Dreams of Consciousness: Please introduce Cinis - who are you, where are you from, and how would you describe the music you make?
Our band comes from Białystok, Poland. We are music enthusiasts who treat playing instruments as our hobby but we take it really seriously while practicing, composing, rehearsing or playing shows. Our music is a result of what we listen to and what we think about the world around us. The music is based on trash/death metal, but it is hard to describe if we play 100% death metal – you have to check it out yourself!
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| photo by Ewa Bielemuk |
DoC: There is a style associated with death metal bands from Poland. Would you say that Cinis embodies this style? What would you say distinguishes you from other bands in your area?
I am not sure if there is a specific style of metal from Poland, it is a matter of taste in my opinion. Our goal, as a band, is not to create music in any specific style. If we like a particular riff, melody, sing or drum pattern – we use it and we don’t regret it. We are not focusing on how to conform to another band or, on the other hand, how to distinguish ourselves from other bands. We simply create the music which flows from our hearts and minds and we want to make it as best as we can.
DoC: What brought Cinis together, and what were your goals at the time? Have you accomplished those goals - why or why not?
Cinis was formed in 2003 by Robert Danielski and Lech Szuszkiewicz – our former guitarists, with whom “Vile Angel” demo was recorded in 2005. Our line up changed several times throughout the years (no hard feelings – just life decisions), but we are now a quartet with Lech on vocal and bass, Lucas and Maciej on guitars and Konrad on drums. For almost 20 years of activity, we have played many concerts, gave interviews to metal press and radio stations and recorded three LP’s and one demo. Our goal was and is to be happy of what we have done and what we do now. We meet as regular as possible to rehearse and hang out. Our latest success is a contract with Selfmadegod Records and releasing Lies That Comfort Me by S.R.
DoC: How did Selfmadegod Records get involved with this release?
As I have already mentioned, we are honored to be under Selfmadegod Records wings. We were lucky to meet Karol’s musical taste with our record and he offered us a deal. From the very start, all the messages were direct and quick with him. Question were answered on time. We have received many options and suggestions what is good for today’s market when it comes to CD or merchandise. We have received many interviews to give and there have been many press notes in social media about us. For a band like us this is amazing and we are grateful for that.
DoC: You released your debut, The Last Days of Ouroboros, back in 2008. What were your intentions going into this first album? How would you say your music has changed since then?
We were punks back then. We call TLDOO a punk death metal record, because the songs are short, punchy and there was a little too less space for vocals as Lech joined the band back then after we had all the instruments recorded but we were missing a vocalist. Our intentions were to record the songs we had been creating throughout few years in the studio which was legendary and is located in our place, Białystok, namely Hertz Studio, run by two amazing persons, Wieslawski Bros, who are best in their professionality, always ready to help and have a great attitude. We are friends with them until now and we like the way they produce the music.
Our music has changed because we have changed and Maciej is composing riffs in his style, a bit different than Lucas or Robert used to do earlier. Our music may be not so quick or not so much technical as then, but we are not programming the process of our songwriting as I mentioned before. We simply do our job the best as we can and we are happy of it.
DoC: Tell me about your songwriting process - how do songs start for you, and who do they start with?
We always start from the riffs, which Maciej or Lucas does. They present their visions/song core as they see it, we are trying different ideas with drum beats and decide about the final “look” of the song after few rehearsals. Sometimes, we change the songs after we play them even a year or so if we see that a different guitar or drums solution works better here and there. When the music is ready, we implement the vocals based on Michal Pawlowski’s lyrics. Michal has written all lyrics for us, starting from the first record.
DoC: At the end of September, Selfmadegod released your third album, Lies That Comfort Me. When did you begin working on this album? In terms of style, how would you compare it to your previous 2 albums?
