Lou: Hi, how are you?

Damyen: Hi, I’m fine, thanks.

Lou: Please can you take a moment to introduce yourself?

Damyen: OK, so I’m Damian “Damyen” Gwardzik, drummer of Northern Plague.

Lou: How long has Northern Plague been together?

Damyen: It’s been a year over a year in the current lineup. I was the last man to join the group in April 2011. I replaced the ex- drummer, co-founder of NP – Saryon.

Lou: How would you describe your music?

Damyen: It’s not thet easy to describe it. Some people call us a black metal band, judging by our first release “Blizzard of the North”. But there are alot of other influences like thrash and death metal on that MCD alone. That is just 4 songs and an intro. But we have alot of other songs which some have more melody, some are heavy and some are just plain brutal. I would say its a mix, with alot of Death and black metal. But you know how it is with people, everyone will have their own opinion on that one.

Lou: Which bands have had the biggest influence on your sound?

Damyen: Every member of NP has his own top band(s), and we generally try to do our own thing. But definitely you can hear some simularities with the top Polish metal bands like Behemoth, which we all listen to, some drum parts are influenced by George Kollias’ (Nile) style of playing. But as I’ve said, we try to do our own stuff and not try to sound LIKE some other band.

Lou: What was the first album you ever bought? Which bands originally got your into Metal?

Damyen: Hah. It was the summer of 2003, I’ve bought my first ever metal release – Metallica’s “St. Anger”. I just loved the raw sound, and to be honest I wasn’t into heavy music before, so only after St. Anger, I started to go back to the classics like Master of Puppets. After a while I got into heavier bands like Nile, Hate Eternal.

Lou: I really enjoyed “Blizzard of the North”. What kind of feedback have you received about it so far?

Damyen: Well thanks a lot! It’s been almost a year since the release of “Blizzard…” and its been absolutely great. It’s the bands debut, and only 4 regular tracks. From my own experience I assumed it would not do as much as it did for us. We get tons of great reviews from all over europe, we play more and more gigs, just got back from our own national Tour “We are the Plague Tour 2012″ which tourned out to be a success so we’re thinking to book continue it and visit more places, and later this year go abroad with the material. We also got some festivals comming up here in Poland. I think it would be a very nice way to end the EP’s run. Early next year we plan to release our first Full length album. I can’t give any details about it yet, but I can tell you it’ll be much different.

Lou: Which track is your favourite from “Blizzard of the North”? (If you can pick just one!)

Damyen: I think “Ishtar Gate’s a Ruin” because its got everything that you will find on the whole MCD. You got melody, you got slow tempos, fast tempos, crazy guitar solos, great vocal tracks by Fenris, so I think it summs up that period of the bands existence better than any other track.

Lou: What sort of subjects do you cover in your lyrics?

Damyen: The lyrics are usually done by Fenris. Mostly there are references to antient mythology, a bit of nihilism, misanthropy. We talk mostly about the negative aspects of human nature. It’s a strong metaphore to our times, because you can spot the links between what we write about and what you hear on the news these days. People are a self-destructive species. We love to fight with each other. We fight for freedom, we fight for power, we fight for food, we fight for religion, we fight sometimes just to fight. But that’s kinda what you’d expect from metal bands. We won’t go around writing about peace and love while playing blast beats (laugh).

Lou: I see that you’ve shared the stage with some pretty impressive bands (Lost Soul, Azarath, Nammoth, Neuropathia)… Which has been your favourite so far?

Damyen: Well I’m still waiting for my favorite band, because in July we’ll be sharing the stage with Decapitated, but from the bands you named I’ll say Lost Soul. Great band doing really great music especially on their last album.

Lou: If you could go on tour with any other band, who would it be and why?

Damyen: I would say Behemoth. Great musicians, Polish, they want to perform always 110%, and they did a lot for the Polish metal scene, which now we are a part of. And our style of playing isn’t far off, so why not? Mr. Nergal, give me a call (laugh).

Lou: How would you describe a Northern Plague show?

Damyen: I’ve never seen one, so we can only guess what the audience can experience while we perform. But we want it to be not just four guys going on stage, playing. We want our performance to be a spectacle. Building tension, giving not only music to the crowd but also raw energy. Its quite a strong correlation. Because people demand a lot from you to be properly entertained, but when you manage, and you really can perform on a high level, the crowd gives you back a lot more.

Lou: Do you have any pre-gig rituals?

Damyen: I don’t do anything unusual. Just warming up, getting focused, checking if everything is okay from a technical point of view.

Lou: Do you have any plans to tour outside of Poland? The UK would be good

Damyen: Yeah, surely. “Blizzard of the North” got so many good reviews outside Poland, that we would like to go out, and play the stuff live to in those countries. We first wanted to tour in our own yard. That worked out good, so now we’re thinking about the next step. And don’t worry. When we hit the road, I guarantee we won’t miss the UK!

Lou: Where can we buy your music from? Do you have any other merchandise available?

Damyen: Because “Blizzard of the North” is self-released by us, you can only buy it from us ( as a digipack ). You can buy the music from iTunes, Myspace, and many other online music shops. As for the Northern Plague branded stuff we have T-shirts. We didn’t want to get carried away with stuff like Northern Plague Underpants, and nonsence like that. But soon we’ll add some new merchandise, some new Shirts, hoodies, stuff like that.

Lou: Do you prefer CDs, MP3s or vinyl?

Damyen: Because everything today is digital I’d say mp3, because you can have your music always around you, but then again, nothing beats sitting down on my bed. Turning a CD on and just relaxing.

Lou: What are your views on illegal downloads?

Damyen: No one should be able to just download and keep someone else’s work. It’s not free for a band to go to a recording studio and record the stuff, so it shouldn’t be free to listen. But then again there is an advantage in the music being online. Because there is so much to choose from, and people don’t earn so much these days its a good idea to download the album I’m interested in, listen and if I like it, I go and buy it, if I don’t, I’ll search for something else. If this music wasn’t online, and with people able to buy only like one CD a month, only first league bands would benefit from it. Young bands would struggle, because people not knowing them, wouldn’t want to risk their money on buying something they don’t know and may turn out to be rubbish.

