A little history before we begin today.
The name Gurkhas comes from the legendary Nepalese soldiers known for their ferocity in battle. So legendary were they that they stopped the British Army at the height of its power. Ok, the Gurkhas actually lost a quarter of their land with the Treaty of Sugauli. However, you’ve got to remember this is the British Empire during the 1800s. Throw a dart on a map and Britain probably conquered it, however when they got to Nepal they had such a fight on their hands the British peaced out for only a quarter of the country. (If you know anything about the British Empire and it’s history, if they could have taken it all – they would, which should tell you everything you need to know about the Gurkhas and how legendary their antics in battle were.)
The British were so impressed by their skill they would then form a Gurkha regiment that is still active 200 years later in the UK army today. Many in Britain may remember when actress Joanna Lumley (I know, a surprise, right?!) publicly campaigned for Gurkha veterans to gain the right to settle in the UK around 2008. On a moral level, this should have always been a given: if someone is going to offer their life for another country and that country’s goals, that country should at least have the decency to let them live there once their career as one of its soldiers is over.
If you go by the ideas of citizenship as presented in Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers (or just look at Ancient Rome, from which Heinlein was likely influenced), you could argue that Gurkhas who fought for Britain deserve citizenship more than your average birth-right Brit; that is someone who was born there but who has never done anything to earn that citizenship.
Anyway, it’s perhaps fitting, then, that a name so steeped in grit and ferocity would find its way into the world of metal. After all, what better inspiration for a death metal band than warriors renowned for their brutality and resilience? Enter Gurkkhas – not the soldiers this time, but the band.
Formed in 1999 by former members of Delayed Action Bomb, Gurkkhas quickly established themselves in the European death metal scene with their relentless sound and intense live performances. Their early albums, “Engraved in Blood, Flesh and Souls” (2000) and “A Life of Suffering” (2001), showcased a blend of crushing riffs, guttural vocals, and unyielding rhythms. However, the band disappeared as quick as it emerged, calling it quits back in 2003.
20 years later and Gurkhas are back, and last year released the compilation album “A Life of Suffering”, released via Great Dane Records. This collection features some of their most intense tracks, remixed, and revitalised, to capture the raw power and aggression that defined their earlier work.
D caught up with Jeff and Romain to talk about their reunion, plans for the future, and French death metal as a whole.
Gurrkhas Interview (With Jeff and Romain, by D.)
The best place to start is usually, in your own words, what is Gurkkhas? How did this all begin in 1999?
- Jeff (Vocals) : Hello, man… the band was born as a result of the split of the Thrash death group ” D.A.B”. Me and the guitarist have formed this group inspired by the brutal and combat universe of these elite troops you already talked about earlier. We wanted a name and a universe that would fit in with the music we were going to produce. Gurkkhas is a band that plays brutal Death metal with American consonances.
I guess the most natural next question would be to ask how come you guys went on hiatus for two decades, and after such a long time, what made you decide to bring the band back to life in 2023?
- Romain (Guitars) : Two years ago the label Great Danes offered us the reissue of the 2 albums in the form of Best Of, released recently. It made us want to restart the machine. At the time one of the members, the guitarist, had left the group and various personal stories had made us suddenly stop the band, it remained a form of bitterness and are happy to resume the adventure. Death metal runs in our veins you know, it was a lot to not play and defedre this band on stage and CD.
What do the Gurkhas (soldiers/people) mean to you personally?
- Jeff : Courage, loyalty, respect, ferocity, humanism, spirituality (which is completely different in approach, than religion)
You guys have returned with a compilation of your best tracks, and I’m loving it! However, I’m sure I’m not the only one to ask, will we be getting a new Gurkkhas release anytime soon?
- Romain : We reworked the old songs giving them a touch of freshness, especially Nico the drummer who really gave more extra power. The original idea was to just take back the old set for a few shows. He gave us the desire, of course, to recompose new material and we are currently working on it. We also see writing concepts, themes. Yes of course we started writing the third album…and we hope to play it in your country one day
After 20 years away, what changes have you noticed in the music scene? Would you say there have been any challenges you did not expect when getting back together?
