Rock Monsters Romania

It’s been more than one year since our first contact with Cruish-Nir… and a lot happened in this time. After the death of Robert Cotoros and the departure of Liviu Ustinescu, the band released a new single, “Delebit Oblivio” featuring Draconian’s vocalist Heike Langhans. This was the last song composed by Robert before his death.

We talked to Untaru Valentin “Shadows” about this tough period, about the release and the future of the band.

How complicated was it to record and master the new song during these hard times?

Hello.

Well, I could say that it was really a challenge to both record and master the song, not so much because of the global situation, but because for a long time, after Robert’s death, I was completely devastated. 

But as each story has its own heroes, so does this story have its own. Although the society seemed to be slowly falling apart, Robert did his best to help me finish the song on time, initially the release date being planned for the Harvest Festival, during the Samhain nights.

In addition to the above, the dedication of Mike Lamb, who did me the honor of agreeing to work with me on this piece, made it possible that, along the way, everything would be set up properly. At the same time, Heike Langhans recorded his part in an impeccable manner, giving me the time to find a replacement for Liviu, and later Demetrius recording his part in his own studio on clean and growl vocals.

Honestly, Mike’s professionalism saved both me and the project itself.

What inspired you to write the new song?

Initially, Robert and I wanted to create something different, totally different from what, until now, can be defined as gothic doom metal, both for the metal scene in Romania and for the scene abroad.

The idea started, from the desire to revitalize the metal scene, bringing something fresh, strong, new, but which would really put Romania on the gothic metal map, both European and international.

I was simply fed up with the fact that although metal is becoming more and more popular nationally, the stage is still held captive by a handful of alleged secular musicians, who do not allow young people to breathe in an environment completely intoxicated by  bands lacking inspiration, originality, meaning, and worse, propagandistic elitism.

The lyrics were initially inspired by the first release, Quietus, largely related to the myth of the androgyne, I wanted to send an alarm signal about what the principle of “l’apel du vide” means, naming the song Delebit Oblivio.  For me, for us, love represents, first of all, the renunciation of our own reality, in favor of those we love, through whom we find our inner peace: partners, friends, family.

You see, Cruish-Nir, for me and Robert, first of all, means, and always will mean, family. But after his passing, I was struck by a severe depression, and for a few months, all I could think about was to follow him in ether, not being, at that moment, mentally capable of being able to accept his absence in the Romanian metal scene, as well as in my own reality.

After two failed suicide attempts, inspired by fresh forces, which I would not have considered present until that date, I resumed writing with the force of the one who has only one goal, and, starting from the etheric principle of the perception of reality through the prism of the unknown, the result represented and represents a muffled cry of the soul, of human transhumance, caught in the vise of carnal existence, desperately seeking an agnostic detachment from the illusory reality of the first nihilistic voices characteristic of the human psyche, the lyrical self considering that it can redeem its soul only by idealizing the reduction to the absolute.

What can I say? I was simply driven by a visceral desire to do the impossible and to honor his creative genius, through an eternal tribute, Delebit Oblivio being the last piece composed by his hands …

How did you met Heike Langhans and what made you start this collaboration?

Well, I could say that I first came in contact with Heike through her music, somewhere in 2016, after the release of the Draconian band’s Sovran album, and since then, I have been fascinated by the etheric force of her voice, so powerful and deep. Later, I discovered Ison and Lorelai projects, and without too many words, Heike became my favorite vocalist in the metal scene.

I remember at one point, discussing with Robert the possibility of working with a new vocalist, for the rest of the LP I had already planned, and I exposed my fascination with her voice.  Thus, I found out that he was also fascinated by the inner strength that she put in each song.

Aware of this, I remember that in the week before his death, he told me that it would mean a lot to him if he had the chance to mix a song with her voice, and I remember very clearly that I told him that  , if I will have to, I will sell my soul to make it possible, both for him and for the project we both loved.

But after he left this reality, it became clear for me that there was nothing left to stop me from making this possible. A few days later, Heike and Mike accepted to work together to finalize this song.

Can you describe the song only by only using one word? Why have you chosen it?

Of course. And the chosen word is his name, Robert. Why have I chosen it? Well, as I previously said, the song has been written by him, based on my concept.

And it’s dedicated in his eternal memory, until the end of times.

You said that this song is a tribute to Robert Cotoros. Do you have any message for the ones who knew him?

I don’t know to what extent I could convey something to those who knew him.  But I could try to convey something to those who know him, and to those who will know him, over time, through the countless projects he has worked with, as well as for the two albums released with his own soul project, The Bipolar Disorder Project.

At the risk of saying something inappropriate, I confess that for me, for us, those who loved him, who love him, and will always love him, Robert lives through his art.  To me, at least, he’s not dead.  Artists never die, only sometimes they fall into a deep and peaceful sleep, on the border between reality and the ineffable, for their art to breathe for them.

I want to clarify one thing, first of all. This song is about him, about his creative genius, about his love for music, about his desires, dreams and fulfillments on a social, artistic and personal level.

For those who know him and have known him, and for those who will know him, I want to convey that both I and my colleagues in Cruish-Nir will make his memory last as long as the hourglass of time will  allows us to get our hands on the tools and create.

I don’t know what else I could say … I have one request: remember his life, not his passing , and if you want to honor his memory, know his music, and share it with anyone who will be willing to listen to you. 

What other plans have you got for 2021? Should we expect more collaborations?

In this way, I want to announce that, on the night of Samhain, on October 31, this year, when the project will celebrate two years of existence, our first LP will be released, called The Oath of Darken Crown, which, like this song, will be dedicated in memory of Robert Cotoros. Yes, what I can say, is that you can also expect other surprises. I would like to say more, for the sake of those who follow our activity, but let’s just keep it a secret for now. More announcements will follow soon.

What is your message for the people who are going to read this interview?

Well, to those who will read this interview, I would like to send thousands of thanks for the support provided during this year that put each of us to the test.

In addition, I invite you to follow our activity, distribute the new song, and listen to the albums released by Robert with The Bipolar Disorder Project.

Take care of yourself, your loved ones, and whatever you do, keep those you love close. Time, time is the enemy of all.

Thank you for your time in this interview, and wish you all the best. Stay Doom !!

Interview by Radu Mihai