Lou: I’m addicted to social networks… Are you? Where can we stalk you online?

Damyen: Sure I am. As most bands today you can find us on Facebook – facebook.com/northernplague, Myspace – myspace.com/northernplague and on our site northernplague.pl. Social networks are really helpful, because you are in touch with your fans and can promote the band in so many ways like having contests etc. I really like the idea, because some fans are far away, you wouldn’t be able to get in touch with them on a daily basis and tell them the lates news within the band. But now you can and it really helps.

Lou: Do you think that social networks have been a useful tool for you?

Damyen: Absolutely! Most of the promotion we do is done by social sites, and even on a personal level you can always talk to friends that you haven’t seen in years, so its a wonderful tool.

Lou: What’s next for Northern Plague? What are your plans?

Damyen: Touring til the end of 2012. If the world doesn’t end, we’ll record our first Album. Then tour again and so on…

Lou: Thank you for answering my questions! Please feel free to leave any further messages for the readers of Loucifer Speaks now…

Damyen: You’re welcome. So to any reader of Loucifer Speaks, check out our Facebook profile at facebook.com/northernplague, listen to “Blizzard of the North” share your views about the band, the record and where would you like us to perform! Cheers!

northernplague.pl
facebook.com/northernplague
myspace.com/northernplague

Lou: Hi Mike, thank you for agreeing to this interview. How are you?

Mike: Hi Lou! Well things are going well, busy with getting the album out and sorting out some live shows.

Lou: It’s been a while since we last heard from you. Who is in the band these days?

Mike: Well, the studio line-up consists of myself on guitars/vocals, Darren on lead guitars, Mike Kalember on bass and Kevin Talley (current DAATH, SIX FEET UNDER) on drums. The live line-up is essentially the same except that we have Vijesh from OSHIEGO to fill the drum position.

Lou: For the benefit of the readers who may not have heard you yet, how would you describe your music?

Mike: ABSENCE OF THE SACRED is essentially Death Metal, but we have elements of Thrash, Black Metal, Doom and even a little Jazz thrown in. I guess to sum it up we are playing Progressive Death Metal, although in a different way from bands such as CYNIC and OBSCURA.

Lou: How long did “Come Hither O Herald of Death” take to write and record? Why was there a relatively long gap between it and “Era of the Apostate”?

Mike: The whole album took two years to write and less than a month to record. The long gap was due to financial problems and delays due to conflicting work schedules. The initial plan was to have it released on the ninth of September in 2009, but we encountered a number of problems that hindered the release, which dragged it to 2012.

Lou: “Come Hither 0 Herald of Death” has just been released. Where can people buy it from?

Mike: People can purchase physical copies of our album from sonicblastmedia.com or digital downloads from CDBaby.com

Lou: How would you say the new album compares to the older ones?

Mike: The new album is definitely a milestone for ABSENCE OF THE SACRED in terms of songwriting, playing and lyrical content. I would say that this is the most mature, aggressive and technical effort we have put out and we are very satisfied with this release in comparison to the past two albums.

Lou: What sort of subjects have been covered in the album’s lyrics? Is there are particular line or phrase that you’re especially proud of?

Mike: The lyrical matter consists of subjects pertaining to the reincarnation of the persona, the consequences and encumbrances of life towards death, introspect and reflection of regret and the underlying question of existence. My favourite lyric would be from “Enslave Fire”, which is “In the vessel of deliberation, deliver me from this consternation, my body is the temple from knowledge I am born”.

Lou: What inspires you lyrically?

Mike: To be honest, I rarely read books on Philosophy or books of a similar nature. I do read fiction by authors such as Burgess and Orwell, and that does inspire me from time-to-time. I have no problem expressing my feelings and thoughts through words or metaphors to convey my experiences in life, which ends up being strangely poetic.

Lou: What sort of feedback have you received for the album so far?

Mike: So far the feedback has been great. The reviews we have received so far do bear some gripes regarding our new change of direction, but I guess it is an album that takes time to grow on the listener. Technically, all the reviews have been very positive on our musical abilities and songwriting, but as mentioned before, the new direction leaves some conflicted.

Lou: The guitars on the album are just awe-inspiring. Who would you say was your biggest influence on the guitar? Do you and Darren take influence from the same guitarists/bands?

Mike: Thank you very much! Darren and I have separate influences guitar-wise. My influences are people like Chuck Schuldiner, Kelly Shaefer, Max Cavalera and James Murphy, whereas Darren’s influences range from Yngwie Malmsteen to George Benson to Muhammed Suiçmez and Alexi Laiho.

Lou: What was your first guitar? Do you still have it?

Mike: My first electric guitar was a Samick Vantage. I sold it off as it did not suit me very well at the time. I still have my first classical guitar though, a Santana model.

Lou: For all of the fret-wankery (please forgive the phrase) on “Come Hither…”, for me the focus really seems to be on the actual songwriting. Would you agree that this is the case? Also, what is the process for writing an AOTS song? There seems to be an incredible amount of stuff going on in each track… How do you get started?

Mike: We still do focus on the songwriting underneath all the technicality. I normally write the base of the songs on rhythm and Darren does some harmonisations or a counter-melody which compliments the rhythm section. While doing this, the basic drum patterns are already in our heads, which we then convey to the drummer and see what can be improved from there. The bass is normally saved for last, which then Mike Kalember fills in the spaces with additional notes or a separate melody. The vocals are normally done before the bass, and the vocals are written in a way to be structured with certain points of the songs to highlight and accentuate parts while retaining a flow throughout the songs. Before recording we rehearse about twice a week for a month to get the songs tight and our parts ascertained, after which we hit the studio and play like hell.

Lou: You already have a video for “Dawn of a Dead Aeon”. Can you tell us anything about the ideas behind that video? Do you have any plans to create any more videos?

