1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Infernal Hails, Lunatic Aggressor here. I'll be doing the interview with you and will try to answer all your questions. So, since we finished recording in August at our friend Avenger's (Nocturnal) Somewhere in Nowhere studio, a few months have passed. We've used this time to rehearse a new setlist with many of the songs that will be on the album and to prepare for upcoming gigs. We've also been busy getting the artwork approved, the layout, taking promo photos, and all those other things a band has to do for a new Album. We've poured a lot of time and heart into these to prepare the new album, "Demonic Sceptre," exactly the way we want it.
2.You have a new album coming out in March, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
So, I think we musically focused more on our roots, which are firmly planted in the heavy, black, and speed metal of the 80s. And I think you can hear that in the songs, since we wrote a lot more Speed and Heavy Metal riffs that really suit them. With the older songs, we focused more on pure speed, whereas with the new songs, we eased off the gas pedal a bit and wrote them in favor of more heaviness and aggression. I think we took our time so that in the end, all four of us were one hundred percent satisfied with every song.
3.A lot of your lyrics cover Satanic and Blasphemous themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?
Since I'm the one who "commits" all the lyrics here, I can give you the appropriate answer. Our lyrics are always a huge part of my inner demons and, admittedly, sometimes somewhat morbid fantasies. Among other things, I have a great interest in black magic, sexual rituals, witchcraft, and things like that. I've read many books on the subject and am also a huge horror movie fan, especially of films from the 70s and 80s. I also see the whole Satanism thing we've adopted more as our counter-movement to all the religions that unfortunately dominate our world and which I despise with all my heart.
4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
Of course, our lyrics also revolve a lot around heavy metal, the way we understand and live it, the way we embody and stylize it with all its clichés. But for the new album, I've also incorporated my interest in serial killers and similar topics into the lyrics. It's also about war, destruction, nuclear madness, and everything else humanity is capable of.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nuctemeron'?
First of all, the name Nuctemeron means the unity of day and night, a complete daily cycle often imbued with symbolic, spiritual significance. Some occult or "witchcraft" movements interpret these forces as access to ancient hidden, dark energies. This, combined with the song title "Nuctemeron" from the Sodom album "Obsessed by Cruelty," which we absolutely adore, was the deciding factor for us in choosing this name as our band name.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The album cover was designed by Sebastian Frigerio, whom we discovered through the cover of Phantom's EP "Transylvanian Nightmare" and whose style immediately captivated us. He painted the entire cover in oils, which was something we particularly valued. He perfectly captured our vision and ideas for the cover, and we are completely satisfied with his work and all our communication with him.
7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?
We don't really tour. We usually play a maximum of five or six concerts a year because that's enough for us and we don't want to play that often. This way, we can offer our fans a special Nuctemeron concert experience with our stage show. Our highlights definitely included our performance at "Thrash Nightmare" in the Czech Republic in 2022 and our guest appearance at "Odyssey to Blasphemy" in 2024. But actually, every gig we've played so far has been special for us in its own way and we've had a blast.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
Of course, with the new setlist and this awesome album behind us, we want to play some awesome shows and festivals both at home and abroad. We're itching to unleash a hefty dose of Black Witching Blitz Metal of Satan on the audience and deliver an energetic Nuctemeron Metal show.
9.The new album is going to be released on 'I Hate Records', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have been a part of in the past?
We are absolutely satisfied with Peter's work at I Hate Records. He's just like us, a total metal fanatic and Die Hard Metal Maniac, which is why we clicked immediately. Peter has been a fixture in the metal scene for a long time and has already released many great albums. Comparing him to other labels is always difficult, as every label we've worked with so far has given their best, and in the end, it's always resulted in great Nuctemeron releases.
10.On the new album you also done a 'Venom' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?
Oh hell yeah! Venom were and always will be a huge influence on us and many others. After already paying tribute to Bathory with our cover version of "Reaper" on the split EP "Fuck Off (In the Name of Satan)", we thought it fitting to cover Venom's "Angeldust" for the pre-released 7" vinyl single "Rape from the Grave" and as a bonus track for the CD version of "Demonic Sceptre", and worshipping the Black Metal trio from Newcastle.
11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and speed metal?
Over the years, we've consistently received positive feedback on our music from all over the world, which has always made us very happy. Even though, as is often said, you mainly make music for yourself, it's a special reward. I think the new album will again generate a lot of positive reactions and also appeal to people who might not have connected with us before.
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
That's a good and valid question, and I have to say that we haven't fundamentally changed our basic musical style compared to the "Knights of Hell" EP and this album. We've simply refined it and become a bit more multifaceted, and our black heavy speed metal influences are more pronounced on the album. We're completely satisfied with it and will remain true to this musical formula in the future. Fans can continue to expect uncompromising Black Heavy Speed Metal from us and won't be disappointed.
13.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
The four of us have very broad musical tastes and listen to pretty much everything that came out in the 80s in terms of Heavy, Speed, Thrash, and Black Metal. The classics, of course, from Iron Maiden, DIO, and Judas Priest to Manowar, Running Wild, Venom, Hellhammer, Bathory, Destruction, Sodom, and early Slayer or Metallica—it's just too much to list. But we also listen to 70s an 80s Hard Rock, AOR, Punk, and 90s Second-Wave Black Metal. And of course, we listen to a lot of current underground Metal releases from all over the world. Naturally, I don't need to mention that we're absolute vinyl fanatics and collect and adore everything else related to Metal.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
First of all, thank you very much for the interview and Hail and Kill to the readers of the BlackenedDeathMetalZine.
RAISE THE DEMONIC SCEPTRE AND OPEN THE HELL´S CHAPTER!!!!
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