Ephyra 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?

Hi guys, now our goal is to promote the new album organizing a lot of gigs, so we are working to the live activities for the next Autumn. (And we are taking breath after the long and hard work we have done to produce “The Day Of Return”).

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the band?

Well… our music is basically a melodic death metal but we use to add folk and epic influences. In this new album the folk side is far eastern oriented with sounds from the tradition of Japan and Mongolia so you will find fascinating atmospheres.
This time we have faster guitars than the older tracks and we introduced some solos too (we are not lovers of exaggerated solos). The production is definitely better. And, as said, we have different traditional instruments compared to the other two albums where you can find harps, transverse flutes, brasses, etc…

3.On the new album you also added in throat singing, Mongolian and Japanese instruments, do you feel you are adding some new things to the folk metal genre, with the new recording?

We know some bands already used those kind of sounds, but we think this is a new entry for the Italian metal scene. Of course, this is unusual and it’s one of the reasons why we chose this way and we’ll continue to explore the music and traditions out there in all the world.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album?

The texts were written on the basis of real sensations experienced in different moments of life (such as difficulties, challenges, misunderstandings, meetings).
From personal experience, loving the natural side of life and therefore the many links with the outside world, we want the album to describe the interactions of a man and his encounters with people and places that have inspired and influenced his character, destiny and journey.

5.Originally the band started out playing covers, what was the decision behind moving into your own material?

To play covers is funny and it’s a good starting point for your activity, but with the passage of time it became boring so Matteo (who founded the band and at that time he was the only one of the actual line-up) felt the need to write his own music and has changed the direction of the band.




6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Ephyra'?

The name Ephyra was immediately adopted at the beginning and it comes from a fantasy videogame (Severance – Blade of darkness). It was chosen to represent a hypothetical reign where the stories of our first album’s songs took place. From the second album our lyrics are no longer focused on that concept.

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?

Our best shows probably were Malpaga Folk and Metal Fest 2017 with Tyr, Rock Inn Somma 2016 with Gli Atroci and Fosch Fest 2015 with Carcass, Satyricon, Finntroll, Manegarm, Heidevolk, Arkona, Dalriada, etc…
About the stage performance we work hard on each aspect trying to be as professional as possible. Reports tell us we are doing it quite well .

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

Nowadays we have some shows confirmed in summer and autumn. Of course, we want to promote “The Day Of Return” and we are working to other gigs in Italy, but we are planning to play in Europe too. If someone who’s reading these words wants us for a show he can write to booking@ephyra.it.

9.The album was released on 'Volcano Records & Promotion', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Volcano is a new and young label in which we have found a concrete partner to work with. Since now we are very happy with what has been done with them both in organizational and human terms. We can say that day by day we are receiving important news and opportunities. We like to be and play an important role in the Volcano family.

10.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your new album by fans of folk and melodic death metal?

It's a bit early to evaluate. Reviews are good, but we don’t have yet a report about sold copies (physical or digital).

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

We really don’t know . It would be cool to conquer the northern Europe, South America and Japan but the only thing we can do is to keep on working as our best and see what will happen.

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?

Each of us is different and have different preferences and influences. About the music, you can find melodic death metal like old In Flames or Amon Amarth or Ensiferum or Eluveitie, melodies remembering Amorphis, Vocals like Within Temptation, folk atmospheres that let you think to Loreena McKennitt. It’s hard to find a correct definition and a real influence, we usually write our songs naturally without thinking about other bands/musicians.
In this period, we are listening to (2 options for you):
John: Kasabian, Art Blakey
Patrick: Behemoth, The Meters
Nadia: Arkona, Dream Theater
Francesco: Iced Earth, Wolfheart
Mat: Ennio Morricone, Enigma
Diba: Five Finger Death Punch, Hardcore Superstar


13.What are some of your non musical interests?

