METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Anna. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
How are you? So glad to be talking with you.
ANNA HEL: It’s going very well, I’m glad to chat with you.
MPAP: I know you have new music out that we will talk more about here shortly, but, how are things going? With 2017 coming to a close, how has it been for you and your band Conflict so far?
ANNA: Well, this year has been pretty intense and fast. We are fully engaged with the new material, almost 5 demos are ready. The vocals are in the process either. We keep an accurate approach, so the way of as fast as possible is not really the cure for the recording process.
MPAP: Before we go any further, let’s get everyone on the same page for those that might not have heard of your band or your music just yet. In 2004 Conflict formed in Moscow, Russia by then guitarist (now bassist), Alexey, and drummer Mikhail. You wouldn’t join until years later, finally taking over on vocals in 2010. Prototype, Conflict’s debut album, which was released in February 2009, prior to you joining the band, had you heard of Conflict and their music before?
ANNA: It’s funny, I never heard about Conflict before I met Mikhail and Alexey. At that moment, I was managing my band and was a totally straight death metal fan in all its subgenres. I was young and tunneling all my tastes to death metal only. Industrial metal was something new to dig into.
MPAP: Before Conflict, you were in a melodic death metal band called Stentorian Voice correct? What made you decide to leave Stentorian Voice and want to join Conflict full time?
ANNA: Actually, I am the founder of Stentorian Voice, the idea came to me after I felt the deep passion for the melodic death metal style. Back in 2001 Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy) and her emotional expression influenced me so much. Since then I started to grow up my vocal technique and I progressed pretty fast that encouraged me to move further. That’s how Stentorian Voice was born. Several years later due to personal contradictions between the members, I decided to wrap up the band, though the audience response was very warm and impressive. And then I found myself in a search for a new band.
MPAP: How did Alexey and Mikhail hear about you and your singing? Did they happen to see you playing live in Stentorian Voice?
ANNA: Their acquaintance told them about me when Conflict was searching for the lead vocalist. They never saw me performing live. So, they took a chance to meet me and make something crazy together.
MPAP: What was it that made them want you as their new singer, especially a female singer; since Conflict was previously dominated by male vocals?
ANNA: I re-addressed the question to Mike (drummer), as he can tell the right side of a story.
MIKHAIL: Our band always had problems with lead singers, many of them wanted everything right now: to be famous, to have unstoppable tours, millions of fans, someone just did not know how to sing, and in view of our musical style, requiring various and catchy vocal lines, this would not pass. Let's be honest, initially, we searched for male vocals, but it is rather an old habit, as Conflict had always been lined-up with men. But after reviewing some points we realized - why do we set up limits? Let's invite a female singer! Fate made a great gift in the person of a talented vocalist Anna! It is not an exaggeration, she masters her voice perfectly. On the Moscow stage, and maybe even on the Russian metal stage, it will be difficult to find a vocalist that can combine extreme vocals, which still envied by many men vocalists, with a beautiful melodic clean singing! In our opinion, her voice fits into the new material 100%! Now we're up against men! Ha-ha.
MPAP: Was it difficult at first for you to join the band knowing you and their previous singer were on different sides of the vocal spectrum? Or did you just come in and start screaming into the microphone like it was nothing right away and it didn’t matter what the previous singer sang like?
ANNA: It was not difficult at all because we already had a vision on how to arrange the music and vocal lines and melodies from the beginning. The new material was written with intention of a wide range of vocal styles. I remember me, and Mikhail met to discuss our steps towards our work, I listened to a demo record, which later became "Mechanism Of Life", and loved it so much. I had no doubts in the collaboration with Conflict.
MPAP: Previously before you joined Conflict the vocals were sung in Russian, correct? What was there any special reason for you to start singing your vocals in English when you joined?
ANNA: After I joined the band, it was decided to make our audience wider, to bring our thoughts, ideas and music to people worldwide. English is an international language that gives such an opportunity. Now we have fans all over the world, and it warms our hearts.
