Left to Right: Vadim Whitevad, Xen Ritter, Lady Owl, Doctor, DedMoroz
METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Lady Owl and Xen. So glad to have caught up with you both. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
The end of the year is slowly creeping upon us. How has it been so far for the both of you and your band Pokerface?
LADY OWL: Hey there! Thank you for your questions personally for us! So, let's start! Yeah, to be honest, for me personally 2017 was completely rough. From the side of my family. One of my gran and my dad passed away while I was on tour, so emotionally, that was something very hard to explain. But this is experience of being a professional musician, when you're a thousand kilometers from your home and can do nothing. But, actually as a band we had some positive sides. This year was very important for Pokerface! We got the new album Game On which I love a lot, the biggest tour that Pokerface has ever had, and now I guess the album is selling quite successfully, and we have a lot of plans for the future!
XEN RITTER: Yes, this year was a huge step forward for the band. And we don't wanna stop. For me personally- it's funny, but this year demanded all my skills and knowledges from me to reach a new level, mostly regarding the band. I learn something new every day. So, I hope, this new level will be useful for Pokerface.
MPAP:Pokerface is a female fronted thrash/death metal band from Russian that formed in 2013. What else do you want the soon to be new fans reading this to know more about Pokerface?
XEN: For all metalheads: Pokerface rules. And it was a long way for the band to become a professional-kick-ass-and-conquering-the-world band, thanks for every current and former member. That's all you need to know. Oh, and you can check tour dates and buy our albums on Facebook.
MPAP: Which bands would you say that if you’re interested in them, then you’ll like Pokerface’s music?
XEN: Depends on the album. Terror Is The Law (2014) and Divide And Rule (2015) are for old-school Slayer, Nervosa, Venom and Holy Moses fans. Game On (2017) - critics say that it has lots of new-styled Kreator, Sodom and Destruction influences and Arch Enemy in vocs.
MPAP: You both joined Pokerface in 2016 along with Vadim Whitevad (guitar). DedMoroz (bass) and Doctor (drums) were the only two remaining after just loosing three band members. What was it like joining Pokerface that was almost basically brand new now even though they had already been around for three years?
LADY OWL: I never knew about Pokerface before my friend texted me that they need a Vox. Well I joined the band in the beginning of the 2016 as a session vocalist for only one tour. I never wanted to stay for good, you know, I was busy with my other band, but I was pretty impressed how serious their purposes were. I wasn't really sure I wanted to stay after they asked me to join as a member, but, I agreed in the end. So here I am.
XEN: If you think that the band was consisted of new members and it meant they didn't know what to do, that is wrong. The leaders (Doctor, DedMoroz) were in the band before 2016 and they always had a multi-page action plan so that new members always knew what to do exactly. For me it was like a vacation, because in my former band I was a leader and I didn't sleep at nights because of that, if you know what I mean.
MPAP: Xen, you walked into the band that already had two releases under their belt with a different lead guitar player that had recently quit. When auditioning, what was your game plan to take on the role and take the band to the next level?
XEN: As I said, I'm not a leader of the band, there is DedMoroz, who is giving orders. But I always tell him, like any band member, if I have an idea, how to do this or that in a better way in my opinion. What sound can we use for the next album or which musical direction to choose. There are always ideas, also stupid ones. When I joined the band, there was a big objective to make a new album for 3-4 months. Then there was another one, and so on. I just did my best and use all my skills, not only guitar ones, to do the job well. Banners, mailings, web sites, reviews, PR, interviews- that's the job no one but band members can do.
MPAP: The same goes for you as well Lady Owl. You had to take on vocal duties after the previous singer vacated her position. When auditioning, what was your game plan to take on the role and take the band to the next level?
LADY OWL: Мy plan was that I had no plan. I just did my job good.
MPAP: Let’s talk about the new release, Game On (M& O Music), that came out in March (2017). It received some great reviews and is still doing strong. How are you both feeling about it now that the dust has settled and the people have had the chance to listen to it?
