INTERVIEWS: Evilness Darkness (France)

[Interview by Salvaje]

Experimental Noise/Dark Ambient from France. Evilness Darkness is Cadavre. Only death & darkness are real…

Greetings! Who is behind Evilness Darkness? Introduce more about yourself?

Hails. I am the one behind the project. I have created it about 1 month ago to spread the plague, and to express myself to purge my hatred and my decay.

How have you found Evilness Darkness? What are the main ideas and motives of this project?

Evilness Darkness for the Evil, the vermin and the obscurity inside me, all simply. The main ideas are hate, torture, solitude, abandon, horror, human’s decadence, madness… And to transcribe this musically.

Please define and describe well the genres presented by Evilness Darkness? Who has influenced and inspired you?

This project is a blent with Dark Ambient and Noise with the hatred of Black Metal about the vocals. My inspirations are mostly horror movies, some pianists for the Dark Ambient parts. My band is totally outside dogmas I guess but as influence I would to say projets from Black Legions as Amaka Hahina, Torture, Moëvöt or Aäkon Këëtrëh.

Share a little about your composing and recording process? What instruments, equipment and software have you used?

I just use a guitar, a mic, a lot of samples and a software named Audacity. I assemble tracks, mix them, add vocals, whispers and samples to transcribe something really special, create an insane atmosphere and a macabre ambience.

What are the messages you have conveyed through your workpieces?

The aim is to retranscribe the Hell that I feel, and to express myself entirely in a musical project.

You have released some great material under the banner of Evilness Darkness. Please select some of the best and state why?

Each release is very different, sincerely I have no preference…

What is your view on the acceptance of listeners on the genre of music that you deliver?

It is not in the optics of pleasing, I make sound above all for myself.

What are your plans for next recordings and future releases of Evilness Darkness?

My plans are to re-cover this world with blackness, again and again.

I have figured out that you are also the admin for Only Black Metal facebook pages & youtube channel. What are the purposes?

Indeed. OBM is a channel dedicated to Underground Black Metal for his perseverance. To allow bands / artist labels to have an audience, because most people wanting to discover a song, an album or a group listen to it on this platform. To keep myself busy, to share a passion, to bring a culture longer as I can, and because I like making videos. Not with a view to being appreciated but to bring Black Metal Underground to life as best I can.

Final words are yours? Thanks!

Thanks for your interest and good continuation with your webzine.

midgardovhell@gmail.com

INTERVIEWS: Suriyakat (Thailand)

[Interview by Negrura]

Based in Bangkok - Thailand, Suriyakat is a one-man band of Dark Folk / Ambient project which combines the aura of Atmospheric Black Metal and Siamese & Buddhist identity. The band released debut album “Mon Pry” in 2018 and an EP “Jatumaharachika” in 2019. After the following conversation was completed, Suriyakat unleashed a new album, the second full-length entitled “Avorn” on September 10, 2021. Check it out!

Hail! Please introduce yourself who talked on behalf of Suriyakat?

Hail! Himnos Rituales Fanzine, I’m Suriyakat and use this name instead of myself to create these music, and I’m also a vocalist of Lotus Of Darkness (Folk Black Metal).

What encouraged you to form Suriyakat? Tell us further about the band history?

First time I used to form a Black Metal band name’s “Mourning Ritual” that released 1 EP album (Mourn EP in 2017) and I realized that it wasn’t suitable for me. I like Thai folk music but I don’t have any basic ability in playing any musical instrument so I started learning to play “Phin” (Thai northeastern lute that resembles a guitar with three strings) with a simple way to play.

Of course it started from there. I really wanted to create something different from what I used to do. Something new that even I don’t even know I bringing up stories of beliefs that are deeply rooted in the old culture that is overlooked by modern day people. I choose to present it in a melody that I have never done before. With the concept of communicating with the atmosphere, emotion and feeling as the main theme and incorporating Thai identity until “Mon Pry” first album is done, it’s the first album I’ve been experimenting with.

Please interpret in details about your musical style and what kind of bands influenced you, musically and soundwise?

