All Interviews
For Ruin
John G. Murphy
Posted on Jan 14, 2006
by Anders
For Ruin an exciting new band hailing from Ireland. I received the demo "Shade" late last year, and on that demo, the band displayed a style rather hard to explain, though you can read the review of it here and get a small impression of it. That demo was recorded by mainman John G. Murphy, though now, after the questions to this interview was made, John got a full line-up assembled for For Ruin. The band now consist of drummer Steve O' Connel, bassist Ian O' Donnabháin, guitarist Ollie O' Shea and of course John handling guitar and vocals. John and me got a good long chat about the music and what the band is about…
Hails John, how are things in Ireland as we speak?
Hey Anders, things are good over here these days – and very busy too. We're rehearsing for an upcoming mini-tour and promoting that, plus I'm just finishing up a press release to accompany the tour, which also introduces the fully-fledged lineup now. Add to that the daily chores and usual band promo stuff you could say there are one or two things going on at the moment – but I wouldn't have it any other way!
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us what fuels your fire for making music and making it in For Ruin?
Sure – I'm a typical Irish metal guy really, part of a growing scene over here. For Ruin's first actual recorded output materialized during late 2003 and early 2004, so I suppose that is the real starting point for the band, but back somewhere around 1999, a good friend who's a studio-owner approached me, saying that he had some new recording equipment that he wanted to test out using someone that wasn't a paying customer, a guinea-pig of sorts I suppose. I had a couple of songs ready to go that I had always felt were too heavy or different from any previous (and crappy) bands that I had played with. So I went in with him, recorded the drum tracks and guitars over a few nights, he got the experience with the new gear and I got the songs demoed for free. I hadn't quite got the vocal melodies figured out or anything, so a singer from my old (childhood) band wrote some lyrics and I asked him to sing on them. The songs were 'Starling' and 'Jaded', but I never did anything with these versions, other than include them on a college compilation CD. The proper version of 'Starling' appears on the "Shade" demo, and a new version of 'Jaded' will appear on the next For Ruin release for sure.
So, between 1999 and 2004, I was busy with PhD studies but during what little free time I had I started writing again, and was approached by Taranis to record and play on the Meiche demo – that was 2 years ago now. I agreed on the basis that the demo would be a split release between his project and mine, and so the split release was born. I played on the Meiche half of the CD and he contributed some vocals for fun to my half of the CD. It was a good time and we enjoyed the recording, here in my home in Cork. So you can say that For Ruin was born in and around '99, but only produced its first outputs in 2003-04. Like many bands in the beginning some of the material was quite weak on the first recording and I knew I had it in me to do better. That brings us to the summer of 2005 – I was living in Valencia and recorded the demo there at home. I have since moved back to Ireland and have been promoting the demo since, and have recently been joined by three musicians to take the band to the stage.
As for what drives me?! My love of all types of music, from the very soft to the most extreme, is ultimately what makes me do this – I am a big fan of strong melody and aggression in equal measures and I hope that shows!
When did you get the idea for the band and when did you write the first music for it?
I think the response above probably answers that so I won't bore you with repetition – The key idea really is that I had some pieces of music that didn't really fit with any other bands I was playing with and when I got the chance to put them on tape, I took it, and the project grew from that to what it is now.
What do you want to accomplish with the band and what is the main-inspiration for it?
I'm keen for people to hear my music and see the band play and if some success comes along with that I will welcome it. The response to "Shade" (remember it is only a second demo) has been astounding and that has inspired me certainly, to keep going along the path I've started on. In the short term I want to get the band playing as many stages as possible and then secure a decent deal for a debut CD.
I have wondered a bit about the name of the band For Ruin, how did you come up with that and what does it symbolize?
Well, the band was originally operating under the name "Ruin" but as is often the case, there is somebody else playing under that name, so I elongated the name. There is no "deep" meaning or philosophy (either political or religious or otherwise) behind the name. Some have asked if there is a Tolkien reference in the name, (as a reference to a quote from his works), but that is coincidental, even though I enjoy his writing. I liked the sound of the name when it occurred to me and went with it. I think it's different from the generic metal names out there: infested-this, fetus-that and so on!
Last year you released the demo "Shade", how do you feel about that today when you have had some time to digest it?
