King SVK - Ivan 'King' Kráľ (metal music project)

Ivan King Kráľ born 1968 is a Slovakian musician and songwriter. He is best known as owner, the keyboardist and primary lyricist of the metal project - band King SVK. He has also recorded and performed with Lunatic Gods.

Early life

Childhood spent in Martin, a town in Slovakia. He attended the accordion lessons for 6 years under teacher ĽŠU Hrádocký. In the twelfth year of his life, a significant influence came into his life - athletics (sprint).

High-school age In high-school age, as everyone, He listened to music. I was mostly taken by the rock music, by the Czech bands Katapult and Citron. My musical feeling took the course towards rather harder style of music. With the coming of the eighties, a new musical style was born - NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal). That energy caught me. An off-centre culture from the west entered the then socialistic states. During my university studies in Bratislava (FTVŠ UK), He continued following the evolution of metal music by going on the live shows in Budapest (Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Helloween). He was spellbound by the magic of these shows. I started considering it.

Career

He bought a keyboard Roland JV-30 (1993) and He started the career of a keyboardist. PROTEST (SVK) (Death Metal) - After an accidental meeting, a guitarist Viktor Kotrík he invited him to their rehearsal. I entered a band where friendship played one of the main roles. The clash was finally solved by the singer Jaro Vavro, who took my side in it. CD What For Name... (1995) was one of the first streams of the metal genre in Slovakia. He myself contributed to it with one of my lyrics (Abandoned Love). In 1996

He significantly participated (with keyboard playing) on the debut album of band GALADRIEL (Doom Metal) - Empire Of Emptiness (1997) and MYSTIC DEATH (Black metal) (1997) Voices Of The Obscure World (1997)

BESTIALIT (Death Metal) - Pavel Hirax Baričák, he told him, that he and Peter Mortis Franek were starting a death metal band. The members of the band Bestialit were: Mortis - vocals, Hirax - guitar, Psycho - drums, King - keyboard. Mortis had been known to have excellent contacts with the world underground scene. He ounded the first music metal publishing company in Slovakia, Metal Age (1993). He intended to record a split CD with the band Dehydrated. The album was supported by a number of live performances.

LUNATIC GODS (Atmospherical Death Metal) - encouraged by the success of Bestialit, they worked on the first stand-alone album. We took on two new members: Richard - bass guitar and Emil - vocals. The album Inhuman & Insensible (1996) was recorded in Tomáš Kmeť's Exponent studio and also in Šulekovo near Leopoldov. During the recording we realized that a very extraordinary recording was being created. In a short time we were informed, that a publishing company from Sicily, Polyphemus Records, was interested in putting out our album. A suggestion to change the name of the band occurred. Hirax and Mortis came with the new name of Lunatic Gods, with which the rest of the group immediately identified. In 1996 the long-awaited album was put out, supported by a number of live performances in the Slovak and the Czech republic. The album was also supported by the magazine Metal Hammer CS (in a 1997 opinion poll our band was labeled as the best band in the Czech as well as the Slovak republic). By then they had been playing in a number of festivals and the fan response to songs was immense. Sitting By The Fire (1998). It was recorded in Dušan Antalík's (band TEAM) studio and it was put out in Metal Age Productions. Many live concerts followed, such as Dynamo North Power Jam - Litoměřice (the Czech republic), where they played side-by-side with the bands like Benediction, In Flames and Therion (1998). In time many differences of opinions occurred in our band as to what course should the band pick up. Personal squabbles came to surface. Ivan suggested a rather upward radical progress, which did not meet with understanding amongst the rest of the band. Ivan spent 7 years in the band but in 2000 I finally decided to leave the group. The decision-making was not easy at all.

 KING SVK (Progressive Heavy - Death Metal): in 1998 Ivan started to gradually work on solo project. In 2000 I realized a recording Royal Metal in studio Exponent, Slovakia. The album's vocalists were Roman Slávik and Dodo Ďatel. Guitarist Pavel Baričák significantly contributed to the album with his authorial creativity too. The album was to be put out in the German label KMG/System Shock. The contract to put out three albums was signed. After two years of waiting, the publisher cancelled the contract with the explanation that the situation on the music market was not profitable. The second album in sequence, Libertarian, was created in 2003. The guitar part and the authorial contribution were executed by Pavol Rusnák. The vocals were predominantly provided by Dodo.

