Erzsebet Interview

 

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

E: Erzsébet has the atmosphere of the horror movie soundtrack mixed with the most theatrical performance. Our music evokes the beauty within the horror. We are a black metal band that opts for stage theatricality.

2.You have an album coming out in December, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

A: The Blasphemous Lady is an amalgam that draws from various sources. Black metal allows us to explain this story in a language that we all understand. On the other hand, the orchestral and symphonic parts underline the dark and macabre character that we want to show. No doubt when listening to The Blasphemous Lady, passages flooded with mist, dark bloodied corridors and faces emerging from the earth will come to mind. In the end, we chose this genre for all that it evokes us and that we believe forms the identity of Erzsébet.

3.Most of the band members are also in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Erzsebet' that you are not able to do with your other groups?

E: Basically we gathered to join Erzsebet because it was a project that appeals to us in different ways. In my case, for instance I longed for a musical project more obscure and that allows me to perform playing a role, in this case the role of the evil countess Erzsebet. It sounds weird but I was obsessed with singing on stage wearing a long cloak.  

4.I know that the song lyrics and band name are based upon 'Elizabeth Bathory', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this historical character?

E: Since I was 5 I really looked up to the vampires and everything linked to them. I was completely fascinated by this character but I have never worn dark or gothic clothes, I mean for me this icon had nothing to do with your style. And when I was around 20 I discovered the legend of Erzsebet Bathory and I remember that my boyfriend, who worked in a popular publisher, gave me a non-published book about this character. I read it and I fell in love with Erzsebet immediately. Somehow I felt some kind of connection with her and this made a great impression on me.

A: When the project began to take shape, Elisabeth and I agreed that the character was fascinating, but beyond what has already been said, we chose the character not only for what the myth tells, but for what he currently represents. A woman in a man's world, shaking the wills of many. We think it's a very good concept for a band like ours.

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

A: The cover is one of the key pieces of The Blasphemous Lady. For this we trust in the art of Irene Serrano, a very recognized artist in the sector who has worked for bands like Moonspell, Wolfheart and many other well-known bands with more than consolidated trajectories.

For our debut album we wanted something out of the ordinary. Surely, many when discovering Erzsébet they will think of the traditional figure of the countess in the blood bath, we know that on a visual level it generates an impact but we wanted to run away from it, since in this story we wanted to get away from the classical aspect.

We were especially interested in describing other equally relevant aspects of the myth of the Countess. Irene gave us some ideas on how to be able to explain something with the cover, in fact no matter where you look, everywhere there is a story explaining itself!

Thus, broadly speaking, we wanted to opt for the "Vanitas" concept in which time is presented as something limited, and existence is, after all, a cruel thing. The Countess, both the historical and the legendary figure have parallels with This concept. We think it presents the story we want to tell very well.

6.Has the band done any live shows or are open to the idea?

E: Not yet. Unfortunately the pandemic has spoilt the natural process of a band: compose, release, promote, and perform in live, especially the last step. So we are eager to play the songs and what is more, to show the experience of being in an Erzsebet gig.

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

A: Well, it's still too early to talk about that. We hope to attract the interest of those who, like us, love the myth of the Countess.

8.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?

E: We keep on doing what we used to, obviously we have to manage our schedules but so far it has not been a big deal. We are no rockstars! 

A: I am currently only working at Erzsébet. For me, it is difficult to compose for more than one project fully, in my experience, although the creative processes can be combined, in the long run, some of the projects suffer

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

A: It really is difficult to know where we will go musically. It is clear that our key vault is Black Metal, but we are still defining our identity with respect to sound and part of the incentive of Erzsébet is the exploration of the dark sound towards which we want to approach. We would love to paint a great oil painting that is identified just by bringing you closer to it ...

E: I would like to be sponsored and I am not kidding. I mean that it would be great to be sponsored and can afford a good stage design for our gigs. I would love to have the opportunity to perform the songs in a mighty and well decorated scenario because I really believe that live music needs more than a good sound. 

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?

A: Well, it only takes a cursory listening to spot some of our influences. Personally, I have grown up listening to bands like Hecate Enthroned, Carpathian Forest, Dimmu Borgir and of course, Cradle of Filth. Although we also like bands like Satyricon and their "Volcano" sound to give you an example.

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

A: It is not possible to discuss certain parts of the Bathory legend without addressing the issues of the occult. "The Blasphemous Lady" revolves around the legends that were written about her. Many of those stories were written in the early 17th, which indirectly imbues the figure of Erzsébet Bathory with occult rituals. One of the topics that speaks the most about these rituals is Darvulia's Eye, which deals with the character of one of the Countess's mentors.

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

A: We would like to thank you for your space to answer our first interview as a band. We look forward to the release of this, our first album. The Blasphemous Lady has so many deep elements inside that we firmly believe any fan of extreme metal will appreciate it. A pleasure and may the gods be favorable to you!

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