Something a bit different today – I speak with Toby Driver Kayo Dot main man. I’ve been a big fan of the Flenser records and of course John Zorn – anything that gets both of their seals of approval is a-ok with me. Read on.
* The band has been going for over 10 years now which is twice as long as the average band sticks together. What do you think has given you the longevity to stay in the game for so long?
It’s true Kayo Dot’s been a thing for about 14 years now, but we haven’t had a consistent lineup the whole time. So, if you think of it as a “band,” then there is no such longevity– I haven’t been able to hold band members together for longer than five or six years. There’s no money and people want to get on with their lives. I keep doing it because that’s what I do.
* From memory you went from a metal band to forming Kayo Dot…what inspired you to switch streams so to speak?
My previous band, maudlin of the Well, was sort of a metal band but also was pretty non-traditional. The big change was that I wanted to stop using riffs and repetitive forms, and do something that was through-composed, or non-repetitive… but in the context of heavy music. These days, though, I do a mix of through-composed and riff-based music.
* What was the hardest thing about doing kayo dot from leaving the traditional structure of a “metal band”
As mentioned above, MOTW wasn’t a traditional metal band whatsoever, so it wasn’t a difficult transition, but eventually the ideas in Kayo Dot became more abstract. Therefore, I guess maybe the hardest thing at first was trying to figure out how to communicate more advanced or unusual ideas to a band of musicians with widely varying degrees of ability.
* What was the best part?
Probably being able to play shows that didn’t consist of exclusively metal bands, simultaneously expanding and closing our circle.
* I know you have said in the past you were a fan of bands like Emperor and Gorguts yet you have elements of prog and shoegaze in KD. Are you surprised that both of these styles still fall under the umbrella of “black metal” in 2016?
I’d say that I’m more amused than surprised that black metal has become such a massively popular style. It’s basically conformist pop music.
* Your song topics touch on spirituality and occultism – do you practice any faith at all? Enochian magick? If so which one? Any of the other band members?
Nope, not at all personally. Our lyricist, Jason Byron, has his own deep and complex spirituality though. He lays out a primer in the “Sword of Satan” which we released with Hubardo.
* You guys have some touring history but it must be hard when you have the full orchestra – what’s been the best parts of going on tour? and what’s the been the worst? Can we expect more touring in the future?
We don’t tour with a large ensemble anymore or play the songs that require one. Doing it at the financial level we’re at is shitty, unenjoyable, and compromised. We’ll do it again someday if we ever get popular and have the budget for it. Until then, we’ll tour on a small scale here and there… we usually do a few months every year.
* How did the deal with John Zorn’s record label come about? Were you guys friends already? Was it a goal forming the band to work with John in some capacity
I sent him a demo way back in the day, but we didn’t know each other. I was a fan of course, but the band wasn’t formed specifically to try to work with him. But I’d say that working with him was one of my personal musical goals, and still is a goal to go deeper with him.
* I think at one stage you were using the crowd funding model to work the band as opposed to a traditional record deal, what made you choose that route and would you do it again?
That’s not exactly true. We funded Hubardo via preorders, but that’s not really the same as crowdfunding– it’s just basic capitalism. I tried some crowdfunding for a few of my other bands though, bands that have absolutely zero market potential, and it’s not a model I would like to return to. It’s too difficult to manage well.
* How did the deal with the Flenser come about and since both John Zorn and Jonathan Flenser are both characters what are the biggest differences in how they run their labels, as far as you , the artist is concerned?
Same, I wrote to him and asked him if he was interested in working together. Jonathan and I already had a very basic relationship though because he’d released a Vaura record on vinyl.
* What can we expect in 2017 for Kayo Dot?
I’m actually not exactly sure yet. Some cool things are in the works, but might not be finished in time.
Following on from our conversation with the guys from Norse in Australia last week, this week I talk to the guys from Kiwi Black metal band Exordium Mors. Read this and you will learn what it takes to stay in a successful band for 12+ year when you are based in one of the most isolated countries in the world – if that’s not dedication then I don’t know what is!
* First off congrats on the new record deal – how did that all come about?
Black Mortum: We were approached by Kunal from Transcending Obscurity with a very
straight up no bullshit contract. We had worked together previously on “The Apotheosis Of
Death” album where he did PR for the Asia Pacific region for our label at the time “Iron
Blood and Death Corp” from Mexico. We also saw him picking up bands such as “The Furor”,
“Rudra” and “Dusk” which further solidified the notion that he shares our taste in metal and
the ethos that goes with it.
* Would you say bands from New Zealand (or even Australia) are disadvantaged say, compared to bands coming from Europe or the USA?
Black Mortum: Hard call I think this one. There’s a very few things that we have to endure
that some Euro/US bands don’t have to deal with as much. Like there being next to no
neighboring countries to easily tour. Apart from Australia, the closest country with any sort
of metalhead population would be Indonesia. Just means building a dedicated fan base can
take longer. Even with the internet and its various flooded means to distribute your music
globally, the best way I find to get people to remember you within the masses of bands is to
tear them a new asshole live on stage! Everything outside this however doesn’t seem to be
much of an impact! If you got the chops you’ll find your way out to the rest of the world. It’s
far from impossible and we’re not the only remote region that has to deal with such an
ordeal.
Scourge: This isn’t a “black and white” situation, but there are definite limitations when
coming from the ass-end of the world. For instance, touring is easier for European or
American bands when playing in their respective countries. It is much more expensive for an
Australasian band to go to these places and tour, not only for flights but also currency
conversion.
Some positives would be that we are a bit of an “unknown” country for metal, thus it makes
us seem more “exotic” or “interesting” to the global metal scene. Also due to our “relative”
isolation, we’ve been able to foster our own “sound(s)” and create “unique” music, rather
than following whatever trendy bullshit is happening on a global level.
* Do you guys have a home studio set up to record or do you have a “go to” studio to record at? If so do they understand what you guys needs sonically?
Black Mortum: All our releases were recorded live, as in the whole band playing together in
the main room with headphones. Overdubs for the vocals and guitar solos. Due to this
approach we have always gone to a studio in order to separate all instruments in a live
environment.
The last album was recorded at Revolver Studios in 3 days. Beast of a studio with awesome
equipment. Since the “Verus Hostis” EP we have used Alex Selman of “Odin Recordings” to
record all releases. He also mixed and mastered all of them bar “Sacrifice, Perish and
Demise” which was done by Cjs of “Temple of Sol”. Both engineers are close friends and
certainly understood what we needed sonically, both with roots in metal.
We will however take a different approach to the next release. All instruments will be
recorded separately. We have a studio in mind for the drums, and the rest will be done in a
home studio environment, either at Temple of Sol or at my place. I’ll spare the technical
details and purpose for each as I’ll be ranting for a while, haha but rest assure this is
certainly going to be a large leap in sound quality even though the whole lot wasn’t
recorded in studio. We’ll be bringing in Cjs once again to mix and master, however this time
he will be doing the capture too.
* What is the song writing process for the band? Do you come up with the riffs and the band build songs around them? Do you have any input with the lyrics or do you just let Scourge Witchfucker have free reign?
Black Mortum: Guitars and bass are all written together in a jam room. Sometimes one
person will come in with an idea and we will go from there, and others are completely
candid. This is always followed by a scratch track recorded for the drummer to come up with
beats and lyrics to be written.
