This time Lachryma Christi brings you an interview with a Black Metal band from UK, Heathen Deity. Altough they have been around for around 20 years, only now they are recording their debut album. However, they have been doing plenty of shows and they released a live album this year, Nottingham Infernal.
Lachryma Christi had the pleasure of asking some questions to Dagon and Azrael about this and other stuff as well. So, keep reading!
Greetings! Heathen Deity have been around for over 20 years now. Do you think the English scene changed a lot along these years?
Dagon: Hello all at Lachryma Christi, Thank you for this opportunity.
Personally I have never really took much notice on the scene as a whole, I am too involved in what is going on with Heathen Deity as well as my own personal life to really care what other people are doing. Obviously if someone wishes to involve me in something music related, or a guest vocal appearance for example then I will learn what is needed from that particular project. I don’t really listen to new music or actively seek out new bands, so I am really not the best person to answer your question.
Azrael: The English scene has changed drastically over the past 20 years. When we first ventured out into the then unknown as a band we quickly realised that there wasn't much support for Black Metal or a scene of such. For a young band in the late 90s and early 2000s there was hardly anywhere to play and venues were not very susceptible to having a Black Metal band in their place of business. There was some places of course but they were very far and few between. Of course as our reputation grew we pretty much played them all.
The relationships between bands was totally different back then also, not like today. Bands would keep themselves to themselves and there was not really the helping each other out attitude like there is nowadays. You was on your own. Nowadays bands tend to pull together and support each other to a certain degree and now there are far more venues and festivals that are more than willing to entertain a Black Metal band on their bill. The scene here in the UK has never been more stronger and consolidated. I try to keep a finger on what is happening out there, but it isn't always so easy when having to deal with the workings of everyday life.
Why did you choose Heathen Deity as the name for the band?
Azrael: We needed something that stood for what we are about and was a statement for every aspect of what we stand for and believe. It is Satanic, it is anti-religious and it evokes feelings of whatever the listener feels it means to them. It is open to their own interpretation so to speak.
I have seen written around that you play True English Black Metal. Is that how you consider the style of music you play?
Dagon: TEBM is the core of Heathen Deity, to us TEBM is more than music, it's a way to live your life . Be true to yourself, take no shit from anyone, never compromise on your integrity.
Azrael: Dagon is 100% right. Do what you want to do and be who you are. We have never pulled the wool over anyone's eyes in regards to our music and outlook, or the way we portray ourselves as a band or who we are. Sure, our sound has changed quite drastically since our first demo and the use of keyboards and such things BUT we have always done what we wanted and what we felt was right for us. We have never faltered and our convictions are exactly the same now as they was from the day we started this. For me that is what being true is all about and not a type of sound like most people like to think it is. It goes beyond music. The choices you make, the actions you take and standing up for what you believe in. That is real.
In all these years of existence, there wasn't a full-length studio album. Was that a decision you made or it just happened that way?
Dagon: The lack of full album hasn't held us back at all. The full length album just never materialised and to push out something we are not totally happy with wouldn't be what we are about. To record a full band studio album you need a full stable band! Something which until now we haven't really had, I don’t think the band has suffered from not releasing a full album so to speak, we haven't had to compromise on any performances ( not that we ever would ) we have played a good amount of shows, performed at the festivals we wanted to play at. The music we have available to the public has got us here today and I am very happy with our progression so far, Quality will always be better then quantity.
Azrael: The album has been written a long time and it is only now we are making the right progress with recording it. From the time of the songs being written in the early 2000s, right through our hiatus and to our re-birth in 2016 work on the album never ceased. The time in hand has enabled me to subtly evolve the songs further from their original basic inception and it has developed into the album I always wanted it to be. It has also given us time to include a couple of new songs making the picture complete by bridging the gap between the old band and the band as it is now. We could have recorded this album years ago with just Dagon and myself but we always felt it should be a band effort. Only now do we have the right band to do this and do it right with some dignity and conviction.