MPAP: Have you ever had any fans, especially hometown fans, saying you should be singing in Russian instead? Or does it even matter to them at all?
ANNA: It was not a crucial decision, we let our Russian fans chose to listen to us or not. Anyways, if we’d stay on the same path this interview wouldn’t have happened then.
MPAP: Your first song that you recorded with Conflict was called "Low Frequency Addicted"? This opened the door to a wider range of vocals you could do correct? You proved you had more vocally inside you than just the growling style of death metal that seems to be the common in a lot of music these days?
ANNA: Yes, you are correct. I felt that I could expand the palette of vocal colors to express myself wider. I started to take vocal lessons for clean singing that gave me more control of the extreme technique in some way. I found screaming and growling technique boring for me at some point. Because there are moments in songs where I want to sound absolutely different. The song was a challenge for me both as for a lyricist and a singer. However, the words and the vocal lines came naturally. That was a starting point in the search for the unique Conflict sound.
MPAP: Like mentioned in the beginning of the interview, Conflict has a new release out called Take Cover! It hit the streets back in September 20th, 2017 independently with no help from a label. It’s a cover album that has quite the vast, wide variety of songs on it, ranging from Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Lana Del Ray, to the Dead Kennedys. There’s even a cover, you do of the 1999 top 40 dance song called "Blue" by Eifel 65. What made you decide to pick these particular songs? Were any of these songs an influence of yours and to the band, or did you just think it would be fun to record them giving them a Conflict facelift?
ANNA: Facing the current state of the music industry, the release of singles is a vital necessity! The flow of information is so powerful that if you produce a full-length album every 2-3 year, you could fully drown in this flow. Fans attention is unfocused and if we want to stay afloat, there’s a need to periodically remind everyone we are still here and making music! We definitely like to record cover songs, always wondering how this or that song will sound in a new interpretation, and if it is a pop song, then the process becomes even more interesting! No risk at all, we do not abandon metal as a style, so that our fans may stay calm. At the same time, we are not hostages of the genre and allow ourselves to do what we really like. Anyways, our fans have the choice to listen to our music or not. As you can see, cover versions we make are not limited to the styles of artists taken for covers. All these covers are brought in by our common influences and musical tastes. Each member of the group listens to tons of music of a different kind, from jazz and the hits of the 60s to extreme metal. When I listen to different genres, it enriches me with lots of ideas and gives inspiration. We are the fans of Nine Inch Nails, Ministry and Depeche Mode, there was no problem to choose a song whether of its main idea or popularity. Mikhail suggested covering the Dead Kennedys "Holiday In Cambodia", that was a big surprise for me, because I was wondering how I’m going to sing it. I’ve never sung a punk song before, never tried, hah. "Blue" by Eifel 65 was recorded for fun mostly. The idea of making a cover on Eiffel 65 came to us on the way home after a gig. We were sitting in the car listening to the retro radio – "Hits of the 90s". Of course, we are familiar with Eiffel 65 and their music, but when heard the first notes of the song, almost everybody said – “Hey, we gotta cover this song! It would be crazy!” It was a great idea of having a dance metal cover. I remember the time when it was broadcasted absolutely everywhere. The original song is so sticky, it won’t come out of your brain once you heard it. "Summertime Sadness" has a deep melancholic and reflective atmosphere that inspired us. At that time, the summer was almost over and that gave us a great chance to present it to the audience and close up the season.
MPAP: Another two songs on Take Cover! are from the industrial metal band Fear Factory? You had previously already covered the song "Scumgrief" as a single back on January 2016, but you put it, along with their song "New Breed" on it as well. Fear Factory and their music must have been a major influence on Conflict’s correct?
