WEAPON

by Goz

Weapon was a band unknown to me until their debut disc, Drakonian Paradigm, landed on my desk. It didn't take long at all for the band to blow me away (see my review), and I can safely say that this is the disc I listened to the most frequently in 2009. Mainman Vetis Monarch was nice enough to answer a few questions we had for him.

GASP: What were your reasons for starting a band like Weapon? Can you give a brief history of the band from its Calgary roots, to Bangladesh, and then back to Alberta, but this time in Edmonton.

Weapon: Musical and ideological reasons, to put it simply; a burning need to hear genuinely Satanic metal that I wasn’t getting from any other bands.

The band formed in Calgary in early 2003. I tried out a few people and none of them worked out, so I decided to keep writing music on my own. Some external factors / traveling took me back to Bangladesh in 2004 and I started jamming with Nohttzver (ex-drums) and we recorded a Demo. Found a bassist, as a trio we recorded an EP. By this time we are in mid-2005 and I moved back to Canada. Moved all operations to Edmonton and Weapon FINALLY takes off. Now here we are, almost 7 years after the band was formed.

GASP: There are a good number of well known metal bands from Canada (Voivod, Cryptopsy, Augury, etc), many of them are based in Quebec. How is the metal scene in Alberta? Are there clubs that have frequent metal shows, and do you guys get many local gigs?

Vetis: Alberta is known for producing a different breed of bands from the rest of Canada. While the eastern part of the country birthed very interesting thrash and death metal acts, the west cornered the truly corrosive / harsh sounds of the death / black phenomenon. Blasphemy, although not an Alberta band, is hugely influential in how it all shaped up.

The metal scene here is just like anywhere else I guess. Weapon doesn’t partake in local scene ‘activities’, so I don’t think I’m the right person to be informing you on this topic. Bigger bands pass through town often enough and if it’s something worth checking out like Dismember or Rotting Christ, we’ll go check it out.

GASP: You guys incorporate a wide range of musical styles, from black, thrash and death metal to middle eastern with the sitar work in "Remnants of a Burnt Mosque", and the synth work in "Archana". Where did the ideas to bring all these styles come from, especially the non-metal stuff like the sitar and synths?

Vetis: In the case of Drakonian Paradigm, the songs were around for almost 4 years I think, so after a while I just started hearing additional elements that would compliment the songs and make them just that much stronger. I am not implying that a song’s life span is necessarily the determining factor for such things, but it certainly was in this case.

The Eastern elements of music are embedded in me, there’s no denying that. The focus is kept on making sure that none of the non-metal instruments sound gimmicky.

GASP: Who would you cite as your major musical influences?

Vetis: Simply far too many to mention if we are to discuss music in general; I can narrow it down to Death / Black Metal via Mayhem, Samael, Deicide, Blasphemy, Bolt Thrower, Sabbat, Morbid Angel, Root, Mortuary Drape, Mortem, Von, Carcass, Master’s Hammer, Tormentor, Mystifier, Immolation, Vader, Autopsy etc.

GASP: Weapon's lyrics are also not "standard" black metal, forgoing the typical anti-christian symbology that most of the cookie-cutter bands rely on as a crutch. I feel it adds a uniqueness that isn't found too much these days. Did your religious ideologies come from your time in Bangladesh, or from other life experiences?

Vetis: My whole life up to this point has been pivotal in the lyrics I write. I find inspiration in the morbid banalities of life, the mysteries of death, the struggles of indulgence and the structure of discipline. Books, art, music - many elements continue to shape my religion and ideologies.

GASP: The cover artwork by Benjamin A. Vierling is great, and chock full of symbolism. How did you guys get hooked up with him, and how do you feel the final artwork came out, compared to what you had envisioned it being?

Vetis: The Ajna Offensive was involved in this arrangement. Benjamin Vierling is not at all your typical black/death metal artist; his approach to detail and feeling is highly technical, which is perfect for depicting detailed, symbolic pieces such as ‘Signvm Armorvm’. I think the final result is not even comparable to the initial chicken scratch that I had presented to him; what the man was able to bring out from my lyrics is simply astounding.

GASP: The production on the disc is slightly raw and gritty, which I think helps to convey the darkness that the music and lyrical themes portray. Are you happy with the results, and would you use the same studio and producer for future Weapon releases?

Vetis: No, I cannot say that I am satisfied with the production on the album. I AM satisfied with the overall result, but the production itself bugs me; to my ears it lacks the power and majesty that the songs deserve. This is not because of Stew Kirwood / Sound Extractor, since he did all he could during the mixing / mastering process. Anyway, we aren’t going be recording at demo-level studios ever again to avoid such situations.

GASP: Weapon's lineup has gone through quite a few changes since its inception. Who is in the current lineup, and do you envision this lineup being stable for a while now?

Vetis: Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to personnel changes. In general I believe that most people are unreliable and lacking true will, so if you want anything done right you have to take charge and do it yourself. The lineup we have now has been working out good so far, and we all get along well, but if things fall apart tomorrow I will not bat an eye.

GASP: How did the collaboration with The Ajna Offensive come to be, and how has it been working with them? Will you continue to work with Ajna for future Weapon releases?

Vetis: When the Para Bhakti… Salvatation EP was released by Full Moon Productions Ajna bought some copies from me. That’s how we started talking about a possible collaboration. I have always admired their work ethic and picky approach to signing bands, not to mention ideologically they are one of the most like minded labels around.

If it’s not broken, why fix it? So far we have had no issues with the label, so until that happens, Weapon is staying with Ajna.

GASP: I've seen the live video of the band on youtube, do you have any upcoming plans for touring at all? What band(s) would be you want to tour with if you could chose any active band?

Vetis: Ideally we would like to get on a full-scale tour right away. But Weapon is still quite unknown in parts of Europe so perhaps it’s best to be patient in that area. We will be playing more gigs in 2010 though, that much is certain.

There are some bands that started around the same time as we did, I think that’s the kind of tour package I would like to be a part of at this point; Dead Congregation, Mitochondrion, Tribulation, Negative Plane, Nox etc come to mind. Other than that maybe, opening for Morbid Angel on a full-scale a global assault.

GASP: Anything else you'd like to add?

Vetis: All relevant information is at weaponchakra.com.

A.M.S.G.