Dragunov "Playing at Hellfest was a form of consecration."
NOIRE: Hello Dragunov, could you please introduce yourself to my readers?
SEB :Hello Noire! We are Dragunov, an instrumental post-metal duo based in Nantes, with Sébastien on guitar and Tristan on drums.
NOIRE: Your artistic world is rooted in the Soviet era. Why is this theme so close to your heart?
TRISTAN: We draw inspiration from this world because, back when we were younger and wanted to start a band, we had intended to call it DRAGUNOV. At the time, the name of that Russian sniper rifle struck us as pretty badass and fit the image we wanted to project.
Later, when we actually launched the project as an instrumental duo, that name naturally shaped our artistic direction and sonic landscape, bringing with it dark, cold, and martial influences.
NOIRE : Your music is instrumental post-metal. By nature, the compositions have an experimental edge—always intense, progressive, and layered with electronic textures. How do you go about crafting your tracks?
SEB: Tristan and I do a lot of jamming; our songwriting relies above all on feel and the connection between us. Having been a drummer myself before becoming a guitarist (in Abysse), we share a common rhythmic sensibility, which also reinforces the martial quality that characterizes our music.
We therefore compose primarily by instinct, driven by a constant desire to create something massive and immersive. The concerts we attend—particularly at Hellfest—are also a major source of inspiration: the atmospheres, sounds, or approaches of the bands we discover fuel our ideas, which we then reinterpret through our own identity—Dragunov-style.
NOIRE : Your latest album, "VEPR", was released on December 6, 2024. This record evokes historical events that took place in Ukraine during the 1930s. Could you explain to my readers the artistic choices behind this album and why you wanted to address a subject that resonates with current events?
TRISTAN: Each Dragunov album is built around a historical hook and a specific theme. Korolev explored the conquest of space, Arkhipov the conquest of the seas, and our latest album, VEPR, recounts several major episodes in the history of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
We have always enjoyed delving into history to fuel the concepts and worlds of our albums. In the case of VEPR, the music was already composed when the war in Ukraine broke out. This sparked many discussions among us, as our name was inevitably linked to current events, and we did not want to be associated with any specific ideology or stance regarding Russia.
We therefore chose to counter this association by naming the album "VEPR"—after a Ukrainian weapon—and by exploring Ukraine’s history through key moments in its relationship with Russia. It was the first time we had tackled a subject with such a strong political dimension, but it felt like an important step, consistent with our desire to tell stories through our music.
NOIRE : You don't usually have vocals over your chords, but you invited Stefan de Graef—the vocalist from Psychonaut—to sing on the track "The Great Hour." Why did you make that choice?
SEB: We had always wanted to feature a vocalist on one of our tracks—initially to step out of our comfort zone, explore new possibilities, and offer something different to an audience accustomed to our instrumental compositions. It was a real gamble, but one that ultimately proved to be a great success.
Choosing Stefan De Graef was a natural decision. We had shared the stage with his band on several occasions—in Belgium and Paris—and we really love their musical style. A great relationship developed over time, and his vocal timbre really stood out to us.
After a show, we simply suggested the idea of a collaboration. He was immediately on board, and that’s how it all began!
NOIRE : You often wear masks—whether gas masks or more intriguing ones, like the one on the cover of this release. Often, this stems from a desire for anonymity, a wish to cultivate mystery, or a need to create visual continuity with the album's themes. What appeals to you about wearing these costumes, and what do you aim to express through them? By the way, how did you come up with the idea for the mask on the cover?
TRISTAN: We established this aesthetic right from the start of the project—not to hide behind masks or create anonymity (since, in a live setting, we actually only wear them for the opening track), but primarily to reinforce the band’s visual identity. We wanted the listener to be struck as much by our music as by our visual world.
Over the course of our albums, we’ve designed various gas masks, each often tied to the specific theme of the record in question. On stage, however—once the initial novelty has worn off—we prefer to focus on the human element, the energy, and the chemistry between us. We don’t necessarily want to replicate the cold, distant atmosphere sometimes found in post-metal shows, even though that approach can be visually striking.
For the VEPR cover art, we chose to create a Ukrainian soldier figure that symbolizes our entire approach to the album. It was also a real pleasure to develop this visual universe and be involved in every step of its creation.
NOIRE: You’ve just returned from Hellfest, where you played on Friday, June 19th. What was that experience like for you? What is your best memory from the stage?
SEB: It was a truly wild and unforgettable moment for the band. After all these years of hard work and dedication, it felt like a real milestone.
Playing in front of such a huge crowd—even at 10:30 in the morning—was incredible. What really stood out to us was seeing the audience so responsive, engaged, and enthusiastic. Feeling that people were connecting with our music and enjoying themselves just as much as we were on stage will definitely remain one of our fondest memories.
NOIRE: I work a lot with the black metal scene. Are there any bands or tracks from this genre that you particularly like?
TRISTAN: In reality, we have very open musical tastes and enjoy exploring vastly different styles and soundscapes, even though post-metal remains our primary territory.
Among the bands that inspire us are Triptykon, Gaerea, Oranssi Pazuzu, and Behemoth. We also appreciate more extreme approaches, and we even occasionally incorporate blast beats into some of our compositions—haha!
NOIRE: What are your future plans?
SEB: We are already working on the next album, with several compositions currently in the works. But we are also preparing a rather unique project for next year, the details of which we cannot yet reveal.
All we can say for now is that we want to experiment with new things and explore different territories with Dragunov.
Merci à Dragunov pour leurs réponses fort intéressantes à mes questions et à Shake Promotion pour la mise en relation.
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