The Total Sound Of The Undergound

Lelahel Metal

Agremorta's EP "Anomalia" delves into dystopian themes intertwined with personal struggles. The collaborative effort merges modern and classic metal elements, promising a unique and challenging musical landscape ahead.

1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the concept of "Anomalia" and how it ties into the themes explored in the EP?

Nikola: I originally shared with Chris my vision for the EP to comment on the dystopian direction that society seems ever-destined for and the personal/emotional struggles that result from this. I also ended my original proposition with the caveat that I’d like to incorporate an uplifting feeling of managing to work through all of that.

Chris: I really latched onto that idea of trying to find hope in the midst of tragedy and crisis. With my own country in a state of political unrest, an ongoing war in Eastern Europe and then ANOTHER one starting in West Asia, I felt moved to also incorporate an examination of the mental hurdles we overcome to justify violence toward one another with both sides of a conflict believing in their own right to do so. Ultimately, where can hope be found in times such as these? 

I also saw an opportunity to process and memorialize some of the conclusions I’ve come to in my own life over the past ~10 years or so that tend to lead me down paths to deeper peace and connection with myself, my loved ones, and my neighbors. I allowed the main character of the EP to be confronted with exaggerated versions of similar conflicts and crossroads from my own life, especially where I’d made choices I’d now reflect on as having been well-intentioned but ultimately self-interested or self-destructive. Hopefully that’s relatable and I’m not the only one, right? Haha.

The story that I tried to shove all these themes and concepts into was based on a dream I had many years ago that stuck with me. Most of my favorite songs I’ve written came from vivid dreams and twisting them into metaphors or allegories for milestones or learning throughout my life… a musical, fairy-tale driven journal of sorts. I had already used the first half of the dream in a song called “The Great Reset” in a previous band/project called ‘Gentlemen’, but was waiting for the right song or songs to explore the rest of the dream. When I first heard Nikola’s cinematic and atmospheric metal sensibilities in the demos he sent, I knew it was the perfect backdrop for this! 

2. "Obsidian Reveries" serves as the instrumental opening to the EP. How did you approach creating this track to set the tone for the narrative?

Nikola: I was trying to find an opening that would work well with both the trailing track "Ploratus Umbra" and its ideas, as well as the beginning of the main character's awakening in the context of the story. In terms of timeline, the song was written as the final piece of the puzzle within the framework of the album. Its instrumental elements feature retrospective sounds that simultaneously highlight the dystopian robotic structure of society in the time capsule that is being presented in the music, but also maintain the organic elements of their ancestors: humans. We are portraying both the robotic evolution of the species and the organic side of earlier human values through the track.

Chris: I was primarily interested in creating an effect that is at once both foreign and familiar. You can tell the synthesized voice present is speaking, but the voice’s distortion and inhuman quality keeps us from being able to understand. The ominous discomfort that creates and the marriage between human and synthetic sounds seemed to me to be a good telegraphing of what to expect in the tracks to come. There was also an opportunity to create a bridge between the “prequel” I mentioned earlier and the EP by reincorporating a character from that part of the story - the machines that were utilized to reboot humanity.

3. "Ploratus Umbra" delves into themes of conformity versus individualism. What message or emotion were you aiming to convey through this song?

Nikola: The imagination of the instrumental part of the track is that there is a tension building up in all elements of the song, including the intro, verses, pre-choruses, and the chorus to have one big release that would be an answer to all the leading tension that has been built up before that, both through the punchy guitar arrangements, the ominous and attention-dragging synths and sound design and syncopated grooves. The outro and interlude are the culminations of the track which accentuate the most emotionally intense narrative messages to the listener.

Chris: One of the primary messages or emotions I was trying to induce throughout Ploratus was that of being pulled in two directions. The vocal stylings shift from extreme ends of a spectrum often and intertwine throughout the track, and the main character is lyrically introduced to the conflict of having their expectations betrayed and the “righteous anger” they experience as a result. I aimed to set the stage for the story and cast the main character as an emerging hero (in their own mind) without passing narrative judgment on them, at least yet! In the context of the entire EP story, however, we can revisit this track later and see the beginnings of someone letting their feelings, personal ideals, and narrow viewpoint (they’ve lost part of their memory, after all!) begin to justify their violent acts that will ensue.

4. "Adrocitas" is described as the narrative climax of the story. How did the collaboration with Louis Snyder of Riparian come about, and what impact did his guest guitar solo have on the track?

