The Total Sound Of The Undergound

Lelahel Metal

Jugulator’s Imperator Insector merges sci-fi-inspired apocalyptic themes with thrash and black metal influences, featuring Algerian guest musicians. This ambitious project showcases the band’s evolution and dedication to the Algerian metal scene.

1. Congratulations on the release of Imperator Insector! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the album's concept and how it ties into the theme of insects?

Thank you, the inspiration came from science fiction cinema, I am a big fan of the planet of the apes and alien for example, and as our first two albums talk about a decadence of humanity, we decided to end this trilogy with an apocalyptic atmosphere, we chose insects because they are a real species that exists in our world, so the fear is really felt.

2. This album features a unique twist with a second disc that includes the same songs performed with guest musicians from the Algerian metal scene. How did this idea come about, and what was the experience like working with so many talented artists?

The idea was born from the concept itself,  we have to face an unprecedented threat,so we need an army to help us save the earth, so the guests came as reinforcements.

the experience was very interesting and enriching, we were excited each time we received the tracks from the guests to see the result, it's a very special feeling to listen other artists play and sing in your songs, it's a very special feeling for them. gives another color, another approach, so CD 1 is a discovery of the album , CD 2 is a rediscovery , the talent of these musicians enriched the album.

3. The album blends influences from 80s German and US thrash metal. Can you share which bands or albums were the most significant influences for Jugulator during the creation of Imperator Insector?

Everything can inspire me, film music, video games music ,but also the bands that I listen to , the thrash metal from the bay area, I am also a big fan of kreator and annihilator, but there are also touches of black metal in this album, because as a teenager, I had a small period of black metal, I retained some compositional gimmicks that we used here to accentuate the atmosphere of terror that the album described in its lyrics.


4. The track Imperator Insector stands out as the title track of the album. What is the story or message behind this particular song?

this is the eponymous song, it is a description of the war leader imperator insector, in this song, a narrator presents this creature to us, he describes his ambitions, how he is seen by his army and especially what he thinks about irresponsible humanity, the horrors we do on earth and that’s the driving force behind his invasion campaign.

5. You’ve been a band since 2014, and this is your third full-length album. How has Jugulator’s sound evolved over the years, and where do you see your music heading in the future?

the music evolved to something more aggressive and progressive, in the first album we were with the aim of making fairly classic but effective thrash, in the second we began to enrich our compositions with slightly more complex structures, and in this one we released the horses while having fun foraging on the black Metal side of the force.

6. With over 90 minutes of music and 21 guest musicians contributing to the album, what were some of the challenges you faced during the recording and production process?

The challenges are mainly the deadlines, you have to do it well in advance, there is also the method, for example we asked the guitarists to send us two takes, one on direct imput and one with their sound, we try to first mix with their sound because it is part of the musician's touch, but if the take is not suitable, we are forced to fall back on the DI take and try to find a similar sound ,but finally we  mixed the takes with the sound of the guitarists.

Same thing for the singers, you have to check the takes, if they are not suitable, you ask to do it again, so you have to manage all that while respecting the deadlines, there is also the headache of mixing well because each sound is different, the challenge was how to integrate that into the song and make it sound good.

7. The album artwork by Mustapha Harraoui is striking and complements the album’s theme. How did you collaborate with him to bring your vision to life visually?

mustapha is a very talented graphic designer, we worked with him for the previous albums,for this one I gave him a description as usual,I said , I want a big mutant insect monster that decapitates a human, with a background of a completely devastated area, with swarms of insects attacking, all this in a fluorescent green atmosphere to show the radioactivity and nuclear , the result is in front of you, a very beautiful cover.

8. Lamine Amrane handled the mixing and mastering of the album. How important was it to have someone within the band take on this role, and how did it impact the final sound of the record?

I must say that we are very lucky to have him with us, just like Ziri our bassist who was in charge of the video part of the first two albums, Lamine is self-taught, he learned to produce alone, he was very motivated to do it, he is a very open and eclectic person, he immediately understood the direction we wanted to take in this album, I remember that we spent two months just on the sound of the snare drum, I followed his advice to the letter in the sound recording, he was sure of the result,he is also an ultra perfectionist, we often had a situation when I said to him: it's good, we'll keep this version , two days later he sent me another one saying : please listen again I corrected micro details, I had never noticed these details lol.

 And frankly we are very satisfied with his work, I can never thank him enough.

9. The Algerian metal scene has been growing steadily over the years. How do you feel Imperator Insector represents Algerian metal on a global scale, and what do you think the future holds for the scene?

I hope that this album will show the world that in Algeria, there are groups who work hard, with passion, the 19 Algerian guests are there to show that Algeria is full of talent, I hope that this will motivate other bands to make albums, we need more presence of bands in Algeria.


10. Tracks like Radioactive Mutation and Atomic Insecticide have intense titles. Can you delve into the lyrical themes of these tracks and what you hope listeners take away from them?

Radioactive mutation talks about the mutation phase of contaminated insects in infected focus (the previous song), it announces that a new species was born because of nuclear bombs and chemical waste caused by humans.

what listeners must take away? is the construction of the song, the first part is thrash, we tell what's happening, then we let the instruments speak with the groove part in the middle and the sudden switch to black metal , this part clearly tells us that they did it ! they have mutated!! We're in trouble! their size begins to change, they have more arms, more wings, we let the listener imagine the scene through its soundtrack.

for atomic insecticide, it talks about the questioning of humans, who have finally found the weapon that will allow them to triumph, in this song, humans recognizes their errors, they understood the lesson, now we will have to pay by sacrificing ourselves for the good of all, to save our species and our planet by promising to stop the horrors we committed in the past.

what listeners must take away? A fuckin wall of death part after the “GO” in the middle of the song.

11. You’ve played alongside various guest musicians on this album. Are there any plans to perform Imperator Insector live with some of these artists, and how do you envision the live experience for this album?

It's worth considering, it would be great, we're going to see the technical possibilities for that, maybe during a special concert to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year! it will be an honor for us to share the stage with such talented musicians.

12. What’s next for Jugulator? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or other projects in the works that fans should be excited about?

we are looking at the possibility of doing a tour, and yes, we are working on a new music video, we hope it will be positive, it's never easy but we believe in it.

Facebook

Jugulator (@jugulator.band) • Photos et vidéos Instagram

Jugulator - Radioactive Mutation FEAT Julien 'Nutz' Deyres and Mathieu Pascal (Official Video) (youtube.com)

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post

Formulaire de contact