John: Bike, radio
Patrick: Netflix, beer
Nadia: Cinema, trekking
Francesco: Spartan race, 5-a-side football
Mat: Diving, reptiles
Diba: Toy library, lute manufacturing

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

Thank you very much for your time and space. We invite your readers to take a listen to our new album “The Day Of Return”, buy it if they like, and give us their feedback.
It is available digitally on all the platforms and physically on www.ephyra.it.
Have a good life and stay Ephyra \m/

Bandcamp

Facebook

Homepage

Instagram

ReverbNation

Spotify

Twitter

YouTube

KormaK Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
1 - The band was born in Bari in 2015 from the idea of ​​Zaira and found its stability only in Jenuary 2017 with the final line up. Our music is labelled as Folk Metal but we introduced a lot of contaminations like Death, Melodic and Celtic elements. KormaK do not play just music but try to completely immerse the listener in what they tell.



2.You have your first album coming out this summer, what are some of the things you feel you have accomplished musically on the album?
2 - The release of this album is a very important milestone for us. Zaira created a work of art that could be considered mad from certain points of view; we musicians performed and reproduced as faithfully as possible what she wanted and the result is an album that has a logical sense and that we think listeners might like!

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the music?
3 - The album examines and amplifies the concept of madness brought by the loss of someone (or something), for this reason the texts recall personal events transcribed in a cryptic way. There are Celtic melodies that evoke moments of deep introspection while the most violent parts tell about battles against real or unreal enemies, that often turn out to be ourselves. The key to read Faerenus is the absolute madness.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'KormaK'?
4 - KormaK is a character of the fantasy literature (Kormak's Saga) whose purpose in life is to payback of some wrongs, and reborn as a man and a hero. As we are all lovers of fantasy, we have captured the essence of this character making him our starting point for everything that the group is and will be.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
5 – We played as band from March 2018, that is to say not enough time to perform. Nevertheless we remember with pleasure our first live, made in our land (Puglia), in which we had an unexpected positive response. In the same way, even a recent live left us ecstatic when, during the performance of one of our songs, the public began to sing with us. On stage we try to recreate the same atmosphere of the album, passing from classical and extremely relaxing melodies to very violent parts in pure Death Metal key.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the album is released?
6 - Of course. On June 30th, the day after the release of the album, we will be part of a big concert in our region, that it will be our "release party", afterwards we will move through Italy in the month of July. From September to November we will be busy with the "Faerenus European Tour" in which we will have some dates in other nations like Czech Republic, Slovenia and Greece, where we will play with other important names.

7.The album is coming out on 'Rockshot Music', how did you get in contact with the label?
7 - We simply sent our material to various Italian labels including the "Rockshots Record" and after having received several positive answers we chose it for its artistic background. We can say that it was the right choice!

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of folk metal?
8 - Until now, we received very positive feedbacks for the "Goddess Song", the only single we released. Several fans from Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain and even India follow our social channels and personally we can’t wait to see the next reactions after the release of "Faerenus", and maybe to organize the show abroad

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
9 - We have a lot of energies, we already have some ideas for the next album and we can not wait to get back to work. Stylistically speaking we will try to remain faithful to our imprint but we do not exclude possible outlets towards more evolved sounds.

10.Where are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
10 - The KormaKs try to be as original as possible but it is undeniable that the Scandinavian metal influenced us. Bands like Death, Children of Bodom, Heidevolk, Amon Amarth and Folkearth are part of our musical culture, but we all listen a little bit of everything, not only metal music.

11.Does Paganism play any role in your music?
11 – Although Celtic and Scandinavian traditions fascinate us a lot, we have not included in "Faerenus" elements referred to paganism. For the future we do not know what could happen.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

12 - We are lovers of camping in open nature, some of our songs were born right in the woods. In the same way we love meat and wine, especially the local ones. Finally, fantasy and role-playing games are among our favorite pastimes.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
13 - We thank you for this small space that you gave us and we hope that "Faerenus" could be welcomed by critics and fans, which would give us the right push to continue our journey.

