RAMPART is a young classic heavy metal band from Bulgaria. Our aim is to be a bastion of the metal in our country. We have a plenty of concerts at festivals and clubs in Bulgaria for the last three years. Usually at live gigs except our songs we play also covers of Running Wild, Grave Digger, Iron Maiden, Helloween, Metallica, Mot?rhead, W.A.S.P and others. We try to find the balance between the author’s songs and covers to keep the attention of our audience. Bur the visitors of our concerts could expect even to hear Slayer’s cover. It depends on the public’s activities and its moods. We confirmed participation in some Bulgarian festivals this summer.

On 08.08.2008 we released our first demo called “Warriors”. We highly appreciate the support of Inferno Records for its promo. This demo has a good feedback from the metal media from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Norway and Denmark. Currently we have just finished the recordings of our first album “Voice of the Wilderness”. It consists of 9 classic heavy metal songs. As a guest musician in the recordings took part Sofia Vancheva (violins, viola, chello). The album will be mixed and mastered in July 2009 and should be out in the autumn through Inferno Records.

Tell us about evolution. Not really about evolution in general but perhaps maybe about your evolution as a “musician” and getting involved in the scene. What is your opinion on the underground nowadays than it was before?

The “evolution” of RAMPART proceeds in continuous rehearsals, composing songs and keeping good condition and metal spirit alive. I can say that for the last years we have our improvement as musicians. Every next concert is another step to a higher development in our behavior on the scene. The Bulgarian scene does not give many chances for metal bands. So we fight for our music, we fight for saving metal here and we will keep to fight, because metal is our childhood, our life and our religion. In my opinion the underground is still non-commercial. You can find in it the pure metal, non-impacted from some producers’ pretensions. But the frames nowadays are different. We are at another level. The underground bands now are so many. When you enter MySpace you can find millions of them. Most of the bands have the opportunity to record some staff and they can afford it. I believe that in the past the recordings have been more expensive and the studios and the technique were not improved enough. Now the underground bands may record their demos even at home. Internet gives the underground good opportunities for self advertising. In fact I cannot compare the underground before and the underground now, because I have no any impressions from the previous century. I think that the common thing between before and now in the underground is the philosophy of the Greek Myth of Sisyphus – you may continuously roll the huge rock of metal to the top of the hill but everyday the rock would always roll back down again, forcing you to begin again. The spirit and the will of the underground bands are of a great significance.

About song writing, how long will it take to complete a song (your song). Is it possible to complete it all in an hour, or in day, or it might even took long periods of refining the lines, etc. How do you know or when can you say that the song is finished? Who writes the lyrics? Do each and everyone in the band contribute their ideas?

The process of writing songs in RAMPART runs as follows: I give the guitar player Yatco some of my lyrics for inspiration and he writes the music based on the texts. He composes the song, notes it and gives the entire composition (which consists of each instrument’s party) to all of the band members. Then we gather at a rehearsal, we share our ideas, we play several times the song trying different approaches in the already written framework. The song becomes ready when each of us is satisfied with the tunes played. It may take a rehearsal or two. The guitar player needs a few days for the composition. I need a free evening to write the lyrics of a song. Refining the lines of a song of RAMPART needs just one or two rehearsals.

What music format do you prefer the most; vinyl, CD, or cassettes? Do you think it is really good to release one album in these three mentioned formats? I mean, CD first then vinyl or vinyl first then CD is acceptable (at least to me), but CD first then vinyl then after that a cassette with same songs on them over and over again is something that I don’t understand! For collectors?

Of course that we prefer CDs. Indeed I like some vinyls. But I do not have any vinyl (except those from my grandfather). None of us have. For me they are like post cards. I believe that only the big bands need vinyl. But I know some collectors and they really adore this format. I think that CD first for the mass audience and the music market is acceptable, and vinyl after only for the collectors. We find cassettes so old format. I do not even have where to listen to a cassette. But I keep around 300 cassettes with my favorite metal bands from my school days. In my opinion nowadays the CD is quite enough.

Then what is your opinion on bands who keep on releasing “rehearsal recordings” on various formats? Is this good or what? There are some bands who are fond on doing this and releasing same “rehearsal tracks” for about 4 releases (only with different album title) and if you’re not interested buying this, “you’re nothing but a poser” like is what being said in the ad.

In fact I do not listen to “rehearsal recordings” in any format. I do not love them. I suppose that now I have only Metallica’s “rehearsal recordings” but I do not listen to them as well. You are a poser when you download everything from the net or when you pretend to listen to metal but at home you listening to some pop. If you buy metal albums and you dress like a metal and you act and think as one you are not a poser. The rehearsal recordings are interesting when considered to the biggest bands. They give you the chance to find the differences and to have a look in the kitchen of their music.

