Chthonic Cult Interview

 

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

Hyperborean: We are Chthonic Cult and we play Death Metal with elements of Black and Doom. The band was formed in 2014, and our first full-length album I Am the Scourge of Eternity was released at the turn of 2015 and 2016 by Iron Bonehead/Necroshrine. The first lineup was Hyperborean on guitars and vocals, P. on drums, and Skandaz on bass. This lineup never recorded anything more. The current lineup (Hyperborean + Oblivion on bass) recorded a new album in 2021 with the help of a session drummer. This stuff has just now been released on CD by Putrid Cult under the title Become Seekers for Death. Tape edition is also coming soon. We are now looking for a regular drummer to start playing live shows (we’ve only played one so far, in 2016). I’m also recording demos for the third album now.

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

H: I am the Scourge of Eternity was in some ways simpler and in some ways more complex than Become Seekers for Death. The first album is over 40 minutes long, but only has 4 songs. These are based on simple riffs in the vein of Hellhammer and very early Sodom, arranged in atmospheric and hypnotic way. The second album, however, has 8 songs clocking in at about 40 minutes: the songs are simpler, but the riffs are way more complex (without being too technical) and there is a lot of leads. Some of these tracks have been compared to Immolation, which shows how much of a difference there actually is. 

All in all, Become Seekers for Death is in my opinion the better work, as it’s more varied, dynamic, and powerful. Nevertheless, some people have told me that they like the first album more: I guess it’s the guys who are more into the more “primitive” forms of Metal, as well as BM rather than DM. So as always, to each his own, but I still think the second one is superior, and this is the direction I’m taking the music right now: doing more with more.

3.This is also your first release in 7 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

H: Well, there was no actual 7-year break, we were active most of this time in one way or another, in one lineup or another. Right after I Am… we recorded a second album: I wanted it to be a bit of a change in direction, leaning more towards BM relying on dissonant chords. This, however, turned out to be too much of a departure, and was ultimately released as Deathlike Dawn Deliria and Dreams (Putrid Cult, 2020): check it out, if nihilistic BM is what you’re into. 

Then we made demos for another full-length, but I stopped the process 90% of the way through because I didn’t like the result: it sounded like the first album, but worse.

Then there was the pandemic, lineup changes, etc., and I got busy recording Become Seekers for Death around 2019, and here we are now.

4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?

H: I Am the Scourge of Eternity is kind of a concept album: it does not have a narrative like typical concept albums do, but there is “concept”, an idea that binds all the lyrics on the album together. The idea is the exploration of the meaninglessness of the existence of the world and life from the perspective of Vedic and gnostic mythologies. I think the similarities are astounding, considering the history and the geography, so I decided to explore these.

On Become Seekers for Death there isn’t such a single idea behind the lyrics. The subjects range from, again, Gnosticism (the title of the album is a quotation from a gnostic apocrypha), through the perception of death and violence in Greek mythology, to pure darkness and nihilism. My interpretation of the title of the album is that you should look for more than your material life in this world: this life is in my opinion in its essence meaningless. 

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

H: For many years before starting Chthonic Cult, I was involved in practicing Indo-European polytheism (some will call it “paganism”). At some point I realized that I only find some aspects of the mythology meaningful, and others are simply too mundane and life-worshipping. These aspects that I found significant were those related to the underworld and the beyond, these aspects are also explored now in my lyrics. “Chthonic” is Greek for “of the underworld/related to the underworld”, so it was only natural for me to pick this name. 

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

H: This is a variation on a symbol we’ve been using for a few years now: it’s this triangle form thing you can see on our Facebook page, CD layout, etc. It signifies uncreation, unbeing, and the ultimate liberation from the world and from time. This is closely connected with the topics we explore in our lyrics. Although while the symbol itself looks rather “clear”, the version you can see on the cover of Become… is rawer, even barbaric I would say, as if the symbol itself was extremely ancient.

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up again or do you prefer to remain a duo?

H: I’m definitely looking to expand: we’re looking for a regular drummer now so that we can play live. A second guitar player might not be a bad idea either further down the line, as there is and there will be even more double guitar work, not just two guitars playing the same thing. 

8.Has the done done any live shows or open to the idea?

H: We’ve done just one, in 2016. It went very well, actually. I have a lot of stage experience from other bands, so does Oblivion, so we are planning to play live as soon as it’s doable.

9.The new album was released on 'Putrid Cult' how would you compare working with this label to 'Necroshine Records'?

