ORTHODOX "Geryon's Throne -this is the most difficult song for us. It takes full concentration for half an hour! We think it's the perfect song to open an Orthodox album and it was, in fact, the first song we wrote. So everything we wanted to do is in there. Slow parts, noise parts and some fast riffs... You can get a perfect picture of the band with just this single song." Spanish doom's most exciting new prospects, Orthodox, give the Roadburn reader the exclusive behind-the-scenes shenanigans from the recording sessions of their pulverising debut album, "Gran Poder..." Orthodox's lauded debut full-length is out now on Alone Records. Words | Marco First of all we recorded a two track demo in April of 2004, with the tracks 'Geryon's Throne' and 'El Lamento del Cabrón' at our drummer's friend's little, cheap studio. Suddenly we had a few labels interested in editing that demo as our first EP. But when Alone Records decided to edit our album, both band and label thought that we needed a better recording, and we also added a few more tunes. Sevilla is not the best place to be if you play in a strange, heavy rock band like ours and you want to record an album. We knew a studio in Sevilla where Zoom, a band with some 800 members, recorded a few demos and we thought it could work. We were a little scared 'cause the guy in the Studio, Alfonso Espadero, is known for his work with flamenco artists and some punk / pop bands [he won a latin grammy as producer for the flamenco singer Chocolate]. We didn't know what he would think about us... but he was smart enough to let us do our own thing and get the best sound possible. Another factor to consider is that our gear is quite mediocre. We use combos and there were no expensive, cool amps or instruments for the recording. But most of all, we had just two days to record the album. So that was the situation: two days to record an ultra-heavy album with shitty gear and a flamenco-pop / rock engineer! We went to the studio listening to Diamond Head's "Lightning To The Nations" to feel the old-school-true-metal inspiration, and after the sound-check we started to do our thing. It was simple; just three guys playing like in the rehersal room or at a live gig. Just a guitar, bass, drums and record! Day 1. Instrumentation, [Guitar, Bass and Drums], 3rd Nov '05: El Lamento del Cabrón This was the first track we recorded, and the last on the album. We played it once to see how things were working, and with the second try, we got it! It's maybe our most accessible song and a favourite of some of our friends… The beginning is great, but the whole last part... the end of the album was really funny to play; just let the note die and let the listener breathe a little in the silence, then hit them again! It really sends you into a trance... So, song recorded, an extra guitar part added for the solo and then out to lunch! Geryon's Throne This is the most difficult song for us. It takes full concentration for half an hour! We think it's the perfect song to open an Orthodox album and it was, in fact, the first song we wrote. So everything we wanted to do is in there. Slow parts, noise parts and some fast riffs... You can get a perfect picture of the band with just this single song. Also, there are both guitar and bass solos and a lot of complex drumming, a bit like the Cream playing in a Lovecraft nightmare! During this recording, I remember the three of us looking at each other with tension-filled faces, red ears and just basically sweating like motherfuckers. At the second take we got the whole thing done. We knew that once this song was finished, the rest would be easy, and it was... Arrodíllate Ante La Madera Y La Piedra This is a first take. The recording of this song took just the 12 minutes it takes to play. We love this song, it's maybe our favourite cut from the album and it shows some of our upcoming material. The influence of free-jazz drumming here is mixed with a bass and guitar cannon that develop some sick chords. The atmosphere grows in tension until we three get together in the big C, and then the vocals begin to pray... Bow down to wood and stone! Oficio de Tinieblas This little song started as a game between keyboards and drums, then we added the pedal note with the string bass and that´s it. It's like a little light breath in the middle of the metal holocaust. We also added the short piano parts at the end of the album. R.I.P. Ligeti... Day 2. Vocals and Mixing, 4th Nov '05: Recording the vocals was a really fast process, as was the mixing. There's nothing much to tell about that I guess... Now we felt we had done the right thing. Two days were enough, but we hope to have at least a week for the next album. Other projects: We recently recorded a Venom cover for a tribute album to be put out on Ogro Records. We chose 'Genocide' as our contribution and spent one morning at a friend's studio recording. It sounds sick as hell! The next thing we recorded was a demo for a collaboration with psychadelic rock legend Julian Cope. But at the moment it's just a concept. Julian has thousand projects and a lot of work to do, you know… He sent us a poem recitation of an amazing epic poem about Antequera, and we made the music to back his voice. It was a really difficult process, 'cause it's like trying to build a house from the roof down. We recorded a demo with the music and his voice on it and sent it to him recently, so let's wait and see... We're currently writing new music for the flamenco dancer Israel Galván, and have also planned a split with the band Loss. But most of all we're thinking ahead and jamming for a second Orthodox album. Orthodox's Top Five Most Influencial Albums: BLACK SABBATH | "S/T" What more can be said about this album? The beginning of it all... We played the song 'Black Sabbath' since our first gig, and still playing it. Maybe it's very obvious for a band like us, but... it's Sabbath! They really started the riff-cult. METALLICA | "Masters of Puppets" It's too easy to talk shit about Metallica now, but when they're good, they're the best! The sound on this album is strange but great. Not the ususal 'in your face' production everyone wants to hear now. Sounds like a powerful band playing somewhere far beyond, so unreal. The rhythm guitars on the album are brilliant, and what to say about Cliff Burton's unique bass sound?! Hetfield's voice is pretty weird in someway but brilliant too. I think his old voice was way better than his new "Yeah Yeah!" style... The songs are great and it's a real progressive album. Not as much as on '...And Justice For All' , but the Rush influence is there mixed with some NWOBHM and some Discharge attitude. We think it's so good that bands like High on Fire and Mastodon are bringing back that classic metal feeling. JOHN COLTRANE | "Ascension" 'Ascension', 'Love Supreme', 'Sun Ship', 'Meditations', 'Stellar Regions...' all masterpieces. This is the kind of album that's been a revelation to us. In someway, they're much more heavier than most so-called heavy music. There's a magnificent feeling of seriousness through all of his work. Also, the great spiritual influence on the album really connects with works like 'Jerusalem', 'Variations On A Theme or even 'Gran Poder.' John Coltrane was a true genius. He felt like he had a divine mission to enlighten through his music. And we're sure he had it, he really touched the other side with his music. GYORGI LIGETI | "Requiem" Ligeti's 'Requiem' stands as one of the darkest and heaviest creations ever. To our eyes, it has a lot of influence on bands like Lotus Eaters, SunnO))) or even Burzum. You know, all of that dark ambient sounding stuff. But Ligeti's work is unique because he was a great composer. It's amazing to think that this music has been written!! We can't imagine anything beyond it. It is a real inspiration to us. Not to mention all his piano works, string quartets... You don't have to be a classical or contemporary music snob. If you like dark music you'll get into it so easily. FRANCIOS RABBATH | "60" A real discovery for us, this French string bass player of Lebanese origin recorded two albums [1964's New Sound of Jazz and Bass-Ball] compiled as "60" for the Spalax label. It is a mix of classical, jazz and folk music with some rock / jazz drumming on a few tracks. It's amazing!! He can sound like Sabbath, Slayer, Morricone or Angelo Badalementi with his string bass, and many years before any of that heavy music came out. As you listen you begin to notice he's really playing heavy music, with slow dark riffing and some frenetic speed stuff, but he can also play some really beautiful music with great melodies. A real underrated unknown genius!