Othalan Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

1. As a band we’ve just been essentially rehearsing our setlist and getting everything as tight and intense as we aim for it to be for our live shows 

2.You have a new album coming out in July, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

2. Musically It’s a jump from the early demos as this project began more as a relatively pagan black metal band. While the 80s and punk influence was always there, we just have fully embraced the sleaze now at this point and hate brought a significantly more energetic, intense, and riff filled record. 

3.The earlier music was more pagan black metal while the new album is more blackened thrash metal, what was the cause of the musical change and also do any of the band members still have any interest in Paganism?

2. Musically It’s a jump from the early demos as this project began more as a relatively pagan black metal band. While the 80s and punk influence was always there, we just have fully embraced the sleaze now at this point and hate brought a significantly more energetic, intense, and riff filled record. 

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release?

4. Lyrical topics for this album consist of some varying degree. Some that are personal songs themed as betrayal and shady indidivuals where some are just about eating pussy worshipping evil

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Othalan'?

5. Othalan itself just kinds naturally came from when the band began as pagan black metal, I wanted something where the name would be in reference to something from the religion to some degree without it being just a standard one so that’s where I’d found this spelling/annunciation of the Odal rune, odins rune and went with it as he is the one I primarily perform blots too 

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

6. So the artwork, we wanted to go to ballsy in the sense of not trying to hide at all who influenced us, anyone that sees this is going to immediately get the reference of Judas priests, painkiller. Combining that with the bathory goat gives listeners a pretty straight forward expectation of what they’re getting into and setting the tone before you even hear the first note. We wanted the first debut release with us doing black thrash to be a massive homage to some legends 

7.Originally the band started out as a solo project, what was the decision behind expanding into a full line up?

7. So while I, (Tommy Tyrant) still do majority of all the song writing, I knew I always wanted to bring this band to the stage. After a few solo lives shows I knew I was doing the material a disservice by not having a full band energy there so that’s lead to where we are now.

8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

8. We’ve done a lot of spectacular shows between some noteworthy local shows to opening for the legends in Venom Inc. Our live show is a high octane demonstration of blasphemy and intensity and speed, delivering  heavy beer chugging sin filled sleaze wherever we go always bringing out a mosh and have been begun seeing some maniacs out there crowd  surfing in trash cans which we love. 

9.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

9. We have a show booked later this year in November with one of our heroes, Midnight. Between everyone’s work schedule  we are amidst planning a tour going from Florida to to Texas and back along with next year going up into Ohio and into the northeast as well. But most definitely once everyone can get dates aligned we are touring out to Texas later this summer and back hitting New Orleans along the way! 

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

10. The reaction to this band has been my favorite as we are a very love or hate band. I love this, while we won’t turn away casual listeners, we don’t write this for the casual listener this music is about sleaze and blasphemy and worshipping the gods of the 1st wave and for those that take refuge in speed and sleaze, we are loved. 

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

11. While we have some plans for future records to mix in some elements of other genres such as doom and grindcore, the main focus going forward with the band is to continue making things more intense and hellish 

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.  A lot of influences on this band is namely just about any 1st wave black metal band.  But to get more specific venom, bathory, hellhammer. A lot of that and glam believe it or not, we take all that and mix it in with elements of crust punk too as punk has played a massive role too. Most recently far as listening goes I’ve been finding myself in a strange binge between dungeon synth and crust punk/grindcore 

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

13. I just got three things to say to everyone as final word yes: Smoke beer, drink drugs, and eat pussy! 

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