Interview Cognizance

In this exclusive interview, the members of Cognizance discuss the genesis of their upcoming release, "Phantazein." From the album's conceptual roots to collaborations with renowned artists, they delve into the creative process and its impact on the band's evolving sound.

1. Congratulations on the upcoming release of Phantazein! Can you share the inspiration behind the concept album and how it represents a departure from your previous works?

Alex: Musically the inspiration remains as it always has done and that is; whatever bands or music we’re jamming at the time alongside the sounds that interest us on guitar. Inspiration also usually comes from trying something different/evolving the band's sound. Lyrically the inspiration came from books or modern history that Paul and myself found interesting: Adam Curtis, Gulag archipelago, Soviet history, Brutalist architecture etc. This is the first time we’ve tried to take elements of the lyrical content and recreate it in the sonic realm using different textures/effects as well as the core composition.

2. Phantazein is described as a concept album that delves into the intricate interplay between art, obsession, and environment. How did this thematic focus come about, and how did it influence the creative process during the album's production?

Alex: Sitting at McDonald’s in Selby, UK one fine afternoon Paul pitched the rough concept to Chris and I. Essentially outlining the concept about an inventor circa 80 years ago or so creates a machine that allows mankind to hear radio transmissions still circulating from the past. We then heavily built on this theme and shaped up 11 songs that dive into great detail about different events that unfold in this universe alongside telling from the point of view from different characters the work of our protagonist impacts.

3. The album artwork by Dan P Carter (Behemoth, Empire State Bastard) is visually striking. How did the collaboration with Carter come to be, and what aspects of Phantazein did you want the artwork to capture?

Chris: When the concept came together, we were adamant we didn’t want artwork that just looks good and suits the genre, for the sake of it. It had to have meaning, we wanted the listener to read into the artwork and fathom the concept for themselves. Being a pal of Carter’s, (Chris), I knew instantly this would be straight up his alley. So much of his artwork has hidden messages and meaning.  So we dropped him a text and he was on board straightaway. The setting of our story is Soviet Russia so we wanted a real monochromatic colour palette to represent the brutalist architecture and environment. The rest, we’ll leave for the listener to figure out.

4. With two previous albums under Prosthetic Records, Phantazein marks your debut with Willowtip Records. How has this transition impacted your approach to creating and presenting music?

Alex: No major change on this front, when we signed our deal with Willowtip the album was already done, mixed and mastered. We ended our relationship with Prosthetic a couple of months before we went into the studio. As we were recording the album there was a lot of uncertainty how we would get the record out there and if any labels would be interested in ‘rolling the dice’ with Cognizance. Fortunately, Jason at Willowtip was a fan of the band and wanted to work with us (thank you boss!). We're grateful for the opportunity to put the album out on his label.

5. Ronnie Björnström, known for his work with bands like Aeon and Blood Red Throne, handled the mix and master for Phantazein. How did this collaboration enhance the album's sound, and what unique contributions did he bring to the table?

Alex: I had been aware of Ronnie's work for some time via various European bands he's mixed over the years, however when I heard his mix for 'Imperial Congregation' by Blood Red Throne I was blown away by how incredible it sounded. I knew we needed to work with this guy. Besides the quality of his mixes what greatly stood out to us was he believes every band should sound like themselves which means no dependence on particular mix templates/presets which I personally believe is making a lot of modern metal extremely boring and predictable. We worked ground up with Ronnie, agreed on the guitar and bass sound upfront and the tones we recorded with we committed to with no reamps. Since the band recorded and self-produced as soon as a song was finished we would send them to him to see if anything needed a re-take. Ronnie's legendary contribution was making us sound the best we have ever sounded. Taking elements of what we like from Malignant Dominion and Upheaval then magically making them work in the heavyweight mix he did for Phantazein. He's a lovely man and a very very easy reliable mix engineer to work with - sometimes mixing is stressful but he made it fun!

6. As a band, how do you see Phantazein contributing to your legacy in the underground metal scene? What sets this album apart from your previous releases, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?

Paul: It is definitely our most ambitious endeavour so far, especially since it's a concept album. All of our releases have had some sort of a theme, but this time we focused a lot more on creating a story and background for the music and lyrical content to tie into which we believe deepens the experience a little. Of course, there is still plenty of room for personal interpretation as we find it very important for listeners to have the ability to relate their own experiences to our music. As far as our legacy goes, this is probably more for others to decide what it does or doesn't. The important thing however is that as a band, when we listen back to Phantazein, we feel artistically fulfilled.

7. The lineup for Cognizance remains strong with familiar faces and talent. How has the synergy among the band members evolved over time, and how did it shape the recording process of Phantazein?

Paul: The most important aspect of us being a band is that we all get along as people first and then as musicians. If we were not in the band and met elsewhere, we would probably still be friends. This is really important as it harbours respect and everyone knowing when to put their ego aside and remember that the "magic" is in all of us doing music together rather than someone individually getting exactly what they want all the time. This plays well into the recording process as recording an album can be very demanding, especially in our genre. For Phantazein, like Upheaval, we rented a cottage in the middle of nowhere for two weeks and setup a studio with all our gear. Although some days were challenging and some days were more difficult than others, in overall it was a really enjoyable experience and it brought us a little closer as a band and more importantly as friends.

8. Alex Baillie mentioned that Phantazein is the band's "most creative and individual record yet." Can you elaborate on the evolution of Cognizance's sound and artistic vision, and how it has been shaped by both internal and external influences?

Paul: As mentioned previously, Phantazein is a concept album. This time we came up with the concept first and wrote the music and lyrics afterwards to fit the narrative. Most of our influences stem from things outside of music such as films and/or books. Musically, we listen to a lot of non-metal music as a band which probably helps a little in keeping  things somewhat outside of the typical "death metal" formwork.

9. Considering the immersive nature of Phantazein, are there any plans for visual accompaniments such as music videos or live performances that aim to further enhance the storytelling aspect of the album?

Paul: We have released two music videos so far, one for "The Towering Monument" and one for "Shadowgraph". We plan on doing more visual content in support of this release so if you are reading this, keep your eyes peeled

10. Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Cognizance in terms of future projects, tours, or any other exciting developments?

Paul: All of us are deep into full time careers, so full on touring is not currently on the cards. However, we want to start playing live more so hopefully we can get the planets to align and book some dates around the UK and EU.

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Phantazein | Cognizance (bandcamp.com)