Past Redemption answered the call to perform at QFest – Day VI in Quantic Club, Bucharest, showcasing their remarkable adaptability in the face of last-minute changes. Ahead of their performance, we caught up with frontman Aleksander Vasilev, who shared his thoughts on the band’s journey, the creative process behind their music, and how they prepared for this unexpected opportunity.
Aleksander Vasilev on the stage of Quantic Club, 5.10.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
DinÎntunerec: Hi, thanks for hitting up with DinÎntunerec. How are things going for the band at the moment?
Aleksander Vasilev: Hello, and thank you, too, for expressing your wish to have an interview with us. We are very glad that we are back in Romania, even though this was a very short call, a short notice. Yet, we always like going elsewhere to play and we very much love to play for people. As long as I remember, Quantic was a huge, huge milestone for us, the audience was amazing; last time, I felt honoured to see how we were accepted by the people. We are ready to deliver the same kind of show here, ensuring the audience will enjoy it just as much, if not more.
DinÎntunerec: You’re ready to bring some guts to Quantic again! That’s great! Speaking of long-standing energy, you’ve been active since 1992, which is an impressive milestone. How has the death metal scene in Bulgaria evolved over the years, and what role has Past Redemption played in it?
Aleksander Vasilev: Well, the Bulgarian scene is a very strange scene, if you think about it. We have a different mixture of cultures there, different mixture of styles. But in the past, let’s say, five or six years ago, we had a re-emerging death metal and thrash metal scene. And Past Redemption was at the forefront, leading the charge. I must say, I am are very honoured to actually have this place. Of course, we’ve reached this point thanks to our long history—31 years since our first album and 32 since the band was formed. We’re incredibly grateful to still be a part of this community. Even more, we’re incredibly proud to still be part of the stage and remain an active force in the scene.
DinÎntunerec: What’s a standout moment from the early days of your career that you’ll always remember?
Aleksander Vasilev: There were several standout moments from the early days of our career that I’ll always cherish… It is very hard to pick just one. Since I joined the band, we’ve been working hard to bring everything together and make it all click. Things are going very well; we now have a formidable group of musicians who feel like family, and I can say that for sure. We’ve finally released our fifth album, which fans have been eagerly awaiting for 12 years. We’re also actively working on the next album. Although our last release is titled “Final Redemption”, it’s not the final word from us. So stay tuned—more is on the way!
DinÎntunerec: So… If you had to encapsulate your band in one word, would it be “family”?
Aleksander Vasilev: Indeed! The band is like a family. We support each other and share a very close connection.
DinÎntunerec: That’s wonderful to hear! Thinking of connections, when you joined the band, what were your main influences?
Aleksander Vasilev: Well, first of all, Napalm Death is a major influence for me, and for the band also, as we play death metal and grindcore, and they are the godfathers of grindcore in music history. They remain a significant inspiration for us. Personally, my biggest influence is Chuck Schuldiner from Death. And I’ve always been a fan of Slayer, which is another huge influence for me.
For the rest of the band, I can mention several other metal bands, like Iron Maiden. Our bass player is one of the biggest Iron Maiden fans I’ve ever met!
The other guitarist has a different taste; he’s into classical and folk music. He enjoys a wide range of styles and is trying to blend them all into a unique mixture, which will likely be showcased in our upcoming album.
DinÎntunerec: Got you! Before we dive into discussing the upcoming album, I need to take a moment to praise you for your latest release, “Final Redemption”! Congratulations! Now that it’s out, how would you say it pushes the boundaries of your sound and themes compared to your previous albums?
