1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Hail! Actualy we are trying to get fit together with news quad. We played first gigs, recorded Gehennah cover for „Tribute to Gehennah” and slowly new album hatches in pain.
2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings?
- ¾ of Empheris are old motherfuckers, so don’t expect modern music! We still walk on the way Venom/Bathory started. Whatever there is XXI century, and we can’t use analog studios, cause they don’t even exist. That’s pity. I am wondering how many bands would stay on stage if there wouldn’t be digital recording.
3.While there has been plenty of releases over the years most of them have been splits, what was the decision behind going into this direction?
There were no decisions to record splits with other bands. It was done, that’s all. Behind all of this releases were unique story. Most of bands we recorded splits, are our friends and all was agreed personaly and often under the influence of alcohol. And for example after „Rock na bagnie open air fest” around 4 AM by the table (partialy under the table) we were talking with buddies from Wishmaster and agreed to record a split. Plan was that Empheris will play in Wishmaster style (Evil Heavy Metal with influences of Mercyful Fate), and Wishmaster will play like Empheris. After few months split was ready and released. I would like to mention that during this fest (it was it's first edition) one man died, and after the fest took place, there were some explosives found, fortunatelly they didn’t explode. As you can see we recorded plenty of splits, so we can tell a lot of stories.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Until recently most of lyrics wrote guitarist Wit, but he left the band. His lyrics were mostly about death, necroism, and similiar subjects. My lyrics for Empheris oscillate around Lovecraft, old myths and cults. Our poetry always made some coherent whole.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Empheris'?
- Blood, Fire, Death!!!!
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
You know, every show is some kind of celebration for us, and we are always honored to play. We always give 100% of us – but every band says the same thing, so lets skip this. We realy enjoyed to play in Gdańsk, where came a lot of maniacs. Every show was fucking awsome. Doesn't matter if it's a small club or an open air or show in Berlin beside Inquisition, with whom we had great afterparty or beside Rotting Christ and Varathron (Hail Brothers!!!), Aura Noir, or one of my fulfill dreams: show beside Possessed and long chit-chat with Jeff Beccera!!!
7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Yes, we have touring plans, but it’s to early to say something closer. You know, Empheris isn’t a touring group – we can play 5-7 shows in row, but this isn’t serious tour in compare where you play whole month day by day. Personally I experienced that kind of tour with one of my past bands – it was fucking awesome. But actualy we have our own families, kids, jobs… so it’s really hard to leave all behind and start serious tour. But single shows – yes! Until June we are planning to visit whole Poland, maybe some shows in Germany, Slovakia, but this is still in plans (now is only January).
8.Can you tell us a little bit more about the many bands that you have shared splits with over the years?
Nooooo!!!! Morbid Execution, Warfist, Embrional, Wrath, Nocturnal Vomit, Grotesk, Revelation Of Doom, Thanathron, Wishmaster, Beast Petrify, Cryptic Rites. Most of them are still my friends, and I still have contact with them. Value of these unofficial manager releases is priceless. I can tell, that few splits was abandoned because of lack of involvement of publishers. The split that didn't happen and I regret it the moost was split with Kommandant. Both bands recorded materials, cover was ready with all graphics, but label (fuck off and die!!!) was delaying the release forever. We decided to abandon the project.
9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and thrash metal?
Huh, dude, I don’t know how to refer here and how to put up an answer to your question. At the beginning of Empheris I stood against any web activity for promotion. I sent first releases only for classical paper zines (hmm…today still 90% of my promotional mail goes there, haha!) and I attached promo with my own „R’Lyeh’ zine” and post it worldwide. You are asking me about feedback – I' ll answer like a politician: always was fucking awesome. But still I am saying the truth…but there were reviews, where some people said „oh man, those guys are so ugly!” haha
10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the bands members are a part of?
Tomek split up Hazael and he is playing only in Empheris. Steyr is playing in Hell Patrol and soon he will play few shows around south Poland – they are also preparing to record some new stuff. Burner of the Cross is playing also in Chanid, and Bonif ocassionaly records bass parts for many diferrent projects of ex-guitarist Wit, like Necroist, Omnemogram, Eris. I am slowly preparing to start new „R’Lyeh’ zine” #13, Hellish is suspended (Beldaroh is touring with Besatt whole the time, Morbid from Throneum moved to Norway – lean years). Waroath I am playing with Wened (Venedae + 100 other projects) is composing some new material…at last I have to go to Bytom again and scream a bit like guest vocal in Det Gamble Besatt or Besatt. Fuck – I wrote most about me, but about me I know most!
11.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
- Fuck off! New full length should have been in 2009. From this year we experience fucking problems with squad, with material, with all other shit. Every year another problem comes up. In 2012 we had material for 2 discs album, but even this collapse… Worst of all were personal changes in guitarist and drummer position. I hope 2016 will be the year we stay a bit longer in studio.
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?
We are listening all kinds of metal (of course except nu metal and post-something – it’s misunderstanding). Everything we were listening in our life influence us. Bathory, Venom, Celtic Frost, Possessed…A lot of Thrash, Death, Black Metal, classic Heavy, and so on. In exact moment during answering your question, I am listening Destruction’s Infernal Overkill…Bonif likes most american thrash and death metal. Tomek if my informations are certain, idolatrously honors Judas Priest and Morbid Angel. Steyr and Burner of the Cross are fanatics of war metal.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks for interview! Good luck with Occult Black Metal’ zine!!! If anyone has any questions about Empheris or R’Lyeh’ zine, feel free to write me: Adrian, P.O. Box 20, 02- 919 Warsaw 76, POLAND. hellishband@o2.pl. 666!!!
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