Mike: We did that video in 2007 for the demo version of “Dawn Of A Dead Aeon” on our “Promo 2007” EP. The concept was simple; apocalyptic and ominous. The people who directed and filmed our video were inspired by new-age concepts along with the tarot. We don’t have any plans to create a new music video so far, but we’ll see if the label has the budget for that.

Lou: How is the metal scene in Singapore at the moment? Are there any other bands that you can recommend?

Mike: The Metal scene in Singapore is stagnating due to the lack of local shows and dedicated individuals. There are too many big acts coming from overseas that overshadow the local shows and people are too busy saving up money for those shows rather than see local bands play. There are still really good bands that are worth checking out from our scene, such as OSHIEGO, SANITY OBSCURE, PSYCHO, HELVETTE, TRUTH BE KNOWN, DRACONIS INFERNUM, MEZA VIRS, DEUS EX MACHINA, NAFRAT, and of course the more well-known ones such as IMPIETY, WORMROT and RUDRA.

Lou: You also play in another band – Please can you tell us a little bit about it?

Mike: I play in another band called BLOOD DIVISION, which is a blend of Crust Punk and Black Metal. We just released an EP titled “Grip of Power” and we are currently playing live shows as well as recording a full-length album titled “Necrordnance” which should be out by this year.

Lou: Do you prefer CDs, vinyl or MP3?

Mike: I actually prefer vinyl over the other formats although I do collect cassettes and CDs as well, a habit I’ve acquired about sixteen years ago! Just ordered three BOLT THROWER re-issues on vinyl along with the re-issue of COMECON’s “Megatrends in Brutality” in limited red wax. Collecting isn’t a cheap hobby and it’s severely addictive.

Lou: Do you think that the CD (or any physical medium for that matter) has had its day? (Personally I’ll be devastated if/when the CD becomes extinct!)

Mike: I think the end has pretty much come for the Pop market, but as for the Metal market I think there will still be an audience which buys and collects physical mediums, to support the bands and to be proud of what they own. Vinyl has made a big comeback in the last few years due to the close extinction of the CD format, but I think it might persevere. Who knows?

Lou: What are your thoughts on illegal downloading? This is a subject that pops up time and time again on various forums and it always gets some pretty heated opinions… so I thought I’d ask for your views too…

Mike: I think illegal downloading is fine if you download just to listen, and if you like it, you buy it. If you don’t like it, delete it off your computer. If you download bands that you like illegally and for free, you are indirectly killing them off one by one. People give excuses like “I don’t support corporate labels” but what about independent bands and bands on small labels that depend on the sales to survive and keep the band going? Another popular excuse is that they have no money to purchase the record. I used to save up my lunch money and work in McDonalds on the weekends when I was a teenager to pay for my CDs back then. What’s their excuse?

Lou: What albums have you been listening to lately?

Mike: Lately I’ve been listening to DISMA “Towards the Megalith”, GOATWHORE “Blood for the Master”, INFESTUS “Exist”, MIDNIGHT “Satanic Royalty”, THE WOUNDED KINGS “In the Chapel of the Black Hand”, ASHBORER “Ashborer” as well as many other recent releases. I am always into new releases and keep up-to-date on what’s new and interesting.

Lou: Do you have any plans to tour to promote the new album? What can we do to get you to play in the UK?

Mike: We do have plans to tour and promote the new album, but sadly it is financially-unfeasible for us to go over to Europe or the States. We would love to play in the United Kingdom, and all we need is the organizer or promoter to help us with our airfare and transport.

Lou: What’s next for AOTS?

Mike: So far we are just planning to play more live shows both locally and overseas this year to promote the album and we’ll see how things go from there.

Lou: Do you have any more messages for the readers of Loucifer Speaks?

Mike: We like to thank all of you for reading and a special thank you to Lou for this interview! Do check out our music on our MySpace at myspace.com/absenceovthesacred and get a copy from sonicblastmedia.com or CDbaby.com! We hope to play in your city very soon!

Lou: Thanks again!

facebook.com/absenceofthesacred
absenceofthesacred.bandcamp.com

photo by Mark Coatsworth

Lou: Hello Voldamares and thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I understand that you are the only original member of Eclipse Eternal, is this correct? Who else is in the band?

Voldamares: Hello Lou. I am indeed the last remaining original member of this band. We now consist of Me on vocals, Lord Abaddon on guitars, Orcus on bass, Wulfgar on Drums and Carver on Orchestrations.

Lou: How would you describe your music? To categorize it as “Black Metal” is accurate, but I feel there’s more to it than that – particularly on the new album.

Voldamares: While we consider ourselves a Black Metal band we do not shy away from incorporating other influences when creating our songs. We will use whatever feels right for the vision we have. This album definitely has some dark folk and doom influences that you can hear on some of the songs. Those just came naturally as many of us in the band are drawn to those types of music.

Lou: I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I recently reviewed “The Essence of Hopelessness” and I was completely blown away. Which tracks from that album are you particularly pleased with?

Voldamares: Personally, my favourite tracks are “Ode to a time long gone”, “Deathbound” and “Murder…Suicide” (which we will be shooting a video for). These songs seem to have captured the essence of our vision best.

Lou: What subjects have been covered in the album’s lyrics? Are there any underlying concepts running throughout the tracks?

Voldamares: The underlying theme is through the discovery of truth we find ultimate hopelessness. Each song explores death in a different context and theme. The whole album is basically one big long suicide note explaining why I am the way I am and why life is the way it is. That was the basic idea. This is not a positive album. These are not happy songs.

Lou: How long did the album take to write and record?

Voldamares: The album took approximately 3 years to write and record. A lot had to do with financial complications. We do not cut corners when we’re recording, we just don’t record until we can afford to do it properly. Now that we’re on a label, expect the wait to be much less in the future.

Lou: Was the writing side of it a band effort, or did one person write the majority of the album?

Voldamares: The writing in this band has always been a band effort. While each person typically writes their own parts, all ideas are taken into consideration and often times a part will be changed multiple times before it fits the song. I find that this makes us stronger and our music more diverse. The more ideas the better. Once the music is created and the song has put a vision in my head then I write the lyrics.

Lou: Did this differ from the process that you used for your previous albums?

