WULF: I have been to a couple shows in Seoul, but I am still new to the Korean metal scene. What is your opinion on the scene here? How does the metal scene in Seoul compare to the scene in your hometown, Busan?
Hyeon-seok: Β In other countries (especially in Western cultures), heavy metal is respected as one popular (or not) genre among various other types of music. However many Koreans still have a prejudice about this kind of intense music. I think itβs still too early for most Koreans to accept heavy metal as a special genre of music. We heavy metal musicians also need to make our music have its own Korean style, and not just copy songs from Western bands.
The most noticeable differences between Seoul and Busan are cultural factors. Compared to Busan, for example, Seoul has more stages and spacious facilities that can accommodate many people. Moreover, a number of various festivals are held annually in Seoul, and they attract diverse audiences.
WULF: Β As far as I can tell, it has been almost 10 years since you have released any new music! Β Is this true? Β When are you going to put out some new stuff??
Hyeon-seok: Β In addition to existing songs, we always try to show our own style to audiences every time we’re on stage. Thanks to the compilation album “MM” (Metal Man, split with Niflheim, Notrash, and Exodus of Contemporary, all metal bands from Busan), and our unusual mini-album (“I Don’t Fear to Be Died”), we won some fame as a heavy metal band.
With pressure to make our first album perfect, however, we are still hesitating to release it. We will practice harder, and finally release a perfect studio album for our fans. Currently we are trying to make our music better by performing concerts and recording a demo.
WULF: Β Tell us a bit about your band’s history. Β Who are you? Β Where does your band name come from? Β How did your band get started? Β Why did you decide to play metal? Β Were you inspired by any older Korean metal bands?
Hyeon-seok: Β A young boy who was a big fan of Kwang-seok Kim and Huyn-sik Kim (Korean folk singers) fell in love with a guitar sound one day. A growling engine, a clap of thunder, and even the sound of rain sounded like the intense tone of the guitar for him. After that, he started devoting himself to playing the guitar everyday. That became a starting point of βMARAβ.
Mara means a demon, the personification of temptation in Buddhist mythology. Although I wasn’t a Buddhist, I was really interested in Buddhism at that time, and also I thought that the word, Mara, could reflect the struggle for overcoming extreme anger and isolation (loneliness) that I was feeling. Thatβs the reason why I named our band βMARAβ.
Like other players, I practiced the guitar at first by listening to and copying songs of Iron Maiden, Led Zepplin, Judas Priest and so on. Especially, I felt a magnetic attraction to the playing style of Marty Friedman (of Megadeth).
I believe heavy metal is the most effective way to express our emotion(sadness and anger). The sound of heavy metal still makes me excited.
WULF: Β How would you describe your music?
Hyeon-seok: Β MARAβs own music. Once we started writing music, we try to avoid listening to other heavy metal songs to find out our own style. Therefore, I canβt compare our songs to anything.
WULF: Β You are scheduled to play at the upcoming Hellride Resurrection of Death Party in early October. Β What can the audience expect to see during your performance? Β What are you hoping to accomplish?
Hyeon-seok: Β Since the vocalist of Silent Eye, Seo Jun-hui (and the former president of WASP club) matched us with Death Party, we have participated in every show up to now. It has given us many chances to play on various stages.
Also, we are quite pleased to take part in this party again. We hope that it will be a meaningful concert for the audiences, and also we wish not only big fans but people who are not interested in metal music to be fascinated with our music at Death Party.
WULF: Β Could you tell us a bit about your lyrics? Β What are your songs about? Β Is your music inspired by any particular books or movies?
Hyeon-seok: Β Through the lyrics, we want to convey our attitudes towards meeting Death. I can sum up our all lyrics in a sentence, βIβm not afraid of death, but I might be sad.β
The scene from the movie, ‘The Crow’, that shows a crow’s stare in the darkness provided an inspiration for our work, and then I could organize MARAβs thought (philosophy) after reading Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’.
WULF: Β What are your plans for the future? Β Any new music, tour plans, or maybe even a DVD??
Hyeon-seok: Β Standing on larger stages, attracting more audiences, making/releasing memorable songs, etc. We are hoping to achieve these goals in the future. Additionally, contributing metal music which will thrive someday is also one of our dreams.
We will surely produce a remarkable outcome (new album, DVD, etc) within the next year! To achieve it, we are always doing the best we can.
WULF: Β That’s all the questions for now!! Β Thank you so much for doing this interview! Β Any final comments?
Hyeon-seok: Β I could look back on MARAβs 10-year-life during this interview. Especially, while answering your second question, I could realize that it is also important for us to produce visible results while continuing to make music. We really appreciate you giving us a chance to look both back and ahead.
