Aphotic
Dusk changed their name
and became Aphotic, so they have released a split CD with old material.
If you like ambient dark / doom music, read the interesting interview with
Aphotic and try to find their stuff.
1. So Keith, can you introduce us the history
of the band?
Aphotic formed in April of 2000. We
recorded our five song self-titled demo in August of 2000. Exactly
a year later we recorded our second demo, ‘Under Veil of Dark’, and exactly
a year after that we recorded our third demo, ‘Stillness Grows’ in August
2002. In June of 2004, Flood the Earth Records released all three
demos on one CD. They also took most of my remaining copies of ‘Under Veil
of Dark’ and all the remaining copies of the self-titled EP and got rid
of them for me. We recorded our fourth self-financed EP in November 2004,
‘To Find New Darkness’. Cursed Productions released it for us in March
of 2005 along with the last Dusk EP, ‘The Slumber’ as a split CD. All three
of us were in Dusk prior to being in Aphotic so it seemed to make sense
to release them together since we were on both recordings.
2. Why did you name the band Aphotic? Can you
tell to us the story behind the name?
The aphotic zone is a body of water too deep
to ever receive any sunlight. So basically it stands for total darkness.
We pronounce the band’s name a little different from the actual term…(A-fa-tik).
3. So far you have an album and a split CD,
can you tell me some more details from the recording session of the split
CD?
Actually we’ve never recorded an album yet.
The Flood the Earth release was simply a collection of our three demo EP’s
from 2000, 2001, and 2002, put together on one CD. We’re still trying to
find a record label that will give us a deal so that we can record a full-length
album. The recording session for the ‘To Find New Darkness’ EP was by far
the most successful, even though we had to use a combination of real and
programmed drums. Everything went pretty smoothly and we stayed within
our limited self-financed budget. We all just wish that it could have had
real drums, but there is no way we could afford to bring in a session drummer
without the help of a label.
4. How are the reactions for both releases
from the press and fans?
We’ve always got really good reviews and that’s
why I can’t understand why we are still unsigned. People really seem to
like us but everyone always assumes that we are going to get bigger and
release an album through a label, but there are no plans of this since
no one is interested in us at this point. We are going to need much more
support from people in the near future if this band is going to keep making
music.
5. Do you like the stuff from Dusk?
I used to love Dusk’s old material before
I joined them. Chad and I were only in Dusk for a couple of years around
‘The Slumber’ session. Steve is the only one that was in Dusk from start
to finish. It was basically his project just like how Aphotic is mine.
The ‘Dusk’ album from 1994 and the ‘Majestic Thou in Ruin’ album from 1995
are two of my favorite doom metal CDs ever. I used to listen to them constantly.
Dusk live back in the early 90’s was a really unbelievable sight too.
They never used keyboards. All those sounds were guitar-synths and
they pulled off everything that you hear on the CD’s live too. It was really
a great band. It’s too bad that Dusk was also never able to obtain a record
contract. Everything that they did was also self-financed just like
Aphotic’s recordings.
6. Could you please characterize and
describe your music?
I call it ambient death. Some people call
it dark metal, which is fine with me. I really don’t think that we’re doom
metal because we have too many upbeat songs, but if people want to label
us as that, I guess that doesn’t bother me either. The funniest thing is
that some people call us black metal. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing
fucking clown make-up on my face or leather and spikes or whatever is trendy
in that field now. I don’t understand why people can’t do something original
and quit fucking trying so hard to sound or look like someone else. But
then again, we don’t pay attention to what’s trendy or popular in this
scene and Aphotic has failed to obtain a record contract. Whatever…fuck
it then.
7. Have you already played any live shows?
We play shows very rarely because there is
no scene in Wisconsin at all.
8. Do you have start to write the material
for your second album?
We have most of the songs written for what
would be our first album. It won’t ever get recorded though if we don’t
get a record deal sometime soon.
9. So far are you satisfied with the help from
Flood the Earth Records?
We’re all very happy with Flood the Earth’s
help. I honestly think that the label is going to grow into one of the
biggest and best underground labels out there in the years to come. It’s
a great hard working and honest label.
10. Do you know anything from the Greek metal
scene?
No, I don’t. I actually quit listening to
metal a few years ago so I don’t know anything about any scene anymore.
11. Are you satisfied with the American metal
scene nowadays?
I hate the American metal scene. We’re not
included in any part of it and we can’t get any support from an overseas
label since it seems like none of them sign American bands. Aphotic is
pretty much fucked every way you look at the situation. How can a band
make an impact on a scene if they never get a chance to record a full-length
album?
12. Thanks a lot for your time, close the interview
as you want.
Antonis Maglaras
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