INTERVIEW WITH GHOST BATH

Februrary 2019

Aesthetics of endless pain and suffering in melodies… Crossing the borders and discovering the contrast, melancholy in joy, dark side of the happiness, these are all you can experience via Ghost Bath music.

With this new vein of black metal having such sharp depressive vocals, raining screams, carrying unexpected atmospheric passages and adding aggressive crescendos, Ghost Bath comes by destroying what is known before and opening a new suicidal path.

With Dennis and Tim in Leipzig

My evil twin sister who is ready to blacken my world, introduced me the band with Moonlover album and showed me their Bremen concert record back then. It was an utter turning point, then I have been delving into Ghost Bath music with an endless dark desire. With the release of Starmourner, surprisingly I found a chance to make an interview with Dennis and Tim during Ghost Bath’s European tour at Leipzig concert on 16th November 2018.

Leipzig is a very special place for me due to that special concert of Mayhem happened on 26^th November 1990 that I kept listening the record called “Live in Leipzig” intensely still by chilling. Therefore watching Ghost Bath live which is my foremost dark desire lately is kind an ending on a high note under that lunatic pitch black atmosphere of Leipzig.

 

Ghost Bath / Live in Leipzig

I would like to thank Anne Swallow from Nuclear Blast for the arrangement of this blast!

Here is a long-winded interview with an unexpected turn into literature and philosophy deeply which shows the sophistication of Ghost Bath members!

“My idea was to take the sub-genre and make it more melodic with better recording.”

   

Photo by Austin Scherzberg

How are the reactions to Starmourner so far from media and how do you feel about the album? Starmourner has a different direction from Moonlover in musical sense, like going more toward post-rock carrying positivity in music when I compare bleak suicidal atmosphere of Moonlover. 

Moonlover

Dennis: Yes. Basically it is definitely different than Moonlover, so I heard from the internet and fans that people who really like Moonlover don’t like this one or vice versa. But I don’t want to make same record so I can say that I am pretty satisfied.

You used the ecstasy concept for Starmourner while tragedy for Moonlover album. Why ecstasy over tragedy? Is there a reason why you chose ecstasy this time?

Dennis: Yeah, kind a like an idea from painter Mark Rothko did like, said like. Basic human emotions like ecstasy, tragedy and doom. I used tragedy for Moonlover and ecstasy for Starmourner. 

It sounds like a trilogy. Is Funeral album doom part of this trilogy?

Dennis: No, Funeral is its own. Third part, “doom” will be the next album.

You made a contract with Nuclear Blast with this album. How did it happen? Nuclear Blast has been improving their black metal category lately.

Starmourner

Dennis: We had Moonover from Northern Silence Productions. Our producer Josh Schroeder worked with King 810 with Monte Conner who moved to Nuclear Blast. He got a contact with him and Monte called me. It took 8-9 months to figure things out for contracts and stuff. This is how all those things happened.

Ghost Bath started as one-man project but you have a fixed line up right now, right? But unlike you, the band members’ names are unknown still. Is it on purpose?

Dennis:  (Laughings). When I first started, I didn’t want anyone to know who I was and where I was. Like on bandcamp, I did not put any location among all other places and then I just picked China.

Were you in China any time in your life before?

Dennis: No.

Where is China coming from then?

Dennis: I don’t know. There is no reason. Actually from there, I got a contact with Chinese record label, small one. And they put out the record and so it is listed over there. Then, another Chinese record label Pest Productions which should have been bigger put up Funeral.

So label is from China hence the rumors came from there?

Dennis: But I also put China as location too (laughing). I originally had 4 band members which are completely different then these band members right now. They quitted right away because they don’t like the vocals and high pitch things. So I closed down their faces and put their names in Chinese.

What is the current line-up now?

Dennis: We have Tim, John, myself, Pin, Josh. Until then we were like a live band and I was doing the music but we are a band right now and gonna write the music all together for the next record.

As I understand, specifically on Moonlover album, you do not use any lyrics but meaningful, abysmal screams conveying abstractness instead of it. It was quite surprising for the listener and interesting approach for an ambient/post/black metal band. What do you wanna say about this?

Dennis: You should have heard about the bands like Sigur Ros from Iceland?

Yes, I like them a lot.

Dennis: They are sort of doing the same thing like making the words to go with the music. I just do it with screaming.