Original Interview:
WULF: μ λ μμΈμμ λͺ λ²μ μΌλ₯Ό λ΄€μλλ° μ¬μ ν νκ΅μ ν€λΉλ©νμ λͺ¨μ΅μ μμν©λλ€. νκ΅μ λ©νμ λͺ¨μ΅μ λν λΉμ μ μκ°μ μ΄λ»μ΅λκΉ? λΉμ μ κ³ ν₯μΈ λΆμ°κ³Ό λΉκ΅ν΄ λ΄€μ λ, μμΈμ ν€λΉλ©νμ λͺ¨μ΅μ μ΄λ»κ² λ€λ¦ λκΉ?
JEONG HYEON-SEOK: κ°μΈμ μΌλ‘ νκ΅λ©νμ λ¬Έμ κ° μλλΌ μΌλ°λμ€λ€μ΄ λ©νμ λ°λΌλ³Ό λ κ°μ§λ μ μ κ²¬μ΄ λ¬Έμ λΌκ³ μκ°νλ€. λ€μν 맀체μ μν μμ λ‘μ΄ λ¬Ένκ° μ리 μ‘κ³ μλ μΈκ΅μ λΉν΄ κ΅λ΄λ λ§μ΄ μ’μμ§κΈ΄ νμ§λ§ λμ€λ€μ΄ λ°μλ€μ΄κΈ°μλ μμ§λ μκΈ°κ° μ΄λ₯Έ κ² κ°λ€. λ¬Όλ‘ λ°΄λλ€λ μΈκ΅λ°΄λλ₯Ό μΉ΄νΌνλ λ―ν λ©νμμ λ²μ΄λ μ’ λ νκ΅μ μΈ λ©νλ‘ λμ€λ€μκ² λ€κ°κ° μ μλ λ€μν μλλ₯Ό ν΄μΌ ν νμκ° μλ€κ³ μκ°νλ€. μμΈκ³Ό λΆμ°μ μ°¨μ΄λ μμ μμμ λ§ν κ²μ²λΌ λ¬Ένμ μ°¨μ΄λΌκ³ μκ°νλ€. λΆμ°μ λΉν΄ μμΈμ μ’ λ λ§μ 무λ, νμ€ν°λ², λ€μνλ¬Ένλ₯Ό μμ©ν μ μλ 곡κ°μ μΈ μ¬μ κ° μκΈ° λλ¬Έμ κ΄κ°λ€μ νμ΄ λλ€. νμ§λ§ μμΈλ³΄λ€ λ©ννμ΄ μ μ λΆμ°μ λ°΄λλ€μ΄ νμ λͺ¨μ μ΄μ¬ν νκ³ μλ μ€μ΄λ€. μμμ λΆμ° λ©νλ©λμλ€ μμ μΈμ λ ν° νμ΄ λλ€~!
WULF: μ κ° μκ³ μ λ§ν μ μλ ν, μλ‘μ΄ κ³‘μ΄ λ°νλ μ§, μ΄μ° 10λ μ΄ λ€ λμ΄κ°λλ€. μΈμ μ―€ μλ‘μ΄ κ³‘μ λ°νν μμ μΈκ°μ?]
JEONG HYEON-SEOK: μλ‘μ΄ κ³‘μ΄λΌκΈ° λ³΄λ¨ μ¨λ²λ°λ§€λ₯Ό λ§νλ κ² κ°μλ° κΈ°μ‘΄μ 곑과 μλ‘μ΄ κ³‘, λ λ€λ₯Έ μκΉμ λ§λΌλ₯Ό 보μ¬μ£ΌκΈ° μν λ€μν μλλ₯Ό λ§€λ² κ³΅μ° λλ§λ€ νκ³ μλ€. λΆμ°λ©νμ°ν© βMM”μ»΄νλ μ΄μ μ¨λ²κ³Ό κ΅λ΄μμ μμνλ λ―Έλμ±κΈμ¨λ²μΌλ‘ λ§λΌκ° μλ €μ§κΈ΄ νμ§λ§ μ κ· 1μ§μ΄λΌλ 무κ²κ°μ λ§μ€μ΄κ³ μλ€. μ‘°κΈ λ μ μ€νκ² μ€λΉν΄μ μλ²½ν μ κ·1μ§μ 보μ¬μ£Όκ³ μΆλ€. νμ¬λ 곡μ°νλκ³Ό λ°λͺ¨λ ΉμμΌλ‘ λ΄μ€μ λ€μ§κ³ μλ€.