ANNA: It’s always exciting and interesting how a song would sound like, to experiment with its composition, to cook something new. More hardcore electronic elements were brought into "New Breed". "Scumgrief" live version was taken for the cover basis was slightly 'weighted up' with guitars and additional electronics. As Mikhail says, Fear Factory influenced Conflict's music a lot since it happened about 20 years ago. There was an idea to play music in this style, but we’ve been developing our own uniqueness. If you listen carefully to the music we make, you will hear lots of different musical elements and arrangement. Definitely, nobody can say that we sound exactly as FF.
MPAP: Was Burton C. Bell’s vocals an influence of yours?
ANNA: No, but I really like how his voice and timbre harmonies fit into Fear Factory’s music. Maybe we’ll sing a song together someday.
MPAP: Even before doing "Scumgrief" in 2016, Conflict had already covered a song by Fear Factory, or a better way to put it, re-covered a song? It was a bonus song called "Ammunition" only found in the 2014 digipack edition of your 2nd full-length release Transform Into A Human. Doing this song was a bit different. Something I’d really never heard of a band doing before? Here’s the story: Fear Factory’s "Ammunition" song wasn’t even really a song. It was just a bare bones drum track only. No guitars, bass or even vocals were on it. It was recorded in demo form and was presumably being worked on for their 2005 6th full-length Transgression album, but the demo never turned into a song, and the song never saw the light of day. After doing some research, some would debate that the Fear Factory "Ammunition" demo turned out to be part of the song "New Promise" on Transgression. Either way, you did a killer version of how you interpreted Fear Factory would have done the song. So, whose idea was this, what inspired you to create and do something like this?
ANNA: Here’s the story: There were rumors about the fact that FF has an unreleased track since the Transgression album release. On YouTube, there was a drum session performed by Raymond Herrera. Our friend took this bone drum track as a basis to write and record the guitars. He just knew that this is the rhythm of that unreleased song known as "Ammunition". A bit later, the friend asked our drummer to finish and organize the drum portion. After several years, it was decided to complete the track and compose a song. The instrument’s part was thoroughly recorded, I composed lyrics and vocals, and guys added electronics. This is how the track was born.
MPAP: I reached out to a friend, Jimmy Littlefield, who’s in the band Agnozia, who is also great friends with Dino Cazares of Fear Factory, and had him ask Dino what he thought about your band Conflict and your cover of the song "Scumgrief"? Dino commented back saying, “Tell them I love all their cover versions of Fear Factory. I also love their programming.” How does that make you feel knowing that one of your musical influences likes your versions of their songs you have done?
ANNA: I just had only in my mind: “Dino commented on our latest release? He knows about it? Wow!!!”. It’s hard to express and of course we felt excited about this. Thank you for bringing such good news!
MPAP: I mentioned this to you in our messenger conversation, that it would be great if Conflict could cover a song by the industrial metal pioneers Godflesh, who have influenced Fear Factory and many others over the years since their inception in 1988. Have you ever thought about it? How soon can we expect something? Just kidding.
ANNA: Maybe, we have ideas for 10 more cover songs, let it be a surprise!
MPAP: Also of this year, just recently in October, you released a song titled "Blade Runner Blues 2049"? Most of your fans might not expect you to do something like this? Tell us about this song that you even said was very unusual, and why you did it?
ANNA: We are the crazy fans of the dark jazz band Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore and especially we’re in love with "Blade Runner Blues" byVangelis. We decided to try to revive it: to infuse more noir color, to add a jazz rhythm and to voice up the leading motive with a saxophone. The idea itself came about 2 years ago, and the demo was recorded in early 2016. According to the plan, it should have been the final track for our new album, but we could not resist and published it to the premiere of the new film, adding to the title the number 2049. This is a very unusual track, but at the same time, it perfectly illustrates our degree of versatility in music. We are able to write music in many styles, from jazz to metal and electronic music. I’m sure our fans didn’t expect such an unusual track! Conflict destroys all the borders!
MPAP: What’s the Russian Industrial metal scene like in your hometown of Moscow? Is it hard to break through playing that genre of music? Is it felt with open arms there?
