Interview with Palmistry – Montreal Doom

Palmistry are an up and coming doom band based out of Montreal Quebec. I am a great believer in cities as musical scenes and yet again Montreal does not fail to produce another great band. Read the interview and learn something

* There is not really much about the history of the band online – so can you tell us how the band came about?
We had a band together from 2013-2015 called ALPHA WAVES , with K.B on vocals and members of “Warslaves” . We left the project aside because of schedules , but some tracks just stayed with us and we felt like they would be amazing for a traditional doom project .

* How did you guys decide that it was doom that you wanted to play together?
It kinda came naturally because we are huge doom fans . We wanted to get into this dark place with the story telling and the general vibe , so doom was just IT for us.

* Have either of you played in any local bands before Palmistry?
Yes, C.B is the lead vocalist and bass player in Warslaves & lead guitarist/vocal in Shezmu.

For now it’s just us writing music and telling stories we want to tell

* Since you are a husband and wife duo have you figured out how you guys are going to pull this off live? I think the days of “traditional vocals/bass/drums /guitar bands” line ups are not so limiting – I just saw Swiss group Bolzer perform Friday night and they are a two piece with a huge wall of sound and it works.
For now it’s just us writing music and telling stories we want to tell. It’s nice to create something as a couple, especially doom music since we love it so much. But it’s not definitive that we will be only 2 members and what we want to do for live shows. For now, this is our baby and we’re just having fun creating.

* Have you played many live shows to date?
No not yet. We want to be really satisfied with the album before we go live and it’s nice to keep some mystery for now.

* How do you guys go about writing songs? Do you start with a guitar riff? Lyrics? how does it work?
Usually the riffs are what comes first . We like to create a mood and then tell a story. But we both write lyrics randomly when we get inspired by something, so it depends on how we feel really

Tarotology , Palmistry, demonology and occultism in general has always been a huge part of K.B’s life

* Do you guys follow any occult paths? if so what ones and why?
Tarotology , Palmistry, demonology and occultism in general has always been a huge part of K.B’s life. It’s something she studied for years and still do.

* What’s the recording process like for Palmistry do you map everything out on a home computer first? Record everything live starting with drums? Please explain the process
Most of the songs were born on an acoustic guitar. Just jamming and composing. Then C.B records everything on his computer and we take our time to listen to it and flow with the vibe and lyrics. Then we add the vocal.

* What has the reaction been like for your demo so far?
The reaction to the demo has been great. Traditional doom fans gave us such good feedback , and people who weren’t used to the genre got into it, so it’s fucking amazing

* I see the band is based in Montreal (beautiful city) are you both born and raised there? if not where from?
K.B was born and raised in Montreal and C.B is from a small town called GENTILLY, 2 hours outside Montreal.

Montreal’s metal scene is indeed fucking amazing

* Why do you think Montreal has such a great metal scene?
Montreal’s metal scene is indeed fucking amazing. People TRULY love the music, not many posers and bullshit. The bands here just support each other SO MUCH it creates this great vibe and respect at every shows. Montreal is known to be super open minded and diverse, especially in the music scene. You can feel the love and its seriously magical at times.

* I know you guys are working on a full length album when can we expect it and what can we expect from the album?
We would love to put the album out at the end of 2017/ beginning of 2018. We’re not rushing it ! We want to get into this really dark place and just experiment with the vibe and vocals

* What goals does Palmistry have for 2018?
Writing more music, shows , maybe doing splits with other bands. Lots of partying and rituals

* Any final words?
Stay tuned and spread the love !

Blackout metalpunks Sacroscum stream their debut album Drugs & Death

Blackout metalpunks Sacroscum premiere their highly anticipated debut album, Drugs & Death, set for international release on October 28th via Unholy Prophecies.

Ever aptly titled, Drugs & Death is a scourge upon one’s sanity and sanctity, a black-hole blight that swallows you whole. Sacroscum aren’t fucking around.

Sacroscum was formed in 2015 by J. and SS. After playing music together for a long time and trying to create something unique, the duo mixed influences of Darkthrone, early Celtic Frost, Discharge, Skitsystem, Inquisition, and everything they thought would be fitting. Combined with utterly hateful lyrics and a healthy disdain for most of you, Sacroscum was born.