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Aeolian Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

We are a new Metal band from Mallorca (Spain) with a lot of Extreme Metal Bands influences in the more melodic direction. Our lyrics call for the need to protect the environment.

2.You have an album coming out in September, what are some of the things you feel you have accomplished musically on the recording?

We are so proud with the final result of the recording. We wanted to express our rage and fury concerning the environmental situation in the world, and thanks to the great work of Miquel A. Riutort as a producer, we feel satisfied. He gave the music the punch we needed.

3.Your lyrics deal with a lot of environmental issues, can you tell us a little bit more about your concern for the environment?

I was born in Majorca, and over the years I have seen how people make everything dirty wherever they go. That situation has led us to a point of no return, and unfortunately all that rubbish goes into the sea.

Sadly, it’s like this here, and everywhere else. You can even hear it on TV now. They say that in 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans!

And I won’t even talk about climate change, global warming, temperature rises, the shrinking of ice sheets, etc.

And the worst? One of the most powerful politicians says that the global warming does not exist, so obviously we do nothing about it.

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

The origin of the word is Aeolus, the Greek God of Wind. And wind is one of the forces of nature that man cannot control. In addition, it describes very well some passages of our music, for example the furious blast beats parts.


5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and what are the touring or show plans once the new album is released?

The band is so new that we haven’t played live so far. We are arranging a presentation concert in September here in Majorca, and we are also going to play at an Extreme Metal Festival in November.

Before Aeolian, all of us have played many shows and concerts with other bands, so we have plenty of experience. This time, we would like to begin our adventure with this finished album.


6.The new album is coming out on 'Snow Wave Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

We are so proud with our record label signing. They are helping us a lot with the release process. And they have exceeded our expectations in relation of the quantity and quality of the work that's been done.


7.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of melodic and extreme metal?

At the moment we don’t know, as we are still in the process of getting known in the scene, but we are happy with the first good reviews and comments we've received.


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

We want to continue with the current musical direction, consisting of creating a new sound with known musical elements.


9.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?

Some of them are Opeth, Amorphis, Kreator, Dimmu Borgir, Dissection, Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Mors Principium est, Death and many more. I have always liked the most melodic side of extreme metal music, although I look to create contrast in all of our songs.

Nowadays, I’m listening to some old school albums from bands like Death, Amorphis, Opeth, Mork Gryning, At the gates, Dimmu Borgir and Iron Maiden. Some of the new albums I’m listening to are “Queen of Time” from Amorphis and “Twisted Prayers” from Gruesome.


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

We would like to thank you to all of you for sharing and listening to our music. If you want to stay tuned for news, check us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can pre-order our debut album “Silent Witness” from the Snow Wave Records website.

Bandcamp

Facebook

Homepage

Instagram

Spotify

Twitter

YouTube

Aeolian/Silent Witness/Snow Wave Records/2018 CD Review

  Aeolian  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  blackened  death metal  with  some  elements  of  thrash  and  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Silent  Witness"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Snow  Wave  Records.

  A  very  hard,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  musical  direction  which  also  brings  in a   great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  while  with  some  black  metal  screams  being  added  into  the  recording  and  they  also  bring  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  melodic  pagan  chants  also  being  used  at  times  and  when  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music.

  Whispers  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  riffing  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  influences  along  with  the  clean  vocals  also  giving  the  music  a  touch  of  power  metal  when  they  are  utilized  and  growls  are  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  nature  sounds  can  also  be  heard.

  Aeolian  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  the  more  melodic  styles  of  black  and  death  metal  while  the  thrash  and  folk  music  elements  makes  the  songs  stand  out  a  bit  more,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  environmental  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Aeolian  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  with  some  elements  of  thrash  and  folk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  End  Of  Ice"  "Return  of  The  Wolf  King"  "Wardens  Of  The  Sea"  and  "Oryx".  8/5  out  of  10.

http://www.aeolianband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/aeolianmetalband

KormaK/Faerenus/Rockshot Records/2018 Full Length Review

  KormaK  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Faernus"  which  will  be  released  on  June  29th  by  Rockshot  Records.

