Black Crow King Interview

1. Can you tell us a little about about the project Black Crow King for those that have never heard of you before?
It is a solo project that came into existence mid 2011 as a means for me to explore very personal beliefs, interests and emotions. At the time I was making really harsh hate filled rage fuelled extreme electronic music that was not suitable to explore some of my other interests so Black Crow King came into existence.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
The bastard offspring of Extreme Doom, Death Industrial, Black Metal and Dark Ambient. Think along the lines of Khanate meets Gnaw Their Tongues with some harsh electronics and black atmospherics thrown in for good measure

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that you explore with the music?
On 'To Pay The Debt Of Nature' there is a central theme to the album, namely death but each song also explores it's own separate theme. 'I, Crow' is an exploration and homage to crows in the role they play in the natural the supernatural and occult worlds. 'The Shadow Falls' is a philosophic discussion on nihilism, misanthropy and death. In 'Vengeance' I think the title says as much as you need to know, 'Grotesque Existence' explores the grotesque nature of humanity and how the one is neglible to the many and how we as a race have become Grotesque i.e. no longer a part of the natural world and nature. 'Crowbait' is pure misanthropy and malevolence and the final track 'Excarnation Ritual' explores my interest in the funeral practice of excarnation, this is an ancient practice linked with pagan beliefs in which the deceased persons corpse was left out in the open, most commonly on a platform, as an offering to nature in the form of crows and other carrion feeding birds. The crows / vultures acted as carriers for the soul to be taken to the afterlife.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Black Crow King?
I have a deep seated interest in crows and there supernatural role, they are viewed as the bringers and companions of death in virtually every culture, so to me the king of the crows would be death himself and that is what inspired the name. There is also a character that features in the lyrics of some of my songs that I call Crowlord - this too is a personification of death. Incidentally the album title itself is a euphemism for death.

5. The album came out on badGod music, how do you feel they have helped with spreading and supporting your music so far?
badGod Music has been wonderful, Dave has supported me from the day he first heard Black Crow King and has been tireless in his efforts to promote the band however he is able to, he does it for the love of the music and supports the bands 100%. Any artist would be lucky to be signed by the label.

6. Do you have any other musical projects besides Black Crow King?
Yes but that is a conversation for another day.

7. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
I have already started work on the follow up album, the songs will still be long but for this release will follow a more structured sound and I am using a heavier guitar sound but all the other experimental elements will still remain - BCK will never be 'another run of the mill doom band', if I ever feel that is happening I will scrap the project.

8. What are some bands or musical styles that have inflenced your music?
Khanate, Electric Wizard, Burning Witch, Eagle Twin, Gnaw Their Tongues, Anaal Nathrakh, Prurient, Whitehouse, MZ.412 and N.D.E

9. Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?
Satanism does not play any role but the occult does. My interests lie in the more primal forms of paganism and the primal deities.

10. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thank you for your great review and for the opportunity to do this interview and I hope that the more adventurous people will go out and buy and enjoy the album in all it's ugly depraved beauty.


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Regards
Corvus
Black Crow King
www.myspace.com/black.crow.king