The following interview is with Grev Drake (vocals, guitars)...
First, we'll start basic by you giving us a
history of G.O.D. .
Well, we started in 1995 when 4 of the members
thought about starting a doommetalband with old
metal influences. The whole idea was just for fun.
When they started I wasn't the band yet, but I
was watching it. I immediately liked the
corpsepaint with the leather and spikes and I
liked the covers they played from old metalbands.
When one of them left the band I was asked to
join. After that all went very fast and we started
writing our own songs. When we recorded our first
CD, we had already been on Satellite TV and on
several big stages together with well-known bands.
Kind of a catchy name you have for the band,
how and why was it chosen?
We wanted the initials G.O.D., because it would
provoke a lot of irritation from Catholics.
Goddess Of Desire suits very well, because it
tells about our show.
Tell us about your new release, 'Symbol of
Triumph.'
We wrote a lot of music the last few months and we
thought it was time to record a new album. I guess
this one is better than the first, because we are
more whole than before. The sounds and the music
is more mature, ripe. I wrote most of the stuff
and I always listen to the riffs whether they're
catchy enough and if it suits the other riffs.
In what ways does this differ from your
previous release 'Let us win this war?'
We had a bigger budget to record it, so this album
is produced better, the sound is much fatter and
we took the time for it. The previous album was
recorded in only 4 or 5 days and this one in 7
days. We also mixed the album ourselves and really
took the time for it. We listened carefully that
the sound was good and that the different
instruments can be identified well.
You started off as a cover band. What sort of
bands did you cover? And what reasons were behind
this?
We started for fun as I mentioned above. The whole
idea was a bit of a joke. People liked it so much
that it became a success. Because we didn't have
any songs of our own, we started playing covers
from Carnivore, Slayer, Venom, Infernäl Mäjesty,
Hellhammer and Celtic Frost because these are
bands we liked and still like. The trouble is that
most other bands didn't respect us, because we had
a lot of success with material from others. I
guess I can understand that. Nowadays we also play
a few covers, but that's only a very slight part
of our show. Most of it are our own songs.
I understand you put a lot into your stage
shows at live performances. Tell us what we can
expect at an average G.O.D. show? What additions
to your stage show can we expect in the future?
We use fireworks, fireworks and fireworks (did I
already mentioned fireworks? :-) ). We also have
burning scales, burning crosses, a lot of smoke,
some sensual/light-erotic act with some girls
(Lilith and Delilah) and fire-breathing. Next to
that, loud and pounding metal! We dress up in
leather, spikes, bulletbelts, fur and nails and we
have black corpsepaint. We don't need white
corpsepaint, because we already have a white skin
(a good question to all those black metal bands
who wear corpsepaint...)
I've heard you use alot of fire/explosions at
your shows... you even use two females who
'strip-tease' I understand? Do the shows get
pretty wild would you say? What is an example of
the wildest thing that has happened? What about
violence? Do the shows ever get violent?
Indeed, we have explosions and two girls who do
some erotic stuff. It's not very extreme, because
we have to keep it accessible for all ages, but it
gives you what Cradle of Filth has on their
shirts. We have never had any violence on stage,
but once there was a very irritating guy backstage
who asked stupid questions and was bothering the
girls. He got what he deserved... and it wasn't
very nice... We always have good roadies with us
who keep the dressingroom clear. After a gig, we
come to the people after we have refreshed
ourselves a bit. I like talking to people after a
gig.
There also was a feminist dyke once and she
climbed on stage to show everybody her tits after
she made several anti-sexistic remarks to us. We
kicked her offstage and everyone in the audience
stepped aside, so she dropped on the floor,
hahaha!
You have some very anti-Christian lyrics... you
also use upside down crosses as part of your stage
show. From this its easy to gather you have a good
deal of hatred for Christianity. Explain the
reasons for this. What are some of the things you
hate most about it?
