A young band, formed in 2014., with a lot of experience in metal music – The Erkonauts are coming from Switzerland and they're preseting themselves like an eccentric foursome playing a high octane style of their very own, striving to pack kick-ass modern power, execution and production with subtle vintage tones.
- Hello, guys! You have been one of the revelation of 2016 (ranked #1 in Hard Force Mag,
Best of 2016” on MetalSucks.net and Naptser.com. Please, introduce to us The Erkonauts. Where did you found inspiration for your band name?
Hi!
The name comes from our logo. He is named Erkonos. The Erkonauts are those who travel with him.
- The band was founded by ex-Sybreed, Djizoes and 7-tone members. Beside The Erkonauts, do you have some other projects and bands in the present you are working on?
Kevin and I are currently working on a side project with Drop that's called OBSYDIANS. It kinda picks up where SYBREED stopped, but since Drop is playing with SAMAEL and the number one priority for Kevin and I is THE ERKONAUTS, OBSYDIANS is not going very fast these days. - When should we expect your second album called "I Shall Forgive"?
I Shall Forgive will be released on November 2017 through Indie Recordings. Signing with them sure is a highlight in the existence od THE ERKONAUTS. But the preorders will be open from august 25th. In the meantime, you can check our new singles „Seven Macaw“ and „Chaos Never Fails To Appeal“ pretty much everywhere.
- Beside the music, what do you do in your everyday life?
Since the four of us are heavily involved in music, it's kinda difficult to be steady in other domains. That being said, we all have areas besides music that we enjoy toying with. Bakdosh does photography, Sebos programming, Kevin teaches and I study.
- Does anyone affect your path to become a musician?
Pretty much everyone we meet along the way affects our path. Sometimes in a positive way, sometimes not. But generally it's more good than bad. Of course our producer Drop helps us a great deal. Then there are the booking agents chosing to believe in us, our sponsors, and of course our label Indie Recordings.
- As you combine all this stuff together (Progressive Metal, Fusion, Rock, Thrash Metal, Crossover Metal, Punk, Power Metal, Alternative Metal), I assume that each of you finds yourself in these elements of music. Tell us, what do you listen to lately, which band should we check out?
We listen to a lot of bands. I really mean a lot. And we all have genres that we feel closer to. I personnaly love the stuff from the 70s. The early Scorpions, Mott the Hoople, Queen of course, Uriah Heep, King Crimson... Then there are more recent acts, like Suicidal Tendencies, Primus, Faith No More, New Model Army… I know Kevin really loves Toto, Bakdosh is into more extreme bands like Morbid Angel but actually listens to a lot of different stuff. Sebos is into Prog Metal.
- And which music you don't like at all?
I believe there is something enjoyable that can be found in most music genres. I personnaly don't connect too much with Metalcore for instance, but it's something I don't know very well. I feel that many new genres are very secluded and sometimes repetitive. But it's just a matter of taste. Some people like to hear things they are already familiar with, I tend to like surprises. What I generally dislike is when the lyrics tell people how they should live and that people who don't follow are idiots.
- You've played a lot outside your country. What do you like abroad?
Touring is the ultimate goal for most musicians. Even though it's nice to play at home, we have lives there. When we travel, it's just about the music. The world ceases to exist and we become what we play. Best feeling in the world.
- Japan. Tell us more J What is the main difference to play in Europe and in Japan, what you've liked the best?
There really is something really unique about Japan. There are a lot of artforms that you can easily link directly to this country. It's like no other place in the world. What we liked best I guess is that everything seems safe and well organised there. Shows are well organised, the staff knows what he's doing. People are polite. It's great. Also, there's no limit to the volume!
- Is there some weird food you've tasted in Japan?
Raw chicken!!! I didn't believe that was possible. Pretty tasty actually. Then the more well kown fried cartilage, jellyfish. Otherwise we kept it pretty standard as far as food goes.
- Any funny/bizarre/weird thing that happened while you were on stage ever?
I remember fainting on stage a few years ago because the spotlight was so close to my head it burned my skull. But I finished the show. I don't think I have more intersting stuff right now.
The Erkonauts did not experience something that weird yet. We're a young band, but it's definitely coming.
- „Your Wife“, a bit of sarcastic song – I assume that some of you are married? Or? What ws your inspiration to write that song?
One us is indeed married. But this song is about people who try to stray away from their true self in order to comply to their partner's expectations. That never works. Seduction is a two way-street. People don't fall in love with people who put themselves beneath them.
- If you imagine yourselves in some non metal band, which genre you would like to play?