Before we start with this interview, we would like to thank Demether Grail for the time used to answer these questions for Metal Tower. We really appreciate his efforts, for us and our readers, it is a great honour. We want to present an introduction of Grailight. Everything started with the band called ‘Arcane Grail’. Their music and lyrics were inspired on the true light, the absolute purity and the liberation, on a constant quest for spiritual perfection. The acquisition of light grail granted them the divine force, the wisdom and the supreme comfort. On february 2013, due to musical, personal and creativity differences, Demether and Tymon decided to leave ‘Arcane Grail’ and start a new age on their musical career. They named their band as ‘Grailight’. They went in a new path with the spirit and did it through the death and rebirht of Upanayana. Their musical style keeps several similarities with ‘Arcane Grail’.
1.- What does ‘GraiLight’ means to you?
Hail greetings to All! As for the name of my current main project – first of all, it’s a more perfect name for the group than it was Arcane Grail. More beautiful, more comfortable, more memorable, and most importantly – it has more meaning. Holy Arcane/Mysterious Grail – ok, its interesting historical and mythological name, but Grailight – is the Light of the Grail, is the Source of Universal Divine Light, to which the human mind flies to, the something to which our thoughts and soul aspire. Light of Grail – is the personification of the meaning of life, in high spiritual understanding.
2.- When will you release your first album?
I want to believe that this will still not debut album, but the third, sure – first just under a modified name. There are unfortunately several problems in its recording and mixing, although in essence – 80% of the material is recorded for a long time in the studio (Arsafes Records), the cover-art is ready, all vocals are recorded. But due to some personal turmoil and some natural processes of life, without much support from the outside, the release of the album, unfortunately delayed, though …. surely it still comes out, there are very few works. Everything has its time.
3.- As regards to lyrics, What are the main topics you use?
The main topics on Grailight album – mythological images and stories from different cultures of Indo-European nations (Slavic, Greek, German) on the themes: war, love, patriotism, loyalty to native land and blood, the search for meaning in life. Also, there are hymns to the ancient gods – chthonic forces. Basically, the lyrics focus on light, contemplative, carrying light and goodness, tends to appease the outside world. There is definitely a bit of anti-Christian message in verses.
4.- Please name some metal bands that have influenced you mostly.
Of course, it Therion, Cradle of Filth, King Diamond, My Dying Bride, Manowar – the most important bands that influenced me once in my youth, especially in terms of lyrics and ideas. Well, musically perhaps too. Although now I’m listening to a lot more brutal death metal and folk-pagan.
5.- Who is your favorite classical music’s composer?
I think its Borodin, also Bach, Mozart and Vivaldi also.
6.- ‘Sic Luceat Lux!’ (Let There Be Light!) is the album’s title, what is the meaning of this?
This is magic spell, Masonic expression generating True Light, The Elixir of Eternal Life, the word of God in the creation of the world / universe. Big Bang. Birth of All New.
7.- What are the mystical and philosophical influences that Demether has?
Oh, this is very much a mixture of: Buddhism, Vedism, Sufism, philosophy of Nietzsche, the ideas of Castaneda, rigid denial of the Abrahamic religions, Lavey’ Satanism in some small way, libertianizm. And all this is reflected in my poems, no matter in what band I am singing. I believe in God, for me – this is Man. Moreover, I even think that man created this universe. I believe in science and progress. In fact, over the years, knowledge is added (as it should be), thoughts changing, expanding. Of course, I am deeply mystical man.
8.- You talk about ‘The new age of Aquarius’ in your lyrics, could your please tell us more about it?
We live right now on crossroads of epochs. Era of the zodiacal sign of Pisces (in which our planet remained for two thousand years) ends nowadays. The Era of Aquarius begins, for another 2,000-odd years. With the change of epochs the religion, culture, and worldview of the people change, the development around will be changed. This century – herald of the death of Christianity and Islam, and religion in general. Age of Aquarius will bring technological progress, faith in science, human freedom, the mixing of races and languages, all-out urbanization, space exploration and many things about what we cannot even think until. I welcome this new age!
9.- ‘Homo Divinus’ is the first single you have already released, why did you choose this song?
