Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Yes, of course, we are currently in a creative phase, working on new songs! As for upcoming shows, we have a few planned in the next months, abroad in Germany and Belgium but also in our area.
Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?
Our way of composing songs has been refined since the release of our EP. Musically “No Light Has No Shadow” is more intense and darker. We looked deep in our guts in order to best express it through our music. This album leans more towards the Sludge and Post Black style, unlike our EP which combined more Stoner and Doom influences.
A lot of the band members have also participated in black and death metal bands but with this group go for more of a blackened sludge metal direction, do you feel having a background playing different genres makes you music stand out a lot of more?
True, having musicians from different backgrounds allows us to explore more deeply and reach a wider range of listeners. It also helps us create atmospheres and textures blending different styles. We particularly received a lot of positive feedback regarding the mix between Black Metal and Sludge influences. This can create atmospheres that are both heavy and threatening, add to that nebulous melodies and you can build a sonic experience that envelops the listeners.
What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
We drew inspiration from local history but also from human emotions. Concerning the local historical dimension, one event in particular touched us. It’s the annihilation of a local hamlet by the Black Death which ravaged our lands long ago. The hamlet in question was called “Le Végenand”, our band name is directly inspired by it as well as many of our lyrics. The themes of death and loss are very present in the album. Some songs are more focused on human suffering, depression and the specter of death that floats among the living.
Concerning our songwriting process, it has been refined over time. We learned to better combine our different musical influences, allowing us to create an immersive album that is more focused than our first EP. The latter was called “Experimental Brew” because at that time we were still in a discovering / experimental process. With 'No Light Has No Shadow', we worked more deeply on our musical approach and found a sound that more closely resembled our own. Working more regularly and assiduously has developed new skills in all the members. The process is becoming more refined and more in tune with our respective experiences, enabling us to convey our condition as best we can and share an even more immersive and authentic experience with our audience.
Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The artwork on our album cover was created by the talented Inken Stabell whom we discovered on Instagram. You can see observe a silhouette standing in the immensity of the mountains that surrounds him. Alone in the middle of this desolate landscape, this silhouette symbolizes the doubts and the loneliness that we all sometimes have to face.
Out of all the shows the band has played so far, which one stands out the most?
Of course! One show in particular comes to mind. We played in August in the PALP Festival. It’s a festival in our area that is kind of specializing in the Stoner – Doom and Psychedelic Rock scene. It was an incredible experience for us, to be able to plan in this festival that we had been attending as spectators for several years. In addition, being able to play outdoors in the mountains makes it an almost mystical experience ahah!
Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
We haven’t currently planned a release party for the album. However, we will be performing the album as part of the “Argonauta Fest”, organized by our label Argonauta Records. The shows are scheduled on November 17th and 18th, respectively in Ghent (Belgium) and in Eisenhüttenstadt (Germany). We’re really looking forward to share the songs on stage with the public and our fellow friends from Argonauta Records.
On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black. sludge and doom metal?
It's not a simple question. It's clear that by mixing several influences, you expose yourself to a lot more criticism, positive or negative, from your audience. Above all, we want to offer something innovative, authentic and, above all, something that suits us. We regularly rub shoulders with all the different styles you mentioned, and I honestly think that people are receptive to this kind of concept. Personally, I'm extremely eclectic and I find this approach nourishing and enriching. But there's no doubt that for the purists, it's different, our style is less appreciated, but we're also aware that we can't please everyone. Overall, the feedback has been very positive about our choice of design, and we'll continue in this vein.
Recently one of the band members released a solo album under the name ' Félonie', can you tell us a little bit more about this solo project?
Yes! It’s the side-project of Marc, our rhythm guitarist and co-singer. Félonie is a one-man black metal band that he created at the end of 2022. To quote him:
“You know, the band songwriting process can be a bit tricky, it’s often a matter of compromise, especially when our respective horizons are so eclectic. Some guitar riffs were perhaps too much black metal or too many blast-beats for the direction we wanted to take with Wizards of Wiznan. I then said to myself, why not create a dedicated project for that kind of songs? And Félonie was born. It was also an great opportunity to bring music to some of my lyrics, all written in French. The album, named “De Sève et Sang” (Of Sap and Blood) draws inspiration from local history, tales and legends. Release date: October 13th through Aural Music / Code 666!”
Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Following the latest discussions we've had, our aim is to preserve this richness and its influences. Apart from the styles mentioned in your questions, we still have a huge number of external influences that we could incorporate into our compositional process. I don't think we want to impose any limits on ourselves, but the guiding principle for the future is to continue to perfect our style and find an even more intense harmony in the conception of an album. We want to offer an even more immersive experience for the listener and develop a raw, violent and coherent style that allows the natural expression of our condition through our music.
What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are listening to nowadays?
Here's a list of the current state of play:
-Gaerea, Colour Haze, Mantar, Aset, King Buffalo, Amelie Lens, Aorlac, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Sleep Token, Amenra, Amon Amarth, OM, Dissection, Alcest
That says a lot about the direction our compositions are going to take... We'll let you be the judge.
Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
To begin with, we'd like to thank you for the time and opportunity you've given us, and we're very grateful.
And to conclude, it's important for us to value our music and share it with everyone. It's through music that we transcend our condition and give the best version of ourselves.
Thank you.
Marc and Ludovic WoW
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