The Swiss death metal/metalcore band Science of Disorder played in Bucharest on September 18th, sharing the stage with Orphaned Land, Nest of Plagues and Lone Survivors. On this occasion, we invited Stéphane Grand and Jérôme Thomas to tell us more about their almost 35 years long journey so far. Also, about what may lay ahead…
DinIntunerec: Hello, welcome to Bucharest! Thank you for getting on board with this interview. First of all, walk us through the history of the band. How did it all start?
Jérôme Thomas: Hello, nice to meet you. We are happy to be here and play in this amazing venue. About the history of the band… well I wasn’t there from the very beginning obviously! (laughing) It all started many years ago, in ’89, I think, when Stéphane created our first band, named Soulless. And it was known by this name during a long period of time, until there were some copyright issues. So, in order to avoid any judiciary battle, the name was changed in 2011 into Science of Disorder.
DinIntunerec: You have released three full-length albums. Can you tell us a few words about them?
Jérôme Thomas: So the first album, which is called Heart, Blood and Tears… was recorded actually with another singer. The first singer of Science of Disorder, which unfortunately is deceased now. It was more hardcore-oriented death metal kind of music. Six years ago, I came to work with the band and we recorded the two following albums.
DinIntunerec: Your latest album was basically ready for release in the first half of 2021. Can you share some details on what was happening with the material until its official release in September 2022?
Jérôme Thomas: Well, there was COVID, so it slowed down everything and we kept it because there was no point to release it in the middle of a crisis. Also it would have been sad to release an album that we weren’t able to play live, tour and promote. So, releasing it in 2021 would have meant losing the momentum and tour it later, without knowing how much later. That’s why we decided to wait and we released it in 2022.
DinIntunerec: What made you decide to choose Black Market music label?
Jérôme Thomas: Actually, we know the owner really well, and Stéphane is also making music with him, so that was a logical decision, to work with somebody we know and get on with… With somebody that we can actually trust.
DinIntunerec: You recorded Apoptose at the Downtone Studio, the same studio where you recorded Private Hell. However, some tracks have some extra effects, ambient sounds in the background. Can you tell us something more about how these ideas came around?
Jérôme Thomas: Oh, it’s more of a collective work, also involving the sound engineer of the Downtone Studio, Drop, who plays in Samael. He always brings up some ideas, so it’s always a discussion about the best alternatives. And about trying to make everything sound better. He’s really a wonderful guy to work with.
Stéphane Grand: As sound is concerned, we kept the same backbone as before, but there is a more modern approach. About the effects and ambient sounds, we tried to keep it as raw as possible but we also added some extra-effects, directly into the studio, with Drop.
DinIntunerec: Can you share some details about the writing process? How does it all go in your case?
Jérôme Thomas: So usually Stéphane actually creates most of the guitar and bass pattern. Also drums most of the time. He’s really the creative force at the core of our music. Once the song is done, usually I work with it and I place my lyrics and voice on it. It’s a two-step process.
DinIntunerec: What is the story behind the name of the band and in what way does it reflect your concept?
Jérôme Thomas: So Science of Disorder is the science of actually the mental health disorder. It fits well with the kind of music we are doing, which is quite mental.
DinIntunerec: The song Grind Me has a guest appearance of Julien from Benighted. How did you guys meet and how was the track created? Was Julien involved in writing the lyrics or has he come up with anything during the creation or the recording of this song?
Stéphane Grand: Well, I met Julien, I think maybe 20 years ago, when he started Benighted. I used to play in a band called Furia in France. We shared some stages with Benighted at some point. So, that’s the way I met him. He is still a very good friend. So, one time, I just had a track that was grindcore and I said to myself: “Oh, why not asking Julien to put his voice on it?” Obviously, he said: “Ok, no problem. With pleasure.” That’s how Grind Me was recorded. Julien didn’t write or contribute to the lyrics. It was Lord Pelthor this time… he wrote the lyrics and sent them to Julien.
DinIntunerec: What is the idea behind the title of the latest album, Apoptose?
Jérôme Thomas: So, Apoptose is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms, actually. And “apoptosis” is the word in French. It was going well with the kind of themes of the songs. Also, I’m a biologist by formation. So, this is why we chose this title. For one thing, it was still in my area of expertise. (laughs)
DinIntunerec: Seth from Septicflesh designed the album cover. Can you tell us more about the symbolism of the artwork and about your collaboration with Seth?
Jérôme Thomas: Well, we met Seth Siro during a tour with Septicflesh. We have done a lot of gigs together and we were getting on very well. He came up with the idea to make the cover for our next album. Furthermore, we agreed on that. He tried to fit the image with the concept of Apoptose. This is why there is a guy’s head which is slowly decomposing to the extent of being destroyed.