Thus armed, Sacroscum soon transcended musical means and become a philosophy for the two, which can be broken down thusly:

SACROSCUM can be music.
SACROSCUM can be a mirror.
SACROSCUM can be a judge.
SACROSCUM can be a knife.
SACROSCUM can be whatever you want.

But, ultimately, SACROSCUM is whatever the fuck we want it to be.

After some recording sessions in their rehearsal room, they created eight pieces of musick which were then released under the title of Stillbirth, courtesy of Unholy Prophecies in 2016, on cassette tape. Everything “do it yourself” from beginning to end, Stillbirth came from raw, primal aggression, setting down Sacroscum’s foundation for death, dedication, disgust, and what lies beyond all these. But now, with the imminent release of their debut album, Drugs & Death, Sacroscum are primed for their most bountiful ejaculation of filth and hatred – the fullness of their cumming, as it were. Recorded at the band’s rehearsal studio and mixed and mastered by Fabi Krapp at Ruins Rust Studios in southern Germany, Drugs & Death is yet another staunchly DIY affair, but this time, the band have dialed in their most destructive material to date, simply taking what once was, adding some unexpected elements and making it what once will always be: truly, DRUGS & DEATH.

Nine anti-anthems, 41 minutes of foulness, Sacroscum never stop the madness, and heartily encourage you to finally drink yourself to death but with a smile on your face. “Do it…”

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

1. Initium
2. Drugs & Death
3. Autoerotic Thanatophilia
4. Gutter.Moloch.God
5. Vermin
6. Waste, Horror & Degradation
7. Skin Canvas
8. Downwards Spiral
9. DCLXVI

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/sacroscum666

SLEEPWALKER set release date for new ANNAPURNA mini-album

On November 13th, AnnapurnA is proud to present 夢遊病者’s 5772 in remastered form on digipack CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. Sentient Ruin is partnering with AnnapurnA for the vinyl release.

夢遊病者 (Sleepwalker) was essentially born in three places and has been in existence since 2015. The members hail from Osaka, Tver, and New York, becoming acquainted online. The mantra of the band, if any, is to take cues from the improvisational school of jazz and the cathartic nature of ritual folk music and couple it with the raw energy of bands like Voivod and GISM. Thematically and conceptually, the lyrics and much of the visuals focus on different cultural traditions and ceremonies as well as familial experiences.

Whereas the first EP, 統合失調症の飢餓, was done entirely remotely from each respective locale (much akin to an “exquisite corpse” exercise and then mixed and mastered), 5772 was tracked live in a single location. A week of time was planned to get everything down as quickly as possible, relegating to overdubs for any additions. Everything was then mixed and mastered and pressed to cassette for the first pressing. The whole of the record is focused on cultural rituals, specifically related to death. The digipack, LP, and cassette reissue versions have been remastered.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for 夢遊病者 (Sleepwalker)’s 5772
1. Empty Urns
2. White Linen
3. Plain Wood
4. Black Ribbon
5. No Flowers
6. Only Stones

夢遊病者 (Sleepwalker):
PBV – guitars, vocals, effects
NN – bass
KJM – drums

MORE INFO:
www.vnkv.bandcamp.com

OPIUM WARLORDS set release date for new SVART album

After three wilderness years with doom gods Spiritus Mortis and Lord Vicar, electronic warriors Tähtiportti, and black metal sorcerers Azrael Rising, Sami Albert “Witchfinder” Hynninen is back in business with Opium Warlords. On November 3rd, Opium Warlords shall release Droner through Svart Records.

Droner is the fourth Opium Warlords album, and it brings Hynninen’s uncompromising musical vision to its most sparse form. It is noisy lo-fi riff music consisting only of particles unquestionably necessary, but at the same time with a musical spectrum that is very wide and open. It is experimental and avant-garde, still with roots deep in the very heart of heavy rock music. It is concrete blues, diving to the existence and the smallest molecular spheres of minimal riffs, and what seems to be an endless repetition of them. From these rather skeletal elements, it occasionally reaches neo-classical, even medieval spheres and death-romantic chambers of apocalyptic folk. Onto all of this, disturbing lyrics are chanted by unnamed, hostile protagonists.

