Usurpator Interview

 

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

 I formed Usurpator as a one man black metal project in 2017 and self released the first demo tape called Beheading Pathos in 2018. With influences of psychedelic rock, doom/drone metal and ambient, it was clear that Usurpator didn't aim to be categorized in just one music genre. After the demo, a slight shift in musical style followed, integrating also elements of Death Metal. Releasing the debut EP Spear of Psychosis in 2018 as a co release with the Labels Dead Seed Productions and Church Of Eradication, the album determined the sound of Usurpator. 

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous demo and ep?

It differs very much from my demo, since it's a different style of music. The difference between Spear Of Psychosis and Atonement is that I've tried to set the bar higher, creating a faster, more complex and aggressive Album than Spear Of Psychosis. 

3.Some of your lyrics cover occult and mythological themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

 As half greek I'm fascinated by Greek mythology almost my whole life. I'm not that much into occultism, but I use mythological figures in a metaphorical and symbolic sense. For example Phthisis is one of the ancient greek spirits/deamons of pestilence and disease, called Nosoi, and the personification of rot, decay and putrefaction. What time would be better to write a text about that mythological figur giving birth to a child than during a global pandemic? 

4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

My lyrical themes evolve around philosophical questions about society and social constructs like hierarchy, religion ect. , but also horror and death. 

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Usurpator'?

Basically the name Usurpator means usurper im german. The idea for the name is that death will sooner or later overthrow everything and is inevitable. Death is the only true Usurpator.

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

The cover captures the moment of wrath and revenge upon human society. Unaware and yet still calm the characters are on the point of no return - their atonement, plague and evil forces of nature symbolized by the white horse rider is coming upon them. As society crumbles, some people gather, wielding tridents, symbolising hell is coming to earth. 

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

The cover captures the moment of wrath and revenge upon human society. Unaware and yet still calm the characters are on the point of no return - their atonement, plague and evil forces of nature symbolized by the white horse rider is coming upon them. As society crumbles, some people gather, wielding tridents, symbolising hell is coming to earth. 

8.The vinyl version of the new album was released on 'Church Of Eradication', how would you compare working with this label to 'Dead Seed Productions'?

I don't like to compare labels. What I can say so far is that the release of Atonement was much faster than of Spear Of Psychosis. According to Dead Seed Producions there was an issue with the pressing plant where we pressed Spear Of Psychosis.

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

Usurpator is a very young project and didn't reach that many people yet. Those who got in touch with my music so far gave always a very positive feedback.

10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I don't know, I'll just continue to the point Usurpator has nothing to say anymore. But until then there are many more albums to be released!

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?

My musical taste is almost boundless, so my inspirations reach from electronic music, movie soundtracks, punk and more to metal. 

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

Thank you for the interview, cheers! 

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Usurpator/Atonement/Church Of Eradication/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Usurpator  are  a  solo  project  from  Austria  that  plays  a  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "Atonement"  which  was  released  by  Church  Of  Eradication.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  influences  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  direction,  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  an  instrumental.

  Usurpator  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dissonant  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  doom  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Mythology  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Usurpator  are  a  very  great  sounding  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hybris"  and  "Atonement".  8  out  of  10.

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