1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
We made our first tour in Eastern Europe last February, and a show at Black Hole Fest, Switzerland. A whole year has passed between the recordings and the release, so we had time to make some shows and to write new songs for a future album…
2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
The new album is more epic, Rock'n'Roll, and more complex too. But the writing process was more simple than the first album for sure. You can expect more clean vocals and joyful riffs, Bad Flask was darker, Distant Kingdoms will be more accessible I guess.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters with this release?
Everything is in the title. "Distant Kingdoms" describes all the imaginary worlds we want to explore. New castles, new creatures, new nations… It's a great escape from the real world in fact. There is a lot of heroic fantasy in there. I don't think we upgraded our songwriting process from Bad Flask, it's just we took more risks, it's less Black Metal, more diversified. But every songs are different: Torvuus wrote half of the album, I wrote the other one.
4.Lyrically you have also covered witchcraft and medieval fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?
Witchcraft is a cool subject. But we speak about witchcraft as a solitary activity, made by a lonely witch, in a forest or cavern… We use Medieval fantasy as the result of tons of hours spent on video games : The Elder Scrolls, Diablo, World of Warcraft, and movies like Narnia, Lords of the Rings, The Hobbit… We grow up with these themes, it's logical for us to speak about it. But the main goal is to escape the boring reality…
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
We were looking for a picture showing a character in front of a giant castle or kingdom, we had a precise idea of what we wanted. We contacted Thomas Ewerhard, who makes great covers for many years, notably for Avantasia. The style was perfect to illustrate the cover, and we love the final result.
6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding your line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?
We are brothers, and we started to play guitar almost at the same time, when we were teens. But when we decided to start a band, we didn't find any drummer, so Torvuus started to learn drums, and there is the result. About finding other band members, I don't know. It's already difficult to arrange our agenda to go on tour or make studio sessions, so I can't imagine if we were 4 or 5 in the band.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Our first show in Romania was great, we didn't expect so many people, and beside the stress, we made a good show. My favorite show was surely in Budapest, Hungary. We started to play at 1.am. I remember falling asleep backstage haha. The crowd was very wild, great memories.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
We will play for the first time in France next year (4 shows), and a new small tour is planned for February/March 2023, in Eastern Europe too.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black and extreme metal?
The album, at the time where I'm writing, is not released yet. So I don't know the future reaction, but we don't think about future reactions, what is recorded is recorded.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We started to write the third album, and the only thing I can say, it's that it will be different from Distant Kingdoms. I can't imagine the band making twice the same album. So…
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
A lot of classic rock, alternative rock, and country music, but I am always looking for great new black metal bands. For example I listen to Jucifer and My Darkest Days every morning these times haha. Torvuus is also a fan of punk, glam metal, heavy metal… A lot of Motorhead and Motley Crue in our ears by the way.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Fuck elitism in metal!
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