Voldamares: Since our first album featured only three of us (Me, Lord Abaddon and Wulfgar) many of the instruments were played by a single individual (Lord Abaddon).

It was during our second album that we added more members and started to have them write their own parts. The difference can be heard in the music.

Lou: What sort of reaction have you received about the album by both the press and your fans?

Voldamares: So far the press has been quite favourable to us. Many have told us that they have been listening to our album on repeat since they received it. Our fans seem to be saying the same thing. This is exactly what we wanted. The album just gets better the more you listen to it because it has many layers and the vision of each song is quite in depth.

Lou: Which bands got you into metal and, more specifically, Black Metal?

Voldamares: The bands that got me into metal are mostly Black Metal bands anyway. Marduk, Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem, Immortal and Satyricon. The only non-black metal bands I listened to way-back-when were Type O Negative, Slayer and Danzig (which I still listen to).

Lou: What were your favourite albums of 2011?

Voldamares: Primordial – Redemption at the Puritans Hand was really the only new album that I bought that was released in 2011… I usually buy a lot of older cds that I’ve had recommended to me or have just discovered. I’ve really been listening to a lot of Funeral Mist and Leviathian music over the past year. Those have really become a fixture on my cd player.

Lou: I’ve been asking this of quite a few bands recently, but… What is your favourite medium for listening to music? CDs, vinyl or MP3?

Voldamares: I usually only listen to CDS. I need to be able to read the lyrics and understand the meaning behind the song.

Lou: What are your thoughts on illegal downloading?

Voldamares: This is a problem. Many people are too cheap to pay for music these days. This makes it difficult for bands like us to afford to make music. I have no problem with people downloading music offered by the band (we offer our first album free and a few tracks off the second album as well) but full album free illegal downloads are a curse. If you want to hear music in the future I suggest supporting the artists you appreciate now.

Lou: How would you describe an Eclipse Eternal show?

Voldamares: Organized chaos. Corpsepaint and spikes, blood and violence, despair and rage.

Lou: I’ve read that you’re about to embark upon a tour with Negura Bunget, Wolven Ancestry, The Way of Purity and Din Brad. Where will you be playing?

Voldamares: We will be playing 28 dates across North America. This will be our biggest tour to date. For dates check out: facebook.com/#!/events/294608397256533

Lou: Do you have any plans to come over to the UK?

Voldamares: While nothing is currently planned we would certainly entertain offers if they were to come. We have never played overseas and are looking forward to it.

Lou: What is the metal scene like in Toronto… and Canada as a whole?

Voldamares: The metal scene in Toronto is shit. A bunch of bands competing for nothing. There are those who rise above and are worth noting but not many. Same with the fans. Canada as a whole though is quite good. There are quite a few excellent bands across the country and quite a few cities with excellent metal scenes (like Montreal which is amazing). For those who are interested in hearing what we bring to the Black Metal genre check out the “Order of the Wolf” videos on my youtube page: youtube.com/voldamares. These videos each feature 9 of the best bands from Canada as chosen by me.

Lou: Are your previous albums still available? Can we buy them directly from you? I have taken full advantage of the free downloads that are available on your MySpace page, but I would love to be able to buy the CDs.

Voldamares: While our first album is out of print and currently unavailable our second album is widely available from such places as: The Omega Order, Century Media, Homiciderocker.com and if you want from me. We will also have them available on tour.

Lou: Is it possible to buy Eclipse Eternal merchandise – such as t-shirts – from you?

Voldamares: It is indeed. We have a few designs currently available and more to come shortly. For those interested just send me an email and I’ll let you know what we have. We also have some shirts available at homiciderocker.com.

Lou: What’s next for Eclipse Eternal?

Voldamares: After our tour we intend to write more music and possibly release an E.P. or split. We’ll see what happens then.

Lou: Thank you again!

facebook.com/EclipseEternal
myspace.com/eclipseeternal

I have used a few photographs from the band’s official Facebook page to accompany this interview and I have credited the photographer where possible. If a photo you took is here, please let me know in the comment box below… or, if you are the photographer I’ve already credited and would like to leave us a link to where we can find more of your work then that would be superb!

Lou: Hi and thank you for taking the time out to answer my questions. As is now customary with these kinds of interviews, please can you introduce yourselves just in case anyone out there in Loucifer Speaks land hasn’t heard of you yet?

Thomas: Greetings everyone. This is Thomas, vocalist in the extreme metal band Sulphur.

Lou: I see that Sulphur have been around quite a while, but how long have you been together? Has there been any line-up changes in that time?

Thomas: Sulphur started in 1997 under the name Taakeriket (The realm of fog) by Øyvind, (our guitar player, songwriter and one of the founders of Sulphur), and some of his friends. After a couple of years the name changed to Sulphur and the lineup changed a bit as well. I started in 2001 right after the first demo (A relic for the damned) was recorded.
There were a lot of lineup changes over the years between demos and records so I don’t think I will name all the different members because it would take a long time and it isn’t really that interesting. But right after our first album “Cursed Madness” and in the songwriting process towards the “Thorns in Existence” album we came up with a full lineup and we are still the same members to this date.

Lou: When I listen to “Thorns in Existence” and “Cursed Madness” I can hear a range of influences – everything ranging from Black Metal to Death Metal to Thrash to the just plain weird. It’s very much your own sound though – the “Sulphur sound” if you will. How did you end up playing in this style? Was it a conscious effort to blend a multitude of things, or was it more of a happy accident?

Thomas: I think the main reason that we ended with this sound is that Øyvind has a lot of different bands he get influence from. He likes bands like Morbid Angel, Slayer, Dark Throne, Emperor and Mastodon but also prog-rock bands like Camel, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and others. So when he writes the songs for Sulphur he gets a little influence from every aspect of the different bands and styles and mixes it into the sound and music Sulphur consist of.
It probably started as a happy accident, but now after two albums with this progressive approach, we feel that we have got something a little different than what many other bands are playing so we are happy with our own sound. We are aware that it is not the easiest music to listen to and many people may find it chaotic, but we hope they will try to give it a chance because the chaos in our music tend to get understandable after a couple of spins or so I have heard.

