1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band ? Gryp : I had the urge to do this project at the end of 2010 in order to express the melancholy face to this decadent humanity, and I wanted to express that through religion, more precisely through the beliefs in the broad sense because my astonishment, my bewilderment in front of humanity has made me ask a lot of questions about the meaning of our existence, of our nature. So I wanted, me and those who would participate in this project, make the effort to question their own beliefs, their preconceived vision of what they are and what surrounds them, so see things with a new regard. That's why we chose, with Désolation, to take this image of priests abandoning their god to find the truth about this world, because, as positive religions as could they be, they are as blinders to man, nothing else ! In the course of 2011, I proposed to Veines Noires to join LITANIE on vocals, Hybris on bass and Svartheim on drums. Thereafter, Hybris, not having the mindset that I was looking, left the band to be replaced by Desolation that I knew only since a very short time, but with who the energies were more than well spent ! It is from there that we decided to make this Split DESOLATION / LITANIE to mark the blow between our two projects. Then, by lack of possibilities, Svartheim had to leave the band shortly after the release of Split, and I decided to separate myself from Veines Noires, because despite all the friendship I have for him, his singing wasn't what I wanted for LITANIE. At present, we are only 2, Désolation on bass, backing vocals, solo guitar, and me on guitar, lyrics, vocals and drums composition. To summarize, LITANIE is the earthly image of all what possess us. We leave the forces that live in other planes to occur here and LITANIE is connected to a place in France where these forces are realy present. 2. So far you have released a split and one full length album, how would you describe the musical sound that is present on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other ? Gryp : For the Split, it was the launch of the project, the first realization of what I had thought about it so far, but with a full line-up (which I had not really thought at the beginning). So, we spit what we gnawed at this time in these few tracks, with a common melancholy with DESOLATION . "In Nomine Humana, Tenebris" is the real expression of what should be and what is still LITANIE. With this album, we have calculated nothing at all. After writing and recording, and even during the mixage, we don't expect to that you can hear on the album, even today, when we happen to listen few songs, we don't recognize us. We spent a lot of time together with Désolation, we experienced a lot of things, all as intense as each others, among other, experiences in a place that is dear to us and now is the county town of LITANIE, and I think it ended up possess our songs. 3. Your lyrics cover occultism, Medieval Times and Anti Human themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics ? Gryp : Occultism is part of us. We have no religion, we only believe in our own reality that is far from the common reality, material and boring. Désolation : For my part, I have always been attracted by the Medieval Times, which is charged by occult practices. This period is related to our own approach to the occult today and to practice. Religion was in constant war against this occultism perceived like "pagan", then it is the only beliefs that we should have, that linked to the beyond forces that surround us and which are the only leaders of our existence. Gryp : We aren't (or more) aware of these superior forces, that we don't respect (look what we inflict to nature ...). While we believe almighty, ironically, we needed to create religions, precisely because we didn't understand these forces. We had to create God to explain the inexplicable, easy and convenient isn't it ? And at the same time, this allowed to blind the mass, slaughtering pagan beliefs, giving the illusion of a new meaning to our existence, which is contrary to our true nature. Compare the bloody toll of religions to that of so rich and beautiful pagan civilizations who communed with the forces of nature ! I think that answers the question that you address concerning anti-humanism. What is really sad, is that anti-humanism exist, why ? Because if it didn't exist, it would mean that we would live still in contemplation of wind, water, fire, storm, snow, animals, plants, minerals, and by this worship, we would respect this world ! 4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Litanie' ? Gryp : "Litanie" is simply a reference to the religious litanies, which are repetitive prayers, often melancholy. 5. There are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you chose to remain a duo ? Gryp : We want to find a drummer, subject to that his state of mind corresponds to our vision of the world, to our approach of occultism, to LITANIE. But it is only secondary, if the drum machine really comes to disturb us, and a third member seems us excessive or impossible to integrate, I shall learn drum. Désolation : The most important is to keep our duo, at any price, because we are related and this is the essence of LITANIE. 6. So far all of the recordings have been released on Unlight Order Productions, can you tell us a little bit more about this label ? Désolation : I created UNLIGHT ORDER PRODUCTIONS in 2011, by will to stand out from other labels, by producing groups, but primarily really people of integrity, not "true black satanists", but those that really could be called "mad" and that we want lock up, non-humans of this society, those who have chosen (or not, by nature) to return to the source, the foundations of existence. UNLIGHT ORDER PRODUCTIONS made "home productions" at the beginning, tape and CD-R, because I was alone and I began in this "job." In 2012, Gryp joined the label and from this moment, we were able to produce pro releases on CD (Digipack and jewel case) and on Pro Tape. At the same time, it was the opportunity to produce our own bands, without having accountable to anyone and having to go through what we don't want for the good running of our projects ! 