Name of a third studio album is New Æon (Sliptrick records 2019) Recording in studio Kobka, Martin, Slovakia. The pillars of the project are two musicians: Ivan King Kráľ - keyboards, programming, lyrics and Norbert Noro Ferencz - guitars.Musician Norbert from Slovakia recorded guitars. The project could start moving forward again.

KING SVK members:

Ivan King Kráľ - keyboards - programming, songwriting  (2000 - present)

Pavel Hirax Baričák - guitar and bass (2000 - 2002)

Pavol Veles Rusnák - guitar (2003 - 2005)

Jozef Dodo Ďatel - vocal (2000 - 2018)

Norbert Noro Ferencz - guitar and bass (2016 - 2021)

Ivan King Kráľ discography:

Protest (SVK) (1993 - 1994)

What For Name, When Is Humanity Dying... (1995) MC, CD

Galadriel (1996)

Empire Of Emptiness (1997) CD

Mystic Death (1997)

Voices Of The Obscure World (1997) MC, CD

Bestialit (1993 - 1994)

Fuckland / Burnt  (1994) Split CD

Lunatic Gods (1994 - 2000)

Cuckoo (1999) Vinyl EP

Inhuman And Insensible (1996) MC, CD

Sitting By The Fire (1998) MC, CD

King SVK (2000 - until today)

CD Compilations

Metal Reigns Supreme - Metal Anthem (2001)

The Grimoire Of Exalted Deeds #6: War Dance - Killing Fields (2001)

Fresh Blood (Čerstvá Krev) - Headbangers (2013)

Metal Hammer Portugal, subsolo #22 - Homeless (2020) Digipak

CDs

Royal Metal (2000) CD

Libertarian (2003) CD

New Aeon (2019) CD

Ivan King Kráľ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023 (2023) CD compilation digipack

Web links:

Bandcamp: ivankingkral.bandcamp.com

Bandzone: bandzone.cz/kingsvk

Instagram: instagram.com/king.svk/

N1M: n1m.com/king

YouTube: youtube@kingsvk

King SVK - video platforms

Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/KingSVK

DAILYMOTION: https://www.dailymotion.com/ivankralsvk

IVAN KING KRÁĽ - Retrospektive 1993 - 2023. To je názov osobnej digipakovej CD kompilácie - termín vydania 31. 10. 2023, Sliptrick records (LTA). Sampler mapuje 30-ročné pôsobenie na hudobnej scéne Ivana ako skladateľa, klávesistu a textára.

Vždy som bol fanúšikom LUNATIC GODS a oceňoval som originálny zvuk a kreativitu kapely - ako si pomohol založiť kariéru a rozbehnúť ju?

album Inhuman & Insensible (1996) - Polyphemus records bol úspešný. Počas nahrávania v štúdiu nám začalo dochádzať, že vzniká neobvyklá nahrávka. V tej dobe takto nikto nehral. Ohlas fans na skladby počas koncertov bol obrovský. Najžiadanejšia bola skladba HATE. Energiu získanú od fanúšikov sme vložili do

albumu - Sitting By The Fire (1998) - MAP.

Môj podpis na celkovej podobe prvých dvoch albumov je citeľný. Podieľal som sa autorsky aj cennými radami pri nahrávaní a mixáži v štúdiu. V r. 2000 som kapelu po 7 rokoch opustil. Dnes je tvorba L. G. orientovaná na slovanský Folk metal.

Metal Hammer CS - rozhovor Vysoko a predsa pri zemi s Mortisom a Hiraxom (1996). Metal Hammer CS vychádzal v rokoch 1994 - 1999 a redakcia sídlila v Košiciach. Zakladateľom česko-slovenskej mutácie bol Branislav Mathe.

Web linky:

Ako sa Ti darí? Aký je to pocit, keď vychádza tento epický retrospektívny album?

IVAN KING KRÁĽ - Retrospektive 1993 - 2023. To je názov osobnej digipakovej CD kompilácie - termín vydania 31. 10. 2023, Sliptrick records (LTA). Sampler mapuje moje 30-ročné pôsobenie na hudobnej scéne ako skladateľa, klávesistu a textára.

