We are talking a year after the release of your debut CD - an EP album called "Paria". This is your first project since the reunion that took place in 2010. I wonder how would you describe this album? What was your idea for its recording?

Stefan: It’s a 6-track EP. A pretty dark and experimental record that we are very proud of. I think the idea was not to have an idea, just stay openminded and let the tracks live their own lives.

Ivan: We just went with the flow, since we didn´t have a clue if and to what goal Paria later would become.

When I listen to "Paria" I have a feeling that it's more than just music. It's a state of mind, a kind of emotional message describing the feelings hidden in the depths of our hearts. This album is like a scream of the soul. I'm curious whether my interpretation agrees with your view on this CD? How do you perceive music, its role in your life?

Stefan: We want our music to have a edge. That’s really important for us. Im, personally, always drawn to music that has a darkness and some kind of tension within. Hopefull that’s the case with Paria.

Ivan: I can only agree with the edge part... Really, music without any nerv makes me bored! For me the beat is not that important, I need the edge & nerv, and I think we deliver that in some kind with Paria.

You know each other a long time. You are childhood friends. Fatal Casualties was founded in 1986. Your band had been active until 1991. Then you decided of its breakup. What was the reason for that? What did you do for those 19 years before you both joined your forces again?

Stefan: I think the breakup came naturally. I cant remember us ever saying “-lets break the band up”, it just happened. We were going in different directions with our lives at the time, and musically there wasn’t a lot happening to be honest. Ive continued working on my music in different projects.

Ivan: After our “split” in 91, I have only been a consumer of music. My creative part was developing theater, acting, radio...

How would you describe your sound? I mean, the style in which you record your songs? Well, in my opinion it is difficult to assign you to one specific musical genre. Your music is full of diversity.

Ivan: It´s pure electronic, with differences/mixture in the genre. None of us have a musical education, so we can´t & don´t want to call us musicians. We´re more as creators!

As I mentioned it before, your adventure with music has been going on for 27 years now. Tell me, how do you think the music industry has changed over these past years? Do you like the direction in which the world of music is walking through today?

Stefan: Internet has made it easier to get your music heard, that’s good. When it comes to the music you hear on commercial radio etc I find most of it horrible and totally unchallenging. It seems to be more about having a cool production than to write something thats “real”. Here today forgotten tomorrow.

Ivan: I think also the “underground scene” can be unchallenging. The big promoters/bookers are also scarred of taking “risks”, so they follow the stream... But of course, it´s like usuall, it´s all about the money!!!

Your image seems to fit perfectly into your music. There is an element of horror, secretiveness and sorrow. Even the cover of "Paria" convinces us that we are dealing with something else, something far removed from today's musical style. I wonder what are your musical influences? Artists whose work has left its mark on your music?

Stefan: We grew up listening to bands like Depeche mode, Front 242, skinny puppy, Klinik etc in the 80s. We still like those bands and you can probably hear that in our music. I listen and get influenced by various kind of music these days I think, both electronic music and more traditional stuff.

I believe it was Bob Marley who said: "before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean." I wonder how do you handle with criticism of your music? As a public figures you are exposed the assessment of your actions by other people. Is their opinions affect your self-esteem, your approach to music?

Ivan: I shall really say, that so far, we´ve totally gone our own way, and without letting any negative opinions affect us, and our creative process. This business is about taste, so no one can say that green is a more beautiful colour than red! Of course there are some lost souls out there that do that anyway, and I can only hope that these people will find themselves one day. Feedback is always welcome to Team FaTaL, as long as it can be in a constructive way.

What are you plans for the coming months? Are you already working on a new album?

Stefan: We are about to release a new single pretty soon, no exact date yet. We’re putting the final touches on that one at the moment. We’ve been writing and recording songs for our new album that will be released some time early next year. It sounds really good this far.

At the end, please tell me what are your expectations for your further music career? Where are you going as a band right now, what is your main goal?

Stefan: I can honestly say that I have no idea what to expect. Its all down to being able to continue to write interesting music, as long as we think that we can still do that together we will probably carry on. Then we’ll just have to wait and see where it takes us. Fatal casualties is a strange and rare thing, you never know whats gonna happen.

Ivan: We´ll continue this Team FaTaL ship as long as we feel it´s funny, and creative challenging for us both! And obviously there are people out there just founding out about our existence, so of course we need to continue to feed the growing big crowd ;)

Thank you very much for your time. It was a real pleasure for me. I wish you a lot of successes and happiness in life.
 

Journalist: Kamil Mroziński