1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Hi, we are Solfatare, a Belgian Black Metal band emerging from Brussels. Our music draws from the roots of traditional Black Metal while embracing a more avant-garde touch, weaving dissonance, glorious melodies, and visceral riffs into an unrelenting journey toward the heights of despair. Blending ferocious aggression with haunting atmospheres, Solfatare delivers gritty introspection and offers a personal reflection on existence.
2.In May you have your first full length coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous demo?
The album is in direct continuity of the demo but with greater artistic maturity, complexity, and refinement.
3.This is also your first release since 2019 can you tell us a little bit more about the 6 year wait in between releases/
The finest endeavors are those shaped in the shadows, like an assassin sharpening his blade, ready to strike at any moment. This album is the result of years spent sculpting sound with intention and heart. We followed inspiration wherever it led us, even if it meant tearing pages from our own book and starting again from scratch. Starting over became part of the process and a habit to support. Each riffs were shaped with care. A slow-burning creation that drew the full spirit and devotion of every band member.
4.A lot of your lyrics cover existential themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
It is not just a topic that we wanted to approach, it is a real scourge. The absurd nature of existence is an obsession for us. Born from sleepless night and animated by a dizzying lucidity, Solfatare saw the day of light as a vessel of self-expression. Writing is a cathartic experience with the singular strength of transcend anguish itself, wielding its own dark force to rise above it. Sublime switch where the very essence of the negative becomes a path to light.
Trapped between the search for meaning and the unreasonable silence of the universe, we stand as philosophers of the apocalypse, with nothing to offer. Merely conductors of a rusty brass ensemble, an atonal string section, a timpani roll heralding the storm. Emptiness flows through us, conducting a symphony for onychophages, ad nauseam.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Solfatare'?
The band draws its name from a sulfurous volcanic vapor, thick, choking, and steeped in myth. The root of this word lies in a dormant volcano nestled within Italy’s Phlegraean Fields, a place the ancient Romans once imagined as a gateway to the underworld. Long silent, the region has recently stirred, its uneasy rumblings and recent volcanic activity has captured the attention of the scientific community. Should it awaken in full, its fury could cast a shadow over all of Europe, plunging the continent into a shroud of ash and ruin.
But more than just an interesting volcanic feature, for us it also perfectly embodies the internal turmoil within our minds, churning, boiling, fuming, poised to erupt at any moment.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Everywhere you look, people are rushing toward petty goals in a frantic performance. Desires clash and spiral; countless hands stretch out, blindly grasping for something, anything, that might bring meaning. But answers remain out of reach.
This is what the album cover portrays. A humanity in suffering, reaching out toward a flicker of hope. It reflects the central theme of the record: that we are enslaved by our relentless need to hope, despite what we know, against what we know, even when it leads us nowhere.
The artwork is a fragment from a painting by Jean Delville, a Belgian symbolist from the early 20th century. I (T.S.G.H. speaking) first encountered Delville’s work while studying at university. One of his pieces, depicting Prometheus gifting humanity with fire and knowledge, hung in the library and always left a mark on me. When we began searching for an image to embody the spirit of this album, we revisited Delville’s works and came upon the one we are using now.
7.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?
We didn’t performed any live show yet. We are currently working on bringing the new album live on stage.
But some Solfatare’s members have stage experiences and are actively playing or have played with other bands.
T.S.G.H. is currently live guitarist for the band “Herzog” who has recently released a first album “Furnace” under the banner of Amor Fati Production.
T.G.T.H. played drum for “Oath Okrana”, another Brussels based Black Metal band.
Don’t miss the opportunity to check on those bands.
8.So far very little is known about the band, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?
Yes, we are not seeking stardom. Our music is a humble expression of ourselves. The future will tell where the wind carries our fumes and where the ashes of our first eruption will settle.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
So far reactions have been quite positive to the 2 tracks premiered. But the album is still yet to be release in its entirety. We will see after the 2th of May.
Interestingly, concomitant to the announce of our release and the first track being premiered, the volcanic activity of the Phlegraean fields increased, forcing the neighboring cities to be evacuated. Knowing that the last major eruption in this area is hypothetically linked to the extinction of Neanderthal and the onset of an ice age, that would do an interesting album release promotion with worldwide impact. Brace yourself for 2th of May.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Nothing is certain, only death is true in this fleeting world. For sure we would like to hit the stage to present the album live. Also, this will not be our last creation and more can be expected. But our peculiar brew need time to ferment in the fuming caldera left by our first eruption.
Creativity is flowing like churning magma but we are convinced of the importance of self-restrain in order to release something truly inspired, that we would think is worth to reveal to the face of the world. Patience is the mother of all virtues.
11.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?
I think our influence are quite various, it is difficult for us and we don’t want to play the game to pin-point just a few bands. That being said I think we drew influences from the Icelandic and French scenes as we grew up musically listening to them and share some common features in terms of duality between dissonance and melody.
Regarding what we are listening nowadays that can be quite eclectic and not only metal restricted.
(T.S.G.H. speaking) Not a day goes by without me listening to Emptiness albums « Vide » or « Not for Music », those albums really got me hooked. Not sure if I am doing myself a favor by doing so though. Also, I recently discovered bands like Forsmán or Ferriterium and have been playing their respective albums “Dönsum í logans ljóma” and “Calvaire” on repeat.
T.G.T.H. is diving back into and reexploring the discography of Manilla Road classics. Also lately, he's been stuck in a death metal phase.
N.C.P.M. unwinds and let her thoughts wander while listening to Blut Aus Nord - “Hallucinogen”, the latest Chapel of disease’s albums, or any Wardruna or Drudkh releases. When she needs more energy, she turns herself to Misþyrming, Vonlaus or Vortex of End.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
First of all, thank you for taking the time to conduct this interview and for your interest in our work.
Let’s conclude this conversation with a quote from Cioran that summarize well our state of mind: “In a world without melancholy, nightingales would start burping”
Best regards
Solfatare
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