1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Infernal Tenebra got signed to Massacre Records in 2012 and we just released our third album entitled New Formed Revelations. We just put out a video for the song Blood Stained Canvas produced by Meisterwerk Productions and recently played a show with Fear Factory and Devin Townsend Project.
2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it
differs from previous releases?
It follows a certain progression into a melodic death/thrash metal style with prog, groovy and modern elements on top. We added some clean vocals just to spice things up, some accoustic guitars to add atmosphere and several effects and keyboards where we felt it contributed the overall sound. Infernal Tenebra actually used to have a keyboard player back in the day, but today we’re more into modern type of sound, still taking care of being true to our roots. New Formed Revelations was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden and he did an amazing job bringing the best of us out and making a cohesive, modern and enjoyable record to listen to.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores
with the music?
The lyrics reflect our life, our society, the position of a human being in today’s world. New Formed Revelations is about humanity left with itself to reflect upon its decisions, directions and paths taken. It's about fallen leaders and regimes. It's a vision of a world based on truthful values lost somewhere on the road.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Infernal Tenebra basically means Shadows of hell. The band was named back on the day of the eclipse of 1999 by our bass player Paolo, the only original band member left. He is into some weird and obscure shit, but I don’t really know much about it, as I (Darko – guitars, vocals) joined the band several years later, in 2003 as a guitarist and took over vocal duties in 2006. I have my own vision of the band’s name. For me, it reflects today’s world, the inability of the human race to get itself together and move into a better place for us all to live our miserable lives. I see it as human stupidity to make sense of what matters, and what doesn’t.
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and
how would you describe your stage performance?
We were very excited to play Bloodstock Open Air 2012 in UK and were amazed by the reactions of the crowd after the show. We also enjoyed opening the first Croatian international festival Metalfest Open Air 2012. I guess we’re not that wild on stage (meaning we don’t jump and headbang like crazy) as our music is pretty much complex and I’d never sacrifice the music performance in favor of stage performance. We also see fans follow what we play carefully, I guess we’re that kind of band where people come to see us first because of the music. But we do go wild sometimes and everything goes to hell.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
We have plans to participate on several festivals in 2013, but none are confirmed at the moment so I can’t say anything yet. We also got some invitations for possible tours with foreign bands but we’ll choose carefully the band we feel will be ideal for us to be a part of the tour with.
7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by
fans of extreme metal?
It actually started to grow intensely since the album release. People love it, enjoy it, buy it, download it, steal it, hahaha. It’s the way it is today. Anyway, we’re here beacause we like creating music and it’s normal we’d like as big exposure as possible, but it is also very hard to make music if it doesn’t pay off. There must be a balance, else it’s really hard and only a matter of time before it all falls apart.
8. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?
We used to be members of several Croatian underground metal bands. I released an album called “Paths of Insanity” in 2004 with a band called Forlorn Legacy and toured Europe with Vital Remains back in 2005. Ivo (lead guitars) played for a local undergoround band Mercenery Cockroach and released two guitar-oriented solo albums in his band called Arthrone. There’s no projects going on right now, except for new Infernal Tenebra music as we’re focused on making the next release even more extreme, more catchy at the same time. We listen to our fans, the reviews and try to lead the band into the right direction. But in the end, we’d never make music we don’t personally like. It just comes out naturally. I mean, I don’t care about metal sub genres anymore, we create what comes out, we work on that to be as assured as possible we accomplished our vision and the rest is up to the fans to decide.
9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
I’m sure it will evolve even more into something more accessible to wider audience, but still very powerfull and old-school. It will flow even better, be more intense but at the same time more listenable.
10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your
newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
It’s hard to say as we listen to tons of music, some not even having much to do with metal music at all. I don’t know, from Gojira, Revocation, Obscura, Necrophagist to jazz. Even shitty pop music if we need to vomit or have fun with.
11. Does Occultism play any role in your music?
It used to, especially in the early days. But I guess it kinda faded away. I’m not the suitable person for that question, but I think Paolo would be the real deal for that.
12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Well, you know... I’m into music production and science. Ivo (guitars) is a guitar instructor in the local music school and enjoys fishing. Paolo works in the national electric company and is also into motorcycle sport and Sandi (drums) works in the metal industry. Apart from that, we enjoy good wine, watching bands playing live, hanging out with friends and getting drunk or whatever, you know, the usual shit.
13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Check us out if you’re into sincere, no bullshit, extreme metal music and support us! Thank you!
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