At first, I didn’t even define my music as because I didn’t want it to be a violent song. It can be on the metal shelf or not in your home, it was a combination of Synth, Dark Ambient and the shameful folk music with a touch of Atmospheric Black Metal to make it darker, so I didn’t define my music as any of the lines. But the people who call my theme Dark Folk Ambient Atmospheric Black Metal are usually my friends and fans of first album, and I think it’s a good idea to call it that. Music influences other than Black Metal have recently been influenced by local Thai music in the East and North, and a variety of natural sounds to me have deep spiritual implications for the deep-rooted civilization, so I’ve learned to experiment with ambient and compositional music, and I’ve had many experiences working with Lotus Of Darkness. They can also apply new knowledge to their next album.

Elaborate more on your lyrical writings and the messages you want to express?

I picked up a story about black magic, superstition, which is the ancient people belief that has been blended in Buddhism since the primordial time, which is overlooked but closer than most people would ever know. In “Mon Pry”, each song’s story, it’s about the action, samsara, the beginning and the end, and “Jatumaharachika” EP I picked up a story about faith in the heaven realm, belief, but it still talks about faith and the spirit that the Thai people worship, so I concluded that the content of the song I wrote often tells stories about faith and spirit.

Provide some information about your EP “Jatumaharachika” (August 15, 2019); compositional process, recordings, final production, etc?

This EP album is a tale of Thai folklore about heaven, which I intend to present from “Mon Pry” as an extension of what I didn’t tell in “Mon Pry”. So it’s the white side of “Mon Pry”, as it’s the other side of the samsara.

In this album, another step forward as I’ve taken to develop a better instrument (“Mon Pry” was recorded with a Smartphone) I’ve learned a lot more about both the concept and the writing of poetry, music, although it’s not that far from the original point, but it shows the pros and cons of each step of the work until the end of the album. It’s a lesson before we go to the next album.

Are there any specific ideas you put in this “Jatumaharachika” EP?

The real meaning is, “Even if you go to heaven with a false penance, you can’t get away from lustful desires”. It reflects the belief in pilgrimage to get to be something in heaven after death rather than seeking for ending the samsara. That is what I want to communicate.

Do you still have any comments about your first album, “Mon Pry” (March 15, 2018)?

I think it’s a small phenomenon. I’m always proud of the beginning of my first step. It’s not a great album, but for me it was the first book that allowed me to write a secret story that I’ve never told.

Where do you get the artworks for frontcover of your releases?

“Mon Pry”, I got a friend of mine who used the pen name Hemarach. “Jatumaharachika” EP drawn by a skilled art teacher named Romchat Rungkamjad. She is very skilled.

Anything confirmed for the next products? What can we expect for your new works?

The next album already finished. And there are plans to be announced in this 2021. Honestly, I don’t want anyone to expect too much, but I can tell you that it will definitely evolve from the first 2 album for sure. When the time comes, you’ll be listening to it soon. I would like to keep this answer a secret.

Salutant Suriyakat. May success be with you! Some of your last words?

Thank you Himnos Rituales Fanzine for giving me the honor of interviewing me this time. And thank you to all supporters. May success be with you too.

semew.lst@gmail.com

INTERVIEWS: Winter Lantern (USA)

[Interview by Negrura]

Winter Lantern is a one-woman vampyric / raw satanic black metal from the depths of the tortured heart! Based in Greensboro - North Carolina (USA), the band has released some great demos and stuffs since it was formed. Here Carmilla II Dracul explains everything…

Hails Carmilla II Dracul. Would you please introduce something about yourself?

Hails! Well as you know I am the lone wampyre behind the raw black metal project Winter Lantern, and I’m fully dedicated to infecting North Carolina with the raw underground black metal plague! 

What encouraged and inspired you to form Winter Lantern? Tell us more about the band history?

I had wanted to make black metal for a long time, but it had felt kind of out of reach, like something I couldn’t really accomplish myself. That is, until around October of last year. I grew tired of waiting on bandmates in other projects and decided that I must at all costs release something, which is how the first demo came about. I was never planning to do any more than that but the attention that release got was really encouraging, so I kept on going and here we are.

Are you comfortable and confident to work as a one-woman-band?

Making music by myself is definitely the most comfortable and stress-free way for me, but the quality of the music must come before my own comfort, so I’m excited to announce that I’m adding a drummer and a bassist to the lineup. This will surely mark an improvement in the way forward.

Please conclude more about your music genre in Winter Lantern and state some examples of bands that really influenced you?

