by Alexandra Mrozowska
— Senior Columnist —
Just like every other aspect of people’s lives, music has gone from local to global. It’s particularly visible in the countries once separated from the Western world by the Iron Curtain and thus deprived of access to the Western culture. Now it’s exactly the opposite. Just take a look at the young Russian act Kill City Kills and soon you’ll realize it’s Black Sabbath, W.A.S.P, Type O Negative and Mötley Crüe – not Aria, Kino or Gorky Park – that they cite as their main influences… Hardrock Haven caught up with the band – including the lead singer Ellis, the guitarists Nikki and Roma and the drummer Andrew – to discuss their roots, the upcoming album Badlands I and a lot more.
Hardrock Haven: Guessing by your social media posts, the future looks bright for Kill City Kills. Not only is there a new album coming out soon, but also just recently you’ve resumed playing live. How does it feel to be back onstage after months of lockdown?
Ellis: Thanks! We are really stoked about this release. It’s the beginning of something new, KILL CITY KILLS 2.0 if you wish. It was pretty sick to be back on stage.
Nikki: We still have some restrictions for live shows here, but we have played several live gigs in Saint-Petersburg, Moscow and at some suburban open-airs. Crowd was pretty crazy – people are thirsty for live music and rock’n’roll. So we are.
Andrew: We managed to play literally two of our first shows in the beginning of 2020 before this madness started. So we were ready to be back in the best shape.
Roma (guitars): This awesome feeling of being exhausted when you get off the stage. It was great to feel it again!
Hardrock Haven: I assume you must’ve spent the months of lockdown mainly working on the new material. What was the process like and were there any obstacles due to the unprecedented situation with the pandemic?
Ellis: Yes. We were working on new music and videos. Going outside was not restricted in our hometown Saint-Petersburg, so we were able to see each other and make music. But we had to be pretty keen to find the ways to realize our ideas in music videos. It was tough, but fun at the same time. We are happy that things are tend to get back to normal anyway.
Andrew: It was the perfect time to work on new material. The world seemed to have stopped and nothing distracted you, so we were noticeably focused on efficiency. I suppose we succeeded.
Hardrock Haven: Do you feel the new material is a step forward in comparison with your 2019 EP Straight from the Heart of Nowhere? In what ways?
Ellis: Sure. Despite the fact that new tracks were written in different period, they are different. First of all, Roma joined the band. Two guitarists can do a lot more if they work together and have such synergy like Nikki and Roma have.
(Nikki and Roma high five each other)
Ellis: Also, we developed our songwriting and recording. Evolution of our music is the natural way of us developing as a band. Kill City Kills gets heavier, bigger and more melodic. We could use words like sleaze in relation to Straight from the Heart of Nowhere, but there’s no such point in Badlands I.
Andrew – Everyone says so though (laughs). But yes – moreover, we already have something in store for the future and a breakthrough in Kill City Kills’ production definitely happened there.
Nikki: I am sure that each of our albums will be a step forward. On this album, Kill City Kills will show a new sound. You’re gonna love it.
Roma: Definitely. Not only rock’n’roll tracks, but also metal headbangers. Horns up!
Hardrock Haven: You described your new songs as “odes to freedom and independence”. Are these two values the most important to you?
Ellis: Of course. When we talk about such things, we have to take the context into account. Speaking of our music, those songs are all about the rebel spirit – do or die, death or glory, desperate love and other emotionally charged things. It’s always been inspirational for us. We always try to express this vibe through our music and live shows. We want to encourage people, to light this fire in their eyes, to make you feel alive and kicking.
Nikki: Freedom is dominance over circumstances. What could be better?
Hardrock Haven: The song titles you recently revealed such as “Unholy Roller” or “No Gods Upon Us” seem to challenge bigotry and fanaticism. Do you think they’re still a threat to our freedom?
Ellis: Those tracks are kinda metaphorical you know. Some people don’t want to be free. They are prisoners in the cages they’ve built on their own out of their lives. They seek for something to enslave them: bigotry and fanaticism, bad habits and self-affirmation at the expense of others. Humans may be weak, but we obtain power by breaking the chains and overcoming our worst. We are up to encouraging people to be strong.
Hardrock Haven: What other themes and issues inspire your songwriting?
Ellis: For me, it’s crucial to express this emotional promise through the music. I love thrilling themes like being an outcast and going against the grain because I know what it’s like. And when you maximize love, hate, insecurity and attitude you obtain our inspirational basis.
Roma: Exactly!
Andrew: When you play music that is not in demand in your homeland and in the rest of the world, it gives you energy to kick everyone’s ass and say “now it’s our turn to claim our rights on the throne”. But seriously, music is the inspiration. When our new song is born, the energy appears to create two more new ones.