7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal ? Désolation : It's globally positive because they feel this occult part, our sincerity in music. They often insist that this isn't just music, there is an aura of "cadaver" (to quote a listener). It's what is the most important for us, because music doesn't have to be music, it should be a way, a channel for passing a message, and we are messengers. Gryp : For reviews, we got 2 points of view. Precisely these people who picked up the message, or at least the occult dimension of LITANIE, those who felt something. And then, we had the point of view of the lambda black metal person that wants blast during 50 minutes and a modern sound that destroy his speakers, so, that doesn't necessarily hated but hasn't understood our message and our reality. It doesn't matter if this group of people find our music rotten, because they are certainly players of appearance, lovers of material world, of palpable things and they certainly spend the 3/4 of their time to watch TV or on facebook. Let them continue to listen to the shit coming out today (attention, I'm not saying everything is unlistenable, it would be a lie, but 90% yes). In 20 years, probably they will listen to music made by robots of factory by cerebral intravenous, because "it must live with the times" ... 8. According to the Metal Archives page the band members are involved with a few other bands, can you tell us a little bit more about them ? Désolation : DESOLATION is a personal and therapeutic project on my disgust of humanity, I needed to spit it. So it was a temporary project, maybe it will reborn one day, everything depends on me. Gryp : I'm also part of KVESTE. This band is purely and simply anti-human. We approach this subject without compromise. Art has no limits, so we take this opportunity to express this radicalism in this project. Regarding WINTERMOON, in which we are also, this project is an expression of our vision of the real world, the expression of oppression and fascination that we have in front of the immensity of nature, precisely the cold and frozen environments. Of course, we are greatly influenced by bands like Bathory and Immortal who translate these feelings perfectly ! 9. Where do you see this band heading into musically during the future ? Gryp : We compose for a Split with CARNYX. In the pure expression of the project, we take things as they come. We calculate anything, we are guided by our inside being, so we'll see ! 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 ? Désolation : GORGOROTH, MAYHEM, ABRUPTUM, CULTE DES GHOULES, UMTAKATI, AGHAST... Principally, I listen to Black Metal, Dark Ambient, any form of occult music, and Thrash and Death of 70/80/90 years. Gryp : I really don't know what influences me in LITANIE, I'll just mention a few bands that I like particularly, if some recognize this bands in LITANIE, it's good (or pity, according the point of view !). BATHORY, GORGOROTH, DARKTHRONE, BELPHEGOR, IMMORTAL, DRUDKH, MAYHEM, NACHTMYSTIUM, SHINING, SILENCER, DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT, DISSECTION, URFAUST, KILL and many others. I also listen to a lot of Thrash, Ambient, Dark Ambient, Krautrock and many old Hard Rock and Heavy. All this influences us, inevitably, but we don't necessarily think to this or that group when we compose, we let come the composition itself. Moreover we don't rework our compositions X times, it's very rare that we throw riffs, usually everything is composed of trafficking, and we polish up details after, then we aren't saying that this or that things should give a particular effect or feeling, for example. 11. What are some of your non musical interests ? Désolation : I lean heavily on the occult books, whether on dreams, on different planes of existence, demonology in the Middle Ages, rituals and practices of ancient civilizations and their links with nature. I try to do as much as possible to do extradimensional experiences (astral, dreams). I read many authors dealing with the fantastic and psychological like H.P. Lovecraft. I watch a lot of horror movies and also psychological, of the first films of kind in black and white, in films of the 90s (and more recent films for some rarities). Gryp : As Desolation, I try to do my "non-terrestrial" experiences, but I must say that I haven't experienced the traumats that he have led him to this level of non-physical consciousness, then it's more difficult for me, even if I have as much as him the fully conscious of these other planes of existence. It's just a question to find the right path ! For the rest, without wanting to copy my friend, but I don't want to repeat exactly the same words, let's say I have a little bit the same interests as him regarding my readings and cinema. To summarize, except our specific activities, we simply research the truth about our presence in this dimension, why this terrestrial life, this so cold material, while the other lives, psychic or spiritual, mark us so much ! Also, it's they who bring new things in this physical world. Otherwise, we walk regularly between friends, and really, we appreciate the terrestrial pleasures, a good drinking night with good sound without thinking about a tomorrow ! 12. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts ? Désolation : Free madmen and lock up the "holy spirits" ! Gryp : If you are aware to exist, then you will have a minimum of good sense to reject this world that is not our ... Thank's to you and Occult Black Metal Zine for your interview ! Stay yourself !
Bandcamp
.jpg)
