Interview done with Horned Almighty done by Patrick
1.Hails please introduce yourselves to the readers?
The cult was formed in the year of our Horned Lord 2002. We hail from the shores of Denmark and have been puking our black vomit and bile upon the world for nearly 20 years. Formed by S. (vox) and Hellpig (guitars) respectively, and shortly after joined by Harm (drums), this trio has been the core and foundation since the birth of the cult – now accompanied by Haxen (bass). A total of six studio albums over the years plus various splits and ep’s and numerous live ceremonies should very much define our existence so far…
2.When did you first discover metal music and who were the first bands you listened to?Who are some of the current bands that have caught your attention?
I (S.) discovered extreme metal in the early nineties, firstly death metal and shortly after black metal. First it was Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse etc and then I discovered Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone and the likes. Some of the new interesting names in the scene are Andavald, Misotheist, Tragediens Trone, Qayin Regis among others…
3.When did you first meet the other members of the band and was it long before you all started Horned Almighty?
Hellpig and I have known each other since 1995 and had a previous band called Mareridt (Nightmare). We did a couple of ep’s back then, before we quit. A couple of years later the urge to create dark and sinister music returned and thus Horned Almighty was conceived. First as a mere project, but the entity became stronger and grew into a conscious being, which needed all of our attention and has been a part of us ever since…
4.Who would you say are the bands biggest influences and have they remained the same over the years?
In the beginning, the goal was a musical return to what inspired us to begin with – classic Norwegian black metal. Our first recordings were crude and very much in the vein of the wellknown formula. One gamechanger though, was our drummer Harm who had his own unique drumming style. Mixing the energy of punk and crust with regular black metal soon became our trademark in the early days, which gave us a definition of a mixture between Darkthrone, Celtic Frost and Motorhead. The style has not changed since then, but has been perfected into a mix of black, death, doom and thrash – but the main influence is still black metal.
5.To Fathom The Master's Grand Design is the bands newest release that will be released early next year.How long did it take the band to write the music on the new release?Does the whole band take part in the writing process or does one member usually write everything?
The album has been written over the course of five years. Many obstacles occurred along the way, which postponed the album, making it one of the hardest we ever wrote – sometimes to the point of existential doubt… Material slowly took form and finally evolved into the manifest that is To Fathom the Master’s Grand Design! We’re old school, almost everything is written together as a band. This method is more time consuming, but works best for us and gives us all a much more personal relation with the material
6.Who usually handles writing the lyrics for the music and what are some topics written about on the new release?Which usually comes first the lyrics or the music?
I do all of the lyrics and have done so since the beginning. Mostly they are written prior to the music, it happens when I have enough inspiration and ideas for them . The new album is a concept album of the destruction of man - History has proven that evil exists on many planes, from the forces of nature to the human psyche. The higher laws of nature are cruel and unrelenting, without sense or remorse, nor compassion for mankind. Each song is a historical manifest of the demise of man, resulting in a massive epitaph for humanity…
7.Besides the upcoming To Fathom The Master's Grand Design release are the bands previous releases still available for the readers to purchase?Besides physical releases does the band have any other merchandise currently available if yes what is available and where can the readers buy it?
The first two albums Black Metal Jesus and The Devil’s Music are getting harder to come by, due to low pressings. The rest should be available for those who seek. Some of our previous works are also available from us, along with various merchandise – all through our bandcamp: https://hornedalmighty.bandcamp.com/
8.Does Horned Almighty play live very often or do you prefer working in the studio?What have been some of the bands most memorable shows over the years?Who are some bands you have shared the stage with?
We are most definitely a liveband – we do not write or compose anything, which can not be manifested into our liverituals. Our endeavors are widely available on social media for those interested. Each ceremony is an intense culmination of energy, darkness, wrath and redemption, which should hopefully leave the spectator partially devastated, partially redeemed! We have shared the stage with quite a lot over the years, such as Dismember, Gorgoroth, Enslaved, Shining, Archgoat, DHG, Bloodbath, Vader and many many more!
9.Are their any tours or shows planned for 2020 if yes where will the band be playing?
No tours planned, only a couple of one off rituals so far.
10.What does Underground Metal mean to you all?
Everything, since it’s been a part of us most of our lifetime and this will hardly change. The scene, the ones in it, the mentality, the innovation, the creativity – it is what drives us to do what have done, what we will do in the future and why we are doing it. It is a symbiosis of giving and taking, an alpha and omega of the true essence of higher existence…
11.Besides Horned Almighty do you or any of the members currently work with any other bands?If yes please tell the readers a little about them?
Yes, but none which are important in relevance to the cult of the Horned…
12. Horned Almighty comes out of Denmark's blackend death metal scene what is your opinion of the metal scene in Denmark over the years?
The scene here is stronger than ever, especially the underground. Bands like Solbrud, Orm, Genfærd, Phrenelith, Taphos, Wulfaz, Afsky, Serpent’s Lair and Gespenst are among those worth of mentioning. Great things are happening within our narrow walls indeed!
13.Who are your all-time favorite bands coming out of Denmark?Are their any new bands you could recommend to the readers?
I have no alltime favorite band from Denmark, a lot I find good though. See answer above
14.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
The Grand design awaits and you are all a part of it!
S./Horned Almighty Anno MMXIX
Band Contacts
https://hornedalmighty.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hornedalmighty