That is right. We are delighted and proud of that fact. First songs were created right after our previous album release, in 2015. We have been writing the songs until 2018 or so and the recording session has started in early 2020 in the time when covid pandemic has broken out. Mostly due to that we have been recording drums almost a year as Konrad is not living in Białystok anymore and he comes to rehearse with us from Lublin, Poland. Back then the fear of disease at the beginning of pandemic was big and if anyone of us had even a small possibility of getting sick or was afraid of infecting somebody else, we have been rescheduling the session:/.
What is more, we have been recording the drums at our practice space which is good in terms of money saving, but the disadvantage is that there was no deadline to finish the recording fast.
About the style, we think it has a simple message, as there are no samples or addition appearances like we did on Subterranean Antiquity. I don’t know if that is better, I like to spice up the music with some different samples or voices but this time we did it in a simple way.
DoC: What "Lies" are referred to in the album title? Is there an overarching concept/theme tying these songs together?
As always there is concept behind the lyrics. Lies That Comfort Me is NOT about social media. It’s about us. How we flaunt our kids to feel fulfilled. How we turn our interests into likes. How we find outlets for our psychopathic tendencies. How we burden others, preferably our nearest and dearest, with our own weaknesses and manias. Social media? They are an outlet, convenience food for our addictive selves. It’s frustrating, it’s overwhelming, it’s something best expressed through fierce and unforgiving death metal assault on the senses. So switch off the phone and let Cinis pound out your very own frustrations.
DoC: The album was engineered by your guitarist Lukasz Bielemuk, and mixed /mastered at Hertz Studio (where you've recorded since your first album). How would you describe Lukasz's approach to recording music? What is the appeal of Hertz Studio, and why has the relationship lasted this long?
Lukasz: Difficult question. In fact, the latest Cinis album is my recording debut. Before that, I have recorded some riffs, songs and arranged midi drums myself to learn how to use the DAW, microphone settings, mixing - everything related to recording music in general. We recorded everything ourselves in our rehearsal room. I took care of the recording of all the instruments and vocals and the initial mixing. The final mixing and mastering was done by HERTZ studio. We recorded everything the way we wanted with no shortcuts due to deadlines. Although it is obvious that something could be improved here and there...that's always the case. We did it to try ourselves in recording and to get some new experiences.
As for the sound. I really like how natural the drums sound, with lots of attack, although the more attack one uses, the less natural the sound is. However, I think we managed to balance it out. It is the same with the guitars. I like heavy and selective guitars, but more gain gives less selectivity. We tried to balance both guitars. The bass was about to accomplish the whole as a massive background. We wanted it to be audible, not killing the sound of guitar simultaneously. Cinis sounds different on every album, our goal was to sound modern this time, and I think we succeeded.
There are many appeals in Hertz Studio. Wieslawski Brothers are truly masters of their craft, they always want to achieve the best result and offer many choices when it comes to the great overall effect. They have been investing a lot of money and efforts for over 20 years to offer the bands they work with professionality and best possible service. Privately they are cool, down to earth guys with whom one can chat about everything not only related to music. We like each other and this is normal, that good relation lasts long!
DoC: There is a style associated with death metal bands from Poland. Would you say that Cinis embodies this style? What would you say distinguishes you from other bands in your area?
I am not sure if there is a specific style of metal from Poland, it is a matter of taste in my opinion. Our goal, as a band, is not to create music in any specific style. If we like a particular riff, melody, sing or drum pattern – we use it and we don’t regret it. We are not focusing on how to conform to another band or, on the other hand, how to distinguish ourselves from other bands. We simply create the music which flows from our hearts and minds and we want to make it as best as we can.
DoC: What's next for you?
We have already started with some new ideas for new songs. In the meantime, we contact our friends, who organize shows to play something live. Our bandcamp is working so you can grab your digital and physical records as well as some merchandise. Selfmadegod Records bandcamp and website offers our merch too so you are welcome to visit those links and check out goodies out.
Thanks for the interview!
Stay heavy!
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www.selfmadegod.com
Screamin' Legions of Death Metal:
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