Interview with Ugrakarmas frontman Sunil dev Pant

Ugrakarma,Nepals first Death Metal Band . Few days back we had a small talk with there Frontman Sunil Dev Pant. The band played live after 10 years of hibernation . Here is the link of there bands official page.

https://www.facebook.com/Ugrakarmaofficial

Before we begin, can you say us something about Ugrakarma?

Ugrakarma is a death metal band based in Katmandu and  was formed in 1999.For details, refer to the 'about' section of Ugrakarma Facebook page.

From Late 90's to present time how do you feel when people here refer you as father of metal bands here in Nepal?

I feel that I am not worthy of such a title. I'm just a guy who plays in a metal band.

1998 until now how was the journey?

Actually , I have been playing death Metal since 1996. I used to play in our college band where we did covers of bands like Unleashed, Sepultura, Von, Sodom, Slayer etc. After UgraKarma was formed in 1999 we started to write our own songs instead of playing covers.

Dai 10 years of hibernate pachi Ugrakarma was back on last September 2012 through Death fest what difference did you find?

We started off "Grinding the mountains tour 2012" in Pokhara, and then Dharan. There's a big difference, because 10 years ago we didn't  played in Pokhara or Dharan. Limited people  were into Death Metal back then. Even in Katmandu the turnout used to be minimal. But now, there are a lot more people who are into death metal and a lot more bands that play this style of metal. The qualities of sound at gigs have improved a lot. There are moshpits in every one of our shows which would have been impossible 10 years ago. Moshpits would soon turn into full on gang war back then.

Dai a few days back we had talk regarding bands survival on music you were even playing in some projects back there in states is it possible to survive by playing on metal (death metal) bands?

It is impossible to survive by playing DM only, in Nepal; you will definitely need some other source of income to feed yourself. In the U.S and Europe a few death metal bands survived solely on doing death metal alone, especially big bands that do a lot of tours and session musicians who work in multiple projects. But for 99% of death metal bands, playing Death Metal is not going to be enough for providing basic necessities. I played in a few bands in the US, but only because I am devoted to playing DM. Not to earn money. I worked as an engineer for my income. DM is not a career for me, it’s my passion. It's an expression of my art and an implosion of emotions.

Few days back I had a talk with a friend and he told me that bands like UgraKarma are on metal lover’s blood and no matter how long they hibernate there impact remains massive. Can you tell us how did you feel playing live after such long time of almost 10 years in front home crowd in which 99% had witnessed Ugrakarma for the 1st time?

It was great playing in Nepal after so long. It is awesome to see the entire new young crowds going wild and crazy at our gigs. These are some of the most intense moshpits I have ever seen.... anywhere. The fact that some of our fans know our songs that were recorded more than 10 years ago is pretty fucking cool.

Dai can you tell us how the name Ugrakarma came?

We wanted a Nepali name for our band and as well as we wanted it toward the end of the English alphabet so out of quite a few names we came up with UgraKarma. Sounded good for a DM band.

Does incident happened in life influence the lyrical theme of UgraKarma?

Yes. Allot of things we have written about are things we've actually done. I am not going to specify which ones, some are third person observations, some fantasy and some actually happened. A lot of the newer lyrics are factual  based.

You have played in the scene of both US as well as in NEPAL can you tell us the differences and similarities?

Similarities: both the places have a solid base of fans that come to metal shows and have a good fucking time. DM is not huge in either Nepal or US, so it's always small crowds, except during festivals. Just like in Nepal, US have its share of crappy, sellout and mediocre DM bands but there are the true masters of the art who have kept the fires going. Differences: sub-genres are much more important in the US than in Nepal. You will never see an old school metal head at a Death core gig. Similarly Slam DM heads and fans of modern brutal DM will never come to a Shroud of the Heretic show, for example. People are a lot pickier about their metal. Whereas in Nepal most people are tolerant of the varieties we have here in the metal scene. High quality equipment is cheap and can be bought and sold very easily and quickly in the US. Amps, guitars, drums and shit are super fucking expensive in Nepal and even then most are just low-grade copies of the real thing. And the biggest difference is that if you went into a studio in the US for recording, you would get what you paid for. In Nepal almost all the studios are extremely unprofessionally runned. We have already changed 3 studios so far in the course of trying to record our EP, because these studios have stupid fucking cunts running them with no professional honesty at all. It's hard to believe that even at such expensive rates these cocksuckers can't act professionally for 10 minutes.

Dai there was also a time in those days where sound system rarely provided there equipments, cops didn’t interrupt even though one prime venue was MPC and venue was not a problem to find but at present time its quiet opposite. Any comments regarding that?

When UgraKarma was starting out and playing shows it was difficult to find a venue that would let death metal bands in. For metallica, iron maiden cover bands there were plenty of spots, including MPC, but not for us. There was also the problem of paying for a venue because you could not raise money from ticket sales to cover the sound system and venue. Very few people listened to DM back then. Things have changed a whole hell of a lot in Katmandu.

I remember 3 bands of that time when ktmrocks did there initial events bands like Ugrakarma, X-Mantra and Suicide theory played... How do you feel seeing one fellow band switching to mainstream and other fading away from scene?

Every band has its own priorities and goals. Some want commercial success, some cannot stay together as a band because members migrate, or there is a dispute amongst members............. and some re-unite after 10 years to play the same kind of shit that was unpopular in 1999 hoping their metal will offend even more people. Different bands different  destiny.

Da which bands influenced Ugrakarma?

Macabre, Sinister, Unleashed, Early Morbid Angel, Sepultura , Cannibal Corpse, Sodom, Slayer, Von, Sarcofago, Cranium, Rigor Mortis.

Da we are almost at the end now. It’s a rapid answer question. Top 5 albums one should have and a dream metal lineup with whom you want to share a slot?

Top 5 albums:

morbid visions/bestial devastation -sepultura 
Effigy of the forgotten- suffocation 
here no life dwells -unleashed 
Grim reality/gloom -macabre 
INRI - Sarcofago 

Butchered at birth - cannibal corpse

And the dream lineup to share stage?

absu, sodom, unleashed, nile, macabre, origin, suffocation, cenotaph and two dead bands as well: gorerotted (rip), sarcofago (rip)

Seeing the present senerio which band do you think is one of the upcoming band from here?

Personally, I like Binaash the most. It's one of the best DM Nepal has ever produced. Undefined Human and Dying out Flame are pretty fucking good too.

That’s for sure. As we all know scene is evolving here in Nepal what obstacles does the band has to face to put up a metal band which our society mostly considers pain in ear?

Too many obstacles to mention. But you will 'succeed' if you are passionate about your metal and are willing to do extra hard work and put in a lot of dedication. But when I say 'succeed' I don’t mean that you are going to make money or become a famous star playing death metal. I define success without any relation to commerce or stardom; It's something you feel within you. So in conclusion, there are many obstacles for a DM band but dedicated metal heads will overcome them all and become victorious: proud and standing tall.

You even started a record label GORE KHA records and BINAASH's album was out from you label. Can you say us about your label?

I run Gore-kha Recs out of Montana and have made a few releases/distros including the aforementioned and some other Nepali metal. But GR has gone off the internet and into the depths of the underground. Only a very selected few releases will be made through GR in the future.

So almost at the end now any message to the fans reading this talk?

Support your local bands by going to their gigs, buying their stuff, and in other ways. Newer bands that are really good need all the support they can get. Plus, fans get to play a part in the making of some great music coming out of their own city.

Lastly, a space for you anything we SNRMB have forgotten to ask you can tell us here?

Thank you all.