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I am from Brad , like Andrei and Horia.
We were born in the same city.
My sister had a guitar
and I used it for a long time.
I think that ...Children's Palace was the first place,
where I actually learned how to use that guitar
and understand how it works.
I started listening to music when I was about 13,
with my friends, in different places.
We start drinking at a quite an early age.
As a child, my parents listened to all kinds of music.
We had, like a small tape recorder in the kitchen
and when my mom cooked or we ate,
we listened to a tape during the meal.
One of the first tapes that I recall very well
are ... Iris, Pasarea Colibri ...
We listened to a lot of folk music back then.
The first time I got connected to music when I was 13,
as a teenager.
I had a lot of free time and I needed to do something,
some activity that made you look special,
and then, I started playing musical instruments.
I listened to numerous bands at first,
but we never had thought to actually start playing in one.
In high school I went to a concert.
A local band played that night,
and then I was like....this is cool.
...I think, the 5'th grade was that special time for me.
The 5'th grade, Iron Maiden, Live After Death.
A lot of things changed then...
I started growing long hair,
wear black clothes,
leather jackets,
t-shirts with all the bands in the world.
...I just followed the rocker stencil.
I don't remember exactly...
Papa Roach, Infest, was the first album I listened.
I liked it a lot.
I got crazy. We jumped thoroughout the house.
Then I knew I want to be a musician too.
Everything got a bit more serious when I met Dunch.
He was in the same classroom with one of my friends.
Both wanted to make a band
and they needed a bass player,
so I became one, since I knew how to play a guitar.
...I think from that moment I knew this is what I want to do.
It toked me a while to find those people
that want the same thing as I do.
...
I started listening to another kind of music,
that was so new to me ...
It is one thing to listen, but actually to play that music (rock music)...
it seemed incredible for me.
Power chords! ...
I didn't even knew they existed, before someone showed them to me!
The fact is, that here (Cluj-Napoca) are a lot of young people,
to make a band here and find people
that understand you and resonate with your musical ideas
and also on all the levels
It's easier here in this town.
so, coming to Cluj was a good choice for me.
When I came to Cluj,
we started partying every night
drinking...going out constantly
...a new bar every night...
Everything was so new to me,
we felt like exploring a new world !
In high-school I played in a band.
"Amurg" we called ourselves.
We played cover songs.
We didn't knew how to play something else,
we didn't knew how to play correctly.
It was something to show you're different
...to meet new gilrs...
...to become popular in high school
I tried to find a guitar player for long time
and then I told Dunch about the idea
we both played before ...why not play together?
Rock Norris was born on the 1'st of May,
we were at a picnic,
like an ideea... I was already in collage
(R.N.) continued on the ideas form the first band
Cerbii din Carpati
We had a two years brake
2008-2009
Afterwards we decided to rejoin the band in some form.
Meanwhile, we had changed as musicians.
We were friends, having a lot of fun: partying, rehearsals. We enjoyed all of these.
It was great!
The truth is that I knew Andrei and Dorin from another band, Guerrillas
I didn't knew them that well back then.
We were not that close in those times.
I became closer to those two. We became friends,
...but the bond became stronger as Diamonds Are Forever was born.
I played in Budapest with a Hungarian band
INSANE
Hey guys!
That was a breakthrough moment for me and Dorin
when we saw their stage performance, I realized the truth
that such a small difference, a few hundred miles
between Cluj-Napoca and Budapest
but at the same time a huge gap between the performances...
In that moment I said: "Yes we need to change something! "
With Andrei and Guerrillas we had a show there.
We played that night after INSANE
We didn't know what to expect
and I'd said to Andrei, let's go downstairs and check them out
When they started with
some brakedowns that blew our minds
and we looked at each other and said:
Andrei, you realize that
if we wish to do the music we like
we have to take our path and leave Guerrillas
and follow our path
and Andrei said "I know..."
and from that point we started building our thing
until we had to leave the other band.
