Svart Lotus Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

S: Since the album was recorded we have been hard at work, promoting, putting finishing touches on designs and releases, as well as rehearsing the material so we can present it in the best possible way live.

Lately my mind has been giving me ideas about the next album so we will see what happens

2.You have a new album coming out in March, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

S: The new album is a shorter, more focused effort than our previous offerings. Despite dealing with dark, heavy themes it is still a more extroverted album than "Stemmer fra Dypet" that mostly dealt with the voices in my head thematically and lyrically.

As with all Svart Lotus releases this album is also a journey from start to finish and is best enjoyed sequentially and in full.

3.This is also your first album since 2018, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on with the band during that time frame?

S: Covid killed a lot of things. And during covid I wrote and rewrote and reworked and recorded and re-recorded the album so much that my bandmates probably hated me. But the end results are undeniable. We still released a couple of singles during this period to show that we are still alive and kicking. But all in all during covid everything went very silent for a long time. And that was needed to really appreciate what was missing. Svart Lotus did some shows during covid but playing for a sitting audience of few people is not what gets our blood boiling.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

S: This album deals a lot with alienation, the feeling of being an outsider in this world and reality. But specifically there is also a lot of bitterness and reproach of humanity, the way we fuck up the planet and each other for profit.

With age also comes the ability to reflect, to look inwards and explore things that are deeper. Breath, silence and nature as well as our inward journey is explored in new ways.

Songwriting-wise we grow as musicians and know and trust each other much more now, so there is more room for everybody’s vision.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

S: The cover is a still photo from an old movie called "Dr Mabuse, der spieler (the gambler). It has a weirdness and an occult mood that i felt needed to be explored musically. As the album found its form it became clear that this had to be the cover.

6.Originally the band started out as a solo project, what was the decision behind expanding into a full line up?

S: As the music evolved it was clear it needed to be played live, thus members accumulated, and each brought their own vision into the band. The end result was so much stronger because of it.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

            S: Svart Lotus on stage is more direct and brutal than on album, we pride ourselves on delivering flawless and powerful live shows.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

S: As of right now, no, I’m horribly busy with 1349 for a while, but I’m working hard on squeezing in some shows with Svart Lotus in there.

 9.The new album is coming out on 'Hellstain Productions', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have been a part of in the past?

S: The physical CD is coming out on "Hellstain Productions", the digital is handled by ourselves as always. Svart Lotus has been independent always, so it speaks to the quality of Hellstain that we decided to work with them.

 10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black and extreme metal?

S: The singles from the new album has been favorably received by everyone that has heard it. On the 1st of March we will unleash the album upon the world and let people decide for themselves.

Reactions are generally positive, and I’m happy to say that the identity of Svart Lotus is a strong one with a particular sound that people recognize as such. - Nobody says that this sounds like anything else, it only sounds like.... Svart Lotus.

 11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

            S: We go wherever we want to go, judging from the stuff coming out of my guitar these days we will continue down this path of blackdeathdoom with proggy touches.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?

S: Many of us play in other bands and spend a lot of time rehearsing and learning material and thus don’t have so much time to listen for pleasure.

During the last couple of years new music from Dødheimsgard, Fortid and SIGH has been on my ipod a lot. I also fell back in love with classical music again.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

S: Som et vondt år is out on Friday 1st of march. Stream it, buy it from Hellstain on CD or cassette from Snake Oil, but listen to it and tell your friends!

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https://svartlotusband.wixsite.com/svartlotus

Svart Lotus/Som et vondt Ar/Hellstain Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Svart  Lotus  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Some  et  vondt  Ar"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Hellstain  Productions.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  to  them  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing,  when  the  music  speeds  up  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

   One  song  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  which  also  return  on  a  later  song  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  an  old  school  style  when  they  are  introduced  on  the  album,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Norwegian  and  cover  human  nature,  ego,  existentialism,  darkness,  doom  and  despair  from  a  psychoanalysis  point  of  view.    

  In  my  opinion  Svart  Lotus  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Distraction  Industry"  "Cryptic  Lights"  and  "Svart  lotus".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100029115116147

https://www.instagram.com/svartlotus_official/
https://svartlotusband.wixsite.com/svartlotus