Imagine living under such an oppressive regime that to make the music you want could get you jailed or even killed? That was the choice facing Iranian extreme metallers Confess. The band, now safely re-located to Norway have just released their critically acclaimed album Revenge At All Costs. Gary Trueman chatted to singer Nikan Khosravi about life in his former homeland, how the new record was written and where he’d love to see Confess paly one day.
You’ve had an incredibly tough me being forced to leave Iran for your own safety. Your new album Revenge At All Costs must be a great source of pride for you?
“Looking back at everything we went through during these last 7 years to be able to putting out music again and not giving up on our dreams and beliefs is something that makes us very proud of ourselves. Especially with releasing this album we are able to tell our story and it is received very well. Great reviews and everything! It also ended up in the list of top 50 Most anticipated metal albums of 2022 by Metal Hammer! This feels very rewarding.”
Lyrically you pull no punches. Iran is a very dangerous place for creatives or people who challenge the state. Do you have a following in your homeland that will get to hear what you have to say? Is it possible to follow western music on the internet? Are your lyrics aimed at people within Iran or for the wider world to hear…. Or both?
“Iranians have always been big into different form of arts historically. With that huge cultural background we grew up admiring poems, music, films, paintings and… the western form of music like Metal music is also part of that. Even though it is not appreciated by the government and somehow they try banning this form of art. We always get our favourite music from the internet and downloading music. I never considered my music for domestic usage. That wasn’t the purpose to begin with. That’s why I chose to write and sing in English because our topics are about worldwide problems. I have things in my lyrics that are related to the Iranian society and the political system there but it does not mean you can’t find it elsewhere. That’s why so many people can relate to our music. So at the end it’s both.”
Your music is a kind of natural extension of 90s metal. You can hear little bits of acts such as Sepultura and the Entombed in there. You have that groove. Who are your influences, who did you listen to growing up? And are there any newer bands that have caught your attention?
“My most favourite era of Metal is approximately from mid 90s to 2000s. That’s the period of time that made me a metalhead! I started with listening to Slipknot, Slayer, Korn, Sepultura, Pantera, Lamb of God, Linkin Park, Static-X and tons of other bands. When I started my band I didn’t want to be recognised with one specific sub-genre. That’s why I always mixed different sub-genres, different elements. It has got to the point that it just happens unconsciously. That’s my type of metal, no beating around the Bush. Not just heavy but aggressively heavy, full of punches and surprises… It feels great that my music to some people is reminding of the golden ages of some legendary bands. To hear their youth in our music, that’s something. About ‘Revenge At All Costs’, please keep this in mind, the album was written five years ago. I have new stuff that has different elements from newer sounds in it. Not that it sounds different from what Confess are known for. We’re super proud of that and it took us 12 years to develop this sound. But we always like to bring new things to the table as well. To name some of my favourite new metal bands, Left Behind, Nails, Bleed From Within, Alien Weaponry, Vitriol, Fit For An Autopsy, After The Burial.”
What was the writing process like for Revenge At All Costs? Do you write before you enter the studio or write everything at the time? Who does what, do you have someone who does all the lyrics and someone do all the music or is everything a collaboration?
“The way that we’ve been working during years was that I create all the music and write the lyrics. I chose the word ‘create’ because I don’t write music, I improvise! When I come up with something I make demos from them. After that the arrangement of each instrument is pretty much up for discussion. Then we get to the final version. There’s not much ‘editing’ in our music though. We believe the first idea is the best idea. Raw, natural, unpolished!”
You’ve moved to Norway, a country with a proud metal history. Was that in any way an influence on where you went? Did Norway influence a part of your writing process at all?
“I would say yes and no! Yes because I believe the environment has an impact on you as an artist and what you create and No, because for instance this album was written in Iran, the lyrics in Turkey. Megalodon was the only song that was created here in Norway. During the first few months that I was living in Norway.”
Are you able to be in contact with anyone from Iran? Is it even safe for that to happen?
“Yes, I’m video calling my family almost every day. They are safe. I am the target there!”
What have been the biggest cultural difference for you? Obviously you have much more freedom of expression but what about day to day things? What surprised you by being so alien to what you’re used to, and what things have you found the same?
“I mean at the end people are people, we all act and feel the same! There’s some things in each culture that is different from the other. Norway is no exception. Me, personally I’ve never been one traditional individual. So it is very easy for me to adopt with a different environment. But maybe the biggest difference in here is that the trust that most of the people have to their government! Where I come from we do not have that! Another thing is in the people’s relationships with each other. They might be a bit colder that people from middle eastern countries which is fine though. Language is totally different too. Oh! And the weather! Scandinavia right!! Haha.”
Presumably you’d love to tour the album and play to live audiences. What’s the state of play at the moment in Norway with the pandemic? Are venues open at all? Do you have your eyes set on any festivals in 2022? Is there any one festival or venue that you’d love to play?
“Most definitely! I love touring! It’s a childhood dream. Especially with releasing an album of this calibre we can play anywhere and some of fans will show up singing along the songs. At this point I can say we’re very close to normal in Norway. So many restrictions are lifted and big venues are also opening up again, so that’s good. About playing in festivals for 2022, I don’t think so. There’s not a spot left since the line-up(s) are the ones from 2020! Hopefully next year… But yes, I would love to play in Download Festival UK and the legendary House of Blues one day.”
If you could choose one band to go out on tour with who would it be and why?
Well, I’d say Slipknot! If Slayer was still around it could make it impossible for me to choose between them but not now that Slayer have retired. I would say Slipknot because they are one of my all time favourites and they are killing it on stage to this day. It would be a dream come true!
If you could go back to any point in time and take a different path would you do it and what would you change?
“No! If I was born another hundred times I would take the same path again. Not that it’s a picnic or everything was good, no! It’s about being closest to how you actually are and I feel comfortable in my own skin.”
Review by Gary Trueman
Photos by Camilla Norvoll