Pepel Interview

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

"Hello!

Thank you for your interest in us.

We are a two-piece black metal band from Varaždin, Croatia. We're just two guys who share a passion for black metal and everything surrounding it. We started this band to create honest, raw, and melodic black metal without limits. Our sound is influenced by the old school spirit of black metal while still reflecting our own ideas and identity."

2. So far you have released a full length and an ep, musically how do they both differ from each other?

"The album is more straightforward black metal, while the EP shows a more mature approach than our previous release. The lyrics are much more personal, dealing with our own struggles, darker thoughts, and the shit we've been through."

3.Both of the band members are also involved with other bands and projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Pepel' that you have not been able to so with your other groups?

"Mostly, it's a relaxed and enjoyable process. We enjoy working on new songs, and our vocalist uses his signature shriek vocals. Fran makes all the riffs and plays all the instruments. We are very good friends in personal life me and Matija and one of the things that connects us is also that we are very relaxed when it comes to music. We know how to make compromise with each other and we get along very good, thats why our music process is relaxed."

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored on both of the releases?

"On our first album, the lyrics are mostly focused on satanism, darkness, anti-religious themes, and traditional black metal subjects. The EP is more personal and mature, dealing with inner struggles, negative experiences, and the darker aspects of human existence. Also both of them are inspired by Dantes Divine Comedy with concept and art that this classic piece of literature gives. Searching for your inner freedom in this earthly desolation is most important thing that gives us energy for our music."

5. I know that the bands name means 'ashes' in Croatian, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

"The name fits well with our music because ashes represent something that remains after destruction — something dark, cold, and connected with death and decay. It reflects the atmosphere we create through our music, dealing with darkness, despair, and the darker sides of existence."

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork you went for on both of the album covers? The artwork for both releases was created to match the atmosphere and feeling of the music.

"For the album, we wanted a darker and more chaotic image that represents the themes of darkness, destruction, and the atmosphere of the songs. Three fallen souls, archangel of darkness that devour you with that faceless look. The raw and cold look of the artwork fits the sound and overall feeling of the release. It was made by Fran's friend. For the EP, we went for a more minimal and mysterious approach. The artwork has a more personal and symbolic feeling, reflecting the darker and more introspective side of the music and lyrics. That painting is work of Austrian painter Alfred Kubin and our EP name is actually the name of the painting itself Vergessen, Versunken."

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

"Maybe. We have thought about doing live performances in the future, but for now we are taking things step by step and we will see what happens."

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

"Most of our merch is already sold out in our country. The majority of the CDs are sold out too, and I think our British label only has a few copies left. We had limited edition of T-shirts from our first album and it was sold out immediately. We also did a reissue of CD of our first album with the label from Turkey, I cant really tell how many copies he got left. There was cool issue of cassette edition with one label from China, that was good quality of print. Now we are planning to release EP version on CD, hopefully it will go well."

9. 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?

"Two of Matija's other bands, the death metal band Corpse Grinder and the sludge project, are in the final stages of mixing and mastering their albums. Scumbag will soon enter the studio to record new material. Fran is preparing two splits for Voha, for one I can tell it will be with Černobog from Croatia. Also he is preparing a full length album for Voha and his death metal band Visceral Embrace. I can only say it will be oldschool and brutal as fuckkk!. For Devilkommando we will prepare for sure something in the future but now we are on pause for a little bit with that band."

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

"We will see what the future brings. For now, we just go with the flow and see where it takes us."

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?

"Matija listens to a lot of grindcore, crust punk, metal punk, war metal, countless death metal bands, and also Ulver." Why did Matija especially mention Ulver I really dont know hehe :). Fran as composer listens to a lot of melodic black and death metal, especially old school death metal and a lot of synth/dark wave, blues, classical music, as you can see a lot of music that is not even metal. In one of the interviews for MetalBite Magazine, Fran mentions that riff composing is for him sectioned in two ways (technical and songwriting). This is what Fran said for MetalBite: "At my teenage age, I fell in love with the Finnish black metal scene. Their tone and riff making techniques are the ones that I am trying to incorporate in my music." But with Pepel there is something different that burns inside me. With Voha it is different, I think Matija would say the same thing with his writing for Corpse Grinder."

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

"Thank you for your interest in us. Keep playing metal loud and proud, fuck posers, and make sure to check out our other project, Devilkommando."

"Stay metal!!! "

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