Grima is a Siberian atmospheric black metal band that was formed back in 2014. Together with the new album, you have now released six records. Your music strongly conveys the beauty and power of nature. In addition to this, could you share some more important info on the band that you’d like our readers to know?
V: Greetings, everyone! We are the true Siberian Black Metal. If you’re tired of listening to identical bands playing the same riffs in reverse, then you might like us. We always strive to find our own sound. Individuality in music is our top priority!
From the very beginning, your albums have been released under the amazing Naturmacht Productions label. How did you first get in touch with them? Did they really like “Devotion to Lord”? What were your expectations regarding this collaboration?
V: For us, it was an experiment. We wanted to record everything ourselves and study the process of creating an album from start to finish. Our first album sounds very raw and reflects our technical and performance abilities at the time. We didn’t expect to attract listeners in our homeland, let alone interest from a foreign label. Working with Naturmacht helped us become who we are now. Releasing our music abroad on physical media was a dream come true. Our albums were always sold out in the label’s store, making us a sought-after band among vinyl collectors.
Six albums in ten years is quite an achievement! What kind of changes would you highlight regarding the evolution of your music?
V: We’ve always enjoyed composing music. Over time, we gained better access to high-quality recording equipment, and the process of creating new music became even more engaging. For us, it’s a natural process—we don’t feel pressured when composing, nor do we think about whether people will like our new material. As artists, we remain honest with ourselves. Recording an album every two to three years feels completely natural to us.
Not long ago, you had a fantastic opportunity when Napalm Records signed you! Was your main goal to introduce Grima’s music to a wider audience, or were there other reasons for changing labels? I assume there are significant differences between the two labels…?
V: We felt it was time to move forward. We are grateful to Naturmacht for many years of collaboration. Yes, these two labels are completely different, with different capabilities. Now, a new chapter in our development has begun, and Napalm will help us do everything right.
Now, in 2025, your latest album Nightside has been released under Napalm Records. I assume this is a great joy for you, and a lot of hard work went into it…?
V: Our ten years of work have led to this moment. We always wanted to dive into the deep end. Becoming a professional band, especially while living in Russia, is extremely difficult. You may have noticed that there aren’t many Russian metal bands that have managed to break beyond an amateur level and gain recognition outside their hometown or country. Being a musician in Russia is hard work, and we respect our fellow artists who are just as dedicated as we are.
Compared to Frostbitten, what has changed in your music? How was the album created? What should we know about the new songs?
V: They are completely different. The icy sound of Frostbitten is rougher and rawer compared to Nightside. The new album has a more detailed sound, which allowed us to fine-tune the arrangements. Additionally, the rhythm section is fundamentally different—on this record, we experimented with rhythms that are uncommon in classic black metal. You could say we took a risk by moving away from blast beats and standard genre conventions. The result is heavy, tragic, and incredibly beautiful. The recording process also differed—this time, we weren’t freezing in the studio. We recorded Nightside in the summer of 2023, whereas Frostbitten was created during the frigid nights of November. We are still huge fans of analog equipment and prefer real amplifiers—you won’t hear electronic drums or artificial guitars on our records.
The song titles are in English, but the lyrics are flooding us in Russian language. I believe this plays a key role due to your homeland and the powerful connection with the Siberian nature. Are these the main reasons why you choose to use Russian?
V: Maintaining our identity is very important to us. Also, my vocals would sound entirely different in English—phonetics play a crucial role in making my voice recognizable and shaping the overall sound. Using English song titles helps us bridge a cultural and linguistic gap, as our main audience is outside Russia.
Now that you’re signed to a major label, has there been any discussion about reissuing your hard-to-find early albums? Could you also tell us a bit about the formats in which the new album is available?
V: We are currently discussing some possibilities, but I can’t say for sure how our early albums will be reissued. For now, Nightside is available in several vinyl color variations, as well as on CD and cassette. The release design is truly outstanding—it’s something you’d want to hold in your hands.
You’ve created amazing music videos for „Skull Gatherers” and „Flight of the Silver Storm”. This is definitely worth discussing! How did the production go, how did you bring your vision to life, and what should we know about these videos?
V: If you’ve seen our other videos, you’ll notice that we film in natural outdoor locations. We travel a lot and love hiking. We have our own sacred places, and we often embark on trips with a small crew, bringing along some filming equipment and costumes. The Ergaki mountain range and the wild waters of the Mana and Yenisei rivers are our primary locations. Reaching these places is never easy, but there’s no other way for us to create our mystical world. Winter filming is the most challenging—it’s a real endurance test. Even in summer, things can go wrong. We’ve lost power multiple times because of a faulty generator, wasting entire days of shooting.
I’m sure that more and more people are discovering Grima’s music. What are your expectations for the new album?
V: For many, this will be their first Grima album, so we made sure to include the best elements of our previous works. We expect an influx of new fans and are excited to see them at our upcoming shows.
Last year, you already performed in our homeland (Hungary), in Budapest, and this year, you’ll be back on April 28 on the stage of Dürer Kert. How was your previous concert experience here, and in which way will your upcoming live show be different? What kind of merchandise will there be available at the show?
V: I don’t remember that night very well—we played a lot of concerts that time. We are preparing a new setlist to support Nightside, updating our stage props, and adding new elements to our performance. Our merchandise will feature new designs in large quantities. Since this will be the start of the tour, our full catalog will be available, including t-shirts, hoodies, CDs, vinyl, and even miniature handmade replicas of our masks.
This will be part of a quite extensive tour, covering our homeland and running from late April to the end of June! How many of these locations will be new for you? In which way are you preparing for this journey?
V: We haven’t performed the new songs live yet, so it will be a fresh experience for us. After finishing our tour with Second to Sun, we’ll have about two weeks of intense rehearsals to get in shape and deliver our best performance. We’ve also upgraded some of our stage equipment, so we need to test it. This tour will take us to Greece and England for the first time—we can’t wait to meet our fans there.
You are involved in multiple bands at the same time. Could you please talk about this as well? What are your plans for Grima and your other projects in the near future?
V: Grima is not the only band we play for. Ultar was formed several years earlier, together with our friends, with whom we still perform to this day. The band has not developed as rapidly as Grima, but we have never lost interest in it. The music in Ultar is created collectively by five musicians during live rehearsal sessions. Right now, we are working on our next album. It’s hard to say when it will be finished, but it is already proving to be an exciting experience.
During our upcoming tour, there will be shows where we will perform not only as Grima but also as Ultar. We always try to take advantage of the opportunities available to us to promote both projects, as we share the same lineup in both bands. Ultar holds a special place in our black hearts.
There is also another project, where we serve as instruments of the dark will of Vladimir Lehtinen, called Second To Sun. We are currently on tour across Russia with this band and I’m replying while being on the road.
Grima consists of two members, but you also have two additional musicians who support you both in the studio and on stage. Could you please introduce them? Also, why are they not permanent members of the band?
V: These guys are permanent members, but they do not compose music for Grima. Creatively, Grima is a solid duo. Vlad and Serpentum are an essential part of our live lineup, and that remains unchanged.
How much do you love Russia? Would you ever leave Siberia? Do you need it to inspire you?
V: We love our homeland—it’s a special part of our country. Siberia is quite isolated from other Russian regions, with its own culture and unique landscapes. It’s hard to say how our creative journey would have unfolded if we lived elsewhere. The connection we have with our native nature is vital to us. We feel its magic and want to share it with you.
A fantastic musical journey and success await you in the near future. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you and wish you all the best because your music is truly amazing! Thank you for your answers!
V: We appreciate your support! Stay with us and listen to great music!
Vilhelm answered by the questions.
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