Interview with Dead Congregation
Much of today’s metal bands are a dying stagnant breed. We do still have a handful of new and old faces, that offer a refreshing change to the bunch. But it is rarely happening by new and upcoming faces. Which brings me to the music of Dead Congregation, a death metal band from Greece, that plays a charismatic mixture of death metal. I was privileged to have the chance to talk with them about several interesting topics. I hope you all enjoy.
Let me first off with saying how much ofan honor and privilege to finally get into a dialogue with the band.
Your music takes a chaotic blend of the earliest roots of death
metal, and have delivered a new refreshing sound, to the stagnant
death metal flock that has been a forbearance, in regards to the new
flock of “death metal bands is a lot of cases a decline of the
roots, of what makes death metal such a pivotal piece to a stagnant
genre. What lead you to go with against the grain, and produce
something that is so overtly driven to technicality in favor of a
slew of releases that hold no boundaries in terms of the new death
metal bands. A chaotic blend with rhythmic overtures which lead to
an agonizing ministry of sound.
Thank you very much for the kind
words. We never tried to go against the grain, we always write and
play the music that feels natural to us, the band is a medium to
channel our creativity and serves as a cathartic vessel with which we
outflow our spiritual and artistic restlessness. There is not much
thought behind our compositions, only primal instinct and emotion.
words. We never tried to go against the grain, we always write and
play the music that feels natural to us, the band is a medium to
channel our creativity and serves as a cathartic vessel with which we
outflow our spiritual and artistic restlessness. There is not much
thought behind our compositions, only primal instinct and emotion.
I want to slowly get away the
obligatory questions and dive deeper into what makes you such a
pivotal piece in the underground.
obligatory questions and dive deeper into what makes you such a
pivotal piece in the underground.
It’s not up to us to say if
we’re a pivotal band in the underground so we can’t say what
makes us that either. We don’t really feel like an underground band
anyway, maybe a band that refuses to conform to the marketing side of
things and sign to a big label but our music has passed the
boundaries of the underground circles.
we’re a pivotal band in the underground so we can’t say what
makes us that either. We don’t really feel like an underground band
anyway, maybe a band that refuses to conform to the marketing side of
things and sign to a big label but our music has passed the
boundaries of the underground circles.
The geographical location Greece, has a
lot of mythology surrounding your culture, and how much of that
influences your impacts your music and lyrical approach.?
lot of mythology surrounding your culture, and how much of that
influences your impacts your music and lyrical approach.?
It doesn’t really. Although we
all have huge admiration of our country’s history it doesn’t affect the way we write for Dead Congregation.
all have huge admiration of our country’s history it doesn’t affect the way we write for Dead Congregation.
Your standard of lyrical content comes
from a almost nihilistic stance as far the establishment of organized
religion. How much does the church deter you away from social norms
of religion?
from a almost nihilistic stance as far the establishment of organized
religion. How much does the church deter you away from social norms
of religion?
Our lyrics are mainly about the
ongoing decline of organized religion, however we prefer to write
them rather abstractly so they can be loosely interpreted, as we
don’t wish to preach our personal beliefs to anyone. We just want
to create discomforting images/feelings to the listener by combining
sardonic lyrics with the suffocating atmosphere of our music.
ongoing decline of organized religion, however we prefer to write
them rather abstractly so they can be loosely interpreted, as we
don’t wish to preach our personal beliefs to anyone. We just want
to create discomforting images/feelings to the listener by combining
sardonic lyrics with the suffocating atmosphere of our music.
I want to also admit that my actual
first introduction to your music was Promulgation of Fall*, which lead
to me seek out your earliest releases, namely Graves of the
Archangels, which still holds me in a contempt to your newest
release, which is very unique in its ability to include what sounds
to me like chanting monks, which surprisingly blends with the overall
sound and creates an undeniable atmosphere, which works perfectly
well with the sound surprisingly enough.
first introduction to your music was Promulgation of Fall*, which lead
to me seek out your earliest releases, namely Graves of the
Archangels, which still holds me in a contempt to your newest
release, which is very unique in its ability to include what sounds
to me like chanting monks, which surprisingly blends with the overall
sound and creates an undeniable atmosphere, which works perfectly
well with the sound surprisingly enough.
You mean ‘Promulgation of the
Fall’ (not ‘Promulgation of Dead’). In regards to the chants in
‘Graves of the Archangels’, they were means to an end. The idea
of using those chants came after we recorded all the music, then we
thought about using some chants of Orthodox priests that sing hymns
to the Archangels which we had and they sounded just perfect for the
specific case. It was something that fit and enhanced the concept of
the album.
