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1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
We released the album in September, and then played release shows in December. We had a great 2025 and we’re looking to continue that momentum into the new year.
2.A few months back you released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
It’s much more aggressive, with a focus on extremity. We purposefully wanted to look at Melancholia through a death metal lens and pay tribute to bands like The Black Dahlia Murder and The Red Chord, bands we came up on in the early 2000’s. Our previous record was more atmospheric and carefully constructed. We took that structure from The Veil and obliterated it through the intensity in this album. As a band we never want to make the same album twice, and we’re always looking at pushing ourselves and our listener into new territories.
3.This was also your first album since 2020, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait between releases?
We had this album written in 2021, and began recording in 2022. We wanted to maintain our DIY focus in everything about this band, and so we were able to take our time with the production, mixing and mastering. We made mistakes, and we learned a lot of valuable skills in making this record that will be beneficial to whatever we decide to do next. It’s good to have that space you need to ensure the end product meets the high bar we set for ourselves as an independent band.
4.The lyrics on the new recording are a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story you have covered with the release?
The album follows a person who’s colourblind and takes psychedelic drugs to see colour. They start to see the life they think they would have if they were given that privilege. That’s the initial idea, and it sort of speaks to a cautionary message about what happens when you give yourself over to external things to cure what’s missing inside of you.
5.Originally the band was known as 'Abysseral Throne', what was the cause of the name change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Ancient Thrones'?
Abysseral Throne was a band that I started in 2011, so it didn’t make sense to continue to use that name when the lineup drastically changed in 2018. We loved that band, but if you listen to the music we did then and what we do now, there are few parallels. Ancient Thrones was sort of a way to let the fans of Abysseral know we were still here, with the same drive but that we were reinvigorated to be something new. The new name comes from Wolves in the Throne Room lyrics from the song “Astral Blood”.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
It was painted by Carter Doody, a local Canadian artist who we were fans of for many years. The idea is sort of to present an idea of a beautiful, but dangerous place with elements from real life that could possibly exist within nature. It’s like looking at a landscape when you’re tripping on acid. The colours and shapes are unnatural, twisted and distorted purposefully. There’s a lot of direct translation from the lyrics of the record on full display throughout the art.
7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?
We’ve been blessed to open for so many great bands, The Faceless, Black Crown Initiate, Rings of Saturn, etc. It would be hard to pinpoint a favourite. Our last run with Necrohol and Omnivide was a highlight from recent years.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?
Under wraps at the moment, but short answer is yes.
9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received ant interest?
It’s hard to say. We’ve done this for so long on our own, a label would really have to provide us with something unique. When we don’t even have our own government providing us any kind of funding, you really start to see outside resources as a fantasy. There’s a lot of positives being with a label and the idea of it is cool to us, we’ve just been very focused with keeping this band internal to our wants and needs. If there are any labels interested in talking to us, we’d certainly have the conversation.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
Internationally it’s cool to see people are digging the album. We’ve seen a spike in people buying and supporting the record sort of throughout the world. It means a lot to us.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We’re back in our writing dungeon to figure out what comes next. I can’t say much else, other than we don’t intend to write the same thing twice. New influences, perspectives and experiments are what we’re always looking for.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to these days?
Our music tastes are pretty diverse in the band but some things we've been listening to recently are Deafheaven, Blood Incantation, Archspire, Ulcerate, The Armed, Drain.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
We're thankful for all the support for our music and you can check out Melancholia wherever you stream your music or purchase merch & vinyl through our Bandcamp.
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