I’ve always considered Winter Lantern to be a pretty orthodox raw black metal band, with some light ambient and dungeon synth elements. I listen to so much black metal, it’d be hard to give a complete list of my influences. Off of the top of my head to list, say, five, Grausamkeit, Vampirska, Sargeist, Phantom Spire, and Mutiilation have all had colossal influence on my musical direction. These are all bands and artists I listen to nearly every day and am still blown away by. I take quite a bit of influence from ambient and folk music too, particularly the french drone duo Natural Snow Buildings had a huge influence on my style of composition and guitar playing. I’m also heavily influenced by music from video games, but I try to downplay that haha.

Elaborate more on the lyrical concept and message you want to convey through Winter Lantern?

The lyrics of Winter Lantern are kept secret, but the concept is to express at once the sadness and the malevolence of the vampire. Lyrics often delve into romantic and sorrowful subject matter, but are spit with hatred. I want to balance the figure of the vampire as the byronic, tragic figure with the idea of the vampire as a bloodthirsty, inhuman monster.

Provide some important information as well as your personal quote for each of the following releases:

(i) “Torturous Howls Beneath Blood Banners” (October 2020)

Torturous Howls beneath Blood Banners was interesting to make, as I was homeless at the time of recording. I didn’t have access to a guitar or any equipment, so that demo is compiled like Frankenstein’s monster from disparate riffs I had left over on my computer from other projects. The wind sounds between tracks were added because I was listening to a lot of Paysage D'hiver at the time, and I definitely overdid it, they go on for way too fuckin long. I didn’t at all know what I was doing, but I’m still proud of it.

(ii) “A Pale and Haunting Moon” (February 2021)

A Pale and Haunting Moon is where it really all came together. I had just moved into a new apartment and gotten my guitar back, and by pure coincidence I also contracted Covid-19 at the same time. It was the perfect opportunity to sequester myself and be fully dedicated to the music! From recording the first note to publishing the album on bandcamp the whole process took about four days, and I’m enormously proud of the result, I think the urgency of the recording really comes through. This is also where I fully delved into the vampyric aspect of the band, as all of the lyrics on the demo deal with matters of the undead. “in moonlight inscribe the black sign, the lights above the cemetery call, to leave my coffin through rotting skin”.

(iii) “Festering Vampirism” (July 2021)

Festering Vampirism I think is more reminiscent of the first demo in sound. It’s a little slower, a little more brooding and atmospheric. It took me forever to get started on, but once recording began it went by very quickly. There’s more of a focus on atmosphere here than riffs, and I think it works out really well.

(iv) Winter Lantern / Possession Cult - Split (September 2021)

The tracks for the split were actually recorded all the way back around March. They definitely took a lot longer than everything else, but I think my half of the split is my best material so far. Nastros from Possession Cult has become a dear friend through the process of putting this one together, so I definitely think of it very fondly. The lyrics here actually don’t deal much with vampires. The House at the Heart of the Wood is about a ghost encounter I had as a child, and The Hanged Man Rotting on the Clock Tower (the best Winter Lantern song so far in my opinion) deals with cosmic horror and the existential dread of human insignificance.

Winter Lantern has also participated in a compilation titled “Underground Ritual Vol.1” (June 2021). Tell me something about this release? Do you want to be involved in more compilations in the future?

I’m super proud to be on that compilation. Pesten of Tundra initially reached out to me about it, and initially I didn’t grasp the significance or enormity of the compilation, but damn there’s so many sick bands on there. Hails forever to true underground black metal! I would be glad to appear on more compilations in the future.

How do you see Winter Lantern progress (musically, soundwise, etc) from one release to another?

From release to release my goal is always to grow and expand as an artist, with A Pale and Haunting Moon I was aiming to get faster and crueler, and with Festering Vampirism I wanted to get darker and more atmospheric. I’m always aiming to do something I’ve never done before. Specifically I’m trying to move into tighter songwriting and album structuring, really making every second count.

Anything confirmed for the next releases? What can we expect for your new works?

Yes! I’m working on a new EP, hopefully to release around Halloween. It’ll be the first Winter Lantern release to have live drums and bass, so it’s a significant release for sure. After that I’ll be moving into working on the debut full length album, either late this year or early next year.

I see there is a side-project of yours called Bloodbells Chime which has released “Forlorn Seas” Demo 2021. Tell us about Bloodbells Chime and what are its specialties?

Bloodbells Chime is a project I’m really excited about. It happened simply because Poppet is a good friend of mine and we’ve been wanting to work together for a long time. I would say the main difference with Bloodbells Chime is the focus on a more magickal and dreamlike atmosphere, which definitely comes on her end. We’re planning to record a second demo soon, she’s an absolute pleasure to work with.

