Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
The four of us are Vancouver music scene veterans. We come from a variety of defunct Vancouver bands to unite in the wake of our pasts. We have been together now for just over two years. The vision has been focused and unrelenting. I suffered a bitter breakup from a past group, and sensed Dustan and Adam’s previous band was unwinding when, at one of their last shows, I saw that they had both given each other black eyes. Time for something new. After a bit of jamming, and a whole lot of drunken uplifting talk of the future, Astrakhan was born.

How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music? 
I want to be able to create music that suits my mood, but still sounds cohesive. Id say it is based in a background of doom, and sludge with undertones of progressive, and psychedelic rock. There are a variety of other eclectic influences that highlight various compositions.

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?
Because it is music that speaks a universal truth. Everything we write is honest and visceral. I hope that this ideal can cut through a lot of the bullshit music people skip over and resonate on some level with most people, metal heads included. 

What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media? 
We have our initial EP along with our 2nd digital EP available on bandcamp, and we are preparing to release a 12” vinyl on War on Music Records. So far feedback has been really great. We have gotten a lot positive reviews, and digital sales based on the buzz surrounding “The Pillarist” have exceeded our expectations. I have also started to notice traffic on our website coming from some foreign torrent sites. If people using the Cyrillic alphabet are trying to pirate our tunes, that is probably a good sign.

Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far?
Yea. We take a lot of pride in our live shows. This summer has been great, and we have been lucky to be a part of some wicked festivals including Armstrong Metal Fest, Calgary Metal Fest and Burger Fest.

What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
I have always believed that trying to validate one’s own music or art is a losing battle. Very few promoters, magazines or labels give a shit about what you think about your own band. I think our music speaks for itself, and personally, I can only speak of what my music means to me - no one else.

What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
We plan to write and record a full length album. We want to use our upcoming vinyl release to push us forward, and further our reach on the heavy music communities of the world. We want to continue to push for more ambitious shows and collaborations. 

Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
www.astrakhanofficial.bandcamp.com
www.waronmusic.com

Band photo by Amy Ray Photography. 

October 2014