WULF: λΉμ μ λ°΄λμ μμ¬μ λν΄ μ’ λ§ν΄μ£ΌμΈμ. λΉμ μ λκ΅°κ°μ? λΉμ μ λ°΄λμ μ΄λ¦μ μ΄λμμ λ° μ¨ μ΄λ¦μΈκ°μ? λΉμ μ λ°΄λλ μ΄λ»κ² μμνκ² λμμ΅λκΉ? λΉμ μ μ ν€λΉλ©νμ νκΈ°λ‘ νμ£ ? νΉμ νκ΅μ μμ ν€λΉλ©ν λ°΄λμμ μκ°μ λ°μλμ?
JEONG HYEON-SEOK:κΉκ΄μ,κΉνμ(ν¬ν¬μ‘)μ μ’μνλ ν μλ μ΄ μ΄λ λ ν€λΉλ©νμ λ£κ³ μ μκΈ°νμ리μ λΉ μ Έλ€μλ€. λ²μ€μμ§μ리, μ²λ₯μ리, λΉμ리μμλ μ μκΈ°νμλ¦¬κ° λκ»΄μ‘λ€. κ·Έ μ΄νλ‘ μλ μ λ―ΈμΉ λ―μ΄ κΈ°νμ°μ΅μ μ΄μ€νκ³ κ·ΈλλΆν° MARAκ° μμλμλ€ MARAλ λ΄μμ μ리 μ‘κ³ μλ μ¬μ ν μ λ§λΌλ λ»μ λΆκ΅μ©μ΄μ΄λ€. μ’ κ΅κ° λΆκ΅λ μλμ§λ§ λΆκ΅μ¬μμ κ΄μ¬μ΄ λ§μκ³ λ΄ μμ μ΄ νκ³ μλ κ·Ήνμ λΆλ Έμ κ³ λ , κ·Έλ¦¬κ³ κ·Έκ²μ 극볡νκΈ°μν μμ κ³Όμ μΈμμ΄ μ ννλ μ©μ΄λΌκ³ μκ°νκΈ° λλ¬Έμ βλ§λΌβλΌλ μ΄λ¦μ μ§κ² λμλ€. μ¬λ ν€λΉλ©ν μ°μ£Όμλ€μ²λΌ λ μμ μ²μμ Iron maiden, Led zepplin, Judas priestλ±μ μμ μ λ£κ³ μΉ΄νΌνλ©° μ°μ΅νλ€. νΉν Megadethμ Martin adam friedmanμ μ°μ£Όμ 맀λ ₯μ λκΌλ€. Β λμκ² ν€λΉλ©νμ΄λ , μ¬λμ΄ κ°μ₯ μ¬νκ³ λΆλ Έν λ νμΆν μ μλ κ·Ήνμ κ°μ ννμ΄λ€. λ©νμ¬μ΄λλ μμ§λ λ ν₯λΆμν¨λ€!
WULF: λΉμ μ΄λΌλ©΄ λΉμ μ μμ μ μ΄λ»κ² λΉμ νκ² μ΅λκΉ?
JEONG HYEON-SEOK: λ§λΌλ§μ μμ μ΄λ€. 곑μ λ§λ€κΈ° μμν μκ°λΆν° λ€λ₯Έ ν€λΉλ©νμ κ°λ₯ν λ£μ§ μκ³ λλ§μ μκΉμ μ°ΎκΈ° μν΄ λ Έλ ₯νλ€. κ·Έλ κΈ° λλ¬Έμ λ§λΌμ μμ μ λ€λ₯Έ κ²μ λΉμ ν μ μλ€.
WULF: λΉμ μ 10μ μ΄μ Hellride Resurrection of Death Partyμμ μ°μ£ΌνκΈ°λ‘ μΌμ μ΄ μ§μ¬ μμ΅λλ€. μ²μ€μ΄ λΉμ μ 곡μ°μ 보λ λμ μ΄λ»κ² ν κ²μ΄λΌκ³ μκ°νμλκΉ? λΉμ μ΄ μ΄λ£¨κ³ μΆμ κ²μ 무μμ λκΉ?
JEONG HYEON-SEOK: μμ WASPν΄λ½ μ¬μ₯λμ΄μ νμ¬ Silent Eyeλ³΄μ»¬μΈ βμμ€ν¬βνκ³Όμ μΈμ°μΌλ‘ λ§€λ² Death Partyμ μ°Έμ¬ν΄ μλλ° κ·Έ κ³κΈ°λ‘ μμΈμμλ λ§μ 곡μ°μ νκ² λμλ€. 10μ 5μΌ λ€μ μμλλ Hellride Resurrection of Death Partyμ μ°Έμ¬νκ² λμ΄μ κΈ°μκ² μκ°νλ€. λ§λΌμκ²λ λ» κΉμ 곡μ°μΈ λ§νΌ κ΄κ°λ€μκ²λ λ» κΉμ 곡μ°μ΄ λμμΌλ©΄ μ’κ² λ€. λ©ν맀λμλ€λΏλ§μμ΄λΌ νΈκΈ°μ¬μ μ°Ύμμ€ κ΄κ°λ€λ λ©νμμ μ 맀λ ₯μ λλ μ μλ κ³κΈ°κ° λμμΌλ©΄ μ’κ² λ€.