ANNA: I can definitely say that in Russia it’s very hard to get a vast audience if you don’t play heavy, pagan/folk or black metal, alternative metal. Moreover, people here don’t appear to have an interest in the native bands and very rarely go to such gigs. Moscow is a big city, lots of international stars and popular metal bands visit our city every month, so I think people just overwhelmed with events and are forced to be selective.
MPAP: Are there a lot of Industrial metal bands in Moscow? Any competition? Does everyone get along?
ANNA: Not much really, there are about 5 or so that I've heard about. There are probably more across Russia. There is no any competition, we all try to survive and bring our music to life.
MPAP: Any bands in Moscow you’d like to give a shout out to for people to also check out?
ANNA: Sure, there are some! Conflict! Conflict! Conflict, lol. I would recommend listening to Kartikeya https://kartikeya.bandcamp.com/album/samudra, they released a new album this year, and Deadheaven https://deadheaven.bandcamp.com/. Check them out to see that there are great metal bands in Russia!
MPAP: Before we start to bring this interview to a close, let’s talk about your last full-length release Transform Into A Human? It was a breakthrough release for the band and received some great reviews? Now that it’s almost been out for three years how are you still feeling about it?
ANNA: For me this album is a milestone, I believe for the guys as well. It stands out, it has the great artwork and the sound – all in harmony with its intent. The opportunity to create something that will leave its own life in the people’s minds. The album received a huge number of responses and love of the vast audience, mostly abroad. Three years passed in a blink of an eye, though this time is marked with the other releases where I had chances to experiment with my vocal skills in different genres. We’ve been in the line of review and reevaluation of the music approach as well.
MPAP: Any chance Conflict will be releasing a 3rd full-length in 2018? Do you have anything you can reveal about it here before the others?
ANNA: We do our best to push the process of recording through, still, we struggle with the lack of time, because we have jobs to finance our needs as well as to fund our music. We always appreciate donations from fans to support the releases and I want to thank all for the great response. More than likely, the release will happen at the end of 2018. Lots of our fans are looking forward to our new CD to come out, so this fact keeps us going and kicks our asses, haha. I can’t reveal all the secrets, and usually, the material undergoes lots of changes while the process, but I can definitely say that it’s going to be conceptual.
MPAP: Last question. A huge dilemma for a lot of bands is the difficulty of traveling abroad. Due to the restrictions applying for visas and the high costs associated with being on an international tour, a lot of bands can’t travel to other countries to play their music for their fans. Obviously, this bothers you, along with countless other musicians. Aside from making money grow on trees, do you think there is anything that can be done to make international tours happen more often for bands out there?
ANNA: I believe all depends on good management and marketing, on how your band and your music live in social media to keep the audience attention nailed. As far as I know, many bands abroad are supported by labels, they tour as much as possible to pay off all the expenses. I think that there are more ways on how to promote your band through social media, on example, crowd funding and gather fans support to make a tour happen. As for us, nobody backing us up, but ourselves, we don’t have any managers or a record label. We finance our trips and shows; the albums and singles were fully produced by the band members. Some kind of survival, but that’s the usual process for many metal bands. We are craving performances for metal festivals abroad, but usually we need to find money for such events. Conflict plays live gigs, we are fully functional in this aspect, rather than a studio project. Now, basically, we try to visit Russian cities. Moscow public is very fastidious and picky people who mostly prefer famous artists to domestic bands. Unfortunately, due to the deteriorating economic situation, it is difficult for us to afford international tours, although we receive invitations, for example to South America. We hope that the situation will somehow change, and the band will be able to visit with concerts different countries of the world. Maybe India?
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Anna, for being a part of this interview. We look forward to what Conflict does in the year 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for everyone out there?
ANNA: I have some words to say that I’d wish to hear in a certain moment long time ago: Keep faith in achieving your goals, believe in yourselves and don’t be afraid to make the very first step to your dreams!
Aleksey - bass/ Anna - vocals/ Rodion - guitar/ Mikhail - drums
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©metalpulpandpaper
How are you? So glad to be talking with you.
