Hailing from Sri Lanka and headlining the inaugural edition of Echoes From Beneath, Genocide Shrines are a force to reckon with. While they plan their signature on-stage brutal live attack for the gig, we caught up with the band for a little chat:
Eight Octaves: Greetings from India! How have you been?
Genocide Shrines: Ayubo! Busy with preparations for future attacks!
Eight Octaves: Your EP – Devanation Monumentemples got rave reviews and earned you a very good fan base. Any plans of releasing a full-length anytime soon?
Genocide Shrines: We are honoured to read the words of praise regarding the Devanation Monumentemples EP. Yes, new hymns are being composed as we speak for a couple of upcoming split releases as well.
Eight Octaves: Tell us about your song-writing process. How do you go about composing a new song? Does the riff come first? Or, is it the lyrics that is written first and the riff is structured according to it?
Genocide Shrines: We do not have a set structure for this. Most of the time, I usually have my hate speech penned down in advance for future compositions. Depends upon how exactly we want the aura of the said composition to be communicated.
Eight Octaves: Tell us about your lyrical themes a bit. What are the main inspirations behind the lyrics?
Genocide Shrines: Maha Raavan, Spiritual Death and Eternal War.
Eight Octaves: Coming to the gig in Bangalore, what can the crowd expect from you? Any kind of exclusive set list planned for Echoes From Beneath?
Genocide Shrines: Although, it will not differ much from our signature live attack, we have decided to honour the special occasion by revealing yet another new hymn from the full length, and we will be doing a couple of special cover tributes as well. So yes, an “exclusive set” is what we will be blessing Bangalore with.
Eight Octaves: How is the local scene in Sri Lanka? How easy or hard is it to establish a new band from scratch?
Genocide Shrines: Although, the lack of resources may confuse and slow down progress for the new comer; we, who have been around for more than 10-15 years doing what we do know our ways around to get things done. This is why you don’t see many officially recorded releases from our lands as most of them are massive amounts of live attacks. Manifestator, Goatmunition, Serpents Athirst, Pariah Demise, Plecto Aliquem Capite, etc. are highly recommended.
Eight Octaves: Coming to your stage appearance. What is the reason behind the war/apocalypse armour look? How and when did you come up with the idea and what made you stick to the decision?
Genocide Shrines: Sri Lanka is a country which is famous for a few things, and amongst them is the practice of the art of war. We were born into an environment of an on-going full scale ethnic conflict which has been brewing since ancient times and due to this we have not known Sri Lanka at peace and neither will we be able to envision it or see it happen anytime soon considering the rate of on-going domestic conflicts. So since our audio creations are of barbaric and unforgiving nature, what manifestated as the aesthetic of GS was quite natural.
Eight Octaves: Let’s have a round of 5 quick-fire questions. Write down the first thing that comes to your mind:
- One band from Sri Lanka everyone should check out would be? (any genre) At the moment:
Genocide Shrines: Manifestator
- Favourite Genocide Shrines song to perform live?
Genocide Shrines: All.
- The most memorable Genocide Shrines gig till date?
Genocide Shrines: Siamese True Metal Festival
- One song you would love to cover live?
Genocide Shrines: The temptation exists for many
- One festival/gig you would die to perform in?
Genocide Shrines: There was (and still is) a plan to attack Europe soon.
Eight Octaves: Lastly, any words of wisdom for the young bands out there?
Genocide Shrines: No.
Genocide Shrines – Nectars of Tantric Murder –
https://cyclopeaneyeproductions.bandcamp.com/track/nectars-of-tantric-murder
Genocide Shrines – Shivatandavaviolence:
