Gargoyle Interview

 

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 just continued to compose new stuff in rehearsal room. Creating and releasing new valid music is our main goal, as well as playing live gigs.

2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Apart from the line-up, the new stuff differs from the old one ‘cause it’s extremely more mature. We enlarged our vision, We’ve found a new language, a new idea to compose extreme metal, mixing different sub-genres and reuniting ‘em under a unique dark atmosphere. We listen many different bands and We use their styles to create “new ways of riffing”. We focus mostly on atmospheres and vibes more than other things, it’s a ‘80s vision. “Reborn in Blasphemy” was a weird form of doom, “Hail to the Necrodoom” is death metal of doom, doom metal of death or simply… NECRODOOM!

3.This is also your first release in 5 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

After releasing “Reborn in Blasphemy” We made some shows nearby our homeland. Between 2017 and 2019 We were more focused on other projects: Boia, Temptress and Atömlörd. In 2019 We’ve changed line-up and arranged the tracks of “Hail to the Necrodoom”, which We’ve started to record in 02/02/2020.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover horror themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

During “Reborn in Blasphemy” ’s period We were more addicted to H.P. Lovecraft’s stuff, so our lyrics were inspired by his novels. This was true for “Lord of the Tentaculars” and “The Whisperer In Darkness”. “The Highlander” was inspired by Sword & Sorcery’s themes, while “Lady Dead” was a classic ‘70s comics’ story about a woman sacrificed on the altar. After our demo We used horror themes as background of real events which happened in our land, Calabria.

5.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

As previously said, the lyrics in “Hail to the Necrodoom” are inspired by the dominant and morbid christian culture here in our homeland, Calabria. We use metaphors from the horror imagery to criticize the context where We live: “Lord of the Fog”, for example, compares christian people in procession with willingless marchant zombies; the story ends with the failure of Christ and his churchgoers. “Where Evil Spawns” comes from our demo-period, It’s inspired by “The Dunwich Horror” by H.P. Lovecraft, the same of “The Whisperer In Darkness”.

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

This iconic artwork was realized by Negative Crypt Artwork, a Sicilian friend with whom We share the same tastes in music/cinema/nerd art. It represents simply the Necrodoom with a passage to the Other Side from which no one can escape.

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?

Our second Sicilian live show near Catania was our best. We are totally natural and a little bit scenic, for us a live show must be PUNK. We are inspired by early Mayhem!

8.The new album was released on Sun & Moon Records, how would you compare working with this label to your previous label 'Shadow Kingdom Records'?

Shadow Kingdom Records is one of the greatest underground label of the recent years. As Americans they’re very into the business. Sun & Moon Records is less business-addicted and tries to keep its identity, We think.

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

We are very satisfied of people’s answer. Many said “Hail to the Necrodoom” is/could be the Metal album of the year. We think they’re attracted by the new mix of genres We propose.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Soon Boia will release new stuff in a split album. Temptress will record their debut full-length too. Demonia Mundi have released their first full-length in the early months of 2021.

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

We’ll mature the style of “Hail to the Necrodoom” for sure, but We can’t describe it now! More black metal maybe?

12.What are you listening to nowadays?

We keep our focus to underground bands. Nekromantheon’s “Visions of Trimegistos” is the nowadays’ “Reign in Blood”. Hellcrash’ “Crucifix Invertor” and Konquest’s  “The Night Goes On” are new italian gems too. Our friends Bunker 66 released their new full-lenght in Spring. We like to find old and forgotten heavy metal bands too, mostly from Scandinavia.

13.How would you describe your views on Occultism?

An inner path characterized by many different and indescribable personal experiences.

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

First of all thanks for the interest in us. We are always glad to reply to people’s questions. Fight the christianity and keep the black torch of Metal alive!

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Gargoyle/Hail To The Necrodoom/Sun & Moon Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Gargoyle  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Hail  To  The  Necrodoom"  which  was  released  by  Sun  &  Moon  Records.

  Gothic  horror  movie  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  80's  and  90's  influences.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  clear  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Grim  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  the  album  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  a  very  dark  yet  old  school  style  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  being  brief  instrumentals,  as  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements  are  also  utilized  and  classical  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror,  occultism,  evil,  doom  and  anti  Christianity  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Gargoyle  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hail  To  The  Necrodoom"  "Necromantia"  and  "Nosferatu".  8/5  out  of  10.

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