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George: Since the recording of the album, we worked on its release and promotion. We signed a deal with the record label Loud Rage Music, recorded a few clips and trying to secure some gigs. We also worked on new songs for a follow-up to The Calling.
2.The band started in 2016 but you waited until 2026 to release any material, can you tell us a little bit more about the earlier years?
George: In 2016, we weren't a real band. Marius (the founder and band guitarist) composed a few demo songs and I did some lyrics and a short story, everything in a first draft form, unfinished and unpolished. Everything got shelved after not so long, due to more important life commitments at the time for both of us. It was only in early 2020 that the band became a reality, with the current line-up, actual songs and dedication. In retrospect, we might have released the album earlier, but we were affected either by the pandemic, financial constraints, lack of studio experience or just bad luck. At one point, I also left the band for a few months because I was struggling with depression and it was holding everything back. Either way, the time passed came with a powerful learning experience for everybody involved.
3.You have your first full length coming out in the middle of May, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
George: The foundation is black metal, but far from a traditional one. Marius is a very expressive and natural guitarist and most of the riffs are his, including the influences coming from progressive metal and post-metal/rock. Everybody else came with their own personal touches, but in the end, we can call the music post-black metal. Everything was done by feeling, smooth, flowing and in agreement with each other, while trying to be self-critical. The chemistry between us also helped a lot.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
George: I wrote a short story, initially to help inspire Marius, but it became a complementary element, like a lyrical adaptation of the music. While this is a concept album, each song has a different theme and a sub-topic, a distinct threshold crossed by the wandering hermit. From renunciation, to reinventing his identity by killing his old one, dealing with temptations, suicide, his relationship with the past, the outside world and with death. And of course, how he views himself throughout the story, from the beginning of the journey until his dying breath.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
George: a friend of us made it and surprised us with the level of details and with how much he was in tune with the music. The end result represents this annonymous hermit traversing the hostile desert.
6.Out of all the shows the band has dene so far, which one stands out the most?
George: I believe it was the first gig we did, for Rockstadt Fest (a different event than Rockstadt Extreme Fest), in Brasov, on May 2022. It was the first live experience for myself and Ionut, the bassist, and the moment we received our first feedback from the public. The place was packed and it was an amazing and insane experience.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
George: We have two confirmed live shows for now and hopefully, we will get to play more gigs until the end of the year.
8.The new album is going to be released on 'Loud Rage Music', how did you get in contact with this label?
George: We got recommended, I think. It was an easy pick, I believe, since it's the label who supports Romanian metal bands the most.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
George: I don't know, really. I'm not sure we have fans outside Romania.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
George: Since we have been working on a second album, I can obly say that the writing is evolving, but that's just the natural way of things.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
George: We are in our 30's, so we are more mature and open-minded about music. I can list tons of genres we are into, even outside metal, but every person in the band has his own tastes and guilty pleasures. As tight as we are as bandmates, we are as different from each other musically as one can get. Still metalheads at core, though.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
George: For the readers - follow us on social media and continue to support the metal scene!
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