Bane Of Radiance Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?

I'm currently promoting Bane Of Radiance's second full length, Celestial Extinction.   An EP and two more full lengths are in the works...



2.So far you have released a demo and 2 full lengths, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on all of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?

The demo, Folly, had a much more atmospheric and experimental approach, especially in terms of mixing.   Much more vast and cavernous than the average black metal album.  Anyone who's listened to Folly knows what I'm talking about...

The Invisible Man put more emphasis on the noise element that was introduced on Folly, and therefore has a much denser atmosphere.   The soundscape of being stranded in the desert of a powerless existence.   On this album, the real highlight is the riffs, however...

Celestial Extinction raised the ferocity of Bane Of Radiance to a whole new level.   While retaining the baleful guitar sound at its core, the music was heavily enhanced by all manner of depraved, hellish ambience and propelled by faster, more technical drumming.   The vocals on this album are also shockingly disturbing.   Listening back to them, it's hard to imagine what state of mind I was in to make such fucked up sounds...

Overall, Bane Of Radiance is raw black metal fused with atmospheric, depressive and noise influences.   But that description really doesn’t do it justice.   This band truly sounds like nothing anyone's ever heard before...



3.All of the releases have been released in a 6 month time span, do you put a great amount of time and effort in creating music?

Actually, I spend ridiculous amounts of time crafting, rehearsing and recording every song I put out.   I spend the vast majority of my time working on music, at the expense of everything else in my life.   In fact, all this Bane Of Radiance material that I've put out recently was written many years ago...



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?

The lyrics are reflections on human perception.   They denounce the superficial ideals and preconceptions of our society, and galvanize the listener to look beyond them, to develop his or her own way of seeing life that is best adapted to his or her own situation...



5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Bane Of Radiance'?

Every human being has an intrinsic vitality, a natural ability to create and assert his or her creation upon the world.   This inner strength is radiance.   It can manifest itself as an endless plethora of things: inventions, philosophies, objects, children...

However, our modern society is so polluted and overcrowded with the billions of creations and accomplishments of thousands of past generations that there is little room left for creations of the present generation.   This oversaturated society suffocates our ability to express ourselves, to think for ourselves.   There are so many norms and beliefs already in existence that they form our ideologies before we can even consider forming our own.   Our phones are so smart that they think so we don't have to...

Not only are we in conflict with pre-existing ideas, but we are all in conflict with each other.   On a day to day basis, every human being tries to assert his or her own way of thinking, the way he or she wants things to be, only to find that everyone else is doing the same.   Everyone is only looking out for themselves.   Nobody else wants things to be the same way you do.   And hence, you are constantly competing with everyone else for space to be heard, for space to survive...



6.With this project you record everything by yourself, do you feel this gives you more freedom on creating the musical style that you want?

There are very specific soundscapes that Bane Of Radiance is meant to depict.   These visions arise from my mind and my mind alone.   The input of any other artist would dilute and perhaps even disrupt said visions.   Bane Of Radiance is a manifestation of raw negative emotion; I won't have that expression sullied by musical standards and expectations that other musicians might have.



7.Currently you are signed to Satanica Productions, can you tell us a little bit more about the deal you have signed with this label?

Satanica Productions offers so much freedom and acceptance to their artists.   There's really no restrictions on what a band can or cannot do.   The label manager, Xan, is a great guy who really helped promote my music and start me off in the music industry.



8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?

Reactions have been quite extreme actually.   Some people absolutely hate how I don't follow the norms and standards of music as we've known it.   On the other hand, some people seem to love hearing something completely different from what they're used to, or something that's just so unpredictable, violent and chaotic.



9.Where do you see yourself heading into musically during the future?

Though the next Bane Of Radiance albums are looming on the horizon, I'm actually starting another more important project.   It's even more innovative and conceptually deep than Bane Of Radiance.   It's safe to say that, musically, things are about to take a darker turn...



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?

I grew up listening to dark and freakish horror movie soundtracks, instead of all that Disney shit.  Those horror soundtracks are where the ambient, noise aspect and cinematic flair of my music comes from.   As for black metal, I've been heavily influenced by the USBM scene, notably the SF Bay Area.   Bane Of Radiance has strong roots in Leviathan, Xasthur, Krieg, Crebain, Draugar, Brown Jenkins and Weakling.   Nowadays, I'm still digging all of them, but also getting into more bands outside the US, such as Thantifaxath, Peste Noire, Myrkr, Striborg...



11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Exercising so I don't die of muscle atrophy.   Public speaking in front of large crowds.   French Canadian girls.



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

To you, good sir, thanks very much for your time and interest.   To anyone else who's bothered reading this far, question everything.

https://baneofradiance.bandcamp.com/