FORGOTTEN SILENCE

Forgotten Silence comes from the Czech Republic and makes eclectic music defying categorization. We interviewed vocalist and bassist Krusty who answered our questions and explained certain concepts.

Is your third album out now? How can you describe it?
Yeah, our third full length CD (and our fourth full length material) is out these days. Title is Ka Ba Ach. It´s a bit strange for me to talk about it, because I simply can´t be 100% objective. I´m one of the composers... Ka Ba Ach is our first album recorded without keyboards in the line-up. On the other hand we use differences between guitar play of Medvěd and guitar play of Biggles our two guitarists. And the album is still very colouful...but it´s my private opinion. And as I said I can´t be objective. Line-up was following: MEDVĚD guitar, BIGGLES guitar, back vox, HANKA female vox, KRUSTY bass, growls, CHROBIS drums (he recorded three songs and left us) and MILOŇ drums (he joined us and recorded two songs).

Why was "Thots" inspired by "The House of the Spirits"?
The House Of The Spirits is definitely one of the best films I´ve ever seen...and the same goes for the sametitled novel itself (originally La casa de los espiritos). That story is so magical, mysterious and sad...and at the same time very human, usual and optimistic full of inner power. I´m sorry I don´t want to talk about this movie. My english is too poor to describe such beautiful and strong masterpiece. It´s much better to read or see it. I was amazed by The House of the Spirits.

How important is the role of female vocals in your music?
More important than in our early days. Hanka´s vocals aren´t bad at all, I guess. So why not to use them ?? I love a lot female vocalists and not only from heavy music. MADONNA, SADE, ENYA, SUZANNE VEGA, DIAMANDA GALLÁS, Annette from CHARISMA, Sandra from GUANO APES, Monika from ATROX, Zuzana from DYING PASSION...etc...etc. Music of FORGOTTEN SILENCE wouldn´t be complete without female vocals.

Do you consider yourselve a progressive death metal band?
Hmm...it´s not my business. I´m not very interested in style-labels. Zine editors write we are band playing industrial death, death doom, avantgarde death, grind doom. In my opinion it´s not very important for our existence. Maybe we are progressive death metal band, maybe crossover band, maybe avantgarde country band... it´s wasting of time to try to define every fucking band on Earth!!

How do you compose the songs? How was composed for example "The old memories (The House of the Spirits)"?
Somebody brings some musical ideas and if it is OK, everybody try to develop it. The most melodies and riffs comes from my and Medvěd´s brains. But the final sound is the result of
the whole band. There´s no main composer in our band. As for The Old Memories: the main melody-theme comes from my former band REMEMBRANCE and their song The Black Fire. But the rest is typically made by FORGOTTEN SILENCE.

Is literature important for the way you create your music?
Of course. Literature is among the most important sources of inspiration. Films, books and our life itself inspire us a lot. Our debut demo The Nameless forever...the last Remebrance was a bit inspired by Bram Stoker´s Dracula (film and book), Thots by The House ... and books helped me a lot this year again. Our new album Ka Ba Ach is highly inspired by Egypt and believe me I read a lot of Egyptian books to complete my knowledge about this strange country.

Has czech folklore influenced you in the way you compose Forgotten Silence´s music?
No. Although Czech folklore music is interesting and sometimes harder and faster than death metal, we are not influenced by that style. Maybe in the future...

Are you planning a tour to support the new album?
We played one gig only...so far. Together with SAD HARMONY and DARK GAMBALLE our label colleagues. The second Ka Ba Ach-gig will be played next week. Then 2 or 3 concerts will
follow and that´s all. We want to focus on something new. Concerts aren´t definitely the most important thing on Earth for us.

Have the members learned music in some place or are they self taught?
We are self made men and woman. To be honest I learned to play piano for seven years, but I ´ve forgotten everything. It´s a shame...but that´s true. The only exception is guitarist Biggles. He´s a student of musical academy, he plays guitar and piano...and he is unrivalled musician. The best and the only real musician in our band. Some zine editors think we know how to handle our instruments but that´s nothing but lie. We are still absolute beginners.

Which are the bands or musicians that you consider a big influence?
Everybody who compose GOOD music. In my opinion there´s no black, pop, folk, jazz, grind, noise...there´s only good or bad music. We listen to a lot of artists and no matter what style
they play. KING DIAMOND + MERCYFUL FATE, NILE, YES, VADER, URIAH
HEEP, TESTAMENT, CHRIS REA, CRYPTOPSY, TOM WAITS, MADONNA,
MISANTHROPE, BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, JOHN PATITUCCI, CANNIBAL
CORPSE, MEMENTO MORI, MESHUGGAH, ATHEIST, PESTILENCE, CYNIC,
NOCTURNUS, CHICK COREA, SOLITUDE AETURNUS... It´s very narrowminded to listen to the only one musical style.

What can you tell me about "Senyaan"?
Uhh...what to say ?? It´s our album from 1998. We released MC version firstly and then REDBLACK edited double CD with two bonus trax. Music is in veins of...hmm...maybe
experimental doom or something like that...but these fucking style definitions suck !! It´s a concept story about long and neverending journey through the snowcovered mountains and dark
forests. A few people try to search for their dreamland: Senyaan... We recorded it at AUDIO LINE studio situated near our ex-rehearsal room. Line-up was: Medvěd, Krusty, Hanka, Chrobis
and another Hanka-keyboards. I like Senyaan it´s very long, epic and moodcreating album full of winter demons...ha, ha, ha. It sounds very cocky, but I still really like it.

Any final thoughts?
No another thoughts, because I´m no philosopher or preacher. Firstly thanx a lot for your support and for the possibility to appear in your mag. Keep up the good work. I wish you the best in your life !! STAY DARK

FORGOTTEN SILENCE:
Alexandr Nováček, Máchova 487, ROSICE U BRNA, 66501, CZECH
REPUBLIC, Europe, The 3rd planet, EARTH

Interviewed by Federico Marongiu

FORGOTTEN SILENCE -DISCOGRAPHY
THE NAMELESS FOREVER...THE LAST REMEMBRANCE - MC (1994)
THOTS - MC (1995)
CLARA split with Dissolving Of Prodigy - 7" EP (1996)
THOTS - CD (1996)
THE HILLS OF SENYAAN Pt.II split with Agony - 7"EP/MC (1997)
SENYAAN - MC (1998)
SENYAAN enriched with two bonus trax - doubleCD (1998)
HATHOR´S PLACE split with Notre Dame - 7"EP (1999)
Song on TRIBUTE TO MASTERS HAMMER - comp CD (1999)
KA BA ACH - CD (2000)

ACTUAL LINEUP

MEDVĚD - guitar

BIGGLES - guitar, backing vocals

HANKA - female vocals

KRUSTY - bass, growls

MILOŇ - drums