Interview Cursus Bellum

1. Please tell us about the about the band and its members.

Cursus Bellum, spawned in the vast black soil of Lundaslätten, Sweden, is consisting of Jocke - drums / vocals and Anders Nyander - guitars / bass. We have played in different bands since the 90´s, for example in Non Serviam, Immersed in blood and Supreme majesty. Together we have played in Sgt.Carnage, and after releasing a record back in the day, ”Primus inter pares”, things fell apart with a label that went bankrupt, members moving and so on. We still kept writing music and having members coming in out in the formation that would become Cursus Bellum. In 2013 we took the decision to record our music as a duo and that led to the release of our EP ”Accusing the dead”. After the good response we had from the EP we kept writing new songs, and now we have recorded a full-length album that will be released by Downfall records during the fall of 2018. The album title will be ”Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit”.Jocke is also playing drums with some other bands for example Totenwelt (BM), Ratad (grind), Järnbörd (grind/HC). Anders has big interest in cars and does some tinkering and racing (he´s an egineer so he probably knows what he is doing when he looks under the hood of a car

2. Who does the majority of the writing? Is it a group thing or does someone handle the writing duties?

We pretty much collaborate in writing process, but it usually start with one of us having an idea and main riffs that we then develop from. Over the years we have developed good understandning of eachothers musical visions, but we still have som differences in opinion. That adds to the creative process, you have to be able to critize eachother.

3. Where is the band based out of ? Where did you want to the band to end up? What was the dream city to have as your home base once you got out of your scene?

We are based furthest south of Sweden, in the area surrounding the city of Malmö. Anders resides in the rural area, where we also rehearse. Jocke lives in Malmö. We have friends in many parts of Sweden, but we are pretty content in living here from now. No moving plans for now.

4. What is your genre? What bands do you use to explain to people what you sound like?

Both we and reviewers have categorised our music as death metal on the darker side, maybe the term ”Blackened death metal” has been thrown in sometimes. I would say that´s pretty fair, but the main building block in our sound is definitely death metal. It´s always hard to compare with other bands, but reviewers has mentioned Incantation, Dead Congregation and more. When we work on songs and riffs we usually name them after the band we think the riff/song reminds us of – on this record we have everything from the ”Suffocation riff”, the ”Dark Funeral bridge” to the ”Autopsy mid-section”.

5. Can we buy anything from you Cd's shirts etc and where can we buy them?

You can buy CD´s from Downfall records and i know they have gotten som me distros so you can google and find others places to buy the EP. The full length will also be distributed that way. We almost have no t-shirts left, we have to print more, but if you want one contact us on cursusbellum@gmail.com

6. Do you have studio time lined up anything new coming soon?

As we said our new full length is due this fall! Check it out when it hit the streets!!!

7. Have you ever been on tour? If so where and with who?

Not with Curus Bellum, but with our other bands we have played in some places Europe, mainly in Scandinavia.

8. What is your favorite band? Who are the bands who influenced you?

There are many favorites, and they differ a bit from me or Anders. But common ground is that we listen a lot to thrash and heavy metal from the 80`s as well as early and contemporary death metal. Among favorites you would have to mention Slayer, Morbid Angel, Immolation, Iron Maiden, Suffocation, Carcass. They have stayed with you for a looong time. The list could be endless. They still influence us in a way, but there are many newer bands that we draw influences from.

9. Do you have a website? And do I have to verify that I am 18 to enter it?

No website of our own, just the platforms om social medias and bandcamp and such.

10. What about your music do you want people to remember? What is the quality you want to hit people when they hit play?

Fast, aggressive and dark. Sometimes epic - sometimes more to the point.

11. Name a person who is integral to your band that nobody knows about , what person drives your band like they are part of the band? Who is the extra member ?

There have been a few people who has been involved, but if to pick one it wold be Maxime, who played with us for a while. He´s from France but lived in Sweden for a while. In France he played with an band called Horgoth!

12. Tell nerds like me tell us about your live rig and equipment.

When I play live it often play on the drums of the venue, so it can differ sometimes. Not always optimal though... My own drums are Pearl, double kickdrums or doublepedal, three or two racktoms, one floortom. I have assorted cymbals accordning to brands but I usually have two chinas, two-three crash cymbals, one ride, and one or two hihats (left/right). Sometimes I would throw in a splash cymbal.

Anders uses an line6 amplifier, marshall 4x12 and alternates between an old Gibson flying V and an not that old ESP.

13.What is your musical guilty pleasure that you are ashamed of?

I like a lot of stuff that are not metal, but guilty pleasure? Maybe that would be electronic dance music from the 90´s. Not proud of that really, but it´s not like I put that on without being ironic.

14.If you could custom build a band who would be the members?

There could be a lot of frummer in that band... Here´s a great line up: Derek Roddy – drums, Terence Hobbs -Guitar, Ross Dolan – Bass/background vocals, Mitch Harris – Guitars, David Vincent – vocals. They could do some intresting music, as long as David don´t do anything industrial or country, he has a great voice and does good song arrangements.

15.Message to the fans? What is it?

Be sure to check out the upcoming album! It will be fast and furious!