Interview with Florian Grill of Dying Victims Productions

Questions by Sandi Mujanovic & answers by Florian Grill
(2024/02/23)

I started the Thrash Attack zine in 2005/2006, first issue came out in mid-2006. Definitely not monthly haha, the first few issues came out every couple of months, but then when they became thicker and more work was involved, I think I did like 2 issues a year. Then I also started the label and I had to split my time between both activities. My last issue came out in 2017, the one before in 2012. So I think by now you could say it’s discontinued, yes. I just don’t have the time for it anymore.

Question 2:

Your first release on DVP was a cassette from Iron Kobra going back to 2009, was this also the year you came up with the label name, because you are from the same area as Kreator perhaps you called it Dying Victims or you just worship Endless Pain? Please elaborate if you can?

Back then I did not live in the Ruhr-area, I am not originally from here, so it’s not that. I simply worship “Endless Pain” and even back then I thought that it’s a bit lazy to always pick the obvious choice. The cooperation with Iron Kobra has been very close and great ever since, new material is in the works, so hopefully not too far away anymore.

Question 3:
Did you get any support from your parents in starting a label or you had a side-job to help finance your early releases, maybe you made some cash with Thrash Attack zine?

I mean anyone can do underground activities like this, you don’t need (a lot of) money for it. I was a pupil with a small monthly allowance, but for a diy cut n paste zine you only need a printer, scissors and glue. I sold and traded between 300 and 500 copies of each issue and all money made went back into it/trading tapes, going to shows etc. At first it is a mix of taking out a few bucks and putting in a few more out of “your own pocket”. Same with the label, just did tapes and the odd cd at first, so a part time job next to university was enough. You should not go into underground music with the plan to make money, but of course it is nice when you realize at some point that you don’t have to pump a lot of your own money into your very time consuming “hobby”.

Question 4:
How come metalheads are less into drugs and more into alcohol compared to the electronic genres
like techno, have you noticed, or am I wrong? Punks also like to sniff speed, do you like that too?

Guess it depends who you are hanging out with, have the impression it is fairly big in the black and death metal scene. Are you into it? (Editor SM: I stopped doing drugs some time ago)

Question 5:
Can you make a top-5 list of most best-selling DVP releases since 2020 and onward?

Knife, Megaton Sword, Venator, Sortilege, Nocturnal, Midnight Priest were some that did really well, but most of the releases have their crowd. It’s always a matter of presentation, activeness in the scene, current “trends” etc.

Question 6:
Do you enjoy any other music genres besides metal and rock in your private life when you are relaxing and drinking a beer aside it?

Of course, I ve said this repeatedly, from my point of view people have different moods and emotions, so why limit to only one style. I like to listen to 60/70s prog/psychedelic music, post punk, hardcore, singer songwriter and some more, but it’s mostly guitar-driven music.

Question 7:
What record labels from the 80s do you most look up to or influenced you?

Ironically enough, I don’t really think like that in terms of the 80s scene. I mean some of them released insane amounts of killer records, but I mostly orientate myself towards bands rather than labels.

Question 8:
Do you have any aspirations of opening a physical record store that customers can visit somewhere in Germany?

It would be great to have a small section in my warehouse where people can always drop in, but it’s a matter of time, space and money because you’d basically need some helper to take care of this. I feel like traditional record stores are mostly not doing that great, unless they are either huge or got a mega special selection, do online sales as well or offer events/experiences on top of selling records, so nope, a shop is not planned. People can order online and pick up their records in the warehouse though.

Question 9:
Do you like Agent Steel and what do you think of John Cyriis with his conspiracy theories, is he onto something? You believe in alien life forms?

Honestly, this story has long been told and it has proven again and again that there is no reason to give this guy any more credit/chances in the metal scene. Not interested in his stories either.

Question 10:
What band are your most proud of getting the honour to release on your label so far? You can name more than 1 if you want.

I am super happy with all of my releases, because each and every one of them represent the trust of and cooperation with a band that I like, so that’s great. But of course cooperation with acts such as Sortilege or Pagan Altar are a special honour. Also very happy to work with friends and long-time supporters of the German underground scene like Nocturnal or Witching Hour.

Question 11:
You still work with an old school excel list for wholesale customers right? Will you hire a programmer to incorporate wholesale option into your webshop someday?

This has been on the to do list for quite a while, but of course my time (and money) is limited, running the day to day affairs and all things connected with that are often simply the priority. It should finally happen in the near future though.

Question 12:
Any old legends you have an eye on that you want to reissue on CD or LP? High Roller snagged most of the great ones, do you deal with them?

Of course High Roller and I deal with each other, since the early days of my label. Steffen has built an incredibly impressive imperium with his label and has been reissuing countless classics as well as hidden gems. There are still endless good records out there, but I mostly focus on releasing new bands. It’s a lot more difficult and time consuming to reissue material, especially if the rights situation is not clear, no masters are available and people are hard to reach.

Questioon 13:
Since recent times you launched your own label’s festival featuring many talents from your label, when will the next edition take place? Who is on the billing so far? Please tell us more who is helping you organize it all if you can?

Last year saw the first edition which was frankly speaking an incredible experience and a great success. Everyone including bands, guests, helpers and myself had a killer time. The 2nd edition is taking place in April this year and has been sold out for a few weeks as well. I am doing all the organisation myself, but have a dedicated team of many friends who are helping me during the weekend as stage hands, selling merch, manning the door, working the backstage or simply carrying stuff from a to b. It would simply not be possible to pull this kind of festival off without their incredible support!

Question 14:
What does the Destruction album Infernal Overkill mean to you, one of your favs for sure? You ever seen them live on stage?

Killer record obviously, I got into it right from the get go when I entered the underground scene. Still it was never one of my main bands/records. Have seen them a few times over the years, but cannot get over their modern sound, so I won’t be going out of my way to see them again.

Question 15 (last one):
What are the future plans of Dying Victims, would you like to get absorbed by a major such as Metal Blade or rather stay independent?

Weird question haha

I will continue the same way as I have done so far, work with new acts and established underground bands, do a gig/festival every now and then. Of course it is great and has advantages if certain aspects of the operation grow and become more professional (would have never expected the label to reach the point it is at now), but in the end this is only about the infrastructure and not about the music. I do have professional physical and digital distribution (The Orchard) but that does not mean that I cannot release the debut album by a band that nobody has ever heard of before.

Thanks for the interview!

Cheers

Florian