Mnajdra Interview

 

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

This is a completely new project. The idea is to blend black metal with some slower elements like doom to create a crushing sound from the ancient gods. Somebody described our sound as catastrophic and I love that.

2.Recently you have released an album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

A mix of dissonant black metal with doom. There are some death riffs, sludge, post metal, etc. But the idea was to blacken everything and make it cohesive. Something terrifying but also magnetic. Inescapable.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the bandhas explored so far with the music?

The entire thing is inspired by the ancient megaliths left behind by cultures that we don’t have much  understanding of. Ancient people that constructed these incredible temples and we don’t have a clear definitive idea why or what they were used for. So the lyrics play with that theme. Who were their gods? We imagine them ourselves and craft stories and rituals for them.

4.I know that the bands was named after a megalithic temple found on the island of Malta, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

The megaliths of Malta are among the oldest known of in the history of the world. Malta is an incredible country with a lot of complex history and layered culture. Mnajdra is a name and place that jumped out at me after visiting it. It beckoned me to create something and take it as the namesake. What would such a thing sound like? For me ancient megaliths with mysterious cults and gods could only be interpreted through a blackened doom sound. 

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

The artwork is from an artist I discovered on Instagram. It wasn’t commissioned but rather just sitting there for sale. When I saw the piece that became the cover it seemed to have everything this project needed. Mystery, monuments, chaos, and some sort of central godlike being. There are multiple pieces of his that were used for the physical packaging and our logo. 

6.Are there any plans for live shows or is this strictly a studio project?

For now this is a studio project but we’ll see what comes of it.

7.So far very little is known about the project, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?

As long as this is a studio only project the lineup will be kept private. As with most studio projects of this genre the members are involved in many other projects so we’d like Mnajdra to exist on its own. 

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

We would like to connect with a label to release better physical copies than the DIY cassettes and CDs we made but despite the success so far nobody has responded to our inquiries or reached out. It may just be what it is.  

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

The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Black Metal Promotions premiered the album and we’ve sold a lot on bandcamp. Only a couple reviews have come in so far but they’ve been great. 

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

With everything being so new it’s tough to say. Hopefully whatever comes next will be even more devastating than the debut.

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?

Nothing specific. Just an amalgamation of every style of extreme metal that worked well enough together. My most recent purchases were on Record Store Day and I picked up Death and Enslaved. 

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

We’d like to thank everyone for this amazing reception right from the start. Sometimes it can be difficult to launch a new project but that was not the case here. You have our most sincere gratitude.

Bandcamp