ShadowThrone Interview

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

After album’s recording we started to search a new label for Elements’ Blackest Legacy .
We produced previously album Demiurge Of Shadow on nipponic Hidden Marly Prod / Zero Dimensional Records that was good for old album but now we needed for an european label . Sent promo album to a lot of labels but dutch Non Serviam Records answered us so fast and with so much interest for it  . This is great cause Non Serviam Records listened the full album and believed in our work . We knew it by occult metal band Darkend and Nazghor that personally I love . Signed for NSR and planned work and promotion . At moment we’re reading reviews and they are all excellent , working for live events and a new single composed by a cover song but prefer don’t say nothing before it come out .

2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Demiurge Of Shadow is our first full album with a different line-up and we were searching a sound .Past sound was very inspired by symphonic black metal albums like In The Nightside Eclipse by Emperor or Spiritual Black Dimension by Dimmu Borgir . Was my first work after ten years inside Theatres Des Vampires line-up so I wanted to get away from gothic scene and return to style close to me . Started with simple riffs and classic orchestral sound . After first album we started to write new material more heavy and less inspired , cutting orchestral sound and introducing sidereal and synth keyboards for a more cold and cosmic dimensions . It’s an album with different line-up and different attitude than years ago .

3.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?

At beginning was very simple to fall into lyrics about norse mitology cause now is trendy but I wanted music more close to cold and dark dimension like arctic sky during the night . Exploring a frozen peak under black stars and cold steel where there is no life , no gods but only disturbing silence . Elements’ Blackest Legacy is not a concept album but try to open the door on this dimensions through its atmospheric music and lyrics . Zilath’s lyrics
try to describe these sensations of darkness and crystallizing moons .

4.Some of your lyrics also touch on Satanism, Occult and Anti Christina themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

I think Satanism and Christianity is the same product generated in the name of mass control. Christianity and Church used devil icons to subject people and lands for their dirty purposes replacing the old pagan traditions but a great part of men were fascinated by evil icons cause
undoubtedly witchcraft and demons are more charming than angels and holy life . They are part of darkside of our mind and I’m interested to exploring any darkside . Generally we use word occult for something that we don’t understand or have explanation and we see a sinister side but how many phenomena of nature we can see and can’t understand? Part of men try to understand through dark arts or spiritual sensations .

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'ShadowThrone'?

It’s simple remind to Satyricon’s album The Shadowthrone . Probably for a little part that’s right but at beginning was imagining a throne into a cave inside a black mountain like in Lord Of The Rings book and decided for this name .

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

Elements’ Blackest Legacy artwork realized by occult artist Nestor Avalos that worked for Dark Funeral , Moonspell , Rotting Christ… It represents the pure elements of the earth like ice , fire , air and water . If you start from down to up you can see the colors change from red like fire to white/blu like ice with a flow of energy on mountain of skulls .

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

We done good shows last years to promote Demiurge Of Shadow . I don’t remember if there is a best show cause every show was different and different feelings . Toured with Absu , Rotting Christ , Arcturus … and honored to play in front their crowd . Our show is a simple show with dark lights  and smoke without a theatrical performance . We like to go up on stage and play our songs so people can listen our music without show distractions . I think we play like a classical heavy metal band J

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

At moment we are guest at Ade’s Rise Of Empire released party on November 29th and confirmed at Black Winter Fest XII with Hellhammer , 1349 , Kampfar and other bands .on November 30th . We’re planning gigs and show for 2020 so we need to wait answers .

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

Great ! Reviews are excellent and every day new fans follow the band page . Rates under the singles Path Of Decay and Black Dove Upon My Shoulder are good cause this is not like usually symphonic black metal inspired by Cradle Of Filth or Dimmu Borgir . We pushed inside new album our influences from old black metal to death metal passing for soundtrack and avantgarde atmosphere .

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Francesco and Davide have their projects inside other bands like Deceptionist or Brvmak but I don’t know their upcoming events for these bands . Zilath was the singer of Etruscan black metal band called Voltumna and at moment he’s the Shadowthrone’s singer . About me I ‘ve an upcoming old black metal side-project  involved with members of two Italian black metal bands but prefer to talk about this when album will be complete .

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

I don’t know . I like to write new material everytime and now I’m writing new tracks .
Life can change in every moment .

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

I started to listen heavy metal when I went at school , very young , buying Ozzy Osbourne’s Speak Of The Devil vinyl cause the artwork was amazing . From there I started to listen the rest like Iron Maiden , Motley Crue , Metallica , King Diamond / Mercyful Fate but during 90’ I was reading about Bathory , Emperor , Mayhem , Darkthrone buying paper zines and ordering albums by mailorder (have original first press) . I think all these bands and many others inspired me for the rest of my musical life and part of style life . Listen metal music everyday finding new actually bands.

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

Thanks to A Different Shade Of Black Metal zine from ShadowThrone for interview and invite the reader to listen our old and new album following our page

www.facebook.com/shadowthrone

ShadowThrone/Elements' Blackest Legacy/Non Serviam Records/2019 CD Review

  ShadowThrone  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Elements'  Black  Legacy"  which  was  released  by  Non  Serviam  Records.

  A  very  dark  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  keyboards  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  growls  and  death  metal  growls  while  blast  beats  can  be  heard  in  the  faster  parts  of  the  songs.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in a  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Symphonic  elements  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  being  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  riffing  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  showing  an  influence of  thrash  metal  and  as  the  album  progresses  choir  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  at  times  the  music  also  has  its  avant garde  and  atmospheric  moments,  one  track  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  recording  and  the  album  closes  with  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy,  Nature  and  Black  Magick  themes.

  In  my  opinion  ShadowThrone  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Endless  Dance Of The Universe"  "Saturn  off  Newborn  Era"  "Curse  Of  The  Royal  Blood"  and  "ShadowThone".  8  out  of  10.


http://www.facebook.com/shadowthrone