1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Aeter : Hey Occult Black Metal Zine! This is Aeter (guitarist/composer), and it's an honor to answer these questions for your webzine. Since the recording of our first album, things have been really overwhelming, as we've had the chance to reach a mostly very receptive audience from all over the world. We receive feedback on our YouTube channel, Instagram, and also from the professional press, which is very important to us. We also had the chance to catch the eye of the mighty cult French metal label Adipocere, and get signed by them. They have helped promote and discover huge metal bands such as Sacramentum, Moonspell, and Diabolical Masquerade. We feel very fortunate, and we are confident that the record will get all the attention it deserves. Another dream come true (at least for me) was when the French guitar brand Flamel Guitars endorsed me. I am thrilled to have gained the confidence of such an amazing manufacturer, and I feel very lucky and ready to hit stages everywhere with those beautiful axes.
2. You have a new album coming out in November. Musically, how does it differ from the material you released in the past?
Aeter : In the past, I was the sole member aboard Aliore, and back then it was an atmospheric, instrumental blackgaze and black metal project. Since I decided to form a real band with dedicated members, everyone involved has infused Aliore's musical framework with their own vision. We now have French lyrics, a whole lore surrounding the characters we portray, and most importantly, the music has become more aggressive while keeping that dreamy quality, as if you were stuck between two worlds—like a parallel universe hovering between life and death. Murmur, our lead singer, comes from a black metal and classical background. She brings that extra layer of interpretation and life, while Dolor, our bass player, has become our main orchestration composer, which is a massive part of Aliore's sound today. Last but not least, Abaddon, our drummer, writes all his parts with his own unique vision, which is also crucial to me. In 2026, Aliore is fully realized, and we are working very hard on our sound, our lore, and the emotions we want to share with people.
3. The band started out with instrumental music while the newer music has vocals and lyrics. What was the decision behind going in this direction?
Aeter : When I founded Aliore, it was during dark times worldwide due to the pandemic. I was alone at home, driven by an urge to compose something intense yet epic and dark. When humanity slowly regained some form of freedom back in 2023, I decided to resurrect the project, but this time with real band members. The goal for me was to share that music live and try to live the best possible experiences through it. As I mentioned above, every soul in Aliore is now fully integrated, bringing their own energy and vision.
4. The lyrics on the new album have a concept to them. Can you tell us a little bit more about the songwriting on the current release?
Aeter : As we started to rehearse and get to know each other, we realized we shared a deep passion for esoteric subjects, history and black metal. Oraison Funèbre can be considered a concept album, featuring a continuous story running from the first track to the last. "Renaissance," which means "rebirth" in French, marks a turning point: Murmur is murdered by her husband—a World War I army general who completely lost his mind due to mental illness, compounded by heavy drug abuse, and returned home entirely dysfunctional, to the point of murdering his own wife and burying her in the fireplace. Marianne dies, but Murmur is born: an entity stranded in an in-between world, struggling to understand what happened to her. She goes from experiencing apprehension, to seeking answers from the Prince of Darkness (Entretien avec le diable / Interview with the Devil), to fully embracing what befell her, ultimately taking her revenge and—most importantly, by the end of the record—accepting the catalyst that turned her into Murmur. Dolor, Abaddon, and myself are directly connected to Murmur, as we were all killed by her husband during the war. Dolor was the medic who took his own life after witnessing too many horrors, driven to despair after Murmur's husband led thousands of men to their certain deaths. Abaddon was the apothecary who supplied the general with drugs and tried to poison him before getting caught in his own trap. As for myself, Aeter, I was the soldier who lost his life in an already lost battle.
5. Lyrically you have also covered esoteric themes. Can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
Aeter : When I was a teenager, I was really into playing with the Ouija board, chasing ghosts, and reading dark authors like Lovecraft, Poe, and Baudelaire. These subjects deeply fascinate me and have helped shape my imagination. Beyond ghosts, it's more about trying to find the magic hidden in everyday life—unexplainable things, the energies you can feel when entering certain rooms or places, remaining deeply instinctive, and listening to your inner voice. I even visited Père Lachaise Cemetery to pay my respects to Allan Kardec, a Frenchman who pioneered early experiments with table-turning, Ouija, and esotericism in the 19th century. His grave is truly outstanding: a monument shaped like a rustic stone dolmen (a prehistoric megalithic structure) topped with a bronze bust of himself. Fascinating stuff.
6. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Aliore'?
Aeter : Aliore comes from Latin and means "Elsewhere" (Ailleurs in French). The inspiration stems directly from that craving to chase—and perhaps find—that "elsewhere" hiding somewhere out there, just waiting to be discovered.
7. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork presented on the new album cover?
Aeter : We are lucky to have Murmur in the band, and not just for her vocal talents—she is also a professional designer, and we are very fortunate that her skills match Aliore's visual universe. She painted the album cover entirely from scratch. The great thing is that we had full creative control, and she completely understood what we needed. I think she presented us with what would become the final version of the cover on her very first try, and we only had a few minor tweaks to make! You can see Murmur transitioning from human to entity, following all the adventures that await her on this musical journey—from misunderstanding to acceptance, and finally, escape.
8. Out of all the tours and shows the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?
Aeter : So far, Aliore has only been around for a year and a half. In such a short lifespan, we've been very fortunate to play amazing shows, like opening at the Opéra de Nice for Septicflesh, or sharing the stage with Houle, another thematic French black metal band. I think we love what we do so much that every single moment we spend on stage stands out for us. Playing live is a double-edged sword: it can be deeply rewarding, but it can also leave you with the greatest doubts and questions about yourself as an artist. We live for that!
9. Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
Aeter : We definitely have plans. As I mentioned, we are now signed with Adipocere, and they are actively helping us spread the word. We will be playing on various stages in the near future.
10. On a worldwide level, how has the reaction to your music been among black metal fans?
Aeter : So far, we are very satisfied with the feedback we've received. Lots of positive comments and support. People seem very curious about the band, and that's great. More than anything, we want to meet our audience—the people we can share stories and emotions with, and live a wonderful musical journey together.
11. Where do you see the band heading musically in the future?
Aeter : All I can say is that we are a hard-working band. Our second album is already being written, and it is taking a really interesting musical turn that we can't wait to share! Get ready for even more aggression and darkness as we head into even deeper, darker territories...
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