Interview with Columbian Speed Thrash Metal Titans Burning

August 16, 2020

Interview with Columbian Speed Thrash Metal Titans Burning

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
BURNING: Thanks to you! Before all, we want to extend our most sincere gratitude to all the headbangers from THE COSMICK VIEW. Let’s break all boundaries and boarders with Metal to the bone!

CV: Given so many major changes over the last several decades, is the music industry a viable and stable enough environment for new artists and bands to even attempt to make a successful career in your opinion?
BURNING: It has never been easy for musicians and artists in general to make a living out of an art. There is not much of a choice for an artist: you keep real to the way your thing is best for you, or you become a product, and let other people decide what you need to do, in order to sell. It is viable, but artists have a huge responsibility to stand against the unfair acts of this industry, as well. So, it is possible…but it is very hard!

CV: How do you see your band separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
BURNING: We raise hell on stage, we say what people need to hear, and we don’t care if you get scared because we are not “correct”…because we are f%&$ng not! That´s BURNING: Mayhem, beer and old school skull-crushing thrashing Speed Metal. Many present bands are scared of being real, we are not. Come to one of our shows and see it for yourself.

CV: Has the band's music and style of songwriting changed drastically since the group first formed?
BURNING: It really did! We are more mature now. We were just a bunch of stupid kids back in the day, playing loud and fast as hell! We are still loud and fast as hell, but now we see things differently. We are more concerned about technical and musical aspects when we make a song. And we are always looking to improve the contents of our lyrics…to a more serious and complex subjects, such as literature or social and political stuffs. We try to keep the spirit of real Metal alive, but we have more experience.

CV: What do you see as the biggest change in the music industry since the band first formed?
BURNING: Streaming, of course. We remember the world without YouTube, Spotify, and all that digital stuff. Now, all of these “improvements” allows bands to make their music sound all around the world…breaking a lot of obstacles related to distance. But this digital thing allowed the conservative crap to stain Metal, censoring everything and crying for so-called hate speech that, most of the time, doesn’t even exists. It was funnier before. But we have to face that world has changed, so did music, but the spirit must remain. In the words of Chuck Schuldiner, “Let’s keep the Metal flame alive”. No matter what.

CV: Has digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion?
BURNING: No! Digital technology could give you an illusion of how it is to be an artist. But that’s pretty much it. It’s false. Art comes from the soul, not from a computer or a huge fan page with millions of followers. It is one of the last human things that remains. The day that the artist is sized in strict terms of technology, that day, we´re all going to die.

CV: Has Metal, or even music in general, splintered into too many sub-genres? Why do think there are so many classifications of music types? Can this be confusing for the fans?
BURNING: It was inevitable. Music is always evolving into different things. We think music has the classifications it needs, for it is not immovable. It is, most of the times, a matter of taste. You look at the style you like, or the ones which you feel more connected to. And, well…we have never known a “Metal fan” so dumb he couldn’t make a difference between a Metal genre or another.

CV: How would you define “iconic?” What do you think makes an artist iconic?
BURNING: We hate the word. There should not be “icons” in Metal. This is not a f&%$ng religion! We recognize and respect those bands that made the path in the past, you know? Bands like Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Venom, Metallica…old Metallica, real Metallica!, you name it… Bands that were pioneers in Metal, they should be respected as they made Metal possible, but they should not be praised as “icons”, for they are not gods, and we are not some sort of weird cult. They made the difference, but not because they were born for it. They were a bunch of guys, just like you or me, but they made a choice, and they fought for it against all tides and odds…always looking forward.

Now, would you define an “icon” in metal just because a band makes shows in front of hundreds of thousands of people? Or it might be because a band plays in the world’s greatest stages and festivals? Or because some band sells millions of records per year? That’s not an icon, dear friends. That’s a well-organized business. Icons are false.

CV: Should young artist even strive to become a “rock star” Is being a "rock star" even a relevant term nowadays? What are your thoughts?
BURNING: They don’t want to be rock stars, they want to be Youtubers, or Instagramers, or whatever, as long as it implies followers, or a lot of cheer-ass stupid comments, like what they do is worth for shit. And they want that because they need everyone’s approval for not being sad all the time, and that’s pretty lame if you ask us. It has no sense at all. If they want to be famous or stars, they should try to be an 80’s rock star: being famous to get free blow jobs and party all the time. It has more sense, anyway.

CV: What message do you want your music to convey to the world?
BURNING: That’s simple: f%$k the idols, f&%k politics, f%$k your religions and f&%k your gods! Play Metal as loud as hell, drink some beer, bang your head with your friends, and don’t forget the spirit of Rock ´n Roll. It is not about fame. It’s about freedom.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming?
BURNING: After all this lock down thing is over, we will restart our recording process. We are working on a new EP and a brand-new full length…with some very interesting stuff. Let’s say it will be a new exploration of Heavy and Speed Metal Roots. Also, we will work on a couple video clips. That’s going to take some time, so, even if things get back to normal soon, we will be out of the stages for a while, to focus on studio.

CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
BURNING: Thanks to you, dear friends. Don’t forget to check all of the groups of SHADOWS OF DEATH RECORDS! We are a family. And this family is full of very awesome Metal bands from all around the world. Also, check out our music in major digital platforms. We are sure you’ll enjoy it a lot.

Check out Burning at:
Official: https://burningcolombianme.wixsite.com/misitioB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BRNGColombianThrashSpeedMetal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burningthrashspeedmetal/
VICTIMS OF FEAR (album): https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/burning/victims-of-fear
SHADOWS OF DEATH RECORDS:
Email: sodrecordss@gmail.com
Website: https://www.shadowsofdeathrecords.com/

Like The Cosmick View on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/TheCosmickView

My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.