ARKENSTONE
We all
know that Portugal is famous in the metal community for its gothic metal
acts. However, lately we had the chance to meet with some black metal bands
like Arkenstone and Opus Draconis, which has proven to us that there is
a live and active underground black metal force. If it weren’t for the
bad production, we could refer to Arkenstone as an interesting release
in the black metal genre.
1.HELLO! FIRST OF ALL I THINK A PRESENTATION
OF THE BAND IS NECESSARY. INTRODUCE THE BAND TO THE READERS.
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Laldaboath: Hail Nick!! First of all
thanks for your time and space in your e-zine. ARKESNTONE was born in August’98
after we decided to leave our band and start a new one. Until now we have
Three releases: “Noctis Arma” (debut demo, sold out!!), 7” Ep “Lusitanian
Pride” (also sold out!!) and our debut Lp “Arkenstone” for the Greek label
Supreme Music Records. We have also released a MC format of the Lp limited
to 200 copies and also will be available very soon the re-release of our
demo tape (split with a Brazilian Black Metal band!). We play something
like Extreme Raw Black Metal and our line up is: Tzaboath (bass and vocals)
and me on guitars.
2.ARKENSTONE IS A STRANGE NAME. HOW
DID YOU CHOOSE IT? DOES IT HAVE A SPECIAL MEANING TO YOU?
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Laldaboath: Well Nick I’m a big fan
of “The Lords Of The Rings” and when we were looking for a name for the
band I found this name in the book and almost at that moment we liked it
and we feel that’s the best name that can describe our music and our feelings.
No, for me is just a name nothing more.
3.A BLACK METAL BAND FROM PORTUGAL
US NOT SOMETHING WE SEE EVERYDAY. YOUR COUNTRY IS MOSTLY KNOWN FOR ITS
ATMOSPHERIC METAL SCENE. DOES A BAND LIKE YOU HAVE AN AUDIENCE IN YOUR
COUNTRY? WHICH OTHER EXTREME BANDS FROM OVER THERE YOU LIKE AND YOU CONSIDER
THAT WORTH THE ATTENTION OF THE FANS?
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Laldaboath: To tell you the truth,
in Portugal doesn’t exist audience for this type of music, because well
I think we play very extreme and raw music and this isn’t a “trend style”
people aren’t interested in us but this does not bore us!! We don’t care
about that.. To mention a few: Flamma Aeterna, Nargathrond, Flagellum Dei,
Lux Ferre...
4.TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR RELEASE.
WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO CUT ONLY 500 EP’S VIA SUPREME MUSIC RECORDS? IS
THIS RELEASE A DEMO THAT YOU CHANGED IT INTO A VINYL FORM? WHY HAVEN’T
YOU RELEASED IT IN A CD FORM AS WELL FOR THOSE THAT DON’T HAVE A RECORD
PLAYER? WHEN HAVE YOU COMPOSED THOSE SONGS AND HOW LONG DID IT TAKE
YOU TO RECORD IT?
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Laldaboath: First of all it isn’t an
Ep but an Lp and isn’t our demo but new songs from the band. At first ours
plans were to make only 300 copies but we made an agreement for 500 copies.
We are vinyl maniacs so I’m very proud of this release and even until now
it is only available in vinyl and also in tape. The label that was to release
it in cd had some problems so we decided to cancel the deal so we are still
interested in releasing it in cd format but until know we haven’t found
a label that will have the courage to release our stuff in cd format. As
we have our jobs it is very difficult to find time to rehearse so the result
of our Lp is almost one year of total dedication. The recordings were also
in some sessions during more or less the past six months of the previous
year.
5.ALTHOUGH I LIKED YOUR SONGS, I THINK
THAT THE PRODUCTION WAS AWFUL AND MAKES THE ALBUM HARD TO LISTEN. WHAT
DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SOUND YOU HAVE AND DID YOU DO IT ON PURPOSE TO REMIND
US OF THE OLD BLACK METAL SCENE? IF YOU HAD MORE MONEY WOULD YOU DO A BETTER
JOB?