Yeah, it is a creative thing. Will you do the same thing for the next album? You started to put some lyrics at the Starmourner album already but…

Dennis: I don’t know yet if I wanna put the lyrics or not. We will see at the next album. But we didn’t start writing lyrics on Starmourner, we already wrote lyrics on Funeral album before.

Ah, yes. So, new topic is coming; Literature… You are also into literature and writing as I know. So your words seem like busy with other projects which are denser. Please tell about which genre are you writing and the general concept of them?

Dennis: For 7 or 8 years ago, I was really sick and couldn’t do anything and for some reason I decided to start writing. That was the time I started writing seriously, there were other stuff that I wrote previously. I just became obsessed writing podcast, watching videos, writing, reading books, trying to write something that is to be published.  A year and half I finished a book but I didn’t like it so I am writing few more now. I feel like I am getting better the more I write. We will see by time.

 “Art, philosophy, spirituality are connected altogether.”

 In which genre are you writing on?

Dennis: The last one was sci-fi, this one is epic fantasy.

As I know, this epic fantasy book that you have been writing will be a trilogy, right?

Dennis: Yes, it was like Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings, something like that.

Ballad to the Stars is the name, right?

Dennis: For now, it is called Ballad to the Stars. But I will see when it is done.

I am wondering about your influencers or authors you would like to read?

Dennis: I like Terry Pratchett, I really like the humor and satirical fantasy of Douglas Adams at “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”. I like the darkness of “Malazan Book of the Fallen” and I took influence from that as it has different kind of characters and worlds. I definitely like “The Lord of the Rings” for the journey and quest at there.

Tim, you are into philosophy, right? Which era are you interested in?

Tim: I am interested in a lot of different stuff. May be 5 years ago I started to read Buddhism. I actually started reading Sartre and eight different existentialist philosophers. And I see many connections between Buddhism, Hinduism kind of philosophies with Sartre and other phenomenologist philosophers like Sartre. So I started to make connections between eastern and western philosophies. Lately I am really obsessed with that so I read everything I could.

Speaking of phenomenology, Husserl came to my mind as a foremost phenomenologist. Did you read his works?

Tim: Husserl? Absolutely and also Heidegger, they are all huge influence on.

By the way as a reader, have you found a definition of phenomenology yet? As you know it is somehow incomprehensible.

Tim: Yeah, I would say it is closer to practice or kind of meditation. It is not just ideas.

Like a method?

Tim: Yes, actually it is an actual mindset. Method of meditation that you can enter a certain path your mind can go down. You can use it basically to understand yourself, consciousness, relationships and reality better.  

“Sort of trying to express the connections between music, philosophy and meditation by writing.”

Photo by Austin Scherzberg

As it focuses on appearances of experiences, so I am thinking that Ghost Bath as music project can be said to carry some phenomenological approach?

Tim: Generally music to me is music and writing together. I mean I am working on my collection of essays right now. I have been writing and filling journals for last few years. I am reading, travelling and writing essays. Sort of trying to express the connections between music, philosophy and meditation by writing. Art, philosophy, spirituality are connected altogether. Yes, I do see many similarities between the experiences of being on stage playing music and phenomenological procedure that you sense that you are surpassing just regular thought and going to more like a flow of the state, kind of meditative state. It is kind of seeing the reality in more clear way.

Speaking of Sartre, he has a political side too, you know.

Tim: Yes, yes Sartre is my entry way of learning Marxism because of his critics. As a fact, he isn’t just simply loyal follower of Marx, he comprehended it. His critics of Marxism is huge influence on me in terms of politically.

I have been also studying Simone De Beauvoir and sharing her views.

Tim: Ah yes, I read those letters that they wrote to each other and their own journals also. It is huge influence on me for writing because I read the journals to see how they traveled Europe while writing on the same time. It inspires me just like our music inspires me. I want to do the same thing, to write some journals about philosophy.

  

Photo by Austin Scherzberg

Do you have any plans to release a book in the future?

Tim: Yeah, basically I have 4-5 years of essays, some going through rereading of them and categorizing them and then gonna select the best works of mine and put it altogether. It won’t be in chorological order, it will be like ‘this was the day and this was where it is written’ like collection of different essays. Themes are philosophy and travel and just like that.

It sounds very interesting; I really would like to read when it comes out.

Tim: I don’t how long it will take, I have never made a book before but I have just been writing a lot and I have to do something with that to see it in the shelves. Writing is a really nice thing. Sometimes I go back and open up an old journal to look and I find out that I expressed something so perfectly that I can’t believe that I wrote it. But there are also times like that I say it sucks and I don’t like it.

