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1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Dedmoroz: Couple of weeks ago we’ve returned from our eurotour and now we have a rest to recover. In few days after that we will go to studio for making our third album. At the end of summer we will take part in METAL CROWD open air fest in Belarus. Also, we have some plans for autumn but its too early to announce them.

2.So far you have released an ep and a full length, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?
Doctor: The first release was raw and fast as we wanted. We like to play simple but aggressive and the second album was still aggressive and almost zero-technical. But “Divide and Rule” is a bit slower and heavier.
Whitevad: Well, it was the first experience for the band of making something serious, so I would say that both of recordings sound how they should to sound. As for me, EP has more aggressive songs, and LP is a bit more conceptually considered.

3.Some of your lyrics cover Satanism and Anti Religion themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?
Doctor: We are not satanists at first, we just use Satan as symbol, as a method of human punishment. Actually all members in band are atheists and we are not so fanatic as our religious “friends”.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name ‘Pokerface’?
Doctor: From the first day we planned to play proto-metal and tried to copy other cult bands like Motorhead, Judas Priest etc. So Pokerface as name was introduced by our ex-leader Dietrich as a reflection of Motorhead “Ace of Spades” song. Lemmy is a legend and we will love him forever.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Doctor: We played with Sodom several shows and all shows with them were great especially in Minsk (2014) and Brasov (2016). Circle pit, stagediving, slam. I think we are close with Sodom in music and metalheads on these gigs were on one wave with us.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Dedmoroz: Yeah, we are confirmed on METAL CROWD open air fest in Belarus. Other announcement still in progress, but we have couple of offers.

7.The new album was released on ‘Molot Records’, are you happy with the support that they have given you so far?
Dedmoroz: Molot Records was the only label who can fulfill our conditions. But there were no actual promotion or support from them. And now we are looking for the label who will release our third album, but also can help us with promotion and tours.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death and thrash metal?
Doctor: It depends. For newfags we are a bit raw and simple, these guys like groove, high-speed blasting and math beats. For old school metalheads we are OK and they love our music and shows. We have good marks in reviews and catalogs.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Whitevad: We don’t like to define our music style, giving names or calling it somehow. We just make the music that we like to play. We have a plan to make our next album a bit more complex and we are open for some experiments. I also wouldn’t exclude the appearance of some melodic parts and fills in our future songs. I don’t even know, will we play thrash or death or something else in the nearest future, but let me assure you: Pokerface will always play music that has drive.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Whitevad: You may hear Slayer, Kreator and Sodom influences in our music, maybe some other thrash metal bands too. I think it’s good when people find in your songs something that sounds familiar to the music of ‘fathers’, and it becomes a real tribute to the thrash legends) Besides thrash, all band members listen very different styles of music – electronic/trance, melodic death metal, doom metal, deathcore, metalcore etc..

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Doctor: In non-music life I am IT engineer and videogame player, but as I am going deeper in music – touring, concerts etc this part of my life seems more boring and empty.
Whitevad: Cunnilingus, Elves and Formula 1
Delirium: I like to watch funny videos with cats
Dedmoroz: I like to travel a lot, so it’s my biggest interest.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Doctor: At fist thank you so much for interview! I just want to say: Your life is boring if you don’t have a dream. No matter what It can be – the greatest band in the world, 10-children in your family or first starship called your name. Please think about you dream, don’t lose the focus on it and all will be done as planned. Don’t worry.
by OccultBlackMetal