Interviews : Empyrean (Shayne Johnson) – 27/11/2008

After solidifying a dedicated and cohesive line up in late 2006, Empyrean has built a reputations of powerful live performances and their majestically powerful atmospheric Black Metal sounds. With a debut EP release in 2007, Empyrean are back with their first full length record ‘Quietus’, set to be released on the 11th of December.

MetalObsession.net caught up with guitarist from the band Shayne Johnson to talk about what to expect on the new album, studio problems and Polish drummers!

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MO: Thanks for having a chat with us at www.metalobsession.net. So you have a new album out very soon titled ‘Quietus’, what can fans expect compared to your first release in 2007 titled ‘Embodiment of Sin’.
E: No worries at all! It’s a great site and we’re very happy to have the opportunity.

What can the fans expect? To be quite honest, alot! The sound ultimately has become alot more refined, intelligent and heavier. The song writing is more mature, the musicianship has improved ten-fold, as has the production. You can really tell we poured our heart in soul into it, hoping to make it great!

MO: ‘Embodiment of Sin’, which even when put modestly, was quite a burst of class onto the scene. With the bands maturity over the past year and a half, can we expect a more diverse range of musical influences further developing what was started on the debut EP?
E: Oh, most definitely! ‘Embodiment of Sin’ was a release that received pretty good feedback, but as a whole, we knew we could do much better and that it didn’t do us much justice. That’s why we never pushed too hard to get it out for the whole world to hear. But that’s not to say it was a terrible recording, in fact, one of the songs, Pleasure of Another’s Pain (which we also got a video clip done for by the producer Rome Ramses, who also has done Cradle of Filth and Slipknot for two examples) made it onto the album as a re-recorded track. We were finally able to get it to sound the way we wanted!

The new songs, from a song writing perspective are much more powerful and some are very moving. James even had clean singing on a few tracks!

MO: Clean vocals you say? One of the key aspects of what I like about Empyrean’s music was the power delivered through James’ vocals both on the album and in a live setting. How do you think the clean vocals go in context with the music?
E: Thankyou, I’m sure he’d get a kick out of that feedback! Haha! I can agree, but James felt he was “holding us back” on the EP, since he was so fresh in the band. He hadn’t really found himself. It’s a different story now though, as you have probably heard on the new song on the Myspace, ‘Halls of Sorrow’. The clean vocals were different at first, but I’m finding myself seeing them as an essential part of the songs. ‘Halls of Sorrow’ is a great example of that. James is still very modest about it all though; you can tell he works hard at his instrument. He’s the best front man this band has ever had.

MO: Haha, as it were, Myspace is playing up on me and I’m yet to hear the new track, but my girlfriend insists it’s excellent!
E: Damn that Myspace! Oh well, I guess you will just have to take your girlfriend’s word for it my man! Haha!

MO: How did you go in the studio for this album compared to ‘Embodiment of Sin’? Were there many lessons learnt the first time round that you implemented this time, or was it all pretty smooth sailing through for both studio visits?
E: Studio lessons? Oh my goodness… where to begin! One lesson in particular, was that I spent so much time practicing on the harder, more technical aspects that I spent nearly 4 hours on the most simple of simple riffs in the rerecording of Pleasure of Another’s Pain! I was so embarrassed! But hell, it got done… eventually!

I do lie though, the whole experience was not as bad as I made it out to be but it was definitely exponentially more gruelling recording a full length album than a 6 track EP. The hardest parts were getting the artwork, mastering and intro track co-ordinated in time!

MO: On that topic, the artwork for the new album is looking especially awesome. Who is the artist and how do you feel the artwork relates to the music on the album?
E: Our good friend Milly from Millyjane Inc. She’s been on board since the first release (that’s actually her on the front cover). It took a while to find out exactly what themes we wanted and alot of experimenting was required, plus the odd crazy idea or two. I guess it sort of indicates the “vibe” we all get from the songs; it’s spacious, dark and almost ghostly in a way. The idea of the run down and scary looking house ended up hitting the nail right on the head!

MO: What does ‘Quietus’ mean? Is it something we are going to have to read through the booklet to have it explained to us, or is it a more personal choice direct from the band?
E: It basically means “released from life”. It’s actually quite a beautiful term for ‘death’. You do not need to go through the booklet to have an idea of the reason why we named the album after the title track! All it takes is a listen to get an idea behind the meaning and to visualise it. But, the lyrics are one of the most interesting parts, so while you do not need to read through the booklet, I’d highly suggest you do! James has an uncanny ability to create beautiful imagery with the lyrics, which is fantastic.

