Interviews: Volt Ritual

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Stoner Rock/Doom Rock band Volt Ritual from Poland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, did you plan it or came out like that?

The idea came from seeing this famous photo of Nikola Tesla and his equipment, the one that we used for our debut album. It looks as if he was sitting there in the middle of an electric ritual... a volt ritual!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Mateusz: Firstly - I've been listening to it for years. Then - as a musician, I like the freedom it offers, as the genre doesn't have strict stylistic boundaries. The trick is to make different parts fit well together, so that your stuff sounds cohesive.

Joanna: I really like any slow, weird and disorientating music. Stoner just checks all the boxes for me. As Mateusz said, it gives us room for expression, if we want growls and double kicks we can implement it and if we want clean guitars and melodic singing we also can put it in a song. Frames of this genre are not strictly defined. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Mateusz: No, not really. But that's the cool thing about being involved in the music scene - you get to know people with whom you can share your passion and like spending time with.

Joanna: I knew Mateusz from our local alternative scene but that was rather loose acquaintance. I met Tomek for the first time at our first band rehearsal.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Mateusz: New Model Army

Joanna: I don’t have a favourite band, lately I've been listening to a lot of Acid Bath, Witchcraft, Cryptopsy and Pelican.

Tomek: Mastodon and Foo Fighters

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Mateusz: Riffs usually pop up in my head when I'm surrounded by some sort of white noise, like while driving a car, vacuuming or taking a shower. Inspiration for lyrics comes mostly from science fiction books - notably Philip K. Dick, Roger Zelazny and so on.

Joanna: Mostly other music.

6. Where was your last gig?

The last one was in Chicago (a venue in Kielce, Poland) together with Weedow and Solar Trip, and it was a great way to start the new year. We have several gigs planned for the nearest future, hopefully they will turn out at least as good.

7. Where would you like to act?

Mateusz: From the top of my wishlist: Vienna Arena - Open Air stage, Tabernas Fest, Red Smoke Fest, Summer Dying Loud. Anyway, the list is endless.

Joanna: Wherever there are people who would like to listen and enjoy our music. My humble dream right now is to perform at the Summer Dying Loud Festival in Poland.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Mateusz: Obviously with Fu Manchu and Zeke, so that I could witness them playing live again.

Joanna: There are just too many awesome bands to play shows with, but from the top of my head: Sunnata, Wij, Mag, Weedcraft, Mary.

9. Whom not?

Mateusz: I could name some NSBM bands or some stuff like that, but we all know that's not a realistic thing to happen, right?

Joanna: I'm a punk rocker at heart so any far right extremists are not welcomed. Playing with butt rockers and kitschy, over-the-top power metal bands also would be awkward.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Mateusz: No, actually playing live is the most fun part of playing in a band and I really enjoy it. Maybe if one struggles with stage fright, then they should try to realize that, hey, this is actually the reason why you picked up an instrument - to rock out in public.

Joanna: I experienced stage fright only once on my first ever “real” show, after that something just clicked in my head. I think you need to tell yourself that it ain’t that serious. That’s heavy metal and you get paid for jumping around and all that ridiculous behaviour.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Mateusz: In the context of Volt Ritual I would say: Fu Manchu and Hawkwind. But I listen to tons of classic heavy/doom/death metal bands, as well as 70s rockers, and all of that surely stays with me.

Joanna: Big question, depending what you mean. If not the Sex Pistols, I wouldn’t be there listening to guitar music, if not Joy Division I wouldn’t pick up the bass, and if not for the Soundgarden I wouldn’t have gotten into slower and heavier music. Black Breath and Sodom are also very important to me, they brought me into the world of extreme metal.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Mateusz: In my eyes it's signing a CD. As a record collector I'd never let anyone damage my treasures in such a way.

Joanna: “Standard” stuff like autographs and photos are still crazy to me.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Mateusz: Stoner rock community consists of real music freaks, who actively go to the shows and support the bands. It's very rewarding to play for such people. 

Joanna: I’m just eternally grateful to everybody who listens and supports our band in any way.

14. What do you think of our site?

It's impressive, can't believe it's a one-man operation. Much respect for promoting the underground bands.

15. Something to add?

Thank you for having us, keep up the good work and stay positive.