Artworks… how important is this to you? Do you buy a record just because the artwork is great? What about the photoshopped “artworks” nowadays? What do you prefer; a photographed being enhanced by technology, a b/w goats, or a hand painting?

Artworks sell the albums. They are of great importance. An artwork is the visit card of a band. The market is full of photo-shopped “artworks”. They are good but I do not like them enough. I prefer the full colored paintings for covers. They are beautiful, they are old-school, and they are metal. It did not happen to me to buy an album only because of its artwork. The music is first, and then comes the image. But as you know the PR technologies and the advertising techniques rely to sell everything only because of its brand or shape. Artworks indeed present the specific style of the bands. They are an important option to acquaint the people with your music and to attract some interest.

What is your opinion on the massive downloading of albums in general? Do you think all these ripped audios in filesharing sites helps the band? For nowadays over-crowded scene, what’s the best way for a band to get an attention? Is originality important?

Considering the massive downloading of albums I think that it has already became a trend. This is the easy way to listen to all the new bands. The real fans first listen then if they are satisfied buy their stuff. Today you can choose among lots of bands. I definitely can say that all those ripped audios in file-sharing sites damage the band’s incomes and activities. The best way for a band to get an attention in the over-crowded scene is to use the power of the media effectively to popularize your music. If it is good enough the mass audience will notice you for sure. The band has to be specific, to possess own style, no matter of the precise metal gender. One of the most important factors in this field is the originality.

Do you listen to other forms of “music” in general? Something non-metal like classical or industrial? Do this somehow influences you? Where do you take your inspirations when you write your songs?

No, we are pure metal heads. We listen to heavy metal, thrash metal and death metal. We take inspirations mainly from the real life. Sometimes I find also some inspiration in history, philosophy and literature, in some knight’s and corsairs’ tales for the lyrics of RAMPART.

What is your opinion about “life”? Do you believe humans really got “souls”? What is success, because there is a lot of definitions, specially on some people that thinks travelling all over the world is already a “huge success”? What are your goals with this band? When is the time to quit metal (ie: listening, buying, being in a band, etc)?

At the end of my life I will determine a huge academic definition for “life”. For now it is and for future it will be “the spirit of metal”. Success is a gratification from the things achieved. As I said our goal with RAMPART is to be a bastion of metal in Bulgaria. Our radios and our market are drowned in folklore and pop music. We are here and we have to defend the metal faith. If you are metal you cannot quit…It is not a job, it is an attitude towards the everyday life and the environment. From the times of our childhood we are grown up with this music, we will create our music in the veins of metal and we will keep it alive till the end of time…

Back to the band, what is your opinion on the use of keyboards? Is it really a problem? Do you think a metal band should not use this instrument just in order for them to stay “purely metal”? Then what is “purity” in metal? Do you think “experimenting” in music is bad? What is your opinion on the modernization of music (technical playing, etc)?

Well, we do not like keyboards. They cannot replace the guitars. We even prefer violins to keyboards. But it is not a problem. In the autumn we will record a Helloween’s cover for a tribute album and for this recording we will invite a guest keyboardist. But the music of RAMPART does not need the usage of keyboards. It is a collective vision and a conception of our music. Each band has its own requirements for the “purity of metal”. But this concept is complex and depends on a personal point of view. I believe that experimenting in music is good but each band has to determine some limits.

Some bands claim that they are here for a message? What do you think is that message? I mean, if these bands really want to spread a message across, then why are they releasing limited amount of copies? I don’t think that releasing 250 limited copies is enough to spread that “message”.

Some of our songs contain forms of social protest. Each of them has a different message but you will know it when you hear the music. In my opinion the release of limited copies is not the correct approach for spreading messages. We do not see ourselves as messengers as well. We have what to say, we have what to show and you will know it soon. Worldwide our message is “Keep the Metal Faith!”.

It is also noticeable about bands being so “defensive” nowadays. Loading themselves with a lot of excuses like: “no technical playing”, “no clean professional sound”, etc. I think only a few are doing good, but the rest are just trying to be hip. Anyway, what is your opinion on all of these?

The insignificant technique in the Bulgarian clubs is the reason for which we stopped to play in some of them. The festivals are a better option for our band.

The unclean unprofessional sound is a myth.

In my opinion you do not have to be a sound engineer to know what precise sound you want for your band or for instance for your guitar on stage. We know exactly what we want from the guys behind the sound desk. Of course all this depends also on the necessary equipment and on the preliminary technical preparation. That is why the sound check is an important part of each concert. RAMPART has the necessary preparation, equipment and the proper sound.

Alright, we’ve come to an end. Do you have any final thoughts? Thank you for your time…

Thanks a lot for your questions and for the support.
Hailz to the awesome Asian scene! Metal is our way!

All readers interested in RAMPART can write to our e-mail or visit our MySpace Profile:
rampart_metal@abv.bg
http://www.myspace.com/rampartbg