H: Putrid Cult is doing an incredible job promoting the new album: there’s more reviews this time, more interviews, many more people are getting in touch with us, so I can say the cooperation with the current label has been seamless. I think it also makes sense to release your stuff in the same country where you live/come from: people seem to mostly follow their own scene in the underground, despite the seemingly overwhelming globalization.

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

H: I am the Scourge… had good reviews but there wasn’t much actual interest in it from listeners, Become… has mixed reviews but the overall response is much better. This reaction is much more positive than I had anticipated after 7 years of zero presence anywhere, when now even in the underground you have to “compete” with bands that seem to be on social media 24/7 and do gigs every single weekend.

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

H: I’m now working on our next album already and that way it’s looking is that it’s going to be faster, heavier, more atonal, and slightly more technical. I play guitar much more now (it’s not that I’ve suddenly learned how to do it now, though), so I don’t really feel like playing these simple riffs like we did originally, that is just boring. We’re also working on shorter, more aggressive versions of some songs from the first album, so that we can do them live without boring people to death.

12.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?

H: I think that when you listen to Become…, my influences become quite obvious: it’s ‘80s European Thrash and Doom Metal, ‘90s Death Metal, and contemporary Black Metal. On the first album it was mostly Hellhammer, as I’ve already mentioned. Since I’m now working on a new album I don’t listen to metal at all, and when it’s not metal for me, it’s usually classical, some subgenres of jazz, the darker albums of post-punk, some hardcore punk, some prog.

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

H: Become seekers for death!

https://chthoniccult.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/chthonic.cult/

https://www.instagram.com/chthonic_cult/

chthonic.cult@gmail.com

Disembody/Reigniting Hellfire/Helldprod Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Disembody  are  a  duo  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Reigniting  Hellfire"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Helldprod  Records.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while t he  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodic.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  an  old  school  yet  melodic  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  and  first  wave  black  metal  elements.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  and  early  90's  era  as  well  as  being  modern  at  the  same  time  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  a  brief  instrumental  and  they  also  bring  in  their  2019  ep  "Diabolical  Deathstrike"  as  bonus  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness,  Evil  and  Thrashing  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Disembody  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Magick  Doom"  "Legions  Of  Black  Fire"  " Evil  Unchained"  and  "Infernal  Curse".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Youtube

www.facebook.com/Disembodymetal 

Reaper/Viridian Inferno/Dying Victims Productions/2022 CD Review

 

  Reaper  not  to  be  confused  with  the  band  from  Sweden  of  the  same  name  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash,  speed  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Viridian  Inferno"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  Church  bells  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.

  Elements  of  thrash,  speed  and  first  wave  black  metal  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  at  times  while  some  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  songs  making  an  80's  style  sound  more  modern  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  sticking  to  a  heavier  direction  and  when  guitar  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  old  school  style.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Death,  Destruction  and  Armageddon  themes.      

  In  my  opinion  Reaper  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  thrash,  speed  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Satanic  Panic"  "The  Reaper"  Sentinels  Of  Heresy"  and  "Internal  Torment".  8  out  of  10.

"Decay"
Youtube:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7o11vtABSrU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bandcamp:

<iframe style="border: 0; width: 350px; height: 537px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1004983718/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/package=3536642523/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/reaper-viridian-inferno">Reaper - Viridian Inferno by Dying Victims Productions</a></iframe>  

    

Plakkaggio Interview

 

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

We recorded the album during Summer 2020, with an expanded version of the line-up of our latest work "Ziggurath" (2015): Chris has moved to Milan so Francesco joined us on bass, starting this new double-bass-era of Plakkaggio! After the recordings, Valerio from 666 also joined the band to re-propose the guitar harmonizations even in the live venues.

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

The new record has a very important novelty which is the use of the double pedal on drums! Thanks to Valhell who have arranged the songs with it, we were finally able to take away some satisfactions and fully explore all the genres most dear to us, from classic punk to extreme metal. The songs are very different from each other but all always maintain a certain melody and at the same time hardness that distinguish us from the early years.

3.This is also your first release in 7 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

After the release of Ziggurath we dedicated a lot to live activity, plus we had formed a side project called 666 which further contributed increasing our concerts, so we realistically went back to writing songs a couple of years before Covid. Due to the forced stop we recorded under lockdown period, but we waited until now to have the possibilty to play live, otherwise it would have been too painful not to be able to propose the new songs on stage.

4.You refer to your music as being 'New Wave of Italian Heavy Black Metal Oi', can you tell us a little bit more about what this term?

