INTERVIEW: Velnias – Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult

Since 1997, DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT have been one of the unsung heroes of black metal. Through their brand of musical ferocity, an uncompromising live show, and an esteemed collection of records, the quartet (led by the formidable duo of Onielar and Velnias) have built a solid reputation in metal’s underground. Six years have passed since the release of Necrovision and now, album number six Mardom is here. We spoke with guitarist Velnias to shine a light on their brand new album of musical blasphemy alongside discussing the band’s dedication to sticking to the core values of black metal and the importance of theatrics in live performances.

You’re set to release your brand new album Mardom. What can people expect from this new release?

Velnias: If you are familiar with our previous releases you should already know that DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT has always taken one step after another. So, expected a logical continuation of the path and direction of the predecessor Necrovision. A versatile album with its heart and soul deeply rooted in old school Scandinavian influenced black metal. Yet certainly with twenty-two years of band existence with an own unique touch. In case you are unfamiliar with our works be ascertained that if you are into uncompromising sincere rawness Mardom is something for you. We are certainly proud of looking back at so many years of being active in the scene. And definitely also proud of what DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT has turned into since the very first chapter The Pest Called Humanity. Mardom is a perfect blend of years of experience and a strong craving for extreme art.

Mardom arrives six years after your last record, Necrovision. How have you honed your sound and developed as a band since then?

Velnias: Of course developed even further as a band. It has never been and certainly won’t be our intention to reinvent black metal. DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT is not the type of band that attempts to go new ways. So now it is more a matter of broadening the horizon in order to still add refreshing elements to ones own deliberately set boundaries. This aspect was already part of Necrovision, but probably is even more noticeable on Mardom. At times it feels like knowing an entire album after having heard a song or two. Such releases lack variety. An album should have a multitude of different impressions always demanding the listeners attention and focus. Unconsciously that’s something we have worked on during the past years.

Can you explain the writing and recording process for Mardom?

Velnias: There is no specific approach on how we write new material. We are not forcing creativity. It is important to listen to yourself. There is guidance within us all. Neglecting this urge means not fulfilling your true will. Obviously, there are times predestined for creativity and times when taking a break from everything is necessary. This means that it does not work for us to have a deadline. An album is ready whenever it feels like being ready. Same applies to the writing process. Whenever a new song is ready and approved by the band, we will start to rehearse that track as a band. All without coercion.

What lyrical themes and concepts are explored on Mardom?

Velnias: Please understand that true knowledge is not served on a salver. We demand a certain self-immolation of everyone interested in the lyrical themes by reading and pondering about the content. It is nearly impossible to figure out what an artist really meant by expressing what he or she actually did. To be honest that is of secondary importance anyway. A song, a poem or in general a piece of art gains importance in our personal life because of the associations we make out of it. Not because the originator says it is this or that. So, as always, a small glimpse on the concept will be unveiled but not too much into detail. Mardom deals with boundaries, frontiers, confinements and the like. Furthermore, it speaks of all those things in between and those who easily pass from one side to the other, well, and of course of those things who are found on merely one of them. For the first time our liner notes have been published. The limited collector’s box plus the regular vinyl version include a 24 pages booklet. Inside you will find more to think about.

The upcoming album will be your sixth full length record. Do you think you have found your key sound and how do you feel this record compares to your back catalogue?

Velnias: In all these years we have probably found our way of expressing black metal. So, there is probably a “typical DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT sound”, but that is not up to us to say. We consider each and every album as something completely new. Especially sound-wise. It very much depends on the material what kind of sound we are aiming for. Compared to our back catalogue you will notice a change in sound multiple times in between albums. One thing we definitely want is a quality production. It makes no sense working on material for a long time and then shrouding everything with a low-quality production. Actually, it has be just the right mix between low and high quality. A pleasantly audible torment for that matter. In terms of musical skills Mardom and the predecessor Necrovision have already introduced much more variety. Perhaps that is what people mean by saying “it sounds more mature”.

Musically, Mardom is a fierce and uncompromising listen. How key is it for you to stick to the traditional roots of black metal when crafting music for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT?

