Prepare for the revelation! Serpents Oath unveils the journey from initiation to adept in their third album, 'Revelation.' Explore the thematic intricacies, the fusion of black metal elements, and the visual storytelling shaping their transformative vision. The upcoming release promises a sonic journey of haunting melodies, intricate riffs, and blistering drumming. Join Serpents Oath in their unique blend of fresh and classic black metal, as they discuss their evolution, live performances, and the significance of the album's various formats. Don't miss the insight into 'Pandaemonium' and the band's unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional black metal.
1. Congratulations
on the upcoming release of 'Revelation,' your third album. Can you tell us
about the inspiration behind the title and what listeners can expect from this
latest release?
The album
describes the journey from initiate to adept divided into 3 chapters, split by
the 3 intros “Invocatio Genesis” “Invocatio Apocalypsis” and “Invocatio
Resurrectio”.
It all
starts with the first step on your own path, symbolized by the Genesis chapter.
In order to progress however, one has to break down the taught barriers and go
through a process of de-identification, symbolized by the Apocalypse chapter.
Only then can one be reborn, symbolized by the Resurrection chapter.
The three
chapters thus look at a similar subject from different angles. If we look at fire,
from a genesis perspective, we see it as the spark of life or the spark of an
idea. From an apocalypse perspective, it is the all consuming fire devouring
everything in its path. From a resurrection perspective, it is the inner flame,
the Black Flame of spiritual enlightenment when one finds the Source within
oneself. In summary it shows the transition of first nurturing your Inner Flame
to eventually deploy it in order to devour everything that stands in your way
with an all consuming inferno.
The title
“Revelation” on the one hand refers to us revealing a new and improved version
of ourselves. As the word itself comes from the Greek “apokalypsis”, which
means unveiling or revealing. Hence in this context it speaks about some of the
lyrical content as the revealing of divine mysteries.
2. Serpents
Oath is known for blending fresh and classic black metal elements. How did you
approach the songwriting and musical composition for 'Revelation' to maintain
this distinctive fusion?
When
working on these songs in particular, we had a live environment in mind. That
was also a result of being able to play it “live” with 5 members in the
rehearsal room. We could test out what worked for us and what didn’t. This was
a great filtering process and actually meant we brought the songs to a new
level. The end goal was to make songs that would take you by the scruff of your
neck and wouldn’t let go.
3. The
videos for 'Blood Covenant' and 'Purification Through Fire' showcased brilliant
visuals. How important is the visual aspect in conveying the essence of your
music, especially with the upcoming release 'Pandaemonium'?
As we
launched our debut album in the full lock down pandemic period, we only had
videos to share our vision with the World. They were instantly picked up with great
interest. From that point forward we have been building on that, release by
release, to also use that avenue as a way to spread our message. Just like we
pay a lot of care to the art that accompanies a release, just as much
dedication goes into creating a visual representation of the song. This is all
then taken to a higher level by working together with great visual artist who
bring their expertise to each video. Visions realized by truly dedicated people
in their own field that make the difference.
4. Can
you provide some insights into the thematic elements of 'Pandaemonium' and how
it fits into the overarching narrative of 'Revelation'?
The vision
behind the band is one of transformation. This shines through first and
foremost in the lyrics and is carried through in the cover art and other
visuals. The transformation is that of an individual striving to become
transhuman with the ultimate goal of beating even Death. This is the ultimate
rebellion as even Death is not accepted as a given.
Lyrically,
the 3 albums represent 3 steps:
-
The initial spark, the inner flame that leads
to action
-
The second step where you destroy your old self
-
The final stage where you are reborn into
something new, having connected with the inner Serpent
Musically
they also share a clear connection and each new part is a new evolution. Just
like the Serpent that sheds its skin, and a new version emerges, so have we
evolved and that evolution you can hear on the new album.
5. 'Pandaemonium'
is described as a combination of unrelenting rage and dramatic parts, resulting
in an epic hymn. How did you balance these contrasting elements during the
creative process?
When we
first starting jamming, we immediately recognized that there was an instant
connection and a unified vision of what we wanted to deliver. Since then the
internal fire has only been burning brighter which pushes us to constantly
grow. On a practical level, Daenum and Bealus, our guitarists bring the music
to the table. Together with Draghul on drums, MĂžrkald on bass and myself on
vocals, we shape these into the songs you hear on the album. The fact that we
live in the vicinity of each other and get together several times per week to
play music and discuss a variety of topics has had a major influence as well.
It has meant that we have established a unique bond as we have become more than
the sum of our parts. It also meant that musically we got aligned very quickly
and could test out new ideas immediately and keep new music flowing. Spending
that much time together not only means that you get attuned to each other but
also that you keep pushing each other to constantly improve. Our vision of
transformation also applies to that: tomorrow you should be a better version of
yourself than today.
