Tonight, Lachryma Christi brings you an interview with Black/Death Metal band from the US, Aurora Borealis. For those who don't know Aurora Borealis, they play a very neat, technical, fast and heavy music. By choice, they don't usually play live, but they have recently released their most recent album called Disillusioned by the Illusion, via Non Serviam Records. It is absolutely awesome.
So, Lachryma Christi had the chance to ask a few questions to Ron Vento, about these and other interesting matters, and you may read all of it below!
Aurora Borealis have a new album out since last April, Disillusioned by the Illusion. What was the main inspiration for it?
I am just inspired to create in general. Of course i have lyrically things that inspire me for individual songs but overall I just must create. It I take too long of a break from writing or recording something just feels wrong.
I've seen quite interesting and valuable comments to Disillusioned by the Illusion. How has the public been reacting to it, from your perspective?
It’s been doing very well from what I can see. Lots of great reviews so far and play counts are looking strong on all platforms. I never really try to focus on how the album is being received because it was created for me. I never really focus on what i think people will say about it. It’s fortunate however that so many people have seemed to enjoy it over the years and so many labels have liked it enough to release it.
Your music is usually described as Black/Death Metal. For me it is a lot more Black Metal. How would you describe it yourselves?
I always say we are semi technical Black Death Metal haha. I am influenced musically by so many bands from all genres. So it naturally comes out in the music I write. I especially enjoy European Black Metal, so you’re probably right in assuming that’s what you’re hearing most of. I enjoy the melody. They fuse with the pure raw aggressive, and Speed. We have a lot of thrash metal riffs also and some Death Metal here and there are mixed in, also vocally. It’s mostly Black Metal I would say.
I've read somewhere that Aurora Borealis doesn't play live. Why is that? Do you ever regret that decision?
Yes that’s correct we haven’t played live in a very very long time. I treat Aurora as my studio project mainly. If we were offered a festival or something I may consider it. I don’t regret it really but every now and then I wish we did here and there. My other black metal band Imperial Crystalline Entombment plays live quite often. As I am typing this I am on a plane to Finland to play Steelfest. After that we have some Spain gigs lined up. We have also play some really great fests like Hellfest and Maryland Deathfest and even done small headlining tours so I stay pretty busy with that band and the shows we do.
How does the process of writing work for Aurora Borealis? What comes first?
The writing process is pretty much always the same. I start with riff writing. I write hundreds of riffs and the ones that really stick with me make it onto the albums. It’s very important that they flow together and the rights riffs are paired with one another. After I get the song structures down I send them to my drummer who then creates his parts. We then go back and forth refining them until we feel they are perfect. Then we record those elements. After that the bass player adds his parts and it’s sort of the same with him. He writes and then we refine together.
Lastly is lyrics and that is the part that takes the most time. I take my time and make sure every word means something. I never cut any corners.
Aurora Borealis have been around for over 30 years. How do you see the evolution of this industry along the years?
I just see more and more bands really. With the advent of things like pro tools or whatever platform people are using it seems like everyone has a band or album. 9 out of 10 times it’s just a guy sitting in his bedroom trying none albums with no drum machine. It makes it hard to find good music. Labels used to release stuff and you generally knew it was going to be decent because they weren’t signing garbage bands now you have to go through 50 albums to find one decent one. When it cost real money to record bands were usually pretty good before spending that type of money to make a record. It’s good and bad because it gives people a platform to release stuff and be creative but it just seems like there is so much nonsense out there now.
Even worse are the AI bars that are popping up where you speak a song into existence and say you wrote it. Musicianship was already on the decline due to digital recording and the ease or editing and copy paste and building any part you want in the computer now it’s literally talk a song into existence. It’s one of the main reasons I am getting out of the studio business.
Some of you have parallel music projects. How easy is it to reconcile all of it?
We have all been doing this a long time so nothing ever really conflicts with another thing. Sometimes my guys say that I work too fast and overload them haha. I like to stay busy and active. Also some of the other projects have the same members well as well so it makes it really easy.
Why Aurora Borealis as a name for the band? Where did that idea come from?
Way back in the early 90s there were two main types of things happening. Satanic and gore. I wasn’t into either of them and I didn’t want to portray either of them in my name. I think the northern lights are a very chaotic thing if you look at them but at the same time beautiful. I feel the same way about the music I create. It can appear chaotic, but I me it’s Beautiful. It makes a statement that we are different.
What's in store for Aurora Borealis in the near future? What can we expect?
Well we have added yet another new drummer and he will take Aurora over the top. We had already written about half of a new album so there won’t be as long of a gap between records this time. Jack Blackburn. He has played for bands that I personally enjoy very much like inferi, Enfold Darkness, and Vital Remains so it’s really great that we are working together and the music is really elevated.
What advice would you give to anyone staying a metal band right now?
I would say practice practice practice. Get with other musicians and create. Refine your sound. Sitting alone in a bedroom creating all by yourself only will take you so far. Write what you feel and have a passion for it. Don’t ever write to please anyone but you and your band. You can always tell someone chasing a trend.
Is there anything you'd like to add to people reading this interview?
Yes we would encourage all readers to check out the latest album if you enjoy it get your copy from Non Serviam Records. We also tell everyone to get in touch. We live hearing from fans of the band. And lastly thank you for the interview. We aren’t that big of a band so people like you help us get recognized and we appreciate it.
Lineup:
Ron Vento - Vocals, guitar, programming
Mark Green - Drums
Eddie Rossi - Bass