As I am a horror story author, I would like to ask if you are also into horror genre. Do you like Edgar Alan Poe as one of my influencer, for example?

Dennis: I think, I prefer Lovecraft.

Tim: Tell Tale Heart is so good!

“Sometimes I use art to escape from suffering.”

  

Photo by Austin Scherzberg

What does melancholy mean for you in your own words?

Dennis: I think it is like not caring about anything. Nothing really matters at that point.

Tim: I guess it is like a physical pain in my stomach. It is how I experience it.

As you are dealing with suicide, death, loss in your art. Do you think if art is born from suffering?

Tim: Sometimes I use art to escape from suffering kind of ritual.

Dennis: Yes, there are connections. But to kill himself, to be depressed or whatever the connection it is, sometimes art causes it while another time art is the result of it.

Do you think if it doesn’t have to be suffering to create an art?

Dennis: I think it is better, if there is. But that is my personal view in the end.

Which music styles do you listen? Who are your influencers in music?

Dennis: What I listen and my influencers are completely different. What I am listening now are ambient stuff. If I am writing, I listen soundtracks and classical music. The influencers for Ghost Bath were originally Agalloch when I started the band, Silencer for the vocals and depressive suicidal black metal bands. My idea was to take the sub-genre and make it more melodic with better recording.

Tim: For influencers, a lot of stuff so it is really hard to pin down. But when I was young I was listening grunge like Alice In Chains, definitely who has melancholic dark sad stuff in the music. I think they influenced my guitar playing too.

Have you contacted with your fans? After all those EU and US tours, do you know what kind of listeners do you have?

Tim: Well, we are known as a depressive band, so we tend to attack many people who have mental issues. :)

Dennis: There are all kinds of interesting personalities. :)

Tim: I am always talking with the fans, I give answer their questions and honestly I like to know them.  I like to have interesting conversations.

Dennis: I run the band’s social media. We always get the messages after the shows like “oh, I am too shy to talk to you. But you were really good”.  Everyone can come and talk to me, it is fully ok.

What about new album? Any plans for the date or the concept of the new record?

Dennis: No set date.  After we return from this tour, we will take a little break and then start writing the new album. We already have some riff ideas and our drummer also have been working on drum parts. We do have the concept, the name and some riffs so far.

We came to my last wish from you and last question as well. Is it possible to tell me a song having best black metal riffs ever according to you? Thank you for the interview.

Tim: At the record called “Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam”, all the songs and the guitars are so crazy. Every time I listen this record, it gives me chills. The song called “Carving a Giant” has the best riff as a song. That record with its every instruments is a deep kind of black metal. It is the only record I found that really hits me and almost like a spiritual experience for me.

Dennis: I think the song “The Pale Mist Hovers Towards the Nightly Shores” from Carpathian Forest EP “Through Chasm, Caves and Titan Woods” has the best riffs, drums, vocals, everything I think. Other one is the song called “Into the Painted Grey” from Agalloch’s “Marrow of the Spirit” album. It is a 12min song and it has really cool guitar riffs.

Golden Number/ Moonlover

“Basic human emotions like ecstasy, tragedy and doom. I used tragedy for Moonlover and ecstasy for Starmourner.”

 

More Info:

Stories of Starmourner

GHOST BATH refers to the act of committing suicide by submerging in a body of water. The band writes and creates under the assumption that music is an extension of one‘s own soul. They journey through the sorrow and sadness that all lives experience, but leave a glimmer of hope.

About Starmourner...

"The album explored melancholy, sorry, depression, and earthly things," says Nameless. "It represents purgatory and, most importantly; tragedy. The trilogy will represent basic human emotions and the experience of an afterlife simultaneously."

"The stories, or parables, look into Jewish angelology and the hierarchy of angels as found in the bible and other religious texts,"

Story of Ambrosial from Starmourner

Ambrosial /Starmourner

Contact:

www.facebook.com/blackghostbath

www.nuclearblast.de/ghostbath

https://ghostbath.bandcamp.com/

INTERVIEW WITH MAXIME ANDRE TACCARDI (K.F.R., LAMENTUM)

Februrary 2019

If horror stories and bloody melodies come together with sorrowful cries

Interview with Maxime André Taccardi who is a French artist, teacher, and founder of Black Metal bands  K.F.R.(black metal) and LAMENTUM(dungeon synth). 