MO: I note that you have announced a couple of Queensland album launches alongside Melbourne’s Ne Obliviscaris. How much of the new album can fans expect to hear live?
E: Indeed that is correct. With Empyrean and Ne Obliviscaris being so good friend, bless their cotton socks, will be accompanying us on all the QLD shows apart from the Toowoomba one. December 11th on the Gold Coast at Brannigans with 1 Shot Kill from Sydney, then the 12th in Brisbane at Rosies Live with People Die, Violent Green and Aeternitas and finally “Set it Off Festival” in Toowoomba with The Red Shore, For The Fallen Dreams (USA), Phalanx and heaps of others! It’s going to be quite a packed weekend and we can’t wait! How much of the new album will be played? ALL OF IT! And a few surprises thrown in for good measure.

MO: Haha, well that half saves me asking my next question, which was going to be have you thought about playing ‘Quietus’ live from start to finish in order?
E: Haha! Well that was thoughtful of me! To answer the question, we have thought about it, but we have come up with a set list that is much more suited for live play.

MO: I remember the first time I saw Empyrean live at The Tote in Melbourne in 2007 at that massive triple album launch gig alongside Ne Obliviscaris and Be’lakor. When can Melbourne and the rest of Australia expect to see you next?
E: Indeed, that was quite a mighty show! We are actually planning a Australian tour for 2009 now and I’m sure the dates will be headed your way as soon as possible! We are ITCHING to play interstate again, it’s been so long!

MO: So, you have shared the stage with some big band names such as Dark Tranquillity, Vader and Insision, what if anything has these experiences taught the band or yourself?
E: That the musicianship of these guys is absolutely phenomenal! It has just made us work so much harder at our instruments because if we ever want to stand a chance at being recognised on the international stage, we need to be at that level! It also taught us that Polish drummers are the most intimidating people in existence! Haha!

MO: Haha, intimidating in their musical abilities or psychical presence?
E: Both! The dude from Vader (he’s also in Vesania) was a blast beat machine and was a muscle-bound giant! Haha! Scary stuff! It was such an honour to share the stage with them.

MO: A word on the local scene in general. With new ideas such as Monstrothic and BrisMetal Records coming along well, things in the Brisbane metal scene are coming along well from my point of view. How do you see it from a band’s aspect?
E: It’s great! Monstrothic and similar weekly events really keep the scene alive, providing established and fresh bands places to play, and providing punters with a place to see some of the quality acts that are coming out of this country at the moment!

MO: A question we always love to ask: What Aussie bands have you been listening to of late, therefore, who you think we should be listening to aswell?
E: And what a great question it is! Personally, I’ve been listening to alot of The Amenta, and their new album ‘n0n’. I think it’s absolutely unreal and totally different to what everyone else is doing at the moment! The Red Shore’s new one has had quite a bit of playing in my stereo at the moment as well.

MO: Awesome, yeah the new The Amenta album is definitely a must listen! To finish up, any last words to the Metal Obsession readers?
E: Check out www.myspace.com/empyreanband to hear one of the tracks, ‘Halls of Sorrow’ off the new album for yourself. Pre-Orders and new merch will be going up shortly as well as a very very exciting announcement which we will be definitely sharing with you folks at MetalObsession.net

Also, support the metal industry by going to local gigs! Australia, in all its majesty, needs help with this! Get out there and support your home-grown lads and lasses

MO: Cheers man! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us!
E: No worries at all mate, it was our pleasure! Thankyou very much for giving us the opportunity to speak with you!

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Band: Empyrean
Date: 27/11/2008
Origin: Brisbane, Australia
www.myspace.com/empyreanband

Queries: Brendan Amos (Metal Obsession)
Retorts: Shayne Johnson (Guitars)

Upcoming Empyrean shows

11th Dec 2008
Empyrean (Album Launch) @ Brannigans Tavern, Gold Coast
w/ Ne Obliviscaris (Vic), Face of Mutiny and One Shot Kill
Tickets available at the door 8:30pm, $10.

12th Dec 2008
Empyrean (Album Launch) @ Rosie’s, Brisbane
w/ Ne Obliviscaris (Vic), People Die, Violent Green and Aeternitas
Tickets available at the door 8pm, $15.

6th Jan 2009
Whitechapel @ QUT Guild Bar, Brisbane
w/ Psycroptic, Dyscord, State of Integrity and Empyrean
Tickets available at Oztix or the door 8pm.