WULF: λΉμ μ κ°μ¬μ λν΄ λ§ν΄μ€ μ μλμ? λΉμ μ λ Έλλ 무μμ κ΄ν κ²μ λκΉ? λΉμ μ λ Έλκ° μ΄λ€ νΉμ ν μ± μ΄λ μνμμ μκ° λ°μμ΅λκΉ? λΉμ μ λ―Έλμ κ³νμ 무μμ λκΉ? μ΄λ€ λ Έλλ ν¬μ΄κ³΅μ°, νΉμ DVDλΌλ μμμ΄ μμ΅λκΉ?
JEONG HYEON-SEOK: κ°μ¬λ₯Ό ν΅ν΄ νκ³ μΆμ λ§μ μ£½μμ λ§μ£Όνλ μμΈμ κ΄ν κ²μ΄λ€. λͺ¨λ κ°μ¬μ λ΄μ©μ νμμ λ‘ νννμλ©΄βμ£½μμ λλ ΅μ§ μλ€. λ€λ§, μ¬νΌμ§ λΏμ΄λ€βμ λκ° λ κ²μ΄λ€. λ§λΌμ μκΉμ μ‘λ κ²μ μνβCROWβμμ μ΄λμ΄μμμμ νΌμ³μ§λ κΉλ§κ·μ λ λ€λ₯Έ μμ μ΄ λμμ΄ λκ³ λ§λΌμ μκ°μ μ 리νλ κ²μ λ¨ν μ βμ 곑βμ΄ λμ λμλ€. μμ νλ μ¬λμ΄λ©΄ λΉμ°ν μκ°μ΄κ² μ§λ§ μ’ λ ν° λ¬΄λ, λ§μ κ΄κ°, κΈ°μ΅μ λ¨μ λ§ν μλ°μ μ μλ°ννλκ²μ΄ λ―Έλμ λͺ©νμ΄λ€. κ·Έλ¦¬κ³ μλ‘μ΄ λ©€λ²λ€μ΄ μ’ λ μμ μ μ°Ύμμ λΆλͺ λ€μ ν λ² μ°Ύμμ¬ λ©νμ λΆν₯μ κΈ°μ¬νκ³ μΆλ€. 곡μ°μ νμ νλ κ²μ΄κ³ λ΄λ μ κΈ°νμ½ λ§μ‘±ν λ§ν κ²°κ³Όλ¬Ό(μλ°, DVD)μ 보μ¬μ€ κ²μ΄λ€~!κ·Έκ²μ μν΄ νμ¬λ μ°κ΅¬νκ³ κ³΅λΆνλ©° λ°λͺ¨λ Ήμμ κ³μνκ³ μλ€.
WULF: μ΄κ²μ΄ νμ¬κΉμ§μ μ§λ¬Έμ λλ€. μ΄ μΈν°λ·°λ₯Ό ν΄μ£Όμ μ λ§€μ° κ°μ¬ν©λλ€! λ§μ§λ§μΌλ‘ νμ€ λ§μ μμΌμλκΉ?
JEONG HYEON-SEOK: μ΄λ² μΈν°λ·°λ‘ μ΄λλ§ 10λ
μ΄ μ§λλ²λ¦° λ§λΌλ₯Ό λ€μ ν λ² λλμ보λ κ³κΈ°κ° λμλ€. νΉν λ λ²μ§Έ μ§λ¬Έμ λ°κ³ μμ
μ κ³μνλ κ²λ μ€μνμ§λ§ λμ 보μ΄λ κ²°κ³Όλ¬Όλ μ€μνλ€ λκ±Έ λ€μ ν λ² λλΌκ² λμλ€. λ μΉ΄λ‘μ΄ μ§λ¬Έμ κ°μ¬νλ€ γ
γ
λ©νμ΄λ μ₯λ₯΄κ° λμ€μ μ΄μ§ μλ€λ κ²μ λκ΅¬λ³΄λ€ μ μκ³ μλ€. νμ§λ§ λ©νμμ
μ΄ μ’ λ λΆν₯νκΈ° μν΄ λͺ¨λ λ©νμΈλ€μ΄ νμ λͺ¨μ μ μμμΌλ©΄ μ’κ² λ€.
λ§μ§λ§μΌλ‘ μΈν°λ·°ν μ μλ κΈ°νλ₯Ό μ£Όμ΄ κ°μ¬νλ€.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE3Qp_9lz6Q