1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
A: Curse Upon A Prayer was born in 2010 in Finland & our hymns embrace the dark side.
2.In January you had released your first album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
A: Obviously the sound is quite harsh because we didn't have an actual studio to record it. But on the other hand, it creates a certain feeling that brings the essence of this band in its purest & rawest form. So after all its pretty much what we wanted at the time.
3.The band has been around since 2010 and so far this is the first release, can you tell us a little bit more about the delay?
A: One of the most common problems that many new bands seem to do, who are just getting started, is to put out a physical release as soon as possible without even questioning their own work. I don't see that delay you mentioned, because things happen when it's the right time. And we don't release anything that is "almost there". It has to be a full piece of art that we are proud of.
M.V.: Actually we have more songs than what we put on the first album. We just didn't release them because they didn't fit there at the time, or because we can work those songs more.
4.The band is labeled as 'apocalyptic black metal', can you tell us a little bit more about the tag?
A: It deals pretty much with the idea of ending. The end of the world & the end of life as we know it. The ending creates something new that this band is trying to reach for. Everything ends & dies, and we cherish that fact. Death should be celebrated so much more.
M.V.: The term "apocalyptic" means indeed apocalyptic in every way: The end of the world, but also closer to the normal people, collapse of society, fall of authority, death of god, raping of faith and not killing the sheep that have lost their shepard, but to leave the sheep at the grave of their saviour so they can watch the end in its unforgiving eyes. I quess some men really want to see the world burn. We're here to light up the gasoline.
5.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
M.V.: The lyrics are pretty much metaphorical figurative and different words tell different stories, views and philosophies. Many ways of expression. Topics are a bit hard to name out, since all the writings are a mix of different things. I think I answered this one at the last question already.
6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Curse Upon A Prayer'?
A: The name is a symbol. A symbol for everything that we stand for.
Growth & evolving through pain & suffering. Celebration for the cold truth that can't be denied.
M.V.: It is the cold feeling of truth inside a man who is praying for a lie. Also by the sound of the third trumpet, a star called Wormwood falls to the earth and poisons a third of the planet's freshwater sources and men will die by drinking it. The name Wormwood is translated from the Hebrew term "la'anah", which means "curse" in Arabic & Hebrew. The name Curse Upon A Prayer explains itself pretty well through symbolism.
7.Has the band done any live shows yet or has this been a studio project so far?
A: We haven't done any live shows yet, because this has originally been just a two-man-band. But there has been some serious plans about the first live show, since we now have two members more. They joined the band recently.
8.The new album was released on Nihil Interit Records, can you tell us a little bit more about the label?
A: It's an underground label from France that is specialised in Black metal, Death metal, Dark ambient etc.
The parent label is Le Crepuscule Du Soir Productions.
9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal that have heard it so far?
A: Surprisingly good, even though we are not a traditional Black metal band. We have sold our albums to USA & UK. And we have received good feedback from Mexico, Poland & Russia as well. But I'm sure there are some people who don't really understand our vision. And I think that's a good thing because there would be something wrong if everyone would accept our way of making these things.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
A: That remains to be seen. Or heard.
M.V.: I'm only guessing, but I smell massive walls of sounds.
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: Musically, to name a few, I would say Sargeist & Enochian Crescent.
Also soundtracks & gothic music, for example Sopor Aeternus, Dead Can Dance etc. And I strongly recommend the latest Behemoth album "The Satanist". It's definetly a peak moment in modern Black metal in my opinion.
When it comes to writing process, it's more about some certain feeling than some other band's influence. But of course there are some artists that have had an impact on me. The ones who are truly devoted to their message & art. The ones who aren't affected by those fat, drunken, Black metal elitists who still over use the same irrelevant subjects that don't even cause any turbulence.
They should just stay in their basements masturbating.
M.V.: One big influence is anything that sounds massive, huge. Belphegor, Behemoth, Sargeist, Behexen, Horna, SepticFlesh... These are bands that inspire with the powerful and uncompromising, yet creating factors. Of course I listen to the true old school black metal from time to time, but I like to keep in touch with time and what is going on this day. The concept of extreme changes with times. Just like madness. You can't really define it and that's only great, because these days there are those "know-it-all-elitists" that love to define and categorise everything. When they can't, their balls would explode. Now that's not going to happen since they have no testicles. But yes, I listen to anything that pleases my ears, not only metal and such.
12.What role does Satanism or Occultism play in your music?
M.V.: Satanism is involved strongly on the philosophical side.
A: You can find plenty of references to these subjects in our art for sure.
13.What are some of your non musical interests?
M.V.: My interests go with martial arts, lifting heavy, reading psychology and philosophy, mental growth etc. Questioning everything, people don't like that.
A: I'm very much into art. Painting & photography art are my main interests among music.
And I also like to draw pictures of Muhammad & beat nuns.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
"The noose is set & growing tighter"
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