Lyrics are always free reign for Scourge and we work together
with the drummer to come up with the beats in certain parts that are crucial to our initial
vision, however for the most part the drums are also free reign for the drummer.
We always talk among ourselves to ensure we’re aligned in approach. Discussing what type
of songs are needed for which parts of the next release, stylistic aspects on how we want
our music to progress overall. Rest assured we’re an evolving band and always will be. A
pledge to never be one who keeps releasing the same album again and again.
Scourge: I usually wait until the rest of the band has finished writing the music before I put
lyrics to it. That way, I can make slight adjustments to the song to fit around the lyrics if
need be (shorten/lengthen passages etc.). Once finished with writing the lyrics, the entire
band are given a copy to look over. If there are any adjustments to be made, then we will
mediate so everyone is happy with the lyrics, in particular the “intent” or “message” that I
am trying to convey. All band members can have input into the lyric-writing, and have done
so for some songs in the past, however the majority of lyric-writing is left up to me.
Santi: As Black Mortum and Scourge have already said, the song writing process really is a
collective effort with us and we make it a point to try and keep it this way. It’s happened
quite often that I’ll have a riff and I’ll have an idea of how it should be played or what should
go behind it and then one of the other guys will have a different idea that actually makes it
sound so much better than what I originally envisioned.
Our approach also helps us avoid writing songs that sound too similar to the next song. I know that there are bands where there’s the one songwriter and everyone just follows – that’s simply not for us. One other thing is that we have to be more than happy with the end result. The song has to be
something that we would actually listen to. We’ve often enough written entire songs and
then canned or took them apart after because we weren’t satisfied.
Assailant: The best part of it to me is when we take what is initially written by each of us,
say a riff or a structure perhaps an idea that was completely amping in its most raw form
and we focus on evolving it. We ask ourselves “what exactly can we do here to elaborate on
this part more”, “can we add something a little more interesting here”,”Lets up the ante
with this next bit”. At times it can be a very trying task, but from one song to the next we all
have that benchmark to meet for ourselves. We all have a limit of our own abilities to push.
As a result you end up with is this beast of a piece that glances left and right, completely and
utterly evil, varied paced and driven. You end up getting more than just your run of the mill.
That is what we look for in our riffs and to me it’s what genuine progress in our own art is.
* Its great to see you guys have a a mix of different ethnicities in the band, how diverse is the New Zealand metal scene?
Scourge: We have various ethnic lineages, but to save time I will say the major ethnicities currently in the band is English/Irish, Filipino and Malaysian/Sri Lankan. Some of us are 5+ generation NZers
though, whereas the others immigrated here when they were young adults or teenagers.
The NZ Metal scene is pretty mixed for the most part. Bands like CorpseFeast, Horrendous
Disfigurement, Nullifier, to name a few, have Maori and Pacific Islander members. Auckland
has a large influx of immigrants, so there are a wide range of ethnicities within the metal
community. Generally speaking, there isn’t racism in the scene and if people hold that view
then they get put in their place pretty quickly.
* Where is the best black metal scene in New Zealand? Is it mainly Auckland or elsewhere?
Scourge: I wouldn’t say there is a “best”. There is quite a healthy collection of black metal
bands from all around the country, but the main cities like Wellington and Auckland have
the most.
* How easy is it to tour NZ?
Scourge: Fairly easy. All the main cities (Auckland, Wellington and (Anti)Christchurch) are
about half an hour to an hour and a half flight away from each other. Driving to smaller
locales is easier in the South Island than the North Island, but a good 5-7 hour drive can get
you to most places around the North.
It can be harder if you are an international band from Europe or USA touring here, for the
same reasons as a NZ band touring in Europe or USA as mentioned earlier. It is best done
when an Australian promoter has hooked up a tour in Australia in these cases, as NZ can be
added to the tour. Once on the ground per se, it is fairly easy to go from the main cities as
outlined above.
‘Black Mortum’, our guitarist, is part of Chaos NZ Promotions which brings bands over to NZ.
Absu, Behemoth, Impiety and Inquisition are just some of the names that have come
through here thanks to Chaos NZ Promotions. www.chaosnz.com has more information.
* How did the tour with Destroyer 666 come about? Were you happy with the tour and if so why?
Black Mortum: Being a part of Chaos NZ Promotions, we received the offer and being big
fans it was on our bucket list of bands to bring to NZ. We got our brothers at Valhalla
touring involved and made it happen! Exordium Mors would be national support as in NZ, I
don’t think it would be disputed that we’re the closest / best fit for the shows. It was a great
little 2 date tour and it was certainly a privilege to share the stage with them. It had been a
while since we’ve played any new material, so these shows were a great time to unleash a
couple new tracks. A taste of things to come and it was well received!
* What are your thoughts on KK warslut and the way he deals with the metal media?
Santi: He’s a rough character who shoots straight and shoots from the hip and I’ll say that
most people in Metal these days simply can’t handle that. It was great having a drink and a
bit of a long talk with the guy when they were here and for the record, we spoke at length
about politics, the current state of the Western world plus many other things and we see
eye to eye on so much. Yes, you read that correctly and I’m an Asian who migrated to New
Zealand.
As for how he deals with the “metal media”, if you’re talking about the agenda driven
personnel from that ironic website, well they had it coming. I mean they can say and write
what they want and by the same token, KK (and anyone else) can do the same. As far as I’m
concerned, those people from that website are the same wimps and posers that Manowar
spoke off and they should leave the hall.
* Speaking of touring have you guys done much touring in Australia?
Scourge: So far, we’ve done 2 small tours of Australia and opened for Tribulation in Sydney
as a once-off gig.
* Most bands find it hard to continue for more than 5 years you guys have been going for 12 years now- what’s the secret to your longevity?
Black Mortum: I guess over the years it has always felt that we’re only still scratching the
surface of what we can do together as a band. We have been through multiple drummers
over the years (which is also another reason we don’t have that many releases) as finding
drummers here is difficult. Our core members have stayed the same however. With
inspiration to song-writing, there have been bumpy times but always suddenly sparks would
fire and we’d all be on board feeding off each other’s ideas.
I think that’s it. If you feel like your music isn’t progressing or the ones around you aren’t on
the same page, then get out. I think we have been lucky to have a group of good friends and
dedicated players with a similar artistic direction.
Scourge: Dedicated members
Santi: We’re Metalheads
* How did you personally get into black metal? What was your “gateway” band so to speak?
Black Mortum: Back in my teens I was always into heavy and death metal. I was always into
Sepultura’s “Morbid Visions”, which one could argue is black metal. I only got into “black
metal” when I switched schools in ‘99 and met a few other metalheads. “The One Rode to
Asa Bay” video that directed me to the rest of Bathory and the “I Am the Black Wizards” live
video from “Emperial Live Ceremony” that was floating around #mp3-blackdeath on Dalnet
was what resonated with me most. I was pointed to them from said school mates. History
goes from there haha. Yes Metal Nerd as fuck and a lot of digging afterwards.
Scourge: Personally, Scandinavian bands such as Emperor, Mayhem and Bathory first led me
on to the path of black metal.
Santi: For me to answer this question completely, I’ll first say that Black Metal isn’t defined by one sound or style. The first encounter for me was back in 88/89 with the song “Black
Sabbath” when I was 13. This was followed closely by Slayer’s “Show No Mercy” album.
