Mortui Vultus Interview

 

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

1. Our music is a blend of post-black metal with elements of post-rock, post-metal, screamo, and shoegaze. Overall, it can be categorized as blackgaze, although we don’t limit ourselves to any specific genre. We strive to create an atmospheric and emotionally rich sound that balances between dark aggression and melancholic contemplation.

2.In January the band released their first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

 2. The process of finding someone to mix our music turned out to be quite long. We tried working with different options, but often the result was either overloaded with compression or simply didn’t match our sound.

Eventually, a friend of ours offered to help – initially, we planned to mix only a single, but we liked the result so much that we decided to continue working together and entrusted him with mixing the entire album. That’s how our creative collaboration began.

In terms of sound, we were inspired by bands that influenced us at the time, including Deafheaven, Nothing, Asunojokei, Oathbreaker, and Alcest.

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

 3. The album’s lyrics reflect the state of a person affected by war. Most of the texts are fragments of an internal dialogue, where thoughts, emotions, and attempts to make sense of what is happening intertwine.

One of the key themes is hope—it constantly emerges in this dialogue, like a glimmer of light amidst darkness. Hope that all this will end one day, that the world will regain its former shape. But with each passing day, it seems to slip away, slowly dissolving in a reality filled with anxiety and despair.

At the same time, the lyrics convey a struggle for inner resilience—attempts to find something positive, to grasp onto meaning, to keep the motivation to continue living and moving forward despite the surrounding chaos.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Mortui Vultus'?

4. The name Mortui Vultus translates from Latin as “Dead Face.” It symbolizes the state of a person constantly troubled by internal struggles. This face appears lifeless, detached, artificial—like a mask hiding deep exhaustion, emptiness, and loss of meaning.

The name reflects not only personal feelings but also the condition of many people around the world who have lost their bearings and cannot find their way.

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

 5. The album cover is a photograph taken by our friend from Dnipro, who also works for one of Ukraine’s major media outlets. She visited us in Odesa, and during a walk along the seashore, she captured a moment: our guitarist Sasha was standing by the water with our mutual friend, looking at the sea.

This photograph seemed like the perfect visual representation of the album’s atmosphere. Symbolically, the sea represents the unknown, an uncertain path stretching before a person. The figures in the image embody people standing in front of this vast uncertainty, while the horizon fading into the distance symbolizes hope—distant and elusive, yet something we continue to strive for.

6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

 6. Since the band’s inception, we have been actively performing in our city and across Ukraine. Now, we are organizing a tour across the country, with all proceeds going to support our friends on the front lines—whether through humanitarian aid or financial assistance.

7.Currently the band is unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

 7. At the moment, we are not signed to a label, though initially, we wanted to release our album under one. We reached out to several labels, but the terms of cooperation didn’t suit us, so we decided to promote our music independently.

However, we are open to collaboration. We would be interested in working with a label that could help with merchandise production, concert organization, and, of course, financial support for recording our next album. By the way, we are already working on new material and plan to release our second album soon.

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

 8. This question is a bit unusual because audience reaction is not our main priority. However, on the other hand, we do care about how people perceive our music.

Right now, we are not well-known in Western media or Europe in general, but in Ukraine, we have received positive feedback. People praise the atmosphere of our music, our live performances, and note that the band has potential and a drive for growth.

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

9. We definitely hope to continue evolving—both in terms of the quality of our music and expanding our audience. We would love not only to perform in Ukraine but also to play shows in Europe and even America.

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?

10. Various genres have certainly influenced our music, especially blackgaze. Each of us listens to different styles, which helps us take an unconventional approach to songwriting—both in terms of arrangements and tonality.

Some of the bands that have inspired us the most include Deafheaven, Alcest, Albrave, Asunojokei, Oathbreaker, and Whirr.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

 11. Besides music, each of us has our own interests. For example, I (Lev, the vocalist) am into visual arts and drawing.

Our guitarist Sasha works in SEO—he’s an SEO specialist and really enjoys it. Another guitarist, Ilya, works in game development—he’s a game designer and has even created a horror game.

Our bassist Tolik, however, doesn’t seem to have any particular hobbies aside from music—just like our drummer, Semyon.

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

 12. Thank you so much for your questions and for helping us promote our music. This really means a lot to us. We hope to see you at festivals or concerts in different countries someday.

Our main message is to remind people that war is still ongoing in Ukraine. Even while answering these questions, several rockets hit my city. And I want people outside of Ukraine to remember this. We are losing an entire generation, and that is terrifying.

Right now, it is crucial for us as musicians to have our voices heard not only in Ukraine but also across Europe. Thank you for your support.

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