The lyrics come entirely from outside, already existing sources: a book written by Finnish culture radical Jouko Turkka, a ritual of Ndembu people, and a letter written by scarlet woman Marjorie Cameron. The purpose here is to create a soundtrack that pictures and reflects the contents of the textual force. The result is primitive and brooding sonic landscapes of war, ritual, and death. Gone is soothing warmth of the preceding album, Taste My Sword Of Understanding. Droner is all about nuclear war and clear, post-apocalyptic primitivity of the surviving culture. It is torturing purification through purgatory, to a new world and new form of life.

First track premiere to be revealed shortly.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Opium Warlords’ Droner
1. Year of 584 Days (20:32)
2. Samael Lilith (20:30)
3. “Closure” (18:55)

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/OpiumWarlords

Der Weg einer Freiheit kick off European tour

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT will kick off their European headlining tour supported by French brothers in spirit, REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER at Gleis 22 in Münster, Germany tomorrow evening, September 21st.

Please find a list of all currently confirmed dates below.

On the short-term cancellation of INTER ARMA due to circumstances beyond the American band’s control, DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT commented: “We are shocked about the news as we’ve been looking forward very much to share stages with INTER ARMA, but we have no other choice than accept this and move on with the tour. We hope that you understand and we apologise to everyone who wanted to see them! We have tried everything possible to find an adequate substitute, but unfortunately it was impossible on such short notice. As a result, REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER​ will have more stage time and we want to give local acts a chance to join our shows. Interested bands should get in contact with us.”

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT Festivals
22 Sep 17 Hamburg (DE) Hamburg Metal Dayz

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT
+REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER
21 Sep 17 Münster (DE) Gleis 22
23 Sep 17 Köln (DE) Gebäude 9
24 Sep 17 Rotterdam (NL) Baroeg
25 Sep 17 Nijmegen (NL) Merleyn
26 Sep 17 Esch-sur-Alzette (LU) Kulturfabrik
27 Sep 17 Wiesbaden (DE) Schlachthof
28 Sep 17 Stuttgart (DE) Keller Klub
29 Sep 17 Marseille (FR) Jas Rod
30 Sep 17 Barcelona (ES) Razzmatazz 3
01 Oct 15 Madrid (ES) Sala Characol
02 Oct 17 Nantes (FR) Le Ferrailleur
03 Oct 17 Paris (FR) Le Petit Bain
04 Oct 17 Strasbourg (FR) La Laiterie
05 Oct 17 Lyon (FR) O’Totem
06 Oct 17 Zürich (CH) Werk 21
07 Oct 17 München (DE) Kranhalle
08 Oct 17 Salzburg (AT) Rockhouse
10 Oct 17 Budapest (HU) Dürer Kert
11 Oct 17 Wien (AT) Arena
12 Oct 17 Ceské Budejovice (CZ) MC Fabrika
13 Oct 17 Leipzig (DE) UT Connewitz
14 Oct 17 Berlin (DE) Lido

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT will hit the roads in support of their brand new album, ‘Finisterre’. Please find artwork, track-list, and more information below.

1. Aufbruch (9:49)
2. Ein letzter Tanz (13:49)
3. Skepsis Part I (5:05)
4. Skepsis Part II (5:36)
5. Finisterre (11:13)

The musical puzzle that adds up to become DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT turns into something more complex – yet also clearer defined on the band’s fourth studio album, ‘Finisterre’. The original pieces are still in play: the aggressive German directness akin to ENDSTILLE and a penchant for brooding melancholy as embodied by IMPERIUM DEKADENZ. Spiralling psychedelic moments comparable to DEAFHEAVEN and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM also find their place – as well as a knack for majestic melodies that shows parallels in Swedish black metal spearheaded by MARDUK and DARK FUNERAL.

Yet while DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT are clearly progressing along the lines laid out by their previous acclaimed effort, ‘Stellar’, the band has found a way to make these pieces fit more seamlessly. ‘Finisterre’ flows together into a coherent picture that stresses the Germans’ unique approach and sound. This album marks the point where DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT turn their various influences into a work entirely of their own expression despite never trying to cover up their roots. This impressive maturity has been reached through several stages.

Founded in 2009 by guitarist Nikita Kamprad and vocalist Tobias Jaschinsky,DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT garnered early attention with their self-released debut ‘Der Weg einer Freiheit’ (2009), which quickly sold out and was re-issued with new drum tracks a year later. Following the ‘Agonie’ EP (2011), their second album ‘Unstille’ (2012) already cored international acclaim. In the aftermath of this record, co-founding member Tobias left and main songwriter Nikita Kamprad took over his vocal duties.