Lou: How do you achieve your sound? I particularly love the lead guitar tone in “Luna Noctiluca”.

Thomas: Well, beyond that above, I am not sure I can explain it very good. “Luna Noctiluca” is a quite different track from the rest on “Thorns in Existence”. It has a much more Rock’n roll approach to it. With the help of Eivind, (our other guitar player) and his lead guitar solos it makes it even more like a good old rock’n roll ballade but still with the groove that keeps it in the metal genre.
Eivind is a great guitar player and with his lead guitars and guitar solos it gives the album the little extra it needs to get more interesting. Everybody likes a great guitar solo;)

Lou: Which bands have influenced you?

Thomas: There are a lot of different bands that influence us and everyone in the band has their own favorites. For my own part I think Dissection is one of my favorites and that’s because Dissection is the first “Black metal” bands I ever heard. Other bands that I enjoy and have enjoyed over time are: Emperor, Satyricon, Windir, Finntroll and Taake to name some.
Before I started listening to Black metal I listened a lot to Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Pantera and Sepultura so there is probably some influence from them as well.

Photo by Andrea Chirulescu

Lou: What was the first album you ever bought? Do you still listen to it?

Thomas: My first album is hard to remember. Probably Guns N’ Roses “Appetite for destruction” or “Use your illusion 1″ and one can’t stop listening to any of those albums. My first Black metal album was as I said Dissection with “Storms of the lights bane” and that is one of my favorite album to this date so I still listen to that a lot.

Lou: Which bands are you listening to at the moment? What have been your favourite albums from 2011?

Thomas: Taake’s “Norges Vaapen” is the album that gets my rock-fot jogging for the time being. The “Kveld” EP is pretty damned good!! Gives me the goose-bumps to listen to the old songs recorded live in studio, so even though it is not a full length album it need mentioning. I also bought Einherjer’s “Norrøn” album some weeks ago and it to light the spark for me as well. Primordial’s newest is worth mentioning and the rest I probably forgot;)

Lou: “Thorns in Existence” has been out for while now. What has the reaction been like to it?

Thomas: Well, there is much split feelings about the album I think. From the reviews I have read there is much good, but also some that are not so good. The good ones praise the experimental and progressive sound we bring and that there is a feeling of something new in our music. They enjoy the good riffing and the guitar solos and the massive drum work throughout the album. And they like the variety the whole album gives, the balance between the fast, the heavy and the trashy.
The not so good reviews seems to be having a problem understanding the album. And as I said above, I think that they haven’t listen to the album enough times. The clue with our music is to get to know the riffs and the rhythmic changes to get a good understanding of each track. But of course, there are probably many people that simply don’t like what they hear.

Lou: Looking back on the album now, which tracks stand out the most for you?

Thomas: This is a hard one because many of the tracks are so different from each other. I think I would have to point out “Luna Noctiluca” since it is a much slower track with the rock’n roll feeling I told you about. It is also a track that I would say it’s a bit sad and beautiful in a way if I can say that without sounding weird And with that it differs from many of the other tracks that are more harsh, dirty and chaotic.

Lou: What are your favourite tracks to play live?

Thomas: Probably “Luna Noctiluca” here as well. The groove and the rock’n roll feeling makes it easy and fun to perform. “Into Nothingness” and “Ravner Beiter i Banesår” is also great ones to play. These tracks are not so fast and chaotic as many of the others and makes it easier for us to play and still have contact with the audience.

Lou: Do you have any plans to come over to the UK to play some shows? That would be awesome…

Thomas: No plans for that at this time. We are currently working with new material towards a new album so we don’t play so much live these days. But if someone would want to invite us over there in the future, we would be happy to show up and play your brains out.

Lou: Are there any lyrical themes running through “Thorns…”?

Thomas: No, not through the whole album. Some of the tracks are about the corruption of Christianity and their immoral ways to force their beliefs upon all and everybody. And there is tracks like “Luna Noctiluca” that is a tribute to the goddess of the moon. But mostly the anti-Christian theme.

Lou: Are there any lines or verses that you’re particular proud of?

Thomas: Here is another hard one but I think I would say this one from “Throne of Illusion”
“I’ll never beseech false redemption. I won’t fall into your self-destructive religious circus”

Lou: Where do you get inspiration from? Both in regards to music and lyrics…

Thomas: I think Øyvind gets his inspiration from listening to much different music and I hope he gets inspired by Angry Birds as well because he plays it a lot
For my part with the lyrics I get inspiration from reading books and some videogames. I also get inspiration just looking at the news sometimes, all this madness and catastrophe out there in this world makes it easy to write about destruction and insanity.

Lou: How would you say “Thorns in Existence” compares to “Cursed Madness”?

Thomas: The progressive approach and the weird programing and arrangement that show up in the different tracks can make a little comparison. The guitar solos and that there is one track in Norwegian on each album can also make comparison.
On “Cursed Madness” many of the tracks are old and from the two demos we recorded, but there were also some new ones we made right before we recorded the album. These new are more similar to the tracks on “Thorns in Existence” and made a more natural transition between the two albums.

Lou: I’d love to be able to hear your older material, so is it still possible to buy “Outburst of Desecration” or the “A Relic for the Damned” demo?

Thomas: “Outburst of Desecration” was released on a 7” vinyl through Osmose Productions, it looked like an old and worn out vinyl because the company printing it wasn’t very good at their job but it worked. It is probably for sale somewhere and maybe through Osmose Productions. You can also buy it at iTunes if you want it digital as well. The “A Relic for the Damned” demo is not for sale and I think I only know about some that may have a copy. It was only printed in a few copies and sent around to different labels when it was made.

Lou: It looks like most of you are involved with other projects – everything from other bands (Vulture Industries) and jewellery making – how do you find the time to do it all? How do you strike a balance?

