1.Hello please introduce yourself to the readers?
Vrath: Hi, my name’s Vrath and I’m the founding member – guitarist/vocalist - of London’s Craven Idol. Thanks for having us!
2.When did you first discover metal music and who were the first bands that caught your attention?Who are some of the newer bands that you have been listening to?
Vrath: Rock and metal have always been part of my life, but I really started seeking it out and collecting in my early teens. My first love were NWOBHM bands like Priest and Maiden, whom I still obsessively listen to today. I think the biggest revelation came when I heard the likes of Satan and Venom, and realised just how deep the rabbit hole truly went. Newer UK bands I can recommend warmly are Grave Miasma, Adorior, Insurgency, and Dungeon.
3.When did you first meet the other members of Craven Idol and was it long before you formed the band?
Vrath: I met co-founder J. Scourger (drums/guitar) at university through common friends and we founded the band almost immediately over a few beers. We were both new to London and looking to form an old school extreme metal band. We continued as a two-piece for around five years, before eventually assembling a live line-up for out debut gig at the Armageddon Festival in 2010. I had known our bassist Suspiral for a good few years before he joined.
4.How did you choose Craven Idol as the name of this band and does it have a special meaning? What is the bands current line-up?
Vrath: The name came to us almost by accident. I listed band names I liked the sound of to Scourger on the phone and one of them happened to be Craven Idol… I have no idea where that came from (perhaps linked to the term ‘graven image’). The name has since taken on many meanings, often eluding to religions and other such corrupt organisations that people hang their hopes and dreams on. These are the craven idols of the modern world. On the cover of Forked Tongues two such creatures – Zeus and Typhon - face off against each other in a battle of cosmic supremacy.
5.Who would you say are the bands biggest influences and have they remained the same over the years?For the readers unfamiliar with your band how would you best describe Craven Idol's musicial style?
Vrath: Bathory, Sodom, Manilla Road, Master’s Hammer, Absu, Mercyful Fate, D666, Gospel of the Horns… just to name a few. I would say the influences have remained exactly the same and I very much doubt they ever will change. I tend to dub us Old School Extreme Metal, because we attempt to slot right into that sweet spot between the first and the second wave of black metal…. Before metal became all about rules and accessibility. Many a writer has called us black/thrash, which I think it a bit too one-dimensional given our wide array of influences…
6.Forked Tongues is the bands third full length release how long did it take the band to write the music for the new release?How long does it usually take the band to complete onesong?
Vrath: Looking back, I believe it took less than two years to write the album. Some of these tracks were around before our second album The Shackles Of Mammon was even released. Of course the music itself doesn’t mean the job’s complete, there’s covers, layouts, and release schedules to sort out… not made easier by Covid. So here we are four years later.
I don’t think there’s a blanket answer to your second question. Some of the songs achieve near completion in just a few rehearsals, whilst others – like say Deify The Stormgod – took around a year of strive to complete.
7.Where does the band draw influences for the lyrics and what are some subjects written about on the new release?Which usually comes first the music or the lyrics?
Vrath: Unlike our previous works, the lyrics on Forked Tongues are heavily rooted in Greek Mythology, more precisely the Titanomachy. The album recites the tale of Typhon, the father of monsters, and his battle against Zeus. According to legend, Zeus won the conflict by throwing Mount Aetna at the Titan and thereby imprisoning him beneath the volcano (that’s eruptions are credited to the enduring wrath of Typhon). Rather than merely retelling the olden tale, Forked Tongues acts more as a sequel, as we witness Typhon’s vengeance on the Olympians. I would say it’s somewhat of a concept album lyrically.
8.Besides the upcoming Forked Tongues release are the bands previous releases still availible to purchase?Besides physical releases does the band have any other merchandise currently availible for the readers to purchase if yes what is availible and where can the readers buy it?
Vrath: Our first album Towards Eschaton was repressed some years back so is still available for purchase. Our second record The Shackles Of Mammon has been sold out for a while now, but I believe it’s getting a repress soon as well. As far as merch is concerned, we have shirts and patches available on our bandcamp. The cover of Forked Tongues will be available as a flag.
9.Has Craven Idol had the opportunity to play live very often or do you prefer working in the studio?What have been some of the bands most memorable shows and who are some bands you have shared the stage with?
Vrath: Before the pandemic hit, we completed a one-month European tour with Brazil’s mighty Mystifier. Aside from creating new music, being on the road is easily the best part of band life, especially when you get to tour alongside your idols. Being in the recording studio itself can be a fairly nerve wrecking and stressful experience, so I definitely prefer actually writing the songs in our rehearsal space (called Death Trap) to recording them.We have had some ripping shows through the years, but most recently our gig in Berlin as part of the aforementioned tour was truly memorable. Bands we have shared the stage with include Sadistic Intent, Nifelheim, Watain, Pestilence, Vulcano, Pentagram, Impaled Nazarene, Demilich, Necros Christos, just to name a few…
10.When the pandemic is over and bands are able to tour and play live again are their any plans to tour in support of Forked Tongues?
Vrath: We currently have a release show planned at London’s Electrowerkz on the 11th of July with our Dark Descent label comrades Grave Miasma. At the time of writing, bans are being lifted in the U.K. so we are hopeful the gig will go ahead. We would obviously love to hit the road for another European tour… though it’s hard to tell when that can happen…
11.When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business what do you like to do in your free time?
Vrath: There is rarely a time when I’m not working on some band business or another. Playing music is an integral part of who I am, and I become extremely irritable if I go without my guitar for too long. That said, I’m a keen reader of history, mythology, sci-fi, and graphic novels, which also is where I draw a lot of my lyrics from. I also thoroughly enjoy drinking craft beer.
12.Besides Craven Idol do any of the members currently work with any other bands or solo projects?If yes please tell the readers a little about them?
Vrath: Members work in many other projects. Three fourths of the band also play in black metal act Crom Dubh. I’m also part of Scythian and Phaethon, whilst our drummer Heretic Blades plays in Fen.
13.What does Underground Metal mean to you?
Vrath: The underground is the truest form of metal. The word gatekeeper has gathered quite negative connotations, but it’s a big part what the underground is. It’s a community where metal exists unblemished from outside trends. There is no ulterior motives like money or fame through gimmicks… it’s music for music’s sake.
14.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
Vrath: Thanks for the interview! Stands strong against the raging tides! Band Contacts https://www.facebook.com/people/Craven-Idol/100063815435756/ Label Contacts http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/ https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords https://twitter.com/DarkDescentRec