His dark art by using his own blood is so captivating by the dreadful feeling when one looks deeply as those anatomic abstractions are gazing back to you with penetrating eyes surrounded by terrorized dreams.

His bloodletting paintings are visuals of the sounds he created via his black metal projects. He has also a collection of foremost black metal musicians' portraits. 

                 

“I use the pain as a creative impulse, to feel alive and spread my visions.”

K.F.R albums called “Par Le Sang” and “Ad Manifestationem Diaboli” were released on 11^th July 2018. What was the reason to release two different albums of your band K.F.R at the same time? How are the reactions and how do you feel about the releases?

They were recorded at the same time, I just felt they were too different to be released as one album hence why they came out separately. I do think “Ad Manifestationem Diaboli” represents more what K.F.R is about, the other one, “Par le Sang” is more into the nostalgic feel, almost depressive in a way but not like dsbm, more like that depressive vibe you hear in Mutiilation and old Burzum. I have another album called “L'enfer à sa source” which will be released in 2019 via Purity Through Fire. I can say it is by far the best album I ever did, with a better production and songwriting. I directed a video for one of the tracks I just put online: 

It is a short film on its own as directing videos is another one of my passions, I like to control and do everything including instruments, art and videos as well.

You have many music projects. Lamentum as dark dungeon synth with choirs, KFR is dark/ambient black metal band that has a primitive black metal sound back 90s. Which is the main one? What are their places in your life?

K.F.R is the main project which represents what my paintings would sound like if put into sonic form. It is also my take on black metal, what I want it to be. Lamentum is synth oriented even though you can hear some guitar here and there. It is a way for me to explore different genres and expressions. I also have another black metal project called Saturnian Tempel which is based on cosmos and topics related to space. Griiim is my power electronic project (a continuation of the K.F.R demo "Death March" which was totally different from the other releases), De Vermiis Mysteriis is a black ambient project I have with a friend and I also worked on something new with O from Obskuritatem.

Lamentum has ritualistic elements, dark, melancholic with dreadful passages. One can delve into music in full veins and having nervous moments especially at the song called “Les Lemantations Du Diable”. What are the ideas behind this music? What are your influences? You recorded the drums with human bones, how did it effect on sound and atmosphere?

Lamentum is my more melodic and accessible stuff in a way, kind of like a score to horror films. I always liked soundtracks and ambient so with Lamentum I let myself go. My main influence is Conrad Schnitzler but I also like Klaus Schulze, Pierre Henry, Philip Glass, Chu Ishikawa etc. I recorded the drums with human bones indeed, I do the same with K.F.R, and it is a way to convey dead spirits in my music, really ritualistic.

K.F.R is coming from kāfir in Arabic meaning "disbeliever. Why did you choose this Arabic name? You know mostly Latin words or German languages are used for moniker but seeing Kafir which is also a Turkish word surprised me.

I do have some Lebanese origins on top of Italian ones and I always was intrigued by the devilish folklore of Islam, the whole Dajjal and Iblis stories are fascinating. It is also a very powerful name for a band as it clearly makes a statement against religion especially in today's world context. Not only Kafir is the word inscribed on Dajjal's forehead, the antichrist but it also, like you say, means disbeliever, primal enemies of that said religion.

    K.F.R production is very icy, raw and noisy. Is it a salutation to old times when Mayhem released the first demo type? Why did you choose this production?

I don't think the prod is similar to Pure Fucking Armageddon, far from it, we can't barely hear shit in that demo so I don't see the analogy. Even though it is raw, you can still perceive nuances and instruments throughout K.F.R. The new album scheduled for 2019 is better produced though but still keeping that underground and dark feel that represents K.F.R. I can't stand overproduced metal, just take away the essence, especially in black metal. It has to come from the guts, no artifice, I record in sleep and food depravation, in a state of trance where I can't make a difference between day and night. It is exhausting but that is the only way I can convey what KFR is all about.

Can you talk about the lyrical wise of K.F.R?

Lyrics are focused on the occult but my vision of it, I takes influences from Sartre, Bataille, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Baudelaire etc. I actually wrote a book, mostly with my blood in which my poems are displayed among illustrations. Those poems are used in the K.F.R lyrics. It is some sort of a diary in a way, tales of my journey among the living.