The frontman was first heard on third full-length ‘Stellar’ (2015), which sawDER WEG EINER FREIHEIT gaining traction across the pond as well as expanding their European base. Having performed along such diverse acts as WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, NEAERA, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, AMENRA, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, and DOWNFALL OF GAIA as well as playing prestigious festivals such as Graspop, Hellfest, Resurrection, Roadburn, Summer Breeze, and Wacken has honed the band’s songwriting skills to razor-sharp precision.

‘Finisterre’ clearly stands at the apex (for now) of the steep climb that DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT have taken. This German star is finally shining in full black.

www.derwegeinerfreiheit.de
www.facebook.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Current line-up
Nikita Kamprad: guitars, vocals
Tobias Schuler: drums
Nico Rausch: guitars
Nico Ziska: bass

Recording line-up
Nikita Kamprad: guitars, bass, vocals
Tobias Schuler: drums

EXPANDER stream NUCLEAR WAR NOW! debut

Today, timezapped neuropunks Expander stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Endless Computer. Now set for international release on October 15th via Nuclear War Now! Productions, hear Expander’s Endless Computer in its entirety exclusively HERE.

Although black and death varieties of metal have largely thrived in the modern era, it has been conspicuously more difficult over the past decade or more to find a thrash band that both follows in the strong traditions of its forefathers and at the same time pushes beyond established boundaries to develop a sound that is unique unto itself, rather than being a stale form of mimicry of the subgenre’s heyday. Hailing from Austin, Texas, and to this point having released two EPs, Expander has broken the mold and developed its own niche through a novel concoction and recombination of musical and thematic elements that broadly span the genres of metal and punk. Expander’s music, lyrical themes, and chosen artwork are decidedly futuristic without being gratuitously experimental. The most appropriate point of reference that one might choose in drawing a direct comparison would be to Killing Technology-era Voivod. Expander, however, is noticeably more aggressive than its Canadian predecessor in its approach and delivery, which is clearly demonstrated on Endless Computer.

The concept behind the album is that of a shapeless cosmic entity which represents the pinnacle of technological advancement and seeks autonomous control over all atomic matter in the universe. This vision is musically reflected in the myriad of oftentimes unconventional riffs and progressions that manage to tunnel their way into the inner-consciousness of the listener and subvert independent cognition, much in the same way that a digital virus infects and takes control first of a single machine and then progressively engulfs entire networks of them. Not to be underestimated with respect to its overall impact on this album is the level of mindfulness to all aspects of production on this recording. Whereas a great deal of metal, particularly that of the black/death variety, runs a high risk of overproduction, thrash metal with a futuristic focus, such as this, benefits immensely from a healthy degree of attention to clarity and precision, which is proven in this case. Also a product of the band’s diligence in capturing the best-possible recording was its decision to faithfully reproduce its live sound to the greatest extent possible. To this end, the band transported its entire backline from its home base in the heart of Texas to faraway GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts, rather than rely on the house equipment to only approximate the desired outcome. The final nod to detail is the perfectly representative cover artwork by Luca Carey, with whom the band worked very closely to ensure that the artwork reflected the lyrical themes of the music as accurately as possible.

Given the blistering pace at which humankind increasingly finds itself entangled in the web of its own creations, Endless Computer may indeed serve as a harbinger of the fate that we have sealed for ourselves.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Expander’s Endless Computer
1. Biochron Space Suit
2. R-Type 2 Civilization
3. War Terminal: The True Front Line
4. Endless Computer
5. Authority Spire
6. Opulent Tesseract Ascension
7. Mechanized Deathcanal
8. Timezapped
9. Cold Orbit
10. Cold Orbit II: Facing Worlds

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/expanderlives

NUCLEAR WAR NOW! to release WRATHPRAYER / FORCE OF DARKNESS split album

Nuclear War Now! Productions sets November 15th as the international release date for Wrath of Darkness, a special split album between Wrathprayer and Force of Darkness.