Everything happened in a friendly matter.
We had a tryout
to play "Face me"
in an early stage
It was far from the one that it's released
In the meantime
Mihai had his part on this
This is how it all began...
The first rehearsal together was not that special for me
I felt something going on,
...but I never thought that it will be that OK in the end.
I was called
by Dorin
We used to talk on Messanger
The first time we met was at a previous show in Gherla
They (A&D) were playing in another band back then
We were there with Rock Norris
They lacked a few members for their side project,
looking for a guitarist,
we needed a drummer.
Rock Norris was a band that existed at the same time as Pills of Trust
they had missed a drummer
I knew about this and called Dunch
I acted as I didn't knew a thing about their drummer.
Sorry?
I called him and I asked if he wants to try out our project
and was like: This is a perfect timing
right now we are missing a drummer
Then I said: Perfect let's meet and jam a bit
and get to know each other
Dunch came to a rehearsal
with a guitar on his back, sun glasses on, and a cap
I didn't knew how to address him
he didn't knew what to expect
We didn't knew what to tell him
We jammed a bit
and the first thing was the chorus for
the song that was to become "Face me".
Dorin knew about Dunch
He knew about Andi's leaving the band (R.N.)
and we said...OK let's try this
We knew them more or less at that time,
We agreed to try and get him to play with us
Dunch came to our rehearsal,
He enjoyed the idea.
We played a few jams together
and afterwards he said that he won't come without Mitzoc
Mihai brought a different thing:
melody and aggressiveness
that is perfect for this genre.
I didn't knew if I'd enjoy it,
but I said at least to try out
and we played "The eyes of blinded sorrow"
I'd heard that Mitzoc and Dunch had a new band
Andi (R.N) left, every one left from Rock Norris
I was the only one left out
and I'd said: Hey! What's going on?
I want to sing too!
I forced my way in...I just went at their rehearsal
(Dunch) He told me that two band joined
and they will be Diamonds Are Forever. In fact, later on I found out their name.
I knew something vague about Diamonds at first
They'd contacted me for a photo shooting
At first I thought the shooting was for someone else
but when I got there, they were not the band I expected.
I was like...It's OK, we can work it out...
I was really eager and open minded
to see how the band will sound
and how it will display visually on stage,
considering the fact that lots of new bands
were formed locally, but also quickly disappeared
It's different what you hear at a rehearsal, pauses and may tryouts
rather than what you hear at a live concert
with the vibe and everything.
A special moment was in November 2011
when we had chosen to enter
the Global Battle of The Bands Contest.
This way we could see where we stand as a band
The first EP release was due in December 2011
This contest was an opportunity for us
to see how we look, how we sound, how we feel on the stage.
We joined this contest.
We went to Bucharest, on totally different grounds for us.
(G.B.O.B) It was a great concert.
We had tons of fun.
I can't say that was their first live concert.
They only played like 3 songs there (G.B.O.B)
This is how things are done usually at contests in Romania,
10 minutes and your off.
The rest doesn't count what that band has to offer.
It was great, because
every time we go to a different place,
it's a new trip
We just got together with Dorin, Andrei and Horia
We just went there to have fun
-It's good! - Yeah, I know! Leave me some too!
(at G.B.O.B) I had goosebumps and an odd feeling
I didn't knew what was happening
It's like that thing: ...
Their music...generally speaking is positive
at least the sound
aggressive, but positive
It's about the vibe and the energy
that a band sounds transmits
That's all it counts!
The first real concert was the EP release party
I was... blown away
In my wildest dreams I had never thought
that we're going to have more than 350 people in the audience that night
Their first concert? I think everybody from Cluj
that listens to this genre went there that night.
It was their release party on 15'th of December 2011.
I got there by mistake.
'cause everyone I knew went there that night
I didn't knew what to expect
but this was my first contact with the band
and from this point on
I decided to land them a hand in the future.
Considering the fact that each one of them
had some background.