Thomas: I work as a jeweller at a daily basis and have my own company “Astoroth Design” as a hobby where I can make a more suitable design for my own taste. I do this in the spare time in between everything else. When Vulture Industries are working with their stuff and travel on tour and such, I have a lot of time to work with my things and Sulphur is more or less on hold. When we work with Sulphur, I put Astoroth Design on hold and the Vulture Industries gears turns a little slower. So when we just balance it, we get time to do something extra even though it can be chaotic from time to time

Photo by Andrea Chirulescu

Lou: What’s next for Sulphur? Are there any plans for new material?

Thomas: We are currently writing and composing new material and hope to start recording in the first half of next year. But we’ll see. Things usually takes longer than planned in the end.

Lou: Do you have any messages for the readers of Loucifer Speaks?

Thomas: Greetings again and thanks for reading the interview. I hope all you who haven’t heard of Sulphur yet visit our facebook page at facebook.com/sulphurband and “Like” us. There are possibilities to listen to our music, buy merchandise or CDs at the bandpage or store on this page. Visit us on myspace at myspace.com/sulphur666 and become our friend there.
There is also the soundcloud page at soundcloud/sulphur-official if you just want to listen to our music.
If some of you want to check out my “Heathen and Dark Art Jewellery”, go to astorothdesign.no or facebook.com/astorothdesign and have a look.
Cheers and horns up to you all!!!

Thanks!

Lou: Thanks!

facebook.com/sulphurband
myspace.com/sulphur666
soundcloud/sulphur-official
astorothdesign.no
facebook.com/astorothdesign

In case you’re not familiar with the idea, Metalhead of the Month is a short and sweet interview with a different metalhead… every month. Simple really. If you would like to be interviewed in the future, please let a comment below.

Metalhead of the Month: Marcos

1. Which band first got you into metal?

Like most kids out there, specially in the early 90s, the first band to get me into metal was Metallica. My brother made me listen to their black album in 93, never looked back!

2. What was the first metal gig you ever went to?

First full on metal gig I ever attended was Therion, here in Canada in 2004. In Paraguay, where I was born and raised, it was a bit difficult to find a metal gig, specially in the area where I lived.

3. What are your Top 5 albums of all time?

Top five albums in no particular order: Opeth – Ghost Reveries, Opeth – Heritage, The Doors – The Doors, Nightwish – Angels Fall First, Sam Roberts – Chemical City.

4. What are your Top 5 albums of 2011 so far?

Top 5 albums of 2011: Opeth – Heritage, Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning, Pain of Salvation – Road Salt II, Anathema – We’re here because we’re here, Anathema – Falling Deeper.

5. What has been the most disappointing album of 2011 so far?

I haven’t really been disappointed this year so far with albums, but to be honest, I was only looking forward to a couple of new releases. I’ve been mostly concentrating my efforts on capturing and appreciating the roots of what I like.

6. What is the most embarrassing CD / MP3 in your music collection?

I’m not really embarrased by anything I own, musically speaking, but I guess some unusual stuff would include my AbbA records, some Julio Iglesias stuff, so on… but I don’t find it embarrassing to be honest.

7. Do you prefer CDs, MP3s or vinyl?

I prefer vinyl over CD, and CD over MP3. I love the experience of sitting down and actually listening to the music. And for that, nothing beats vinyl.

8. Can you play an instrument? If so, what?

I do play instruments.. I play mostly acoustic guitar and bass, but I can also play a decent electric guitar and keyboard.

9. Are you in a band?

I am! idillicah.com symphonic doom metal!

10. What’s the ‘metal scene’ like in your area? Where are you from? (Just a rough area will do… don’t need your full address, unless you want some new stalkers!)

Born in Paraguay, where the scene is limited but tremendously devoted, now living in Canada, where there is more public, but not as devoted, specially to local bands.

11. Which bands should we all be listening to? Please feel free to provide links!

Opeth. Period.

12. Which metal track should replace the national anthem (well, the national anthem of whichever country you happen to be in!)?

Metal will stand tall – The Poodles. Great fucking little tune!

13. Who is the best band on the planet?

Opeth. Tremendously talented, continually fresh.

14. Who is the worst band on the planet?

I don’t really know haha…

15. What was the last gig you went to?

Blacked out Hatred (local band), some months ago

16. What gig are you planning to go to next?

Opeth and Katatonia, Oct. 30th.

17. Can you tell us a random fact about yourself?

I used to play soccer in a semi-professional minor league.

18. What will bring about the zombie apocalypse?

I’d have to agree with Resident Evil. A pharmaceutical corporation.

19. Will they be fast zombies or slow zombies?

My hope is that they are slow, but they will probably be fast.

20. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you all, check out my band, check out Opeth, and may your hearts always pump heavy metal into your veins!

Thank yoooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Cheers, Lou!

Thanks Marcos!

If you would like to take part in this feature, just get chatting to us on the forum, Facebook, Twitter and / or Google+.

Lou: Greetings and salutions, thanks for agreeing to this interview! How are things in the world of The Furious Horde?

Awake: Pretty sky high at the moment, the whole Bloodstock/Metalcamp thing has knocked us for 6!!

Josiah: Awesome, if a little hectic! We’ve got a lot going on and a lot of planning to do to be ready to knock ‘em dead in Slovenia next year.

Lou: You describe your music as “Dark Symphonic Metal” – which bands have influenced you the most?

Awake: We all have pretty different tastes and that makes up the melting pot that is “The Horde”. I am the old boy in the band and grew up loving Bowie, Prince and late 80’s/90’s Hard Rock with bands like The Dan Reed Network and Danger Danger. I like big pompous bands/ artists ranging from Cradle, Dimmu, Manson, Rob Zombie right through to Lady Ga Ga and The Black Eyed Peas!!!!

Josiah: I am a major Queen fan, I guess that influences everything I do! But mostly I take musical inspiration from all over the shop. Cradle and Dimmu are a big influence and got me into the whole symphonic metal, but more recently I’ve drawn inspiration from a more diverse array of bands, from Lamb to Devin Townsend.