I asked myself that a few weeks ago and put on the CD – I am very proud of it (rightly or wrongly!) and that surprises me. Recording your own material can breed contempt for it, because as any other engineer will tell you, listening to mixes over and over again is a dull, repetitive, anal process! By the time you’re finished, the *last* thing you want to do is put on the CD! It's like a bus-driver's holiday y'know? But while I have been rehearsing with the new guys, it still sounds fresh to me and having others interpret it is inspiring too. Like all musical releases it is an apt picture of what the band sounded like at the time. The new material I have written and demoed is equally strong, melodic and aggressive.
How was it received by the metal world?
I have been blown away repeatedly by the reviews as they came in, one by one. I sent the demo everywhere. There is a hell of a lot of work to be done when its just one guy from writing, recording, packaging, promoting etc… so its been great to get the thumbs up (lots of them!) from all over – I have yet to read a negative review of the demo (I'm sure it will happen!). But it's important that the fans of this type of music also hear the CD and the response from them has been incredible as well – you could say I'm pretty happy!
How many copies of the demo have you sold?
Well, between promo copies and sales in Ireland and abroad there are about 400 copies of the demo in people's CD players around the world and that's cool by me – I gave out lots of free copies because I am around long enough to know that people can be slow to try new stuff and handing out cash on an unknown "oh here's another noisy bloody band" is a waste of their money. So, I took the financial hit and got the music out there – I think it has worked!
How do you look upon file sharing and the likes, do you think it'll have any effect on the sales of the demo and how do you look upon sales vs. spreading of the name?
I'm not overly concerned about it (since I gave so many free copies away anyway!) but if we record an album I suppose I may be concerned then – but I think a lot of the metal audience are interested in having the complete package instead of just the audio so who knows…
How do you work when you make music?
Usually, I do 2 or 3 hours of concentrated work if I am mixing or tracking and then I leave it for a day or two – It's handy having your own recording setup from that point of view and I think I am no different to many "project" studio owners in that regard. When I get tired I take a break – time is not money in my studio! I keep a few files of ideas running, i.e. different riffs, harmonies etc and I go and listen to them when I'm writing new stuff and see what fits etc… In terms of equipment all of my recent work is done through Cubase SX, Pro-Tools, a m-box, a pod and some other odd bits and pieces of gear that I've picked up along the way. I'm an amateur engineer that benefits from a physics background (I also lecture) and would never claim to be Peter Tägtgren, but I'm good enough to do what I do reasonably well.
Where do you find the inspiration for the music?
My inspirations are my musical tastes and backgrounds, as well as people, places, experiences etc. My country inspires me continuously (how could it not?!) in both negative and positive ways and I am an outdoors person and am inspired by what I see around me. I'm a big fan of 80s and 90s metal and I think that comes out in the music. Specifically, in terms of bands/music that I listen to, it's a broad spectrum from Lizzy, Rory Gallagher, Dire Straits and Maiden, to classical and traditional Irish/folk music to Katatonia, Rotting Christ, Death, At The Gates, Hypocrisy… that's a long list and I'm a slow typist!
Are there any specific events or the like that has inspired any of the songs on "Shade"?
Definitely – Moving my life to Spain was, of course, a major change. I had just finished 5 years of research and all of a sudden, was free to do what I liked with my time, so I'm sure that release helped the energy of the CD. 'Dread' and 'Another Breed' written during my time in Spain, while the other songs re a little older. 'Rinn Bearna' was one of the older songs, if not the oldest song, on the demo – but it got a facelift during my time in Spain, and at the time, it reminded me of home (not in a nostalgic way) but as a reminder of where I came from – it's named after a headland close to my home in Ireland, and I spend a lot of time close to (and in!) the sea.
How did you end up with the title "Shade" and what are your reflections upon it?
'Another Breed' was the final song written for the release and deals with a person's struggle to deal with their fears, where dark thoughts are their 'Shade' from outside interferences, so that's where the title comes from. It is a fast song with a heavy chugging-riff that I think represents the style of the band well, so that's why I chose that lyric from that particular song.
Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics?
Lyrically, I do not go in for the rubbish that many sing about- occasionally my lyrics may venture into the darker side of life, but mostly they reflect my views on personality, places, people… these are where I draw my ideas from. I am a big fan of Chuck Schuldiner's (Death) style of lyric writing, he had a great talent for observation and getting his point across. I'm not a religious person for good or evil so my lyrics tend to stay out of such murky places. Personality, life experiences, places etc… these tend to be my lyric fodder. I'm no Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) when it comes to lyrics and anyone looking for deep and meaningful things in my lyrics will grow very old doing so!