Fall’ (not ‘Promulgation of Dead’). In regards to the chants in
‘Graves of the Archangels’, they were means to an end. The idea
of using those chants came after we recorded all the music, then we
thought about using some chants of Orthodox priests that sing hymns
to the Archangels which we had and they sounded just perfect for the
specific case. It was something that fit and enhanced the concept of
the album.
Promulgation of the fall, has left
behind the monk chanting and delivers a myriad of memorable riffs
that derives the brutality and brings about a more presentable
masterpiece. Slow churning riff, that assembles a opus of brutality.
All the while, keep it all in context.
behind the monk chanting and delivers a myriad of memorable riffs
that derives the brutality and brings about a more presentable
masterpiece. Slow churning riff, that assembles a opus of brutality.
All the while, keep it all in context.
Indeed, it was a very conscious
choice to not repeat ourselves by using similar samples but instead
create all the opposing atmosphere with the sheer aggression of the
riffs and compositions themselves. The new album is more direct and
more diverse at the same time, there are a lot of things happening in
the structures of the songs but all of feelings we want to get across
are channeled through our instruments and our music’s balance
between melody and disharmony.
choice to not repeat ourselves by using similar samples but instead
create all the opposing atmosphere with the sheer aggression of the
riffs and compositions themselves. The new album is more direct and
more diverse at the same time, there are a lot of things happening in
the structures of the songs but all of feelings we want to get across
are channeled through our instruments and our music’s balance
between melody and disharmony.
The lyrical content is very
anti-religion. and makes me wonder how much a part of the church in
Greece, that fuels your hatred for the stigmas of organized
religion.?
anti-religion. and makes me wonder how much a part of the church in
Greece, that fuels your hatred for the stigmas of organized
religion.?
We just feel scorn towards people
who are easily manipulated and have no individual thought, such as
the mindless followers of any organized religion. Since Christian
religion is not only prevalent in our country but in the majority of
western civilization, our lyrics are mainly targeting that.
who are easily manipulated and have no individual thought, such as
the mindless followers of any organized religion. Since Christian
religion is not only prevalent in our country but in the majority of
western civilization, our lyrics are mainly targeting that.
I guess my next question, is yourworldview on life and morality. Do your lyrics directly influence
your lifestyle of individuals?
In general we are into
individualism and personal spiritual elevation. Each one should be
constantly striving for self-improvement and not conform to
hypocritically moral rules instructed by any church.
individualism and personal spiritual elevation. Each one should be
constantly striving for self-improvement and not conform to
hypocritically moral rules instructed by any church.
To me you have made a credible sound
for yourself, in the ability to bring a unpresented disregard, for
the typical run of the mill death metal bands. Slow churning, while
instantaneously delivering a hard driven force to meld together a
perfect blend of chaos with rhythmic sections that leave a lasting
impression in your mind.
for yourself, in the ability to bring a unpresented disregard, for
the typical run of the mill death metal bands. Slow churning, while
instantaneously delivering a hard driven force to meld together a
perfect blend of chaos with rhythmic sections that leave a lasting
impression in your mind.
Again, thanks, it’s nothing
intentional. That’s just how we express ourselves through music to
feel fulfilled as artists.
intentional. That’s just how we express ourselves through music to
feel fulfilled as artists.
Now I would like to lighten up the mood
a little, and ask about hobbies, and work related obligations. Its
presumably with this brand of music, it must be difficult to make a
reasonable living outside of your touring and being an active band.
a little, and ask about hobbies, and work related obligations. Its
presumably with this brand of music, it must be difficult to make a
reasonable living outside of your touring and being an active band.
I think the majority of ourhobbies are very much music-oriented. We also read books and
personally I like a lot of activities that bring me closer to nature,
from snowboarding to fishing, mountain biking, even just a walk in
nature. All of us enjoy trips very much so it’s a great privilege
to be able to see all these foreign countries when playing with the
band. Sometimes if we play in a city that is particularly interesting
we’ll make sure to stay some extra days, like we did in Prague,
Bergen and some others. We do have regular jobs as well
so that we can afford a descent life and not live like bums.
Not to back step a little and ask, where
does the monk chanting come from? is that all done and performed by
the band.
does the monk chanting come from? is that all done and performed by
the band.
No, as said, they are Orthodox
hymns to the Archangels, sung by monks in a Greek monastery.
hymns to the Archangels, sung by monks in a Greek monastery.
