Versatile Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

Famine : We have focused all our energy on promoting our new album after having the opportunity to sign a new partnership with the French label "Les Acteurs de l'Ombre." While waiting for the release scheduled for April 11, 2025, several new updates will continue to appear on our social media. In parallel, we have also participated in several concerts and festivals, including the Apocalypse Metal Fest 2024 in France alongside Seth, Ten56 and Crisix, and “Traumatica - Festival of Fear” held in the heart of Europa Park in Germany, which welcomes thousands of people every day. 

2.In April you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous ep ?

Famine : We wanted to explore our universe further and the characters of our fictional world called "l'Envers" in French. In the beginning, the EP has been our first business card to share within our networks. The idea was to showcase several directions in each track that we were already ready to embrace and explore further in the future. Today, with the album, our roots still being black metal and electronic music, we’ve expanded into several new sounds, highlighting genres like symphonic music, deathcore, death metal, and more. We also decided to increase the BPM to play more intense tracks during our shows, without wanting to make mid-tempo exclusively part of our approach. Everyone in the band felt the need to create more powerful compositions. Each track can be considered a single, as it also brings its own theme and unique sounds between cathedral bells, gas mask breaths, harpsichord & more.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

Hatred: The main idea is to tell stories and transport the listener into a fictional universe of our own creation. Despite the fantastical aspect, there are underlying themes that address topics such as alterity, monstrosity and alienation, identity and individuality, exaggeration, vices, social classes, and the endless cycle of destruction and creation.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Versatile'?

Hatred: The name Versatile is directly taken from our eponymous track. It refers to a shapeshifting creature capable of taking on the features of other individuals. As it transforms over and over, it forgets its original identity and drowns in solitude when no one is there to look at it.

Once again, the fantastical creature serves as an allegory, representing manipulative individuals who can adapt their image to suit their victims.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?

Hatred: The album begins with the end of one world, giving way to the emergence of the universe in which our characters evolve.

The artwork depicts this cataclysm, the final moment before the fall. The cathedral we see is on the verge of annihilation, and with it, every memory of its dogma and the old world

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the masks the band members wear in the promo pictures?

Famine : In a few words, Famine is a wild, cannibalistic beast with an insatiable hunger. His fate leads him to devour all forms of life, leaving nothing behind. Starting from these origins, I wanted to create a filthy and bloodthirsty character, barefoot, wearing only vague black cloths wrapping his form. Today, I draw more inspiration from Aztec culture, particularly from the god "Mictlantecuhtli". He is often depicted with a feathered adornment, symbols of his high status, and tribal pendants made of human remains or bones. I would like to deepen my inspiration in this culture, which is rarely represented in the metal world. On a personal level, I’m beginning to believe that I’ve come to represent all my repressed anger and disgust in the creation of my character. I’m a zen guy, I’ve gotten into the habit of repressing my primitive impulses a lot. 

Cinis : The costume we wear are integral to our identity as a band and to the character I portray, Cinis, the Priestess of Ashes. My headpiece is designed with cathedral-inspired elements, which evoke a sense of the sacred and the mysterious, reflecting the religious undertones of our music and themes. The mask itself, crafted by the same designer, adds an additional layer of intrigue. It’s a symbol of the enigma surrounding our music and characters. The mystery of the mask invites our audience to interpret the persona we present, allowing them to engage with our art on a deeper level. In addition to the mask, my outfit includes a long black cape adorned with skull shoulder pads, emphasizing a gothic aesthetic that complements the darker themes of our music. This entire look combining elements of the sacred and the macabre embodies the essence of Versatile and helps to create a captivating atmosphere during our performances.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Famine : Personally, “La Fête de la Musique 2024” in Geneva was a very positive and surprising experience—I had an absolute blast. Even before the concert began, it was the first time the audience was shouting our name during our line check on stage before we even started playing. The tension was palpable, and the atmosphere was very electric. It only took a few minutes to put everyone into a trance state , and those moments will always be very precious to me when such beautiful synergy is created between the artist and the audience.

Just like our compositions, we are committed to enhancing the immersion of our universe both musically and visually during our stage performance. Each of us portrays our own character, moving and communicating with the audience in this way. For example, you'll always see me hitting my chest and head with my fist, while stomping brutally on the floor with my foot. We are also supported by several visual elements, including lighting effects, smoke, and pyrotechnic effects

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Famine : At this moment, we have planned a big event for the release of our upcoming album on April 26th in our hometown of Geneva, alongside "Morgarten" (Epic Black Metal) and "De l'Abîme Naît l'Aube" (Ritualistic Post Metal). This evening is exclusive because we will play the full tracklist, keeping some new visual surprises under wraps. Since we recently signed with our new French label, "Les Acteurs de l'Ombre," we are collaborating with them to promote the album. We will also participate  on May 2  in the "Rituel Noir" festival in France with major bands such as Wiegedood, BORGNE, and more.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal and industrial?

Hatred: It is still difficult for us to grasp our notoriety beyond Europe. We know that some people follow us from farther away, and we are happy to share our music as much as possible.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Hatred: I think we will stay true to our original intent while pushing the limits of madness and violence even further.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays ?

There are two of us composing, so we each have our own perspective and sensitivity. As for me, I will probably sound presumptuous, but I can't really associate the influences of the bands I listen to with my composing work. Or at least, maybe I do it in a completely unconscious way. I work much more with my emotions and the inspiration of the moment rather than trying to find a specific style. When Hatred and I open ourselves up to composition, it's quite an emotional challenge sometimes. The idea has never been to put ourselves into an exclusive category, but rather to let our inspirations explode depending on the chosen theme. The main challenge is then putting together the different pieces of the puzzle to make them fit. That's why we really did in-depth work, keeping or discarding the parts that interested us the most. That's why the album takes a different direction, as it brings more maturity by presenting both novelty and more assertive Death Metal & Deathcore parts than in the EP. We are sincerely satisfied with the result.

What I'm listening to right now brings a contrast that always makes me laugh. At the moment, I'm revisiting albums from Regarde les Hommes Tomber (Post Black Metal) while also listening to The Green Kingdom (Electronic Ambient) or atmospheres with Tibetan gongs.

Hatred: I particularly appreciate bands that blend different subgenres of metal and strive to create something unique and powerful.

Among our initial influences, there’s Psyclon Nine for the electronic elements, Wormfood for the atmosphere and lyrics, and Dimmu Borgir for their orchestral power.

Some other bands I deeply enjoy: Carach Angren, Septicflesh, Dark Tranquillity, and Shade Empire.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Famine : We sincerely thank you for your interest in our music and our universe !  We are truly excited to present our first album and, in the future, to come to the USA to spread our darkness ! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QTIYezdtDg