Vordb from Belketre featured on guitars and vocals at the song “Be the Knife” from Ø album of K.F.R. How did you come together for this project?

I already had my good friend Meyhnach on the first album Anti so it was natural for me to ask Vordb to participate to that album. I have a strong bound with the black legions and I share their music aesthetics. We cowrote the song, it was not just a simple featuring but a real collaboration and I am very proud of it.

“I'm more connected to the philosophy of creation through destruction, tabula rasa, erase to create something new.”

Your music is like a black voyage to the eerie universe that spread fear, terror and blood also visually. It is like music of a horror story and suicidal melody with sorrowful cries. What do you wanna say about? How do you relate death, blood and suicide with your music?

I agree with the terror and fear part but I don't deal at all with suicidal stuff, I'm not a fan of that whole dsbm movement which I find childish for the most part, a few bands are worth it but 95 % is just crybabies music.

Blood is for me a way to give life to my paintings, it has nothing to do with anything related to suicidal thoughts. I use the pain as a creative impulse, to feel alive and spread my visions. I'm more connected to the philosophy of creation through destruction, tabula rasa, erase to create something new. The book Fight club is a good example or one of my favorite movies of all Tim, Tokyo Fist by Shinya Tsukamoto.

“I do believe in what Plato said about art being the manifestation of gods through men.”

You also did all your artworks and created art with using your own blood. Could you please tell about this? Why did you choose blood for painting? Is it some form of recreation to your albums with life-giving fluid, blood?

Like I said prior, it is a way to give some of myself to my art, I give life to them so they can be independent of the creator and become their own entities. I do believe in what Plato said about art being the manifestation of gods through men.

K.F.R.- Ø

You combine your art and music in terms of Gesamtkunstwerk; a German aesthetic term used to describe artwork that synthesizes multiple art forms. Can you tell a bit more about this subject?

Yes, that's the key, I was deeply influenced by that term created by Wagner, total art meeting every senses into one goal. This is what's called synesthesia. I also admire the work of Scriabine who wrote the poem of fire and tried to create an instrument able to convey all senses at once. I could also mention Shoenberg and Kandinsky who tried with their paintings to create partitions of music and by seeing them, people could translate them into music instantly.

So far cover art of Ø album of K.F.R is stunning. Is it your portrait by blood?

Thank you, yes it is a self-portrait, the entity I become while I create under the name of KFR. If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you, like Nietzsche said.

As I see that in your paintings, the heads of the figures are mostly skulls. Is it about dead in head, deathlike thoughts begin in the mind? What do you wanna say about? 

I'd see them more as faces without souls, like if all humanity was gone 0 and what's left would be what people don't want to deal with. Death is indeed an important part of my art, the fact I lost my parents early deeply influenced it. It is my catharsis, an urge who helps me to cope with life and its struggles.

Edgar Alan POE

H.P. Lovecraft

Sylvia Plath

You painted portraits of horror authors as Poe, Lovecraft, so I see you are into horror literature. Which authors/books influence you?

Yes, I really enjoy those two and also poetry like Baudelaire, Plath, Kafka, Sade, and especially philosophy. For contemporary authors, I liked the Anne Rice books when I was younger and Stephen King as well.

You are doing artwork for other bands as Sarke, Drowning the Light, Diabolicum among them. Which cover art is your favorite so far?  How do you work on artwork projects?

My most favorite ones are the ones I did for K.F.R as they represent who I am but I’m satisfied with the cover I did for Diabolicum for example. I do that for a living so when a band approaches me, they generally have the title of the album and a few songs and from that I create something. Sometimes they want something I already did like Sarke or Psychonaut 4.

You are not only doing artwork but you also direct your videos for K.F.R. Especially the video called “Here is no God but Him” is interesting as it shows how you use your blood for your art. Can you tell more about how you shoot your videos and the ideas behind?

Yes, I see my videos as important as the music or the paintings. I generally write some ideas and then think of the camera views, editing, and rhythm as a whole. I want to direct a movie when I get the chance, I have this planned for some years now and I will do that as soon as I can. So far the latest KFR video “L'enfer à sa source” is my best work. It is also a way for me to show that even without any budget, I can create something visually satisfying unlike those big bands with crazy budgets who end up doing shitty and boring videos. With such a budget, I’d make something insane, trust me on that. Some bands approach me to direct videos for them but I prefer to focus on my own ideas, it is more rewarding.