ANNA HEL: It’s going very well, I’m glad to chat with you.
MPAP: I know you have new music out that we will talk more about here shortly, but, how are things going? With 2017 coming to a close, how has it been for you and your band Conflict so far?
ANNA: Well, this year has been pretty intense and fast. We are fully engaged with the new material, almost 5 demos are ready. The vocals are in the process either. We keep an accurate approach, so the way of as fast as possible is not really the cure for the recording process.
MPAP: Before we go any further, let’s get everyone on the same page for those that might not have heard of your band or your music just yet. In 2004 Conflict formed in Moscow, Russia by then guitarist (now bassist), Alexey, and drummer Mikhail. You wouldn’t join until years later, finally taking over on vocals in 2010. Prototype, Conflict’s debut album, which was released in February 2009, prior to you joining the band, had you heard of Conflict and their music before?
ANNA: It’s funny, I never heard about Conflict before I met Mikhail and Alexey. At that moment, I was managing my band and was a totally straight death metal fan in all its subgenres. I was young and tunneling all my tastes to death metal only. Industrial metal was something new to dig into.
MPAP: Before Conflict, you were in a melodic death metal band called Stentorian Voice correct? What made you decide to leave Stentorian Voice and want to join Conflict full time?
ANNA: Actually, I am the founder of Stentorian Voice, the idea came to me after I felt the deep passion for the melodic death metal style. Back in 2001 Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy) and her emotional expression influenced me so much. Since then I started to grow up my vocal technique and I progressed pretty fast that encouraged me to move further. That’s how Stentorian Voice was born. Several years later due to personal contradictions between the members, I decided to wrap up the band, though the audience response was very warm and impressive. And then I found myself in a search for a new band.
MPAP: How did Alexey and Mikhail hear about you and your singing? Did they happen to see you playing live in Stentorian Voice?
ANNA: Their acquaintance told them about me when Conflict was searching for the lead vocalist. They never saw me performing live. So, they took a chance to meet me and make something crazy together.
MPAP: What was it that made them want you as their new singer, especially a female singer; since Conflict was previously dominated by male vocals?
ANNA: I re-addressed the question to Mike (drummer), as he can tell the right side of a story.
MIKHAIL: Our band always had problems with lead singers, many of them wanted everything right now: to be famous, to have unstoppable tours, millions of fans, someone just did not know how to sing, and in view of our musical style, requiring various and catchy vocal lines, this would not pass. Let's be honest, initially, we searched for male vocals, but it is rather an old habit, as Conflict had always been lined-up with men. But after reviewing some points we realized - why do we set up limits? Let's invite a female singer! Fate made a great gift in the person of a talented vocalist Anna! It is not an exaggeration, she masters her voice perfectly. On the Moscow stage, and maybe even on the Russian metal stage, it will be difficult to find a vocalist that can combine extreme vocals, which still envied by many men vocalists, with a beautiful melodic clean singing! In our opinion, her voice fits into the new material 100%! Now we're up against men! Ha-ha.
MPAP: Was it difficult at first for you to join the band knowing you and their previous singer were on different sides of the vocal spectrum? Or did you just come in and start screaming into the microphone like it was nothing right away and it didn’t matter what the previous singer sang like?
ANNA: It was not difficult at all because we already had a vision on how to arrange the music and vocal lines and melodies from the beginning. The new material was written with intention of a wide range of vocal styles. I remember me, and Mikhail met to discuss our steps towards our work, I listened to a demo record, which later became "Mechanism Of Life", and loved it so much. I had no doubts in the collaboration with Conflict.
MPAP: Previously before you joined Conflict the vocals were sung in Russian, correct? What was there any special reason for you to start singing your vocals in English when you joined?
ANNA: After I joined the band, it was decided to make our audience wider, to bring our thoughts, ideas and music to people worldwide. English is an international language that gives such an opportunity. Now we have fans all over the world, and it warms our hearts.