Since we started to play in 2004, we decided to have no boundaries, so we tried to explore and mix all the musical styles that we prefer. So the new definition for our feelings and music is resumed in “New Wave Of Black Heavy Metal Oi!”, which is a song from our Ziggurath’s album. That’s the better way to explain our genre. The term encompasses many of our influences, from the NWOBHM of Diamond Head, Grimreaper, Praying Mantis and Angel Witch, passing through the classic Punk of Cock Sparrer, to the visceral black metal of Darkthrone and Marduk, up to the power of brutal death metal by Fleshgrind.

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

Although we are born and will always be linked to the Italian punk scene, the themes we face have always been many, especially historical themes that concern our hometown Colleferro. Certainly on the first album we explore more hardcore punk related influences, over the years we have recovered our connection with the metal of adolescence trying to create the most personal sound possible that best represent us and our passions.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Plakkaggio'?

Well, the right translation in English is “Tackle”, related to the rugby matches, and we just changed the double “C” (because the correct word in Italian is “Placcaggio”) with the double KK, as a tribute to the legendary Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing.

Instead, we choose this name because for us alternative & extreme music should be like a straight and deep impact against any kind of troubles, with no fear, with no regrets.

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

For many years Gabriele, our singer and guitarist, has become very passionate about the world of mountaineering and has created an hiking group called "Europangea". Hence the idea of dedicating a record to the mountain in all its facets, and our great friend Riccardo Parenti, author of all our graphics which are then wisely finalized by Federica La Rude, has decided to represent, even in a figurative sense, the two ice axes useful for reaching the summit, both physically and spiritually, referring in general to the difficulties of daily life.

8.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 concerts start from our songs, well known by the italian punk audience, to become a “karaoke metal punk” delirium, usually! 

we fondly remember our first concerts in Rome with Bloody Riot, those on shoulder to Colonna Infame Skinhead, the unforgettable opening at Sick Of It All and all the evenings together with The Last Resort. But the most important concert for us remains having played with Angel Witch in Rome, with Mantas and Tony Demolition Man in the audience!

Sometimes we also offer our songs in an acoustic and apocalyptic neofolk version, for the pub venues that can’t allow to play electric.

9.Are there any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Of course! For now we have just planned about a dozen concerts around Italy but we are “working” for more dates. Our “Verso La Vetta” tour will start March 27th in Bologna, because our album will be available on March 25th through Time To Kill Records & Hellnation Records. We will be playing also in Pescara (02/04), Milano (08/04), Padova (09/04), Taranto (24/04) and Rome (11/06). But many more dates are coming… See you there!

10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of metal, punk and hardcore?

Surely the fact that we sing in Italian does not help us much to make our music enjoyable abroad, but for us it is absolutely vital to use our language to express our vision of the world. We clearly hope that with this album, wisely recorded by Marco Mastrobuono and Matteo Gabbianelli at the Kutso Noise Home / Kick Recording studio, we will be able to reach even the boys abroad, as it is full of heavy metal punks!

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

We can anticipate that the next album will be a concept about Space, we already have a working title, because our hometown has been elected European Space Capital 2022.

Musically we intend to take the songs even more extreme, both at a melodic level and at the same time of speed, violence and riffing!

12.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?

We are music-sick collectors, it would be absurd not to mention all our favorite bands: Iron Maiden in the first place, Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer! All mixed with the historical black metal bands Marduk, Satyricon, Emperor, Immortal, Mayhem. We also grew up with English punk, the Misfits but above all the Oi! Italian from the 80s, and let's not forget all the old school American death metal, the dark Italian prog of the 70s, something well selected neofolk and all the NWOBHM. We are currently very excited about the new black metal wave, such as Mgła, Kanonenfieber or Kekht Arakh.

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

We want to thank Roberto Gagliardi (Hellnation) and Enrico Giannone (Timetokill) for believing in us releasing the album, Marco Mastrobuono and Matteo Gabbianelli for the recordings at Kick Recording Studio / Kutso Noise Home, Martina of Sanda Movies for allowing us to make the our first official video that will be released in April, Enrico Zanza always at our side for the photos, Riccardo Parenti for the graphics and Federica La Rude, our eternal friend, for finalizing them.