While we have posted only unmixed track, not showing the full beauty of orchestration and sound. Why this song? It compares favorably with the previous material of Arcane Grail, at the same time showing that we will continue to focus on symphonic epic extreme metal with black metal influences, but more fast, more symphonic, more expressive, more hitting, and with the abandonment of female vocals almost prevailed before. And also – lyrically, this is the title theme of the album, just about Superman of future era of scientific progress, the victor of God, stupidity, sickness, old age, and maybe even of death.
10.- Who are involved in this album recording besides Demether and Tymon?
The biggest man in our album after us – the mighty Arsafes, brilliant multi-instrumentalist and sound producer of KARTIKEYA, MULTIVERSE, ARSAFES, ABOVE THE EARTH, ZMEY GORYNICH. He recorded guitars, drums, he’s master of our mixing. Also many guest vocalists from bands: BLACKTHORN, MIZANTROPIA, ARTANIA, CONFLICT, EMERALD NIGHT, TVANGESTE, NERON KAISAR participated in some moments. In fact, as the remaining 20 percents to add more into the recording, the guest list is inconclusive.
11.- ‘Sanguis, Honor, Amor’, what is the meaning of this?
It is our motto. Blood, Honour, Love in Latin. I think that its the main in human physic life.
12.- What is your main experience with Arcane Grail?
Hm, its our two magnificent albums, 200 gigs, tour in Baltic Countries and Poland, life experience, funny original youth, about which there is something to remember in old age.
13.- Who is the main composer for Grailight songs?
Surely, its Tymon, he is very talented pianist and guitarist. But for the full truth, we must say that a lot of musical ideas came from me, especially considering the fact that all the music composed to poetry, and not vice versa, as in majority of the metal bands.
14.- Are there some other projects you work with?
Since Grailight is now in a certain lethargy before the album’s release, Tymon is actively engaged in his melodic death metal project RANGERIDE, also playing in the groove metal band ARSAFES. I actively sing, gig and work now in symphonic extreme metal band ARCANORUM ASTRUM (expect the album to the end of the year), folk melodic black metal band SKYLORD (in the stage of debut album’s mixing), melodic black metal band NIMPHAION (in the new album’s recording stage), and also I have a folk-core project ZMEY GORYNICH. Periodically I sing with famous russian folk metal band IZMOROZ.
15.- ‘Arya Marga: Nine Paths to Innocence’ is an excellent album with a great message, it explains to us how we could reach the perfection and illumination, what do you think about this superb album?
I am still, and after 7 years after the creation of this magnificent album, believe that you can achieve enlightenment by doing only good on earth: to people, friends and strangers, animals, nature. And if you abandon religion, does not go crazy with greed, begin to travel, do not refuse to help, if you will have hobbies, if you will love – and then life becomes beautiful, what else should be – happy to live, then the light goes in you and from you. I still love this album, sometimes listening, rarely, but every six months – yes. I would now, of course, to sing better, but in the lyrics I would not change a word, and I really like the sound. The music was created with the desire to create, with the creative fire, earnestly, vigorously, so I can only be proud of.
16.- Could you please describe the metal scene in Russia?
Metal-scene in terms of bands is very strong and interesting in Russia. We have the most magnificent doom-death metal scene, a lot of cool brutal death bands, good interesting symphonic black. We can be proud of our Slavic folk metal scene. I tired to list, but a hundred cool bands in any style except the thrash we have. There are many high-quality studios and designers.
17.- There has been an interesting boom of metal bands in Russia recently (the last 15 years probably), what do you think this situation is due to?
In comparison with the situation of 20 years ago our bands has absolutely no need to go to Europe to get a cool sound now. Plus we have a long time when in the USSR metal was banned, so truly development of metal music began only in the second half of the 90s, then came Slavic folk metal, very advancing our scene at all. And now, in a world without borders, with the Internet, it is clear that there is interest for the Russian metal music, because I repeat – we have hundreds of very interesting and very high quality bands in every metal subgenre, in any region of our vast country. Of course, as always and everywhere we have many groups-clones, but there are plenty of original groups (for me, it’s all slavonik metal, my friends Kartikeya, playing the Hindu death metal, etc.).
18.-Would you like to send any message to GraiLight and Arcane Grail’ fans in Mexico?
Surely, as a fan of south countries, summer and Latin America especially – I want to hail very hot all our readers and maybe even fans!!! Someday, I know – we will see and metal you! Yours sincerely, Demether Grail