- Romain : Oh yes! Ahah! In more than 20 years things have moved like everywhere. The use of social networks, equipment, new styles, the amount of groups too and many high levels. Of course to retrain in a band such as death metal, which still requires time and means is a little challenge in our personal lives I do not hide it, we have the same life as before. There is distance, we do not all live in the same area, JF is far away, you have to be organized. But in the end it’s very exciting to take all that back.
What equipment did you use to create your sounds when recording the original albums? And what equipment will you use on any new music?
- Romain : The albums were recorded and at LB lab Studio (S.Buriez) at that time and the sound had been created as well. I always use a Crate or Peavey tube amp, some pedals like Maxon, and ESP guitars, Solar. cut to be comfortable. Finding the right sound is every guitarist’s quest. Nico uses his complete kit of drums, it is not trigué, we work the old way, even if I find the new digital material very interesting too.
Which bands would you say have influenced your music the most? How have these influences changed between 2003 and 2023?
- Jeff : Massacra, Morbid Angel, Immolation, Crusher, Entombed , Loudblast, Benediction , Krabathor, Vader, Suffocation, this stand for the 02 albums done, D-Foetus, Deeds of Flesh, Disinter (US), & actually we like a lot Benighted, Skeletal Remains, Aeon, and many others… we are into Old school Death Metal with touches of modern one. We will never change our music to be fashionable, we play what we like to play, and that’s it.
Out of all your old songs, which is your favourite to play?
- Jeff : All in the group think that ” Kukri ” is the emblematic piece of the group, the one that is the best done, the most accomplished, which best transcribes our state of Many of our fans also love the song “A life of suffering“.
France has a long history in extreme metal but I feel it never gets the recognition it deserves for its contribution. With that in mind, who are some of the smaller French bands we should be listening to? Who deserves more recognition for their work?
- Romain : Yes there are lots of new bands! I think a lot about the trash that comes back too. In the death there is Karras who goes up, Voorhees, I think of local trash bands like Tanork, or brutal slam Cryogenical Excision.
Are there any media (books, movies, etc) you would recommend people check out to discover more about the themes behind your music?
- Jeff : Book: “The Gurkhas” by Henry Noullet – Book: “The Gurkhas – rather dead than cowardly -” by Rémusat, Thibaut- Film: “1915: The Gurkha Legend (2024)- Who will be a Gurkha? Documentary-• 2012 • 75 minutes …and many others but those ones are really good in my opinion. You may have noticed that our group name had a “K” in addition, because the English are not allowed to use the original name. So we added a ” K”.
What is something about life that fascinates you?
- Romain : The power to create our inner reality outside. Experiences, the infinite number of possibilities in life… and death metal! Ahah!
What do Gurkkhas have planned for the rest of 2025? Any gigs coming up?
- Romain : We are in the next Muscadeth Festival in September 2025 alongside Belphegor, Devangelic, Massacra legacy… and we are working on new hardware.
Finally, as we close for today, is there anything you’d like to say before we finish?
- Romain : Thank you very much for this excellent interview, what can I say? Listen to our band, watch the release of the next album, and Of course we are waiting for the opportunity to come to your land in Scotland, it will be a great meeting! Thank you! Stay brutal! “ You are the true force that fuels our music and passion. Every CD you listen to, every t-shirt, every cap, every accessory you wear is a symbol of our connection and gratitude. Thank you for being an essential part of this adventure, and for making our sound resonate! Keep making noise! “
Appreciate your time today guys!
If you’re a fan of old school death metal, you don’t want to miss this one. If you missed it (or just weren’t born yet) the first time round, now is your chance to relive some authentic 2000’s French death metal. This is old school death metal as it should be!
Grab a copy of the compilation through Great Dane Records, and make sure to follow the guys on social media to keep up with what will be their first new album in 25 years.
Mithraic Magazine 
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