When I think about current bands that epitomize the true nature of black and death metal music, I hold a special place for bands like Embrace of Thorns, an establish band from Greece. I was inspired to conduct this interview after repeated listens to their new release “Scorn Aesthetics”. A dark gripping, almost depressing and sometimes painful listen. And after reading through the responses here I find that I wasn’t necessarily fallen from the mark. During this interview process they were just finishing up a U.S. tour.
If there is one thing to appreciate considering this primitive form of music, it is the work ethic and devoted interest in this music. With all this said, I hope you will enjoy this brief but entertaining interview. I once again thank Embrace of Thorn for taking time to speak with me. Just a lowly no-name metal head from Michigan.
Tell me what is the underground metal scene like in Greece?
It’s been increasingly better during the last decade, there are shows every week and lots of quality recordings coming out. Well it’s my big dysfunctional family, I tend to loathe it but I am unable to do without it. It carries the analogies and pathologies of every scene but it’s better than it was in the early 2000s.
What were your inspirations with Scorn Aesthetics?
Calculated ,cold , desperate, comforting scorn against pretty much everything . It’s a rude awakening thing and a realization that change is not likely to come. So what we are left with is to fortify our own little strongholds . So strife has now another meaning , to barricade our precious world and not succumb to conformity and to the unified vision of the modern blindfolded man, a nihilistic irony…
Your music is very raw and primitive, a semblance of death and black metal. Angry and primitive, you even included (used exceptionally well) samples from the Jonestown Massacre. Please tell me what your worldview is in regards to living, basically what encourages you to continue on in this life?
There is no unified worldview,but a rather tribal, dare I say atavistic need for preserving what fulfills our lifecode and inner needs. No edgy stuff here rather than a defiant philosophy and a hunger to reap the fruits of inner strife in times of conformity, that “encourages” us to move on. We ve been saying pretty much the same stuff since 2009… but some lyrics for an upcoming song briefly encapsulate my standpoint.
“Humanity is a cancer and tumours have been long devouring its marrow,All mechanisms of defense seem to have failed and there is no room for reversalThe end of this disgraceful travesty is nigh , this sick animal must be put to sleep.I dream of pallbearers and endless funerals, a rather pleasant interval to this misery incarnate.I dream of ravens croaking and vultures circling…I dream of heartbroken mothers, of their pale wrinkled faces ,of eyes blood red and self inflicted chest wounds.Let the deceased sons of failure be baptized in a pool of rotten blood…Let them dismantle in an eruption of disproportionate proportions…Mourning for what should have happened ages ago is pointless…For the threads and the fabrics have been long ago torn… And Rightfully the Filthy vermin brought the black plague forth …”
Can you give me a brief idea of your current band formation? are you all close friends? I am sure you all have employment and side jobs to support yourselves to play this kind of music.
We are comrades,partners in crime, brothers from different mothers. Members with own agendas have no place in EoT. One must either unconditionally surrender himself to the glory of darkness impenetrable or he won’t last. The Scorn Aesthetics line-up is the quintessential EoT line-up
Current music that you are enjoying?
the new DECEASED album, new DEATHHAMMER,COMMUNION,WITCHCRAFT(Fin), DEATHLY SCYTHE,AIMA,the new ARCHGOAT,last NECROPHOBIC album that’s what I’ve recently enjoyed
Current films, books you are enjoying?
Tons of them but nothing that has impacted EoT lately.
My interest in metal of Greece started with Dead Congregation. Are you at all associated with them? or friends?
Yes we are, we can call them close acquaintances,even friends, AV even used to play for EoT from 2009 til’ 2012, he recorded “praying for absolution” with us and remains someone we hold dear. DEAD CONGREGATION are very dedicated persons and deserve all the support they have gotten through the years.
Do you think Friedrich Nietzsche would listen to death/black metal? (assuming he was alive today)
I guess he would rather listen to some very brooding classical pieces…
Can you tell me more about Chants of Atomic Genocide and the label Kill Yourself Productions?
The zine is dead and the label in hiatus,there are no hopes for a revival of the zine ,as for the label time shall tell. The scene is something that I hold in very high esteem and I don’t want to do the label thing if my heart is not into it 100%, at the moment there is no possibility to be more active with the label, but I think the impact of what I have released has been big enough. My goal was to create something in the vein those very dedicated 90ies labels, that provided an outlet for underground expression wrapped in a very limited anticommercial framework. I have been let down but I have also reaped great rewards through my course in Kyp. Truth is however that the underground is a whole different beast nowadays and I don’t have much left in the tank anymore ,so as to keep on soldiering through it forever. If I am to go through the motions in order to do it,i’d rather not do it at all.
Kill Yourself Productions – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives
I think that is all I have got for you. I want to thank you in advance for this opportunity, and honor of speaking with you. Feel free to include any promotional information or closing words. I will do my best to get the word out about your band and music.
thank you for the interview…
Please support these musicians and their pursuit and vision. They are incredibly hard working, and what great guys to take the time to answer some questions from me.
