Be welcomed in our midst, David! How are you nowadays? What do you doing on these days?
Thanks a lot for the interview, I am doing my job stuffs and thinking about the artwork about the upcoming CD, I think I got the idea and you could see it very soon
Please introduce your band! Where and when did your band form shape and who are the members of the band?
So the usual things. Haha! I think that the idea of Armada was born on 2009, but It really started on 2013 when we decided to record a demo of 3 songs, and started seriously to play and make tours. We are formed by the brothers Arturo (Guitar) and David (Drummer) + then Emmanuel (Bass) joined in 2014.
Which bands inspired your band in the beginning? What did inspiredyou to create a band and what is the reason that you play death metal style?
We play Death Metal because it is the music that me and the guitarist like more, we love the old sounds, so we like to mix a bit the old sound of classical Death Metal, I think that main inspiration is the Polish scene, bands like Vader, Hate, and the other side the American scene, bands like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Vital Remains, I think we have more from the new polish albums and the rest from the USA´s old death metal sounds, but it is only a conception and perception, I think we are making, only making what we want to do and we have no compromise, it is still music coming from the heart…
Arturo the guitarist one day come to my home and invited me to play, he was interested in make a death metal band with old style and I was excited about the porpose, he wanted t make a serious band with serious people, so I was vey agree to join to the bandthat he was planning in that time, then we found the name “Armada”... I am not sure that is totally death metal and only influenced from Death Metal, for me it is hard to define
How did you take contact with metal music? Which bands were your favorites when you were young guy?
When I was about 9 years old I started to listen to my father´s Vinyl´s , Led Zppelin, Deep Purple, but then when I was like 12 years old listen to Kill em´ All (Metallica), then I started to listen bands like Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Sepultura, and then it took me to the limit, little by lithhe I went discovering more speed and strident unlimited bands
Which 5 albums would you mention, if you’d have to make a top-list?
Kill ém All
Arise – Sepultura
Athenian Echoes – Nightfall
Edge of Sanity – Purgatory AfterGlow
Tiamat – Astral Sleep
Your first release came out in 2009, which was a demo, called „We Were Born to Die”. How did the guys welcome this release? Could you tell about the create of this material?
The demo from 2009 has no name and in fact I don’t have it, it was no finished at all, but the demo from 2012 it´s called “We were born to Die”, we decided to record this demo because we wanted to start touring in Mexico, I like this recording because this sounds very old, and I think it was good accepted, because we started to have more shows after this was realeased, “Rebellion my Religion” album contains the 3 tracks from this Demo
Are you interested in the question of death? In your opinion, what is waiting for us after death?I am not really interested, but I think something dwells in my subconscious because I am thinking a lot in ”Death”, for me this is normal and natural to think about Death, you know it can happen in every moment, and when I make a relation about topics it appears, I am not afraid but it is a mysterious, I think that we are alive and we all are connected with all that is alive on earth, I think that all we are a same energy together, I think that there´s a life after this life, I think that we only left this body and go to live in any part of the universe, I don’t have it clear , but I am sure that we are energy and will be having life after this body…
Was there more interest for ARMADA after the demo? From which places of the world the guys find you?
Yes, after the demo we also make a tour on 2014, over Mexico and in the east of Europe, By the way we didn´t play in Hungary that time, people from Serbia, people from Czech Rep, from Slovakia, Germany, I think we have more contct with people from the eastand of course, people from Mexico
Your first album was released in 2014, called „Rebellion my Religion. Frankly, it reminds me old DEICIDE and VITAL REMAINS. Which were your inspirations at that time?
I think yes, it has some mentioned influences, I think that in lyrics it changes because I am more in subversive view of the world, maybe a bit inspired by Max Cavalera from Sepultura in that album, but the music and the guitarist definitely took that way, and so others.
Your album was recorded at Allory studio, but it came out as self-releasedpiece. Right? Why there were no labels interested?
We recorded in Allory, but this same guys took us from his studio very fast, I Think we didn´t finished as we would liked to do, we had no problems with him, but he had a bad trip on that time, so, we had not very good distribution, that´s what we are waiting now, a label that can distribute as much as it can, MAT Recordings from Mexico is Reissued this “Rebellion my Religion”, and I think it is much better, it is as it we were starting with this same topic… Album, and now we are searching for a label...
That album came in a slip digipack version what is really flashy! Have you released it in other formats or you only had a CD version?
we only have this format, but yes, I think it would be perfect to have that artwork on Vinyl or any tape, unfortunately the time is very short for me and dedicate more time to work to have opportunity for touring
Which is your favorite format (vinyl, CD or tape) and why? Do you collect merch?
For me it is the same, but yes , the Vinyl become to a special piece, I don’t have a lot of them, I wish I could have some more, I am sure in future I will get some of my favorites in Vinyl, I have CDs and still have some tapes, I think I have more CD´s than othe kind
Who did the front cover?
The front cover was made by Brutal Design, it is a Mexican good friend
You are under the flag of Allory Records if I see it right. When will the new release come out?