(photo by Cherry, taken from the band's facebook page)
Dagon: Not really no, the music thus far has been written by Azrael and myself. Until 2016 and our rebirth there has only been two real core members of the band who wrote the material and organised everything. The new line up since 2016 is the most solid foundation we have had since 1998, especially now with Storm on the drums, I can only see our future releases being even more relentless.
What are your songs about usually?
Dagon: What Black Metal should be about ... Satan .. Satanism ... Anti Christianity and Anti Religion.
If your songs are not about these subjects and you call yourselves Black Metal, you are basically kidding yourselves. Extreme metal maybe, but you are not a Black Metal act. Disagree? Who cares what you think I am stating the facts.
You just released a live album Nottingham Infernal. How did the opportunity come up?
Dagon: In all honesty it was an afterthought, we record all our shows anyway as a matter of cause for our own records, to watch back and see where we can improve our live show etc, when we played the recording back Azrael and myself were happy with the quality of the sound, our performance on the night and also the reaction from the crowed. We basically decided there and then this would make a good live recording to release.
We contacted our label Death Kvlt Productions to see what they thought about releasing it and they were all for it.
It has now been released on Red Cassette and it has also now been released on Red and Black Splatter 12 Inch Vinyl, both through Death Kvlt.
Azrael: The Mayhem live albums with Dead on vocals that was released I thought was great but the sound quality was really poor. Of course they are legendary performances and we are aware of this but they inspired us. As Dagon stated we record all of our performance for personal reasons. We had recently played a show in Nottingham, England to a packed out house. It was our first headline show since our rebirth and the audience was savage. We listened back to the performance and everything was perfect, especially for a raw recording Then the epiphany hit us. We could actually release this and it would serve as something to bridge the gap between our last demo release and the forthcoming full length album.
How has the reaction been to the release of this live album?
Dagon: The reaction has been very positive! The most important part for me was that, we as a band were happy with the release. In regard to sales "Nottingham Infernal" has done very well.
The Cassette edition sold out very quickly and so has the vinyl version. Both of the variants of the release have been shipped all over the world though DKP and also through the bands Bigcartel page, I think it has broadened our reach.
Azrael: Very good reactions. The only negative I have heard about is the lack of CD format concerning the release. Maybe that will happen eventually. Time will tell.
Do you have any shows coming on the near future, after Nottingham Infernal came out?
Dagon: The show we recorded the release "Nottingham Infernal" was a while ago now, since playing that we have performed at Hammerfest in Wales. This has been our last show to date this year. We are now all concentrating on the album, obviously if something crops up we will discuss it, but as for now we aren’t actively looking for shows.
Azrael: Finishing the album is the most important thing right now. We really need to spend the time right now finishing the recording.
(photo by Cherry, taken from the band's facebook page)
Dagon: The album should be out by the end of the year. We have a few shows and festivals planned for next year, nothing more to tell you about those yet.
Azrael: True English Christ Crushing Uncompromising Unholy Black Metal. I don't think there is anything more you could expect from a band like us. When the album is complete, like Dagon said we will be out there playing live again. At this time also we will be looking at new material and songs for a new release. A new EP perhaps. The circle is never complete and never ends. Love or loathe us, we are not going away, not this time! Ad Victoriam!!
What else would you like us to know about Heathen Deity?
Dagon: “seek, and ye: shall find” Naa fuck that pompous bullshit. Everything we want you to know about us is easily obtainable with a simple internet search.
The usual soul destroying suspects –
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heathendeityofficial/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGfdjI2lZXrmOBhAtipQDg
Bandcamp - https://heathendeity.bandcamp.com/
Bigcartel - https://heathendeity.bigcartel.com/
Death Kvlt Productions - https://en-gb.facebook.com/deathkvltproductions/
Heathen Deity perform True English Black Metal. We stand by our own beliefs without falter or any hesitation.
Album news and live dates will be made available as soon as possible.
Hail Satan ! Brothers and Sisters of the Heathen Horde !
You can watch the show of Heathen Deity on Hammerfest XI 2019 here:
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