Even back then I could hear that they touched on a certain something in that album:
Blackness. That blackness wasn’t present on “South of Heaven” nor “Reign In Blood.” Years
passed and things like “Seven Churches” and “At War With Satan” came into my life and of
course I got into Mercyful Fate and Hellhammer. Around 1995 or so I heard Emperor’s “In
the Nightside Eclipse” but that sound wasn’t what I was looking for at the time, it would
take years before I got into it.
And then in late 2000 came a life changer: Dissection’s “Storm Of The Light’s Bane.” People
talk about certain albums being a watershed etc. and this was it for me. It had the same
impact that “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son”, “Rust In Peace” and “Sad Wings of Destiny” had
on me when I was a teenager.
So anyhow, as you can see the blackness was always there.
* What new black metal bands do you currently rate?
Scourge: I always have my ear out for new bands within New Zealand and globally. Since
you said black metal, I’ll keep it strictly black metal or bands with a black metal “influence”.
Locally, bands like Trepanation, Vomit Storm and Exaltation really impress me. Although
strictly not “new”, Inside Arkham, BulletBelt and Winter Deluge I also rate quite highly. The
mysterious Verberis is also quite killer. It may be time to do some shameless self-promotion,
but I did write a zine of which I did three issues ‘Axiom of the Elite’ which focused only on
NZMetal bands, if people are interested in the scene/bands I suggest picking up a copy. I still
have copies of issue 3 available, hit up deusintroclades@gmail.com for copies.
Globally, I’m quite digging the Black Twilight Circle bands like Volahn and Blue Hummingbird
on the Left. The Polish scene is also buzzing at the moment with the likes of Mgla, Deus
Mortem and Batushka, all of which I play regularly. Front is a brand new band that I can’t
seem to get enough of lately. May need to end it there or this interview will be a
comprehensive list of bands haha.
Santi: I haven’t heard any new Black Metal bands that have really done it for me this past
year but Deus Mortem’s new EP is quite good and there’s this band from Spain called
Sheidim that I’ve been listening to on and off recently.
A couple bands that I’ve gotten into quite a bit though are Volahn and Blue Hummingbird
On The Left (Los Guerreros del kulto de Huitzilopochtli!!!). I wouldn’t call either of them
Black Metal but they rule nonetheless!! Ah Axeman is another one.
* Has any of the band ever visited the USA? if So what did they think of it?
Black Mortum: Visiting the US for the first time in adulthood in February! I’ll let you know
after haha.
Santi: I’ve been there twice in recent years and I really like it.
* Does Exordium Mors have any “bucket list” shows they would love to play? Bloodstock? Maryland Death fest? Hole in the Sky Norway etc?
Black Mortum: Maryland Death Fest, Metal Days and Party San Open Air are certainly
festivals I’d like to play in Euro / US. HammerSonic Fest in Indonesia would be another! Lots
of die-hard Indonesian metal maniacs over there!
Scourge: We are keen to play any overseas fest, I can’t say there is one that sticks out from
the rest personally.
* Any final words to your fans?
Scourge: Look out for our second full-length album to be released via Transcending
Obscurity Records in the next year or so. We hope to bring doom and destruction to the
masses in your respective countries soon! Denounce your gods and your politics. Worship
Today I spoke with Trevor the one man genius behind LA Black metal band Ashen Horde – we talk about NYC vs L.A., Collecting vinyl vs Cassettes and playing Live Shows vs Being a Studio Musician – read it and learn something new.
* When I think of black metal, I do not think of Hollywood – how did you end up there and do you think your surroundings have much influence on your style / interpretation of black metal?
Yeah–sunny, health-conscious (and rather vapid) Hollywood certainly doesn’t come to mind when thinking of the bleak, desolate, ice-laden landscapes that tend to inspire a lot of black metal bands. At the same time, though, Hollywood is pretty gritty and grim underneath the sparkly appearance that film studios paint it as having. A number of the streets here are certainly paved with broken dreams and regret. Couple that with an epic drought and constant fear of earthquakes, and you’ve got the perfect setting to inspire dark lyrics.
To be honest, though, I’m not entirely sure how much inspiration I draw from my surroundings. Ashen Horde records always tell stories, and they rarely reflect what I see outside (at least until the one we’re working on now, but more on that at another time).
As for how I ended up here–I lived in New York for 10 years, and grew tired of the insanity that is NYC. Don’t get me wrong, I love New York and had a great time there, but after a while it became a bit stifling. So I decided to give the West Coast a try, and see if it offered a different experience… which it did. Despite my above comments, I fucking love it here. Whether I can attribute it to the place or not, I’ve been far more musically productive than I ever was in NYC.
* Being based in Hollywood do you have a job in the Entertainment industry in some form or a totally non related field?
Totally non-entertainment related! I actually work in financial marketing, which may be the least metal thing ever. Believe me, I certainly stand out when I’m at work.
* How did you get into Black metal and what was your biggest influence in the scene?
While I fear this will show my age a bit, my first foray into black metal came via an Osmose compilation called “World Domination II.” It had all sorts of great stuff on it–Immortal, Enslaved, Absu–and my interest grew from there. I’d already been into death metal, but the atmosphere and majesty of black metal hit me in a way the death metal never quite did.
I’d say the aforementioned Enslaved and Immortal were probably my biggest influences when I started playing BM, along with Emperor and Satyricon. I’ve certainly expanded beyond those, but they all hold a special place in my cold, black heart. More recently, I’ve gotten very into Zhrine and Audn, and sort of “rediscovered” the weird brilliance of Solefald.
* Why do you think there are so many prolific one band black metal bands (as opposed to say the Death Metal genre)
That’s a great question, and I’ve wondered about it as well. There’s something very personal about black metal. It’s not all about technicality and brutality, which are the focuses of most death metal, and is often more introspective and, dare I say, spiritual. Of course, I think some of it comes from the fact that many BM dudes are sort of misanthropic and antisocial (though I can’t say I fit that bill)!
* What are your thoughts on Artists like Xasthur now playing live but as a 3 piece acoustic show?
On one hand, I think musicians should play whatever the hell they want, and never feel compelled to conform to the label to which they’re originally attached. But on the other hand, I sometimes feel like a complete 180 style change should be a trigger to put the old band name to rest and try something else. But if Scott/Malefic wants to do acoustic stuff now, more power to him. Opeth, who I love, are a great example of this. While the newer albums are amazing, they’re a million miles away from “Orchid” and “Still Life.”
* Have Ashen Horde played many shows to date? Or is live not something you are interested in? I know many BM artists prefer to play “events” as opposed to the more traditional idea of “touring”
No shows thus far, primarily because I was the only member until earlier this year! I’m not overly interested in becoming a touring musician–my love is in writing and recording–but am not opposed to doing shows. I know for a fact that Stevie would like to at some point. I’d be very happy to play a couple festivals each year, not because I feel compelled to only play “events,” but because it would fit in with my regular life.
* How did partnering up with Stevie Boiser come about? Have you guys done any live gigs yet?
Stevie did a stint in Vale of Pnath, which also featured my brother, Jeremy, on drums. When I had vocal surgery last year, and was told to give up harsh vocalizing, Jeremy immediately recommended Stevie. He’s got a range that blows away anything I could ever do. I was a little afraid he wouldn’t be interested, mostly because he’s in several other bands, but he luckily accepted! I can’t wait to release new material with his [far superior to my own] vocals.
* To me Black metal fans are more keen to embrace Vinyl and cassette versions of albums (and digital downloads) as opposed to say the Death metal scene where its basically cd and digital. Why do you think that is?
As a vinyl collector, I get it–vinyl is fucking cool. The sound is warm and the artwork is huge. Plus, vinyl has this weird, archaic, old-fashioned vibe to it that seems to fit with the BM obsession with history. Not sure if that’s a real reason why BM fans buy it, but I think it’s a reasonable explanation!
Cassettes, on the other hand, I don’t quite understand. To me, they’re solely a novelty, and I’m not entirely sure why people are into them again. Of course, I’ve considered putting the next EP on limited cassette, so I may just be a big, fucking hypocrite!
* How do you think services like Bandcamp and Kickstarter have helped musicians to release their art? Do you think it was better in the old days of “traditional” record deals?
They’ve certainly helped in that you don’t need a label to get your music out. However, because there are so many bands releasing music without labels, it’s infinitely more difficult to stand out and build a fan base. That’s why labels will continue to operate–they have the network and name recognition to help cut through the noise. I think the job of labels will continue to evolve, but I can’t imagine they’ll go away. I wouldn’t say it’s better now, just different.
Kickstarter is also an interesting beast. It’s proved that bands can get projects funded without labels, but at the same time, in order for a Kickstarter campaign to be successful, the band needs a pretty sizable following… which, in many cases, came from the band previously being on a label. I was very lucky in that my small, but loyal fanbase, successfully brought “Nine Plagues” to vinyl a couple months ago.
* How did your deal with Transcending Obscurity come about and have you been pleased with the way its been working so far?
Transcending Obscurity’s webzine gave the last album, “Nine Plagues,” an exceptional review, which prompted me to reach out to Kunal Choksi, who runs it. He really liked the album, and worked with me on the promoting it. It’s been great working with him thus far, and I’m excited to work together on the new album. TO is growing by leaps and bounds, and is signing amazing bands from all over the world, and I’m honored to be part of the lineup.
* Are there any plans to play the East Coast in the future?
Never say never! I would be all about trying to play Maryland Deathfest at some point. I’d also be hard-pressed to turn down a show or two in my New York home…
* Have you ever been to NYC and if so what are your thoughts on the city?
Oh yes–as I mentioned, I lived there for 10 years–two in Manhattan and eight in Brooklyn. New York really is unlike anywhere else in the world. I may have grown tired of living there, but I haven’t stopped loving it, and try to make it back a couple times a year.
* What can we expect musically from you in 2017?
Hopefully a lot of new music! We’ve got a new 7″ coming early in the year, and a full-length album hopefully by summer. The music is all recorded, and now everything is in Stevie’s hands. Beyond that, there are a couple of other songs floating around without a home. I’d love to do a split with another cool band, or perhaps get one on a movie soundtrack.
* Any final words to fans and friends?
Thanks to everyone that has supported Ashen Horde thus far! The fan reaction has been the fuel to keep me going. I think Stevie and I have come up with a new album that is fairly unique and genre-fluid, and hopefully people will dig it. Happy 2017!
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!
I recently got the chance to speak to Forge. multi instrumentalist from the Aussie Black Metal band “Norse” In this interview we covered the remoteness of Australia, how too many bands these days give away the mystique of their bands and much more.
* You guys are not only based in Australia but 100 miles or so outside of Sydney the biggest city in the country. How does that remoteness work for you guys? How does it go against you guys?
The remoteness works perfectly for our musical inspiration. Where I live has nothing but forests and green, open county. I used to go weeks at a time without seeing anyone. it gives you time to think, clear your head of any superficial rubbish and really distill your musical ideas.
* I know of the Blue Mountains in NSW but I am not really familiar with the Southern Highlands? (I know its on the same ridge line but much further south) How did you guys end up there as opposed to Sydney? What is there to do in an area like that? IS there any metal scene there are all?
There is ZERO scene out here! the closest musical equivalent is wedding musicians, or a few pub bands. This doesn’t bother me at all, as i have never had a musical community to grow up in or be influenced by. This probably explains the uniqueness of our music. No external input.
* Why do you think there are so many amazing one man and two man Black metal bands as opposed to Death metal where you at least need the basic 4 man set up drums, bass, guitar, vocals etc? Do you think the fact that early Bm bands like Burzum and Darkthrone were 1 and 2 man bands, that they paved the way?
Great Question. I believe that its a personality thing. If you enjoy, or feel the need to express yourself with such bleak, antisocial music, chances are its a reflection on ones own personal character.
I find I write the best material when by myself, late at night or very early in the morning, Never in a band environment.
* Do you guys do many live shows anymore? One of the things I like about Black metal artists versus Death metal ones is many choose only to play ‘events” as opposed to the traditional “get in a van and tour”
I have done the ‘van/bus tour’ thing many times through Europe, the USA and around Australia, and its just not something I really enjoy anymore. Its a party thing. I’m not Interested.
Norse plays shows when we feel like it, we’re not interested in getting ‘big’. The amount of work involved for the return is a joke these days, and not worth the financial and mental strain.
More importantly, I see this as art, not entertainment, which touring bands basically are. I know that sound pompous, but I’ve done it all before and I’m just speculating on my personal experiences…
* What’s been the best live show to date and why?
Too many to mention over the years.
* I really love the visuals you guys have in the band – is that one of you or a friend of the band that comes up with these? Very unique and truly something special.
Thank you! Our image is a reflection of our music, I enjoy the added mystery thats created by having faceless figures, no information, no details. let your imagination run.
I am not a fan of the modern day bands that have a million band pics, bios and play through videos showing you exactly how the music is played. There’s a face to put to the music, and all the studio/writing/recording process is documented. It leaves ZERO intrigue, mystery or wonder as to how the art was inspired or created. It makes the music disposable and short lived. A real shame.
* Do you guys have a bucket list of shows you would like to play? For example Bloodstock in the UK? Maryland Deathfest in the USA etc?
Not at all.
* Have any of you guys even visited the USA before? If so what did you think about it?
Only in previous bands. great country, lovely people willing to go out of their way to help touring bands!
* I know you have a new album planned for 2017 – what can you tell us about the new album?
New album is titled ‘ The Divine Light Of A New Sun’ being released through Transcending Obscurity records, due out early 2017.
Its a progression from Pest, but not quite as hopelessly dark. I purposefully roped in some musicians to help write some instrumentation (bass mostly). I figured if I wrote and tracked everything again, it would sound like me, so i gave our new bassist kyle free reign on a lot of the songs. He came up with parts I never would have written, yet complimented what I had written very well. Kyle also was a great help when mixing came around, lots of helpful ideas for dynamics and other things.
* How did the record deal with Transcending Obscurity Records come about? Many BM bands are quite happy to go the DIY route – why the change?
We were DIY for nearly 10 years, until T.O records reviewed Pest ep, and straight out asked us to join the label. Kunal, (owner of T.O records) is a fantastic guy and great to work with. we definitely would recommend him.
* Lyrically what are the new songs about? Still misanthropic I hope!
ADR is in charge of lyrics, and has a heap of great concepts and themes, from the story of his great grandfather who died in the concentration camps, to the views of the world from a Nazi officers perspective, to the long term effects of radiation from Nagasaki. He really put a tonne of effort into the lyrics and it adds to the atmosphere of the songs.
* Do you think the digital age has changed the metal music scene for the better or worse? Please explain.
I have never known anything but the digital age. All I hear from old guys is whinging about the good old days. Well, they are gone, so deal with it. Learn to adapt or get left behind.
* How would you guys describe the band to someone who has never heard your music before?
Don’t even bother listening to it unless you like the sound of large machines falling into a pit of lava. hahaha!!
* Any final words for friends and fans?
Sorry. I’m about to alienate the last of them with this album
I spoke with Balan from Palace of Worms and we covered near death experiences, Catholicism, isolationist angry loners, synthetic humans and much more – read on
* Your latest album “The Ladder” came out on Broken Limbs records this year? How did that deal come about?
Getting hooked up with Broken Limbs happened quite easily and naturally. I just emailed Peter and asked him if he wanted to release my record and after hearing it he said yes. I was actually pretty surprised it happened that fast since finding labels is usually quite an ordeal. I’ve been lucky.
* You were with the Flenser Records for a long time, how do you find working with Broken Limbs vs The Flenser
I was with The Flenser from the beginning and “The Forgotten” was the flagship release for the label so working with Jonathan was definitely a process from the ground up. Even in its embryonic phase though Jonathan did a good job with his releases. Peter’s label was already pretty established by the time I came into contact with him so he already had an audience and a solid identity for his label. Peter is the fucking man. His attention to detail and work ethic regarding his releases is phenomenal. He promotes well and the record looked and sounded great. I was looking for a diverse label after parting with The Flenser, but also a label that still released heavy music. Glad I ran across BLR .
* Jonathan the Flenser founder is well known in the Bay Area – how did you meet him? and any stories about him you can share?
I met Jonathan at a show at a now defunct venue called Anne’s Social Club around 2008. I was strange; one of my long time friends had a college class with Jon and had gotten to talking to him about music. Jon told him he was starting a label and my friend passed the first Palace demo (The Decaying Despot) off to him. I guess he liked it enough (I have no idea why) to want to release my next album which I had already started working on and wanted to meet me. The pieces kind of just fell together and we ended up meeting at this show. A pretty boring story but shortly after The Flenser released my album “The Forgotten”, its first. Jonathan worked as a bartender as his day (night?) job and I’m sure he grew tired of watching me get drunk and talk shit to the patrons of his club. I’m afraid most of the stories about us revolve around me embarrassing him by being a mess.
* There is a great legacy of one man BM bands from Mortiis, Burzum to Xasthur and Leviathan why do you think we see so many good solo artists in the Black metal scene? (say as opposed to the death metal scene)
I guess there is just more of a “tradition” of solo Black Metal artists opposed to other types of metal. The idea had already been represented by many artists by the turn of the century and it in some ways has become an unfavorable stereotype in the genre. Aside from the fact that the technology to create a professional sounding record in your bedroom is available readily to anyone with a couple hundred bucks I think that maybe the isolationist, angry loner aesthetic of Black Metal appeals to the aspiring solo musician. As far as myself goes, I tried for a long time to find other people who wanted to create this type of music but in the end I just said fuck it, I’ll just do it myself. Even to this day I think “well maybe if I get other band members the performances would be better, the drums would be better, etc” but Palace Of Worms at this point is so deeply tied into my psyche and its creation process so reliant on my own work ethic quirks I don’t think bringing anyone else into it would really result in something that I’d be happy with. I have guest contributions here and there but the central vision I cannot compromise.
* What is the recording process like for you? Do you start with a guitar riff and build from there?
Yeah usually I start with the guitar. Sometimes I’ll lay down some improvisational drums and build the song around that framework. Other times I’ll sit down at the keyboard and play out the melodies. It all depends on the moment and what I have readily available when that moment comes.
* Lyrically you cover a lot of stuff (at least it seems to me) on death, judgment, the rottenness of humankind etc – what draws you to the subjects and are you like this in “real life too? Or are you a happy go lucky type of guy outside of the band?
Death and judgment are definitely big themes that I like to work with and interest me. I grew up in a pretty strict Roman Catholic family, and while I myself don’t believe in a all seeing, knowing God the imagery of Catholicism definitely stuck with me. How could it not when it basically beaten into me? Deliverance and damnation in my mind are much more personal. Not so much about this generalized pentanence than about wrapping up the loose ends in your life. As far the humankind goes, there is absolutely nothing kind about it. I’ve come to accept this in my adulthood instead of writing in a perpetual existential spasm of horror. People suck and I spend way too much time thinking about it in my daily life so I try to avoid the standard “angry at the world” lyrics these days. Usually the rotten person who I end up writing about is myself. Most of my lyrics are about my collapsing temple and my burning altar. I know that my time is short and my days are numbered. I’m trying my best to overcome my demons because I don’t want the unknown night that we all have to face to descend while I’m still holding on to the meaningless things. The demons will just tear your life away if you hold on.
* Have you had any near death experiences in your live?
Hmmm, nothing like the traditional near death type stuff like a tunnel of light, etc but about 12 years ago I had this infection which went to my brain and my roommate found me blacked out on the floor and rushed me to the hospital where I ended up waiting like 3 hours with a 106 degree fever. I was hallucinating all kinds of crazy things like scenes from that George Clooney movie “Syriana” playing out before me in the hospital waiting room but it was all hellish and twisted. Finally they noticed me slumped over and muttering to myself and finally gave me some care. That was horrible and I’m sure if anymore time had passed I would’ve died. I was literally cooking in my own body.
* Do you feel our consciousness lives on after these bodies die?
Yes I think in one form or another. Energy never really dies it just transforms. I probably would’ve balked at the idea in my more nihilistic days but I’d like to think consciousness continues in a different form.
* What are your thoughts on blending the human mind/consciousness with synthetic bodies to extend the life span of humans?
I think it would be an abomination. Life is not meant to be eternal. We are already living way too long as a species and shit is getting fucked up as a result of it. One of these days soon a virus or bacteria resistant to anti bodies is going to wipe us all out and maybe for the better. We have forsaken the natural world for one of artificiality. We worship this artificiality instead of the world that created us. We want our bodies to be anything except what was given to us and we will twist ourselves into unnatural shapes through surgery and science in order to fit whatever bullshit standard our peers currently consider beauty and value. When we die our bodies belong in the dust and our minds will be set free.
* How does your work as Palace of worms differ from the other bands you are involved in?
The neurotic freak outs are private affairs and I don’t have to deal with garbage shows and unreliable band mates. I can control every aspect of the production, artwork, layout, etc. This would never be possible in a democratic band situation.
* The Ladder made a lot of “best of 2016” lists this year – were you pleased with all of these results?
I’m surprised that people liked it that much. I am not a good judge of my own work. I can’t even listen to it once its done. It just makes me cringe. But yeah, I’m glad someone got something out of it.
* Do you see yourself touring (in the traditional sense) at any time in the future? Or would you prefer to just do special events? I saw Mortiis in 1999 on the Stargate tour and it was him behind chicken wire (blues brothers style) and he basically performed the entire album to DAT tape with full nose, ears and bat wings to me sometimes “events” can be more special that traditional drums/bass /guitar/singer tours.
Well I’m actually in the process of teaching the live band a set of songs right now. The goal at this point would be to do a few small shows locally and then do a small west coast tour in the late summer with my friend’s band Ehecatl. Touring the states really sucks but touring Europe would be rad if I somehow would be able to set that up. I am jealous of you seeing Mortiis on that tour. The Stargate is his best record!
* The Bay Area has had such a strong music scene for so long now – is there something in the water there? How do so many artists make it work when the cost of living there is one of the highest in the entire country?
Its getting harder and harder to make music and art here. The Bay Area has a long history of producing great art and music but it has not been very friendly to artists since at least 1997 during the first dot com boom. Now its even worse and you can’t even find a place in Oakland for a decent price. Warehouses are a big part of the East Bay music scene and since the Ghost Ship fire the city has been coming down really hard on DIY venues and kicking people out. Then after the artists have been booted out the real estate companies swoop in and turn the warehouses into overpriced condos. Noise ordinances have also been hurting venues because of Techie yuppie fucks who have permanently sandy assholes don’t like people enjoying music that isn’t The Black Keys in “their neighborhoods”.
* What can we expect from Palace of Worms in 2017?
A split with the amazing one man Black Metal band from Indiana Ecferus which should be out at the end of the winter and another split with 3 other great Bay Area metal bands that will come out as a super limited 12″ self release available only through the bands. All this in addition to the debut of the live band should make 2017 a very busy year for POW.
* Any final words to friends, fans and family?
Instead of slashing my wrists, I just write a bunch of really crummy songs. So long, and thanks for all the fish.
I recently spoke with Daniel from Enthauptung we talked about all sorts of cool shit, Astral Projection, The Adirondack Mountain range in upstate New York and playing gigs in abandoned grain silos – read on
* So one of the toughest things most bands find is coming up with a cool band name since most of the good ones are “already taken”. If I am not mistaken Enthauptung means Decapitation or decapitated? How did you come up with the name?
You are correct that Enthauptung means decapitation, in german. The idea to use this as our band name was brought forth by a former member whom discovered the word whilst studying music by a German composer known as Arnold Schönberg. We enjoy the aesthetic of Enthauptung, feeling it fits well with the trend in black metal to have a name of foreign origin and of difficult pronunciation. We use Enthauptung simply as a name, and not for the meaning of beheading. We don’t want people thinking it’s used for the sake of titling ourselves after decapitation, so we don’t discuss the origin of the name unless asked.
* You guys play a nice blend of Atmospheric Black metal, I like it a lot – how did you guys end up creating music like that ? I mean did you start by listening to Slipknot and Metallica as your gate way bands and soon found yourselves immersed in DSBM? or was there one person in the band who led the charge musically or?
Oh man… talking about where our sound came from could take me all day, I’ll try to answer efficiently. Our style is a powerful blend of everyone who has contributed to our creative process. I started this band with some college peers when I was an undergrad, inspired deeply by USBM bands such as Krallice and Wolves in the Throne Room. Simultaneously, our drummer at the time and I were playing tech death metal on the side. Through this we brought in Joe who currently plays guitar with us. The death metal wasn’t really going anywhere so we decided to focus strictly on black metal. However, the roots in tech death spurred lots of the characteristics that define us such as odd time/rhythm patterns, intricate harmonies, and scarce repetition. We have gone through quite a few lineup changes but I am incredibly grateful and fortunate to have always surrounded myself with superb musicians. Our current line up is the best I could ever imagine it being and all of us are strongly contributing to the creative process. Joe and I both have backgrounds in jazz, Jason is clearly very well disciplined and trained in theory, and Derrick is questionably superhuman considering how great he is as a self taught drummer. Derrick has yet to record with us and we are extremely excited to do so. All of us have backgrounds and interests in a wide range of metal subgenres, and other genres as well (jazz, post rock, folk…). We choose to play atmospheric black metal with this eclectic background in mind which contributes to our uniqueness.
* How was the recording process for the album Adirondack and were you guys happy with the entire process and finished outcome?
Adirondack was self recorded and produced at Joe’s personal studio. We did a great job with it and are extremely satisfied; however, naturally we have our gripes with it. A few drum parts were conceived on the fly, vocals were all recorded in one day on a thrown out voice, and the time to mix and master was rushed based on deadlines. I think most listeners would never notice or complain, but we as the creators will always look back on it lingering on what we should have done differently.
* You guys sing about some pretty bleak subjects..what inspires your lyric writing?
The themes of my lyrics have ranged over time, from depression and negative emotions early on, to themes on dreaming and psychedelic experiences, to concepts on fantasy, desire, and the unknown. One thing that remains constant is that the lyrics will always be a reflection of myself, my emotions, and my experiences. I’ll never waste time singing about idiology, religion, or social commentary.
* Songs like distortions in space (from your last EP A forming Void) seem to me to be about astral projection? If so do you practice? Any weird experiences with it?
You are close there. Inducing altered dream states and dream journaling have been massive influences on me, and generate a strong sense of imagination and creativity. I’ve written lyrics about Astral projection, and I practice AP alongside lucid dreaming. Distortions in space; however, is about a salvia trip I had when I was younger. It was a very traumatizing hallucination, but also incredibly eye opening. Circadian/Petrichor are songs about lucid dreaming and AP. The lyrics to circadian that are printed in the Paths Forgotten insert are directly extracted from a lucid dreaming experience I had where I was alone in a desolate landscape coated in pine trees and standing knee deep in snow. Despite alone and in the cold, I felt at peace. It was absurdly realistic, I recall the setting vividly to this day. I didn’t want to wake up, and after I woke up I thought about it all day… I just wanted to go back.
* What do you think has been the biggest change in Black metal in the last 15 years?
Black metal can be pretty sounding nowadays. Debatably…
* You guys are all the way up in Buffalo right? (To be honest at first I thought you guys were from some weird little mountain town in the Adirondacks – that would have been cool too) How’s the scene in Buffalo? do you find you play more Canadian shows than NY state shows?
I WISH we could live in the Adirondacks. Unfortunately the Adirondacks don’t have concert venues. Or jobs. Enthauptung is based out of Buffalo, though I moved to Maryland for a valuable job opportunity, a decision I’ve been fighting to come to terms with. The buffalo scene is small but close knit, and some of my best friends I’ll ever have are a part of the scene there. Partnering up with Rochester, we’ve got tons of talent and a lot of great people who are all friends with one another. We don’t get huge shows or massive headliners, but we get intimate crowds and plenty of talented acts visiting our DIY venues. Lastly, Enthauptung has never played in Canada, nobody has ever reached out to us. We’d love to though.
* What’s been the best gig you guys have played to date? and why was it?
Our album release for Adirondack. It was surreal… Through a lucky set of circumstances we were able to set up a show inside an abandoned grain factory, and had bands play inside a (150 foot?) tall concrete grain silo. It was November. It was cold. It was dark. It was windy and we didn’t have much shelter from the increasing winds, but we did have bonfires and crockpots filled with chili. We lit the pitch black interior with candles and dark red/blue stage lights. It was the single most raw and DIY shit I’ll ever see in my life. When we were loading in, my friend placed a snare down and gave it one hit inside the silo and it reverberated for perhaps 10 seconds, shooting chills up my spine, letting me know we were about to experience something insane. At the end of our set during an encore, the winds picked up to violent levels as it began hailing while we concluded our set with circadian. Candles and empty beer cans flew all around us as we collectively realized we had summoned a fucking hurricane.
* Do you have any plans for touring – either the US or Europe or like many BM bands do you just plan to play “events”?
We would like to tour, yes. I believe in 2018 we will have had time to spread more word and expand our network such that we can set one up. It will happen one day, I won’t allow myself to have it not happen.
* Have the band played NYC before? if so how was it? I presume you guys have all visited NYC in the past?
We have never played NYC. Comparing ourselves to a few of the bands in Brooklyn, I think we’d be received well there. I cant speak on behalf of the other members, but I have a love hate relationship with NYC. None the less I’d love to experience playing out there and channel the energy of such a large, exciting area into our performance.
* What can we expect musically for the next album?
We are halfway through writing a new album. Our next album will follow the same trend our previous releases have followed; a continued expansion towards a better version of what we already do. Faster playing, better harmonies, more eclectic, better production… We are not changing our style, nor or we capping out our capability. We are just continuing to produce a better version of what we already do.
* Any final words? Shout outs to friends and family?
I firstly want to thank you for reaching out to us for this. It means a lot to underground musicians every time someone new takes interest to what they do. I secondly want to give a shout out to people who still take the time to listen to 10+ minute songs in full. Desire for instant gratification is all too common these days, and if you are taking the time to listen to our extensive songs in full I hope you find it rewarding.
Decibel magazine’s album of the year winners Khemmis spoke to me about murder hotels in Vegas, winning album of the year, Colorado’s legal weed and much more – read on:
* First off congratulation on having album of the year in Decibel magazine – how did that feel? shock? validation?
Both. We were all very proud of the album, but we were definitely shocked to be at the top of such an amazing list with so many tremendous records and bands. Anyone who plays in a band will tell you that there are a lot of personal sacrifices and compromises to be made along the way, so having our names grace the pages of Decibel is very validating.
* Did you know when writing and recording the Hunted that you had something special on your hands?
It was definitely special to us. In our minds we had made an album that we enjoyed playing and listening to, and we did it together. The fact that it speaks to other people is icing on the cake. Dan (bass) was a bit concerned that, because the album lacked a focus on some of the stoner elements found on Absolution, we may lose some fans along the way. The other guys were more confident that other people would dig it. Regardless of any doubts we may have had, we never contemplated doing anything other than evolving into what you hear on Hunted.
* You guys call yourself Doom Rock N Roll – when I listen to your album I hear Sabbath, Candlemass, St Vitus, Traditional metal plus heavy bands like Yob and Pallbearer..which came first? Your traditional metal influences or did you start off with bands like Pallbearer and discover bands like Thin Lizzy later?
Though Black Sabbath predates the Doom label, they are generally considered the godfathers of the genre. Candlemass and St. Vitus are both known as doom bands too, though we understand the ambiguity in such labels. We’ve all been influenced by those classic Doom lords, but we’ve never had a conversation about wanting to sound like them or newer bands like Pallbearer. More directly, a shared love for Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Sleep and Yob are the cornerstones of this band.
* Lyrics to your songs are pretty dark and dismal but you guys seem pretty well adjusted and fun loving..what’s the trick between striking a balance between the two?
We don’t believe that having fun and being well adjusted precludes having a dark side. In fact, people without a dark side, probably aren’t very functional, as they’re denying a natural part of their being. Our music allows us to achieve balance by being an outlet for us to discuss those things that can consume our thoughts or haunt us; we can exercise our fears, pain, and frustrations.
* Khemmis is an Egyptian city right? have any of the band visited there? Would you guys like to play there as a band or just visit as tourists? I know guys like Nader Sadek are trying their best to make Cairo a destination point for touring metal bands but I fear that with the way the religious right are there playing any form of metal will soon be illegal!
Khemmis is the Greek name for an ancient Egyptian city that was the birthplace of Horus. It is generally believed that the current city of Akhmim is the descendant of that place. The mythology of the city is interesting, but none of us have visited. There are so many places in the world we’d love to play, we’re sure Egypt would be a great addition to that list.
* Your previous album Absolution was done with 20 buck spin as well. How did the deal with 20 buck spin come about?
Zach (drums) had a relationship with the label through his previous band, Vasaeleth; 20 Buck Spin put out a couple of their albums on vinyl. Zach planted the seed of working together while we were recording, and, once the album was finished, Dave (of 20BS) was the first person we sent it to. Zach really trusted and respected 20 Buck Spin, so we were all excited when they agreed to release the album.
* I know there was a cassette release of The Hunted as well – does it surprise you that cassettes have made such a “come back” especially in the underground metal scene?
It is surprising, though we all understand the nostalgia to some degree. We also understand the desire for bands to get their music down on physical media, and cassettes are still an inexpensive way to do that. For us, cassettes were never something we planned on doing, but we’re glad it makes some people happy to have them.
* Hailing from Colorado how do you feel the legal weed ruling has impacted the local scene? Has it made things better or worse?
No impact. The people who smoke weed and like stoner rock have always smoked weed and liked stoner rock. No fewer or more people come to shows or play in bands in Colorado as a result of legalized weed, at least not in our world. Snoop Dogg probably visits more often than he used to. Maybe hippie jam band weirdos have been affected, but if it has affected the metal scene in Denver, it’d be hard to prove.
* What does everyone do for day jobs? Is the plan to go full time with the band or would you rather keep it a passion as opposed to a career?
Although there is nothing we love more than playing music, we all knew that the band would take a place behind our families and career aspirations. Ben and Phil are PhD candidates; teaching, researching, and working on their doctorates. Zach is the talented head brewer at a great Denver brewery. Dan is a project manager and engineer on large scale commercial and infrastructure projects. Though we never intended to be a touring band, we’re all willing to make reasonable compromises in our work and home lives to explore unique and exciting opportunities.
* What’s been your favorite cities to play when on tour?
We’ve had varied responses in most of the places we’ve played more than once. For instance, the first time through Sacramento was a bummer, that last time was great. Despite the insane heat, Phoenix has always been pretty good to us. LA has been fun too; our friend Mike is a great host.
* What’s been the worst city and why?
Vegas. The show we were told we’d have was never was a real thing, and the show we ended up with was a mess. We sold no merch and played in front of 3 (very nice) people. We couldn’t find an affordable hotel in the whole city, and we got paid with an 18” cheese pizza. On the way out of Vegas, in search of reasonably priced accommodations, the only vacancy we could find was a murder room full of blood and feces (like blood spatter on the walls and beds). We ended up driving through the night to Phoenix.
* Any places you guys have yet to play that are on your bucket list? South America? Russia? New Zealand? that type of thing
Those all sound good. I think we’d be satisfied with a string of successful European dates at this point. One or two cool fests on that side of the pond would be ideal.
* You guys are playing Psycho Las Vegas in 2017 are there any bands on the bill there that you are looking forward to catching?
Yes… all of them. It’s an incredible lineup. It’s kind of hard to imagine how we’re going to be able to take it all in. It wasn’t easy for us to make it happen, but we’re glad we could be part of such a great event.
* Any final words to your fans?
We are very grateful for all the support we’ve received. The folks who come to the shows and pump their fists, or sing along, or even just share an encouraging word, really make this experience an enjoyable one for us. In 2017, we’re playing more shows outside of Denver than ever before, so we hope to meet many more of you good people on the road.
I am a little late in the game picking up on French Black Metal band Cepheide. I actually bought their 2015 release Respire on a recommendation from the guys at 20 buck spin. I soon found myself playing their album daily – so you know the score I had to find out more about these guys. So I talked to Gaetan ( Vocals & Guitars ) and Hugo ( Bass) to find out more about them
* During the glory days of Death metal – you had world class bands coming out of all of the Uk and Europe except for France – they never really got Death metal fully at the time (thats not to say you didn’t have many fans there then) however in my opinion French Black metal you guys, Deathspell Omega, Alcest, etc are all world class – why do you think the French embraced black metal more than Death metal?
G: It might be more about culture than ability. Unlike Death Metal, that strives for efficiency, be it on a technical level or in the universe around it (cover art, band names…), the Black Metal themes often have a romantic touch, in the lyrics and in the way it sounds. In its history, France has had a lot of great authors, poets, which has been an inspiration for many bands (using poems as lyrics, as track titles…). It might cause a higher natural sensibility to Black Metal than it would be for Death Metal. That being said, I find it difficult to speak about an entire musical genre in a general way, but I think our culture has a lot to do here.
* You guys are a 3 piece – I find many 3 piece bands to be more “tight” than bands that have 4 or more members, was this a conscious decision ? or do you plan to add more guitarists? keyboards later?
G: There is no definite state regarding the line-up. During the demo, we didn’t think bass was required because we were looking for a specific sound. While we work on our new album and for lives, we replaced a guitar with a bass, because it gives our sound more amplitude, and it fits our new tracks better. We might decide to bring in another guitar if necessary, however keyboards are not part of my musical culture nor my writing process.
* How did you discover Black Metal? What are your favorite Black metal bands?
G: I discovered black metal rather late, around 18 years old. It first was a way of expressing myself on a musical level, then it somehow turned into a way of life. Being more sensitive to long pieces, I’m mostly into Atmospheric BM (Yellow Eyes, FellVoices, Ars Diavoli, Sun Worship, Ash borer … )
H: I discovered black metal through the post-rock/shoegaze side of Alcest, but it took me a while to actually dive more into that scene. It’s quite recently that I really started to listen and enjoy it. I’m quite a fan of the Atmospheric/Post BM bands that combine the beauty and melancholy of Post-Rock/Shoegaze and combine it with the rawness of Black Metal.
* Can you tell me much about the Paris Black metal scene? Are there other cities in France known for good black metal scenes?
G: To be honest,I don’t know if there really a Black Metal scene in Paris, or anywhere else in France. To me, there are great bands, but not as a collective.
* You guys play Paris a fair bit – what has been your favorite Cepheide show so far?
G: Each concert has it specificities. For instance, our live wit Scattered Purgatory and Heimatlos was very intense because we were playing new tracks, and really wanted to do something new. Our last show was heavily symbolic for me because we were playing with Hexis, a band I’ve been following for many years and that I went to see live a few years ago. I think each concert is different, and we chose not to play too often, so that we can offer something new at each show. This makes all concerts unique.
H: The concert with Scattered Purgatory and Heimatloss was my first with Cepheide, so I guess it’s special for me. But also, as a band, it was the beginning of something new for us.
* Have you played other countries yet? If not what countries are you looking forward to playing?
G: At the moment, we only played in France, but have some opportunities abroad for the year to come, mostly in central Europe. Since we don’t want to play too often, we select our dates with care.
H: I’d love to play in Estonia because I lived then for a couple years.
* I know you guys are working on a new album – what is the recording process like for Cepheide? Do you record in the traditional way like a recording studio , like a rock n roll band or do you use computers ? please explain
G: We do the recording ourselves. First we do a rough recording to be able to take a step back, then we record one instrument at a time in our rehearsal studio. We mostly try not to denature the sounds during the recording, so that it’s as similar as what was intended during the writing.
* When can we expect a release of the new album?
G: It should be out next Summer (2017)
* And what can we expect to hear musically on the new songs?
G: There’s a real evolution compared to the EP, both on the format and in the sound. It will be a full album of 5 or 6 tracks, of 7 to 15 minutes each. A bit less minimalistic in the structures, a bit more aggressive. We’re trying for each tracks to have its own identity, and are taking risks to challenge our way of playing and writing.
* Your Respire Ep release painted dark moods to me – what is your inspiration in writing songs? Do you have a process? Do you start with say a guitar riff or drum pattern or something else?
G: There’s no clear source of inspiration per-se. We wanted to do a 2 tracks piece, that would be a whole both in the music and the lyrics. The rest came itself. The writing often comes from a guitar melody, that evolves as we play it together.
* Any final words to your fans?
G: We’re really impressed to see the support and interest people have in Cepheide everyday, and we truly appreciate it. We’re putting a lot of efforts into our next release, and are really eager to release it to you! We do hope that you’ll still enjoy our take on Black Metal! And as a small extra info, the album is called “Saudade”
I recently interviewed drummer TJ from the Richmond Based Death / Sludge / Black metal band Inter Arma here is what he had to say
* Richmond has a long history of great metal bands coming out of there – why do you think that is?
Richmond is very much so a transient city. Hardly anyone who lives here is actually born and raised here, myself included. A lot of imported talent.
* You have done a couple of releases on Relapse now – How did your deal with those guys come about and how do they compare as a label versus the indie labels you were on before hand and your self released stuff?
A friend of a friend of a friend gave someone at Relapse an as of that point unmixed copy of Sky Burial and they got in touch with us from there. Relapse is great. They’re good people and treat us well. They’re a little bit larger label and have their fingers in a few more pies so the exposure is a little bit better there.
* Paradise Gallows is one of my favorite records of 2016 such a great mix of doom, death, sludge, black metal – how do you guys write songs is it just Trey or Steve that come up with riffs or does everyone bring some thing to the party?
Everyone brings in ideas and riffs and we just pound em’ out in the bandroom. As far as the mixture of genres, that’s never a premeditated thing. If it sounds good and it feels good we run with it.
* Some of your song writing covers Post Apocalyptic themes – do you think that our society has a chance of carrying on or do you believe we need a major reset like a new black plague or Zombie Apocalypse to “cleanse the earth?”
Even with the recent “changing of the guards”, I think life will go on and I don’t believe any real change will happen. The rich will continue to get richer and the poor will still write heavy metal records.
* What sort of movies do you guys watch to gain inspiration for your music?
I enjoy movies in a different capacity. To me, they’re an escape for 1-2 hours. I can’t remember ever walking away from a movie and feeling inspired other than watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and wanting to party.
* Staying with the post apocalyptic theme – the band name means “in times of war” right? Who came up with the name and what were they trying to convey by calling yourselves Inter Arma?
The name comes from the latin phrase “inter arma enin silent leges” which translates to “in times of war the law falls silent”. As far as who came up with the name… I have no idea. It’s between two past members and they still argue over it.
* Some of your songs have an almost trippy / psychedelic feel to them – do any of the band use psychedelics and if so what ones do they prefer Mushrooms? Acid? Ayahuasca? DMT?
I plead the fifth
* What was it like touring with Carcass and Deafheaven – what was your biggest “take away’ from working with both bands?
I wouldn’t necessarily say we learned anything other than both bands are filled with wonderful human beings and we learned to love Jagermeister.
* How well are you guys received in Europe? I know some US bands can’t get arrested here in the US and are loved in Europe and some bands do amazing in the US and the Europeans don’t want to know..where do you guys fall on this?
Europeans seem to dig us and I’d even go as far as saying that they’re a little more understanding of this slightly odd type of music that we’re playing.
* Which countries have you guys yet to play and which ones are you dying to hit? South America? Australia? Korea? etc
If there’s a country we haven’t played yet then we want to play it. Hell, we want to go back and play all the countries we’ve already played as well. Specifically, I’d like to play in the U.S.S.R.
* What can we expect new from Inter Arma? More touring? New Album?
Taking the holidays, playing a 10th anniversary show in February then hitting the road again.
* Any shout outs of final words?
Keep on rocking in the free world!
