Interview with Wardaemonic done by Patrick
1.Hello how is life in Australia this week?Please introduce yourself to the readers?
Greeting, Australia is hot, as always. We're nearly at the end of summer, but it's bringing no respite.
I am Maelstrom, Drummer and vocalist from Wardaemonic. Blitz plays bass and synth programming, Anharat on lead guitar and Bane on (live) voice and guitar.
2.When did you first discover black metal music and who were the first bands you listened to?Are their any current bands that have caught your attention?
Personally, i discovered black metal in about 1998, a couple of years after the glorious second wave rose to notoriety. My first exposures to it were on the internet, using primitive sharing facilities, such as Audio Galaxy and MIRC chat rooms. I think i first heard Burzum and Cradle Of Filth to begin with, I remember not liking it straight away. As with all good things, it took a while to develop a taste for. Things you are drawn to straight away are often discarded once they've become too repetitive and stale.
In terms of modern black metal, the tastes within the band's personal are all quite varied, so we listen to a broad variety of stuff. The most recent album i've acquired in the genre was probably Borknager's "True North", I don't keep 100% up to date with everything that's released, it takes time for things to trickle through.
3.Wardaemonic was formed in 2005 when did you and the other members first get the idea to start this band?How did you choose Wardaemonic as the name of the band?
We were formed in 2005 by the band's original guitarist Regnator, who left us in 2012. He's still alive, just not playing in the band anymore. He recruited myself on drums, Anharat on guitar and Blitz on bass, where we've stayed ever since. We haven't undergone as many lineup shifts as other bands of such tenure, but the lineup has been solid now since 2012. I'm not sure where the original idea for the band came, but I believe it's intent has shifted focus slightly in that time, whilst remaining true to the vision. Everyone brings their different influences to the band, contributing to make something greater than the sum of it's parts.
The name is derived from that of an 'inner guiding spirit', although we take the name to it's logical conclusion.
4.Who would you say are the bands biggest influences and have they remained the same over the years?For the readers who have never heard the bands music how would you best describe the bands
musicial style?
The influence of early Ulver, Marduk and Kvist ir probably undeniable, however everything you listen to influences your playing in some way. Everytime I add another album to the collection, their influence will get added to the mix. As chief lyricist, i'm influenced by the books I read and news too, despite the main lyrical content residing as 'dark fantasy'.
I personally would describe the musical style as 'streamlined, abrasive black metal'. Its fast and straight forward, but we do lend space and time for atmosphere and breathing, these are the things that truly make a good album great - the juxtaposition of silence. There is a death metal influence on the overall sound, but progressive and classical musics also contribute to the colours within our various releases. Guitarist Bane is a season ticket holder of the local symphony orchestra, for instance.5.Acts Of Repentance is the bands newest full-length which is being released in March through Transcending Obscurity Rec. when did you and the band first come in contact with this great label?
Kunal contacted us a couple of years back, when we were still tracking the instruments for 'Acts...', and he was keen to sign us, based on our tenure and track record, I suppose. But until we had our new product finished and ready to go, or near enough, we didn't feel comfortable in signing anything. We didn't feel as though the added pressure of a label worked in our favour - but once we had the record ready to go, we put it forward and signed on the line.
6.Does the whole band take part in the writing the process or does or does one member usually write everything? How long does it usually take to complete one song?
Blitz wrote the whole 'Acts...' album when we were finishing recording 'Obsequium' in 2014. He presented the finished songs whole, all at the same time, rather than drip feeding ideas and submitting half finished riffs - which I personally hate. This method brooks no argument, and the songs changed nearly not at all from the original files. Drums were obviously polished and lead ideas were added, but the structure, riffs and tempos all stayed constant.
7.Who usually handles writing the lyrics for the music and what are some topics the band wrote about on the new release?
The only writing aspect not handled by Blitz are the lyirics, which is my domain. Long a student of the English language and an avid reader, i've always felt that lyric writing came naturally. I usually map out a concept for the album, or individual songs, then write lyrics, syllabically based on what i'm able to do on the drums simultaneously. It's not a totally foreign concept, as i've always thought Chuck from Death wrote his vocals based on what the drums are doing, making most of those songs (relatively) easy to sing and play drums to.
8.Besides the upcoming Acts Of Repentance are the bands previous releases still available for the readers to purchase?Does the band have any other merchandise currently available if yes what is available and where can the readers buy it?
Everything we've done, release wise, is available from our Bandcamp, except the original "From the Dank, Pale Gravelands" debut CD, which sold out it's original pressing of 500. You may find our discs, digital music and other merchandise at www.bandcamp.com/wardaemonic
9.Has Wardaemonic gotten to play very many live shows over the years or do you prefer working in the studio?What have been some of the bands most memorable shows over the years?
We've played under a hundred live shows in our 14 years, I would wager. Playing live is an integral part of being in this band, but as the band has aged, live shows have declined somewhat, we're more reluctant to play frequently and prefer to remain exclusive and elusive.
My personal favourites would be: Behemoth support (Perth 2006), MartyrDoom Fest (New York, 2013), Impiety support (Singapore 2015), Brutalize The Darkness Festival (Jakarta, 2015) and Enslaved support (Perth 2019).
10.Are their any tours or shows planned in support of the new release? If yes where will the band be playing and who are some bands you will be sharing the stage with?
We'll have to tour this new one, for sure. But as to prospective dates, supports or any other questions, we'll have to wait and see. We have nothing booked at this point.. I'd like to go back and play some cities we've already done, personally. Maybe Asia or the USA (once our dollar improves).
11.Wardaemonic comes out of the legendary Australian black metal scene what is your opinion of Australia's black metal scene over the years?
We're proud to have long been a part of this grandiose and incredible scene, strewn with amazing artists at every juncture. It's been difficult to see a lot of our contemporaries fall by the way-side, one by one, as bands age and die, they haven't been replace with many new ones. There are a couple of bands up-and-coming who are note worthy, foremost Christ Dismembered, but most of what we're seeing is blackgaze, shoegaze, DSBM, blackened-core and lots of other subgenres, which quite honestly - aren't cutting it. Not enough bands want to look awful and blast relentlessly, there's too much focus on dress sense, haircuts and merch designs. I know there's a market for it, but like all trends within this genre of ours - it'll wear out.
12.Who are your all-time favorite Australian black metal bands and are their any new bands you feel the readers should check out soon?
We're big fans of Arketh, Destroyer 666, Bloodlust, Astriaal, Bastardizer and others. Some of our deceased mates, like Order of Orias and Erebus Enthroned, are worth checking, but they won't be putting anything new out, i'm certain.
13.What does Black Metal mean to you?
Black Metal is passion and attitude. As long as you're doing it for the right reasons, it comes across in your writing and performance. If being moody and edgy is your goal, then there are other genres and pursuits which might suit you better.
14.Besides working in Wardaemonic do you or any of the members currently work with any other bands or solo projects? If yes please tell the readers a little about them?
Oh, where to start. Bane has been playing in The Uncreation since the turn of the milennium. Blitz plays for Iniquitous Monolith, which is brutal death, and also DeathFuckingCunt, which is technical death. Maelstrom has played for most metal acts around the state, plus live tours for Incantation (USA) and Impiety (SG), but his favourite band to record for is UrDraugr, which has a new release soon.
15.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
No.
Wardaemonic,Perth, Australia
Band Contacts
https://wardaemonic.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Wardaemonic
Label Contacts
https://tometal.com/
https://transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/transcendingobscurityrecords
https://twitter.com/transcendingobs