Just one last sentence: TOWARDS THE TOP! (VERSO LA VETTA!)

https://plakkaggio.bandcamp.com/

https://youtube.com/user/PlakkaggioHC

https://facebook.com/plakkaggio

https://instagram.com/plakkaggio

Concilivm/A Monument In Darkness/Iron Bonehead Productions/2022 CD Review

 

  Concilivm  are  a  duo  from  Chile  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "A  Monument  In  Darkness"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Iron  Bonehead  Productions.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  which  also  introduces  blast  beats  onto  the  recording.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  guttural  death  metal  growls  and  angry  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffs.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  old  school  and  modern  influences  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  briefly    and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  whispers  and  wolves  howling  can  also  be  heard,  classical  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Concilivm  remains  true  to  the  blackened  death  metal  style  that  they  had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Death,  Alchemy  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Concilivm  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOM MENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Oneiric  Abyss"  "Malificent  Creation"  and  "Archetype".  8  out  of  10.

http://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/concilivm-maleficent-creation

www.concilivm.bandcamp.com

  

Tyrannus/Unslayable/True Cult Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Tyrannus  are  a  band  from  Scotland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Unslayable"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  True  Cult  Records. 

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  and  speed  metal  elements  and  the  guitar  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  chaotic  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  lot  of  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  influenced  by  death  metal  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  synths  onto  the  recording,  as  the  album  progresses  clean  playing  also  makes  a  return  and  the  two  closing  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length,  clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  Existentialism,  Lovecraftian  Horror  and  Anti  Fascism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tyrannus  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  black, death,  thrash  and  speed  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Worse  Reality"  "Unslayable"  and  "Break  the  Will  of  Evil".  8  out  of  10.

Pre-Order Unslayable:
https://tyrannus.bandcamp.com/album/unslayable (CD, Merch, Digital)
https://truecultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/unslayable (Vinyl, Cassette)

Follow Tyrannus:
https://linktr.ee/Tyrannus 
https://www.facebook.com/TyrannusEtImperium   
https://www.instagram.com/tyrannusetimperium 

https://twitter.com/TheTyrannus      

Grand Harvest Interview

 

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

Greetings and thanks for your interest in Grand Harvest!

Well, way too little in our opinion. The pandemic really screwed us over in terms of timing and longevity. The album was recorded just at the start of this two year long involuntary hiatus on the music scene… We did manage to play live and make our live album Vesperae Laesae Maiestatis Coronae, in front of a sitting audience of 50 people. We also had a lot of time on our hands to write new material, which means that album number two is already being worked on.

2.During the end of March you have your first full length coming out, musically how does it differ from your recordings?

It doesn’t really differ that much from what we’ve put out earlier. We have only released songs that are on the album before, either in demo or live form. The older songs that haven’t had the right feeling and atmosphere have simply been left out. 

The biggest difference is the sound and mix, which has been pinned down by our manager and extreme metal sound genius Tore Stjerna. What he did to the material after it was recorded is staggering. It’s a massive wall of darkness and overwhelming bleakness that hits the listener from start to finish. 

Another thing that sets the album apart from previous releases is the CD version, we’ve gone all in on this one and it’s filled with art and layout work associated with the lyrics and overall themes of the band philosophy.

3.The new album was recorded in 2020 but you waited until 2022 to releases the recording, can you tell us a little bit more about the delay?

Because of the pandemic we didn’t have much choice. The idea to start with was also to find a label to work with and that went very slowly. Some offers and great feedback turned up, but nothing that didn’t mean huge sacrifices in terms of our ideas for the release. The compromises in terms and conditions, as well as time schedule (like “we can release it after summer 2023”) just got too much. So eventually we changed our perspective to doing the release ourselves, which meant a lot of work and costs. When all that was finished, we set a date a few months ahead and here we are.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover Luciferian Gnosis and Occultism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the esoteric arts?

That’s correct, the whole thematic framework of the band’s lyrics and visual presentation revolves around these subjects in one way or the other. This construction is mainly built around the philosophy of our singer and lyricist Dr. Häll. He’s a scholar, writer and practitioner within these realms since years and years, which makes it all both authentic and thought through.

For the rest of the members this is of great interest to some, and less to others. But we all have a great respect for the lyrics and the powers with which they communicate, and that the music helps to invoke.

5.The singer also has shown a huge interest in philosophy, mythology and history do you feel this also adds more diversity to the ways the songs are written with all the research and effort that are put into the topics?

Definitely. The fact that Dr. Häll has all this knowledge and uses it in the lyrics give the words themselves several layers. All the songs are filled with references to literature, philosophy, religious and occult text and so on. The listener/reader will find new ones even years from now. 

We as a band feel that the lyrics are a very big part of what makes us Grand Harvest. The attention to the lyrics in the songwriting has to shine through and the music needs to convey what the lyrics are portraying.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Grand Harvest'?