Velnias: We have a certain idea of what DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT has to sound like, but we are not really limiting ourselves in that way. We write what is appealing to us. As we are a band and not a one-man/one-woman show each member has a right to intervene. Therefore, chances are pretty slim that anything not suitable for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT will be accepted. Every artist has an own individual approach to creativity. Some approaches will permanently target the same source. This implies that the outcome will be of the same nature as long as the approach remains unchanged. A change of allegiance will certainly result in bigger changes. Judging by twenty-two years of activity it is save to say that we are standing unshaken. In no way this is a burden. Sticking to ‘traditional roots’ doesn’t mean absolute limitation. What it really means is to not forget about tradition but enhancing it and redefining it.

It’s clear that there is a big Norwegian black metal influence to your sound. Can you elaborate on some of your influences and how they shape the sound of your band?

Velnias: Old school Scandinavian black metal certainly is one of the influences. But definitely not the only one. Well, if you are into black metal there was honestly no way around Norway in the past. It very much depends on your background, speaking for myself during the nineties I, Velnias, grew up in the US. Black metal was imported from Europe, by saying Europe it was actually solely Scandinavia. Of course, that had a major impact on me. Onielar for example spend many years in Poland, so she grew up with Polish bands, Horrn our drummer has been playing drums since the dawn of metal – so there you have completely other influences. We do have different backgrounds but share many common favourites. During the years we have broadened our horizons musically. Which simply means that we are allowing good music to be good music indifferent of the genre. All that matters is that music is capable of mesmerising and arousing your ‘soul’. So, for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT everything is allowed as long as we still recognise it is us and not another band or project.

With this being your sixth record, what do you hope to achieve with this new record?

Velnias: Nothing less than a Grammy award. Anything else will be disappointing.

The musical ferocity is obviously important, but your visual aesthetics in your live performances are obviously an important cog in the DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT machine. In your view, how important is it to you to create a memorable and gripping atmosphere when you perform?

Velnias: It is an absolute must. Performing live means that the artist has the opportunity to appeal to all of the senses. Just going on stage and performing songs live wouldn’t do it for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT. Paraphernalia, symbolism such as blood and the likes, all that feels right to be added. That’s something a studio recording can’t do. The right stage setup is one step closer to fully experiencing a band. Any show needs to mesmerise the partakers. That includes everyone on and off stage. It is a constant ebb and flow of energy. An exchange between those visible and those invisible. A performance has to be an iron clutch. It needs to be breath taking and for the moment it needs absolute attention and focus. Atmosphere can’t be capture on camera or your mobile phone – it needs to be etched in your mind. Therefore, it is of high importance to us to add something obscure and eerie to the performance.

Black metal has developed and evolved considerably since the days of the iconic Norwegian scene. In your opinion, what is your view on the black metal scene in 2019?

Velnias: The radical and provoking attitude is most likely still alive, but it is lived either in a more mature intelligent way or it simply doesn’t offend and surprise anyone anymore. It has turned from a blatant to more of a thought-provoking approach. Which by the way seems like a more suitable way of spreading the message. Change must come as empirical knowledge and not be forced upon. Today’s scene is as much alive and strong as it has been through out the years. Popularity of the genre made sure that there is a surplus of bands, magazine and labels. Year by year it gets more difficult to unearth the jewels in between the foul reeking swamp nowadays called ‘business’.

Following the release of Mardom, what’s next for DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT?

Velnias: As both bands DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT and BETHLEHEM have new albums out this year will focus on live shows for the remaining year. Once some time has passed, we’ll certainly start working on new material sooner or later. But, of course, it is still way to early to speak about that. There might be some interesting vinyl reissues coming up during the year.

To close, we’ll offer you a chance to leave a parting message with our readers. Do you have anything to say to the readers of Distorted Sound?

Velnias: Well, let us close with an excerpt taken from The Twofold Mystery:
”Thus I beseech thee to blind me with limitless light,
amidst this world there’s nothing I behold.
Therefore, I beseech thee to combust this shell in utter blight,
within life there is nothing to uphold.
Within death all I seek – is lives pestilential reek.
Though thine are the mysteries twofold”

Mardom is set for release on April 12th via War Anthem Records.

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