I always want to lay the nail in the
coffin, because when I first heard your music, I found a slight
influential from the band Incantation. But to be honest the more I
listen to your music the more I hear less of Incantation, and a
created sound all of your own.
coffin, because when I first heard your music, I found a slight
influential from the band Incantation. But to be honest the more I
listen to your music the more I hear less of Incantation, and a
created sound all of your own.
Maybe our ‘sound’ and our
music’s suffocating atmosphere has similarities to Incantation’s
sound/atmosphere but the music and riffs and drumming themselves
don’t have much in common with Incantation. We have tons of
influences and the strongest are probably Slayer’s first 5 albums
and Morbid Angel but as a principal we don’t try to sound like
anyone in specific. We just filter all our influences and have our
own interpretation of how Death Metal must sound.
music’s suffocating atmosphere has similarities to Incantation’s
sound/atmosphere but the music and riffs and drumming themselves
don’t have much in common with Incantation. We have tons of
influences and the strongest are probably Slayer’s first 5 albums
and Morbid Angel but as a principal we don’t try to sound like
anyone in specific. We just filter all our influences and have our
own interpretation of how Death Metal must sound.
What is your favorite brew of choice?
I like a lot of beers from small
and big breweries but if I have to narrow it down to favorites from
‘known’ brands I’d say Kozel Dark for anytime and Corona for
the hot Greek summer days when you need something very refreshing to
cool you down.
and big breweries but if I have to narrow it down to favorites from
‘known’ brands I’d say Kozel Dark for anytime and Corona for
the hot Greek summer days when you need something very refreshing to
cool you down.
Favorite past times? outside of music.
Movies, books, historical
documentaries, trips, walking my dog, spending time with my
girlfriend and close friends and spending time in nature.
documentaries, trips, walking my dog, spending time with my
girlfriend and close friends and spending time in nature.
What is the Greece metal scene like?
any notable bands that you respect?
It’s quite active lately, we
always had a lot of passionate metal heads in Greece and in the last
10 years we see many good bands popping up in the underground. My
respect goes to Acrimonious, The Psalm, Resurgency, Embrace Of
Thorns, Impure Worship, Convixion, Exarsis, many others…
always had a lot of passionate metal heads in Greece and in the last
10 years we see many good bands popping up in the underground. My
respect goes to Acrimonious, The Psalm, Resurgency, Embrace Of
Thorns, Impure Worship, Convixion, Exarsis, many others…
I would be interested also into know
what your philosophical approach to live? and what has determined
your worldview?
what your philosophical approach to live? and what has determined
your worldview?
I’m a fucking pessimistic
nihilist.
nihilist.
The tone of your music has a inherently
depressive tone, and chaotic as all hell. You hold no boundaries in
your abilities to create something almost esoteric. It’s outright
original in presentation. Not a single track is left without a guided
direction, your writing approach is absolutely blasphemous.
depressive tone, and chaotic as all hell. You hold no boundaries in
your abilities to create something almost esoteric. It’s outright
original in presentation. Not a single track is left without a guided
direction, your writing approach is absolutely blasphemous.
Our music IS very esoteric and
not calculated at all. Maybe it appears like we have tremendous
not calculated at all. Maybe it appears like we have tremendous
attention to detail but in reality all the layers in our songs that
work together in favor for the bigger picture are just strokes of
inspiration – sometimes you sit down with the guitar and an entire
song takes shape without effort, ideas pop in your head one after the
other and you don’t even know how you came up with all that because
the composing process is not a conscious one at all. It’s not like
we can sit down and say ‘ok, we’ll use this riff, then we must do
a riff like this and put a lead on top like this’ and voila a song
takes shape. Our music is multi-dimensional because balancing fast
aggressive parts with oppressive slow parts and chaotic moments with
melancholic melodies is OUR way to express ourselves, at least on
this specific album. Other artists feel fulfilled with creating a 10
song album out of 9 riffs, like VON’s ‘Satanic Blood’ for
example, and there is nothing wrong with that either! There is no
recipe on how to write songs, you just need to be in a certain
(inspirational) state which may last for a few or a lot of ideas
before you fall in a writer’s block for some time. But in any case,
if you’re sincere to yourself as an artist, you never force
yourself to create on purpose, everything just comes naturally.
Well that is all I got. Feel free toshare any final words to publicize your music accordingly. As I have
said before, your music alongside Triptykon, are the reigning
champions of the calendar year of 2014. Slow foreboding harmonies
that leave a lasting impression. All the while unleashing a chaotic
face ripping masterpiece.
I thank you for this opportunity. And I
am thoroughly impressed with your ability in musicianship.
am thoroughly impressed with your ability in musicianship.
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