Interviews : Astriaal (Arzarkhel) – 03/08/2010

Australian black metal legends Astriaal are back with the long awaited follow up to 2003’s ‘Renascent Misanthropy’. With a new album, a stack of interstate touring, and even newer material underway; Astriaal couldn’t be busier. To get a bit of insight into the new material, and what the band are up to next, Metal Obsession spoke with vocalist Arzarkhel…

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Metal Obsession: Let’s jump straight to what people are interested in right now; the new album. How is ‘Anatomy of the Infinite’ different from your past material, and in what areas do you think it’s an improvement?

Arzarkhel: As far as A.O.T.I, the noticeable differences are in the production. The clarity of the guitars is very strong yet the overall production has a somewhat more organic and retro sort of tone and feel. Not as compressed and clean as ‘Rensacsent Misanthropy’ for instance. Also all of the tracks have a common theme and reference within them. The imagery and lyrical matter bond very well together I feel and we are very pleased with the final artwork on the new album. As far as improvements I feel we have all strengthened in technique with our chosen instruments. Also all the guitars were recorded by Baaruhl for the first time at his home studio so this was a new challenge. He is a quick learner and achieved many great things to my ears at least.

MO: Will people be surprised by what they hear?

A: Well that is always in the ear of the beholder, but yes for those expecting a clone of ‘Rensacent Misanthropy’ some of the songs moments and style may be unexpected. But these differences will pale in comparison to the direction and style of the new material that is to come.

MO: Even newer material? So you aren’t planning on torturing fans once again with another painfully long wait before your next album?

A: No, the fires are burning strong as we already have the next album written with even newer material now being composed. We are now entering the later stages of arrangements and layering for the next opus. I expect preproduction to commence towards the end of the year. Our aim is to have it released in 2011, strike while the pyres are burning.

MO: ‘Renascent Misanthropy’ is often regarded as one of the greatest black metal albums to come out of this country. Is there a lot of pressure for the band to up the benchmark with this new one?

A: I would say no, as primarily we only write music for our own fulfillment and artistic expression. If others enjoy and or appreciate what we achieve then this is a great thing but I would say we definitely are not steeped with a sense of pressure or betterment of the last release fundamentally. I would rather a band test new waters rather than regurgitate the same stale compositions album after album, even if many see the new direction as a failure. The artist themselves will always know where they have succeeded in pushing their musical boundaries ever outward or compromised through a lack of conviction to their art.

MO: You chose to mix the album over in Norway, and have stated that the album is “more primeval and organic”. Do you think mixing the album in the ‘home country’ of black metal helped achieve that more organic sound?

A: In and of itself I would have to say no, as we had already decided on the sound and tone for the album before we started mixing in Norway. Admittedly a major influence to go with a more organic feel was some of the brilliant early works of certain bands from Norway, albums such as Borknagar’s self titled debut and Ulver‘s Bergtatt album. Both of these albums actually played quite a large role in some of the songs styling found on A.O.T.I also.

MO: Did you get to spend much time over in Norway outside of the Astriaal work?

A: Yes we spent around a week and half in Norway. We saw the Peter Beste Black Metal photography exposition in Oslo and of course had a few beers in Elm Street. We also attended the Hole in the Sky festival in Bergen seeing some of our most revered black metal bands such as Absu, Gorgoroth and Enslaved who played Hordanes Land in its entirety as a one off performance. A truly great experience as was mixing our own album at the end of our odyssey with Knut of Arcturus in Gjerstad, a rural town a few hours outside of Oslo. A beautiful country with a landscape so inspiring for creating black metal art..

MO: You’ve said the lyrics on the new album are based around Abyssal theology. For those that are unfamiliar, can you give us a run-down on what that includes, and what made it stand out as a lyrical inspiration?

A: Abyssal theology pertains to the construct of the cosmos as the one true God [in terminology], the truly divine creator. Not as an entity relating to human form or a man made consciousness as those pious subjugates would have us believe, but that of a one true force and continuous cycle of self governing creation and sequential erasure. “And thus the great creator, shall rise the grand destroyer”.

MO: Why was there such a huge gap between this, and your last album back in 2003?

A: Life and living.

MO: You’ve got a few live shows on the horizon already; do you plan on touring heavily for the new album?

A: We recently launched A.O.T.I at a great show here in Brisbane on July 23rd with Lustration, Disentomb and Defamer. We will then be heading down to play our first ever show in Hobart, Tasmania Aug 13th. This will be a grand experience for us all as Astriaal has been asked to play down there for many years now and it is finally happening with this new album. We then venture back to Melbourne for a show Aug 14th and also play Bastardfest back in Brisbane Aug 28th. September shall also see us perform shows throughout VIC, N.S.W and QLD once more.

MO: Are there any other Australian black metal bands that stand out to you as something special?

A: Australia has always produced world class, diverse and unique black metal bands over the years and the current state of Australian black metal is very healthy. As far as something “special” I struggle to find many bands in this category worldwide very often.

MO: Being in quite a long-serving band, how has the Australian metal scene, and your attitude toward it, changed over the years?

A: The scene ebbs and flows like any other really. Currently I find the Brisbane scene the most prosperous and productive at the moment with many great new bands arriving and releasing quality material consistently. My attitude has remained basically the same throughout the years. I and those in Astriaal have always been appreciative of those who have supported us over the past 12 years. The future looks bleak…in a good way.

MO: What areas do you think need improvement?

A: I think these issues will always remain within the Australian metal landscape…Venue availability and label support.

MO: Any last words for your fans?

A: Praise unto thee who have waited for the next opus from Astriaal…the end is nigh. ‘Anatomy of the Infinite’ will be officially released in Australia through Obsidian Records Aug 5th 2010 to soon follow with a worldwide release through Aura Mystique [France] in later 2010. The next chapter has begun…

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You can catch Astriaal live on the following dates:

13th Aug 2010
Psycroptic @ Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
w/ Astriaal, Thrall and Lacerta
Tickets at the door.

14th Aug 2010
Astriaal @ East Brunswick Club, Brunswick
w/ Ignivimous, Disentomb and Stormbane
Tickets at the door

28th Aug 2010
Bastardfest @ The Globe Theatre, Fortitude Valley
w/ Blood Duster, Astriaal, Pod People, Defamer, High Plains Drifter and one more TBA
Tickets on sale through  http://globetheatre.oztix.com.au/