  Folk  instruments  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  whispers  start  off  the  album  and  they  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  while  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls are  also  used  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Operatic  female  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  melodic  male  pagan  vocals  and  chants  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  one  track  also  brings in  a  great  amount  of  silence  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  KormaK  plays  a  style  of  folk  metal  that  also  captures  the  heaviness  of  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  have  a  concept  dealing  with  madness  and  mythological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  KormaK  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "March  Of  Demise"  "The  Goddess  Song"  and  "July  5".  8  out  of  10.

 https://youtu.be/bcZI-QYDPW0
  

Mordant Rapture Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?



We are a three piece Tech Death/ Black Metal band with symphonic elements based out of the Bay Area in California. We’re a bunch of nerds that love video game and movie soundtracks and all things death and black metal.





2.Recently you have released an ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?



The ep was intended to be somewhat of a sample platter for the sound of the band. As technical and complex as some of the material might get, we try to prioritize melody and memorable sections as much as possible. We try to aim for a wall of sound with the tracks, but at the same time try to keep things focused on the main motifs being played.







3.The band has been around since 2013 but waited until 2018 to release any music, can you tell us a little bit more about the first 4 years?



The first few years we focused on trying to get out and play live as much as we could. The sound of the band was nothing like what is on this ep. It was still fast, as speed has always been an obsession for better or worse, but had none of the cinematic elements or virtual instruments involved nor did it have much of a classical influence. There was less emphasis on song structure and melodic moments and more on aggression and heaviness. The years leading up to this release was kind of a rocky road as far as refining our sound. Our influences changed, we all grew as song writers, and kind of naturally moved away from 100% aggression focused music. Of course we are a metal band so aggression is part of the DNA regardless, but we came to appreciate classical and symphonic elements and approaching song writing with the goal of sounding more emotive and moving without sacrificing intensity.



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?



While death and supernatural elements are kind of staple in this genre, we wanted to also explore some of the darker aspects of the depths of humanity and the problems that arise in the fragility of social order. Each track tells part of a story that forms a larger narrative of tragedy that raises questions about the human condition.



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



The meaning of “Mordant Rapture” can be interpreted in several ways, but at its core we agree with the idea that a release from the hardships and trials of life would be rapturous but ultimately futile in its purpose, because there is no guarantee that what is awaiting us on the other side is worth all the pain and sacrifice that it takes to get there. Ultimately, a rapture is really a cruel joke, and therefore, mordant.



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



Although we haven’t played live with this material, the previous “iteration” of the band had plenty of memorable shows that include dressing up as street walkers, someone almost getting stabbed (not our fault), and one so memorable that we can’t remember most of it after some drinks. Moving forward with this material you can expect a more focused, precise, and intense stage presence.



7.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2018?



As soon as we get a live lineup we are ready to hit the road.



8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?



Overwhelmingly positive! We appreciate all the kind words; we feel fans of both genres can take away something from this material. The takeaway for us based on all the positive feedback is that the vision we sought after was worthwhile and we hope to continue to please the masses.



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

We want expand on all the elements from the EP by delving more into the orchestral side while bringing something new to the technical side. We learned a lot from this recording on how to apply symphonic layers to the rest of the band and what works and doesn’t work. We plan on incorporating a much denser symphonic sound that plays just as big of a role as any other instrument in the band. We’ve upgraded all of our virtual instruments as well as a much needed computer upgrade so we will be able to push these sounds much further on the next release.



10.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?



Spawn of possession, Emperor, Beneath The Massacre, most classical/movie scores just to name a few. As for new music right now; Artificial Brain, Inferi, Slugdge, Virvum, First Fragment, Gorod, Archspire, Han Zimmer, Sergei Prokofiev, Nobuyoshi Suzuki.