LADY OWL: I'm happy people like it, and I expected that really ahhaha. 'Cause the material is really good and much more adult than Pokerface's previous works. But the good result has come to us not only because we did a good album, this is less the less 50% of success, I just can't describe how many things you have to do, if you want your music to be heard. We have an awesome guy in the band, DedMoroz who knows what to do, and the public success of the album is his fault haha.
XEN: The main objective was to do a more professional-sounding album and not to lose previous band songs aggression and drive at the same time. I think, we did it. It's production is like Pokerface is already signed by Nuclear Blast, but it is still thrashy and people really like it. I'm happy with this release.
MPAP: Worth all the blood, sweat, and tears you put into it?
LADY OWL: Yes, despite all troubles that fell on me, I have never wanted to give up. Never.
XEN: Hell yeah.
MPAP: If you only could say three words about Game On, what would those words be?
LADY OWL: Listen to that!
MPAP: What matters to you the most about it? What makes you proud that you are a part of it?
LADY OWL: Well, I'm proud I'm still here in the band after the album is done and the storm is over. And nobody except me is able to perform on the front with songs that only I know how to sing in emotional and technical case. Please, don't find it too selfish.
XEN: There are my fast-cool thrash riffs, my favorite Jackson-Kelly-with-Seymour-Duncan sound, a couple of my solos, and all that shit is a part of our team's compositions that sound perfectly. Every member has done his job perfectly. What else can be better?
MPAP: The title Game On, is there a story behind it by any chance? What were you trying to get across to everyone that listened to it?
LADY OWL: Sure, of course we had a story that is beneath the album, which I like a lot, but, to be honest, I'm not so involved in the games theme, but I can describe the story! Game On is not an ordinary album consisted of separated songs, but has its own deep sense and concept. All songs have kind of certain line and different games of chance, casino theme, inner monsters and fears of people who seek for simple ways to solve difficult self-problems inspired their conception. Everyone knows that the most simple way as usual is not the right one, but being under the social pressure force the hero of this album to make aggressive and cruel decisions. His own behavior puts him into a trap of greed, fear and betrayal. His inner problems appear in images of monsters like Bone Reaper and Fatal Scythe, which hunt him and lead to the deeper layer of his own subconscious. The games that demons make him to play are in general the ways to solve these personal problems. The hero tries this different way each of which leads to loss of all he earned during his entire life. The labyrinth with no beginning, no end no exit. But the diamonds are formed only under the great pressure and temperature, and the hero of this album is not the exception. In the end of his struggle, he understands, that the main treasure he owns is himself as a person, and until he remembers who he is, he is winner in all dreadful demons' games and the one who won his own life and right to live as a strong-willed person.
MPAP: With the growing tensions between Russia and The United States, do you feel that some might take the title as in,’ game on, let’s fight, it’s time for war’?
LADY OWL: Do you seriously think that someone is gonna start the war? I'm not sure. This is a fucking stupid game of thrones. Show me a normal person, who wants the war. I mean a real war with weapons literally. This is a 21th century. Ordinary people are victims of an information slaughter. So, that's why I'm not watching TV. But about the title... we are not creators of the slogan "Game On". If someone wants to use it - go, feel free. But I hope that this is gonna be used not for a fucking war.
MPAP: Jobert Mellow/Sledgehammer Graphix designed the cover for Game On. Can you describe what he created for you?
XEN: He is a brilliant designer, he did two covers for Game On, but the first one was too old-style for this album. We didn't want to deceive our listeners by an old-Slayer-looking cover, 'cause new songs sound not like they are from 80s. So, the idea for the cover was the band's, and he painted that cool cover and other album artwork for us. Also, he did a new logo for Pokerface.
MPAP: Is there a meaning behind the almost fully naked lady on it?
LadyOwl: This is the victim of a dirty game. Her body was one of the things, that the main hero of the plot paid by.
