Formed in 1990, the Brazilian brothers of Krisiun have released 11 records in their blistering history, turning to 12, July 29th with the next savage offering, looming brighter than a thousand suns Mortem Solis. The three brothers from Sepultura country, specifically Rio Grande do Sul, have assembled another blunt, battering ram set of blistering audio bombshells destined to abuse speakers and stab ears for a crushing ride, 10 tunes in a row.
Bassist/vocalist Alex Camargo, drummer Max Kolesne and guitarist Moyses Kolesne will annihilate your senses with a long-haired headbanging smile.
They’ve toured extensively in North and South America and Europe sharing stages with Unleashed, Belphegor, Immolation, Incantation, Rotting Christ, Nile and Origin, rattling thousands of bones and skulls along the way. They’ll be taking part in the Vile Nilotic Rites European run supporting Nile in November and December.
For long-time hardcore fans to newer casual listeners Krisiun songs are a loud, blasting war dance on drums, fast, intense and brutal to the senses. “Right, that’s the intention,” Max Kolesne says. “To make it sound like a tank, a war tank.” Though he says mosh pits are not always instantaneous at shows, “Not always, sometimes people like to watch, bang heads, raise fists and enjoy the show. Most times, people like to go crazy in the pit.”
He elaborates on the meaning of Mortem Solis, saying it reinvigorated them. “We took our time after this terrible pandemic to recharge the batteries and come back with full force. We feel inspired, energized and wanted to make a very solid, brutal, straight forward and savage album.” They took their time getting focused cutting off all the access, unneeded dead meat leaving only fresh, brutal prime rib flavored death metal. “I’d say, for us, this album, is a perfect place between Black Force Domain and Apocalyptic Revelation with some of the new stuff we did. We are very happy with the final result. It’s a brutal death metal album.”
The English translation means, death of the sun “It’s like the end of life. We see the sun. It’s the source of life for all of us but we’re killing and destroying ourselves, the planet, everything. Everywhere men go there’s a trail of blood, its bloodshed, people are divided. People never learn, always in conflict, separated by race, religion and political bullshit. We’re puppets and self-destructive of our species. We’re very inspired by everything happening right now in the world. There’s war going on in the world somewhere. So many things inspired us to write brutal and realistic lyrics.”
“Swords in Flesh” is the newest video clip with “Serpent Messiah” and lyric video for “Sworn Enemies.”
He says the snakes were friendly but freaky in the “Serpent Messiah” video. The producer had the idea. “We’re like, man that’s amazing, very calm, nice snakes, very quiet. I was playing drums, I remember, one of the snakes was on top of my right cymbal hissing at me. I didn’t want to get bit, I knew they weren’t poisonous. I hope they didn’t bite really hard.” The snake was starring him down real close which probably gave new meaning to blast beats and speed drumming. “It was fun.” The fastest he’d ever played.
Lyrically “Necronomical” means searching for spiritual strength in the darker areas and realms of knowledge. “It’s more like inner power and strength. So we can face whatever life brings.”
“Dawn Sun Carnage” was an audio war cry, calling arms to the battle field. “It totally fits perfectly for the album. We’re actually using it as the live show intro. “
“Temple of Abattoir” is about the trail of blood, destruction and carnage mankind leaves in its wake. “This song speaks about the ancient cultures and civilizations that were killed, enslaved, and sacrificed. Other people want to conquer and are greedy and selfish it’s basically (about) all those killed.”
The beginning and end of the song has very interesting Egyptian and Middle Eastern vibes. “Yeah, there’s an Egyptian vibe in the melodies. It’s a lot like that.”
They’re practicing “Sworn Enemies,” “Serpent Messiah,” “Swords into Flesh” and “War Blood Hammer” for the upcoming live slaughter. “There’s a North American tour in September with Revocation and Inoculation, and Alluvial.”
The setlist has been fairly solid for a long time, “We’ve been kinda playing the same set for years. Not exactly the same, but songs like the “Kings of Killing,” “Blood of Lions,” “Conquerors of Armageddon” they’re always in the set most of the time. We had to find a balance with the old and new stuff. I think people are excited to hear those new songs. They’re looking forward to hearing it live. This album has a lot to do with the old stuff. I think it’s gonna do well live.”
“Combustion Inferno” is always played live. “If we don’t people ask why not? We can’t please everybody but I think that’s one of the songs, it has to be there.”
They carry great respect for the Cavalera Brothers. “Every time they play they bring a lot of people.” Krisiun’s playing their album release show on August 7th with Max and Igor. “It’s such an honor and pleasure to play with those guys. They’re a huge influence and inspiration not only music wise but their attitude and all the hard work, focus and dedication, especially in the beginning.”
Being a Brazilin band, in the ‘80s and ‘90s wasn’t easy he says. “Now days it’s a little different but back (then), it was so hard. They broke through and were successful (world-wide). They were the first band to really make it outside Brazil. They proved it was possible for Brazilian bands to have a name out there. We try to follow in their footsteps that’s for sure.”
The cover art has a graphic gladiator battlefield vibe. “It has a lot to do with some of the lyrics. They speak about being a gladiator and for us as a band, the whole history of the band, almost 30 years. We’ve been playing since ’95, ’96 and touring. We never gave up or changed our lineup.” They weathered storms, trends, fashions, everything you could imagine. “We stay on track and keep fighting like gladiators. It’s a battle, always about fighting, and giving 100% no matter what. That’s this band to me, being gladiators of death metal.”
They just finished a near 30-show Latin American Tour covering Brazil, Columbia, Chile, South and Central America and Panama among others. “It was good. We were so happy to be back on the road and touring. I’m so excited. I’ve never been so happy in my whole life. The pandemic was horrible. We didn’t know what would happen. Maybe we’ll never play live again? We didn’t know what to do, now we’re having a second chance to do what we most love, it’s amazing. We’re grateful, to have the chance to do what we love to do.”
He promises the live experience will be a lesson in brutality. “Come and see some real death metal in your face, savage and aggressive.”
Mortem Solis is available July 29.
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