Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Funeral Cult Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new ep?

First of all we’ve got in touch with Lusitanian Music. It was the milestone in everything what is going on now. They provide the suport and experience in promotion we couldn’t imagine. This is a huge thing for us.

I don’t know if we had any expectations with these three tracks we’ve recorded. We were about to release it by ourselves and just see what will happen. One day I realized why to kick the open door. I wrote to Lusitanian Music and it started. Because of that we hired Anna Jarzynska, very talented young artist, who made all the coverart and layout for us. Lusitanian Music took care of promotion abroad and we try to do our best in Poland.

Anyway, next to all this we work hard in our rehearsal room on new songs we’d like to put on full length album.



2. You have a new ep coming out in February, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Simple but difficult question. Time passed, guys changed as people, grew up, I guess. The perspective has changed. Music has changed somehow. Old vocalist refused to take part in reactivation. I took his place. It is another huge change. My vocals are different and put the band on even black metal tracks. But still it has old soul. As Joao from Lusitanian Music said: „new material is keeping their dark ambiance but giving their new tracks more death/doom atmosphere”. I agree with that.



3. The band was broken up for 20 years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform?

There is no option we live our lives without the music. This is the main factor which led us to reactivate the band. But yes, we’ve split-up for almost 20 years. The main reason was signing the contract with an unresponsible label in Poland. We went to the court at last. But it took two years. We couldn’t do anything because of the contract conditions. We had to make decison and take care of ourselves and our families. The end of story!


4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

New vocalist, new inspirations. From slavic and pagan ceremonies to demonic possession. In short. Lyrics for „Possession Done” are inspired with Barian Lumley’s „Necroscope” horror series and „Exorcist”, the book and the movies. Tree sperate songs telling one whole story. A journey from being an extraordinary human to… what or where? A demon, lesser human, to hell or purgatory? You tell me…

Technically, guys create music, construct a song. Don’t ask me where it comes from. It just comes out of us. After that I put vocals into it. With random words. During this progres a story pops up. But the most important is that there is an idea for it. I know what I’m going to write about. I have always a concept. Demonic possession, loosing your soul or just being a lunatic was the idea for „Possession Done”. But it didn’t come from nowhere. We have full lenght never issued entitled „Mystery of Possession” and recorded in 1998. As new person in the band I had to close the past and open new door. This is what „Possession Done” is for.



5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Funeral Cult'?

The only plan was that we wanted to have a name with two words. We’ve chosen the best ones in our opinion at that time.
Of course it matches to our music very well. But subcondciously it was conneted to our interests.


6. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new ep cover?

Great job done by Anna Jarzynska & Phoenix Pictures. I’ve just told her a few details I wanted to have on the front cover of the EP. And it was far from it we’ve got back from her. Beutifly drawn my version of possession, madness, solitude, lost…



7. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

After reactivation we’ve played five or six shows during one year. Some say to much, some say the opposite. Anyway, one of the best performances was with PILLORIAN in our home city, Lodz. What else to say… We try to make the shows consistent with the music and lyrics. So I go on stage hooded and during the show we try to transfer a lot of Energy to the audience. And we have very positive feed back from the audience.



8. Do you have any touring or show plans for 2020?

Yes. After the launch of „Possesion Done” by Lusitanian Music on February, 21st 2020, one day later we start live shows in Poland. We are going to visit big cities across Poland like Katowice, Czestochowa, Krakow, Lodz, etc. And we do it with our friends from death metal band Arcane Dust.



9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, doom and death metal?

We’ve got positive reviews, a lot o magazines mentioned us, some radio stations aired our music. I think there is a lot of noise in Europe. But still a lot in front of us because we are releasing the EP in two weeks.



10. When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We are in the middle of creating the stuff for full lengh. I don’t know if we put any track from „Possession Done” to the full lenght. But it is not agreed yet. I have another concept for a full lenght. But it is not far from the concept for „Possession Done”. Anyway I don’t think we release full lenght before autumn 2020.

Musically there won’t be any revolution. We’ve put some faster moments in the new tracks. But still we like our rather slow doom music with some black metal insertions. Slow and simple, it makes a difference thesedays.



11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Some say My Dying Bride, Celtic Frost, Anathema… I don’t know. It could be true. The inspiration is around us. It could be a movie, a book, an event or nature itself. We don’t have any favourite bands. We hear a lot of different music generes and styles, even non metal.



12. What are some of your non musical interests?

Aikido, shooting (not hunting), paragliding, books, movies and other stuff what makes us younger not older.



13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

I’d like to thank you for the interview and your job. Many thanks to Lusitanian Music and the crew for what they do for us. Hope we go back to you with full lenght sooner than later. But for now find our EP „Possession Done” at Lusitanian Music store and other channels. Find us on Facebook and Youtube. Stay in touch.

 https://www.facebook.com/funeralcultband/

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