MPAP: Have you ever had any fans, especially hometown fans, saying you should be singing in Russian instead? Or does it even matter to them at all?
ANNA: It was not a crucial decision, we let our Russian fans chose to listen to us or not. Anyways, if we’d stay on the same path this interview wouldn’t have happened then.
MPAP: Your first song that you recorded with Conflict was called "Low Frequency Addicted"? This opened the door to a wider range of vocals you could do correct? You proved you had more vocally inside you than just the growling style of death metal that seems to be the common in a lot of music these days?
ANNA: Yes, you are correct. I felt that I could expand the palette of vocal colors to express myself wider. I started to take vocal lessons for clean singing that gave me more control of the extreme technique in some way. I found screaming and growling technique boring for me at some point. Because there are moments in songs where I want to sound absolutely different. The song was a challenge for me both as for a lyricist and a singer. However, the words and the vocal lines came naturally. That was a starting point in the search for the unique Conflict sound.
MPAP: Like mentioned in the beginning of the interview, Conflict has a new release out called Take Cover! It hit the streets back in September 20th, 2017 independently with no help from a label. It’s a cover album that has quite the vast, wide variety of songs on it, ranging from Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Lana Del Ray, to the Dead Kennedys. There’s even a cover, you do of the 1999 top 40 dance song called "Blue" by Eifel 65. What made you decide to pick these particular songs? Were any of these songs an influence of yours and to the band, or did you just think it would be fun to record them giving them a Conflict facelift?
ANNA: Facing the current state of the music industry, the release of singles is a vital necessity! The flow of information is so powerful that if you produce a full-length album every 2-3 year, you could fully drown in this flow. Fans attention is unfocused and if we want to stay afloat, there’s a need to periodically remind everyone we are still here and making music! We definitely like to record cover songs, always wondering how this or that song will sound in a new interpretation, and if it is a pop song, then the process becomes even more interesting! No risk at all, we do not abandon metal as a style, so that our fans may stay calm. At the same time, we are not hostages of the genre and allow ourselves to do what we really like. Anyways, our fans have the choice to listen to our music or not. As you can see, cover versions we make are not limited to the styles of artists taken for covers. All these covers are brought in by our common influences and musical tastes. Each member of the group listens to tons of music of a different kind, from jazz and the hits of the 60s to extreme metal. When I listen to different genres, it enriches me with lots of ideas and gives inspiration. We are the fans of Nine Inch Nails, Ministry and Depeche Mode, there was no problem to choose a song whether of its main idea or popularity. Mikhail suggested covering the Dead Kennedys "Holiday In Cambodia", that was a big surprise for me, because I was wondering how I’m going to sing it. I’ve never sung a punk song before, never tried, hah. "Blue" by Eifel 65 was recorded for fun mostly. The idea of making a cover on Eiffel 65 came to us on the way home after a gig. We were sitting in the car listening to the retro radio – "Hits of the 90s". Of course, we are familiar with Eiffel 65 and their music, but when heard the first notes of the song, almost everybody said – “Hey, we gotta cover this song! It would be crazy!” It was a great idea of having a dance metal cover. I remember the time when it was broadcasted absolutely everywhere. The original song is so sticky, it won’t come out of your brain once you heard it. "Summertime Sadness" has a deep melancholic and reflective atmosphere that inspired us. At that time, the summer was almost over and that gave us a great chance to present it to the audience and close up the season.
MPAP: Another two songs on Take Cover! are from the industrial metal band Fear Factory? You had previously already covered the song "Scumgrief" as a single back on January 2016, but you put it, along with their song "New Breed" on it as well. Fear Factory and their music must have been a major influence on Conflict’s correct?
