Drunken Crocodiles return with Aegony, a raw and thought-provoking album that questions the ego’s influence on humanity. In this interview, they discuss its themes, recording process, and upcoming live plans.
1. Aegony
seems to explore deep existential themes. Can you tell us more about the
concept behind the album and what inspired it?
Willpower,
along with instinct and experience, distracts humans from pondering one
fundamental question:
"Isn't
it the ego that influences all actions? That ego, blinded by a base
individualism, deviates from the harmonious path of human connection and the
dimension of community?"
This
reflection is the heart of the album.
Each track
revolves around a real story that sparks the observation of different
perspectives on the powerful ability of the ego to radically transform human
nature,
which, on
the surface, seems like a favorable condition; however, the criticality becomes
apparent in the depths of the issue:
The ego, so
improperly perceived, leads only to the desire to dominate others, to assert
one's selfish self, to an illusory personal elevation at the expense of others.
The Other
is trampled by the brutality of the I.
We lose
ourselves in thoughts, imagining the real possibility of a peaceful and
collective I that ensures evolution is based on ideals of common goals
where the
actions of the individual are closely connected to others and the outside world
with the sole purpose of achieving universal well-being.
This
solution requires an effort that humanity has never imagined making and which
perhaps can only coincide with a utopia,
but we
believe (and many believe) that the current path is an experience that is
slowly but surely leading us toward the path of awareness:
Thus,
mistake after mistake, generation after generation, we will find the right path
to follow.
2. You
took an analog recording approach, avoiding reamping, triggers, and pitch
correction. Why was it important for you to preserve this raw and organic
sound?
Because we
like it that way. We wanted something similar to a "Live" album. An
album where you can breathe the truth. A sincere, intimate and deep album.
We were
direct and raw in the concept topic, and we thought it was right that the sound
also conveyed this "reality of things" without embellishments,
without artifice.
Only the
raw reality of the moment
3. The
album delves into the consequences of an unchecked ego. How do the lyrics and
music reflect this theme?
It's all
connected. The music expresses with vibrations what the text expresses with
words. It's an expressive and "theatrical" album from some points of
view.
They are all individual stories, but linked in the same concept and the musical environments amplify and enhance the narration.
4. Each
track is based on real-life events. Could you share some specific stories or
inspirations behind songs like ‘Le Divin Marquis’ and ‘Homo Homini Lupus’?
- FIRST
POINT OF LIBRA – Intro, feat. “Emil Cioran quote”.
It's the
beginning of this journey, a pessimistic statement is repeated about how the
human being is only subject to the will of the ego.
-
AUTOJEKTOR – Inspired by Sergei Brukhonenko’s experiments (Ego vs. Mortality).
Dedicated
to the Russian doctor's experiments that form the basis of the first
"heart-lung" machine.
By keeping
a dog's head alive separated from its body, he wants to defeat the mortal
condition of man.
- RAINMAKER
– Dedicated to Charles Hatfield (Ego vs. Mother Nature).
Dedicated
to the scientist's climate experiments, and in particular to the events in San
Diego in 1916.
He wanted
to control the climate through his studies, but this led to disaster.
- LE DIVIN
MARQUIS – Exploring the legacy of the Marquis de Sade (Ego vs. Society).
Dedicated
to the wild life of the famous marquis.
Who,
abandoning himself exclusively to pleasure and vice in all its forms, died
alone and in poverty.
- HOMO
HOMINI LUPUS – Reflecting on human’s primal nature (Ego vs. Instinct).
Is the
underlying question of the entire album:
"Is
man in the state of nature, in instinct, deep down at the cellular level, a
good creature or not?"
- SLOW BURN
– Examining the genocide of Native Americans (Ego vs. Property).
Inspired by
the life vision of Native American peoples.
With
reference to a letter written by a tribal chief to the President USA, when they
were confined to reserves
-
BEHAVIORAL SINK – Inspired by John B. Calhoun’s studies (Ego vs. Evolution).
Dedicated
to the macabre effects of overpopulation.
Effects
that unfortunately we can already observe in everyday behaviors.
- FIRST
POINT OF ARIES – Outro, feat. “Giordano Bruno quote”.
An
optimistic reflection is the end of this journey.
Hoping to
soon come to the realization that this evolution is not the right one, and that
we need to find the right way to follow.
5. Your
sound blends heavy psych, stoner, and sludge. How did you develop this style,
and which bands or artists have influenced you the most?
It's a
natural mix, each member of the band has his own style, his own mood, his own
listening, and by mixing them together the songs were born.