Dá sa povedať, že som bol pri všetkom dôležitom, čo sa na slovenskej metalovej scéne udialo. Ovplyvnil som kapely autorsky, zúčastnil sa nahrávaní debutových albumov: Protest, Mystic Death, Galadriel, Lunatic Gods. Postupom času sa z týchto mien stali legendy. So svojím hudobným projektom King SVK udržiavam pomyselnú metalovú vlajku vztýčenú naďalej.

Keď si spomeniem na udalosti z minulosti, uvedomím si, ako hlboko ovplyvnili moje bytie. Viem, že minulosť nebola ilúziou a cez prítomnosť z nej načerpám vedomosť, silu a inšpiráciu pre formovanie úspešnej budúcnosti. Minulosť je potrebné vnímať ako odrazový mostík. Je úžasné uvedomiť si seba: slová a činy - svoje JA. Zhodnotiť, či sa splnili túžby.

Ako vznikol tento nápad? Pripomína mi to, ako som si zostavil svoj "playlist obľúbených" hudobníkov a všetkých ich diel.

Presne tak, o niečo podobné ide aj u tohto výberového albumu. Cieľom nebolo to, aby som sa stal zberateľom vlastných CDs, ale aby si moje hudobné pôsobenie utriedili fans, respektíve ozrejmila širšia verejnosť.

Začnime piesňou "Abandoned Love" od PROTESTU, to bol taký jedinečný album, umelecké dielo - aké to bolo byť jeho súčasťou?

Death metal a zvukovo pestré klávesy - táto kombinácia je fascinujúca. Výraz umelecké dielo je výstižný - artwork albumu, hudba. Od začiatku svojej kariéry sa snažím vytvárať hodnotný materiál. Protest vznikol v roku 1989 a ovplyvnili nás kapely Hypocrisy, The Gathering, Nocturnus. CD What For Name, When Hunanity Is Dying... (1995) bolo jedným z prvých v deathmetalovom žánri na Slovensku a istý čas aj najpredávanejším u Metal Age productions. Text tejto piesne som napísal ja. Kapela stihla vydať 3 štúdiové albumy do predčasnej smrti dvoch zakladajúcich členov: Jaro Vavro, Igor Prejsa. 

Ako si sa dostal k hosťovaniu na debutovej plnohodnotnej nahrávke pre GALADRIEL?

To je zaujímavý životný príbeh. Písal sa rok 1994 a ja som pôsobil ako učiteľ na Strednej odbornej škole polygrafickej v Bratislave - Rači. Tú navštevoval vtedy 16-ročný žiak, Jozef 'Dodo' Ďatel (vokál a basová gitara). Diskutovali sme o hudbe, spriatelili sa. Spomínal mi, že zakladá skupinu s názvom Trojan Warrior, kt. neskôr premenoval na tolkienovský GALADRIEL. Spontánne padlo rozhodnutie spolupracovať. V zakladajúcej zostave boli aj gitarista Voloďa Zadrapa a bubeník Dr. Victor Gieci. Vypomohol som hrou na klávesy, aj cennými radami počas nahrávania, pri mixáži skladieb. Nahrávka Empire Of Emptiness (1997), vyšla vo vydavateľstve Unknown Territory (UK) na CD nosiči. Skupina k dnešku realizovala 7 štúdiových albumov a hudobným smerom bol dark - doom metal.

MYSTIC DEATH bola zmena štýlu, s blackmetalovým zvukom. Aké to bolo s nimi pracovať?

Black metal ako štýl sa mi páči. Aj dnes sa snažím zaradovať jeho prvky do tvorby projektu King SVK. Keď som sa dozvedel, že agilné vydavateľstvo Metal Age productions má v pláne vydať album ďalšej skupiny z Martina, spozornel som. Mal som vtedy vytvorené MIDI sequencerom Roland MC 50 MK II. viaceré intrá a rozmýšľal som, ako ich použiť. Keď som ich chlapcom ponúkol, ihneď došlo k dohode o spolupráci. Počas hudobných skúšok sme všetko prispôsobili podľa potreby. Výrazne som pomohol pri aj v aranžovaní skladieb. Niektoré songy boli príliš minutážou dlhé - boli skrátené. Album Voices Of The Obscure World (1997) vyšiel u MAP na CD, MC a stal sa kultom. Utkvela mi v pamäti Blackmoonova recenzia naň v magazíne Spark. Redaktor pridelil albumu plný počet bodov a užasnutý kričal: „ Nóóóó! Toto je žrádlo! Skvelé klávesy, tie melódie! Blackmetalový orgazmus.“  

Big Boss, frontman ROOT sa vyjadril o kapele takto: „Podľa môjho názoru je Mystic Death jediná kapela z CS scény, ktorej hudba znie ako Black Metal.”

