I recently spoke with the guys from Sorcier des Glaces, The Black Metal Duo from Quebec, Canada. We spoke about the great history of metal in Canada, the Quebec “spin” on metal and running HELL Studios. Read on:
* I’ve been listening to your album North that came earlier this year a lot! What was your inspiration in writing this album?
SDG: I’m mainly influenced by the nature and surroundings here in Quebec. We have some of the most beautiful northern landscapes that helps a lot writing cold riffs and find some sinister, but quite peaceful state of mind. I am of course influenced a lot by old school black metal from the ’90’s, that is my main inspiration for Sorcier Des Glaces since I started the band back in 1997. “North” was composed around the same time as our two latest full-length releases, “Ritual of the End” and “The Puressence of Primitive Forests”. I’m really happy about the final results of that album. I think we got the right atmosphere representing what I always wanted SDG to sound: cold, dark, and atmospheric.
* After making albums for so long has the recording process changed much? Do you record at home or a professional studio? What do you prefer?
SDG: Yes I do have my own studio now since 2010, Hell Studio, where I also produce some other bands too: Monarque, Sanctuaire, Moonlyght, Haethen and now the new Brume d’Automne album. A lot of bands now record their albums by themselves. I did record earlier at some other studios with my other bands Passage and Moonlyght , but I must admit that I’m a really selfish person! I take care a lot about the small details and I know exactly what I want, so having my own studio and now 100% my hand over the final product, I can do whatever I want.
* Do you think it is hard to “stay fresh” after playing in a band for so long?
SDG: Sure! Because it is difficult to find the right balance in keeping the band’s soul and sound intact but having a creative mind behind, trying new things and experimenting in the studio. This is where I think many bands unfortunately failed in becoming what people call “sellouts”. And the fact that bands become bigger and bigger and more popular and suddenly have a lot of pressure to produce good albums. Sorcier Des Glaces will never be like that, trust me on that. I make music for me at first, that pleases me. If people like it, then I’m happy. We are not making a living out of this, so I’m absolutely not rushing things out. When I feel it’s time for another album, I start working on it and put hard work until it’s completed.
* How do you create your music? does it start with a guitar riff? a drum pattern? a mood ? Please explain
SDG: It comes to me naturally, wherever I am and whatever I’m doing! It’s a melody… and probably a mood that kind of bring it to me, in my head. It appears to me suddenly. If I’m sitting with my guitar and then try to compose and rush things, it doesn’t work at all. I guess it is really a mood that brings melodies. I’m pretty sure many musicians are like this.
* As French Canadians you write all your lyrics in English? Why is this? Easier to write? To reach the broadest audience? Have you done any songs in French before?
SDG: As I’ve been influenced a lot by music sung in English, I naturally started writing my lyrics in English at the very beginning. I would not say it is to reach as most people as possible because it has never been the goal of Sorcier Des Glaces. As I said, I write music for me at first and if people like it, then good for us. I like the words sung in English but I also, in Black Metal, like a lot more now to use French. I think the French language is beautiful and suits a lot the poetry of Black Metal, it gives so much more meaning to the words I am singing. I use more French now (the 4 songs from us on “Le Puits Des Morts” split album with ENDE are 100% in French), and our latest album “North” has 2 songs in French on it.
* You have been doing this for a long time now – what inspires you to keep creating and making great music?
SDG: As I said I don’t rush things at all. When I “know” that I need to create new stuff, I dive totally into it, in a sort of trance! In 2010-2011, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to write all three latest SDG’s albums at the same time (The Puressence of Primitive Forests, Ritual of the End, North), the songs on the “Sorcier Des Glaces & Monarque” split album and some more stuff. I think I really found Sorcier Des Glaces’ sound and personality. I also totally stop using keyboards in 2010, I decided that it was enough and rather use many layers of lead guitars to create the atmosphere in our sound. Also, I have other musical projects that I’m the composer: Moonlyght, that is a progressive and melodic Death Metal band, and also Passage, who is more melancholic Doom Metal-oriented stuff. To make a pause and write some other stuff helps me to find fresh inspiration, mix things up when I go back to Sorcier’s stuff.
