Letheria Interview

1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Letheria plays music of hate and death in the way that we see fit. It started as a melodic-metal. It turned from gothic doom to death metal, and from death to black metal again. Music is familiar, yet different. It focuses on the atmosphere and energy of the music and not on the sport of speed, or technical skill. It’s Metal

2. You have your first full length coming out in November, what are some of the things the band has done different with this recording that you where not able to do with your previous ep's?

Band was so used to do 4track recordings, so the first full length was a journey to discovery and experience. The knowhow has been present for many years. With new line-up we practiced songs like it just started in 1998, only with more songs. Everything had to be done in the very perfection like in the past of Letheria. In the early years we were experimenting with melodies, other instruments, and sounds. ‘Thornweed’ was very melodic. ‘Rancid & Profane’ was a solid death metal. ‘Self-destruction Overload’ was very harsh sounding and too much black metal. The first full length has the same ambition, passion and determination that the first Letheria demo had .it combines the bands history.

3.The band has been around for 20 years and while there has been a good amount of demos and es, you waited until 2018 to release your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait?

Letheria was in 1998 a band of teenagers. People have needs to grow. One wants to be a doctor, and one needs to be a scientists. And one has the need to do music. There was never a good opportunity do full length until now.  Also the music is very different to other bands alike. It’s not death metal or black metal. It’s also not death/black metal. So it has been very hard to sell this format to labels.

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

Destruction of mankind . Destruction of nature by mankind. The self-destruction of mankind. The wrath of God striking death and destruction upon mankind. The greed of Hell, sucking mankind into destruction. The false Shepard guiding mankind to the raging sea.
Compared to the past, the themes are more ‘mature’ now
The world around gives us the themes for the songs. We are lucky, that how disappointing human is. The stupidity of man is a never-ending stream to drink ideas from.

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

Lethe is a river where the dead drink their oblivion, and that place is Letheria. Drink to forget.

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

Destination. Faith gathers our history, and Death slices our throat. We can’t avoid it, but we can accept it.

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?

Rare shows. All with great audience.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Planning yes, but nothing solid so far. The music is meant to be played live.

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

Impossible to say at this point. We hope our listeners listen to same stuff that we do. From classical rock to metal of death, black and doom etc.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We’re making new songs, and we head towards the end. Would be great to have some spare time and effort, to re-product-record or even re-compose and write some old songs of Letheria.  Same energy and inspiration is present, so there is no end to this path.

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?

There are bands like Metallica, Slayer, Sentenced and Dissection that you have listened so much, that it has grown to the spine. Like a cancer. Those influences come without notice.
Then there are bands that you can’t hear from the music, but the influences are there. Bands like Rotting Christ, Samael and Impaled Nazarene have had some impact in the bands history.
The bands now that we listen….There are many new bands to listen to, but very hard to pick something special. What the Label Saturnal Records is doing, is something worth to mention.


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

Follow no one, and create your own path. The lesser man will follow.

Bandcamp

Facebook

Mikseri

Myspace