Hailing from the heart of Lithuania, the powerhouse that is Shvininiai Sharvai is set to shatter boundaries and conquer new frontiers with their cataclysmic sound. In an era where metal meets spectacle, SHSH stands as a behemoth, not just for their bone-shaking guitar riffs that could move mountains, but for the audacious personas and enigmatic alter-egos each member embodies.

Emerging from the crucible of Vilnius in 2017, SHSH ignited their meteoric ascent in the Lithuanian metal landscape. Now, their roar transcends borders as they unleash their latest creation, “Homeopsychopathy,” a harbinger of the impending storm that is “The Great Paradise of Tomorrow.” This musical journey, conceived as a mere one-shot “diss” track project, rapidly evolved into a resonating phenomenon, capturing the hearts of locals through their audacious spirit, larger-than-life performances, infectious metal hooks, and audacious takes on the darkest of themes. Yet, SHSH is more than just a musical juggernaut. They’re a force with a mission – a movement dubbed “Kill alt/indie,” a raw-edged rebellion against the homogeneity they perceive in the contemporary music scene. Their declaration, that the music landscape is awash with indistinguishable alternative and indie rock bands, strikes like a lightning bolt, carrying with it an invitation to embrace the cathartic chaos of SHSH’s industrial thrash.

Today, Indie Boulevard has a unique chance to delve into the labyrinthine realms of SHSH’s sonic universe.

INDIE BOULEVARD: Hi guys, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Your band members embrace unique alter-egos as welder characters. How did you come up with these personas?

SHSH: The personas actually arose naturally over time. In the early days of SHSH the band all had identical welding hoods, but later on we all decided to add some unique twists to the masks. As time went on we discovered what these characters were truly like, by playing them on stage. Wearing a mask totally changes your approach, attitude and stage presence – we are still developing certain mannerisms, backstories and personalities for these characters to this day, to make them feel more alive and authentic. Some parts of the welder’s personality are fiction, while others are based on our real-life beliefs, passions and interests. So the line between the welder persona and the person underneath is a bit blurred.

IB: Starting as a fun experiment in high school, your music has retained its playful and passionate essence. How do those early days influence your creative process and maintain the unique sound you have today?

SHSH: The more comedic singles of early days, our goofy social media presence (we love to connect with our fans in informal ways, for example through funny Instagram stories and etc.) and just the whole atmosphere of being able to do whatever you like is the thing that, we believe, sets us apart from more serious, formal bands/projects that are formed purely for achieving a singular creative vision or commercial success. Shvininiai Sharvai has always been more than any of those things. SHSH has always felt more like family than just a musical work environment.

IB: Your first album ‘Atshiaurusis’ showcased a mix of musical styles and themes that undoubtedly set you apart. Finding a balance between staying true to your roots and venturing into new sonic territories can be quite the challenge. How has this experimental approach evolved over time, and how do you strike a balance between staying true to your roots and exploring new territories?

SHSH: Since our first album and some smaller releases afterwards were so colorful and varied, we attracted a fanbase that appreciated the fact you could expect basically anything from SHSH. So to expect something specific was basically pointless and the fans knew that. Of course, we intend to always keep some of the thrash metal essence that started it all and, contrary to today’s trends, we didn’t aim for a softer or more commercial sound on the new record – we doubled down on the dark lyrical themes and an even heavier sound. The biggest change has been our decision to produce songs in English, instead of Lithuanian. We received positive feedback due to this change and believe it will majorly help us in terms of international growth.

IB: Mastermind, it’s intriguing that you’ve embraced a variety of guitar brands. It would be fantastic if you could delve a bit deeper into how this diverse selection of guitars influences the unique sound that is synonymous with SHSH. Could you share some instances where a specific guitar choice altered the course of a song’s creation or even shaped the overall mood of a track?

SHSH: During the creative process in SHSH we always experiment with different instruments. I use all kinds of guitars for many different purposes – some might have more strings than others, pickups with a unique sound or other features that I can use during songwriting. Sometimes it feels like some instruments have songs or melodies “hidden” inside them – when you pick up any guitar, it has a certain feel to it that makes you want to play different things. When I was writing Homeopsychopathy for the new record, I started by just playing and recording some bass parts and only added rhythm guitars later on. I think that shaped the whole groove of that song.

IB: Mr. Lead, your choice of the Dingwall bass is fascinating, particularly due to its renowned distinctive tone. It’s a sound that unmistakably adds its own layer to the band’s sonic identity. Could you shed some light on what drew you to the Dingwall bass in the first place?

SHSH: We have our own small recording studio in the center of Vilnius – we wanted to add a reliable, powerful bass to the arsenal of our collective instruments. Dingwall was a natural choice for this, since they have quite the reputation online for being an awesome modern performance instrument brand.

IB: Your stage costumes and performances are visually striking. How do these elements enhance the audience’s experience and complement the themes in your music?

SHSH: We always wanted our shows to be something greater than just “dudes playing instruments”, that’s why we keep upgrading the whole theatrical aspect of our perfomances. We think that when people see SHSH live, you can certainly feel a mystical and exciting aura during the show – all of the feelings and emotions are amplified when you aim to create an experience, not just play songs.

IB: The title of your new album, “The Great Paradise of Tomorrow,” is quite intriguing. Could you provide some insights into the concept behind this title and how it’s reflected in the album’s overall themes and lyrics?

SHSH: The title “The Great Paradise of Tomorrow” means a future dystopia built on false promises and naive hopes of today’s society. The whole album is a dark message about the dangers of authoritarian regimes and how easy it is to end up in one, also about the importance of independent thought and freedom. Different aspects of totalitarian regimes are explored throughout the album – “Morgen” is a song about the consequences of ignoring current world issues, “The Shaman” is about uncovering uncomfortable truths, while “My Way” is a statement about the importance of daring to be yourself in a world that wants you to fit in.

IB: As you present “The Great Paradise of Tomorrow,” how do you feel your sound has evolved compared to your previous releases? Are there any particular elements or musical directions that you’ve explored on this album that stand out as a departure from your previous work?

SHSH: The sound of this album is certainly darker and heavier – we feel like it reflects the lyrical themes well. The songs are definitely more complex, yet still have their hooks that should stick with the listener. There’s even more saxophone, more crushing riffs and more groove than before. Our main goals with this album were to send out a serious message in a interesting and focused way, and to challenge ourselves creatively and musically. We feel like we’ve done exactly that and are very glad.

IB: Having conquered the Lithuanian metal scene, you’re now expanding into the UK and beyond. How do you think your music and message will resonate with international audiences compared to your local fanbase?

SHSH: Even though we have quite a large fanbase, which we dearly love, in our home country, we believe that Lithuanians can be quite skeptical when it comes to a band like SHSH – the sentiment here is that you have to fit into certain styles, follow modern trends to appeal to your audience or have any commercial success. If you stand out too much and really dare to be what you are, you are almost guaranteed to be an outcast. But since embracing the outcast label has never been an issue for SHSH, we’re continuing down the depraved welder path and have already started to receive all sorts of positive feedback from the UK and the international audience, which we believe is way more open to fresh ideas. You could say our mascot character “Shvinas” on the album cover is a representation of the band’s situation and our need to break free of these local constraints!

IB: And the last question. If your alter-egos decided to hang out in a real welding shop for a day, what kind of hilarious misadventures or shenanigans could we expect from Mastermind, Saxocutioner, Edgelord, Riot, and Mr. Lead?

SHSH: We would probably just weld each other’s steel-toed boots together as a prank, have a bunny-hop race later on… and have the loser buy kebabs for the whole band.