At those videos I see some Islamic references as many black metal bands started to use as well. Do you think if it is related with Islam has more effect on people lately with those wars in Middle East and ISIS terror while Christianity hasn’t got power like in medieval ages?

The very first video I shot for K.F.R in 2012 has some Islamic references, it is kind of the view of somebody who is convinced to be Dajjal himself. I guess Islam became more feared than Christianity with the rise of terrorism after the world trade center. It is also interesting as Muslims are really convinced the devil exists, most of them don't even question it, at least it is the case where I grew up in some northern French ghetto.

Have you thought to do painting by using other peoples’ blood? For example cover art by using blood of a musician or an author to be used in the album or book cover?

Some people asked me and believe it or not, I receive a lot of messages on my fb page from people who want to send me their blood but I only use mine. My art is very personal, like a diary that’s why I only use my own.

How is the French underground black metal gathering Les Legions Noir (Black Legion) including Moevot, Mütiilation, Vlad Tepes nowadays? It was one of the known circles after Black Metal Inner Circle from Norway. Back then there had been treads and mocking activities to mainstream record labels/bands.

I still see Mutiilation as my favorite black metal band to this day, the whole movement was ahead of its time and their work deeply resonates through me. They created a sound that was way noisier than any other black metal band, back then no wonder why a lot of actual bands quote them as their inspiration. Some people say it is shit or they don't know how to play etc. but I call bullshit on that. To me, black has to be dirty and raw, it just adds to the atmosphere. Belketre is still active and released a very solid EP, Meyhnach still creates music through his eponymous project and also Projekt K Oz, I actually did a split with the latter last year.

What are you listening lately? What are the best 2018 black metal albums according to you?

I mostly listen to older albums but I bought some vinyls this year and it is no surprise for to state the Lost tapes of Mutiilation as one of the best of the year simply because it is amazing to listen to new versions of old tracks. I actually had this for a while since Meyhnach sent them to me when he recorded them but since it came out only this past year, I have to include it in this list. Hekatomb by Funeral Mist was also great, no surprise here, I loved the previous one which I consider being the best but this one is really good too. I bought the Vlad Tepes vinyl box set which is definitely worth it even though I had previous releases. On this box, everything sounds better especially La Morte Lune which has always been my favorite Vlad Tepes, I used my old CD I got like 15 years ago to death. I also got some other stuff like Portals by Candelabrum, the last Clandestine Blaze, the long forgotten Judas Iscariot album which I enjoy a lot even though I had already most of the songs on other releases, but their rendition are different here for the most part. The new Azelisassath, the Gnipahålan "Vånnalösa Urskepnader", the new Profanatica EP and a few others.

Thank you for the interview. Please share your last words…

Thanks for your interest and support, it is appreciated!

Resim yazısı ekle

“If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you, like Nietzsche said.”

KFR / Ne cherche pas à devenir, rien n'a jamais commencé

More Info:

Dark Arts of Maxime André Taccardi
https://www.facebook.com/MaximeTaccardiArtworks/
https://www.instagram.com/maximetaccardiartworks/

K.F.R.
https://www.facebook.com/KfrKafir

Lamentum
https://www.facebook.com/Lamentumdungeonsynth/

LORDS OF CHAOS

The official trailer of the movie "Lords of Chaos" based on the book by the same title about the early history of Norwegian black metal is available on streaming via youtube for a while.

It is produced by film production companies of the calibre of VICE Studios, 20th Century Fox, Scott Free Productions and Insurgent Media and will be released by Gunpowder and Sky by the end of Februrary 2019.

It claims that it will tell about truths and lies of Norwegian black metal history for it has been subjected to many controversial thoughts already before it is released. 

Director Jonas Åkerlund is ex-Bathory drummer and awarded film director who is known with music video projects like Metallica, Rammstein, U2, Satyricon, Madonna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Solstafir, Coldplay, Ozzy Osbourne, Roxette, Candlemass, etc., short movies and many documentaries also.

http://www.jonasakerlund.com/

The book that the movie is based on named "Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground" written by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind, published by Feral House that is known by releasing books about forbidden topics. 

The book won a Firecracker Independent Book Award in 2003 and translated into nine languages.

It is about crime journalism including many interviews from Norwegian black Metal scene and an extended perspective for Mayhem-Burzum dilemma together with church burnings back then in Norway.

Edward Munch Meets With 1349

Four bands. Four paintings. Four different outcomes. 