MPAP: With this being each your first release with Pokerface, are you both looking forward to making the next one? Or do you just want to go touring for a couple years before even thinking about the next album to make?
LADY OWL: No, we are already working on a new music. Both of us. Why should we wait if we have some ideas?! We are not gonna release the new album right now, maybe next year, maybe later, but I can say exactly we are working on it.
MPAP: Your hometown, Москва (Moscow), which is the capital of Russia, holds over 13 million residents. What is the music scene like there?
XEN: We have some metal bands with big names. Almost all of them are trying to make business outside - mostly in EU and USA, because Russian fans are not used to seeing good and professional band from Russia and they are sure that any Russian band is a piece of shit in advance. It's not their fault - our scene was formed after Slayer and Metallica have come here. So now there are also many perfect local bands with no chance to be famous due to different reasons and tons of metal fans that will never come to a local band show. Also, in Russia, even in Moscow, it's all about vicious circle. Lack of music culture: nobody think that music can be a serious business, except pop-music, of course. No professionalism, only fun and beer, no hardworking, and, as a result, lots of low-grade music bands that turn away people from going to gigs and supporting underground metal. No support, no money. The circle is closed.
MPAP: Is it hard to be a female fronted band in Russia? Do you take a lot of flak from others saying the genre of music you play is for men only?
LADY OWL: I think for now it's pretty the same, male or female fronted. The place of women in metal was won a long time ago. I can't imagine nowadays the metal scene without women. I even can say that people here mostly like female fronted bands than male.
MPAP: Had you heard of the band before joining?
LADY OWL: No, never ever.
XEN: Yes, Pokerface warmed up each of my favorite bands that came to Moscow. I've known about the band since 2013.
MPAP: When you joined, what do each of you feel you brought to the table?
LADY OWL: Well, as for me, I can say I brought more professionalism than they have had before. In many cases.
XEN: I used to give everything I have, to reach something. There are no other options if you live in Moscow, no matter what you do. You should give everything and even more, staying true to yourself.
MPAP: Going back to something that was mentioned before, there have been a few lineup changes over the years in Pokerface. How do you feel this has affected Doctor and DedMoroz?
LADY OWL: I can't say they are really affected, of course it's always hard to say goodbye to the member of the band, but Pokerface was always the project, not the group of friends or whatever. This is not about us at all. You can't live there for a long time if you haven't got special qualities. So, that's why Pokerface is changing members so often. The strongest survives.
MPAP: Would you be honest to say you are both the game changers for the band and there is no limit to where this band will go now?
LADY OWL: Yes, as for me. I think so. If we have strong differences- I will have to leave. Or if I will be ill for a long time, if I have problems that will take a long time to resolve, I will be replaced. Maybe for a while, maybe not. No one will wait until I solve my problems. Nobody keeps anyone. This is the policy of the band. But to be honest, I completely don't give a think about it, 'cause I have what to do else. Another band, a lot of work. So, I'm completely okay if Pokerface replaces me. I appreciate a lot their opinion. While I'm here I'll fight for my rules as a member every day.
XEN: If there was a limit, do you really think i'd tell you? My chief is reading this. But, honestly, no, not for me. It was a really hard way for me (through 10 years) to be scared and quit. Except in case Pokerface will start playing pop-music or some shit like that.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you both, Lady Owl and Xen, for taking the time to be a part of this interview. Look forward to what Pokerface does to finish out the year 2017 and beyond.
Any last words you’d both like to say to all the readers and your fans out there?
LADY OWL: First of all, I'd love to thank you for such an amazing interview with unique questions! Thank you that you've found our persons and our band as an interesting subject to speak about! And for readers and fans- thank you that you have time to read this interview till the end. Listen to good music, hope to see all of you on one of our shows somewhere in the World, don't forget to head bang!!! We appreciate your support a lot!
XEN: Yeah, great interview, thanks! For all metal- and Pokerface fans: keep true and come to metal shows. 'Cause it's the best way to meet soulmates, grab some beer and listen to new good music.