fbpx

Embrace of Thorns Interview -Entropy Dynamics

Without much delay, they have delivered to me the answers to some of my most pressing questions. This release of Entropy is a signal of the atmosphere for sure. I think this is a powerful discussion and I hope you will enjoy. And yes, I will introduce a new page specifically for interviews.

embrace of thorns

First of all, how the hell are you, anyway? considering the social and political climate in the European disaster that is happening, it goes without saying.

A, Thanks for having us again. We have just come back home from a show in central Greece, we did a local festival there. This is the second show we played since the whole pandemic thing ensued. Regarding climate, I don’t really feel like discussing inflation, fuel shortage, energy crisis etc. . It seems like an endless downward spiral, let alone history tends to repeat itself. Regarding the band during the COVID crisis, we suffered the cancellation of a festival appearance and we saw a tour going down the drain, eventually also getting canceled. We try to stay afloat. Entropy Dynamics, which is the upcoming album, was recorded a year ago. In the meantime, we released an Ep. Needless to say, that I don’t have any grandiose expectations when it comes to the near future as there is still turbulence around. One thing that I find pleasing is that we managed to write and record a damn great album, filled with darkness and contempt, totally representative of the Kali Yuga age we are undergoing.

Q, I was actually browsing over your recent Facebook post and I saw your aggression and concern about the genre of black metal, I think you spoke it rather well, and no need to divulge. But it’s with a passing concern that we allow Hollywood to narrate our music? or it be the other way around? 

A, I don’t really lose any sleep over the future of Black metal and metal in general. We are in the middle of a weeding out process (to quote BLACK FLAG). You see when it comes to black metal there is a certain sensationalist approach plus it is a very popular subject matter for the press to write about, as well we are witnessing a generational shift when it comes to who is involved with the black metal scene. I said, in a stream of consciousness style, but rather calmly, what I think about the whole issue. I was asked in an interview, and I answered back. Black metal is a big part of my past, present and probably my future, so I think my 2 cents are somehow relevant. Suffice to say, that this is no longer a scene consisting of renegades and outcasts. Back when I was a teen, I had to make a stand when it came to my choice of black metal t-shirts, now it’s been an integral part of the pop culture. People are making feature films and documentaries about black metal. But this is the reality of the situation.

Q, I’m still thinking about Antigone and that goddamn scene of suicide and sacrifices of humans, its unthinkable this Greek mythology. How much does this affect your music?

A, what is most interesting in my eyes is sacrilege, blasphemy and divine punishment involved and inherent in ancient Greek tragedies, as well as other forms of social commentary. Human sacrifices among other measures were utilized to appease the angry gods. Burnt offerings, such as animals were mostly used and sacrificing humans was considered the last resort. That was common in many pre-Christian civilizations.
Antigone poses critique to the social structure of many ancient Greek states and uses some very interesting symbolism. When primary identity is reduced to “us” and “them,” the definition of justice narrows. It becomes simply what helps “us” and harms “them”. When a leader urges citizens to identify his enemies as enemies of the state, what those citizens may end up having most in common with each other is anger, fear and mutual contempt. Thucydides’, one of the most significant ancient Greek Historians, observed that when a community is at war with itself, “moderates suffered most, because they were subject to attack by both factions.”
Sophocles offers another lesson in Antigone. Namely, that a single person in power, if he persuades or frightens enough people, can cause the suffering of innocents and the loss of institutions and customs on which civil order rely.
Of course, this masterpiece could have taught the future generations a lesson or two. Alas, it wasn’t bound to happen.
Art in general, be it music, literature, cinema or theater profoundly affects our music.

Q, I have had 2 psychotic breaks and dislocated my right shoulder, I need a replacement shoulder, it’s been on my mind to get the surgery, what do you think?
Yeah, shoulder is a flawed joint anyways,please do get a replacement shoulder…

A, as for the psychotic breaks of yours, I don’t know your background and I don’t want to patronize you, but it seems that more and more people are in a bad place and are struggling with depression, borderline personality disorder, self-harm tendencies etc. This should be of primary interest. I am very aware of the reality of mental disorders and very supportive of people who struggle. I’ve had people close to me who suffered in silence. When I was young, I was clueless, I was raised to buckle up and suck it, bite the shit sandwich and smile type of approach. This is of course wrong, and I figured this out on my own, when shit hit the fan in more than one occasions.

Q, it’s exciting your releasing new music, how about Dead Congregation? any idea if they might be brewing something up? {maybe I should ask them myself?}
A, Yeah, they have written the new album but haven’t found time to record yet. Hopefully soon…

Q, what are your thoughts on Ketamine and mushrooms? do you think the world will ever get there shit straight and consider the fact that this does indeed help people?

A, there’s been a discussion since the Sixties on hallucinogens and other mind-expanding drugs or drugs that serve medical purposes. It is without doubt that people get helped by certain drugs. However, the whole drug culture is definitely not my thing.

Q, You guys like video games?
A, some of the past and present members like them. I was never a fan. I am mostly infatuated with music, cinema and literature.
Thats the best of it, I look forward to your response.
I would like to thank you again for hosting us again. New album is going to hit you hard.
Die by Power!
……………………………
https://embracethorns.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EmbraceOfThorns/

Embrace of Thorns Interview

Embrace of Thorns Interview

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.

Embrace of Thorns: Music

EMBRACE OF THORNS – Home | Facebook

%d bloggers like this: