1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
We are finally able to rehearse on the regular and we are getting ready to play live again. We've been spending the last months promoting the release and looking to book shows for the next year.
2.You have a new album coming out in July, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
To us, 'The Obsidian Gate' feels like a journey. The songwriting has rather been influenced by black metal, than it had been before. 'Antagonist' and 'Antagonist II' have more doom parts in them. All in all it still is a good mixture between both of the genres.
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?
We often talk about depression in our lyrics, 'The Obsidian Gate' is no different there. The story is about a person, who thinks is dying, only to realize that it's all just an illusion. In the end this illusion still becomes reality.
As for the progress, this is the first full length, that we have written together. The process might've similar to our prior releases, since Marcel is still the main songwriter, but he had our influences to work with. We all grew together as a group and we grew as individuals.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Praise The Plague'?
It is about humankind being the plague, considering itself to be above all. We praise ourselves for what we have become, and we don't realize what we have destroyed along the way.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
It is very important to us, that we not only transport impressions and emotion through our music, but also through the visual side. 'The Obsidian Gate' is a suppressing journey between a dream and the reality. This path takes you through anxiety and dark emotions, a journey till the end, into complete darkness.
It was a weeks long process that aligned with Roberts story writing phase. In the end we realized a depiction of what the lyrics transport. Therefore the artwork is like a veil, which is penetrated by harsh and solid elements. The deeper you look into the landscape, the more details you can find.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
We had the opportunity to play with a lot of friends like A Secret Revealed, Ancst, Earth Ship and Der Weg Einer Freiheit. Sharing the stage with people we like is probably the best thing that can happen to us and we are always looking forward to that.
7.The new album is going to be released on 'Lifeforce Records', how would you compare working with this label to your previous label 'Black Omega Recordings?
Lifeforce is the well known label here. They have a long history of releasing bands. We have felt very comfortable with Black Omega, pretty much equally comfortable as we are now. This is as far as i will go with comparisons.
8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, sludge and doom metal?
We are glad if people get to know us here in Europe. Sure, there are a couple of people that have heard of us in the US for example, but i wouldn't dare and say that we are a worldwide known artist.
9.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
As a matter of fact, Marcel, Sascha and Benjamin have a side project called Naenia. But other than that, it's all Praise the Plague here.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We will stick to what we know, maybe change the emotions a little. Things like that usually happen pretty natural without us forcing things, so we'll see.
11.What are you listening to nowadays?
Pretty much whatever the combined worlds of doom and black metal throw at us.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks for the interview, we really appreciate that and we hope to see some of you sooner than later!
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