Aleksander Vasilev: Great question! You’re the first person to ask us about this specific thing. “Final Redemption” is definitely a different piece of work. Still, it’s Past Redemption. We recorded this album together again, and we had another guitar player when we started working on it. Even our original guitarist contributed with some ideas that made it into the album, so everyone was involved in some way. Comparing an album released in 2024 to one from 1993 is a hard task. The level of anger is different… because different life experiences influence the music. Let’s say that “Final Redemption” is a more complex album with deeper meaning in certain lyrics. It explores different aspects of the human psyche and how we are navigating the 21st century. As a human race, we’re not doing very well, but that doesn’t need to be the main focus of our conversation. In contrast to our earlier albums, which were all about pure aggression and depicted horrific, guttural scenes reflecting the raw energy of 16- or 18-year-old boys emerging from post-communist Bulgaria, this album offers a new perspective.
If you’ve ever felt pushed to the ground and then had that weight suddenly lifted, you know that feeling of wanting to scream, shout, and release all that energy. Those emotions defined our earlier work. Now, while our current output might not be as raw, it is certainly different. We are more mature and have a better understanding of the world around us, which influences our music in a new way.
DinÎntunerec: Can you share a memorable experience or moment that stands out to you from the process of creating this album?
Aleksander Vasilev: Of course, I remember a moment when one of our guitarists said “I just can’t think of a solo for this part, and I’m not exactly a lead guitar player”, so I needed to improvise something and record it. We were under a deadline to provide everything for mixing, mastering, and printing. I told him “I understand you can’t do it tonight, but I need to know what we’re going to do about it by tomorrow”, and he replied “I don’t know; I can’t do anything right now”. You can imagine my face. Some moments later, I was like “Okay, let me see what I can vomit on the guitar”. In the end, it turned out well—it was in tune as much as possible for grindcore or death metal. I didn’t stick to any specific composition; I just played something right then because I knew that in five or six hours, I had to send everything to the guys waiting for the editing, mixing, and mastering. It felt like a very short turnaround, but it all came together.
DinÎntunerec: You’re living on short calls, I swear. The track “Homicide” from the aforementioned album really stands out. Can you tell us more about the lyrical inspiration behind this song?
Aleksander Vasilev: The inspiration for the song comes from one of the biggest murderers in the United States, Jeffrey Dahmer. The lyrics delve into how he lured his victims and brought them to his basement. The song was recorded in 2016 as a single with our original guitarist and our drummer, who is currently the only original member of the band. This track marked a departure from my previous work, as I had been playing thrash metal in another band, and it represented a different genre altogether.
We had a one-week recording session at a very professional studio, where the engineers pushed us to deliver everything we could. And that’s the story behind that song.
DinÎntunerec: “Soul Slaves” is a track that resonates with many listeners. What’s the story behind it?
Aleksander Vasilev: This song was actually written back in 2013 or 2014, and it was very different at that time—almost balladic. However, I just couldn’t connect with it, so I reshaped it and almost completely remade it from scratch. The theme resonates with the 21st century. We find ourselves constantly glued to our mobile devices, scratching the surface of life instead of truly living it. We’re essentially slaves to technology, with our souls shackled to the fast-paced data and noise that surrounds us.
Instead of living authentically, we often become servants to those who profit from our lives. These days, we’re not just working our regular jobs; in our free time, we’re also making money for people who know how to exploit our existence.
It’s a special song, a very special one. Thanks for mentioning it. It’s one of my favourite tracks from the album, although, unfortunately, we won’t be playing it tonight.
DinÎntunerec: The last part hurts me a bit. You mentioned that this song is one of your favourites from the album. What other tracks stand out to you, and why do they hold a special place in your heart?
Aleksander Vasilev: “Eerie Hole“. It explores an ancient belief about a ghost called Tulpa, which kidnaps your soul and compels you to commit acts like murder to feed its essence, allowing it to become corporeal again. The story stems from an ancient Indian tribe’s belief, highlighting how this spirit can infect people’s minds and drive them to do terrifying things.
What I love about this song goes beyond just the lyrics and the background story; it’s also the fact that my other guitar player dislikes playing it because it’s quite challenging.
DinÎntunerec: So, do you enjoy giving him a hard time with it?
