Interview With the Band Kraton
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| Pic Credit: Daniel Wah |
by Mick Michaels
Cosmick View: Hello, and welcome to The Cosmick View. Thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with us. It's greatly appreciated.
Kraton: Thanks for having us. We appreciate the opportunity to share our thoughts and music with your readers.
CV: Do you think modern Heavy Metal music has evolved past its origins? Or are things relatively still the same?
Kraton: Metal in general has evolved in many directions. Different sounds, aesthetics and themes. But at its core, the spirit remains the same: intensity, rebellion and emotional depth. Some bands keep the torch burning for traditional sounds, others push boundaries into unknown territory. We think both are valid. What matters most is authenticity, whether you are playing old-school riffs or exploring new visions.
CV: Does Metal still draw people to want to listen and engage the music while challenging the audience to imagine becoming a musician themselves?
Kraton: Yes! Metal still speaks directly to people who need more than passive entertainment. It is physical, emotional and often deeply personal. For a lot of us, it was what made us pick up an instrument in the first place. That hasn’t changed. In fact, with how sanitized a lot of popular music feels today, metal’s rawness might be more needed than ever.
CV: Many believe that success for a band relies on three major components; good distribution, good PR and good booking. In the new modern music industry, all of that is without a doubt achievable by the artist themselves. Do you feel more and more established acts will go the independent route and eliminate the middle man component?
Kraton: We think more bands want to go independent, but it takes time, knowledge, and energy. All while balancing day jobs and life. Yes, the tools are there now but they require a different skill set than making music. For bigger bands with a solid fanbase, independence is definitely more achievable now than it was before. For underground bands like us, it is more about building things piece by piece. DIY until the right partnerships come along.
CV: Do you feel that the idea of a band eliminating those second and third party partnerships; labels, management, bookers, etc., and doing things on their own, is a direct result of artists and bands being misled and taken advantage of for so long?
Kraton: In part, yes. There’s a long history of artists getting exploited with shady deals, promises not kept, image over substance. So it makes sense that many bands would rather take control and learn the ropes themselves. That said, there are still great labels and promoters out there who care about the music and the people behind it. It’s about finding the right collaborators, those who respect the artist’s vision.
CV: Do you feel there is a need or want for artists of any style or genre to rise above the past and to do more musically…artistically? Or can a level of comfort be reached and maintained as a means to sustainability?
Kraton: There is always room to evolve artistically. To go deeper or refine your sound. But there is also value in consistency, especially when it comes from a place of honesty. Not every band needs to reinvent themselves with every album. If the music still feels alive and relevant to the people making it, that is what counts. Significant changes also involve taking a certain risk. But in the end it is up to the band to choose their musical future.
CV: Many critics believe music is irrelevant today... just background noise. As a musician who is out there writing, releasing, and performing, from your perspective, do you still see music relevance in the world today? Is there a connection?
Kraton: We would not be doing this if we thought music had lost its relevance. For us, music is still a lifeline. Yes, there is more noise now, more distraction but that just makes genuine connection through music even more powerful. It might not dominate culture like it used to but it still matters. The impact of a great live show also cannot be underestimated. It is physical, emotional and even a form of therapy.
CV: Has music in general split into too many genres and sub-genre classifications in an effort just to please an indecisive audience in your opinion? Is it just more of a marketing ploy to funnel buyers to a specific brand?
Kraton: Genres and subgenres can be helpful for discovery but they can also become limiting or overly fragmented. In metal, we see both sides: the obsession with categorization and the push to break free from it. We don’t mind being called post-doom or whatever helps people find us but we try not to let those labels define or confine us.
CV: What more can fans expect to see coming from you in 2025?
Kraton: We are releasing our new single “Spiritualité Sombre” on 15 September. It carries forward the emotional and sonic weight of our last album “Monolith” but explores new territory as well. We are also working on material for the next full-length. On the live front, we are heading to the UK for our first tour at the end of August. A big milestone for us!
CV: Thanks again for taking the time to share with our readers. We wish you all the best and continued success.
Kraton: Thank you for the thoughtful questions and the support. It means a lot to bands like ours who are doing this from the ground up. See you on the road!
Check out Kraton at:
Music video for the song “Curse This Mortal Coil”:
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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, author, show host, big 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.
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