Doomed Confessionary: Petronela Hederová (Thalarion)
Thalarion is a seven-piece gothic/doom/death metal band from Topoľčany, Slovakia.
Originally formed in 1990 as Bastard, changed their name to Fatal Infection in 1994, then renamed to Thalarion in 1996.
Thalarion just released their seventh studio album titled »Cryopreservation« on August 12th, 2024 through Czech label Pařát Productions.
Currently, the band’s line-up consists of Juraj Thal Grežďo (vocals), Petronela Hederová (vocals), Peter Bartakovič (guitar, bass), Peter Dvorák (keyboards), Juraj Čakajda (guitar), Marek Okša (bass) and Juraj Bajzík (drums).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Thalarion has a long history, dating back to its foundation in 1990. Over the years, we’ve undergone many changes and, if I’ve counted correctly, have released seven albums. Currently, we are seven enthusiasts playing the music that suits us best, always striving to find the right balance between our personal lives and our passion for music.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Getting our music out there and being heard is our goal. While it’s easier to spread music nowadays than it was in the past, the sheer number of great bands out there makes it challenging to stand out. We’re working hard to reach a worldwide audience with what we do, which is, I believe, the biggest challenge for any band. It demands a lot of time and resources.
What can you be most proud of so far?
We take pride in every new song we’ve composed that has reached an audience and received positive feedback, as well as in every successful concert we’ve managed to perform. Personally, I’m most proud of having played a few times at major festivals like Brutal Assault, Nuclear Storm, even though it was quite some time ago.
What was your biggest regret?
I can say for myself that I regretted leaving the band when I was in my twenties. It was a time when metal bands with female vocals were becoming popular, and I believe the band lost a lot of potential listeners because of it.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Most likely, the big festivals in the Czech Republic were highlights for us, but we also enjoyed many club concerts. The more people that come, the better it is for the band. These days, we need a bigger stage because there are seven of us.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It’s hard to say, as I don’t follow the scene as closely as I used to. There are many interesting acts emerging every year, and sometimes they escape my attention. Besides, I don’t only listen to hard music; I enjoy other genres as well.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I rotate between our new and old albums. 🙂 It might sound like an ego trip, but since our new album came out, the only thing I’ve been listening to is us! Eventually, I’ll return to my longtime favorites like Dream Theater or some melodic Scandinavian bands.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Use in-ear monitors; otherwise, your singing might suffer.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I’m quite a hedonist, so I have many guilty pleasures: junk food, wine, movies, and I could go on. 😀
Can you say something more about current music scene in Slovakia?
There is certainly a thriving metal scene in Slovakia. We often run into bands we used to play with years ago. However, I feel that live concerts aren’t as popular as they were twenty years ago. At least when it comes to our genre. Here are great bands as Depresy, Samsara, Lunatic Gods, Constans Compromissum (three Thalarion’s members project), Antares and many more. Slovak metal scene is huge.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
In September, we’ll be playing in Ostrava in Czech Republic with Czech folk/doom metal legends Silent Stream of Godless Elegy and Slovak band Lunatic Gods. After that, we’ll see. We’re open to invitations, but since we are a large group, we need to organize ourselves accordingly.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Play, play, play live – as much as possible to be heard and known. We’re thrilled with every achievement. I also want to boost our visibility on Spotify and generally increase the band’s visibility.
How can people best support your band?
By listening to our music, watching our videos on YouTube, attending our concerts, and, eventually, by purchasing our CD or future LP from our publisher Pařát Productions. Every bit of support counts, and we truly appreciate it.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
I might be repeating myself, but as mentioned earlier, we deeply thank you for your support. It is highly appreciated.
Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp1 | Bandcamp2 | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well