Hail! Both Stellarvore and Chernobog did the interview, we are the two founding member's of the band.
1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
Stellarvore: Well, the band started back in 2009 with me and Chernobog. Back then we was unable to find a drummer so we decided to use a drum machine and with it we only recorded two song's. Shortly after that we decided to place the band on hold for a time while we worked on other project's. Then mid 2011 we found a drummer, Vitiatus who shared similar interest and taste in music as us so we recruited him into Necrotherion and that was the rebirth. The first live show was on "Good Friday" and we hit the stage with a fuck you attitude and praised the cold, dark void of death and nothingness. Shortly after this we gained a bass player Pain and then not long after that we gained another Guitarist Wargoat and then the line-up was completed.
Chernobog: Necrotherion began in early 2009 with one goal: We set out to found a new wave of USBM. From the very beginning, we chose not to pigeonhole ourselves into on any set formula. In our view, to do so is to squelch one's musical creativity. From our humble beginnings as a two man recording project, we have grown into a very well-directed force, but our goals have not changed. With the upcoming release of our full-length album "Novus Ordo Seclorum" we will have taken the first step in achieving our goals. This, however, is only the beginning for Necrotherion!
2. How would you describe your musical sound?
S. We never approach creation with a solid guide, it is very flow based. The only solid ground we have is Black Metal but besides that most of our music is flowing out we are just lucky enough to have musician's we work very well together. The demo only contain's 4 of our song's just wait for the full length, we have some song's on there that capture a truely different sound.
C. Dark, intense, melodic, mournful at some times and brimming with destructive power at others. I personally find it rather difficult to relate our sonic properties in words. Listening is a much better method. We currently have our Demo "From the Void" available for free download to give listeners a peek. Our full-length debut is in the recording process at the moment, and it should be realeased in early 2013.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
S. Well the lyric's are inspired by anything I pick up on in life. On one side, I am inspired by Art, Literature or Cinema. The work's of H.P. Lovecraft, Friedrich Nietzsche, Neil Gaimen, Lar's Von Trier and H.R. Giger. Now on the other side I am inspired by the area I live in the hill's during the twilight hour's, the fog that follow's the Ohio River, the forest that seem's endless. Then there is the people, the scum. The Pillhead's and the Crackwhore's, the leeche's and the crooked liar's. A Church on every street corner, with fornicator's and closet homosexual's doing smack with twink boy's. I think you get it.
C. The topics which we choose to explore are varied. Some songs are written in admiration of nature. Others are written out of hatred for organized religions and other corrupt institutions. We are not individuals who simply "Go with the flow" and we certainly refuse to accept things as they are. I believe that our lyrics reflect those ideals with much clarity.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
S. Necrotherion is a mix of two word's, Necro which is a Greek prefix meaning Death and Therion which is also a Greek word that mean's "Beast". Necrotherion translate's into "Death's Beast" I choosed this name to embody the idea of the band. The banner the band fall's under is Death, Death is the great answer, it is the only thing that is promised to us in this life.
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
S. Well the first show was on "Good Friday" we take great pride in that. I greatly enjoyed the show at the Steel Mill in my hometown, then there is of course the Cleveland show with Dark Funeral and Morbid Angel. It was fucking awesome and a great time! I was surprised to see so many of our local fan's making it all the way to Cleveland, really show's the growing follower's!
C. Our first show was in a small bar known as "The Shamrock." Nobody had heard of us at that point, but we certainly noticed a mixed reaction as our set progressed. When all was said and done, we had managed to clear out half of the bar with our blasphemies. The remaining half were very much into what we did, and it was gratifying to know that we were able to show people the reverse of the coin. Looming not far behind was the night that we opened for Dark Funeral and Morbid Angel. We were actually scheduled on a separate stage during part of Dark Funeral's set, yet we managed to maintain a considerable crowd of our own. Most stayed for the duration of our set!
6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?
S. Well, currently we are working on recording the Album, but we are also trying to hit some local show's if we can. We are willing to play anywhere no problem. We hope to do a tour in the future if we can, it would be an epic experiance.
C. We hope to conquer the world, and the only real way to do that is to get out there and do it. We're by no means a recording project. Our goal's reach far beyond the local level. Whether funded by a label, or financed out of our own pockets, we will spread this like a wildfire.
7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for the music?
S. We would be happy with a Label, it would surely take some pressure off of our back's. But we also do not want a controling Label, Necrotherion is a band for indivisual's we will not sell out this idea for money.