11.What are some of your non musical interests?



Ellie (Ben’s pooch), cooking, reading, hiking, video games, writing, painting.



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





We just want to thank everyone for taking the time to listen to us and sharing our music. We are currently working on our full-length album so if you want to stay informed I would invite you to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter thanks!

Bandcamp

Facebook

Oubliette Interview

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


Mike: We tracked the drums last April, I believe. I was simultaneously working on the new album, Revenant, for my other band Inferi. That pushed things back a bit and we didn’t get to finish recording the album until almost 10 months later. Now that it is almost out, we’ve been rehearsing a lot for several live performances coming up. We will be making our first appearance in Europe this year at Metaldays in Slovenia! I’ve also been toying around with some demo ideas for the next album too.


Emily: I have been working on the travel details for our European trip, rehearsing, and working like crazy.



2.In July you have a new album coming out, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


Todd: I think this record is a pretty well balanced blend of Oubliette’s sound, though I think we’ve upped the ante a bit since the last record. Apparitions was mainly Mike and Emily, so this one has more input from the rest of the band. To me, the aggressive sections on this record are a bit more in your face. We talked about a lot of things when putting this record together, in relation to the story line and really wanted the music to match the emotions of the lyrics. I feel like we really accomplished that.


Mike: It’s along the same lines as the previous, but we incorporated some new elements to the sound. For example, Todd has this guitar pedal from Electro-Harmonix called the Mel 9, which is a mellotron simulator. I think about half of the songs on the album have at least one section using that pedal. It gives a synthy choir and/or strings type of sound, which we are digging hard!




3.This is your first album in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?


Mike: When we released Apparitions, it was just a studio project. Since then, we have had to make a few lineup changes since everyone in the band couldn’t commit to being a live member. We spent a long time writing The Passage and also with our other bands. My band Inferi has also been pretty active since then so sometimes it has been a struggle balancing it all!


Emily: We are all very busy so it can be very difficult to find time to sit down and write together. Hopefully it won’t take 4 years for another release!



4.The lyrics on the new recording are a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story line you bring into the lyrics?


Mike: We became sort of fascinated with the customs surrounding death in the Victorian era and built a story around it. A family moves into a house on a cursed land. The baby falls ill and dies, which causes the mother to fall into a never-ending depression. She thinks that she sees her child “invite” her into death, so she kills herself but never ends up reuniting with the child. The Victorian aspect was more or less just a setting in the end, but there are quite a few references to that period and can also be hinted at on the album cover.


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


Mike: The word “oubliette” is a French word that translates into something like “a place to be forgotten,” but it is actually the name for a type of old deep dungeon, with only one door at the top. I felt it very fitting for our style… and not to mention the reference from the movie The Labyrinth.



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


Todd: We’ve been very lucky to play with some truly amazing bands over the short time we’ve been a live band. Playing with Imperial Triumphant a couple of times has been a real highlight for me personally. I really love what those guys are doing. Playing with our friends in Anagnorisis when they were promoting their last record Peripeteia were some amazing nights. Opening for Alcest was easily my favorite show we’ve played, though. Incredibly nice people and it was an absolute joy to share the stage with them. Our stage performance is a mix of subdued and aggressive all at once. We generally play with minimal lighting and a lot of fog. We focus heavily on the music and less about what band members look like. It’s all about delivering a high quality musical experience. Having said that, we all give 100% onstage every time.


Emily: I run a promotion company (Invictum Promotions) here in Nashville and because of that, I have been able to put us on some amazing shows. I agree with Todd, my favorite show was with Alcest.  The crowd was amazing and Alcest was easily some of the nicest guys I’ve ever worked with and they really enjoyed our set! They even invited us to get beers with them at a nearby bar after the show.