We didn't
give ourselves many stylistic cages or preconceptions, we just combined the
various personal inputs as best as possible.
As a
reference bands they are really very heterogeneous. From classic rock, to
extreme metal, to blues, to singer-songwriter.
It's really
difficult to point out a particular reference.
6. You
underwent a lineup change in 2021. How has this revitalized version of the band
influenced the songwriting and direction of Aegony?
Changing
2/3 of the band members obviously meant a drastic change in the sound. Federico
(guitar) brought his new songwriting style, Simone (drums) as well.
Obviously
the sound has become more mature, more elaborate, more dynamic and expressive.
The first
album was much more energetic, but static.
This one
has a much more complex and thoughtful songwriting.
It's a more
narrative album in my opinion.
7. ‘Behavioral
Sink’ is the longest track on the album at over 10 minutes. What can listeners
expect from this song, and does it play a key role in the album’s concept?
No, it
doesn't play a key role in the album's thematic concept, as all songs are
comparable in this respect.
Listeners
will find a wonderful piece!! Ahhahahah..
It is a
very "complete" song, as it starts with a very soft guitar/vocal
introduction and then moves into a calm and trippy environment.
from there
it changes radically and the distortions and aggressive sound forcefully enter.
At this point (after almost 4 minutes of songs) the lyrics and the "bad
block" of the song begin.
After that,
it transforms again and the second part of the song is probably the most
melodic of the entire album, with a final solo worthy of tears.
Lovers of
long and slightly sad songs, I think they will be really impressed by
BEHAVIORAL SINK.
Even if
listening to it always seems very fluid and linear, you do not realize that
more than 10 minutes have passed.
8. The
band has been around since 2012, with years of live experience. How do you
translate the raw energy of your live shows into your studio recordings?
It's the
exact same. Only there's time to correct the mistakes! Ahahahahahah
But it's
exactly the same thing.
You have to
be able to capture the energy on tape, you have to "feel" it so that
it doesn't really change anything compared to a live show.
For
example, when I record bass I get up and get emotional playing. With the voice
it's even worse... I shake, I tremble, I move.
Whiplash
Whiplash Whiplaaaash!!!
I want to
imprint the energy on the record.
The
listener has to feel it!
9. You’ve
toured extensively across Europe. How have these experiences shaped the band,
and do you have any memorable tour stories to share?
They were
beautiful experiences! Waking up in the morning with the only purpose of going
to another city to perform is the most beautiful thing in life!
It brought
us together a lot, on a human and friendship level.
A
spectacular scene was in Switzerland a couple of years ago, in a club where
there was a secret undeground trap door.
And late at
night after the show (all stoned and completely drunk) we realized that the
local guys were inside this hole 1*1 mt. and 3 meters underground with a small
speaker blasting techno music at full volume,
with a
strobe light and bare feet dancing and screaming "the small underground
techno club in the world" "the
small underground techno club in the world" "the small underground techno club in
the world".
It was a
memorable scene. Said in this way it expresses nothing, I Know. But
experiencing it in person, believe me, was incredible!
(in fact I
even tattooed it as a souvenir)
10. The
album raises the question of whether the ego steers humanity away from harmony.
Do you see Aegony as offering any solutions or is it more of a reflection of
the struggle?
No, it
doesn't offer solutions. But it can offer a lot of food for thought, that's for
sure!
We took
great care of the theme, the concept, and looked for individual stories
suitable for reasoning about the ego from multiple points of view.
So the most
interested and curious people, will find a lot of ideas to inform themselves
and reflect on.
That's
already a good thing. "Plant as many positive seeds as possible in people,
and hope that many plants will grow"
11. What’s
next for Drunken Crocodiles? Any tour plans, upcoming music videos, or other
projects in the works?
For now our
goal is to propose live, in Italy and abroad, "AEgony" as much as
possible. So for the whole 2025 we will be busy with many shows, and in their
continuous research.
In the
meantime we are already working on new ideas without wasting too much time. We
have various inputs at the moment, and we don't want to let them slip away!
12. Lastly,
for those new to Drunken Crocodiles, which song from Aegony would you recommend
as the perfect introduction to your sound and why?
This is a
difficult question, because each song has its own particularity.
So it also
depends on the listener. There is the "weirdest" track, the
"sweetest", the "most powerful", the "meanest".
Luckily we
like them all, so it is seriously difficult to point out just one.
That being
said, I would probably recommend “Le Divin Marquis” because I think it’s the
catchiest track and probably the easiest to listen to.
So it could potentially appeal to a wider audience.
Drunken Crocodiles (@drunkencrocodiles) • Instagram photos and videos
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