* What is your favorite way to listen to music? I was surprised a few years ago when I started to see the resurgence in cassettes after about 10 years of no one wanting them.
SDG: Well, I prefer now to listen to music online to be honest. We will not stop the progress and I think it is more easier to discover new music, new bands. And for newer bands that want to spread their music it is more easy to join a mass audience. I rather buy an album directly via the band‘s Bandcamp or via Itunes than on physical format now I must admit. I would have never said that 10 years ago! For the cassettes resurgence now, I’m totally surprised also. We have all our discography edited on cassette via Dread Records and I’m really happy about that. 2017 will see the releases of “North”, “Ritual of the End” and also a double version of the two “Snowland” versions (our very first album from 1998, and the re-recored one from 2012) edited on LP. I’m very excited about that!
* Sorcier des Glaces means wizard of ices if I am correct? Do you remember how the band name came to you?
SDG: I was searching for a name that would represent solitude, misanthropy, sorcery, but in a cold/dark concept. A wizard or a sorcerer is that kind of old, solitary, magical character that suits well the concept of Sorcier Des Glaces. It is timeless, as we are!
As we come from Quebec and speak French, I thought that a name in French would sound great.
* As a 2 man band do you have any plans for live shows? I saw Mortiis (Ex Emperor bassist) on his Stargate tour and it was just him acting out his songs to a backing track..even then it was great! I would make the drive from NYC to see you guys in a live setting
SDG: Haha, that’s THE question we’ve been asked so many times! I’m not against playing live one day, but we are definitely not a touring band. I prefer to work in the studio, write new songs. I just can’t imagine mosh pits on our songs and would not want this anyway, it is not the kind of music for that. We would have to find musicians and a rehearsal place (not a problem at all) but the most important thing and hardest to find: time. The fact is that me and Luc have very few time left out of our full-time day work, families, other musical projects, etc. Luc plays live with his rock cover band every week-end and he’s also involved in countless other musical projects (including Passage and Moonlyght). As we’re not living out of our music and are not interested in that at all, we make music as a hobby and we agreed to not play live.
* Canada has a great love of metal bands , some American and or European metal bands who are on tour will say “the American shows were good..but the Canadian shows were AMAZING” Why do you think Canadians have always had such a love for good metal?
SDG: It’s in our DNA. We have a long tradition and history in Metal here in Canada, and I would say especially in Quebec, there is some of the most dedicated metalfans on the planet! Voivod, Kataklysm, Gorguts, Martyr, Forteresse, Unexpect, to name only a few bands… we have a huge and varied Metal scene here!
* Do you think Canadians have a unique spin on Black metal?
I can speak for the Quebec scene, as I don’t really know many other bands from the rest of Canada unfortunately. I think we have a unique Black Metal scene here in Quebec. Maybe that’s the weather, our traditions and our history that makes us different from the other scenes in the world. It’s something in our sound I guess, I really can’t describe it really but people can feel it in the songs. We all have something in common here.
* Outside of making music what do you do in your personal time to relax? Hockey? Family? Video games?
Well, I run Hell Studio where I produce some bands here. I really like to be behind the desk, helping bands to create their work of art. Other than that and my three projects Sorcier Des Glaces, Moonlyght & Passage, family of course takes all the place. I’m really into wine tasting, I’m really interested in that! One day it would be crazy to have a vineyard!
* Any final words?
Thanks for the interview. 2017 will see many re-releases from us, but probably no new music. I’m working for the release of the second Passage album “As Darkness Comes” in the first quarter of 2017, and already writing stuff for a third album. Other than that, I’m producing the new Brume d’Automne album plus many other projects in the studio, that keeps me very busy!