Ruptured Souls: I have extremely eclectic tastes, so I listen to a bit of everything. From classical, rock, metal, electronics, to extreme black and death metal. Of all the music I listen to though, black and death will always hold the strongest on my heart. Every song I have ever listened to has in some way influenced my work, I couldn’t put it to any specific bands. The Horde as a group may be compared to the likes of Dimmu Borgir, but no influence is ever considered or planned. The music we write is purely a natural happening when we five meet up.

Morti: My absolute favourite music genres are black, death and grind. Also, since I was a kid I’ve played video-games excessively, so a lot of my inspiration when writing comes from that. I always loved that the music would go with the image, environmental narrative and current state of the story…so just by listening, you could ‘see’ and ‘feel’ the situation.

Lazarus: Bands like; Dimmu borgir Darkthrone Mayhem Are my main musical influences, I love all music, I listen to black metal all the way through to death metal through to prog. And at the other end of the scale I love industrial, electro, trance and some noise. I also use my emotions and feelings to influence my rythms, mostly anger

Lou: What was the first album you ever bought? Do you still have it?

Lazarus: Gorillaz (self titled) and yup I still have it. I love that album, in fact I have all their albums.

Awake: The first significant album I bought was Bowie ‘Tonight’. I still have it although it was on vinyl but I also have it on iPod and CD so it still gets an airing.

Ruptured Souls: I started off listening to classical music when I was young, so I had lots of classical compilations. I think the first album I actually bought myself was Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds! I still have it, and still love it to bits.

Josiah: Queen’s first album. I still have it, along with almost their entire back catalogue of studio albums. Like I said, I’m a big fan.

Morti: The first album I actually bought myself was “Gore Obsessed” by Cannibal Corpse. I still have it!! And it still gives me a boner to this day.

Lou: Do you prefer CDs, MP3s or vinyl?

Awake: MP3s for general everyday but mainly CDs for the car although I use my iphone in my wife’s car.

Ruptured Souls: I agree, mp3s are extremely handy for everyday use, out and about. My ipod has around 30000 tracks, im my pocket, whenever I want them. I still buy CDs though, and download as little as possible. For some very special albums I do like to get the vinyl.

Lazarus: I prefer mp3, I buy the CDs if it’s an album that blows mind, but for the best part I download from iTunes

Josiah: CDs, although I’d probably be more of a fan of vinyl if my record player worked! I’m not big on MP3s, but then again I’m not a fan of smart phones, tablets, electronic book reading things, maps that talk to you… I haven’t got used to this century yet.

Morti: CDs are my favourite… I don’t have anything to play Vinyl on, and MP3′s feel ‘hollow’ to me compared to owning a physical copy. I love opening up a new CD and seeing all the artwork and reading the lyrics and any other notes in there. To be fair, I guess you can see the artwork online… but I like having it there in a material form.

Lou: Will we ever see a release from the Horde on vinyl?

Awake: I don’t reckon so, lets move with the times. I remember when all we had was vinyl and if you leave your stuff all over the floor like me they soon get ruined.

Josiah: I wouldn’t rule it out, there is much to be said for the rich tones that can be achieved through an analogue medium. That said, we have no plans at the moment to do so, but if the interest is there then maybe we could.

Lazarus: As much as I’d love to, I doubt it. But who knows? We played Bloodstock, I never thought we would have the opportunity to do something like that, it just goes to show that things that are unexpected can happen.

Ruptured Souls: I personally would love to have a vinyl release, but I’m not sure how they would sell today. If there’s a demand there in the future it’s possible.

Lou: Recently on the Loucifer Speaks forum, we have been discussing the relationship people have with music and most of us have come to the conclusion that if you own a physical version of an album you’re more likely to form a lasting attachment to it (I hope that doesn’t sound too weird or creepy!). What do you think? If it helps, here’s a link to our forum thread: louciferspeaks.com/phpBB3/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1278

Ruptured Souls: I fully agree. That’s why I buy so many CDs, and download as little as possible. Just to hold it, look at the artwork and read through the lyric book along with the songs – it really does become more memorable and special to you. Downloads are quick and easy, but it’s a medium for today’s throw away society. The Horde’s earlier material is available for free download due to it being a quick and easy way for fans to get them, but we always make physical copies. These have thus far been very limited (normally 100 copies) but we hope in the very near future to be able to release in much greater numbers. Those early limited versions will hopefully become very special indeed, and hopefully their owners will have a very strong lasting attachment to them!

Josiah: It’s interesting, I have been thinking on this subject for a while actually. We are physical beings, living in a physical world, and (zen movements aside) we like physical things. Virtual objects are, in a physical sense, not real. Therefore instinctively a CD is going to be more precious than a few files on a computer. More importantly though, CDs can’t be copied, moved, shared and replaced with the ease with which MP3s can. That makes the CDs more valuable on an emotional level.

Lazarus: Hmm that’s a good question, personally I have a real attachment to all music. The music for me is my life and soul so the material side of things such as owning the cd and booklet isnt that important to me. But I always think each to their own.

Lou: I probably should have asked this at the start of the interview, but hey… How long has the band been together and who is in the band?

Awake: The bands been together for about 7 years as The Furious Horde.
Members include
Ruptured Souls – Vocals and guitar
Lazarus – Drums
Mortiroth – Guitars
Josiah – Keyboards
Awake – Bass

Lou: What sort of things do you write about in your lyrics? Are there any particular lines/verses/choruses that really stand out as your favourites?

Ruptured Souls: The lyrics are mainly based in fantasy, and try to convey a larger concept, peppered with metaphors that hint at some very personal events and feelings. I’ve always kept these quite close to my chest.
From the Instigation EP, Dogma I is an attack on the lies of religion (not limited to christianity) and actually takes a number of lines directly from the bible. Nevermore is quite a personal one, but concerns emotional turmoil, attachment and death. I’d rather not say much more, but you can read into the metaphors as you wish. Possession may seem like a straightforward song about possession, but again, there is a metaphor to a deeper personal meaning. Our newest recording Cold and Grey explores the concept of being given the power to end the world by uttering a word. It looks at the characters indecision, weighing up the good and bad of the world. His misanthropy is obvious as he struggles for reasons not to say the word. So the lyrics are quite varied. I don’t really have any favorite parts… but I really enjoyed writing Incubator. This should be recorded in the near future. I really love the closing lines:
“Who would have thought?
That so much suffering can create such beauty,
Who would have known?
That such death could create this god?”

