INTERVIEW: Ruyned on “Pure Fukking Metal” and Upcoming Performance at Spears of Wallachia

Ruyned, a relentless force in the Romanian metal scene, has been turning heads with their raw, old-school sound and uncompromising attitude toward the music industry. Formed by Bogdan Mateescu and Andrei Crișan, their passion for bands like Kreator and Sodom shines through in both their music and performances.

We had the pleasure of catching up with them just before their set at Spears of Wallachia Festival to talk about their journey, influences, and what fans can expect next.

The official logo of the band
© Ruyned

DinÎntunerec: Hello, guys! Such a pleasure to have you with us! The story of Ruyned’s formation is quite interesting: “Bogdan Mateescu and Andrei Crișan met at a metal show in a local club, discovering a shared passion for bands like Kreator, Sodom, Bütcher, and Toxic Holocaust”. Can you tell us about one memorable experience from those early days that helped shape the band?

Bogdan: Hi! Thank you, we are very happy to be doing this interview! We consider the early days as being split in two periods of time: the one where I was still only with Andrei and the time when we became a four piece. An important experience from the time when Ruyned was just a two piece it was realizing that if you want to form a band you have to find people with a similar vision and the same amount of dedication. A very important moment that really helped shape the band was the first concert that we played. Due to a cable that broke after we finished the soundcheck, the guitars didn’t work for the first song. We managed to fix the problem and we realized that as a band you have to be prepared for anything and you don’t need to be demoralized by anything.

DinÎntunerec: What does “pure fukking metal” mean to you, and how do you embody that philosophy in your music and performances?

All members: By that we mean that we despise this music industry which is far from pure metal or even metal at all so we wanna bring back that feeling and vibe of old school metal with our music and live performances.

Ruyned at Posada Rock Fest
© The band’s photo archive

DinÎntunerec: Your lyrics touch on several intense themes. Which theme do you feel is the most important or resonates the most with the band, and why does it hold such significance for you?

All members: The most important song theme to us is the theme from the song “Ruyned”. The lyrics are a metaphor to the fact that we will come destroy the norms which this corporate music industry has imposed. What we mean by corporate music industry is the fact that every band has the same bland sound and writes the same bland music just to appeal to the masses.

DinÎntunerec: “Eternal Torment” is a powerful debut. Can you share the story behind the title track and how it embodies the central themes and messages of the entire album?

All members: Thank you for appreciation. The song “Eternal Torment” originally had lyrics who were inspired by a friend of a friend. The lyrics were about the torment that kids feel when they are abused at home. They feel that their suffering is eternal, and they can never escape it. But the lyrics were eventually dropped because the song sounded better without them. The song is really chaotic, but also has a complex structure which embodies all the songs on the album in our opinion.

DinÎntunerec: “Fleshripper” is one of the standout singles from the album, and it feels like an intense ride from start to finish. What was the inspiration behind this track?

Bogdan: When I started to write the song I wanted to write a simple catchy main riff that was able to carry the song. I started jamming the song with our drummer, Mihai, and he just started humming the riff under the solo. Basically, the conversation when “writing” (humming) the riff went like this:

“(Bogdan): This needs another riff!”

“(Mihai): Tatata to tatata to tatata to tatata”

DinÎntunerec: With “Eternal Torment” being such a strong debut, what do you feel was the biggest challenge in recording the album, and which track pushed you the most creatively?

All members: Everyone has a different opinion regarding this so here they are:

Bogdan: I think that the song that pushed me the most creatively is “9th Gate“. It’s the third song I wrote, and I am really proud of it. This is the song that was the hardest to record on my opinion.

Tibi: The song that pushed me the most creatively is “Lobotomized” because I wrote the part of the harmony after the solos and the riff under it which really brings another dimension to it, I am really proud of it came out. The hardest song to record for me was “Eternal Torment” because of its complexity.

Mihai: The song that pushed me the most creatively is “9th Gate” because of its fills. The hardest one to record was “Eternal Torment” because of its intensity with all the blast beats.

Ruyned,
© The band’s photo archive

DinÎntunerec: The artwork for “Eternal Torment” has a striking visual impact. How important is the visual aspect of your music, and what role does album art play in your overall creative vision?

All members: When listening to our music we wanna make you wanna feel like you are at a concert, and you are having fun. The artwork of the album represents the Fleshripper riding the Hellbeast inside an inferno.

DinÎntunerec: You mentioned working on your second album. Can you give us any hints about what fans can expect?

All members: We have been playing some new songs live and we are currently working on some new ones. The creative process is much smoother and for all those who wanna hear them you need to come see us live for now…

DinÎntunerec: You’ve embarked on the “Eternal TOURment” How has the tour experience been so far?

All members: The tour has been great so far, we are really excited to play live and we can’t wait to play upcoming shows.

DinÎntunerec: Any standout moments?

All members: A standout moment has to be the fact that in Bistrița a few 40-50 year old guys were moshing and headbanging the most in the audience. They said to us after the show that we really made them feel young again with our music and that they haven’t had so much fun at a show in a long time.

DinÎntunerec: What can fans expect from your live performances, especially at major events like Spears of Wallachia Festival?

All members: Speed Metal Assault.

Spears of Wallachia Festival
© Cavalleria Events

DinÎntunerec: Is there a particular track you’re especially excited to perform at the aforementioned festival?

All members: We are really excited to play a new song called “Profanum Sacrificium“—which we surely will play live at Spears of Wallachia and at all the remaining shows in the tour.

DinÎntunerec: What does it mean for you to perform at Spears of Wallachia Festival, especially alongside such a strong lineup?

All members: We are really happy to be playing in Bucharest again alongside our friends from Akral Necrosis and Vampir bei Kerzenlicht and alongside the other great bands. We are proud and happy!

DinÎntunerec: How do you usually prepare for your shows, and what factors do you consider when putting together your setlist?

All members: We spend a lot of time together just before the show because we wanna create a “connection” between us. When creating a setlist for a show where we can play as much time as we want, we just play all the songs we have. But if we have limited time, we just play the songs we consider the strongest.

DinÎntunerec: How do you unwind after a long tour or a particularly intense show?

All members: We pack up all the gear and then we hang out with the fans.

DinÎntunerec: How do you see the Romanian metal scene evolving, and what role do you hope Ruyned will play in it?

All members: The metal scene has been evolving a lot recently and we have been seeing a lot of new bands starting in different cities in Romania. We hope to be an important part of the Romanian scene.

DinÎntunerec: You’ve shared the stage with some major names in metal. Are there any key lessons or experiences you’ve gained from playing alongside such acts that you’ve incorporated into your own performances?

All members: We learned that having a great stage act (outfits, stage designs, etc.) helps you have better live performance.

DinÎntunerec: If you could choose any band or artist to tour with, who would it be and why?

All members: We all have different opinions on this one so here’s everybody’s dream concert lineup:

Bogdan: I can’t choose one band so here’s the lineup to a dream fest I’d like to play in: Hellripper, Bütcher, Midnight, Sabbat, Sarcofago, Sextrash and of course Ruyned.

Tibi: My lineup would be: Dying Fetus, Mortician, Arch Enemy, Midnight and Ruyned.

Mihai: Mine would be Hellripper, Venom, Sarcofago, Ruyned and Midnight.

DinÎntunerec: What are your goals for Ruyned in the coming years, both in terms of music and live performances?

All members: In the short term we will announce a tour outside of Europe—really soon. Another goal will be to release our second album by the end of 2026. In the long term we hope to stay consistent with our music and evolve as a band.

DinÎntunerec: Lastly, do you have a message for your fans who are excited to see you live at Spears of Wallachia Festival, as well as for those who support you in general?

All members: We can’t wait to play and see you at the festival. And a message for all the fans reading this is “kill all the posers and stay true and speed metal!!!”