Chile’s storied history within the greater context of the South American black/death metal underground is extended with Wrath of Darkness, a joint LP from two of the country’s most respected current bands, Wrathprayer and Force of Darkness. Whereas most releases of this type are generally regarded as “splits,” owing to the separate nature of each band’s contribution, Wrath of Darkness is instead aptly considered a whole work, given the close-knit alliance between the two bands. Each individual element – including the music itself, art direction, and overall thematic concept – was deliberately developed in a collaborative effort involving both entities with the singular goal of producing the most cohesive release possible. The result of this endeavor, hereby released under the proud banner of Nuclear War Now!, is one that clearly validates the several years of work required for its realization.

Although Wrathprayer and Force of Darkness differ to a noticeable extent in the details of the composition and execution of their music, they are clearly united in that their styles are most firmly rooted in the black metal subgenre. On the one hand, Wrathprayer blends the foreboding nature of black metal with an oppressive, suffocating aura more commonly associated with death metal. Force of Darkness, on the other hand, peppers its interpretation of black metal with an impressive array of razor-sharp, blisteringly-precise riffs that tend to resemble the most evil variants of thrash.

The individual contributions by both bands are perfectly bookended and bound by the intro, “Inhaling Wrath,” performed by Wrathprayer, and the outro, “Exhaling Darkness,” performed by Force of Darkness. The five intervening tracks – two by Wrathprayer and three by Force of Darkness – are emblematic of two bands at the creative apex of their existence. Highlighting Wrathprayer’s side of the record is “De Profundis,” which opens with a chorus of desperate cries from the depths of the fiery pit and is then quickly consumed by a swirling maelstrom of aural ire. Force of Darkness then inherits this storm and multiplies it, culminating in “The Order,” a near-seven-minute opus that lays waste to any semblance of meagerness that may have somehow withstood the previous assaults.

With the whole of this work greater than the mere sum of its parts, Wrathprayer and Force of Darkness effectively redefine the notion of the split release and instead revive the more noble ideal of true collaboration, in service of darkness and wrath. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Wrath of Darkness
1. Intro – Inhaling Wrath
2. Tria Serpentis
3. De Profundis
4. Wall of Fire
5. Nunc Scio Tenebris Lux
6. The Order
7. Outro – Exhaling Darkness

tracks 1-3: Wrathprayer
tracks 4-7: Force of Darkness

Norway’s SJUKDOM sign with OSMOSE, reveal first track from new album

Osmose Productions announces the signing of Norway’s Sjukdom. The first fruit of this union shall be the band’s highly anticipated second album, Stridshymner Og Dodssalmer, which shall see release early next year.

Natt and Avsky established Sjukdom in September 2011. After having one record under their belt, the pace changed for a faster, more in-your-face style of black metal. This was a change that the whole band was into, and the result came out brutal. With war as a main theme, the music fits the lyrics very well. The music may have changed a bit since the first record, but you can clearly hear that this is Sjukdom. Accompanied by Aske (former member) from Sweden, the forthcoming Stridshymner Og Dodssalmer turned out to be just the way they wanted.

Release date, cover art, and tracklisting for Sjukdom’s Stridshymner Og Dodssalmer to be announced shortly. In the meantime, hear “Naervaer,” the first track to be revealed from Stridshymner Og Dodssalmer

MORE INFO:
www.sjukdom.net
www.facebook.com/Sjukdomband

BLACK DEATH, the first African-American metal band, set release date for reissue of rare debut album

Hells Headbangers sets the release date for a special, LONG-overdue reissue of Black Death’s self-titled debut album. The CD version will be released November 17th while the vinyl version – which includes a 12″ and a 7″ – will be released December 29th; the cassette tape version is out now.

Highly sought after by collectors, not only is Black Death a crucial piece in the rich history of Cleveland heavy metal, its original 1984 release marks the first full-length by an all-African-American heavy metal band. More than that, with the band’s origins dating back to 1977, Black Death are largely known to be the first African-American metal band. But most of all, Black Death’s lone album is a fucking classic of raw ‘n’ wild HEAVY fucking METAL with a thirst for the epic and dramatic.

Black Death’s original lineup consisted of Siki Spacek on lead vocals and lead guitar, Phillip Bullard on drums and percussion, bassist Daryl Harris, and guitarist Gregg Hicks. “This was the original, classic lineup of the band,” says Spacek. “I met these guys waaaaaay back in 1977 while I was in the 11th grade, on the exact same day that I was expelled from school. At this point in time, I had already decided that music was the direction that I wanted to take my life in, and heavy metal was the perfect way to accomplish this goal.”