We won´t work with Allory any more, we have the full album done now, I hope we can make a good deal with this new material soon
The last two track on „Rebellion my Religion” were not composed for this album. What can we come to know about them? Do I hear it right that you have used programmed drums in those two tunes?Yes, it has programmed drums and this work was made it by the guitarist, and it also contains some natural drums, this is supposed to come in the new album, but we added it, because we needed something extra track for the Reissue, so we made a kind of advance with the tracks and the videos of this title and put it in this album, We need to sort many things and time goes so fast, so we are having new experience and try to fix things on the way, evn we always have programs on our music work, sometimes come details, and details, so we will work in a different way, I hope this can be effective.
How often do you play in live? Which countries have you visited until now?
We have played in Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Rep, Germany, Poland and Costa Rica, until now only on such countries
We play a lot alive, I think we make near 50 gigs per year, only this year we have not played a lot, but sure next year will be full of concerts
You werein Europe in 2017. What were you experiences? Did you haveenough time for sightseeing?
I love shows, I think that was amazing to be in the eastern Europe summer festivals, I really liked, still make me belive that music and the underground is alive, we met a lot of great people, we made friend ship, we knew about of its culture in anyway, we ate , drink, could interchange may good vibes, I m not really in tourist stuff when I am on tour , but I had the opportunity to know some the parlament in Hungary and around, that´s the only thing I wished to visit, the rest is not important now, but music and concerts are the real great here
How did you feel in Hungary? You have played two shows here as well. The first even was took place in Budapest. Right? How did you feel there?
I will starat with Budapest, In Budapest there were not a lot of people, but we met some friends that we met on 2015So , we got fun with the good managers of the bar too. It is no nice when there´s no a lot of people, but we made it and I enjoyed to play, even it is important the people that come to a show
About the Total War Fest, I cant say it´s an amazing festival, totally great, wonderful
We met at Total War Fest on the next day. We started to destroy ourselves so early. Haha! How do you remember what happened after? Haha!
Well, we arrived drunk and without sleeping, we immediately were in party as soon as we arrived in the festival, then I started to stop drinking a bit 2 hours before the show and I took a cold water shower, so I was not drunk at on the stage, I cpould made it, it was crazy, I really would like to return the time, or return to a gig with you guys and all the people there, as crazy as in Total War Fest
I saw that you like drinking! Haha! How often do you drink alcohol? Which is your favorite drink? The tequila that you got me was really delicious! Haha!
I drink very often, sometimes every weekend, 2 or 3 days, never less than 2 days, I cannot stop when I start to drink, sometimes I stop drinking 1 month or 2 montsh, but I need to drink again, then I brake with stopping, The most I like is Vodka, Rum (Mojitos), but I can also drink Whiskey, I like wines too, I really like Pálinka, Rakija, Slivovica, and some beers I am able to drink, also Tequila is brutal and great
Do you use anything else besides alcohol? There is a really large drug business in Mexico. Right? What do you think about drugs?
Sometimes I use cocaine, in Mexico exist different qualities, I do , but not really a lot, just sometimes I can enjoy it.
I think that abuse about any drugs or alcohol is not good for the organism, I don’t know about marihuana because I don’t use, but all with chemistry destroys ourselves, they are sold because we need something more than this stupid reality, and it is produced because it is a great business, I don’t think drugs or alcohol is good, but anxiety is hard to control, that´s why I use them
How was your concert at Total War Fest succeed? Have you felt satisfied with everything at that event?
We really enjoyed a lot, for me it was a beautiful festival, we met the Hungarian underground scene and we had contact with the people, the atmosphere of the festival is absoluteley perfect, good sound, good bands mates, good place, good promoters and great friends, of course that we made there, Hungary has special vibes, Armada is satisfied a lot about the Total War Fest, even the name of the festival is great…
Have you ever been to Hungary before? Do you know any Hungarian bands?
Yes, we were in 2015 in Budapest, it was not a tourist visit, we played a gig in route 65, not a lot of people in fact, but we are very thank with the chance and the support that made the gig possible
About the bands, I know Tormentor and I have a CD, I listened to Age of Agony and I liked, I am sure there should be more bands, but you know, it is hard to listen to all the metal universe, you can suggestion me some bands, and I would appreciate it if you do
Could you recommend us some good bands from your country? How doesthe underground life look likein Mexico?
The underground in Mexico is a very long list of good bands and very bad bands, I see the metalheads from the underground concentrated in the other states of Mexico, they are not in the main city, or capital city, it is much better for local bands the rest of the states in Mexico Mexican city underground scene is so divided and in a gig that dwell more than 20million people cannot be more than 60 people in a local gig, that´s weird, Mexico doesn’t respect its metal music, they prefer “international” bands.
I like bands like Divine Sword, Baal, Trough Torment, BalamAkab, Sarcoma, Mictlan, Remains, and of course some bands from the past
What are the future plans of legion ARMADA?
for 2018 we will realease the new Album under the sign of MAT records, we will compose new songs and we will search for a booking agency for the next tour in Europe, and 2018 will be for Mexican shows, maybe we visit Europe on 2018, we are still thinking a bout it, as we were working a lot for 2 years with the band in recording, booking, so, Arturo the guistarrist and me haave to talk soon about the plans
Thanks for your answers, David! When will we drinking again? Haha!
Hey brother, we will drink again as soon as we meet, must share more days hanging out together, I hope we could do it anytime
Interview by Sz.
