|
|
Band page - The Burning
Jump to
Latest news
None
Other information
Band Profile
What is your name and your current position in the band?
My name is Rasmus Normand and I play guitar.
How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one(s) you are playing now?
I would say we play metal that is thrash-like with some hints of death metal, melody and groovy stuff. I think you can hear in our music that we grew up listening to Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Testament, Carcass, Pantera and so on.
I have tried other genres but it is metal that's the most fun and energetic.
What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
Our latest album is called "Rewakening". And you should buy it because this one shows a new mature side of the band - not that we at all have changed lanes or so - but there is a bit more "craftmanship" on the new album. We have developed as musicians and you can hear that in the way we write music now. It is really just a very good metal album - and with crisp production by our new favourite german guy mr. Kohle.
Tell us about the history of the band. More specifically, when was the band formed, how did you meet, and have there been any particular highlights or low points in your career, any crucial events that have taken you where you are today?
Me and Johnny (vocals) had been making some music for a couple of years. But not really metal, it was more like hard rock with horror elements - samples and so on, very avant garde, ha ha - and we just at some point wanted to make uncompromising metal. Thats when we started the band - it was around fall of 2005.
Quickly after forming The Burning we started searching for a drummer and a bass player. We knew we only wanted one guitar - it is a part of our mantra - keep it simple. And therefore we really needed a bad ass bass player. Johnny and Thue already knew each other and he is sick. I mean really crazy good. He is one of the best in Denmark - not just in metal. He can play everything. He liked the few songs we had and joined the band. I searched for a drummer and since Toby was the only one answering on the add we put out - well he got the job. No - he has this rock attitude in his playing we wanted. We didn't just want a "100 miles per hour" click machine. We wanted a drummer.
By the end of 2005 we had the band put together and now 3 and a half years later, here we are releasing our second album - crazy. It sometimes strikes me that in that short amount of time we have recorded two albums, played close to 100 shows, been on a tour in Europe, won an award for best live band at the Danish Metal Awards 2008. And the new album is already getting very good feedback. So here we go again!
Was there ever a time when you wondered if your band would remain just a local outfit and never make it in the industry?
We just started writing songs and hoped that we some day would be able to release them and go play a lot of shows. We could see from the way people reacted at the first handful of shows that we had some strong material. And that just made us more hungry for getting out there on the stages.
And luckily we managed to sign a deal with Massacre and play a lot of concerts, be on tour in a big nightliner through europe and all that.
But let me say that we have worked hard for this - and I mean really hard to get to where we are today. We are very focused at what we do. It's not enough to just make a demo every six months and then play in your home town - that will not get you anywhere - not that you have to get anywhere, we are just a band that wants more than that. You have to get out on the road, play the "not so high profile" shows and so on.
Can you share with us one or two of your favourite moments with the band?
I remember when we recorded the first album "Storm the Walls" at Jacob Hansen's studio we all had this feeling of "wow we are about to enter new territory". You know - it was like "ok we are actually doing this now on our own". We had no record deal when we recorded the album back then but we knew that we had some very strong songs on our hands and that it was just a matter of time before we would be on our campaign - ha ha. Very magical time.
Other than that - there are so many. I wouldn't know which ones to pick.
How is the writing process in the band?
Me and Johnny make the rough ideas for songs in his home studio. he has some arrangements and I have some riffs. And we just try to see what goes best together. Then we bring the songs to the rehearsal room and start playing. Then we change stuff if it doesn't work and so on. But we never write stuff just in the rehearsal - I think we have done that once. It takes to much time.
What brought you on the path to becoming a musician? Did you ever consider or take any other paths through life besides music?
It all started when I heard Hey Joe with Jimi Hendrix - from that moment I knew I had to learn how to play guitar.
I started playing guitar when I was 13 or 14 years old. And then it got interesting because I practised a lot and got better. So I started in a band around the age of 17.
But I have an education and a full time job (we all do) - it is not my "work" to play music. I wish it was though, ha ha.
Do you have any idols? If yes, who?