DinIntunerec: What is next for Science of Disorder? Should we expect any new release in the near future? Are you currently working on new music?
Stéphane Grand: I always work on new songs. After the tour, we’re going to concentrate on choosing three or four songs and work on them, then go in the studio and record them. I think we’re going to go to Downtone Studio, with Drop. We’ll release an EP made of three or four songs, then put it on Spotify and all.
DinIntunerec: What were the main obstacles that you had to overcome until now as a band?
Stéphane Grand: A lot. One main I don’t know, I cannot say one main obstacle, but there are a lot of obstacles during a band’s career.
Jérôme Thomas: First of all, I would say the Covid and the downfall to follow… Everything is difficult now. It was much easier before, for artists. Secondly, the fact that we live in a rich country that does not recognize artists, in fact. It’s very hard to either receive money, be helped or anything else. Thirdly, we had to face also a lot of change in lineup during last year. It’s not an easy path, financially it is a struggle, but that’s the life of a musician. Also, we’re not making the most popular music in the world, so that doesn’t help.
DinIntunerec: What is the most vivid memory related to life on the road or to live shows? Something cool or funny… Something disturbing even… or emotional that made a lasting impression on you? I’m sure there must be a lot of stories.
Jérôme Thomas: We have a lot of stories, but I need to think about what’s the best. I think actually on the first concert we had on the tour with SepticFlesh, we started here at Quantic Club and it was full of people. We didn’t expect this for the first date of the tour. So, it was quite surprising and it was nice. Very, very good surprise and a very good start.
DinIntunerec: Can you also share a memory or something special, Stéphane?
Stéphane Grand: I have a lot of things to say, but I have to think about it and maybe answer later.
DinIntunerec: OK, we’ll come back to this later. What does the metal scene look like in Switzerland right now? Do you have a strong metal scene where you come from?
Jérôme Thomas: No, we have a very weak metal scene. Ours is a city of clubbing. Where we are coming from, it’s really clubbing, clubbing, clubbing. There are some nice bands in Switzerland, but they really represent the exception. I mean, metal is really low in the priority of what people listen.
DinIntunerec: Well, that’s unexpected… Now, tell us guys, how does it feel to be back in Romania, this time touring with Orphaned Land?
Jérôme Thomas: It’s a very good feeling. I love Romania. We were excited to come back here, because the venue is fantastic. The crowd was amazing last time. We were happy and took pleasure from playing in front of all those people. Actually, I also like the Romanian mentality, because when I look to Romania from our geographical position, it is an Eastern country for us. However, Romanians are more like Latin culture, you know. They are quite different from their neighbors and the conservatory Slavic countries around. I really feel at home here.
DinIntunerec: I’m glad you do. Anyway, before we wrap up this interview, I’d like to go back to an earlier question about a special memory? Come on, Stéphane, I won’t let you get away without sharing something which bears a special significance for you.
Stéphane Grand: Oh, well, one time… But it was not with this band, but with another band I played with for two years and a half. We went to play with Dagoba in Saint Petersburg, in Russia. We were just standing outside the venue. There was a very sneaky guy walking around, looking at us. So, I just go to him and ask what he was doing here? He sad to me he came from afar to see us. That was the first time he could see us. From his perspective we were playing very close to his home. So this was his best chance to come to see us.
Naturally I expected him to be from Petersburg or a neighboring town or village. No, he came from a place on the border to the China side. So he made 7000 kilometers to see us. It took two weeks of vacation, 7000 kilometers to come to see us and 7000 kilometers to go back home.
So that time, that concert, we played for him, especially for him.
Jérôme Thomas: There is another story that I’m thinking about also… One that I didn’t think first because Stéphane was not there. He was not able to obtain a visa for this, but we made a tour in Russia. Anyway, we ended up in prison in Kotlas, because we shouldn’t have gone there. Actually, you needed a special visa to go there, because it was one of those towns where they were putting people from jail to gulag, you know. It’s actually a huge prison train station. So you’re not allowed to visit this town and go there just like this.
We had a concert there. So at the end of the show, there were like 15 cops waiting to bring us to prison. We had to fill tons of papers, we spent the whole night there. That was a kind of very strange situation. Actually, we made a song about it, which is the first song we are playing tonight. Kotlas Connection is about this story.
DinIntunerec: That was a bit disturbing… I’m sure you were worried and uncomfortable at the time… Anyway… You must get ready for the show, so we’d better wrap it up. Any message for our readers?
Jérôme Thomas: Please continue to support metal, enjoy music, enjoy life as much as you can. Go to gigs, buy merch, share your favorite music! Take care of yourselves and also enjoy life! That’s the best thing to say, the best advice we have.
DinIntunerec: Thank you very much for your time!
Jérôme Thomas: You’re most welcome, we are happy to be here!
Stéphane Grand: It was a nice chat! Enjoy our show!