Dôvody rozpadu skupiny boli: osobné problémy, nedostatok času venovať sa kapele. Skladba Deathbreath In Northen Sky je súčasťou exkluzívnej kompilácie Ivan King Kráľ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023 (https://kingsvk.bandcamp.com). https://kingsvk.bandcamp.com/track/mystic-death-deathbreath-in-the-northern-sky

Poďme sa porozprávať o kapele EDITOR a ich mieste v slovenskej thrashmetalovej histórii. Prečo bola vybraná skladba "Escape"?

Začiatky EDITORu (1988) sa niesli v znamení thrash metalu, neskôr Hardcore. Skupina patrila medzi priekopníkov týchto štýlov na Slovensku. Z pôvodnej zostavy zostal vokalista Milan „Doctor“ Jakubík. Skupina dodnes vydala 8 štúdiových albumov.

Cover skladba skupiny Metallica - Escape bola exkluzívne nahraná pre české vydavateľstvo TAGA rec. a vydaná na kompilačnom CD, ako pocta Cliffovi Burtonovi - 10 Years After... (1996). Na nahrávaní skladby som sa v hudobnom štúdiu Shaark, Bzenec spolupodieľal ako hosťujúci hudobník a priateľ skupiny. Escape je jedna z nedocenených skladieb, v podaní Editoru pôsobí sviežim dojmom. Je súčasťou exkluzívnej kompilácie Ivan King Kráľ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023 (https://kingsvk.bandcamp.com). https://kingsvk.bandcamp.com/track/editor-escape-metallica-cover

Vždy som bol fanúšikom LUNATIC GODS a oceňoval som originálny zvuk a kreativitu kapely - ako ste pomohli založiť kariéru a rozbehnúť ju?

Povzbudení úspechom split CD Bestialit / Dehydrated sme pripravovali album Inhuman & Insensible (1996) - Polyphemus records. Hirax s Mortisom vytvorili na návrh vydavateľstva nový názov kapely - LUNATIC GODS. Počas nahrávania nám začalo dochádzať, že vzniká neobvyklá nahrávka. V tej dobe sme hrali na veľkých festivaloch, ohlas fans na skladby bol obrovský. Energiu od fanúšikov sme vložili do 2. albumu - Sitting By The Fire (1998) - Metal Age productions.

Časom vyšli na povrch rozdielne názory na to, akým smerom sa má skupina v budúcnosti uberať. Presadzoval som radikálny postup smerom nahor, to sa nestretlo s pochopením u ostatných členov skupiny. V roku 2000 som kapelu po 7 rokoch opustil. Dnes je tvorba L. G. orientovaná na slovanský Folk metal. Zaujímavou posilou je bubeník Martin „Marthus“ Škaroupka (Cradle Of Filth). 

Spolupracoval si s Pavlom 'Hiraxom' Baričákom a Ferom 'Psychom' Sochulákom v rôznych kapelách. Prosím, informuj našich čitateľov, aké to bolo spolupracovať s nimi? 

Boli to tieto skupiny: Editor, Protest, Bestialit - Lunatic Gods. Hirax (gitara) a Psycho (bicie nástroje) boli hudobní samoukovia a nerozluční kamaráti z martinského mestského sídliska Priekopa. Pochádzali z partie, ktorá fandila metalovej muzike a spoločne si obstarávali na burzách LP nosiče metalových skupín. Hirax o tejto dobe a zážitkoch napísal a vydal knihu: Vždy pripravený!

