Doomed Confessionary: Mike, Jacques, Ken, Patrick & Véronique (Kraton)
Photo credits: Daniel Wahl // Melt Studio
Kraton is a five-piece metal band from Luxembourg, featuring current and former members of Inzest, Kataphrakt, Dreadnought, Thousand Lakes, Funeral Pyre and Sublind.
Evolving from death metal roots, Kraton sets out to create a raw and vibrant sound by combining aspects of post and doom metal injected with a dash of ferocity sourced from other extreme metal genres. Lyrical themes are drawn from the bleak corners of the human condition dominated by the arduousness of our shared mortal coil.
Founded in 2011 and hailing from the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Kraton has shared small and big stages with many local and international bands and is eager to expand further into the Greater Region around Luxembourg and beyond.
Kraton’s second full-length album »Monolith« was just released on November 9th, 2024.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Greetings from Luxembourg in the heart of Europe! The founding trio consisting of Véronique Conrardy (drums), Jacques Zahlen (guitar) and Mike Bertemes (vocals) started Kraton in April 2011. The line-up was quickly expanded to a 5-piece band adding second guitar and bass guitar. After several line-up changes, the band consists today of the founding trio, Patrick Kettenmeyer (bass) and Ken Poiré (guitar).
The band name is the German geological term for large and stable parts of the continental system at the core of tectonic plates.
Considering music and sound, we started out as a rather oldschool death metal band with slight hints of doom and black metal. Over the course of the years we produced three releases: »Ker« (2011), »World Eater« (2013) and »Unto Arcadia« (2019). These were recorded and mixed by Mike in autodidactic DIY fashion.
During the »Unto Arcadia« era, a shift in songwriting took place which evolved into the sound we present on our recent release »Monolith«. This shift took us into post-doom metal territory and we are all very very happy with the result. The lyrical themes evolved too and offer a more mature and reflected experience. The intent is to provoke and stir emotions, to let the music embrace you and release the negative stuff that lurks just below the conscious level. The goal is catharsis, where we try to merge harshness with atmosphere and melody. Brutality on one hand and vulnerability on the other.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
The line-up changes over the course of time and the pandemic were challenges but the biggest one was definitely the production and release of our recent album »Monolith«!
Since we were used to do stuff in a rather “quick and dirty” DIY fashion, we opted to seek the help of professionals to produce the music and also our first music video. This was a complex and interconnected process and we had to learn the basics of project management, which included scheduling, role allocation, financing, promotion, merchandise etc.
The time we spent into preparation paid off during our time in the studio. Over at Unison Studios we were guided by the awesome producers Billy Kauffmann and Tom Gatti. Everybody knew their parts and it was a smooth experience!
Production of the music video was another beast to tame! We were able to secure significant funding via the national film fund and were lucky to have met video producer Liv Weiss who translated our general idea into something tangible and visually appealing.
In fact, everything was produced locally: from the music, photoshoot, music video to the artwork where we could tap the talent of Damien Giudice (aka boyfromhome). In all, several big milestones in a rather short amount of time for the band. The only thing we couldn’t source locally was the merchandise and we had to rely on suppliers from abroad.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Over time, the fact that the band stayed active over all those years and more recently the preparation and work for the new album. A lot of work, sweat, blood and tears, which in the end all paid off in a fantastic release show!
What was your biggest regret?
Hm, biggest regret for last year? We should have started work on planning and scheduling the album and music video earlier. Oh yeah, and ordering merch earlier!
In general? Hitting a professional studio earlier!
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Our »Monolith« release show at the Rockhal Club on 9 November 2024 was the best concert so far! Big stage with awesome sound, lighting and our pals from Asathor opening up the evening! The energy, the connection with the audience and the chance to play in such an incredible venue made it an unforgettable night. It felt like the perfect celebration of everything »Monolith« represents for us.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Concerning new music and releases, there are too many great artists/albums to list here.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Devin Townsend’s new album »Powernerd« is rotating quite often!
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
To keep practicing and enjoy the ride! And to look into the advantages that modern technology can provide to facilitate said practicing. Digital Audio Workstations (DAW), USB interfaces, instrument plugins and knowledge about setting up basic DAW projects are really helpful and accelerate your progress as an individual musician and as a band.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Véro got a knack for concerts of Robbie Williams and Justin Timberlake 😉 Mike is a fan of good dad jokes and the others didn’t want to disclose theirs 😀
Can you say something more about current music scene in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg is a very small country but packs a lot of bands from all different styles and subgenres. During the last decade, the quality and diversity has soared and is quite impressive for a country of this size. Sadly, bars and club-size venues are dying out and we only got a handful of smaller locations to play live music. You risk to saturate your presence as a band rather quickly, so you have to look across the borders towards Belgium, France and Germany or hope that an opportunity arises to play as an opener on the big stages of the Rockhal, Kulturfarbik or Atelier.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
The year is coming to an end rather quickly now but you can still catch us on 28 December 2024 at the MK Bar in Belvaux.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
First of all: songwriting! And in parallel we will try to reach new audiences by playing gigs in the surrounding Greater Region and even further out. We aim to gain first touring experience, grow as a band and connect with new fans.
Do you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
Some will drink too much and pass out and others will party with moderation (age is ruthless and getting over headaches is getting harder every passing year). In the end we will all wake up in a new year.
How can people best support your band?
The best way people can support a band is by attending concerts and buy merch. Sharing songs on social media and telling friends about bands helps getting the music out to a wider audience. Every bit of support, whether big or small, makes a huge difference in helping bands grow and continue making music.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Support your local music scene by attending local gigs! Everybody wins: the bands, the venue and you get to experience live music close up! The number of small venues that play loud live music is shrinking and this makes it very difficult for new bands to find a foothold and to gain first live experience.
And to all the old and new fans: Thank you for your support!
Enjoy life, hug your loved ones and look to the future with bright gleaming eyes!
To quote Devin Townsend (lyrics from his song »Powernerd«):
“All those things we say to ourselves
Time to rise, put that shit on the shelf
All those years spent down in a hole
Time for life and rock ‘n roll”
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well