Cloak Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Cloak: We starting playing together in the Fall of 2013 but we really came into fruition during the early months of 2015 after a brief hiatus. We are currently writing for a full length which should be out by next year. Our debut 7 inch EP is being released on June 20th by Boris Records.

2.How would you describe your musical sound?
Cloak: We could be described as having the spine of a powerful rock band with the essence of a black metal band. Our sound is haunting but alluring, vicious yet beautiful.

3.Your lyrics cover darkness and left hand path spirituality, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?
Cloak: We've always been attracted to the darker side of life and the boundless spirit that lives within our earthly bodies. This band has served as the perfect tool for working with these dark and powerful elements. I want people to be taken far away when they see or hear Cloak, just as we are every time we play.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Cloak'?
Cloak: The word obviously means something that conceals or mystifies. We aim to explore the forbidden and hidden treasures of this world and of our minds. We want to delve deeper and deeper into what others may want to keep a mystery. 

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Cloak: Our stage show looks exactly how the music sounds. It's a celebration of death and rebirth of the spirit every time we perform. One of our more notable shows was with Taake this past March ('16). It was a great opportunity for us and we got an incredible response.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Cloak: We have an amazing record release show on July 1st in Atlanta, and then a show with Withered and Inter Arma later this summer. Touring will be planned in the not so distant future.

7.Boris Records are going to be releasing your ep in June, are you happy with the support they have given you so far?
Cloak: Extremely. It will be an excellent debut release.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?
Cloak: Surprisingly very good. Not just from black metal fans either. I thought we would run into more pretentious and elitist assholes but for the most part people have been very impressed by our shows and sound. It's something different. Maybe it's what people have been waiting for in a sea of endless mediocrity.

9.Are any of the band members also involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
Cloak: I am in a band called Paradox but currently no one else has any other projects.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Cloak: I have thought about this a lot and I wouldn't want to answer this question because creativity is ever changing. Who knows what the second album will sound like. I can tell you the first album will sound extremely powerful and I think it will leave a mark on people.

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?
Cloak: We have so many musical influences. Anything from Dissection to Rainbow, or Fields of the Nephilim to Pentagram. We don't like to keep our influences in a box, and we are almost to the point where we can look inwards for inspiration. We have developed our own sound, which is the goal of course. Recently I've been listening to Satyricon - Volcano, The Fog original movie soundtrack, John Carpenter - Lost Themes II, Iron Maiden - Seventh Son, Behemoth - The Satanist, Samhain - Initium, and Mortuary Drape - Tolling 13 Knell.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
Cloak: It's hard to answer for everyone but mostly horror movies, those of the 70's and 80's. The atmosphere of these films has influenced the band as well. 

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Cloak: Be on the lookout for our debut EP! This is only the beginning.
Band photo credit: David Parham

www.facebook.com/cloakofficial

http://www.boris-records.com/

http://borisrecords.bandcamp.com/

Cloak/Self Titled/Boris Records/2016 EP Review

  Cloak  are  a  band  from  Georgia  that  plays  black'n'roll  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2016  ep  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Boris  Records.

  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  and  after  a  few  seconds  the  music  starts  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  musical  direction  which  also  introduces  melodic  guitar  leads  onto  the  recording  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  riffs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Elements  of  black'n'roll  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  grim  black  metal  screams  and  both  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  also  add  in  a  touch  of  goth  rock  and  doom  and  both  of  the  tracks  also  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  musical  direction  and  the  second  track  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  Cloak  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  black'n'roll  with  some  elements  of  goth  and  doom  which  also  makes  the  songs  stand  out  a  bit  more,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  left  hand  path  spirituality  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Cloak  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  black'n'roll  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "In  The  Darkness,  The  Path".  8  out  of  10.   

(www.cloakatlanta.bandcamp.com)