Which themes do you touch, how personal are the lyrics and do you have a message you'd like to get out?
Like I said above - personality, places, people, relationships, scenery – these sorts of things are what interest me. I don't think my lyrics are overtly personal, just my point of view, or commentary on particular things. I do not have an agenda or point to get across (I'll leave that to Bono and Geldorf thanks very much!)
If you would like to, you are very welcome to go through the demo song for song and tell a bit about the music, the lyrics and how the idea for the songs originated!
The lyrics of the "Shade" tracks deal with everyday concerns – 'Dread', for example, is based on living for the present. It’s a fast song with some extremely melodic parts that opens the CD perfectly, setting the tone. 'Vertigo is a re-recording of the opening track from the Split demo, and lyrically deals with the subject of depression and how people can spiral into it. It's a fast song that has a memorable, infectious hook and chorus that many fans and reviewers have latched on to.
'Starling' is an old song that has been re-worked to fit with the For Ruin idea – lyrically it is based on a person looking towards the future but being trapped by past experiences and musically it is neither black nor death metal – it is a mixture of many styles and features layers of intricate harmonies and melodies. 'Another Breed' was the final song written for the release and deals with a person's struggle to deal with their fears, where dark thoughts are their 'Shade' from outside interferences. It is a fast song with a heavy chugging-riff that is pretty memorable I think. It features an interesting mid-section with Death-like harmonies – unsurprising given that I'm a big fan of Death.
'Rinn Bearna' is a short instrumental piece, featuring acoustic guitars and Celtic overtones - the song title refers to a particular Irish headland close to Cork city and is a reminder of where the band's roots are. A cover of Rotting Christ's 'The Fourth Knight Of Revelation' is also included at the end of the CD, for fun as much as anything . A number of non-released covers are also on the band's web page at www.forruin.com but again, these are not to be taken too seriously…
You have chosen to include a cover version of Rotting Christ's '4th Knight Of Revelation' on the "Shade" demo, at first I thought it was quite strange, though as I listened more to the demo, it made sense. What are your thoughts behind making your version of the track and how much do Rotting Christ mean to you?
I like to record covers now and again as I mentioned above – but just for fun, and I don't think future releases will contain any, though I may put them on the website from time to time. Some people love covers, some hate them. When it comes to listening to them (rather than recording them), I'm somewhere sitting on the fence.
As for Rotting Christ, well, it's no secret that I'm a big fan of Rotting Christ since the early days, as well as some other Greek stuff (Thou Art Lord, Septic Flesh and more recently, Varathron). I love all of their music – including the stuff that some people aren't so keen on. They're a great band and while I accept their name may have worked against them in the success ratings, they have stuck to their guns and continuously produced excellent music over the years. 'The 4th Knight…' is a song I like a lot from an album I love and I like to pay my respects to my influences – I could have picked anything from "Thy Mighty Contract", but I went for one of the less obvious ones...
How is it going with the making of new music, are you working on new tunes as we speak and how much have you made?
Yes, I have been working on new music all the time – I have demoed versions of 'Jaded', the other song from the "guinea-pig" sessions (!), and I have also recorded a very nice new version of 'Treading', from the split demo, with some beautiful violin playing from a friend of mine giving it an entirely different feel. I have also written and recorded 2 other tracks 'Into Red' and 'December'; the former is a cool, fast song with intricate harmonies and melodies again, and could be considered a tribute to my Lizzy and Death roots, while the latter is a short, heavy instrumental piece that I hope to use as a live 'intro' song. I also have one or two other ideas knocking around and will start beating them into shape when the gigs in Feb. are over.
What will the next release from you be, yet a demo or do you have other things in mind?
Well, I was prepared to put out a "MCD" or third demo featuring the four tracks mentioned above – but I think I will hold on to them and see what the labels think of the demo – I am approaching them soon, now that most of the critic's comments are in and the jury has decided!
I have seen in a couple of places For Ruin being mentioned as: "The best thing that has come out of Ireland for years", how do you feel about that statement and what about the labels have they shown interest…?
