1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
The band was founded in July 2016, by Somberlain (drums), Cerebrum Mortuus (vocals) and Khamul (guitars). Our hometown is Nagykanizsa, in Hungary. First we started with some covers, from black metal bands. In 2017, Blutaar (bass) joined us. Before our first album, we released a demo (2017) and a split (2018). The band plays black metal with some thrash/death metal influences.
2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous demo and split?
The split contains some live recordings, songs from the later full-length, and an "old" one from the demo. I think, compared to the demo, the new songs are more elaborate, and grimmer on the album. We tried to be loyal to the old, laid-out funds, which were in the traditional black metal scene. The lyrics are also more serious.
3.Your lyrics cover Satanism, Occultism and Anti Christianity themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?
The lyrics are written by our vocalist, Cerebrum Mortuus. So they represents his thoughts about many things. For my part, the philosophy of The Church of Satan is close to me, and I am also interested in the Aztec/Mayan death cult.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Feretrum'?
It means catafalque, and first we decided to use it in Hungarian, as "Ravatal". We wanted to have a short and dark name, which can represents the music we play. By Hungarian pronunciation, this name sounds great with the deep vowels, and gives a raw impression. At that time, we had no own lyrics yet, so some could have been in our language too. But there was a Ravatal in Hungary, between 1998-2001 so it was better to translate to the latin form. Our lyrics are in English, with some latin parts.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The cover artwork is made by a great Hungarian designer, Anvil Kvlt, who is working in the underground. We sent our lyrics to him, and asked him to create an image based on them. In the front cover, that is the Franciscan church, which is in our hometown, Nagykanizsa. You can see the Capricornus Constellation above that. The style of the whole cover is cosmic, according to our themes. I think, the artwork presents our music and concept very well.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Fortunately, many of our shows were with good audiences. For example, we like to play in the Liszó Rockfestival in every August, because many people come to it. I think, one of our best shows was in the end of last year, in Pécs within the IX. Christmas Blackmass. We are grateful to the audience and to the Gylliath horde. We play our songs with intensively staging, of course that fits to this genre. The shows are important, because that is the best way to manifest the audial darkness, with our energies.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Yes, there are already some fixed dates to this year. It would be good to play again in the Christmas Blackmass.
8.In 2018 you where a part of a split with 'Princeps Daemonum' what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?
We know each other with Malevolus since 2005. He leads Princeps Daemonum alone, but worked with a guess musician in the last materials. I think, his split with Hell Icon was very strong. He had another band too, called Urna, and before Feretrum, we played with him for a few months. Thanks to him, and to Dávid Szabó for our band logo artwork. Princeps Daemonum, and some other bands had an idea, to record an Abruptum tribute release. But as I know, this has not been realized. Malevolus has one song to it, in memoriam It from Abruptum, with the title "Convenio Cum Abrupto - My Curse". Last summer, during we were preparing behind the stage, he asked us to do a common material. After the show, we got some live recordings from the sound engingeers, so we used them to the split, and the "Convencio..." song from Princeps Daemonum. The title is "Nefarious Rituals", and it released in August, with a frosty cover.
9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We have no label yet, but we are trying to find one. I spoke with some foreigners, but hopefully we can agree with a Hungarian underground label. Now our full-length is available from Total Därkness Propaganda label and distro, and from us.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
Usually we talk with some fans from our country, and from abroad. We try to spread our music, but it's not so easy. Eventually, the band is in the underground scene, so if someone is seriously interested, he can find us. We are glad for any inquiries. The full lenght album was sent to several magazines and webzines, now we are waiting for the reviews. The review is important, if it is constructive. Positive and negative opinions are welcome, they also serve promotional purposes. Many people have already praised the album. I think, our first years, musical ideas, comprehensive lyrical themes, and the personality of each band members can be found in this material with a raw sound. We are proud of it.
11.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
We have no other bands. I have a one-man project, called Sedit, and I released 3 demos with that. The music is a little bit simpler, and leaner than Feretrum, similar to some raw black metal bands. Making music alone is not as energetic as we play alive music... In my opinion, black metal is not a simple genre, but it has a strong spirituality and soul. You can feel it in every real black arts. That's why a live band can be much more better than a project. According to Sedit, ever since we founded Feretrum, the band is more important.
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I think our music is constantly evolving. We have some new songs after the album, and they are a little bit different from the others. But I don't exactly know, in what direction will the themes go, they aren't discussed in advance. Maybe we will able to record a more technical and rougher material in the future.
13.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?
Maybe the biggest influences are Mayhem, Gorgoroth and Dissection. I usually say, that the band includes the old-school signs like Burzum, but some other vibrations too, like Mgla, mixed with a little thrash metal influence too. (Because Somberlain and me had a band before Feretrum, and we played metal like Sepultura, and the other members also like that genre.) In my opinion, this means Feretrum nowadays. We have a lot of old and new favourite bands, like Darkthrone, Dark Funeral, Uada, Nordjevel, Gnosis Occultus, Icon of Phobos, Windir, Melechesh. And there are some remarkable hordes and musicians from Hungary, who also affected us: Dusk, Gylliath, Sear Bliss, Komor Romok, Teurgia, Thy Funeral, Fagyhamu and more.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks for the interview, and for the album review on your site! We would like to say HAIL to all of you, who visited our shows, or listening to our music, and to those bands who helped us. The true metal underground has to work in this sick World.
Khamul / Feretrum
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