ANNA: It’s always exciting and interesting how a song would sound like, to experiment with its composition, to cook something new. More hardcore electronic elements were brought into "New Breed". "Scumgrief" live version was taken for the cover basis was slightly 'weighted up' with guitars and additional electronics. As Mikhail says, Fear Factory influenced Conflict's music a lot since it happened about 20 years ago. There was an idea to play music in this style, but we’ve been developing our own uniqueness. If you listen carefully to the music we make, you will hear lots of different musical elements and arrangement. Definitely, nobody can say that we sound exactly as FF.
MPAP: Was Burton C. Bell’s vocals an influence of yours?
ANNA: No, but I really like how his voice and timbre harmonies fit into Fear Factory’s music. Maybe we’ll sing a song together someday.
MPAP: Even before doing "Scumgrief" in 2016, Conflict had already covered a song by Fear Factory, or a better way to put it, re-covered a song? It was a bonus song called "Ammunition" only found in the 2014 digipack edition of your 2nd full-length release Transform Into A Human. Doing this song was a bit different. Something I’d really never heard of a band doing before? Here’s the story: Fear Factory’s "Ammunition" song wasn’t even really a song. It was just a bare bones drum track only. No guitars, bass or even vocals were on it. It was recorded in demo form and was presumably being worked on for their 2005 6th full-length Transgression album, but the demo never turned into a song, and the song never saw the light of day. After doing some research, some would debate that the Fear Factory "Ammunition" demo turned out to be part of the song "New Promise" on Transgression. Either way, you did a killer version of how you interpreted Fear Factory would have done the song. So, whose idea was this, what inspired you to create and do something like this?
ANNA: Here’s the story: There were rumors about the fact that FF has an unreleased track since the Transgression album release. On YouTube, there was a drum session performed by Raymond Herrera. Our friend took this bone drum track as a basis to write and record the guitars. He just knew that this is the rhythm of that unreleased song known as "Ammunition". A bit later, the friend asked our drummer to finish and organize the drum portion. After several years, it was decided to complete the track and compose a song. The instrument’s part was thoroughly recorded, I composed lyrics and vocals, and guys added electronics. This is how the track was born.
MPAP: I reached out to a friend, Jimmy Littlefield, who’s in the band Agnozia, who is also great friends with Dino Cazares of Fear Factory, and had him ask Dino what he thought about your band Conflict and your cover of the song "Scumgrief"? Dino commented back saying, “Tell them I love all their cover versions of Fear Factory. I also love their programming.” How does that make you feel knowing that one of your musical influences likes your versions of their songs you have done?
ANNA: I just had only in my mind: “Dino commented on our latest release? He knows about it? Wow!!!”. It’s hard to express and of course we felt excited about this. Thank you for bringing such good news!
MPAP: I mentioned this to you in our messenger conversation, that it would be great if Conflict could cover a song by the industrial metal pioneers Godflesh, who have influenced Fear Factory and many others over the years since their inception in 1988. Have you ever thought about it? How soon can we expect something? Just kidding.
ANNA: Maybe, we have ideas for 10 more cover songs, let it be a surprise!
MPAP: Also of this year, just recently in October, you released a song titled "Blade Runner Blues 2049"? Most of your fans might not expect you to do something like this? Tell us about this song that you even said was very unusual, and why you did it?
ANNA: We are the crazy fans of the dark jazz band Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore and especially we’re in love with "Blade Runner Blues" byVangelis. We decided to try to revive it: to infuse more noir color, to add a jazz rhythm and to voice up the leading motive with a saxophone. The idea itself came about 2 years ago, and the demo was recorded in early 2016. According to the plan, it should have been the final track for our new album, but we could not resist and published it to the premiere of the new film, adding to the title the number 2049. This is a very unusual track, but at the same time, it perfectly illustrates our degree of versatility in music. We are able to write music in many styles, from jazz to metal and electronic music. I’m sure our fans didn’t expect such an unusual track! Conflict destroys all the borders!
MPAP: What’s the Russian Industrial metal scene like in your hometown of Moscow? Is it hard to break through playing that genre of music? Is it felt with open arms there?
