Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Barren Altar Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
1. Started in the fall of 2013 with the intention of blending depressive funeral doom with furious black metal elements, a style we felt was underrepresented in our local metal scene at the time. We all draw from our eclectic tastes, themes, musical truths, and strive to covey all of this in a live setting and on our recordings.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that has been presented on the recordings you have released so far?
2. We can only express a specific performance on a recording based on where we are all at in that moment in time. It's a captured essence of what we were channeling during the recording sessions. Each performance is an engagement along with those around us in a collective gathering coping with the harsh realities of the human condition that we are all dealing with at that moment in time. Each gathering is unique and fleeting.

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical content that is presented on the full length that is coming out this year?
3. Each song is a meditation on destruction. Destroying our gods, destroying ourselves, and destroying each other.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Barren Altar'?
4. The Barren Altar is the ritual site where man in his desperation finally prostrates himself before the void. He begs for forgiveness and absolution. He offers prayers and sacrifices that are destined to go unanswered, for all prayer is vanity and no one is there to listen.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
5. Our first show out in the middle of a forest was an amazing experience. From the sweltering heat of the set to the epic late night adventure roaming the woods. There are still ripples from that set that affect us and our opportunities to this day. Also, some of our other early shows had a special magic to them when we were first galvanizing our band, seeing how the energy consumed yet rose higher than its sum, almost breathing a life of its own that we still conjure on stage to this day.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the album is released?
6. Yes, we're going on a 12 day west coast run up to Seattle and back and everywhere in between, June 21st to July 2nd.

7.Last year you where a part of a split with 'Argentavas', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?
7. Love those guys, stalwarts of the local scene. In fact, their bass player joined forces with us last year and is doing a phenomenal job.


8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
8. If the right label comes our way with an offer we'd be interested. We'd also like to have a label press our works on vinyl at some point in the near future.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and funeral doom metal?
9. Can't speak for worldwide response, but as far as the Bay Area metal scene is concerned we've received very positive feedback from bands that share similar ethos, concert goers that catch our live sound and energy.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
10. We are all involved in other projects, either bands that existed before ours, or new collaborations with members of other bands in our local scene.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
11. Continuing down the same dark path until the coming storm pulls us into the void.

12.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?
12. Anything from classics like Black Sabbath, King Crimson, and The Doors to modern day black metal, Enslaved, Borknagar, Death Spell Omega, Blut Aus Nord, Svartidaudi, to sludgy/doom bands like Hell, Yob, Thou, Sleep, Chrch, and Primitive Man.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?
13. Being disappointed every morning that we didn't die in our sleep and have to go to work.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
14. Fuck life, worship death, live for never.

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