Eternal Returns: We have always wanted to spread our wings as a band and want to cater newer audiences across the globe
Hunchback Hatred is 9 songs that talk about stories of self-awareness, mind games, culture, and avenging which give more affirmation to where we are as individuals in this society-driven hatred. Human anatomy is the hatred mechanism and the collapse of its vertebra is the society
Hello Eternal Returns! How are you? It’s a pleasure to be able to interview you.
Thank you for doing this interview, really appreciate your time.
I understand that the band has been created for seven years, so you have been formed for a short period of time.
The band is a decade old, from being a bedroom project for three years. Its only in the last seven years we did live shows and made a small name for ourselves. Hence, we sometimes mention we are seven-year-old. Few lineup changes, Covid, demise of our ex-drummer all combined. We still feel we are relatively new
How did the idea of creating the band come up?
In the late 90’s and early 2000’s India got a lot of music content from abroad which was aired on TV channels where we discovered a lot of Rock and Metal music and were blown away with the sound dynamic and we started picking up the instrument, started imitating — growling.
Who are your current members?
We are four members.
Harsh Makwana — Guitars, Composition (India)
Shankul Chavan — Guitars, Vocals, Production (India)
Viktor Litvinov — Drums (Ukraine)
Narendra Patel — Vocals, Lyrics (India)
Do they have experience from previous projects?
We all have experience in playing in other projects. Some bands that we were a part of did great locally, some didn’t see day light and some just made headlines and vanished.
How would you define your musical style and what would you mention as your main influences?
Our style is to infuse as much sub-genres of Metal to this Metal tree that we nurture every day.
Just like the famous words of an old cartoon series PPG — Sugar, Spice and everything nice and professor Utonium accidently added an extra ingredient Chemical X
Sugar, Spice and everything nice are the sub-genres we love to add, and Metal is the chemical X that creates the sound.
Let’s talk about “Hunchback Hatred”, your first album to be released in mid-2023 on the Wormholedeath label.
The album is out and doing a great job so far!
The album to our surprise is topping the iTunes India Death / Black Metal charts. We are receiving great reviews, Metal Pedia added this album to their Top 20 albums of the year, Our song Siege Sombre was nominated as Metal record for Radio City Freedom awards (India) The album and our story was also part of a Special in Nationwide newspaper.
How was the editing and recording process?
We have a very organic way of recording and producing songs. Generally, it starts with recording a few demos, then sending it to all the bandmates, jamming along, polishing the songs along the process and then finally once everyone is happy, we record final takes and proceed to mixing and mastering.
How many songs does it include and what is it about?
There are nine songs. Which signify that the world is heading towards catastrophe but before it reaches the boiling point it is slowly churning hate. The intense dislike of hating someone, religion, God, and culture has no limits. Our society is deformed which has formed a hump of Hatred in every mind which can be influenced. Hunchback Hatred is 9 songs that talk about stories of self-awareness, mind games, culture, and avenging which give more affirmation to where we are as individuals in this society-driven hatred. Human anatomy is the hatred mechanism and the collapse of its vertebra is the society
Do you have any audiovisual material?
The Wolf Among the Sheep — Video and Ravenous Shores (Lyric video) is on Wormholedeath’s YouTube channel.
Regarding the promotion and diffusion of the album.
How have you done to make it known?
The label helps. 2. We have our own contacts in the industry to help us with media 3. We have started working with Against PR to make the album reach more people.
How has it been received, in general, both by the public and by the specialized press?
The album is doing great. The general audience and critical media both have shown a lot of faith to the record. Like I said previously. Nominated for Radio City Freedom award, Topping I-tunes metal charts, Top 20 best albums of 2023 on Metal Pedia. We are just getting started
Where can a copy of it be obtained?
The label is helping us with that. Digital copies are available on all music platforms.
While I was elaborating these questions I was listening to your album and the truth is that I was surprised to find metal bands like you in India.
Thanks a lot, we always want to represent the country in the most honest way as possible. We are just preparing good music and rest is up to the audience.
Could you tell us about the rock and metal scene there?
Sometimes it’s great sometimes not so much. It’s all part and parcel of the game. Good things take time. Metal reached the shores relevantly late in India but it is here to stay and we can do our bit to keep it alive. Digital media helps gets more years. We have a lot of states in India and the audience is scattered. More festivals can change that landscape and bring everyone together, currently its BOA who is doing that on a grand scale.
Is there a variety of bands?
Yes, definitely, the dialect changes in every state and so does the music.
What are the most prevalent genres?
Thrash/Death Metal, Progressive metal, also, folk metal is picking up.
Are there any festivals or music events?
BOA — Festival, Control Alt Delete Fest.
Do bands have any government support or is it all on their own?
None that we are aware off. We are on our own.
Back to the band. What are the most immediate plans?
Tour new cities, countries, learn more, make more music.
Do you already have any upcoming show dates planned?
Yes, planned a tour for March. Let’s hope all plans fall in place.
Well Eternal Returns, that’s all. Thank you for your time and wish you a lot of luck and success. Before we finish, something you would like to say.
Thank you for doing this interview, it’s always a pleasure. Listen to more of India Metal — Metal Bharat. It’s a plethora of Bands killing it day in day out and Sway towards ETERNAL RETURNS. Support us, buy the album, listen to it, engage, every like, every comment, every step you take helps us run this marathon.
Follow the band at:
https://twitter.com/eternal_returns
https://eternalreturns.bandcamp.com/