Lou: You have a very theatrical look – what is a Furious Horde show like?

Ruptured Souls: Theatrical is the right word. We moved away from the traditional black metal look and found more personal characters. We allow these characters to possess us and it becomes a dark, haunting pantomime.

Awake: Ultimately it’s 4 guys and 1 girl having a great time. We hope if the crowd see us enjoying ourselves, smiling and having fun they will too. Yes, our stage presence is Dark, theatrical and we dress up but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Ruptured Souls: Exactly. We play shows because we love it. I think that really comes across. I’m told ‘’m quite scary on stage… but I think that’s just me being, well, RupturedSouls…

Josiah: Actually I take myself very seriously. That’s why I don’t always play keys with my penis.

Morti: Yeah haha, just sometimes, Josiah!! I completely agree with the guys; it’s somewhere between becoming our own ‘characters’ and also having a great time. We’re serious about our music, but passionate about having fun with it.

Lazarus: For me performing the show is literally euphoric, I zone out, I stop being Patrick and become lazarus. I get so overwhelmingly angry (that’s why I play so hard and break so many cymbals) but on the other side of it you have the great people we are entertaining, seeing us make them move and join in our fury brings out the best in me, I love it.

Lou: Do you have any gigs coming up? Most importantly – for me anyway – do you have any in the London area?

Awake: We have a few shows lined up before the end of the year:
22nd Oct Club 85 in Hitchin
27th Oct Camden Rock
31st Oct Bull and Vic in Dartford
2nd Nov The Boston Music Rooms
8th Dec The Underworld Camden

Lou: Which songs have proved themselves to be particularly popular at your shows?

Awake: The song we always get asked to play if we leave it out is an old song ‘Devils Coachman’ I guess it’s because it is catchy and most know it as we made a video for it.

Ruptured Souls: It’s possibly our simplest song, but it has become an old fan favorite. Good to headbang too!
Our new track ‘Cold and Grey’ always goes down well and it’s one we love playing.

Lou: If you could tour with any band (whether they’re still active today or not), who would it be and why?

Awake: For me it would have to be Dimmu. They are at the top of their game and I believe our music would sit well with most of their fans.

Ruptured Souls: I think the same would go with Immortal.

Morti: OMG YES, YOU READ MY MIND! I would also say Immortal!! They are one of my ultimate favourite bands. I love their whole approach and attitude, and how they combine brutality and rawness with imagination and atmosphere! Metal and fun are two of my favourite things (I know! Totally ungrim, right?) but Immortal just hit the nail on the head for me! There’s also nothing else like watching them perform live… and we’d get to watch them the whole tour, hehehe!

Josiah: It would definitely have to be Lady Gaga, but only if I could borrow her entire wardrobe for my stage get-up. Although I suppose I could settle for Dimmu…

Lou: How excited are you about playing at MetalCamp next year? On a scale of 1 to 10…

Awake: 20!!!

Josiah: Completely off the scale, it’s so amazing to think that just next year we’ll be playing at such a huge festival!

Morti: I wake up every morning in a pool of my own excitement-induced vomit. Soooo… I’d say… more then 10!

Lou: The track “Cold and Grey” is still relatively new – what sort of feedback have you received about it? Obviously I love it… but I think you knew that already…

Awake: All our old fans love it and when we play it live it’s the sort of song that gets a crowds attention straight away. It’s been played on a few radio stations and the response has been great.

Ruptured Souls: A lot of people have said it’s a step in a far grander direction. It’s got a bit of everything – the sweeping epic chorus, the more cutting black metal on the verses, there’s something for everyone!

Morti: Yeah, people love it! We’re so pleased! I think we’ve reached a good balance with all the stuff that we love.

Lou: What was it like to play at Bloodstock?

Awake: Absolutely fantastic, the crowd response was cool. Spending the weekend with the rest of the guys helped to unite us even more as a band. We learnt a lot by the experience such as always taking our heads to ensure we get the guitar sound we want and despite a few cock ups, one big one on the last track, the show still went well and we loved it!!!

Ruptured Souls: The crowd were amazing – so many old faces, and so many new ones, all enjoying it just as much. That really meant a lot to us. The organization was professional and everything just felt right. It was an absolute honour!

Morti: I couldn’t agree more; it was just so exciting!

Lou: You managed to catch a piece of scum who was stealing from people’s tents at Bloodstock and I was wondering… If The Furious Horde were in charge of such things, what punishment should have been given to the thieving bastard?

Awake: I think what happened to his jeans couldn’t have gone better. He had to walk the whole way through the campsite with metal heads shouting at him with his jeans by his ankles. No one would pull them up for him… now that’s humiliation!!!

Ruptured Souls: Haha! Very true. I would have liked to have done so much more… but as far as I recall, torture and murder are still illegal in this country…

Morti: If I was in charge?! Everything would be freakin’ awesome! Punishment would have included being mutilated slowly in a manner of the most grotesque kind… while wearing an over-sized hat and listening to me talk about how cool and thrilling my day was. Failing that, I’d have used him as inspiration for a new album cover…

Lou: Now, onto a cheerier subject… Where can people buy your stuff from? I need a t-shirt

Ruptured Souls: We’ll always have gear at our shows and now…

Awake: We have a BigCartel store: thefurioushorde.bigcartel.com

Lou: What are The Furious Horde up to at the moment? Are you working on any new material or are you focusing on promoting the EP you released recently?

Awake: We are going to be gigging a lot, promoting the EP. We have plans for a video for ‘Cold and Grey’ which we are all excited about and are aiming to record a full album for release next summer.

Lou: Do you have any messages for the readers of Loucifer Speaks?

Awake: Spread the word about ‘The Horde’ and of course ‘Loucifer Speaks’. The work they do for the promotion of underground bands is huge!!!

facebook.com/TheFuriousHorde
myspace.com/thefurioushorde