TRANJKA.NET

This first part of a two part interview with RUDRA, a death metal band from Singapore, was conducted by our friends at Sonic Wave Singapore

Q)Hows the band now?..It seemed that after your debut release in 98',the band has been very quiet.

Rudra has started working on its 2nd album and 4 songs have been completed. We've been quite quiet fror a while as most of us got involved in several other projects in last 2 years or so.

Q)I understand that there're line-up changes.Tell me more about that and why?

We have replaced Bala and Alvin with Kannan and Panneer. Panneer has been once our guitarist from 93-95. Kannan was supposed to be the original guitarist of Rudra, but he had to leave for

Q)Your songs seemed to me to be very philosophical. What made you write this way?.Did anything happened to you in your life that affected you the way you are now?

I have been the primary lyricist for the band since its inception. I have a deep seated interest in matters pertaining to philosophy and I like thinking alot. I guess that's my nature. And that naturally got reflected onto the lyrics. That is all, nothing extraordinary.

Q)How long did it take you to record your debut release?.

In about 20 hours.

Q)In the local metal scene,Rudra is one of the pioneers still surviving now.Also,i understand it is also one of those which is always the 'centre of attraction' for some people to make fun with.In some gigs,you were even provoked.Why do you think you've got 'enemies' in the same scene?.Did you offend them sometime ago?

We never did offend anyone as we have alot of friends in the metal scene here. Those few rascals are just too few to count. I believe they react the way they do out of jealousy and other petty minded beliefs. We are not bothered by them at all.

Q)What do you think the difference of todays metal scene and the days you started to play.(when was that by the way?)

The metal scene has shrunk tremendously when compared with the days in early 90s. I believe there was a trend then but it has subsided now. Now all we have are those die hard fans which we truly take our hats off to.

Q)Which album/s is your all time favourite and whats the band's influence?

I love Reign in Blood by Slayer, Leprosy by Death, Arise by Sepultura and Under the Sign of the Black Mark by Bathory. Our influences are basically the bands that emerged in the 80s.

Q)Are you planning for a second album and when will it be?

Yes definitely. Like I said earlier, we have already started composing the songs. The album should be out by March 2001.

Q)What are the changes to expect in your coming release?

It will be far more aggressive than the first one and yet mystical as ever. The recording will be much better too. Look out for it.