Three talented young men namely, Constantinos, Andreas and Koumis, decided to get together and play some music a few years ago, and they step in as the biggest name in the metal scene of Cyprus. Blynd has been a household name for any metal fan out here in Cyprus as their music is invincible…. just undefeated by any other. They stand out as the major influence among the small metal scenario in this small island of God.
Andreas studies in Bulgaria while Constantinos and Koumis studies England, and even with this major problem in hand, they yet manage to go to the gigs and rock the arena.
I caught up with the guys and manage to ask them few question (well not before there was a mayhem, their guitarist lost his mobile and he got lost !!! Nobody had heard from him for like 3 weeks……#@!) Anyways, here’s the interview with the band.
Ktmrocks – For the ones who don’t know about BLYND, describe the band in brief.
Blynd was formed a few years back and followed several changes until the final line up with Konstantinos (guitars) and Kumis (drums). We then began to play live in several venues and composing our own material, defining our style as “Blynd Metal”. After a lot of work we recorded our first demo “Embraced and Abandoned” and got some great reviews from all over the world.
Ktmrocks – are your songs designed around emotions, visual perceptions or purely musical “shapes”?
Our songs are a fusion of our independent vision in terms of what we have to say musically and emotionally.
Ktmrocks – What do u take as your inspiration in the band as a whole?
All three of us come from different backgrounds in terms of music, so we incorporate anything and everything into our songs. We don’t throw away ideas, we just take them and mould them into what sounds right for all three of us, regardless of genre: our songs therefore include multiple elements such as thrash, black, power, even folk.
Ktmrocks – You guys have toured a lot, tell us about your best and the worst gigs? Name the band that you think was the best while on tour.
We have had a lot of great moments over the years playing live. We are essentially a live band, and we make the most out of our gigs. Our best memory would have to be in Larnaca, CY, when as soon as the intro to Circle of Life started, the whole place went mental and two circle pits formed: that moment we felt we had a loyal fan base that would see us through in the following years.
The worst moment would definitely have to be during a gig in Nicosia, CY, when a monitor caught fire as our guitarist was standing on it! We barely finished the song and cut the set short…thankfuly nobody was seriously hurt.
Ktmrocks – Who does the whole music writing, arranging and composing the songs in the band ? and does these parts tends to be hard at times ?
Our songwriting process is dynamic and alcohol fueled. We each bring our own thing to the table, lock ourselves in a room and come out with a song. It can be hard at times, but we enjoy every second of it.
Ktmrocks – So u had your first demo out sometimes ago, and you are preparing for your next full length debut album, what differences does these two are gonna have, give us a preview.
We feel that we are now more mature and cohesive as a band, and are well on our way of establishing our own unique style. Obviously this will be reflected in the material presented in the album. We’re only keeping 2 songs from the demo into the album, Circle of Life and Eternity. The new material is great! More powerful, more intricate – we feel we’re gonna have a winner!
Ktmrocks – For you, which is powerful, logic or belief?
I think that the best way for us is to have balance in life. Logic and belief are both equally important for the human existence.
Ktmrocks – Tell me the future plans of your band?
Our future plans? To dominate the world, of course! We want to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way, and make ourselves heard as much as possible.
Ktmrocks – Which are the bands you love and hate the most?
Constantinos: I love metallica, Ozzy, Machine Head….I hate bands that take themselves too seriously.
Koumis: New Model Army, Zappa, Tool, Rush. Hatred is a duality defined word.
Andreas: Samael, Pain of Salvation, Tool – I don’t hate anyone, I just feel sorry for them.
Ktmrocks -What does the name “BLYND” suggest? Any specific terms?
BLIND looks too damn boring. The idea came when we were all drinking beers and having a good time. No hidden messages, nothing fancy. But after we started writing material, the whole concept of the band came together into something that felt right.”
Ktmrocks – What differences do u find in extreme and rock music?
The only differences for me it’s the sound and the concepts that they use.
Ktmrocks – Define commercialism in your own words.
Commercialism is today’s curse in music. It’s when the companies decide what’s “cool” or not, depending on trends, thus giving birth to fake, one-off hits that die the next day. There are still bands out there that do their own thing and still manage to become famous, but they’re becoming less every day”
Ktmrocks – How do you define the metal scene of your home country Cyprus? Inclining or declining? Any future prospects (new bands as such..)?
We love our country. But the metal scene in Cyprus is close to non-existent. It lacks organization and followers. There have been bands that made it abroad, such as Armageddon and Godblood, but any band nowadays that wants to make it has to look elsewhere for any real success. Just listen to the lyrics of Circle of Life, we dedicate it to the metal scene in Cyprus!”
Ktmrocks – what motivated you to get into metal?
Constantinos: A tape of Metallica’s …And Justice For All. Simple as that! That’s what got me into playing the guitar.
Andreas: Samael’s Ceremony of Opposites
Koumis: La Villa Strangiato by Rush.
Ktmrocks – How do you see the metal evolvement of Cyprus from early years till today?
Like we said, there used to be a shred of a scene a few years back, with Armageddon and Godblood leading the pack. But unfortunately it has faded. We are doing our best to salvage it, already we have started having a fan base all over the island, and more people are coming to our gigs every time
Ktmrocks – What do you think of nu – metal/ rap metal?
Constantinos: Nu metal? Rap Metal? We live in a free world…unfortunately they’re allowed to play it, fortunately we’re allowed to hate it!
Andreas: Nu and rap are all the same for me I just ignore them.
Koumis: Some of them have something to say. Most of them don’t though.
Ktmrocks – What cd’s are spinning in your cd player now a days ?
Andreas: Pain of Salvation’s “BE”
Constantinos: Machine Head “Burn my eyes”
Koumis: “Saliva” by Tool and “They don’t do that on stage anymore” by Zappa.
Ktmrocks – What kinds of bands did you play in before?
Andreas: Black horizon a melodic black metal band
Constantinos: Lead guitarist of Godblood, massive black metal underground, one of the biggest bands to come out of Cyprus and make it abroad.
Koumis: Frontman and guitarist of Fallen Angle, a progressive rock band
Ktmrocks – Lastly, few words for the fans?
Andreas: Respect the music
Constantinos: Beer and titties! Keep on rocking!
Koumis: Step into the non duality dimension.
Interview done by
Parash Shakya (Antim Grahan) from Cyprus
Check www.blyndband.tk
for more on the band and their mp3s.
