composed, but I'll try to be brief. The first song, Örjöngés was partially based on an unfinished song for Beyond Good and Evil 2, called Taking Back the Throne, or something like that. Its second half is Slipknot inspired. The second song, Kannibál Keringő is based on a song I made for a different project called Gallows' Forest. In fact, it's basically the same song. The idea was to make death metal in waltz time. Third song, Farkasbőrbe Bújt Birka is based on another Gallows' Forest song, though it's only some of the basslines that were carried over. Mit Vársz is mostly made of elements that I improvised and then recorded and some lyrics I had lying around for years. The last song, Érezd Hogy Élsz, has a bassline that dates back to my very first public project, which was actually a dub reggae song. At least an attempt of it. Kept coming back to those basslines, even in the Gallows' Forest years, but I think it's retired now.
A2:How is this punk worked by the band?
Taltos:A bit subtle. It's more that I'm heavily inspired by punk music and I start out writing most songs with a punky feel. It just ends up morphing into something different, as the other musicians put their own spin on it. Gavin, the previous guitarist, did a really good job seamlessly combining the elements, so those songs kept some of that punk feel. Khold had a more straight-forward metal style and focused more on writing some really good catchy riffs. I'm hoping to get Gavin back for the next releases, because I do prefer his hybrid style more.
A3:How does anarchism inspire the band?
Taltos:I am an anarchist myself and I write the lyrics from that viewpoint. To be honest, I'm not sure if describing the music as "anarchistic" is entirely accurate, since I don't focus on ideology like that. But at the time it felt correct.
A4:How band know about Solid Rock?
Taltos:Solid Rock approached me through e-mail and offered to do some PR.
A5:Some literature or film inspire the band?
Taltos:Not exactly;I consume mostly fantasy works.Though some of the symbolism does carry over from old legends.
A6:Why the band have this name?
Táltos:The táltos is a shaman-like figure in Hungarian paganism,who serves as a healer, oracle and a spiritual leader of sort. They've become symbols of Hungarian traditions and the long forgotten pre-christian nomadic ages,which is what I was planning to invoke originally.The original plan was pagan metal, that is uniquely Hungarian with some political lyrics on the side, but the anger just kept pouring into the lyrics. But it still works.
A7:The band plains to do an full album?
Táltos: Not sure. Not sure if I can write enough songs for an album, while also keeping to a coherent sound. I don't want to do any filler songs, so limiting the number of them helps. On the other hand, a whole album might make it easier to get back onto the pagan angle.
A8:Why do you feel in a semi-dictatorship?
Táltos:We've had the same leadership for almost twenty years now. Somehow,they win every election with an absolute majority and the opposition has to fight tooth and nail to get any public representation. That isn't another slander campaign from the state, that is. Last election, the opposition parties got five whole minutes of talk time on state TV and that's all the publicity they got in almost two decades. Meanwhile the ruling party gets to control the media and has final say on what information reaches the public, essentially turning every media outlet into a propaganda machine. Any money the EU gives us, is hoarded into extravagant indulgent projects; if the EU ever decides to oversee how the money is spent, then the state straight-up rejects it and does another smear-campaign and they have made it very clear that they'd do far more if they ever found a way to get away with it. Someone almost went to prison, after calling the deputy mayor of Győr a dick on Facebook.Only reason that man got out is because he knew how to get a judge that isn't in the state's pockets. But that part of the judicial system is being dismantled as we speak. Many people weren't as lucky and have actually gone to prison over what they posted on social media. It's to the point where family members try to shush me when I publicly talk about my opinions, because they're afraid something bad will happen. There's hundreds of layers of fuckery that we could get into; I'm not even halfway through it.
A9:Why is the fourth song on the ep a question?
Táltos:It's a rhetorical question."From the one you cast out for being different,what do you expect?" "When you yell and they yell back, why are you surprised?"
A10:What´s the idea behind artwork´s album?
Táltos: It depicts someone who's been chained up, finally breaking out of their shackles. The person is surrounded by animal spirits; one is a lion and the other is a bull.Both majestic animals that have been subjugated by man and both are devastating when they decide to free themselves violently.It's a depiction of rebellion. A11:What factors do you believe lead to the apathy of your people?
Táltos:Many factors. The state media keeps their followers fanatical, while their opponents hopeless. Even those who know it's full of shit fall for it. Some people will vote for the ruling party, simply because it is made to seem like the more stable option. The opposition is a risky choice and they will magnify every failure, so those on that side might end up seeing any effort as futile. Meanwhile, life is hard and there's a lot to take care of. People just become emotionally exhausted and there's no room left for high ideals. We're constantly beaten into submission and people become apathetic as a survival method.
A12:What kind of subject don´t deserve a Táltos song?
Táltos:Well,I'm never going to write a drinking song,that's for sure.
A13:This ep is conceptual? Táltos:Kind of?It does keep to the concepts of empathy and the love of life, but those are just the things I happened to have on my mind at the time.
A14:Is making the songs in your native language so that your songs don't lose their real meaning?
Táltos:It's more that I feel it comes from the heart. No matter how well I speak English,some ideas and feelings are just not going to translate well.It's also because I'm trying to speak to the Hungarian people, not necessarily the entire world.
A15:Despite being songs,do you believe that this cultural collapse, sung by the band, happens in Hungary today?
Táltos:Yes. I see young people ashamed of being Hungarian.Many leave the country entirely and won't even teach the language to their children.Our traditions are being turned into symbols of hate and despite what the bigots are trying to achieve, the world will become more free.Once people get a taste of freedom, they will never let it go.They will eventually get what they want and will have no problem destroying everything they see as obsolete. Culture needs to adapt or it'll perish.
A16:János Komáromi still participate in some way in the band?
Táltos:János was never really a part of the project.He's a poet and he likes it when his poems are turned into song lyrics.I didn't want to use my best lyrics for the first release, so I used some of his poems.
A17:The band feel differences between A sólyom és a sas and now in Érezd hogy élsz?
Táltos:Yes, and I honestly prefer the old feel. Musically it kept more to my vision and blended the elements better. It also was a lot more raw and energetic. Érezd Hogy Élsz felt a bit too processed. It has more synth-work and samples, I want to go back to relying more on the musicians' talents.
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