Ja som zas zostavil internetový projekt: História martinského metalu v rozhovoroch, ktorý zmapoval martinskú metalovú scénu (1985 - 2010). https://martinmetalmusic.wbl.sk/

Hudobná spolupráca s nimi bola OK. Prijali ma medzi seba a spoločne sme sa bezhlavo vrhli do tvorby muziky - zdokonaľovali náš osobitý hudobný štýl. Práca nám išla veľmi dobre. Ja osobne som chcel po 2. albume v Lunatic Gods viac tvoriť úderné, rýchle skladby v štýle kapely Slayer. Hirax mal naopak v pláne L.G. tvoriť zložitejšie, viacminútové eposy (obľuboval progresívny rock - Progres 2, skupinu z Brna). Viedli sme rozhovory ako ďalej, no tomto sme sa názorovo rozišli.

Dnes má Hirax svoju kapelu RAMCHAT. Psycho už nie je hudobne aktívny, žije samotárskym civilným životom a v koženej taške si so sebou „nosí svoju dušu“.    

Potom tu máme samozrejme albumy King SVK. ako by si opísal svoju prácu a zvuk, ktorý ste vytvorili?

Album New Aeon nevznikol unáhlene. Aranžmánom skladieb, zvukovej réžii a mixu bol venovaný dostatok času, úsilia. Skladby albumu majú potenciál získavať mnoho priaznivcov. Všetky recenzie na album boli fantastické. Vydalo ho na CD nosiči v Lotyšsku pôsobiace talianske vydavateľstvo Sliptrick records (2019). Možnosti práce so zvukom sú veľké, gitarista Norbert Ferencz má veľkú zásluhu na konečnej zvukovej verzii. Chceme byť aj naďalej do budúcna originálni - experimentovať. 

Milujem album King SVK - New Aeon. Napísali ste od jeho vydania nové piesne?  Kedy vyjde nová hudba?

New Aeon je naozaj skvelý album a prekonať ho bude výzva. Mám pripravených 10 autorských skladieb a 2 covery kapely Death: Voice Of The Soul a Crystal Mountain. Témy textov sa budú zaoberať gréckou mytológiou, vojnovou tematikou, slováci vo vojne. V poradí 4. dlhohrajúci radový album vyjde predpokladám v roku 2025. Predchádzať mu bude singel s videoklipom. Momentálne rokujem so spevákom Timom 'Ripperom' Owensom ako s hosťujúcim spevákom. Dúfam, že dôjde k dohode a spolupráca bude realitou.

Keď sa obzrieš späť na svoju kariéru na čo si najviac hrdý? Aký je Tvoj najväčší doterajší úspech?

Vystupoval som na veľkých festivaloch: Dynamo North Power Jam Litoměřice, Nuclear Storm. Odohral som s L. G. cca 200 'živých' koncertov. Časopis Metal Hammer CS vyhlásil Lunatic Gods v ankete za najlepšiu skupinu v Českej a Slovenskej republike (1997). K dnešku mám na konte celkom 9 plnohodnotných albumov s rôznymi kapelami. S projektom King SVK neustále stúpame v kvalite. V súčasnosti sa teším z celosvetovej distribúcie a reklamy, ktorú mi zabezpečuje vydavateľstvo Sliptrick records. 

Čo by si povedal na záplavu nahrávok zlej kvality aj obsahu, ktorá sa objavuje na internete?

Niektorá nepočúvateľná hudba má mnoho miliónov počutí. Internetový priestor je týmto zamorený. Treba si položiť otázku: prečo hudobný priemysel produkuje tak zlú hudbu a prečo to niekto konzumuje? Vidím v tom zámer. Robí sa to preto, aby sa vytratili normálne hodnoty. Cieľom je vychovať vyšinutých, zmätených jedincov. Ale čím sa zaoberáte, tým sa my sami stávate. Napájate sa na egregor, ktorý vzniká z kolektívnych myšlienok určitej skupiny ľudí. Takže pozor: „ak konzumujete odpad, môžete sa sami stať...“ 

Niečo na záver?

Transcending The Mundane - American music magazine, Issue #42 (2024). Interview - Ivan King Kráľ , table of contents 54 - 56.

How are you doing? How does it feel having this epic retrospective album come out?