Andrew:  All the shows have been great.  Perturbator, Alcest, The Body & Imperial Triumphant have all been highlights.  I think my favorite has to be when we opened for Belphegor, Origin & Abigail Williams here in town.  Very heavy bill for us to be on.  We were the only band of the night to use any clean guitar tones and every time we’d get to a clean part the crowd would cheer and go nuts.  It definitely felt great.


Mike: Playing with Alcest was fantastic, as the others mentioned, but I’d also like to mention the show with Perturbator. The bill was fabulously mixed!




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


Emily: Mike will be doing some touring with Inferi later in the year so we plan on doing a few short runs regionally but that is all we will be able to do in 2018.



8.A few years back you had also done a 'Dissection' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?


Emily: Mike was originally planning to cover “Thorns of Crimson Death” with Inferi but after some discussion, we felt it to be a more appropriate cover for Oubliette.  They are my favorite band and we wanted to pay tribute to them. It also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Storm of the Light’s Bane.



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


Todd: We’ve been really quite surprised by the response to our music, especially overseas. People seem to really enjoy what we’re doing and we’ve had great response to our output.


Mike: I agree with Todd; I think at least half of the interest has been from overseas.



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?


Todd: I’m in a blackened doom band called Battle Path. We’ve been around for close to 8 years and are currently working on our fourth album.


Andrew:  I also sing and play guitar in a Black/Death band called Ophiuchus.  We are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year and hope to have our 3rd album ready to record sometime later this year.  I also teach guitar, mandolin & bass.


Mike: I play guitar in a tech death band called Inferi, which has been doing well lately. We have been around for quite some time but have really started to become active this year. We just released our fourth album and are touring in support of it this year. We recently did a tour with Alterbeast, Grindmother, and Aethere. Another tour is about to begin with Rivers of Nihil and Alterbeast, and we should have some other things popping up later this year.



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


Todd: I think we’re all into pushing the boundaries of what we do, while staying true to the sound of Oubliette. We all have some progressive leanings musically, so, I personally could see more of that creeping into our music.


Emily: I’d like to stay true to our melodic sound and I don’t think we’ll ever stray from that.


Andrew:  I’m not sure, but I’m looking forward to it.  I don’t think we will be taking much of a break once the record is out.  Mike is already showing us riffs for future songs.


Mike: I’m just always thinking about what we can do to further take advantage of having three guitarists. I know it seems weird to a lot of people, but we are trying to utilize it in the most effective way. I plan on exploring those options more.



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?


Emily: I frequently jam The Ruins of Beverast, Mgla, Winterfylleth, Imperium Dekadenz, and Blut Aus Nord.


Todd: Several us are very big fans of Bolzer’s “Hero”. That gets listened to quite frequently. It’s also safe to say bands like Blut Aus Nord and Alcest are big influences on what we do.


Mike: My big influences as of the last couple of years have been Kauan, Insomnium, and Alcest. I’m not sure how well that reflects in our music but it definitely gets me in the zone to create something new! Lately I've been spinning the new releases from Uada, Gruesome, Monotheist, and Slugdge.



13.What are some of your non musical interests?


Todd: Good films (alternately bad films that are so bad they’re somehow good again), collecting vinyl records (technically a musical interest but it’s pretty consuming) and going to the mountains to relax.


Emily: I’ve always had a passion for animals. Mike and I have 3 dogs and a cat.  Other than music and animals, I love nature and being outdoors whenever possible.


Andrew:  Work and spending time with my wife and animals are the main things.  Playing video games is one of the few hobbies I’ve had longer than playing music.  I also enjoy reading and amature video editing and recording.


Mike: Food, animals, and outdoors. Other than that, I probably am too busy with musical interests!




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


Todd: We appreciate anyone who likes what we’re doing. Our music means so much to us and we love that it’s resonating with people.


Emily: A huge thanks to anyone that has supported us thus far!

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter