DEKTA – Interview with drummer Rust

„… the same uniform, it gives a solid image! (…) every musician has his own band’s emblems with his nickname. (…) We have a great advantage, and that is that we control the entire composition, recording and pre-production process. (…) We want to play and Europe is one of our goals. – DEKTA

Hi! Let’s just start at the beginning… Does DEKTA just mean “delta”? But I guess you’re portraying it upside down?

Hi Pavel, first of all, thank you very much to give us this opportunity! Well, DEKTA comes from an anime serie we use to watch when we were kids, it’s call ”Muscleman”. The antagonist was a skeleton figther called Dekta Cubitus! Here do you have the answer!

DEKTA is also a specific image. The first thing that catches my eye are the masks. Some people associate them with SLIPKNOT. Although they are in a completely different style…

Yes, it’s a bit different. Our singer Cubitus has his own design, the rest of us, is the same but with a little painting differences.

Are these masks made to special order?

Yes, they are custom made. We got in touch with a british artist call Rubber Godzilla, he still works in terror movies. His job is fantastic, very professional. And the mask has very good quality, they look new after 6 years!

And secondly, in your image the same “uniforms” are eye-catching, such as shirts or sweatshirts with band’s emblems. They look like also made to order…

Yes, we wanted to wear with the same uniform, it gives a solid image! Only, as you said, every musician has his own band’s emblems with his nickname.

Okay, so in some way are you inspired by SLIPKNOT?

Yes, but we are not so aggressive. Also Stone Sour it’s a close band for us.

And by PANTERA?

Of course, it’s impossible not be influenced by one of the greatest metal bands ever! They inspire us a lot, mainly in the way of how we build the guitar riffs and the rhythmic base of the songs.

Your second album “When Everything Burns” was released in 2021. Did it get to your expectations?

Yes Pavel, we are very proud of this second job. We have managed to show everything we want on a DEKTA record. The composition started already during the presentation tour of our first album. We were looking for a more forceful sound but without losing depth. The songs have emerged very naturally, either from ideas that we bring from home and develop them together or improvising in the studio. We have a great advantage, and that is that we control the entire composition, recording and pre-production process. This allows us to dedicate time, let the ideas mature, make tests… We have been able to choose between many songs, to be able to decide those nine tracks that best respond to what we want on this album.

The cover-art is post-apocalyptic, and the lyrics are in a similar mood…

The cover of the album is credited to the Russian artist Yuri Chuchmay, whose works we fell in love with at first sight and who suited our style and aesthetics perfectly. About the lyrics, we talk about different topics, personal and social issues… Now we are living darkest times, but we stand with hope.

I admit that there are a lot of catchy moments in your music. Such songs that would be suitable for the charts…

Thank you very much! We are very proud of the result of “When everything burns”. First, compositional maturity both at the level of our abilities as musicians and rapport as a band, this allows us to transfer the first melodies, rhythms, riffs…, to what will be the definitive song. The second aspect is the design (artwork) of the album, it perfectly captures everything we want to convey in the lyrics related to the times we live in. And the third highlight is the conjunction of their own style through the musical influences of the five components, obtaining their own label and finding everything we want in a DEKTA album.

You know, I mean, between the dynamic heaviness, the songs have catchy moments followed by emotional raptures… How are the songs made?

Ideas come from a guitar riff, drum beat or a voice line… Then we play this ideas in our rehearsal room and see how we feel abou it. We have also a home studio… that’s allow us to try different ideas. We have recorded the album ourselves in our home studio. Randy is a sound technician and has a lot of experience in the studio. He knows perfectly how to find the sound and production that we are looking for as a group.

Of course, you are not limited to just one type of Metal. Although Groove Metal dominates, or is rather the basis, you are not afraid to combine it with other genres. A lot of Thrash Metal, a bit of Death Metal, also a bit of Nu Metal, all connected with “alternative” glue with an admixture of “progression”… A lot of this 🙂

Totally agree, we are influenced with many types of metal and we play what we would like the most. Of course we have our identity, but we like to mix different metal genres, as you said.

You are also familiar with ballad motifs…

Yes, for example, Alter Bridge or Disturbed are also a very important influences, and this is reflected, over all, in our melodic passages.

Are there any favorite songs or those that do not necessarily belong to them?

Well, every DEKTA member has his favorites, but finally, we are very proud of the final result. We think its a really cool album!

You also have a lot of music videos… I see that your work in the band does not end with recording the music in the studio.

Yes, these days music is important, but do you have to give other things like videos… And it’s a lot of work behind a band, not just play music, creating songs, rehearsing… Social media, videos, press… Its a lot of work and it’s very difficult to create an space for you in this industry.

Moreover, I have the impression that concerts are your element?

Yes, we love play live. I think it’s the best moment for a musician. We have an energetic show and we try to create an impact to the audience! You should come to see us Pavel haha

Surely! I know you would like to play in Poland…

We will love have the chance to play in Poland, hope we can do it as soon as possible!

Unfortunately, from what I have established with several people, the pandemic makes it difficult… What is the current pandemic situation in Spain?

Now we are going better, almots 80% of our poblation is full vaccined… But, who knows… I think all of us are tired of coronavirus… We need to go forward and recover our life style. For us, the important thing is to not stop. Since it was not possible to perform live, we took the opportunity to continue working on new compositions, perfecting the live show, designing new merchandising, promoting ourselves on social networks and being active in our publications… Luckily, the pandemic has not diminished us as a band, and we have been able to move forward despite the difficulties.

But after all, what conditions should be provided for you to be able invite you on a show?

Well, it’s all about talk about it. We want to play and Europe is one of our goals. We dream to play in festivals and try to arrive to the biggest audience!

What are your plans for 2022?

First of all, a presentation tour in Spain awaits us and we are in talks to close some dates abroad, probably in Portugal, France and Italy. For the summer of 2023 we are working to enter summer festivals.

So I wish you a visit to Poland and not only to Poland! Thanks for the interview and I leave the last words for you!

Thank you very much Pavel, it’s a pleasure talk with one! Anytime! See you soon in Poland!