What is Black Metal from your perspective?

If black metal is one thing it’s underground! Of course there’s a million shitty trendy bands calling themselves black metal while they play lame mainstream indie rock or whatever, but true black metal is nothing but underground, ritualistic self expression. It is only for those who really get it.

Salutant Winter Lantern. May success be with you! Some of your last words?

Thank you for your interest, and all glory to the underground! Look forward to more Winter Lantern soon.

winterlanternbm@gmail.com

INTERVIEWS: Tanak Bihis (Malaysia)

[Interview by Salvaje]

When Tanak Bihis first emerged into the metal scene in 2015, it was nothing but a side-project to stray away from the usual malarkey. Upon releasing few records and tracks over the years, Tanak Bihis became more of a serious act than just a project. Thus, taking its form today as one of Malaysia’s DSBM artists.

Hail! Who is behind Tanak Bihis? Introduce more about yourself?

Tanak Bihis is a one-man depressive suicidal black metal band started back in 2015 in Kuching, Sarawak (EAST MALAYSIA) as a side-project to stray away from the usual thrash scene I was involved in. Tanak Bihis was a gateway for me to express myself without concerning or having contradicting ideas with bandmates and others. In the early days I began writing raw black metal stuff and had released a demo in 2015 itself titled “Jeran Nuju Bala Iblis” which was sadly produced in extremely limited numbers.

Tell us the history of the band? Explain the meaning of the name Tanak Bihis?

Tanak Bihis became more of a serious band rather than a side-project after the release of the studio recorded single “Hear Me No More” in 2017. At that point I knew the direction I was heading to with Tanak Bihis and this was when I discovered DSBM drawing influences from great names such as Happy Days, Xathrites, None, Thy Light and also adding a tinge of inspiration from old Burzum. “Hear Me No More” was the transition for Tanak Bihis from typical raw black metal and towards a more depressive style of black metal. The name TANAK BIHIS literally means BLACK SOIL in my native Bidayuh Serian language.

Why do you want to act as a one-man project instead of as a full band?

Like I said, working alone for me has always been pushing my creativity and ideas to the limit and I felt free in terms of expression and songwritings. I won’t have to be in arguments, chasing release dates and just getting that pressure off is awesome. I prefer working alone for Tanak Bihis.

Please describe Depressive Suicidal Black Metal the way of Tanak Bihis and who influenced you musically?

DSBM to me when I first heard of it was pure sorrow, sadness and outright depressive. I started off with Happy Days and I was hooked on the style that they’ve made. So I wanted to write depressive stuff and turned out adding in my own style instead. In recent releases I have always been trying to put more effort in creating my own brand of DSBM and less on trying to copy others. So I would say Tanak Bihis is clinging onto its own DSBM branch and not just a copy of other artists I don’t think.

Define the concept of your lyrics and the topic / subject you have written?

My inspiration in writing for Tanak Bihis was mainly on depression, self-hate, suicide and mental disorders. These are the hurtful and horrific realities amongst us that we refuse to do something about. So I am here to prove that mental illness and depression is not a joke and it does KILL.

Share some important information about the latest releases and new recordings from Tanak Bihis?

You can follow Tanak Bihis on Instagram (@tanakbihis) and Youtube (Tanak Bihis Channel) for more updates. Quick flashback, Tanak Bihis had just released an official music video for “Unceremonious Burial” on Youtube in December 2020. The track also made its way to Spotify and Amazon this year and you can check them out! Speaking of newer releases, I have no comments on this at least for now due to few delays, but nevertheless there will be another new record so stay tuned.

Are you satisfied with the quality of your workpieces over the years?

Tanak Bihis started as a raw black metal act and it sounded shitty as hell but I was grateful that it helped Tanak Bihis get noticed among the lads within the local scene at the time. As for the new stuff, I tried making Tanak Bihis sound more mature and as polished as I possibly could. I mean if you had the chance to improve why won’t you take it right? Haha!

Tell us briefly a few things about the previous Tanak Bihis demo releases?

I wanted to write about demons, evil, witches and bestial sex and shit. And so I did with the first demo. However, that was short-lived when I felt like I wasn’t doing anything unique. Everyone wanted to talk about demons and Satanism so I decided to not do what others have done abundantly. So I turned to DSBM instead and it went amazing. I have found a sound for Tanak Bihis to attach itself to.

