Iarmhairt Interview

 

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

A: Iarmhairt is an atmospheric black metal band from Belfast, Ireland. We formed in 2019 and we consist of two guitarists as the core of our lineup, focusing on the more expansive end of the genre.

2.So far you have released a demo, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

A: ‘Demo MMXXIII’ was influenced by similar nature-centric black metal bands such as Panopticon and Altar of Plagues, amongst others. For our initial demo, we’ve ran with a couple of different approaches to our music, from incorporating elements of traditional heavy metal and blackgaze to some passages reminiscent of the dissonant black metal scene. Some of these avenues will be explored further in the future.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

A: Each track focuses on nature’s re-emergence after humanity’s eventual self destruction, and the challenges both it and humanity’s remnants face. These culminate into sets of lyrical imagery that aim to be both majestic and harrowing.

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

A: ‘Iarmhairt’ loosely translates from Irish to ‘consequence’, inspired by humanity’s self destructive environmental neglect. Iarmhairt imagines a world scarred by centuries of human error, yet one that attempts to thrive amidst its lessened constraints.

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

A: The fundamental premise behind the art is nature’s triumph over ruins; the past exploits of humanity now overgrown and reduced to a fraction of their former majesty.

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

A: If both the right occasion and supporting lineup emerges, we’ll consider.

7.So far very little is known about the band, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?

A: This will soon change with the demo release, however we personally prefer to keep a lower profile. We’d much rather our music speak for the band rather than engage in the trappings of modern social media ‘content feeds’ which would be disingenuous for us.

8.Fiadh Productions are re-issuing your demo on physical format, how did you get in contact with this label?

A: I came across Fiadh through both the work that Bariann has done to support underground black metal artists (without some of the typical baggage the genre sadly contains) and the work she’s done to support niche Irish extreme music. It’s important for us to be part of a community that we ethically align with, alongside all of the business elements and quality standards for releases.

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

A: Let’s see what happens!

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

A: We’ve got a full length in the works and we’re finalising how we want it to sound currently. We’ll be expanding our sound further, delving even further into atmospheric passages.

11.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: Some of the bands I’ve listened to for inspiration for recording Demo MMXXIII include a lot of Panopticon’s work, Svartidaudi’s early releases, along with bands such as Ulver, Urfaust and Weakling. I’m quite selective over what I listen to these days (ever-reducing free time always helps), but recently I’ve got into the later Blut Aus Nord albums, the atmospheric blackened doom that The Ruins of Beverast run with, and the jarring blackened passages of Kostnatění. Koldovstvo’s debut also deserves a mention here, along with some of Tardigrada’s earlier works.

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

A: Thanks to all of you who have took the time to listen to us.

https://fiadh.bandcamp.com/