4 different bands who are commissioned by Innovation Norway, Visit Norway and Munch Museum interpreted Edvard Munch's paintings.

• "Death Struggle (Dødskamp)” by 1349 (black metal)
• "Puberty" by Matoma (dance pop-crossover)
• "Self-portrait in Hell" by Gundelach (R&B and electropop)
• "The Sick Child" by 9 grader nord (folk)

“Munch’s art literally screams inside your head.” – 1349

More Info:

https://www.visitnorway.com/things-to-do/art-culture/edvard-munch/munch-plus-music/1349/

INTERVIEW WITH ICHOR

January 2019

Interview with Australian black metal band called Ichor! Just like the band's name, the music itself carries the sacred fluid Ichor dragging you from the shores of melancholia to the bleak darkness! Australia has many unique dark sounds to explore...
With Ichor, an ancient power awakens!

“A bleak roar of hatred towards modern spirituality whilst aggravating a sense of redemption for any failings of our own in the past.”

You released God of Thunder God of War album lately from Séance Records. How are the reactions to the album?

Diablore: So far it's been very positive. We didn't really expect this given that we've embarked on a different sound and approach to what we have with past projects like Nazxul.

Wraith: The album has been well received. We are very pleased with the outcome and the response.

There is quite long time after demo called Ichor in 1993. What happened back then and you waited so long to release an album?

Diablore: We were going to do both Nazxul and Ichor at the same time but realized it was very difficult so we made the decision to pursue Nazxul instead. We always had the material and decided to put it away to keep focus on Nazxul.

Wraith: Soon after the Ichor demo we decided to concentrate on Nazxul exclusively. In late 2017 we decided to pick up where we had left off. With a new found motivation and drive there will be more from Ichor in the near future.

“…Heathen black metal but with a darker edge.”

New album reminds me Satyricon or Enslaved’s oldtimes. The epic passages, raw, oldschool black metal sound with dark atmospheric songs. How do you define this album to the listeners who haven’t come across with Ichor yet?

Diablore: It's a tragedy. A bleak roar of hatred towards modern spirituality whilst aggravating a sense of redemption for any failings of our own in the past. It is black metal.

Wraith: Thank you for that complimentary comparison. We have maintained an aggressive sound and woven melodic passages into the maelstrom that is Ichor. We wish to touch on heathen black metal but with a darker edge.

Lyrical theme of God of Thunder God of War is about Slavic folk tales & witchcraft. Why did you choose Slavic tales for your music?

Diablore: We are Slavs and we've always been fascinated and drawn towards the history of our culture. It's only fitting to explore the myth and magic of these brilliant gods and demons that have been passed on to us from our forebears.

Wraith: The use of Slavic themes was due to wanting to incorporate a genuine folk connection, and as both members of the band have Slavic heritage it was the only subject matter that made sense to us.

“Melancholy plays an important part in our music.”

Can you tell about a figure/tale that takes your attention most from Slavic folklore?

Diablore: Many tales and lore span the universe from the battle of Chernobog and Svarog to the nasty deceptions of Yaga and her devilish possessive powers over Veles to disrupt Perun's rule over the heavens and all of these are wonderful. It truly is difficult to pick one. Here in the west, it seems that Yaga is one of the most dominant that has even been hailed as the mother of all the devil witches to every folk tale of all cultures. I actually am very concerned about her for she hides something that is beyond the mystery of any understanding of the darkest of deaths. When a creature can't be defeated, then you know we have something special here.

Wraith: The witch plays an important part in Slavic mythology and folk tales. We portray the witch or the wise woman as cunning wise and alluring. A connection to the darker side of the cunning craft.

There are certain touches to melancholy especially with the song "Spectres Of The Woods” which is my favorite also. What does melancholia mean for you and your music?

Diablore: It's a kind of pre-ritual before the battle if you like. It's taking a deep breath. You look at the sky and if it's blue, you make it red. Then you charge into your enemies and you win.

Wraith: Melancholy plays an important part in our music. It expresses loss. The loss of culture. The loss of knowledge of the old ways. In saying that there is also glory and optimism. A triumphant energy permeates through the album.

“The scene is as dark and bleak as it's ever been…”

The song called “A Daughters of Wrath” was also at your demo called Ichor. What is the reason of putting this song to the new album also?

Diablore: At the time of release on the original demo, the response to Daughters was of the highest of praises. We thought to add it here and give everyone a new re-working that makes it sound more epic. We didn't have a good recording of this track before so it was essential to anoint it with the forge we have now.