It really helped them.
On their release they sounded like a band
that had been playing for
at least a year, a year and a half.
I felt so good on the stage at that time
as I never felt before in my life
at a show.
Doesn't matter what type it was:
videos or music shows, ...anything I had done before
on something that relates to music,
it just couldn't match the feelings I had that night.
Then, I knew once again,
after the G.B.O.B experience,
that this is the band I want to play with;
This is the band I want to make future plans
whether they are small or big.
I wish to make them real with this guys.
The first concert with Diamonds Are Forever
I was very eager to see them finally on stage
and from the first few minutes
I was satisfied
I was really surprise to see
that finally a band from Cluj,
that plays metal-core the right way.
I got my t-shirt ripped off and lots of bruises
this is how I felt in the audience.
But it was way more than I expected!
I was reserved at first...
but it was really good.
The first impression....
...it was OK, working on their first EP
there were lots of things to improve
as it sounded quite bad
Cut this line out!
They were at a starting point, searching
I think they're still searching
since there are a lot of thing to discover with this music. - Are you still filming this?
It was OK.
But there were plenty of things to do.
It was a positive experience
Frankly, I am a quite a negative person
and I wasn't expecting a lot from a first show
A new band...metal-core
I was like...OK, let's give them a chance.
Let's see how things turn in the end
and I was like...WOW it can be done!
You think that it's the best song you have written,
but after you listen to it, it's not the same.
You get to play it until you can't do it anymore.
This were experiences from Rock Norris.
but when Diamonds entered the studio
there was another type of energy around.
I wanted to do things the right way this time.
I wasn't nervous, but I was more eager this time.
Pityu!
D Day - We're going to grab some food
milk, coffee, mmmmm
One week before the video shooting of "Face me"
I had a meeting with Gaby and Andrei
We've talked about the idea behind the video
where we can shoot this thing
We all had good ideas,
but they were out of reach.
Mihai wanted to film the music video
somewhere outdoor in the snow, but there was none.
Dunch wanted something else, on a bridge or something like this,
I'm sure Pityu wanted something also, I don't know,
probably a helicopter over Niagara Falls! I'm kidding!
Every idea we had was good
but we couldn't do it.
So we decided to record in a club
It's now like our second home for this stuff
Boiler Club from Cluj.
We had the full support from the club's management
They gave us the keys to the club
We filmed 14 hours straight
and after 3 days of continuous video editing
we had a music video that we all enjoyed.
It was really good.
The first music video
was a bit raw.
It was shoot easier.
The second one, we filmed it in....
in 14 hours!
We had numerous doubles
we moved and everything. It was exhausting!
We filmed a double and afterwards
I had to take a nap ...
I was really shocked
that it toked us from like 7 a.m.
until 10, 11 p.m. to finish the shooting.
Some of my friends were out having a barbecue,
but I was filming with the guys...
I'm glad I did this.
For me it was easy.
When you do something you enjoy,
at least I don't feel tired at all.
Go!
The first tour I ever had...
6 days and nights along with an Austrian band.
A really good band.
You will hear about them in the future.
It felt like a trip.
The tour; it makes you feel you can't go back,
no matter what happens each day
where you end up, where you go to sleep
you just move forward
and you never want to come back.
...with Breathelast, Give em Blood
they (D.A.F) sounded tight
From where they started,
they were heading towards what they were searching.
In April(2011) I got to see them
with Give em Blood and Breathelast.
Indeed a full concert can't compare with a contest. (G.B.O.B.)
The tour...It was great!
I can't wait for the next ones!
The DVD idea came to me.
We all thought of making one at some point,
but I really thought of making it real.
Last winter (2011)
after I watched, over and over - "Home" DVD by August Burns Red
I was like: We can do this also!
And we started planning
What we need, how can this be done,
where we can do it.
We summoned up people to help us with this project,
former schoolmates: Andrei, Thomas, Arthur
Catalin, Gaby, Kiddiez
All of them responded to our call instantly
They came and filmed us.
