Interview for DEATHTHRASHER MAGAZINE by ARMANDO MUTILATOR :

Hello

Here is the GEASA interview. thank you very much

The interview was with the frontman “Draighean”

DT: Hello, How are you?.... when did you start playing?
Draighean: Hi, I’m struggling through this life fine thanks, started playing in GEASA in 1996, have been playing bass since 1994 and have been singing with GEASA since 1999.

DT: Are you natural from Ireland?... How old are you?
Draighean: Yep born and bred in Dublin I arrived kicking and screaming to this world in 1977.

DT: What memories do you have about your early days in the Metal World?
Draighean: Hmmm early days…. I would say gigs in a venue called McGonagles here in Dublin, there was one year or so where it seemed there was a great band every week playing there, we had the likes of BOLT THROWER, UNLEASHED, DEATH to name but a few. This was just when I started to go to gigs and will always remain an important time for me, as is everyone’s teenage years. Fucking great time but maybe I’ve changed or, more than likely the scene has changed, but it seems to me that the scene just isn’t the same now, people here have more money than they had then, they’re not as angry. I think a good economic low would bring more people to the Metal scene, maybe then I could relive my younger days, oh the joy.

DT: Do you remember who is PAT JENNINGS?
Draighean: Was he a football player, maybe a goalkeeper? I could be totally wrong but that’s the first thing that the name reminded me of (I hate football)

DT: What can you talk me about “Starside” (Demo 1996)?
Draighean: Well it was very Black Metal, in the sense of the genre at the time. We were all listening to a lot of bands like DARKTHRONE and BURZUM etc. so the Demo sounded pretty Scandinavian if you know what I mean, this was great at the time and good for us that that style was popular so it led to our first record deal. We’ve since changed style in many ways but I still think some of the songs have stood the test of time.

DT: Do you think that wearing chains, blood, make-up and all that stuff is important for you image?
Draighean: Again going back to our roots, it was very much a part of that scene to do that.
Now I don’t really care to be honest. Maybe I’ve seen too many bands who looked good but sound shit. I’d prefer to enjoy some well played Black Metal or any other music regardless of what the band looks like, of course if a band can pull off a live show and look cool it’s the best but unfortunately the chances of that are pretty slim. GEASA haven’t really had a stage show like that for a few years now and I have to admit I don’t miss it much, but sometimes…I wouldn’t say our corpse paint /spikes/ leather days are gone forever! Lets just say simply that music is THE most important thing for a band to think about, image should ALWAYS take a back seat.

DT: What can you tell me about “Angel's Cry” (1999) album?
Draighean: It was our first release. Recorded in Tico Tico in Finland and released by Seasons of mist in France. It was a bit of a progression from the Raw Black Metal of the Demo and we went for a more Gothic and orchestrated sound in the playing and in the arrangements. Of course it was the first thing we recorded with two new guitarist so the sound was new. It’s a good representation of the bands work though, we could have done some things a bit more professionally but hey, we were young. It was also the first time I took on vocals and we started to use clean vocals along with screaming vocals which added a new dimension to GEASA which we’ve grown since then.

DT: How do you describe your current style?... What topics do you consider in your actual lyrics?
Draighean: Our current style is definitely more rock than blast beats if you know what I mean. We’ve all listened to so much more over the years that the original B.M. influence has been diluted, not gone that’s for sure but even from my point of view I listen to more and more diverse types of music so that’s gonna come through in the music. The hate of our younger days is still there but I don’t know how to describe it, maybe ‘Stoner Metal’ someone said that to me after a recent gig, It’s got more of a groove or rhythm to it and maybe it’s just a bit more accessible to people. As for lyrics that hasn’t changed much since the start. I’ve always written the lyrics, with a few exceptions so they are always pretty personal topics for myself. Whereas the different themes and stories change, the personal nature and introspective misanthropy runs through everything GEASA does.

DT: Do you like the Art of H.R. GIGER, PAUL BOOTH and BORIS VALLEJO?
Draighean: Not really into art as such, GIGER’s ok.

DT: What CD's / bands have you been listening to lately?
Draighean: Favourite lately has been Voodooshock but I’ve been having my AC/DC discovery period, I never really liked them as I grew up, they just weren’t extreme enough for me I suppose but now I cant get enough, fucking amazing really (better late than never eh?)

DT: Which do you prefer and why? POSSESSED or DEATH?
VENOM or BATHORY?
Draighean: DEATH, because they fucking rock and BATHORY because they fucking rock also. I just realised that they’re both in memoriam too. There should be statues to CHUCK and QUORTHON somewhere, bloody genius that they were.

DT: Do you like AC/DC?
Draighean: See 10

DT: What kind of things inspire you the most, when making a song?
Draighean: Personal experience definitely. I would usually use lyrics to try and put something in perspective for myself, If I was pissed off or so on. Also images and abstract thoughts, I suppose that it’s something like trying to remember a dream and the best way to do that is write it down. Musically we just jam songs out and keep at them until we’re happy with ‘em.

DT: Tell me about your single “Murder” (2004) please
Draighean: Originally Murder was planned as a Promo. We recorded it ourselves and the sound quality, while quite good, is still only Demo quality. We sent it to a few labels and people we knew but pretty soon we started to get people enquiring where they could buy it, so we’re going to try and remix it to get the quality a bit better and sell it for as little as possible maybe to just cover costs and postage. It’s really a great sample of what people can expect from GEASA in the future and a good CD in its own right.

DT: What do you know about South American Metal Scene?
Draighean: Not a whole lot to be honest, I do know you love Metal. Am I wrong? I don’t think so.

DT: Your fave European bands?
Draighean: Favourites would be KATATONIA, SAMAEL, MY DYING BRIDE to name just a few.

DT: In what musical direction will GEASA be heading in for the next CD?
Draighean: We have a c.d. coming out with DMP in Portugal pretty soon and that’s kind of B.M. with a really clear production It’s called Godslaughter. For anything we record in the future I think you should expect it to be more simple and live orientated.

DT: How did the idea of “Fates Lost Son” (2003) album?
Draighean: We had a few songs and we wanted to try out a new studio we heard about so we went to record them. The result was way above our expectations so we started to look for someone to release it. We thought then that as we didn’t press too many of our Starside demo that we should maybe master that again and add it on. That’s how it came about.

DT: Tell us about “Fates Lost Son” (2003) album, how much have you sold it and what kind of response have you gotten?
Draighean: I’m not sure how many it sold, we’re actually trying to buy the rights to it off the label as they didn’t do much with it, blah blah blah. Reviews have been pretty cool though. Maybe it’ll help more when people can buy it a bit more easily.

DT: Of all your productions, which one has given you the most satisfaction?
Draighean: Fates Lost Son, without a doubt. I think we we’re the closest we’ve ever been to ‘our’ sound, as regards writing etc. Not quite there but it gave us a better idea what to do in the future. I suppose as a band you have to keep learning by your mistakes,(in the studio and as a writer) So far I think that one has given me the most satisfaction, I have very high hopes for what we will record next though.

DT: Are you satisfied with your last Production ...is your best work?
Draighean: Godslaughter? No not really I think we took too long to record it and the production has suffered as a result. The songs are very, very good but I’m afraid it’s not as good as it could have been. We lost the live feel that we got pretty much nailed on Fates Lost Son, but you live and learn. DMP like it enough to release it so maybe I’m being too harsh. I think if I ever record an album I’m totally pleased with I may just retire.(buy it anyway though don’t listen to me ha ha)

DT: Your last growl for DEATHTHRASHER’s readers?
Draighean: GRRRRRRRRRRR, KEEP ON ROCKIN MOTHERFUCKERS