Guitar wise I have a lot. I like all kinds of music. But if I should mention a few it would be: Jimi Hendrix, Mark Knopfler, Chuck Shouldiner, Bill Steer, Eddie Van Halen.
Do you have any regrets looking back at your career? For example any songs or even full albums that you regret recording? If so, what made you regret it?
My "career" in music as a recording artist has not been long enough for those kind of thoughts yet.
Are there particular songs in your catalogue that the fans love but you're not particular fond of yourself?
There is one song that we play live that people really reacts to and just gets them going - and that song dont' feel like it would do that. It's not THAT energetic I feel when playing it. But it is two very different things to hear a song and to play a song.
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
They are very important and Johnny put a lot of thought into the lyrics. It's not just something that gets down on paper an hour before recording the songs. They actually mean something. There is no point in spending so much time getting the music just the way we want it in every little detail and then ruin it all with shit for brains lyrics. It would be like painting a big beautiful painting and the piss on it.
So it is just an important part as the music.
What do you think about the state of the music industry today?
I really don't know the industry well enough to say anything clever about that. But to me it seems as if there is sold less and less albums - that means fewer and fewer money. And that is never a good thing in any industry.
What do you think is the best way to fight music piracy?
You have to change the mindset of the people out there - but that is like the easiest thing to say and the hardest thing to do. I'm not going to make a big speech but I think it is wrong to steal cars, rob banks and steal music.
Do you have a life philosophy? If yes, what is it?
Try to be as good to others as possible.
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
He he - yes but it will bore you. I get up early, go to work, get home in the afternoon, make diner for me and my girlfriend. Some evenings I rehearse with the band and some I practice karate to get in shape. Then I go to bed and do it all over again. He he - just a pretty normal life I guess when you live with you girlfriend in a house.
What do you like to spend your time with besides music?
I like doing karate. It really makes me feel good when I come home from training. Fills me with energy. Then I like to just spend time with my girlfriend and do all kinds of stuff with the house and the garden. And sometimes go have some beers with some friends.
What's the craziest thing that has ever happened on a tour?
Just to be on tour - the whole experience is just your normal life turned upside down. It is crazy.
You're heading off to live on a deserted island for a couple of years with your portable entertainment system... Which albums, movies or books would you bring? (Max. 3 of each)
Albums: Master of Puppets/Metallica, Electric Ladyland/Jimi Hendrix, plus one of my classical collection cd's with Mozart, Bach and all that on.
Books: Sarum/Edward Rutherfurd, My Gibson guitars catalog and an Atlas.
Movies: Top Gun, Alien and Meet the Feebles
What is your favourite joke?
I'm not a big joke fan. Just everyday fun stuff and moments you can laugh at.
Can you tell us about any future plans for you and your band?
We are playing some shows in Denmark to support the album. Hopefully we can get some shows in Europe as well - we are working on that. Thats pretty much it. Play a lot and sometime later this year start writing music again.
Thanks for answering these questions. Now you are free to write a few lines to our readers.
Thanx for the interest in our band. And to all of you out there who know The Burning - you will like the new album. And to all who doesn't check it out. And above all - come to our shows and have a good time.
Added by Steen - 3/8/2009
This article has been shown 1318 times. Go to the complete list.
| Articles on this site
Band Information - Band Profile
(Steen)
Related Links
The Burning - Official Myspace |
RevelationZ Comments
|
|
|
|
Daily Spotlight
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man, Something Wicked Pt. 2
 Iced Earth led their ride into glory and metal immortality with the amazing power/thrash masterpiece, "Somet....
Read full review
Retro Reviews
(Steen)
Manowar - Into glory ride
 It's very hard for me to say that one Manowar album is my favourite because they all have a special meaning to me, each in it's own way. But when I'm in the mood for epic music Into glory ride....
Read full review
(Alanna)
Iced Earth - Horror Show
 If you weren't around for the build up anticipation that shadowed "Horror Show", then you wouldn't truly understand the kind of disappointment fans of Iced Earth initially fe....
Read full review
Archive
· Albums of the month
· Retro Reviews
|
|
|