What are Tanak Bihis’ future goals and what are your hopes for the band?

I have always seen Tanak Bihis as one of the few driving forces for the local DSBM scene here in Malaysia. A great respect to fellow DSBM artist Sial from Malaysia! And not forgetting those new seeds emerging after the birth of Tanak Bihis with bands like Serenity and Fear Ov Existence. I am honored and never have I expected to inspire new generations to start doing what they love. Much respect!

Final words are yours? Thanks.

Final words? I, David Dean (Lord Blacksoil) from Tanak Bihis would like to thank each and everyone of those who have been supporting me since the very start. To those who were involved in recordings, writings, photoshoots, videography and promotion of Tanak Bihis, you know who you are and thank you very much for the endless effort. I would also like to thank the fans and followers for showing a great deal of feedback for “Unceremonious Burial” recently! I never expected that song would be another milestone in the history of Tanak Bihis so here’s a million huge black metal THANK YOU to all of you! To those who are reading this article, you are now part of Tanak Bihis. Hails and cheers from the dark depressive black soils of Sarawak!

tanakbihis@gmail.com

INTERVIEWS: Voidhra (Germany)

[Interview by Salvaje]

Misanthropic Black Metal from the stone grind shores of South Germany. Voidhra was born as a one man Black Metal band in the beginning of 2021 – whereas the idea itself has been blazing beneath the surface for quite some while. All songs, lyrics, recording and production are done by Chris Horseblood and some constructs reach back for a decade at least. So set the swarm free… this is Voidhra.

Chris Horseblood… introduce something about yourself?

Hello, I am Chris Horseblood and the man behind Voidhra. I have been making music for the last 23 years and started getting into music production myself about 3 years ago. My main instrument is the guitar and I am mainly autodidact.

How have you found Voidhra? What are the ideas behind this band?

Well, I guess that it was the other way round and Voidhra found me. Voidhra is a one man black metal band at the moment. I have been making music and particularly black metal for over the last decade. Over the past years I had quite a rough time in my life and Voidhra was my valve to release my inner anger, hatred and frustration in creative musical form into the world. Voidhra became my darkest voice so to say.

Please describe more about your musicstyle and the main influences?

I describe the musicstlye as guitar driven black metal conjured into a strenghtened production. That means that I put a lot of focus on the guitar work and the riffs and I am trying to give my best for a grim and cold production which is powerful at the same time. Scandinavian black metal bands of the second wave had big influence on me but also some death metal bands. Musically this would be Immortal and Dissection for example.

What sort of topics and messages were written in your lyrics?

As mentioned beforehand Voidhra deals with topics that I also deal with in my personal life such as loss, despair, hopelessness and misanthropy.

Explain further about your debut release, “Sorrow Guides Us All”?

The debut “Sorrow Guides Us All” is a 6 track album that will be released in October 2021 over The Crawling Chaos Records. I have been working on the album for about nine months now and the mixing and mastering is almost done. The tracks on the full length album vary from headbanging mid tempo black metal to neckbraking fast blast-beat pieces. I am very satisfied with the result to create an album with that athmosphere and details.

Regarding the EP-album, did everything turn out as you planned and expected?

Well yes, the EP was one station on the way to the album. It was all a process of creating music and getting forward with it.

How did Crawling Chaos Records get interested in releasing the material?

I sent the EP to Crawling Chaos Records and he got in touch with me and he apparently liked the material. We wrote quite some mails and talked about everything very openly, which I do respect a lot. Finally both sides decided that we take this path together and release the album in October.

What does the future of Voidhra look like?

The main focus is the release of the album right now. There is still quite some work to do and I am some kind of perfectionist, which is a curse and blessing at the same time. After the release is before the release…so I am going to write new material. There are also plans to bring Voidhra to life on stage. I am in contact with very talented musicians and we will see how this figures out. So I am very excited what the next months will bring.

What are your opinions about the present scene and music of Black Metal?

There are some really talented bands and projects out there so it is really worth to keep your eyes open and listen to demos and albums from the underground and lesser known bands.

Final words are yours? Thanks.

I thank you. Go and get a listen to “Sorrow Guides Us All” which releases in late October. And if you like it consider getting the album, following Voidhra or just reach out to us. Voidhra is grateful for every support.

voidhra@gmx.net