Adramelech, INFERNO: “Not sure if Black Metal can be nowadays considered to be an underground subculture”
April 26, Kyiv will host INFERNO, a cult black metal band from Czech Republic, within Kyiv Black Mass event. Bloodreddistribution spoke to Adramelech, INFERNO vocalist, in anticipation of their show in the Ukrainian capital.
What do you think about when performing on stage? Are you feeling additional inflow of energy? May be re-thinking lyrics of the songs?
The concerts are very spontaneous for me, I am certainly not just standing there, trying to recall the lyrics from memory. Everything flows from the mind very naturally and steadily. The only important goal of our live performances is to translate the darkness burning in our hearts and souls. The concerts should evoke a wide spectrum of boundless emotions and portray the devil?s eden which does not offer only a punishment and destruction, as some may think, but also a great joy, pride, magnificence, audacity and celebration of freedom. It is a great journey on the wings of death towards the timeless chaos.
In one of the interviews you said that “We are not here to satisfy the wishes of listeners. The art is too independent for that.” So, why are you here? Why are you creating music? Is that about inspiration or bursting out what’s inside you?
First of all it needs to be said that the music portrays our mindframes in the certain moment of creation, a period when we freely expose and mirror our inner selves. It is very personal and honest act and thus we do not care much about the opinions of listeners. Taking yet another step in our personal spiritual and artistic evolution is the greatest reward for us. One step out of the many to be taken on the long road of initiation and higher realisation. Focusing on the surrounding mud would just harm our artistic integrity.
You claim that you are willing to remain in the background rather than become popular, be “a number one band for a small label, than the huge label’s number 66”. At the same time, one may notice a bit of emotional sadness about what Inferno has gained in terms of metal scene awareness. So, where is the twilight of the band’s popularity? The place to make what you want without following trends, and yet getting enough, let’s say, financial freedom to allow qualitative recordings and so?
There might be a misunderstading. I certainly do not mind if somene values INFERNO so much that he/she make it a number one on his label. But it is a problem if big labels do not support all the bands on their roster respectfuly and dedicate their efforts to the bands that guarantee a quick profit to the detriment of the smaller ones, which may offer higher quality, yet are on the roster just for the sake of releasing something. And that is what I meant when I said that it is better to be with smaller label that believes in your music and has the similar mindset or ideology. I believe that the quality and the value should always go first. But for some it is more important to make back all the money invested and profit asap, so be it. Inferno will not be a part of this, we simply strive to reflect our inner impulses. We also have no wilful ambitions to attract new fans. As I said, the music portrays ourselves. If it speaks to someone, stirs his or hers imagination or points them towards the left hand path, that is ok with us. But we are certainly not interested in having thousands of sheep-like listeners who are into Black Metal just for fun, fashion or some kind of a cheap revolt. The mundane and humane does not really make one an elite. Black Metal nowadays is more like a circus and it betrayed its potential. So let us ravage the rotten roots and put it in a more fertile ground.
Black Metal lies underground, in the darkness, it’s like something that is not open for everybody’s eyes, and those who are playing the music seems to touch the power or knowledge, as if it were secret groups. Is this the point where black metal intersects with occultism? Where do you draw concepts for your lyrics from?
I am not sure if the Black Metal can be nowadays considered to be an underground subculture. It is true in case of several elect and faithful who proudly work with the principles and ideas of the genre. However, today it is more common that black metal bands, zines and related companies work in a spirit similar to pop-culture. It is arguable what is underground and what it is not, the boundaries of this term keep on changing.
And about the intersection of BM and the occult. Maybe the thing you mention is the very point that is needed by some. Or maybe it is something more mature, profound and intoxicating. I certainly cannot speak for other artists, as this kind of creation is too individual so I will speak only for myself and the band. I need to experience the revelation of the previously hidden, the path towards the other realities colliding with ours. I praise the man in its original form. Whether someone agrees or understands, that is not important. We of course do not claim that we hold the only truth or something. But the path we have chosen is of crucial importance to us. However, the words flow – some have meaning and function, some are empty. If one manages to get through them towards the hidden and actual meaning then consider that a success. What I mean is that if you do not strive for understanding then all is meaningless and knowledge remains just an useless information. We have discovered dimensions of our own and their pathways inspire our texts and music.
Continuing the occult theme, what can you say about symbolism in your art (covers, stage props) and in black metal in general? And can one say that you have used masonic symbols in the “Omniabsence Filled By His Greatness” cover, such as Eye of Providence?
The artwork was masterfuly done by David Glomba and I decided to trust his ideas because they amplified my initial vision. David is now immensely demanded and rightfully so, just check out his works for Svartidaudi, Cult of Fire, Tortorum, Ascension, Death Karma or the latest flyer for Nidrosian Black Mass. When creating images for our album, he was inspired by my lyrics and simply nailed what we wanted. All pictures found in Omniabsence Filled by His Greatness satisfy the requirements of the higher self and should, together with music, serve as the channel towards the overwhelming beyond. Free your imagination and you shall find the path towards the divine. The visuals mirror astral travels, invocations, sigil magic and the lyrics are of chaos-gnostic character coming from the shadow self. All aspects, symbols and graphics included, are chosen after careful consideration to create a self-consuming whole.
More than a year has passed since release of your last album. And many words have been said about evolution of INFERNO reflected in music throughout all years of its existence. If you could, would you change something in the album now?
I do not think I would like to change anything, every part has its meaning and place, nothing is redundant. I could maybe imagine adding something additional in order to enhance the compositions even more towards the darkness of the nameless emotions.
Are you working on new pieces at the moment? If yes, will these significantly differ from “Omniabsence Filled By His Greatness” or are they close to the character of the album?
Yes, we are working on the new album and I can say that it is going to follow in the spirit of „Omniabsence…“, however it shall also present new horizons and paths. The next opus will portray our further growth and eventual transcendence of human self.
Speaking about music physical carriers, what is better — CDs, cassettes or vinyls? And why, in your opinion, are cassettes so traditional for black metal?
Personally, I am a great fan and collector of vinyl. I buy quite a lot of releases and they are mostly vinyl, so here is the answer to what I consider to be better. Of course, I have many CDs that I got as gifts or via trades and also tapes. Some of them are from times of communism when we were quite isolated and people who were hungry for new music could not be choosers.
I believe that vinyl has a great future ahead because it survived, thanks to “underground”, the wave of digital formats and thus they are back with vengeance. Vinyl certainly offers much better listening comfort and I would compare it to reading of an old book. You won?t just throw away a fat, wise book just because of yellow pages and damaged binding. It is by all means a richer experience if you get to feel the weight of the book and smell the scent of paper and ink. The e-books cannot compare to this. And it is the same with Lps but you can also feel a difference between having a CD and LP. Also compare the costs of making 500 Lps and the same number of Cds, or at least check out the prices in distributions. Vinyl all the way, at least for me. Not to mention that the vinyl releases often have bonuses in form of extra songs, posters, patches etc.
When it comes to tapes, I guess it is all about fetish and nostalgia.
Next month, you are going to give several shows in Ukraine. What do you think about the line-up? What can you say about Ukrainian metal scene?
We shall ignite the black flame for His glory. I believe that together with Ukrainian fans the illusions will be destroyed. But to be honest I do not really follow the nowadays Ukrainian scene so I am certainly curious what these days will bring.
He who is illuminated with the Brightest Light will cast the Darkest Shadow.
Andrew Chumbley
The war has not ended.
Adramelech, INFERNO.
Contributed by Helle Bogdanova