Indeed, across the original version of Black Death – which consisted of a seven-song main LP and then a two-song 7″, both of which Hells Headbangers will reproduce down to the same detail, including the original band logo as envisioned by Spacek – the four maniacs of Black Death create a towering work of true metal magick. The production is almost punkish, emitting a blown-out and garagey atmosphere, but this ably benefits this maniacal playing across the collective nine songs. Energy and electricity explode from every note, passion writ large across each time-evaporating minute; every player is giving it his all and going for the throat, finding that elusive balance between the barbaric and virtuostic. The songs themselves possess the swagger of red-blooded rock ‘n’ roll, but are generously daubed in the darkness and mystery of aeons-old metal. Imagine, if you will, Judas Priest’s Sad Wings of Destiny boosted with an OTT meanness or if Cirith Ungol were punks but indulged their Thin Lizzy tendencies more. Truly, Black Death is that awesome and awe-inspiring.

“I always wanted to create the ultimate HEAVY METAL band,” Spacek states humbly, “a band that was able to cover the broad spectrum of the emotional realms of music that other artists like Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin had done but individually within their own respective bands; I wanted to create a heavy metal band that would have the best qualities of each these bands. I also had a visual look in mind of black leather and spandex with chains and studs, projecting a strong image befitting the band that I had in mind.”

As for the oft-discussed issue of race, “Being an all-dark American heavy metal band was not a preconceived idea by any of us,” Spacek says. “It was something that just happened to turn out that way. To us, and especially to me, we were a heavy metal band PERIOD. A coloring book is a coloring book no matter what different colors are used inside of them.”

As fervent supporters of their hometown metal scene, Cleveland’s Hells Headbangers will endeavor to make sure this massively anticipated reissue of Black Death’s lone classic is of the highest standard, including making it available on both CD and cassette tape for the first time ever. “I have been asked how I feel about the upcoming reissue of the very first Black Death album,” Spacek concludes. “There are a variety of emotions that I have, but the most important one is of relief – FINALLY! Not only will the congregations of heavy metal be able to have personal access to it, but I can finally get my own copy of the damn thing – hahaha! And we have Bill Peters along with Chase Horval and the whole gang at Hells Headbangers to thank for making this reissue a reality and for helping me to reclaim my musical legacy! But most importantly, I want to thank all of the fans who have stayed true and interested in the ‘four dark horsemen of heavy metal’ and its current incarnation, Black Death Resurrected! It’s been a LOOOOOOONG time coming, mates – 33 years, in fact – but now it’s finally made it here…”

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Black Death’s Black Death
-main LP-
Side A
1. Night of the Living Dead
2. The Hunger
3. When Tears Run Red (From Love Lost Yesterday)
4. Fear No Evil
Side B
5. The Scream of the Iron Messiah
6. Streetwalker
7. Black Death

– 7″ 45 RPM-
Side A
1. Here Comes the Wrecking Crew
Side B
2. Retribution

Interview with Rance – Atmospheric Black Metal from France

This week I Spoke to Gaetan of Cepheide about his other band Rance, if like me you are a fan of Atmospheric Black metal then ya gotta check these guys out! Here’s the interview:

* What does the name Rance mean?
We were looking for a single name or french word. Something simple because this is how we feel the project, that differs from «traditional» or «romantic» black metal aspects. The voice is not omnipresent in the band, we didn’t wanted to be conceptual in order to keep the project really «open». After brainstormings, Rance came to us as an evidence.

Our music is sometimes depressive but always luminous

* You describe Rance as Luminous black metal – please describe to readers who have not heard you before what this means?
«Luminous» was first found during the composition period to name a few caracteristic riffs. Lila wrote it physically for the first time the day we had to play on stage and describe the band to the booker. This word stayed because we felt it as an evidence, and people around us were curious. Our music is sometimes depressive but always luminous, almost positive sometimes and really different from traditional black metal

* Does this differ from your work in Cephiede? Some bands happily include their noisier work and their more atmospheric work on the same albums – why divide the two?
Gaetan : Although both are Atmospheric Black Metal projects, the process and feeling about music is very different. To draw an exaggerated line, you could say that Rance is a live project, while Cepheide is a studio project. What I mean by that is for Cepheide, the composing is done prior to playing. When we get to play, it’s mostly about polishing the details, and enjoy playing the new songs together, but the song is mostly done by the time we enter the rehearsal room. With Rance, it’s the exact opposite. Yann and Lila agree on the first chords, and we play for hours until a structure comes out of it. We have a fairly similar vision of what we want for the dynamic of our songs so they end up feeling “alive” or “instinctive”. The concretization is also different. With Cepheide we very much value the recording process. Tracks are recorded on click, instruments per instruments, and we’re constantly looking for a sound identity. This add up to many hours of work, and we’re extremely exigent about the final result. For Rance, it’s again different. Our first EP was recorded live. The goal was for our tracks to be bearer of emotions, while assuming a more “garage” production. To conclude, I’d say both projects are as pleasing as they are different.

* How did you find the other members of Rance and what do they think of your work on Cephiede?
We quickly met after I moved to Paris. Yann and Lila know each other for a long time. I was actively looking for a band, and we instantly got along, be it musically or personally. Anthony, a friend from Strasbourg, my hometown, took care of vocals on the first EP and our 3 first live shows. Today, the project is mainly instrumental. We mutually respect each others projects, although Rance and Cepheide aren’t closely related on a personal level.

It becomes a moment of total abandon which I have a hard time defining

* How do you find just playing the drums in Rance as you also play guitars and sing in Cephiede – is it more relaxing or?
Gaetan: There are two musical aspects and musical energy that are very different. In Cepheide, there is a opposite force that is quite interesting. There is the melodic aspect of guitar that requires a bit of concentration, or even a strong focus as it’s the songs root, while singing brings to a state of self forgetness, by the energy it takes and the emotions it creates. When singing is exacerbating, it sometimes happens that you’d finish a sentence or a scream and wonder how your body coped with it. It’s quite interesting to wonder about this coordination, how the body reacts when confronted to those two opposite reactions to music.

For Rance, playing the drums and always writing music together allows me to simply be driven by Yann and Lila’s melodies, which is extremely pleasant. Doing so, it happens that the drum patterns change from one day to the next, depending on the feeling of the moment. The physical aspect of drumming is also very important. There are moments of real effort, and when those efforts react in an instinctive way to Yann and Lila’s melodies, it becomes a moment of total abandon which I have a hard time defining, and that’s why each live show with Rance is a very intense experience for me.

* How did you guys record the songs for Rance? Professional studio or a home set up ? Do you record live or is everything layered (drums recorded then guitars then vocals?)
Gaetan : As mentioned earlier, we recorded our first EP like we would play during the rehearsals. We recorded everything together, including vocals, because it was important to us to do it that way, all together

* All of the songs on the EP have peoples names – are they based on actual people or?
Gaetan : Indeed, this often puzzles people, but it was not our goal. First of all, during the band’s first year, the project was instrumental, and with no intention of fitting black metal codes, so the titles just came out naturally, without any question and Lila is very inspired for that.

* Do you intend to do any live shows as Rance? Touring?
Gaetan : Yes, live matters a lot to us. We played a few shows for the release of the demo, and some more are scheduled for the end of the year.

* What kind of feedback have you had on the EP so far?
Gaetan : We had more than we would have hoped for. We had a lot of live offers and support. It’s really important for a first release. We haven’t took the time to prospect for reviews or that kind of things, because we were all very busy on our sides, but we’re going to look into it so that this EP gets to shine a bit more before we release the next one!

This is the role of our EP : push to introspection, to find his own creative impulses

* What is the image you have used on the artwork and does it have a symbolic meaning for Rance?
Lila : This form is abstract. Everyone can get his own interpretation. Concentric shapes may evoke a radiation symbol, a galaxy (see Galaxy du tourbillon, drawn by Lors Rosse, 1845), the “7 cercles du purgatoire” (illustrated by Gustave Doré in La Divine Comédie, Dante), a corridor, or a matrix. Something fruitful and conducive to the opening, a substrate from which spout a creative force. This is the role of our EP : push to introspection, to find his own creative impulses. I grown with Rance music and marked universe for 3 years old. Our music, both dark by the style (black metal) and luminous in its interstices, gave me the answer natural to do this draw ant the technic I used to make it (black ink).

* What can we expect from Rance in 2017? Full length album?
Gaetan : We hope to release something new by the end of 2017. We don’t know yet if this will be a 2 tracks EP or a full length album, but there will definitely be a new release soon!