6. The
song speaks of the Final Harvest and the Undead Gods. What inspired this
particular theme, and how does it contribute to the overall atmosphere of
'Revelation'?
The song
indeed speaks about the time of the Final Harvest. Here, once again, the Undead
Gods step forth from the shadows to reign in resplendent glory and reap the
Lifeforce of humans, establishing Open Rule over all creation. They cull a vast
majority of the population and use that lifeforce to openly rise to power once
again. This is inspired by the prophecy set forth in the writings of the Temple
of the Dragon. This particular theme not only fits perfectly to title of the
album “Revelation”, as the Undead God reveal themselves, but also is the
perfect ending, as al of the themes before it have led to this conclusion.
7. With
the release date shifted to January, fans are eagerly awaiting 'Revelation.'
Can you share the significance of the album's various formats, such as the
Wooden Box and Die Hard LPs?
Since the
release of our first album we were in contact with Shadow of Odium Records.
From the beginning it was obvious that we shared the same vision on what Black
Metal should be, so when it became time to look for the right label for our
third release, it was clear to us to switch to Odium. We are honored to team up
with an elite underground label that has released material from bands like
Ofermod, Beastcraft, Acherontas, Varathron or Black Altar.
The most
important aspect was that they put quality before everything else. This
attitude is carried forward in the products themselves and this for example has
led to the release of the limited edition wooden box set. It brings together a
package that is only found in this set, with its unique T-shirt, amulet and
embroidered patch.
8. As a
Belgian black metal band, how does the local culture or environment influence
the music of Serpents Oath?
Even if we
are a small country, we understand like no other the importance of delivering
something exceptional. It doesn’t matter if it is chocolate, beer or metal. As
long as you deliver something that makes a difference, people will pick it up,
no matter where you’re from. That has always been our starting point anyway, as
in the end the geographical origin of the band is secondary to us. A band has
to deliver music that leaves a mark, no matter what its origin is. That is the
essence which will capture the attention of the listener rather than where the
band lives. For us as well, it was never about carving out a spot in Belgian
Black Metal, rather than establishing Serpents Oath in Black Metal in general.
9. In
the realm of black metal, Serpents Oath is recognized for its unique twist on
the genre. How do you see the band's evolution and growth reflected in
'Revelation'?
As this is
the third record, we realized we had to challenge ourselves. Not only did we
switch labels, but we also went to a different studio. The goal was to capture
the energy that our live performances have and combine that with a pulverizing
sound. At Project Zero Studio we achieved exactly that goal. We had already
worked together with Yarne on the video clips from our previous releases and
that always was a great cooperation. When he then opened up his new studio, we
deiced to pay him a visit. During that visit it became clear that he understood
what we were trying to deliver and convinced us that he would be the right guy
to achieve the result. Now we are very glad we took that chance as Yarne pushed
us to our limits when recording and then assured the mixing and mastering
delivered that skull crushing result.
10. The
album promises a sonic journey filled with haunting melodies, intricate riffs,
and blistering drumming. How do these musical elements contribute to the
overall atmosphere and storytelling of 'Revelation'?
For us
these musical elements perfectly underline the themes and atmosphere. In
general, only Black Metal could be the vessel for the vision that we are
delivering with Serpents Oath, there is no alternative. We needed it to be
primal and bursting with intent. And that is what we are delivering. Right from
the start we just played the music that we wanted to play and have a strong
connection to. The source of that is probably situated in 90’s Black Metal
since we experienced it first hand in that period. So although we aren’t
directly influenced by any particular bands, the fact that we create music that
harks back to that same era, probably means that it is bound to be fast. It
isn’t just about speed however, we always look for intensity in the song, even
if the tempo is slower. In the end it needs to be pure and deliver a punch in
the face.
11. How
do you envision Serpents Oath's live performances, especially with the
atmospheric and intense nature of your music?
Bringing
our vision to life on stage has always been our aim. Every time we play, we
give our all. We also make the venue we play our own Temple and invite the
listeners/viewers to take part in the desecration that is Serpents Oath. Hence
all of our performances bring different memories with them, connected with the
audience that were there that night. The energy that we receive from the audience
is immense. It is what keeps you pushing for more and as such becomes part of
that transformative process. In the end that is what the aim of extreme music
is, to be played live with an audience that loses themselves, as that is what
lifts you to another plane. Nothing compares to that. Take all the live streams
that you want, they cannot capture that energy on film. You have to be present
in order to experience it. How else can you smell the incense, taste the blood
in the air and feel the warmth of the flame on your skin? Only in a live
environment does this music truly come alive.
12. Looking
beyond 'Revelation,' what's next for Serpents Oath? Are there any upcoming
projects or developments that fans can anticipate?
You can
expect that we will remain dedicated to bring inspiring Black Metal with true
intent that will leave its mark, both on record and in our live performances.
Come and join us!
Serpents Oath (@serpentsoath) • Instagram photos and videos
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