Calin Camarasan was responsible with the audio and light show.
He was a hero!
He stayed more than us getting things ready for the show
He came before us and stayed long after,
making sure everything is perfect.
He handled everything really well.
- Look how many lights are here! - I think two neighbourhoods will have power issues this night!
Good production.
It was a bit difficult, technically speaking,
because of the location's height.
In the end, I think everything worked out OK.
There were tons of things to do.
We planned this before
The guys came to our warehouse for rehearsals
lights scenarios;
We talked everything out
and I hope you will enjoy what came out.
It felt odd to make a DVD before an album.
For us, that time was the best time to do it.
We knew that Horia was due to live in France
We wished to have it with us for this DVD
The club, Boiler, helped us a lot.
We agreed to do it,
even though of some differences
in the process...
We filmed everything that night.
My personal thoughts for the DVD idea
I thought it was brilliant!
And the idea was, why such a young band
already makes a DVD?
From the first note played
the first song that night
When I hit the cymbal the first time,
We all forgot that there were 7 cameras on us
and a lots of things are at stake
money, time invested in this project
and we all enjoyed those moments.
The DVD idea is the best approach, at least here in Romania,
since this hasn't been done before in our country.
The guys worked really hard.
and made a huge step into making this Live DVD
It's not only about the sound,
it's not only about directing it,
it's about that vibe I talked about that you need to capture.
And that's not that easy,
in this city or here in our country.
I think they will manage things in the future,
but there are lots of things to improve,
to get to a level as bands like:
The Devil Wears Prada, I don't know
Asking Alexandria
There are lots of good bands out there. There's a lot of work ahead!
Finally there is a serious band
that plays metal, metal-core in Cluj-Napoca
From my point of view, I can't tell what's going to happen in the future,
since the metal scene is evolving constantly.
The only chance is to get out there in the world.
In 5 years I hope they sell lots of t-shirts.
Winter t-shirts. Good luck!
Maybe they will get where they deserve,
higher than at this point.
They are over many Romanian bands,
We can be proud of them! Diamonds Are Forever
With more tours, a few albums
and they remain friends
I can't give you a rating number,
but they are somewhere higher than 7, 8,
if they keep doing their work...
You know Mihai? (Breathelast)
Comparing them to other bands,
I see they are eager to make music videos, touring, concerts,
and this is the most important thing.
To make things to happen.
I feel like they have done in one year,
more than other Romanian bands in ten,
I'm not kidding!
I know a bit more stuff behind the scene.
I know what's going on in their private lives.
They all work hard.
Considering nowadays opportunities...
They have a lot of chances to make it out.
The music is globalized.
You can go abroad and have shows there,
You can exchange experience with foreign bands, etc.
If they keep up the good work...
It will be OK.
Maybe here in Romania we won't make a living from our music,
with awards and recognition, money or incredible concerts,
but this won't stop us!
We can try to leave this place,
and play our music for other people that appreciate it,
than most of the Romanians.
I wish...to stay as a group.
I don't know. I don't see an end.
I didn't set a final goal.
I hope to reach as high as we can,
I hope to have this as long as we can,
In the end what matters,
to stay as a group until the end.
This is what is important!
Diamonds Are Forever, for me,
it's a family.
This music it's more than a hobby,
I don't know.
It's a dream that came true,
but at the same time it still has more to offer.
A year ago,
after the first rehearsal with Dunch,
I told myself that in a year, a year and a half
to play in a band that I'll enjoy
it's sound, it's look.
Fortunately, with this DVD, my goal became real,
so, anything that happens from this point forward,
good or bad, I am 100% satisfied.
Yes, I wish to have world tours,
to get signed by a record label,
play on the largest stages in the world,
in front of 20-30k people.
Of course I wish these...
But...
from where we started,
What I wished to do,
and what we accomplished,
I'm 100% satisfied...