Interview with Kruger - Renaud & Raph

I.M: Thanks for taking time to answer our questions, and let’s get started. The band’s latest release “For Death. Glory, And The End Of The World” is ready to be unleashed in North America on July. Can you tell us more about the concept and ideas behind this monumental release?

Renaud (voc) : Monumental ? Well thanks ! I’m afraid, though, that you’ll be disappointed on the intellectual content of it, since we deny any ! It’s actually fun to see how people think we are a conceptual band, when we try our best to run from any kind of “concept” – sure enough, we take care in designing our artwork and recording our songs the best we can, but there’s nothing like such a global vision on this album… For once, we did choose a long and empathic title (more of a 2nd degree joke – we’re FOND of jokes !- ) and a empathic cover (let’s say we have unconsciously tried to look a bit like Entombed?) , but there’s nothing so boring like those bands trying hard to develop a concept album to show their poor listeners that they’ve read a couple of philosophy books and visited a couple of art museums, isn’t ? Cynical commenters will say we try to please everyone with this cliché-looking album, while making fun out of it – they might be right… I guess we are somehow true metallers denying completely the fact that we are. Let me ask my shrink.

I.M: The band has a very unique sound that is hard to narrow down, can you tell us would you describe the band’s music?

Raph (drums): it’s basically metal with a non verse/chorus/verse approach. Guitars and bass are rarely playing the same riff altogether and there’s a progressive edge to the way we build our songs. The vocals are harsh yet varied but definitely not everybody’s taste. It’s intense, dark, melodic, and drums driven...

I.M: “For Death…” is somewhat different than the band’s last release “Redemption Through Looseness”. Can you tell us what did you guys wanted to create when you sat down to write and record this album?

Raph: Personnally, I just wanted to have fun. “RTL” was a difficult record to make, with a lot of tension in the band and different personnal issues affecting each member.
This time, the whole writing and recording process went smoothly in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and paradoxically, “For Death...” may be our most straightforward and intense album to date. The main difference compared to our previous efforts is that we were in control of pretty much everything. I was producing and engineering the songs, Jak took care of the artwork, we were recording in a tiny and cheap studio with no schedules issues. And Kurt Ballou already knew us, which made the whole mixing process easier and more satisfying. Musicwise, it’s the continuation of RTL, with less rock’n’roll oriented riffs but faster tempo and the best guitar / bass work we’ve ever come up with.

I.M: The look of the band in the press pictures makes you guys look like frat boys or a group of accountants. Is this part of the whole concept behind Kruger, to not look like metal people?

Raph : Not necessarilly but it’s fun to wear classy suits and if your parents happen to see your pictures in some magazines, they’ll possibly feel proud of their sons.
We take music seriously, it’s what really matters, and we like it when it’s heavy and dark. But we’re definitely not 100% metal people, and pay some attention to make it obvious on our album covers or press pics, though some people don’t really seem to get our sense of humour. Maybe we’re not so funny overall, damn...

I.M: With all these new bands creating massive mash-ups of different genres. What do you think makes Kruger standout from the rest of them?

Raph: I don’t know, really, because it’s not something we feel oncerned about. We’ve already been categorized in so many genre (sludge, post-hardcore, death metal, industrial...) and been compared to so many different bands (Opeth, Gojira, and even Katatonia), we’ve come to the conclusion that we’re not so easy to label. Our main common influences have always been Breach and Neurosis but we’re not really sounding like them either. Is it so important to define the music you’re playing. We think not. We just like to write stuff that drives us emotionnally, be it original or not...

I.M: We only see a few shows in Switzerland and one in France in the next few months for the band, are there any plans for a full-on European tour? Maybe some dates in North America?

Renaud: we had two new dads this year, so the schedule has been pretty hectic … We have to slow down for a few weeks, but we’re back in full force this summer ! A couple of festivals for the warm-up, and we start a European tour in October. North America ? Exciting, but it’s still pretty expensive for such a low-profile band like us… But I’d love it: drive 8 hours a day for a ridiculous fee: that’s us !

I.M:  Do you guys see Kruger as a career path? Or do you guys all have jobs and ‘regular lives’?

Raph: Kruger is a serious hobby, but we’re far too old (for some of us) and grounded in our daily routine to see Kruger as a full time job. Which is kind of cool since we don’t feel any pressures regarding the music we’re doing and don’t have to be constantly striving for money and play 666 shows a year to make the band financially livable.
Renaud : I must admit I don’t even dream to be on the road six months a year… Feeling such intensity and excitement in every single show we play (we do around 40-50 a year) is much more rewarding than earn any money out of it – which is good, since we don’t earn any !

I.M:  If the civilization as we know it ended and the next ‘humans’ on earth would uncover your latest album and use the lyrics as their gospel. What would you wish you would have changed on them?

Renaud: If they did use my lyrics as their gospel, that would a wicked, nasty new civilization… !

I.M:  With all the bands popping out every day now with Myspace and similar sites, how do you think a band can have the same impact on the music scene, like bands did 10 years ago?

Raph: you cannot really have the same impact I’d say because absolutely everyone now can be exposed and get his 15 minutes of fame. Every single band, be it the absolute worst piece of crap or the best act ever can have his myspace page, facebook wall or whatever.
Now the competition is opened for everybody, and you can make it without labels if you’re smart enough, though having some paid advertising in magazines always helps a bit...
Renaud: The internet thing gives the illusion of all that, but I think it’s pretty fake, and it’s still the good songs and the touring that really makes a band. And in the end there is so much crap online that you’re getting a hard time to pick-up decent stuff, since any 18-y.o. nerd can make up a mypsace…

I.M:  If you could make a super band with any musicians dead or alive, whom would you pick? and what kind of music would you play?

Raph : Prince on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Fredrick Thordendal on lead guitar, Shane Embury on bass, Roddy Bottum on keyboards, Lady Gaga and Brett Michaels as frontwomen. And we would not play anything, hopefully...
Renaud: I would have Scotty Moore on guitar, Weedeater’s drummer (just saw them, he’s fucking heavy !) and Shane Embury is indeed a good bet on bass. And we’d hire an orchestra and make a Italian crooner album, just like Patton did. It’s great ¨!

I.M: Anything else you want to add for your fans and our readers?

Raph : We hope you’re gonna like the new album. If you don’t, don’t worry, there are billions of other bands out there worth checking out (or not...)

I.M: Thanks for the time and good luck promoting the album.

Raph : thank you for you interest !