Interviews About Albums: VRYKOLAKAS - And Vrykolakas Brings Chaos & Destruction (2021)

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

This album was originally recorded in 2010 at another studio. We had completed the instruments and was going to record the vocals when we were told that the studio had to cease operations and move out. The studio continued operations at the sound engineer’s home but we just couldn’t find the opportunity to finish the vocals. I managed to do the vocal guides and because the sound engineer couldn’t hold the master files, we decided to mix the songs and keep as unreleased songs. We wanted to release the 9 songs as a demo because the finished product sounded more like a demo. Between then and this album, we had intended to release short recordings of 3-4 songs only. But an offer came along to do an album. We revised our plans and since the 3 rd album was considered unfinished business, we decided to rearrange 5 of the 9 songs, write 3 new ones and ended with our best effort so far. “And Vrykolakas Brings Chaos And Destruction” contains 8 songs of death metal, influenced by many of the bands we grow up listening to.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

There is no meaning, but there is some sort of a story line. Our original plan was to release 5 full-length albums before slowing down the intensity and do shorter releases. The 5 albums kind of tell the story of VRYKOLAKAS. We started with “Spawned From Hellfire And Brimstones”, basically about the demonic origins of VRYKOLAKAS. Followed by “Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind”, because of course a demon has to wreak havoc on mankind. Now it is “And Vrykolakas Brings Chaos And Destruction” because a demon should not be bringing good news to mankind. The next phase will be “World Vryko- Domination” to signify some sort of a rule, and empire, a reign of chaos with Vrykolakas as the ruler. The last phase will be “Supreme Brutal Vrykolakas” to signify a brutal reign over mankind, eternally. We hope another band would release an album titled “Saving Mankind From Vrykolakas”. Hahaha! But that would be cool, to appear as a character in another band’s story.

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

I (Khairil) have been writing songs since the beginning, although I started as the drummer. I have been writing songs non-stop even when the band went into hiatus and looked as though we were heading for extinction. So I am the primary songwriter. When Iman (our ex-guitarist) was in the band, we would rearrange and finalize songs together before presenting the song(s) to the rest. I would also think of a drum pattern which I think would fit the riff(s). Edi will work on the drums around the riffs such that the flow is logical. Andy will then figure out the best vocal patterns for the riffs.

4. If you have to pick one song, which one would you pick?

For this album, the band really likes “Transcending The Quantum Realm Of Barzakh”. I personally like “The Storms And The Shadows” and “The Jasad On The Throne” because I believe I have managed to pay tribute to IMMOLATION. It was my dream to write a song which sounds like IMMOLATION.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD?

If there is what it is? We don’t try to convey any message. If it happens, it is purely coincidental and depending on the listeners’ interpretation when they read the lyrics. We come from Muslim families and we are very familiar with the Islamic practices and traditions. And Islam is very vivid when it comes to death, afterlife, doomsday and hell. So we thought we might as well turn those information and knowledge into death metal songs.

6. Are there some lyrics that you´d love to share?

The lyrics are printed in full. We try to make the lyrics as clear as possible without requiring any reading between the lines or try to be subliminal. I like the chorus from “The Storms And The Shadows” which goes:

“We rule in shadows

We reign in the umbra

Your faith we severe

Like storms we devour”

Some believed that demons lurk in storms and shadows. So, this song came from that one statement. This song is about the morbid relationship between humans and demons, the dark history between the two beings.

7. Which inspirations haven been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank specially? 

What really triggered us into getting very active again writing, recording and promoting the band is the knowledge that there is a small group of listeners who appreciate our music. This album is for each and every metalhead who listened and have been listening to the band since 1992. All it took was the question “Is VRYKOLAKAS still active?” We decided to respond to that question.

8. Something to add?

Thank you, Jon, for this interview! You are doing an awesome job with BREATHING THE CORE! We hope everyone enjoy the album. We send our gratitude to DARK BLASPHEMIES RECORDS, SADIST RECORDS and EVIL DAMNATION RECORDS for spreading the chaos and destruction upon mankind!