I hate all mass-religion. I think for myself and
follow my own instincts. I really look down upon
those silly people who read the bible and start to
follow it without thinking about the meaning and
if it's right or wrong. I especially hate those
who are fanatic in these kind of thinks, for
example people who kill in the name of God or
Allah or whatever they call their gods. They
preach piece and practise war. It just doesn't
make sense. I think people should think for
themselves about things and not let some lamer
tell you what to do by dictating a book.
What are your thoughts on Satanism? How about
Paganism? Being from the Netherlands, what sort of
gods/goddesses were worshipped there before the
coming of the Christian swords...?
There are two kinds of Satanism: one is following
your own way; doing everything for yourself and
your own benefit, not for others. I follow this
thought. The other form of Satanism is that one of
an organization. This is basically the same as
Christianity (a mass-religion) and is just the
opposite of it. Some of its ideas I like, but I
hate all mass-religions, so this one too. Religion
isn't in a book. religion is in yourself.
In Holland we used to have gods like Wodan. The
old Germanic religions are comparable with the
Skandinavian ones. I enjoy reading about it and
like the stories. Some of its ideas I like and I
use them in my personal way.
What feelings do you hope to portray to your
listener?
To enjoy metal and to give your soul to it.
Sum up to us what sort of topics your lyrics
deal with and who writes them.
I write a few lyrics, most about war,
antichristianity, riding motorcycles, sex, booze
and rock'n'roll.
Most lyrics deal about some form of sadism,
antichristianity, perversion and evil. They were
written by a good friend of us from Belgium.
A few lyrics have been written by Delilah and
Count August. They write about fighting, living
for metal and supporting the metalscene.
I understand you have/had some videos
available. What is in these videos?
We had two live videos, one was from a gig in
Heemskerk where I live.
An other was from Dynamo Open Air.
It shows the show as it was back then.
Unfortunately, they are both sold-out.
I heard rumours about tapes being trade in the
undergroundscene.
From past interviews, I've read that one of
your favorite bands is Burzum. Let's drudge up a
bit of controversy and ask you your thoughts on
Varg killing Euronymous. Looking back at it all,
what are your opinions? Do you think it hurt the
scene or gave to it?
I like his music very much and I like some of his
ideas, but not all of them. Some of his ideas are
rather ridiculous, but he's got some interesting
thoughts. Killing Euronymous was stupid, but it
gave the whole Skandinavian Black Metal scene a
big blast and without it this scene wouldn't have
grown so big. I think a lot of people into BM
aren't really into the music, but only after the
shocking stuff. My opinion: this music is very
good and a few bands, like Marduk, Immortal,
Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir and Emperor will keep on
existing. However, just like the Death Metal
epoch: there are 10,000 other bands who also
follow these few big bands. They will be big for a
short while of not big at all. The whole BM scene
is already saturated and already bands are
combining other stuff with BM so that it still
will be original. I hope they will start to think
for themselves and start doing something original.
I'm not waiting for another Immortal-rip-off.
When it comes to the 'afterlife' what are your
beliefs? Rot in our graves or...? Do you think its
natural to fear death?
I guess death is an entrance to another dimension.
I sometimes fear death and sometimes not. It
depends on what mood I'm in. Unknown things are
always scary, so why shouldn't death be? I enjoy
life however and I wish to live for a while.
What are your thoughts on the world in
general? Do you predict things will get better
before they get worse?
I guess the world will be fucked up in a few ages.
It's just a matter how we are treating the
environment. Maybe space-expeditions to other
planets will be the answer? Cars driving on
Hydrogen? The only exhaustion-gas will be steam.
Describe Goddess of Desire for us in one word.
Metal
Future plans for releases? tours?
We want to grow and we are looking forward to tour
with a big band who also is into old black/thrash
metal. We also want to create a bigger show, but
it is expensive and time-demanding.
Final comments ?
I hope people will take us seriously if they are
not already doing so. I also hope that the
metalscene will grow and that it will be one unity
again, just like it used to be. After all, metal
is not only something you listen to, it's
something you live!
GrevDrake@goddess-of-desire.com
Goddess of Desire Homepage
Back to Interviews
