ESTUARY

ESTUARY is a brilliant Death/Thrash Metal band hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio. I've had the opportunity to check their killer live performance during the Balkans Assassination Tour in Budapest, Hungary 14.10.2007! Their music & 100% underground attitude impressed me quite a lot so I immediately decided to contact Ash (guitars/backing vocals) and Zdenka (vocals) to get all the news about the recently finished tour as well as to get answers on the band's future aspects. So here we are! Please read on and enjoy every inch of it!



Ash Thomas, Budapest 14.10.2007 (Click on the image to enlarge)
You've recently finished Balkans Assassination tour along with such killer bands as KRISIUN, INCANTATION and INACTIVE MESSIAH. Tell us in details how was to visit all those countries and their fans with your kind of energetic Deathrash musick? Name us the most memorable shows of the tour and why were they so special to you.
Zdenka: The tour was a killer experience! We were received very well by the fans of these Balkan countries, and we all hope to return very soon. We were "new" to the ears of most of the people, but I think we won them over with our sound, which is really cool indeed! It's great to know that there are still many metalheads who support real Death Metal!
For us, I believe the most intense show was in Macedonia. The metal heads in this country were insane and the energy was electrifying. It seemed like they had already been introduced to ESTUARY & were waiting for us! The response was great & I really loved the show, it was insane! But honestly, every concert on the tour is really memorable in its own unique way... it was really cool to meet you in Budapest. Romania & Slovakia were really killer also, good energy from the fans.
For me this tour will always be remembered. I think very much on a personal level we were able to connect with the fans and supporters who were there raising hell with us. That's the best feeling... to connect and being a part of  that energy in that moment. And of course, hahaha it was special because we were actually able to be on a "real" tour bus.
Another question connected to the tour. How was to share the stage with mighty INCANTATION and Brazilian demons of KRISIUN? Any funny or strange road and/or backstage stories you would like to share with the readers?
Zdenka: It was killer of course! We've known both bands as friends for some time now, so it's always a pleasure to play with them & to hang out. We had the honor of opening up the night for some great bands and got everyone ready for the massacre.
Funny stories hmmm? We did almost leave somebody in Greece, hahaha! But it's a good thing our tour manager did a head count before we hit the road.
There was a lot of good partying as usual, but things didn't get too out of control. Everyone was actually really responsible and we celebrated the moment and experience as any metal friends would do in a gathering, haha! Being in Europe, you have to take advantage of all the good kinds of beer & vodka, and Hrushka... already miss these great liquid meals.
Jesse Wilson, Budapest 14.10.2007 (Click on the image to enlarge)
Your latest release "The Craft of Contradiction" (2007) compared to its predecessor "To Exist and Endure" (2004) displays a more thrash-influenced attitude and even more melodies so to say. Was it a conscious decision to compose new stuff in that way? Will the forthcoming release combine even more Thrash Metal elements and harmonies in general?
Ash: To me, the last album was a completely natural progression from the 1st. It seems more Thrash-tinged but it wasn't a conscious decision. In ESTUARY, we really try to NOT label the "next" album in just one category. Our music will always be firstly dark Death Metal, with Thrash elements and melodies of Heavy Metal. That's what we like to write.
The 1st album also had a heavy dose of Thrash but perhaps industry labeling and promoting descriptions have influenced people's pre-conceived notion of what "The Craft of Contradiction" will sound like. We don't want to keep re-writing the same kind of riffs or follow an arrangement rule, you know. Our music will have a similar sound because the core of ESTUARY is us, but we will try to shape it differently in the original ESTUARY way.
I have noticed nowadays people are starting to label the new thrash movement a trend, but I must stress that we don't fall into this category at all. We've all grown up on thrash & have naturally let its influence flow over into our work.
As far as the next album, it is coming along in a very dark way. I'm really excited about the new material, it's very aggressive & haunting at the same time. I think it will be a more savage sounding album.
Both your albums were released by John McEntee's label called Ibex Moon Records. Tell us more about your co-operation. How is to work with John and what kind of contract you signed with him?
Ash: Our relationship with John has always been good. We both try to help each other out as much as possible, which is good. He's very much in the same boat we are, with trying to establish himself (label), etc. It can be a difficult task amongst the industry, but one must fight on and keep true to one's self.
Jack Owen, Budapest 14.10.2007 (Click on the image to enlarge)
How was to play with Jack Owen on your recent tour? Was really strange to see him playing 4-strings instead of 6, ha-ha... How did you pick him up for this tour and who will fill in his position in the future?
Zdenka: It ruled playing with Jack! He did a fantastic job, & we cannot thank him enough for helping us do this tour. He is an unbelievably humble person, and a dear friend to me. Anyways, I called him up one day after seeing him on the last DEICIDE tour (in the US), and half-jokingly I asked if he was into doing the Balkans tour with us. He was free at the time and was interested in visiting new countries. So, just like that he was more than happy taking place with the 4 string attack. When I told the rest of my brothers in the band, we were all naturally surprised!
