Interview Mrakomor

In this interview, we delve into the world of Mrakomor, a black metal project hailing from the Czech Republic. We explore the origins of the band and the inspiration behind starting a black metal project. 

1. Can you tell us about the origins of Mrakomor? How did the band come together and what inspired you to start a black metal project?
When I was around fifteen years old and I started to perceive music, black metal completely captivated me with its rawness and authenticity. I started visiting the czech chat portal Xchat, where fans and musicians of the czech black metal underground met in the Black Metal chat room. It was around 2005. Above all, I would mention the legendary Trist, whose music influenced me the most. So I started creating my own songs.

2. Mrakomor is named after a wizard from a classical Czech fairytale. How does this character relate to the themes and atmosphere you explore in your music?
Mrakomor is translated as CloudPlague. First of all, I like the name, and secondly, he is an interesting character in the fairy tale. He's an evil sorcerer who's driven by love, which I think is what black metal is all about. It is an evil that hides beauty and deep feeling.

3. The early years of Mrakomor were spent in the Czech underground scene, with limited releases on tapes. How do you reflect upon that period now, and what were some of the challenges and achievements you faced during that time?
I was much younger, so I evaluate it positively, but with a bit of a smile. I took all the black metal clichés far more seriously. That's why I distributed the tapes only among the faithful and those who were "true" enough. If I had told myself back then that one day I would have music on a streaming platform, I would have been absolutely against it. It was a beautiful time, but very naive.

4. After a long hibernation period, Mrakomor returned in May 2023 with the release of your first official EP, "V Dekádách Dekadence" (In Decades of Decadence). Can you talk about the creative process behind this EP and the themes it explores?
Around 2012, there was less and less time for music, but all the time I played the guitar in my spare moments. A lot of ideas came together during that time, but the main inspiration was how the world is today and black metal is the best way to get all that shit out of you. The lyrics relate to that too. I've been writing poetry all along and the lyrics are composed of my poems that I've written over time.

5. How has the black metal scene in Ostrava, Czech Republic, influenced your music and the overall sound of Mrakomor?
Ostrava is a city for black metal created with a unique atmosphere. The town was mostly built in the 19th century because there were coal deposits and factories were built there. It's been a long time since mining ended, so the city is full of abandoned buildings and old mining towers. This is a huge inspiration and beauty in ugliness and filth, simply the essence of black metal!

6. Your EP "V Dekádách Dekadence" is now available on digital platforms like Spotify. How has the transition from physical releases to digital distribution affected the band's reach and audience?
Streaming platforms are an amazing way to get music to people around the world. Even though the EP is in czech, for example, I was surprised by how many people from South America listened to it and how popular this music is in general there. People tend to associate black metal with a snowy plain rather than a sunny beach at first impression, but that's just a superficial view that was wrong. That was the biggest benefit of Spotify and other platforms for me.

7. Mrakomor is currently working on a split release with the Slovakian DSBM band Suicidal Solitude. Can you share any details about this collaboration and what fans can expect from it?
It should be a split album where each of the projects will have three tracks. Plus, one project will take care of the intro and the other the outro. The work has only just begun, but I'm very happy for this opportunity, because Suicidal Solitude's music is great. Releasing a split album will definitely be an interesting experience. And fans can expect underground raw depressive black metal from the heart!

8. Black metal often delves into dark and controversial subject matter. How does Mrakomor approach these themes in your lyrics and music, and what message do you hope to convey to your listeners?
My opinion on this is that controversy is part of black metal and anyone who wants to change it somehow doesn't understand what black metal is about. As I already wrote. Black metal is pure emotion and emotions can be really dark. It doesn't play a big role in my music, because my lyrics are based on my poetry, so there are a lot of metaphors, so no big controversy, but I'm not judging anyone, black metal shouldn't have boundaries!

9. As a one-man project, how do you handle the creative process and bring your vision to life? Are there any specific challenges or advantages to working alone?
The huge advantage of working on music alone is that I think the music is more real, you don't have to compromise and the result is your image, it adds a realness to the music, which is especially necessary in black metal. The downside is that one can sometimes lose perspective, which doesn't help the music much. But I wouldn't change.

10. How would you describe the evolution of Mrakomor's sound and style over the years? Are there any particular influences or changes that have shaped the band's musical direction?
Mrakomor is a raw depressive black metal with a very brutal sound and a slow tempo. A hallmark of Mrakomor's music was a strong emphasis on melodies and a nostalgic sentimental mood that is quite unusual in this genre. The combination of touching melodies and a very brutal sound has always been a typical for my music, and I don't intend to change that yet.

11. Live performances are an integral part of the black metal experience. Does Mrakomor have any plans for live shows or touring in the future? How do you envision translating your atmospheric music into a live setting?
I am dealing with the possibility of live performances, because there have been some offers. It's not something that's necessary for me and I don't want to do it often. My more depressing take on black metal doesn't really fit the stage, but I'm not against it.

12. Looking ahead, what are the future plans and ambitions for Mrakomor? Are there any specific goals you hope to achieve or projects you would like to pursue in the coming years?
My opinion is that music should not be about goals, it should be about message and sincerity. I had a lot of inspiration during the creation and recording of the EP, and I only hope that a similar process will continue with the next recordings. My greatest achievement would be if people always say to themselves when listening to my song that it is true and has a piece of soul in it, because black metal without soul is not black metal at all!!
Thank you for this opportunity, it means a lot to me. Hello everyone who has read this far!

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