ANNA: I can definitely say that in Russia it’s very hard to get a vast audience if you don’t play heavy, pagan/folk or black metal, alternative metal. Moreover, people here don’t appear to have an interest in the native bands and very rarely go to such gigs. Moscow is a big city, lots of international stars and popular metal bands visit our city every month, so I think people just overwhelmed with events and are forced to be selective.
MPAP: Are there a lot of Industrial metal bands in Moscow? Any competition? Does everyone get along?
ANNA: Not much really, there are about 5 or so that I've heard about. There are probably more across Russia. There is no any competition, we all try to survive and bring our music to life.
MPAP: Any bands in Moscow you’d like to give a shout out to for people to also check out?
ANNA: Sure, there are some! Conflict! Conflict! Conflict, lol. I would recommend listening to Kartikeya https://kartikeya.bandcamp.com/album/samudra, they released a new album this year, and Deadheaven https://deadheaven.bandcamp.com/. Check them out to see that there are great metal bands in Russia!
MPAP: Before we start to bring this interview to a close, let’s talk about your last full-length release Transform Into A Human? It was a breakthrough release for the band and received some great reviews? Now that it’s almost been out for three years how are you still feeling about it?
ANNA: For me this album is a milestone, I believe for the guys as well. It stands out, it has the great artwork and the sound – all in harmony with its intent. The opportunity to create something that will leave its own life in the people’s minds. The album received a huge number of responses and love of the vast audience, mostly abroad. Three years passed in a blink of an eye, though this time is marked with the other releases where I had chances to experiment with my vocal skills in different genres. We’ve been in the line of review and reevaluation of the music approach as well.
MPAP: Any chance Conflict will be releasing a 3rd full-length in 2018? Do you have anything you can reveal about it here before the others?
ANNA: We do our best to push the process of recording through, still, we struggle with the lack of time, because we have jobs to finance our needs as well as to fund our music. We always appreciate donations from fans to support the releases and I want to thank all for the great response. More than likely, the release will happen at the end of 2018. Lots of our fans are looking forward to our new CD to come out, so this fact keeps us going and kicks our asses, haha. I can’t reveal all the secrets, and usually, the material undergoes lots of changes while the process, but I can definitely say that it’s going to be conceptual.
MPAP: Last question. A huge dilemma for a lot of bands is the difficulty of traveling abroad. Due to the restrictions applying for visas and the high costs associated with being on an international tour, a lot of bands can’t travel to other countries to play their music for their fans. Obviously, this bothers you, along with countless other musicians. Aside from making money grow on trees, do you think there is anything that can be done to make international tours happen more often for bands out there?
ANNA: I believe all depends on good management and marketing, on how your band and your music live in social media to keep the audience attention nailed. As far as I know, many bands abroad are supported by labels, they tour as much as possible to pay off all the expenses. I think that there are more ways on how to promote your band through social media, on example, crowd funding and gather fans support to make a tour happen. As for us, nobody backing us up, but ourselves, we don’t have any managers or a record label. We finance our trips and shows; the albums and singles were fully produced by the band members. Some kind of survival, but that’s the usual process for many metal bands. We are craving performances for metal festivals abroad, but usually we need to find money for such events. Conflict plays live gigs, we are fully functional in this aspect, rather than a studio project. Now, basically, we try to visit Russian cities. Moscow public is very fastidious and picky people who mostly prefer famous artists to domestic bands. Unfortunately, due to the deteriorating economic situation, it is difficult for us to afford international tours, although we receive invitations, for example to South America. We hope that the situation will somehow change, and the band will be able to visit with concerts different countries of the world. Maybe India?
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Anna, for being a part of this interview. We look forward to what Conflict does in the year 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for everyone out there?
ANNA: I have some words to say that I’d wish to hear in a certain moment long time ago: Keep faith in achieving your goals, believe in yourselves and don’t be afraid to make the very first step to your dreams!
Aleksey - bass/ Anna - vocals/ Rodion - guitar/ Mikhail - drums
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