C. We are (at present) in negotiations with a few separate labels who are interested in releasing our album. Ideally we would like to find a label that has the power to send us on world tours and give us the ability to sell as many albums as possible. However, we will not allow any label to stifle our creative freedoms. Many bands have abandoned their ideas and ideals in the name of the almighty dollar. We are not one of those bands!
8. Are there any other musical projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?
S. The member's do have other project's that they enjoying working on, but we make really good use of our time and Necrotherion is a full force. None of the other project's cripple the Beast.
C. We are (at present) in negotiations with a few separate labels who are interested in releasing our album. Ideally we would like to find a label that has the power to send us on world tours and give us the ability to sell as many albums as possible. However, we will not allow any label to stifle our creative freedoms. Many bands have abandoned their ideas and ideals in the name of the almighty dollar. We are not one of those bands!
9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
S. Honestly, I don't even know! This band seem's to grow on it's own, to create something of it's own. I am greatly happy with where it is heading and if it ever reache's a peak where it shouldn't be, we will stop. But the band is in great hand's, the only way it will be going is up, and through it's own sweat and blood.
C. Necrotherion is not afraid of change or experimentation in any way, shape, or form. However, this change (if and when it occurs) will NOT be motivated by anything but our own creativity. We certainly shall not allow our music to stagnate and release album after album of repetitive material.
10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
S. Well the first band's to inspire me was Gorgoroth, Mayhem, Immortal, Celtic Frost, Darkthrone and Dissection. But more recent band's that have insipired me are Venenum, The Devil's Blood, Urfaust, Shining (SWE), Pentaface, Diabolical Masquerade, Moonsorrow, Limbonic Art, Obsequiae, Ravencult and much, much more.
C. We all have various musical influences, which I believe contribute to create a unique band. Personally, I am influenced by certain "expected" influences such as Immortal, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir, Raventale, Bathory, and Venom. It is not only Black Metal that influences me. Other bands include Candlemass, Iron Maiden, Stormwitch, King Diamond, Yngwie Malmsteen, Adagio, Ring of Fire, Savatage, and of course my favorite band of all time....Mercyful Fate. As a classically trained musician, I also note the influences of Bach, Mozart, Paganini, Vivaldi, Pachelbel, and many others. Every member of this band has MANY different influences which blend together to create the musician, and we blend together as musicians to create Necrotherion.
11. How would you describe your views on Satanism, Occultism, and Paganism?
S. Well ever since I was 12 I have had a fascination with the "Dark" side of religion and spirituality. I wanted to know why these thing's are forbidden and are no-no's, so I studied and learned. I came to realize that this was my path, that the Left Hand Path treasure's knowledge and learning, of not being a slave to a single master, but instead become one's own master. Who do I worship? Myself.
C. My views have changed quite a lot over the course of my life. Like most people from West Virginia, I was raised christian. As I grew older, I became increasingly disgusted with the mental and spiritual tyranny which all of the Abrahamic faiths inflict upon their adherents. At the time of our formation, I was a Theistic Satanist. There was something else that called to me, with much more strength, than simple rebellion. That thing was ancestry. As I began studying my ancestral cultures, I discovered that we had our own spiritual beliefs and practices that predated both christianity and its reverse, Satanism. I am of course speaking of Paganism. As far as general Occultism is concerned, I believe that the mastery of oneself and one's world is of utmost importance. This is not only a physical pursuit. It is a mental and spiritual pursuit as well. Various occult disciplines such as Magick, Alchemy, Meditation, etc... have undeniably fostered tremendous growth for me, and Occultism has the power to do the same for anyone with the resolve and intelligence to reap those benefits.
12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
S. Nature and Knowledge is the main key for me, cinema and art as well. Literature is a big one, I like to go on long hike's and find a nice spot to sit and read a good book.
C. Music is nearly all-consuming for me. Apart from my studies of various subjects and occult knowledge, there is very little that draws me away from music. I began playing guitar at the age of five, and since then, there has been nothing else.
13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
S. Yes, Necrotherion is a rising Force far more then I expected, I enjoy it and see no end to it! If you want to see what it is all about, like it on the Facebook and keep updated on it! The Full Length Album is coming along greatly and should be out early 2013.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Necrotherion/150393611662666
C. To any who may read this: Do not set out to be "normal" and do not set out to be "different." The single most important goal for anyone is to be yourself; what ever that may be. Just as some sheepishly follow trends, others seek to be different simply for difference's sake. Find and pursue only those things which speak to you and satisfy YOU!
