Caixão Interview

 

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

Caixão is a solo project I created back in 2017 when I returned to Portugal after living some years abroad, to connect more with the scene and express my views on Black Metal. This is something I wanted to do since I was a teenager. At first I wanted to find a drummer but then I decided that I wanted to do everything by myself and I started to learn some basic drumming. My idea was to produce BM inspired by the late 80’s and early 90’s legends but with a personal touch.

2.In the last few years you have released a couple of demos, a full length and been a part of a split, musically hoe do they all differ from

each other?

 

Up until now, at least, I try to produce something different with every new release. My promo track from 2017 was a tribute to bands that use the bass as their most important instrument, like old Necromantia, Barathrum and Nergal (Greece). The first demo is probably more raw and direct. The full-length is short but has a lot of ideas, more melodies and it has more Mediterranean metal influences. It’s the first release that I did with a specific concept, a periplus in the Hispanic (old meaning) coast in ancient times. The split, as you know, also has a concept which is related to Egypt and I tried to create a sound that would fit into that.

3.The lyrics on the split deal with Ancient Egyptian themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

To be honest, I'm no expert but this split made me read more about the religion and history of Ancient Egypt. I found the theme of Hellenistic culture in Egypt very interesting for example. Caixão has no lyrics. I wrote or cited a text that evokes the title of the song or the feeling of the music for each track.

4.On your other releases you also have covered Pre Roman Iberian History, which historical events have you covered with your songwriting

so far?

What interests me the most is the interactions of indigenous people from the Iberian Peninsula in proto/pre-history and other Mediterranean cultures. Mainly the time when the first alphabets were created here and the Phoenicians created their first colonies, being the most important Gadir (modern-day Cadiz).

5.I know that the bands name means 'Coffin' in Portuguese, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Caixão is my nickname, everybody calls me by that name. And the project is a solo one, it was not hard to choose. The name fits the music I guess!

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

The album cover was made by Heidi who also plays in Ride for Revenge and Regere Sinister and she is one of my favorite artists in the scene. The cover shows her personal vision of the Duat and was inspired by the Book of the Dead.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

I’m open to inviting other people but it will always be my solo project! I’m working on something with other people right now. Maybe next year it will be ready.

8.You are also the editor of 'Fall Of The Idol' zine, can you tell us a little bit more about the bands and musical styles you have covered with

this zine?

My zine is called Fall of the Idol. It’s basically a Black Metal zine even if I already featured other styles. I try to mix new bands with obscure old ones. I’ve interviewed some cool bands like Sagatrakavashen, Hoth, Master’s Hammer, Holocausto, Martyrium (Germany), etc. I try to present bands that play Black Metal but not in the nordic/raw bm style. I'm not against those styles and I listen to them but it’s not the concept I want to create with the zine. Caixão and Fall of the Idol follow more or less the same tastes! So if you like the band, check the zine! I should release another issue soon but sometimes I feel lazy to finish it.

9.Recently you where a part of a split with Decayed and Cemetery Lights, what are your thoughts on the other bands or musical projects that had participated on the recording?

Decayed are friends and they were the band that got me into underground music! I am a huge fan of them and respect them a lot. C.L. started around the time that I started Caixão and we share influences, both musically and “lyrically”. I interviewed them in Fall of the Idol #1 and I think their first album from 2019 is one the masterpieces of this century’s BM.

10.The split was released on 'Down With The Most High', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

They are professional and obsessed with detail and that is always good. It’s not everyday that a label offers a limited edition with a special silk screened insert made with real papyrus, as is the case with this split album! In terms of creating the concept for this split they were as important as the bands. I also like that the label is Spanish because I have a great connection and good feeling with Spanish people. The most important is that the style of BM they release and philosophy fits me 100%. I could say the same for all the labels I work with. It’s more than a business thing.

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

It has been good to have contacts with people from all around the world and the reactions are mostly positive. I would like to have more contacts from the Nordic countries…

12.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

The next full-length I think will be out in late 2024 or early 2025, it is already recorded. In the future I don’t know, but the last track I recorded for Caixão (after the tracks for the next album, for a new split) has some influences from Pentacrostic, Amen Corner, Profane Creation, Argentum. But who knows, maybe I’ll do something very different from that!

13.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?

This could be a long answer! Well I have too many influences to cite but I can be more direct regarding this split: Yamatu, Rotting Christ, Root, Moonspell, Master’s Hammer, Salem, Manowar and Iron Maiden. Also traditional music from Egypt, Greece and the Middle East in general. I can tell you what I listened to today too, for example… Blasphemy, Chemical Death, Sarcofago and Acheron. Overall,I listen to almost all styles of music and learn from that.

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

Thank you for your interest and the interview and keep doing something for the underground! Thanks to all the people that support Caixão! You’re welcome to contact me through joaocostagaspar@gmail.com

Decayed/Caixão/Cemetery Lights/Heralds Of The Duat/Down With The Most High Productions/2024 3 Way Slit Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  3  way  split  album  between  Portugal's  Decayed,  Caixão  and  U.S.A's  Cemetery  Lights  called  "Heralds  Of  The  Duat"  which  was  released  by  Down  With  The  Most  High  Productions  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Decayed  who  return  with  their  old  school  style  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  medieval  war  orientated  intro  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Synths  also  can  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  mid  80's  to  early  90's  style,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  underworld  and  the  reign  of  the  dead  (Duat)  in  Ancient  Egypt.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Decayed  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Gates  Of  The  Dead".

  Next  up  is  Caixão  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  minimalistic  form  of  black/death  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  ritualistic  synth  orientated  intro  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  givers  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  whispered  black/.death  metal  style  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  sticking  to  more  of  an  old  school  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  music  also  being  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  era,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  underworld  and  the  reign  of  the  dead  (Duat)  in  Ancient  Egypt.  

  In  my  opinion   Caixão  is  a  very  great  sounding  minimalistic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Serapeum".

  Next  up  is  Cemetery  Lights  a  solo  project  that  returns  with  his  old  school  style  of  occult  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  early  90's  influenced  style  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  style  that  mixes  black  metal  screams  and  deep  growls  together.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  rooted  in  the  classic  Hellenic  style  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  clean  playing,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover   the  underworld  and  the  reign  of  the  dead  (Duat)  in  Ancient  Egypt.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cemetery  Lights  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Conspiracy  With  The  Gods".

 In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  i  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  old  school  occult  black  metal,  8  out  of  10.

  BANDCAMP: https://downwiththemosthigh1.bandcamp.com/album/heralds-of-the-duat