Nikola: I had been interested in having another artist’s voice expressed in the solo section of Adrocitas for some time. Chris had worked with Louis on another metal project (Gentlemen) in the past, and, when he learned about Agremorta in its beginnings he had actually offered to add something to the table if needed. As mentioned earlier, the ‘prequel’ song to the story of  Anomalia was part of the Gentlemen release. So, when we were newly in need of a replacement guitarist for that part of the song Louis was at the top of the list, both ability-wise and thematically. It just made sense and it clicked in the end! Instrumentally, the track is full with riffs that represent the fight of the main character with his opposition, as well as the sound design which accentuates this even further.

Chris: Narratively, the solo section was supposed to express the unraveling of the main character's mind. We needed an expression of an assault on the ego and the fiery crumbling of pride and delusion. Louis’ pacing, speed, death-metal stylings, and dissonant choices really fit the emotion and delivered the chaos mirrored in the heart and consciousness of our character. I also loved that it incorporated a fresh change and additional genre-nod to a song and EP that we hoped would be characterized, in part, by that kind of boundary crossing. 

5. "Vertex Membrana" seems to explore inner conflict and ethical dilemmas. Can you elaborate on the creative process behind this song's composition and lyrics?

Nikola: The instrumental is thought out to be very straight forward, with punching rhythms and riffs that don’t hold so much ‘burden’ in their harmony. Rather, they are more up-in-front without as much layering in the sound design and arrangement as the other tracks of the album. The purpose of all this is to accentuate the emotional state of the character who is ultimately freed up from the chains of guilt of knowing the real truth but, at the same time, to show and represent the heavy consequences of their choice to unveil the registry of names.

Chris: You hit the nail on the head with “inner conflict” in regards to how the lyrics came out for this track. While the other tracks on the EP have moments of introspection they are also broken up by parts ‘said out loud,” the voices of characters beyond our main one, descriptions of the environment, etc. Lyrically speaking, Vertex is almost entirely representing a stream of consciousness in the midst of, as you said, an ethical dilemma. Part of the challenge was to simultaneously progress the story by incorporating the characters' internal reaction to events unfolding around them, but I think the lyrics for this song came rather naturally… perhaps due to the fact that, like the vast majority of us, I am no stranger to racing/changing thoughts in the midst of a crisis! 

When I was an older teenager I read a book in which the main question posed throughout was something along the lines of, “Who are you when nobody's looking?” I couldn’t remember the content if you asked me and I wouldn’t therefore recommend it, but that one concept of attempting to strive for integrity even when you’ve nothing to gain from it has never left me. Personally, trying to always live in congruence with your forward facing values and beliefs can be hard when the heat is on. It’s something I fail at on a regular basis but I never stopped really believing it was a worthwhile pursuit. There is nuance to it I’m sure - times when it could be a harmful mindset in certain circumstances - but I think that it’s served me decently well through life’s challenges. I think that, alongside the other more self-serving options considered in the lyrics, this concept of the value of integrity and self-sacrifice really bled into the lyrical content of this song.

6. As an international music project, how did the collaborative nature of Agremorta influence the sound and direction of "Anomalia"?

Nikola: We have plenty of overlapping musical influences and we also deviate pretty wide with others. We were actually reflecting on this just a few days ago - about how I produced a lot of darker, more alternative and melancholic sounds which Chris would then overlap with something bright and catchy, maybe playful and quirky. I remember one particular melody line that we cut because it was just too glam-metal and sarcastic sounding, haha. It was the right choice, but suffice to say we feel we found a way to combine a wide-spectrum of influences into our sound in a way that ultimately - even unexpectedly - worked for us both and that we both came to enjoy. 

Chris: I found it personally cathartic and rewarding to work together with someone across an ocean and some degree of cultural divide on something so personal and impassioned - especially as it honestly was so positive and enjoyable overall. There were naturally fears from both sides, initially, of working with a stranger - let alone one from so far away - but it quickly dissolved as we got to work. While the world seemed to get angrier and angrier around us and wars broke out, we were connecting and creating and compromising to make something we’ve come to be very proud of. A positive shade of globalization, for sure! 

7. What challenges did you face while working on the EP, and how did you overcome them as a team?

Nikola: Working with Chris was such a delight, and going through the workflow we had was an incredible life experience! It probably goes without saying that the time difference made things tricky at times. Late nights for both of us, waiting hours for a response to tiny questions, and realizing daylight savings time is not universally timed, haha. Then there’s just the physical distance of course: expressing musical ideas through voice memos and a hundred little sound clips rather than getting to sit in a room together and jam it out. It was A LOT of back and forth rather than simultaneous or spontaneous creation.

