Dantalion Interview

 

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

Hi! I'm Brais, guitarist for the band. Well, we finished the mixes and the master of the album last February and we have been at a standstill  for several months due to the pandemic. Now, little by little we are returning to normality and we hope that at the end of the year we will be able to present this latest work live.

2.You have a new album coming out during the end of July, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

This album is really a return to the past, to the early years of Dantalion. We went through a more doom stage that passed through our 5th and 6th albums, but with this last album we have returned to our roots, which are Black Metal.

3.The band started out playing black metal before evolving into more of doom/death metal direction while the new music sees the band returning back to black metal, what was the decision behind changing musical styles in the past and what was it that made you return back to a black metal style with the new release?

The band is 17 years old, it is many years, and although Black Metal has never left our heads, we went through some stage where we were experimenting with other more "calm" styles, such as Doom or Death. But a few years ago we decided to go back to our origins, to Black Metal, which is what we do best, and adding all the experience we have when composing, I think we have done our best work.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Our lyrics, in all our albums, are focused towards death, we really are a monothematic group when it comes to lyric. It is true that in each album we develop a different aspect on the theme of death. We are not interested in politics, religion or other issues.

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

It was just a name that we liked when we started. Dantalion is a demon who seeks to destroy the good in people. He can manipulate the thoughts of all men and women.

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

In the artwork we try to represent the importance of death in our lives, and that journey that goes from when you are born to when you die, with all the darkness that exists during that process. The cover reflects a person when he reaches his eternal rest, when he finally leaves.

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?

Honestly, we are a band that plays very little live, since we started in 2004 we have always focused on studio work, hence we are editing our 8th album in 17 years... But during these years we did a lot of live shows, and there are some that were unforgettable, such as the 3 times we went to the Basque Country, Barcelona, ​​Madrid… And of course a special mention to the concerts in Portugal, because every time we go to the neighboring country the welcome and the energy they transmit there is brutal.

8.With the pandemic easing up and more bands returning to the live stage, do you have any plans for any live shows later this year?

Of course, our idea is to present the new work at the end of this year, as long as the conditions are normal, if not, we will wait. And then continue presenting it in different festivals that want to have us. We always present our albums in our city, Vigo, it is something we have been doing since our beginning.

9.The new album is going to be released on 'Darkwoods', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

The opportunity to work with Darkwoods came on our previous album, "The Seventh Wandering Soul". It is a humble label, like everyone we have worked with, but the highlight of Darkwoods is the close treatment and communication (it helps that it is a Spanish label), and above all it is a label that has always bet very strongly on us. We are very happy with Dani and Darkwoods, he is a great guy, and apart from that he also makes all the artwork!

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

Although we are a small band, I think we have a certain recognition, and there are many people who follow us all over the world, since our beginnings. It is gratifying to see how many followers all of our albums have. We do not pretend to be a rock star, simply transmit emotions with our music, in this case through Black Metal.

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

Well, almost all of us are or were immersed in other projects:

I just released my first solo album with my project called Lowmist, entitled "Supreme Nature", Naemoth recorded countless things for other bands (Empty, Lowmist), he is a member of Adonai, and he was the drummer of Witchfire. Sanguinist has another band called Arkham. Natnof also plays bass in a band called Lethal Vice, and Vorgh played in Witchfire.

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

I don't think anything will change in the future, our idea is to keep making albums for as long as we can. As the years go by, I think playing live will be more complicated, since now we ask for some minimum conditions to be able to develop our shows. But we will continue to record albums, for sure.

13.What are you listening to nowadays?

I like to review the discographies of my favorite groups, which are especially Black and Doom (Wolves in the Throne Room, Drudkh, Burzum, Bathory, Nehema, October Tide...), music that transmits you and that helps you compose and open the mind. Also from time to time I listen to new bands and new works, and some pleasant surprises. Although in these times we have a problem of saturation of countless bands, and of hundreds of albums every day, but it is the time that we have to endure.

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

I hope the fans like our new album "Time to Pass Away", and thank you very much for the support and the interview!

Best regards! 

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bandcamp: dantalion.bandcamp.com