Yes, it is very flattering and encouraging to read things like that, but my feet are firmly on the ground - small steps first. Let us prove ourselves in the live environment and then back up the demos with a great debut album. Time will tell; I am optimistic, but am old enough not to jump the gun. I have only been in contact with one label so far, and they have expressed interest, but I am not naïve enough to jump at the first offer without looking at the rest of the shelf. Others may have no interest, others may have some interest – ask me in a few months again, I don't have a crystal ball (I wish…!)
For Ruin is currently a one man band, why is that, have you ever thought of getting a "real" band together?
Well as you've read by now, that is no longer the case – one has mutated into four and we're up and running!
Have you ever performed live with For Ruin or is that something for the future, if you have considered it?
To date, no, but we are playing 4 dates in a mini-tour of four of Ireland's major cities in early February – a nice way to get up and running!
Vodoo Lounge, Dublin – Thursday, February 2nd, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
An Cruiscin Lan, Cork – Friday, February 3rd, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
Dolans, Limerick – Saturday, February 4th, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
Richardsons, Galway – Sunday, February 5th, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
How do you look upon the future of the band?
Well it looks good at the moment – I hope that as a band we get along well and can deliver the goods on all fronts. I'm confident that I have the right people to do the job so there's no reason to be gloomy about what lies around the corner – things are pretty good right now.
What can all the fans of the band expect from For Ruin the near future?
As many live dates as possible, hopefully a debut CD released and distributed by a decent label and more aggression, melody and harmonies!
Will you share your 5 all time favorite albums with the readers of Nocturnal Horde?
Shit this is a difficult one. I won't arrange them in order – and there's more than 5, but here goes –
Katatonia – Brave Murder Day/Sounds of Decay
Amorphis – Tales from the Thousand Lakes/Elegy
Rory Gallagher – Irish Tour '74
Dire Straits – Money for Nothing
Death – All!
Iron Maiden –Somewhere In Time
Megadeth – Rust in Peace
Hypocrisy – The 4th Dimension/Abducted
Rotting Christ – Thy Mighty Contract/Triarchy
Paradise Lost – Gothic/Draconian Times
At The Gates – Terminal Spirit Disease/Slaughter
Dissection – Storm of the Light’s Bane
In Flames – Jester Race
Rammstein – Mutter/Reise Reise
Black Sabbath – The old Ozzy stuff
Desultory – Bitterness
Samael – Ceremony of Opposites
Thanks a lot for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
No problem Anders, I'm happy to do it. Thanks for preparing the interview and best of luck to you and all of the Nocturnal Horders! Keep your eyes on www.forruin.com as things are only getting started…
Hey Anders, things are good over here these days – and very busy too. We're rehearsing for an upcoming mini-tour and promoting that, plus I'm just finishing up a press release to accompany the tour, which also introduces the fully-fledged lineup now. Add to that the daily chores and usual band promo stuff you could say there are one or two things going on at the moment – but I wouldn't have it any other way!
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us what fuels your fire for making music and making it in For Ruin?
Sure – I'm a typical Irish metal guy really, part of a growing scene over here. For Ruin's first actual recorded output materialized during late 2003 and early 2004, so I suppose that is the real starting point for the band, but back somewhere around 1999, a good friend who's a studio-owner approached me, saying that he had some new recording equipment that he wanted to test out using someone that wasn't a paying customer, a guinea-pig of sorts I suppose. I had a couple of songs ready to go that I had always felt were too heavy or different from any previous (and crappy) bands that I had played with. So I went in with him, recorded the drum tracks and guitars over a few nights, he got the experience with the new gear and I got the songs demoed for free. I hadn't quite got the vocal melodies figured out or anything, so a singer from my old (childhood) band wrote some lyrics and I asked him to sing on them. The songs were 'Starling' and 'Jaded', but I never did anything with these versions, other than include them on a college compilation CD. The proper version of 'Starling' appears on the "Shade" demo, and a new version of 'Jaded' will appear on the next For Ruin release for sure.
So, between 1999 and 2004, I was busy with PhD studies but during what little free time I had I started writing again, and was approached by Taranis to record and play on the Meiche demo – that was 2 years ago now. I agreed on the basis that the demo would be a split release between his project and mine, and so the split release was born. I played on the Meiche half of the CD and he contributed some vocals for fun to my half of the CD. It was a good time and we enjoyed the recording, here in my home in Cork. So you can say that For Ruin was born in and around '99, but only produced its first outputs in 2003-04. Like many bands in the beginning some of the material was quite weak on the first recording and I knew I had it in me to do better. That brings us to the summer of 2005 – I was living in Valencia and recorded the demo there at home. I have since moved back to Ireland and have been promoting the demo since, and have recently been joined by three musicians to take the band to the stage.
As for what drives me?! My love of all types of music, from the very soft to the most extreme, is ultimately what makes me do this – I am a big fan of strong melody and aggression in equal measures and I hope that shows!
When did you get the idea for the band and when did you write the first music for it?
I think the response above probably answers that so I won't bore you with repetition – The key idea really is that I had some pieces of music that didn't really fit with any other bands I was playing with and when I got the chance to put them on tape, I took it, and the project grew from that to what it is now.
What do you want to accomplish with the band and what is the main-inspiration for it?
I'm keen for people to hear my music and see the band play and if some success comes along with that I will welcome it. The response to "Shade" (remember it is only a second demo) has been astounding and that has inspired me certainly, to keep going along the path I've started on. In the short term I want to get the band playing as many stages as possible and then secure a decent deal for a debut CD.
I have wondered a bit about the name of the band For Ruin, how did you come up with that and what does it symbolize?
Well, the band was originally operating under the name "Ruin" but as is often the case, there is somebody else playing under that name, so I elongated the name. There is no "deep" meaning or philosophy (either political or religious or otherwise) behind the name. Some have asked if there is a Tolkien reference in the name, (as a reference to a quote from his works), but that is coincidental, even though I enjoy his writing. I liked the sound of the name when it occurred to me and went with it. I think it's different from the generic metal names out there: infested-this, fetus-that and so on!
Last year you released the demo "Shade", how do you feel about that today when you have had some time to digest it?
I asked myself that a few weeks ago and put on the CD – I am very proud of it (rightly or wrongly!) and that surprises me. Recording your own material can breed contempt for it, because as any other engineer will tell you, listening to mixes over and over again is a dull, repetitive, anal process! By the time you’re finished, the *last* thing you want to do is put on the CD! It's like a bus-driver's holiday y'know? But while I have been rehearsing with the new guys, it still sounds fresh to me and having others interpret it is inspiring too. Like all musical releases it is an apt picture of what the band sounded like at the time. The new material I have written and demoed is equally strong, melodic and aggressive.
How was it received by the metal world?
I have been blown away repeatedly by the reviews as they came in, one by one. I sent the demo everywhere. There is a hell of a lot of work to be done when its just one guy from writing, recording, packaging, promoting etc… so its been great to get the thumbs up (lots of them!) from all over – I have yet to read a negative review of the demo (I'm sure it will happen!). But it's important that the fans of this type of music also hear the CD and the response from them has been incredible as well – you could say I'm pretty happy!
How many copies of the demo have you sold?
Well, between promo copies and sales in Ireland and abroad there are about 400 copies of the demo in people's CD players around the world and that's cool by me – I gave out lots of free copies because I am around long enough to know that people can be slow to try new stuff and handing out cash on an unknown "oh here's another noisy bloody band" is a waste of their money. So, I took the financial hit and got the music out there – I think it has worked!
How do you look upon file sharing and the likes, do you think it'll have any effect on the sales of the demo and how do you look upon sales vs. spreading of the name?
I'm not overly concerned about it (since I gave so many free copies away anyway!) but if we record an album I suppose I may be concerned then – but I think a lot of the metal audience are interested in having the complete package instead of just the audio so who knows…
How do you work when you make music?
Usually, I do 2 or 3 hours of concentrated work if I am mixing or tracking and then I leave it for a day or two – It's handy having your own recording setup from that point of view and I think I am no different to many "project" studio owners in that regard. When I get tired I take a break – time is not money in my studio! I keep a few files of ideas running, i.e. different riffs, harmonies etc and I go and listen to them when I'm writing new stuff and see what fits etc… In terms of equipment all of my recent work is done through Cubase SX, Pro-Tools, a m-box, a pod and some other odd bits and pieces of gear that I've picked up along the way. I'm an amateur engineer that benefits from a physics background (I also lecture) and would never claim to be Peter Tägtgren, but I'm good enough to do what I do reasonably well.
Where do you find the inspiration for the music?
My inspirations are my musical tastes and backgrounds, as well as people, places, experiences etc. My country inspires me continuously (how could it not?!) in both negative and positive ways and I am an outdoors person and am inspired by what I see around me. I'm a big fan of 80s and 90s metal and I think that comes out in the music. Specifically, in terms of bands/music that I listen to, it's a broad spectrum from Lizzy, Rory Gallagher, Dire Straits and Maiden, to classical and traditional Irish/folk music to Katatonia, Rotting Christ, Death, At The Gates, Hypocrisy… that's a long list and I'm a slow typist!
Are there any specific events or the like that has inspired any of the songs on "Shade"?
Definitely – Moving my life to Spain was, of course, a major change. I had just finished 5 years of research and all of a sudden, was free to do what I liked with my time, so I'm sure that release helped the energy of the CD. 'Dread' and 'Another Breed' written during my time in Spain, while the other songs re a little older. 'Rinn Bearna' was one of the older songs, if not the oldest song, on the demo – but it got a facelift during my time in Spain, and at the time, it reminded me of home (not in a nostalgic way) but as a reminder of where I came from – it's named after a headland close to my home in Ireland, and I spend a lot of time close to (and in!) the sea.
How did you end up with the title "Shade" and what are your reflections upon it?
'Another Breed' was the final song written for the release and deals with a person's struggle to deal with their fears, where dark thoughts are their 'Shade' from outside interferences, so that's where the title comes from. It is a fast song with a heavy chugging-riff that I think represents the style of the band well, so that's why I chose that lyric from that particular song.
Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics?
Lyrically, I do not go in for the rubbish that many sing about- occasionally my lyrics may venture into the darker side of life, but mostly they reflect my views on personality, places, people… these are where I draw my ideas from. I am a big fan of Chuck Schuldiner's (Death) style of lyric writing, he had a great talent for observation and getting his point across. I'm not a religious person for good or evil so my lyrics tend to stay out of such murky places. Personality, life experiences, places etc… these tend to be my lyric fodder. I'm no Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) when it comes to lyrics and anyone looking for deep and meaningful things in my lyrics will grow very old doing so!
Which themes do you touch, how personal are the lyrics and do you have a message you'd like to get out?
Like I said above - personality, places, people, relationships, scenery – these sorts of things are what interest me. I don't think my lyrics are overtly personal, just my point of view, or commentary on particular things. I do not have an agenda or point to get across (I'll leave that to Bono and Geldorf thanks very much!)
If you would like to, you are very welcome to go through the demo song for song and tell a bit about the music, the lyrics and how the idea for the songs originated!
The lyrics of the "Shade" tracks deal with everyday concerns – 'Dread', for example, is based on living for the present. It’s a fast song with some extremely melodic parts that opens the CD perfectly, setting the tone. 'Vertigo is a re-recording of the opening track from the Split demo, and lyrically deals with the subject of depression and how people can spiral into it. It's a fast song that has a memorable, infectious hook and chorus that many fans and reviewers have latched on to.
'Starling' is an old song that has been re-worked to fit with the For Ruin idea – lyrically it is based on a person looking towards the future but being trapped by past experiences and musically it is neither black nor death metal – it is a mixture of many styles and features layers of intricate harmonies and melodies. 'Another Breed' was the final song written for the release and deals with a person's struggle to deal with their fears, where dark thoughts are their 'Shade' from outside interferences. It is a fast song with a heavy chugging-riff that is pretty memorable I think. It features an interesting mid-section with Death-like harmonies – unsurprising given that I'm a big fan of Death.
'Rinn Bearna' is a short instrumental piece, featuring acoustic guitars and Celtic overtones - the song title refers to a particular Irish headland close to Cork city and is a reminder of where the band's roots are. A cover of Rotting Christ's 'The Fourth Knight Of Revelation' is also included at the end of the CD, for fun as much as anything . A number of non-released covers are also on the band's web page at www.forruin.com but again, these are not to be taken too seriously…
You have chosen to include a cover version of Rotting Christ's '4th Knight Of Revelation' on the "Shade" demo, at first I thought it was quite strange, though as I listened more to the demo, it made sense. What are your thoughts behind making your version of the track and how much do Rotting Christ mean to you?
I like to record covers now and again as I mentioned above – but just for fun, and I don't think future releases will contain any, though I may put them on the website from time to time. Some people love covers, some hate them. When it comes to listening to them (rather than recording them), I'm somewhere sitting on the fence.
As for Rotting Christ, well, it's no secret that I'm a big fan of Rotting Christ since the early days, as well as some other Greek stuff (Thou Art Lord, Septic Flesh and more recently, Varathron). I love all of their music – including the stuff that some people aren't so keen on. They're a great band and while I accept their name may have worked against them in the success ratings, they have stuck to their guns and continuously produced excellent music over the years. 'The 4th Knight…' is a song I like a lot from an album I love and I like to pay my respects to my influences – I could have picked anything from "Thy Mighty Contract", but I went for one of the less obvious ones...
How is it going with the making of new music, are you working on new tunes as we speak and how much have you made?
Yes, I have been working on new music all the time – I have demoed versions of 'Jaded', the other song from the "guinea-pig" sessions (!), and I have also recorded a very nice new version of 'Treading', from the split demo, with some beautiful violin playing from a friend of mine giving it an entirely different feel. I have also written and recorded 2 other tracks 'Into Red' and 'December'; the former is a cool, fast song with intricate harmonies and melodies again, and could be considered a tribute to my Lizzy and Death roots, while the latter is a short, heavy instrumental piece that I hope to use as a live 'intro' song. I also have one or two other ideas knocking around and will start beating them into shape when the gigs in Feb. are over.
What will the next release from you be, yet a demo or do you have other things in mind?
Well, I was prepared to put out a "MCD" or third demo featuring the four tracks mentioned above – but I think I will hold on to them and see what the labels think of the demo – I am approaching them soon, now that most of the critic's comments are in and the jury has decided!
I have seen in a couple of places For Ruin being mentioned as: "The best thing that has come out of Ireland for years", how do you feel about that statement and what about the labels have they shown interest…?
Yes, it is very flattering and encouraging to read things like that, but my feet are firmly on the ground - small steps first. Let us prove ourselves in the live environment and then back up the demos with a great debut album. Time will tell; I am optimistic, but am old enough not to jump the gun. I have only been in contact with one label so far, and they have expressed interest, but I am not naïve enough to jump at the first offer without looking at the rest of the shelf. Others may have no interest, others may have some interest – ask me in a few months again, I don't have a crystal ball (I wish…!)
For Ruin is currently a one man band, why is that, have you ever thought of getting a "real" band together?
Well as you've read by now, that is no longer the case – one has mutated into four and we're up and running!
Have you ever performed live with For Ruin or is that something for the future, if you have considered it?
To date, no, but we are playing 4 dates in a mini-tour of four of Ireland's major cities in early February – a nice way to get up and running!
Vodoo Lounge, Dublin – Thursday, February 2nd, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
An Cruiscin Lan, Cork – Friday, February 3rd, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
Dolans, Limerick – Saturday, February 4th, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
Richardsons, Galway – Sunday, February 5th, 2006 (with Mael Mordha)
How do you look upon the future of the band?
Well it looks good at the moment – I hope that as a band we get along well and can deliver the goods on all fronts. I'm confident that I have the right people to do the job so there's no reason to be gloomy about what lies around the corner – things are pretty good right now.
What can all the fans of the band expect from For Ruin the near future?
As many live dates as possible, hopefully a debut CD released and distributed by a decent label and more aggression, melody and harmonies!
Will you share your 5 all time favorite albums with the readers of Nocturnal Horde?
Shit this is a difficult one. I won't arrange them in order – and there's more than 5, but here goes –
Katatonia – Brave Murder Day/Sounds of Decay
Amorphis – Tales from the Thousand Lakes/Elegy
Rory Gallagher – Irish Tour '74
Dire Straits – Money for Nothing
Death – All!
Iron Maiden –Somewhere In Time
Megadeth – Rust in Peace
Hypocrisy – The 4th Dimension/Abducted
Rotting Christ – Thy Mighty Contract/Triarchy
Paradise Lost – Gothic/Draconian Times
At The Gates – Terminal Spirit Disease/Slaughter
Dissection – Storm of the Light’s Bane
In Flames – Jester Race
Rammstein – Mutter/Reise Reise
Black Sabbath – The old Ozzy stuff
Desultory – Bitterness
Samael – Ceremony of Opposites
Thanks a lot for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
No problem Anders, I'm happy to do it. Thanks for preparing the interview and best of luck to you and all of the Nocturnal Horders! Keep your eyes on www.forruin.com as things are only getting started…
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