Chris: There were a fair share of zoom meetings and well-timed, synchronous a-ha moments about a musical idea, but most of the time it was a bit of a waiting game for both of us to hear the other’s thoughts. Thankfully, we both kept at it. I really feel Nikola and I respected the project and each other's time with transparency and reliable work ethic throughout the whole process. 

Another challenge was that Nikola had completed most of the instrumental and composition work prior to us even meeting. Therefore, there was this initial stage of me kind of trying to make sure I was pleasing him and serving his original vision for the project. I felt at first that it was ‘his baby,’ as they say. Graciously, Nikola did not take that attitude at all. From the get-go he had a collaborative spirit and encouraged me to put my own spin on the songs. It wasn’t just lip-service either, he really compromised in a lot of areas and took some risks with my vision for things at times. Because of that generous attitude with what was originally his own project, I think we really ended up with a unique sound that features both of our artistic voices in an equal measure. 

8. How do you see the EP fitting into the current landscape of metal music, considering its blend of modern and classic elements?

Nikola: My inspiration in regards to the production, arrangement and composition is mostly driven from the most modern metal stuff, but also other modern genres for song arrangement and composition. However, I’m definitely a big fan of the music of the 2000s and 1990s and the way they were approaching composition. This music is very nostalgic to me and I like it as much as the other stuff. This is the main reason I was open minded for any kind of influence and approach vocally, which Chris brought to the table. There were compromises on both sides, but the end result is something we are very proud of!

Chris: I’m glad to hear you put it like that - a blend of modern and classic. Early in the process I had hoped we’d find a way to incorporate elements that just about any genre of metal fan could enjoy. In terms of metal music I have a lot of early 2000s and 2010 influences alongside of the more modern and prog-sounding stuff I’ve grown to love over the past 15 years or so. I am hoping we continue to carve out a sort of unique space in the current landscape where we are utilizing modern production methods and sensibilities and yet incorporating some feeling of nostalgia from a more primal and less processed era of metal music. It’d be great to be considered both accessible, yet challenging. Groovy and catchy, but still surprising. I’ve been using the term “prog lite” to describe my hopes for our sound lately, and I think that kind of sums it up. Maybe that will put us in a confusing place in the metal landscape, but I think it’s right where I want to be and I can hope there are some like-minded music lovers out there who could appreciate it!

9. Can you share any memorable moments or experiences from the recording or production of "Anomalia"?

Nikola: From my side, the writing of the instrumental was an ongoing process that took 3 complete years to get down. There were many changes and adjustments throughout the process. 

After all that work it is truly cathartic to see this music out there finally and that people could connect to it as much as me and Chris do; not just connect to the cool sounds and moments captured in the music, but also to the message and story that we are getting out there to the world. For me, it documents a lot of intense emotional moments in my life journey through the elements of my personal development and growth: moments of extreme sadness, fighting through conflicts, and dealing with negative thoughts - but also the process of resolving all of this.

Chris: I’m particularly grateful that we were able to get the thing done within the year at all, haha. There were times where the entire production team just fell ill all at once or one by one. There was the time Alex’s computer gave up its life in service to the track Ploratus Umbra. I went to the hospital for a few days at some juncture. Just a lot of viruses and rebelling bodies over the course of 8 months. I actually had just broken a rib at a show a week or two before connecting with Nikola for the first time, haha. So, at first, there was this question of how I would heal and if it would affect my ability to perform when it came time to go into the studio. 

For me, I think that the first time I watched through the final lyric video for our first single Adrocitas will be a cherished memory. I remember getting to the verge of happy tears hearing and seeing how everything had come together and really captured what I’d envisioned for the vocals, lyrics, and emotional delivery of the story. 

10. Looking ahead, what are your plans or aspirations for Agremorta following the release of this debut EP?

Nikola:  I’m happy to say we’ve already started talking about this. We’ve got plans for a refinement of the sound and, since we’re starting more from scratch, we’re looking forward to the experience of building the songs more responsively around our emerging ideas.

Chris: We’ve both learned a lot through the cycle of creating, producing, and releasing this EP. I think we are equally eager to take all of the reactions, our reflections, and the experience gained and feed it back into our next project. We want to retain what has set us apart from our contemporaries, but I think we’ve got a lot of room to grow and a lot more experimentation to do!

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Anomalia | Agremorta (bandcamp.com)

 


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