With:	Corbow, Manafob
Conducted by:	Jeff
Published:	21.12.2004

Corbow: bass and vocals
Manafob: manager

- The traditional first question, could you introduce your band to our readers?

Corbow: Well, I think that the best thing is to go to our homepage www.fob.cz and read about us in the history section. Anyway we are death metal band from Czech Republic. J


- Tell us a bit about your first "real" full-length album "Follow the Instructions", what are the general topics for example?

Corbow: This was our first CD which was released under a label. I think it's more technical then the previous stuff and we also push the sound borders to professional sound.

Manafob: About topics and lyrics on CD, I think there is no general topic, but you can find several interesting thoughts. Almost all lyrics are about real situations which we experienced. Neverending projection is about relationship, the mask is about all people who don't want express their own feelings, Whiteness is about some kind of nightmare etc. The name of the CD is inspired with lot of notices which advise, recommend or dictate and in booklet you can find some of them.






- "Follow the Instruction" is a bit progressive in my opinion and it's not really easy to classify your music? But you, how do you describe your sound?

Corbow: We call it "schizo-blast". Some people say that it isn't exactly the right name but some says yes, it is. We just try to mix our ideas from different music styles and this is the result.


- You're signed on a Czech Label, I.F.A. Records, and yeah for someone of the Western European countries that's a bit "exotic". Can your present your label?

Corbow: I.F.A is our friend for the first thing I have to mention. He knows us for ages and he was always in our music. When he started a label it was great opportunity for us to join his company ?.and for him I think tooJ. We always have a great time when we are together and although his work is not at the same level as the profi-label is he is doing his job in right way and supporting us as possible. Next CD will be released under I.F.A. again. For more info see the web page at: http://www.ifarecords.cz

Manafob: I have to agree. We chose him because we knew that we have the same opinions. We meet together relatively frequently and I prefer it than writing emails to e.g. Japan.


- How is the metal scene in Czech Republic? Do you have a lot of bands, a lot of Metalheads? Maybe you can give us some good bands that we should check?

Corbow: Sure!! The scene here is really huge and here are a lot of bands you can choose from. Names like Ingrowing, Hypnos, Fleshless, Godless Truth, Avenger, are well known in other countries. I think that we have a reunion of the black metal bands now and you can meet these warpainted beasts at almost every gig. The audience is little bit weak, it depends on area. But there are plenty of fans who can support you when you are on the stage.








- I suppose that it's not really easy for bands in Czech Republic to record their albums and to have a good distribution all over the world. What are the most important difficulties for a band which come from Eastern countries?

Corbow: Money, money, money?.and for the last time money. If you want to be famous you have to invest a lot of them to your promotion, distribution and activities. This is simply not easy because you could not earn such a big money before you are famous. Anyway there is no problem to go and record your stuff. The quality is different of course and it depens on money again and on the studio you use. The last reason is that a lot of people are thinking about us like 15 years before. But you can bet, the things have changed and our scene has too much to offer.

Manafob: I think the biggest for every band is: If you want to be famous, you have to play in clubs and be played in radios etc., but any club and radios want to play unknown bands. How to get over it? Hard work J.


- Are the members of your band only played in F.O.B or do you have some others projects? In that case maybe you can present these projects to the Metalstorm.ee users? And if not maybe you have some projects in mind?

Corbow: Yes, but only me /bass/ and Marty /drums/. We are involved in the band called JAPAMATA JAM PIT which is some kind of progressive ROCK/POP/HC/IDONTKNOWWHATELSE band (www.japamata.wz.cz). We just finished our first record so I wonder to know how it will be in the future. We rose this band several years ago with our 2 friends /g. and voc./ and I really enjoy playing there because its great to play some ideas which I can't play in FOB. My dream is to set a revival band of Iron Maiden but its not possible now due to my work and 2 bands where Im playing.


- Which bands have influenced you? Does your influences only come from Metal bands, or do you also like some other musical styles, like Jazz, Blues etc?

Corbow: First of all it was IRON MAIDEN in my childhood. Then comes bands like Metallica, Helloween, Amorphis, 6FU, Death, Testament and many others. Now Im listening to any styles. Yes, jazz rules. I have some record from Steve Smith's band Vital Information, some from Steve Gadd, Victor Wooten, solo project of Steve DiGiorgio Dark Hall, Billy Sheehan's Niacin and many others.






- Have you planned to tour out of the Czech Republic? Maybe we will have a chance to see you all over Europe?

Corbow: Sure, we have couple of shows in other countries every year and we returned from the minitour in Berlin 2 weeks ago. We have some opportunities to play in Europe but the big problem for us is the free time. We have our jobs and its not easy to get a big break and go for tour.

Manafob: After releasing new album we planned tour but possibly only in Czech rep. or Slovakia and spend summer in festivals. After that I want to make some shows abroad but (as Corbow said due to free time) only weekend shows... but who knows?


- What are your plans for the future of the band? Maybe you're already working on a new album?

Corbow: Definitely! We are preparing our new stuff because we want to go and record the new album in the winter 2005. We have about 6 songs which are ready and we would like to have 3 more. So we are working on the new material. Then there will be a tour for the new album and we will try to hit as many summer festivals as possible.


- Thanks a lot for this interview? Now, if you have anything to say to our readers? That's your turn...

Corbow: Thank you too and if anybody is interested in FOB just go and see our web page: www.fob.cz www.fob.cz
See you on tour!!!!!!!