We had a lot of fun... he had to rough it a bit more than his past tours I think, but was a real trooper. It was great to have him on board and we send much respect to him for being the way he is... imagine, after slaying so many years in the Death Metal scene!
Unfortunately we have no permanent replacement at the moment... but we'll see.
Earlier the band's name was ESTUARY OF CALAMITY but later on it shrunk onto the first word. What symbolizes the name ESTUARY for you? Whose idea was to name such way the band?
Ash: They are actually two separate and very different bands. The only relation between E.O.C. & ESTUARY is myself and our drummer Jesse, because we've been playing together for the past 14 yrs.
When we decided to form this band, Zdenka actually suggested we keep it as just ESTUARY and it just felt right with everyone, so we all agreed. We thought the name fit really well with the material and our vision within us for the band.
All of you have been playing in different bands quite a while; in a word you are rather experienced musicians. How was to play in GARDEN OF SHADOWS for example?
Zdenka: Yes, we've all been around for some time and the grey hairs are starting to show it hahaha! For me playing in GARDEN OF SHADOWS was a tremendous honor. Both guitar players have been great friends of mine, and before joining them on stage as their vocalist I was a huge fan of their music... still am actually. I use to drive with them to out-of town concerts all the time, and they use to come out to watch my old band (FORTY DAYS LONGING) which they originally encouraged me to join.
To me they were an amazing band for sure. When I was able to be part of that element I could not believe it. It is a very fond & especial memory for me to have had the opportunity to share and experience the stage, with GARDEN OF SHADOWS. Wonderful people and extremely talented individuals.
For Ash I think is also it was a very good experience. He and I had many of the same mutual friends in the scene. He came into the picture when he agreed to be a session bassist for G.O.S. for a tour that unfortunately did not happen in the end. He was also and still is a big fan of their music.
Zdenka Prado, Budapest 14.10.2007 (Click on the image to enlarge)
I know pretty well that you're all big fans of old-school Death, Thrash & Heavy Metal bands. Anyway, please name us all those bands who have influenced you in one or other way.
MAIDEN, PRIEST, SLAYER, METALLICA, CORONER, KREATOR, AUTOPSY, DEATH, PESTILENCE, KING DIAMOND/MERCYFUL FATE, SINDROME, DESULTORY, VOIVOD, ENTOMBED, MORBID ANGEL, SODOM... the list is endless.
You are from Cincinnati. How's the metal scene over there? Do you play often there? Please recommend us some worth to check out bands from your region.
Ash: The scene is lame as fuck here. We rarely play here because of that, but we do have to send big "thanks" to our friends and fans that do come out to see us when we do play in our home town. Normally at least when we do play here, we do have quite a few people attending showing their support.
Most of the best bands are from up north in Ohio... in Cleveland. Some cool bands and our friends are like the mighty NUNSLAUGHTER, SOULLESS, CRUCIFIED MORTALS, EMBALMER, DECREPIT, ACHERON (Columbus-Ohio).
Now speaking about your secret weapon namely Zdenka. There are really just a few female growlers around the underground globe. How did you hook up with her? Is there any story behind it? She's growling in a rather brutal & bloodthirsty way I would say.
Ash: Yeah Zdenka is pretty amazing and brutal as hell at the same time. Completely organic in her abilities and I think people notice & respect that when they see us live in action or check out the albums.
The way we met Zdenka was... I actually had met her back during her GARDEN OF SHADOWS days, we had mutal friends and knew same people in the underground. I had originally met her back in '98 in Pennsylvania when she drove out to a show with G.O.S. to see them and my band because both bands were playing a gig together. We stayed in lose contact. Later around 1999-2000 I was a session bassist for GARDEN OF SHADOWS, and that time Zdenka was their front vocalist.
Cornelius & ESTUARY, Budapest 14.10.2007 (Click on the image to enlarge)
What are you doing in your free-time besides playing in the band (jobs, hobbies, interests, etc.)?
Ash: Music has always been & will always be my main interest & hobby. I work a full-time job at a Printing company.
Zdenka enjoys music more than anything and is interested in Traveling, Nature and meditation. She works as a Project Coordinator for a home improvement company.
Jesse besides enjoying music as well, likes Traveling & Exploring as other hobbies. He works for a Sound Production company.
...For each of us Music and other music related activities is definitely what we enjoy the most and interests us. It sucks having to do these jobs instead of playing as we would all prefer to do with our time... but we have to do what we have to do to maintain our priority as musicians.
Please enlighten us your plans for 2008.
Our main goal is to play as much as possible & everywhere we possibly can. Finish writing the next album and return once again to the studio for some more extraneous work... and then get back out there and play/tour some more & more...
Finally, send your thrash-tinged hails & death-metal-laced wishes to all the Ukrainian ESTUARY fans and finish the interview in the way you feel it should be. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions!
We THANK YOU Cornelius for your patience with the interview and for giving us such killer support! It was great to meet you and very cool to share some beers together in Budapest! We enjoyed checking out your band CASTRUM! Hell yeah! Keep raising hell! THANKS again for the awesome mini DVD you made for us... We appreciate it very much!
To all the UKRAINIAN fans & maniacs, we send you some punishing Death Metal Hails! All the best to everyone & we hope play for you soon! THANKS always for the fucking support! We are all Enduring 'til Death!!!


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