Aleksander Vasilev: Well, what can I say… we like to share a laugh and joke with each other while focusing on different aspects of our music.
DinÎntunerec: Naturally. In “Final Redemption”, the artwork is a striking piece. I noticed that your previous albums often featured photos for the covers, but with this one you’ve chosen a more detailed and artistic approach. What led to this change in direction for the album’s artwork?
Aleksander Vasilev: First of all, thank you for the praise and question! Secondly, the current artwork is by Denumbra Artworks. The moment I saw this piece for sale, I knew we had to buy it. It perfectly encapsulates what I was looking for while writing all these songs. The art isn’t just an addition to the album; it’s woven into every track.
We actually acquired this artwork about four or five years ago, even before we started recording, and at that time, half of the songs hadn’t even been written yet. But we decided that this was the art we wanted. It’s brutal, bloody, and chaotic, evoking a sense of history and repetition, much like the French Inquisition.
DinÎntunerec: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of music? I’ve noticed you have a strong interest in history.
Aleksander Vasilev: I’m really into history, and I often find connections between historical events and the stories we see in sci-fi and fantasy. It feels like we’re caught in a loop—me, you, our kids, and their kids, with the same stories starting over again. The circumstances may change, and the backgrounds might be different—maybe there’s a fire or some other event—but ultimately, the narrative remains the same. We’re just repeating the same steps throughout time.
DinÎntunerec: So… Is time a flat circle?
Aleksander Vasilev: I believe it’s not just a circle; it’s more like Ouroboros—the snake that eats its own tail. You can’t escape it, no matter how much force or passion you put into it. It doesn’t matter how much love or effort you invest in what you’re doing; eventually, it will all lead back to the same place.
DinÎntunerec: Very intriguing. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with me! Now, shifting our focus to the very close future, especially with your upcoming performance, how does it feel to be back in Bucharest?
Aleksander Vasilev: Wonderful! Wonderful! I feel great and energized. I was genuinely surprised when I received that call last night, telling me that we were going to play with Asphyx. I thought, “Okay, let me see how I can make this work”. But now that we’re here, I’m ready to give it my all. Whatever depends on me and the band, we’re going to deliver an incredible show tonight!
DinÎntunerec: We are very happy that you made it to Bucharest! Tell us more about how you feel about sharing the stage with Asphyx and Crimena.
Aleksander Vasilev: What do I feel about performing with them? I truly believe I’m in the right place right now—exactly where I need to be. I hope the rest of the guys share this same sentiment.
As for the other bands, I know we’re all in the same genre and share a common goal: to bring emotion and energy to the audience. We love to have fun on stage, and what we aim to do tonight is share some positive energy with all of you!
Past Redemption on the stage of Quantic Club, 5.10.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
DinÎntunerec: I’m eager to know what’s on the horizon for you in terms of upcoming gigs or new albums. You mentioned you’re working on something exciting—could you share more about that?
Aleksander Vasilev: We’re still in the early stages of planning—more like planting seeds than brewing anything just yet. As for upcoming shows, we haven’t scheduled anything concrete at the moment. However, as you can see with our performance here, we tend to embrace last-minute opportunities.
Recently, we’ve adopted a more spontaneous approach, focusing on enjoying the moment rather than planning too far ahead. I think the pandemic has taught us the importance of that perspective—things can change in an instant, and you never know what tomorrow holds. So, it’s all about embracing the now.
DinÎntunerec: Got you. As we wrap up, do you have a message for your fans?
Aleksander Vasilev: Of course! Guys, girls, ghouls, have fun! If you want, come and see us. We’re going to present brutal shows for all of you. Take care of each other and hope to see you all. Thank you very much for your support! Thanks a lot for this interview!
DinÎntunerec: Thank you, too!
Past Redemption on the stage of Quantic Club, 5.10.2024
© Ștefan Lupașcu
