Grom from NY(USA) have finished their first full album.More words about this and other things by mastermind Ymir.

1) Hail Grom! Please start with Grom`s biography.

We started in 1998 without a name, mostly playing in the studio, rehearsing. Finally by 1999 we decided on the name GROM, and the first line-up was myself on guitar and vox; AK Belarus on drums; H. Krieger on bass; and Void on keys. Soon after, J-Sick came in on vox and that lineup recorded the demo "Coat of Arms", and the mcd debut, "Pagan War Machine". After that, Belarus left and was replaced by Macellarius, and Void departed as well…not to be replaced. That lineup recorded the split with Shadow Order (Sons of Zeus), the split with Sunwheel (Beastial Onslaught) and the full length, "By Oak, Ash and Thorns". We had that steady lineup for many years and we played many shows as this unit. Unfortunately, some things happened and I had to release J-Sick and H. Krieger, mostly for lack of dedication to the music and the cause. Our new vocalist is from the band Wulfgravf and his name is CK Hate. Macellarius has also departed and is replaced by Belanus; and I have added a second guitarist, Joe Gridlock who also plays in H8machine. This lineup is by far the best talent wise, and I am finally pleased 100% my bandmates!

2) Your album is finished.What can you say to this?It is your first album so are you 100% happy with the result?

Well, while there was delays in the release date, our full length debut "By Oak, Ash and Thorns" is actually a year old this month. Rather than make many trades, Resistance has preferred to handle the sales and distribution on its own mostly. Thus, we have sold many cds but it has not gotten the wide distribution we wanted. As far as the results, I was happy with the songs, and I think there are some real good ones that get the crowds going crazy. Soundwise, there are some things that bothered me, but we were working on a budget and we could not fine tune everything. I think that our next full length will see us exploring our sound further, and perfecting it. Ideally, I like a balance of traditional Black metal and Thrash/Heavy metal; good sound, but not "polished".

3) Lyrical describtion is National Socialism and hellenic mythology.What can you say to this and why you choosed hellenic mythology?

We are National Socialist because we believe in the words and ways of Adolph Hitler and the 3rd Reich. We are 100% anti semitic and we believe that national socialism is the only politics for Whites. While that is a large aspect of our music, so is Aryan Paganism, maybe even more than politics. Paganism is in its nature, Aryan. It is an empowering spiritual realm for Whites and we respect and hail the many great Deities of Europa. So, on one song we may hail Wotan, and on another we may hail a Celtic god, or a Roman. So far, if you look at our discography, we have paid homage specifically to Slavonic, Nordic and Hellenic pantheons. Firstly, as I am Hellenic and Slavic, I write about my peoples roots. At one time, most of Grom was of Slavonic blood, and it was reflected in our music. I think it is also good to not follow the common treaded path of norse paganism that many bands take. Again, we revere the Norse gods, but it is very trendy in BM, and in NSBM. So to me, its refreshing to write about Hellenic tales or Slavonic gods. Now, we have some Roman blood in the band, so you will also get some anthems dealing with the Roman pantheon and centurians of those glorious times.

4) On your new album I can hear a few Rac elements like Der St?rmer but also Black Metal elements in old Immortal propaganda.What are your musically influces?

I write 90% of the music and lyrics, so what the listener hears is my musical history. I am very influenced by late 80's and early 90's metal. From thrash holocaust like Kreator, Destruction and Dark Angel, to ripping death metal like early Death, Autopsy and others. I also grew up going to new York hardcore shows. While most of the bands were politically shit, the music was great. Awesome music for live shows and going crazy. The same goes for RAC. I listen to a lot of Razors Edge, Skrewdriver, Sniper, etc. So you will hear old metal and hardcore/rac, but you will ofcourse hear Black metal, and my passion is early 90's BM, and yes Immortal was fucking great!!!!

5) You also released a split CD with polish cult horde Sunwheel(Ex-Swastyka).How you got contacts to them and what can you say about this split CD?

The arrangement was set up by Vinland Winds label. I was then in contact with Piaty, and we all agreed it would be a killer release. Sunwheel was a great band going back to the Swastika days and I feel that they were one of the better Polish hordes coming out of that great scene. So you then add us, as one of Vinland's elite bands, and there you have a great split. The Sunwheel music was sought after and had become cult, and we tried some experimental dark thrash stuff on this cd. It seems to have become a favourite I notice amongst Grom fans. I like the split a lot. Great art as well!