Wraith: We decided to re-record Daughters of Wrath for the album in order to connect the demo and the new incarnation of Ichor.

The name of the band has a mystical meaning as Ichor itself the ancient Greek word for the fluid that runs in the gods’ veins. Why did you choose that for the band at that time?

Diablore: We were looking at creating a series of albums that explored all the legacies of the ancients from all mythological pantheons in the honor to bring them all together as a call to arms against the poison that is these new simplified pathetic deceptive gods of today. It's a word that everyone knew and shared amongst the immortals across the universe.

Wraith: We felt that the name Ichor can represent a concept of humanity attaining godhood as the only thing which separates us is blood.

There is another band with same name in deathcore style from Germany. Whenever I check your band from spotify, they come to the forefront. Has this similarity in name become a problem for you ever? Do you have any idea to get rid of this?

Diablore: Not at all problematic. We had it in 93 and it didn't bother us when we saw multiple bands with the name over the years. These bands must also have the magic in their veins like us.

“Horror literature is what I will love forever and there will always be a need to get some Poe and Alighieri in there before rest.”

 

Are you still active in your other black metal bands of Nazxul, Nox Inferi, Toil? I am also fan of Nazxul, so I wanna ask if there are any plans for new album as the last EP called “Quickener of the Dead” is from 2010.

Diablore: Yes, we are going to release a Nazxul album hopefully early 2019 . It is very powerful and a lot more constructive than previous releases. 

Wraith: There are a few releases planned for Nazxul in 2019. As for the other bands it is highly unlikely any new material will ever see the light of day. Our focus is Ichor and Nazxul at the moment.

Is Australian Satanic Black metal community called Ordo Ater Anguis (Order of the Black Serpent) still active? Are you part of it? What are the main concerns/priorities at there?

Wraith: This group does still exist. And yes we are part of it. Its membership has expanded outside of Australia. 2019 will see a more public presence. With various compilations and splits planned.

How is the Australian black metal scene lately? Which bands do you listen from there? Do you think if there is certain Australian black metal sound and how do you define it? For my observations atmospheric black metal style has a pick in Australia as Ichor, Nazxul, Drowning the Light, Austere, Midnight Odyssey, Striborg and Woods of Desolations are very prominent examples with their sounds dragging one into abysses, melancholia and pathos.

Diablore: The scene is as dark and bleak as it's ever been. The sound is a distinctive sound that spans quite a few styles from sickeningly piercing to overwhelmingly apocalyptic. We have a few bands like you mention but we are many.

Wraith: With such diverse sounds as Nocturnes Mist and Darklord from South Australia to the thrash inspired bands from Melbourne and to the melodic atmospheric bands you mention in your question. We have a varied vibrant and diverse scene. That grows stronger day by day.

Do you have influencers from other genres, music styles?

Diablore: When it comes to writing, we tend to listen to programmed cinematic score and orchestral symphonic pieces to get into our minds when creating riffs and structure. Sometimes we find noise driven guitar soundscape post rock to be influential at times, but not as much as the symphonies. 

Do you have an interest in literature? Do you have any authors/poets that you follow and influence your music?

Diablor: Many authors and poets are great and sometimes I just need to rest on Lovecraft, Barker and Matheson. Horror literature is what I will love forever and there will always be a need to get some Poe and Alighieri in there before rest. My personal favorite story of all time would probably be Stoker's Dracula. 

Do you think if art is born from suffering or is it a journey into pathos? Could you please tell me about your point of view on creating your art.?

Diablore: I believe it's both. This is a way to explore the magic in us and we thrive to continue the journey as it heals and inspires.

Wraith: Creating music and stories of woe and loss is very powerful. It is a universal emotion that can be heard in music which transcends language. And everyone regardless of ethnicity cultural background can feel and understand its sentiment

What is next for Ichor? Are there any plans for shows, festivals?

Diablore: We wish it to be a studio project for it feels proper to treat it as a carefully crafted ritual. There haven't been any insights into live shows for now.

Wraith: 2019 will see a new album for Ichor, as mentioned above there are no plans for live performances.

Thank you for the interview. Please share your last words…

Thank you and many hails to our fans for the interests and support.

“Creating music and stories of woe and loss is very powerful.”

More Info:

facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Ichorhorde/
bandcamp: https://seancerecords.bandcamp.com