IVAN KING KRÁĽ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023. This is the title of a personal digipak CD compilation - release date October 31, 2023 by Sliptrick records (LTA). This compilation charts my 30 years on the music scene as a composer, keyboardist and lyricist.                                                                                                    I have been present at everything important that has happened on the Slovak metal scene. I have influenced bands like Protest, Editor, Mystic Death, Galadriel, Lunatic Gods, participated in recording of their debut albums as a member of the band or as a guest. Over time, these names have become legends. With my music project King SVK, I keep the imaginary metal flag flying.

When I recall the events of the past, I realize how deeply they have affected my being. I know that the past was not an illusion and through the present I will draw from it the knowledge, strength and inspiration to shape a successful future. It is wonderful to become aware of yourself, your words and actions - your SELF. To evaluate whether dreams, desires have come true. The past must therefore be seen as a stepping stone.

2. Where did the idea originate?  It reminds me of how I put together my "favorites playlist" of musicians and all their works.

Exactly. Something similar is going on with this compilation. The goal was not for me to become a collector of my own CDs, but for my work over the last 30 years to be sorted out by the fans, or made known to the general public.

3. Let's start with the Protest song, "Abandoned Love," this was such a unique album, the artwork as well- what was it like being a part of this?

The term - artwork is very apt - it describes a lot. Since the beginning of my career I have been trying to make valuable material within music. Protest was created in 1989. Death metal and keyboards - this combination is fascinating. We were influenced by bands like The Gathering, Nocturnus. CD What For Name, When Hunanity Is Dying... (1995) was one of the first in the death metal genre in Slovakia and for some time the best seller on Metal Age Productions (SVK). The lyrics of this song were written by me. The band managed to release 3 studio albums. 

4. How did you come to guest on the debut full length for Galadriel?

It's an interesting life story. It was 1994 and I was working as a teacher at the Secondary vocational school of polygraphy in Bratislava - Rača. This was attended by a then 16-year-old pupil Dodo Ďatel (vocal & bass guitar). We talked about music and became friends. He mentioned to me that he founded the band Trojan Warrior, which he later renamed tolkien's GALADRIEL (1995). Spontaneously, the decision to collaborate was made. I helped my friends considerably by playing the keys. Also with valuable advice during the recording & mixing of the songs. Empire Of Emptiness (1997) was released on Unknown Territory (UK). The band has released 7 studio albums. The musical direction was doom - dark metal.

5. Mystic Death was more of a change in style, with the black metal sound what was it like working with them?

I like black metal and I try to incorporate its elements into King SVK's work even today. When I heard that the agile Metal Age productions label is planning to release an album by another Martin band, I was intrigued. I had created sequencer intros at that time and I was wondering how to use them. When I offered the guys to use them, the deal was immediately done. During rehearsals we adapted everything as needed. I helped a lot in arranging the songs. Some of the songs were long, the riffs were pointlessly repetitive. That's why they were edited - shortened. The Voices Of The Obscure World album was released in 1997.  I remember Blackmoon's review in Spark magazine (CZ). He shouted in amazement: "This is food! Great keyboards, those melodies!"                            Big Boss, frontman of ROOT, had this to say about the band: "In my opinion, MYSTIC DEATH is the only band from the CS scene whose music sounds like black metal."                                                                                                          The album has not been surpassed to this day and has become a cult hit. However, the main reasons for the band's break-up were: personal problems and lack of time to devote to the band. Track Deathbreath In The Northen Sky is included on the exclusive compilation Ivan King Kráľ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023 at https://kingsvk.bandcamp.com/.

6. Let's discuss Editor and their place in Slovakian thrash metal history.  Why was "Escape" chosen as a cover? 

The beginnings of EDITOR (1988) were marked by Thrash metal, Hardcore and the band was one of the pioneers of this musical style in Slovakia. Only Milan "Doctor" Jakubík (vocals) remained from the original line-up. The group has released 8 studio albums to date. Metallica's cover song Escape was exclusively recorded in Shaark studio, Bzenec for TAGA records (CZ). It was released as a compilation CD, as a tribute to Cliff Burton - 10 Years After... (1996). I participated in the recording as a guest musician and friend of the band. Escape is one of the underrated tracks, this version makes a fresh impression. It is part of the exclusive Ivan King Kráľ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023 compilation at https://kingsvk.bandcamp.com/.