6) I know that Grom members have also other bands and the lyrical describion is always Paganism.What means Paganism to you and why you haven`t choosed satanism as a lyrical art?

Any black metal project I am invlolved in will be Pagan. I am Pagan of over a decade and I raise my children as such as well. My circle of close friends are Pagan and I also belong to the Heathen Vanguard which is a small Vinlandic pagan group in which we meet on solstice, equinox, full moons, etc for ritual. Paganism works perfectly with black metal, and music is a tool for worship and ritual. To me, Satanism is first, nonsense. Its cool when you are 13 and you first discover life beyond Christianity, and it also helps many including myself find true Paganism. But, Satanism further than that to me is jewish. The demonology and ideology behind it is semitic, 100%. Hebrew words, text and mentality. It encourages lying, cheating and all sorts of degeneracy. This is not for Aryans. I love me old Venom lps, etc but these days I cannot take new satanic bands seriously. And if people claim its anti Christ, why give lousy Christ any attention??? And if Christianity is as bad as these Satanist bands claim, then by that virtue Christianity and Satanism are one. (both destructive forces). Too much hypocrisy and bullshit is involved in satanism for me.

7) I see Grom also play concert.Anything planed for the future?What was the best concert and how is a typical Grom concert?

We have played many shows since 1999. In the beginning we p[layed with many bands on tour such as Immolation, Deicide, Incantation, etc. We had great times and had many people come and support, but anti-fas and the jew media made it hard for us to play mainstream events. Clubs would receive threats and we were reported in the local news, so from then on, we stayed with racial fests and concerts. We have shared the stage with Blue Eyed Devils, Aggravated Assault. Youngland, Teardown and many other greats. We love to play events hosted by the Keystone State Skins. They are 100% preofessional and good guys and they run a great event. We get a lot of killer support, mostly from Skins, but also theres some nSBM people too. We are very aggressive live, and usually theres a violent pit going on. Our new singer also goes down to the floor and sings in the pit! People also come up on stage and sing along! Its great, very hardcore style, not much metal.

8) There are a few other bands that have the name Grom as from Russia for example.What do you think about the russian NSBM band Grom?

When we began there was one other Grom. They were from Poland and they did a split with Venedae and North. Our old singer knew them, and they broke up. I am really unaware of other Groms, as I do not pay attention or care. When people think of Grom and NSBM, the first idea would be us. We are veterans now in this genre and we will keep going forward. Sometimes, people like a name and you see several bands with the same name, It happens. I don't see the sense now of having new Groms, but again, I only concern with myself and my work. I saw some Russian Grom in Terrorizer zine, or some jew rag like that and it looked like Dimmu Borgir worship. That's all I have seen.

9) When comes the next Grom album and how it will be?Where will be the difference between the actual one?

We will start recording "The Dawning of Herecy" in January. It will be our darkest, most violent album yet. Blasts, break downs, thrash riffs, and ofcourse movie samples. It will be released on Elegy records from Vinland and I hope it reaches more legions. Elegy has some great releases these days, from Wood Brothers comp, to the new Nocturnal Fear…so we will be in good company. It will be our best release, total black thrash holocaust!!!!

10) Do you have any plans to play outside the USA?

Many people have emailed me and asked this, and we would love to ofcourse! We just need a promoter and it would be good to also have another band to tour with, A few shows, not many, maybe limited to France, Belgium and one or two other countries. Its too bad that NSBM bands don't have the backing that many mainstream "underground" BM bands have. Europa has seen Krieg, and will soon see nachtmystium and GBK, but the true hordes of Vinland still wait on these shores. One day, I hope this summer.

11) Alright the last words belong to you...

Thank you comrade for your time and support! Good luck with your efforts! Heils and greetings to our brothers and sisters throughout Europa!!!!! Look for a NEW Grom website and releases coming soon: "Fullmoon Warfare" split with Wulfgravf on Ewiges Eis Productions; also a 7" split with Defiance on 2yt4u rex. Thanks and 1488!