The name is a reference to “Armageddon” and the end of mankind. It should be perceived as the harvest to end all life, when Death reaps his sickening harvest for the last time. References to “The Grand Harvester” and other harvesting-themes are present in our lyrics and its symbolism can be found in our band sigil containing the scythes and the Omega, as well as Death’s holy number XIII.

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

Gladly! The cover also has obvious signs of the final harvest theme. The inspiration for the cover is a painting by Antonio Rizzi from 1914 called Alarms at twilight. We really liked the bleak and sinister despair of the original, so we asked Chris at Misanthropic-Art to make his version of it and it turned out very well indeed. We have less war references and more general feelings of post-apocalypse in our version. The cover reflects the music and lyrics well and the colour scheme makes it stand out a bit in the myriad of black/white/red metal covers out there.

8.Most of the band members also have experience playing in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Grand harvest' that you are not able to do with your other groups?

Grand Harvest is a band that get things done and is a large investment of both time and money from us as members. It’s definitely the main band for all involved. The thing that I personally think separates Grand Harvest from other bands I’ve been in is our attention to detail, from music and lyrics to layout and aesthetics, as well as our high level of organization.

9.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

The biggest and most interesting performances thus far must be the support slots we did for Sinmara/Svartidauði and Necrophobic/Avslut. We worked very well with these bands both musically and personally and hope we get to perform together again. 

Our stage performance is tight, intense and ambient. We always give it our all. The esoteric elements and overall aesthetics are omnipresent, and we always try to think of ways to improve the stage setting. The goal is to never be just a band playing music. It’s in a live situation that the energies in the music and lyrics can resonate within the band and project onto, and into, everyone in the audience.

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

We have a release show planned here in our hometown of Malmö on March 26, together with Voodus and Cursus Bellum, to celebrate that the album is finally out. There will also be a date in Stockholm some time during spring. Naturally we hope to get out and tour in support of the album, but we have to see when that could happen. Many of the festivals and tours have been planned and booked for over two years and it’s not until now they can actually take place. This makes it a bit hard to book and plan new things. We just have to wait and see what’ll happen. We’re always hungry for chances to perform.

11.On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of underground metal?

The reactions from reviews and listeners have been very good so far and we can see the word spreading in the underground. It feels good to finally get some acknowledgement after a pandemic stand still and such a long wait to release the album. We’ve hired some help with the promotion of the album and that has given us some reviews and a few interviews. I think the knowledge about the band is slowly but steadily growing out there. 

For example, we had a proper boost when the YouTube channel Banger TV featured us as one of the five most anticipated albums of March in their segment Metal Monthly and then again when MetalSucks wrote about the album. Hopefully there’s a few more reveals like that in the near future. We have an interview in Sweden Rock Magazine (Sweden’s biggest metal magazine) coming up, which should give a small push in Sweden. So far, the biggest breaks have been in the US, which is a bit surprising to us but not less welcome of course.

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

We have very much found our sound during the writing of this debut album. What can be expected henceforth is well represented in the songs Sol Maledictor, No Paler a Horse and Consummatum Est for example. Doomy and relentless Death Metal with some severely dark Black Metal hints here and there is the direct way to talk about it. What will probably change the most on the next album compared to this one is that there won’t be any songs that are more pure or classic in their Death Metal style, like for example Fatehammer or Crowns to Ashes – Thrones to Dust.

13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that the band members are currently listening to nowadays?

This could easily turn out to be a huge name-dropping list, so I’ll try to keep it relatively short. While we all enjoy the old stuff we all grew up with, like Bolt Thrower, Dissection, Emperor, Candlemass, King Diamond, Death, My Dying Bride, Tiamat etcetera, some of the more contemporary bands that the members enjoy are:

Mgła, Mephorash, Djevel, Funeral Mist, (original) Batushka, Voodus, 1914, Gaerea, Watain, Hällas, Pallbearer, Warning, Ultra Silvam, Avslut, Sinmara, Svartidauði, MisÞyrming, Whoredom Rife, The Devil’s Blood and so on.

Besides these, and many others, within the metal/rock genres, the members all have reasonably wide tastes in music and there’s electronica/synth wave/EDM as well as country/americana, melodic rock/AOR and acoustic/singer-songwriter stuff thrown in the mix.

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

Thanks again! I encourage all readers to like and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Spotify, to buy our CD or a shirt to support the band and come to our live shows when possible. It makes a difference for small struggling bands.

O Lucifer Victor!

// N.N. – Grand Harvest

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