Nikki: You have to be a sick bastard to challenge the world. But who said that we are here to be soft and gentle…?
Hardrock Haven: Right on! The band’s music is deliberately raw and rough and thus sounds best if served in a live setting. Is it difficult to capture the same spirit in the recording studio?
Ellis: We started this band to play outrageous music we are in love with. I write such lyrics that pull the switch in your head to “battle mode” from the first lines. It works for me the best.
Roma: If this spirit wakes up as soon as you take the guitar, then there are no difficulties at all.
Nikki: Yes. You just take the guitar and you’ve already focused to slash and burn.
Andrew: It’s easier you know. We produce our music on our own. From early demo drafts to pre-pros to finished recordings. But of course we want to work with legendary producers in our genre.
Hardrock Haven: Christopher Borg, who mixed your new material, worked previously with the likes of Taste or Amaranthe. Why did you decide to collaborate with him?
Ellis: It was super cool to work with Chris. After a long lasting search, we just fell in love with his stems.
Nikki: In fact, when we finished recording material for Badlands I, we had no idea of who’s gonna mix it.
Andrew: We chose among several mixing engineers from different countries and they all had a cool portfolio. We chose a Swede since these guys know a lot about quality metal.
Roma: Absolutely. Christopher did his best on this release. The sound is majestic, just like we wanted.
Hardrock Haven: The first single/video off your new full-length album is “(Can You Hear) The Midnight Call”. Do you think it’s representative to the rest of the material music- and lyric-wise?
Ellis: Well, we’ve chosen this song to be an early bird for a particular cause.
Andrew: But let it be a surprise to you.
Roma: We are constantly working on our musical style and this track is one of the facets of “Kill City Kills style”.
Nikki: You’re gonna tell us after you listen to Badlands I, okay?
Hardrock Haven: I promise I will! (laughs) Similarly to your previous video (“Wild Brigade”), the video to the new single was directed and produced by your very own Andrew Sharapko. What advantages does this DIY approach have, especially when it comes to realizing your artistic vision?
(Andrew smiles widely)
Roma: The main advantage is that there are no long deadlines and unfulfilled expectations. Andrew is incredibly talented and knows what an awesome music video should look like.
Nikki: But there are loads of things you have to deal with. I mean absolutely everything, starting from gathering a crew and scouting and up to the video production as it is.
Ellis: When you have this control on every level of production, you can count only on your own skills. I’m very proud of Andrew and us.
Hardrock Haven: Obviously you’re inspired by many UK and US bands, but are there any classic Russian Rock or Metal bands that influenced Kill City Kills, from Aria to Gorky Park?
Ellis: Not sure (laughs). I prefer Iron Maiden to Aria you know.
Nikki: I used to listen to Aria when I was a kid. Or not?
Andrew: The path that Gorky Park walked inspires me a lot!
Roma: Out of the classic Metal bands, Black Sabbath was the most influential, followed by Ozzy’s solo albums and then W.A.S.P. and our favorites, Mötley Crüe. However, it’s not only Metal that inspires us – there is a lot of cool music in the world for that.
Ellis: That’s right. I think my all time favourite is Type O Negative and loads of other bands.
Hardrock Haven: In general, what do you think about the Russian music scene, past and present?
Ellis: I think Russia used to have this “post-Soviet/post-traumatic syndrome” when the country was kinda closed from the rest of the world. But things changed, especially with the modern Internet era. It’s really great that now you can reach your fans no matter where you’re from.
Roma: Now the Russian music scene is developing, there are large festivals, artists gathering huge halls. The main thing is to be able to interest the audience.
Andrew: But many bands try to follow foreign experience and lose their uniqueness. This is a kind of challenge for us!
Nikki: Right now the Rap music is at the top of it, like in the rest of the world. We are here to change the rules you know.
Hardrock Haven: What are the band’s plans once the album’s out?
Ellis: Well, you better hold on tight. I’m serious (laughs).
Roma: We’re gonna play as many live shows as possible, finish the next album, which is already in full swing.
Nikki: Not only music. A lot more.
Andrew: We have a huge load of things in process. Badlands I is just the beginning of it. All we can say right now, that by the end of 2020 you are gonna see and hear from us a lot.
Hardrock Haven: We certainly look forward to that! So, any last words?
(Nikki and Roma start shredding on guitars)
Ellis (striking the pose of a messiah): 2020 may look like the apocalypse in a nutshell. But after all of this, we are going to become stronger like never before. We invite you to the burning arena to see how we change the rules in this game. Are you with us?
Andrew: And also, huge hugs to all the Kill City Kills fans supporting us. You are the best people in the world!
Visit the band online: https://www.facebook.com/killcitykills/