7. I was always a fan of Lunatic Gods and appreciated the original sound and creativity of the band- how did you help establish their career and get them going?

While recording Inhuman & Insensible (1996) in the studio, it began to dawn on us that an unusual record was being made. We put the energy from our fans into further work and the second album, Sitting By The Fire (1998), was born. As time went on, differences of opinion surfaced among the band members as to what direction the band should take in the future. I was pushing for a radical move upwards, but this was not met with understanding. I was disappointed. I felt at the time we had a chance to break into the metal elite. In 2000 I left the band after 7 years. The decision was not easy. The band has released 8 studio albums. Today L.G.'s work is oriented towards Slavic folk-metal. There are two original members. The drummer Martin 'Marthus' Škaroupka (Cradle Of Filth) is an interesting addition.

8. You worked with Pavel 'Hirax' & Fero 'Psycho'  in different bands please inform our readers what it was like collaborating with them?

Yeah. I must commend you for this knowledge. These bands were Editor, Protest and Bestialit - Lunatic Gods. Hirax (guitar) & Psycho (drums) were self-taught and inseparable friends from the Priekopa housing estate in Martin. They came from a bunch who were fans of metal music and together they used to buy records of metal bands. In the 1980s they used to go to stock exchanges and buy vinyl records. Hirax wrote about this time and the different experiences - he published a book: Always ready! I put together an internet project: The history of Martin's metal in interviews (1985 - 2010).

The musical collaboration with the two of them was good. They took me in and together we plunged headlong into making music. Gradually we got better and better. We had a good momentum going, we were great together. Personally, I wanted to make punchy, fast songs with keys: something in the style of Slayer. Hirax, on the other hand, had a plan to start making complex, multi-minute epic songs (he liked progressive rock - a band from Brno, Progres 2). In 2000 we had a difference of opinion on this issue. Today Hirax has his own band called RAMCHAT (Pagan death metal). Psycho is no longer musically active, he lives a solitary civilian life and carries his soul with him in a leather bag.

9. Then of course we have the King SVK albums how would you describe your work and the sound you have established?

The album New Aeon was not made in haste. A lot of time and effort was devoted to the arrangement of the songs, sound direction and mixing. The songs from this album have the potential to win many fans. All the reviews for the album have been fantastic. The album was released on CD by Sliptrick records, an Italian label based in Latvia, on 22 October 2019. The possibilities to work with the sound are great, guitarist Norbert Ferencz has a lot of credit for the final sound version. We want to continue to be original in this.

10. I love the New Aeon album- have you written new songs since its release?  When will you have new music coming out?

New Aeon is a great album and to top it will be a challenge. There are 10 original songs and 2 covers by Death: Voice Of The Soul & Crystal Mountain. The themes of the lyrics will deal with Greek mythology, WW2. The new, 4th in line album will be released in 2025. It will be preceded by a single with a music video. I'm currently in talks with singer Tim 'Ripper' Owens as a guest vocalist. Hopefully a deal will come together and he will agree to collaborate.

11. Looking back on your career - what are you most proud of?  What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

I've performed at big festivals, e.g. Dynamo North Power Jam Litoměřice (1998). I have played 200 live shows with Lunatic Gods and Metal Hammer CS magazine named the best metal band in the Czech republic and Slovakia (1997). To date I have a total of 9 full-length albums with various bands. With the King SVK project I am constantly going up in quality.

Melodic Rock AOR - exclusive review and promo records:

Ivan 'King' Kr​á​ľ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023 (30th Anniversary Compilation).  

This is the title of a personal digipak CD compilation - release date October 31, 2023 (Halloween) by Sliptrick records (LTA).

Ivan - keyboardist, composer, lyricist from Martin, Slovakia takes stock of his performance: "I have been present at everything important that has happened on the Slovak metal scene in the last 30 years. I have influenced bands like Protest, Galadriel, Lunatic Gods and others, participated in the recording of their debut albums. Over time, these names have become legends. With the music project King SVK, I hold the metal flag unwaveringly on."

Bandcamp:

https://ivankingkral.bandcamp.com/album/ivan-king-kr-retrospective-1993-2023-30-years-anniversary-compilation

Ivan 'King' Kr​á​ľ - Retrospective 1993 - 2023 (30 Years anniversary personal compilation)