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Laldaboath: First of all I want to
say that the result was better than we expect and why!?! Well when we finished
the recordings, we entered a studio for the mastering sessions but the
guy fucked it up twice (we have lost money and time with him) so we decided
that was better that we make the mastering in our own studio with the equipment
that we have there and the result is what you find in the Lp. When we decided
to make the Arkenstone music we decided that had to be raw and extreme
as we wanted it in the old days and not how the Black Metal is today with
lots of keyboards, very good productions... As I said before I’m very proud
of our Lp as it is and I will not stop our creation and say that with more
money we can have a better production bla bla bla. Waiting for the new
songs that will be also released by Supreme Music Records and you will
see the real sound of Arkenstone. Just wait and you will see.
6.IN MY OPINION YOUR MUSIC HAS A STRONG
EPIC ATMOSPHERE AND IN SOME PARTS BROUGHT TO MY MIND THE LATEST BATHORY
PERIOD. DO YOU AGREE THAT YOU PLAY EPIC BLACK METAL? WHICH OTHER BANDS
INFLUENCED YOU?
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Laldaboath: Thanks for your opinion
and for comparing us with Bathory. I have told you that you don’t find
a “similar” review about our sound. What I want to say is that in the reviews
that I have read they compared us with: Emperor, Graveland, Absurd,...
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This is the result that everyone can
listened to and can have their own opinion and not everyone says that this
is like band X or Y. Everyone can listen to our music and can say that
“this remember me X” and other person “this remember Y” this is the real
Black Metal not the trend!! The same thing for our style everyone can describe
as they want or better as they feel. I’m influenced almost from all styles
of metal and also for some epic soundtracks. Some bands: Lacrimosa, Motorhead,
Gorgoroth, Nargaroth; Judas Iscariot, Burzum , Dark Throne, Summoning...
7.WHICH THEMES DO YOU LIKE TO “HURT”
WITH YOUR LYRICS? IS IT THE TYPICAL BLASPHEMOUS, ANTICHRISTIAN THEMATOLOGY
OR DO YOU WRITE ABOUT EPIC STORIES?
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Laldaboath: I’m not the right person
to talk about ours lyrics, as is Tzaboath who writes them. But I can tell
you that some topics ar the Portugal history, witchcraft, wolves, and of
course some anti-Christian themes. Tzaboath writes the lyrics as he wants,
as he feels, of course sometimes we talk about some lyrics about this or
that and the same goes with the music. I composed the music all alone and
also sometime he tells me let’s make now one song more brutal or more epic.
This is how Arkenstone work. Two minds work separately in their areas and
after that the final result is the Arkenstone music. I must tell you that
we worked 100% for the satisfaction of both.
8.YOUR ALBUM WAS RELEASED BY A GREEK
LABEL. IS IT POSSIBLE TO VISIT GREECE FOR A LIVE SHOW? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THE GREEK METAL SCENE?
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Laldaboath: Hum.. Well Nick this is
impossible as we don’t play live. We have some invitations to play live
but we said to all NO!! But one day how knows... I know very well your
scene since the 80’s that I’m in touch with all of you there. The Greek
scene is very strong with very good bands and with true support (the same
doesn’t happen with my country). I must thank Lord Alaloth (Vorphalack)
for the real and killer support of my projects since almost ten years ago
aahhhh!!!! All the best to you my brother and also to all Greek maniacs
that support us!!!! You have some great bands as: Vorphalack, Nar Mataron,
Naer Mataron, Macabre Omen, Der Strummer...
9.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT
WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
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Laldaboath: Emotion!?!? Maybe solitude,
hate. Painting : a dark cold forest or something that can describe death!!
10.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE
CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?
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Laldaboath: Why He created christianism!?!?!
FUCK!!
11.WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A FAN TO CONVINCE
HIM BUY YOUR RELEASE INSTEAD OF SOMETHING ELSE? WHICH IS YOUR STRONGEST
POINT AND WHICH THE WEAKEST ACCORDING TO YOU?
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Laldaboath: Hum... If they want
to hear some honest work or if he is a “new black metal fan”, maybe with
our record he can imagine how great is to play, feel Black Metal in the
80’s. For an old Black Metal fan, something for him to remember the old
days and also the true days of Black Metal. The strongest point maybe the
honesty of our work, this isn’t only a production and is almost impossible
to make that live!!! The weakness in my opinion is in the production nothing
more.
12.WHICH IS THE WILDEST DREAM YOU WANT
TO MAKE TRUE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC?
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Laldaboath: I don’t dream with my music
we only make some plans for a year and after that year we decide what we
can do next year nothing more...
13.YOU ARE GRANTED ONE WISH. WHAT WOULD
YOU DO WITH IT?
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Laldaboath: Fuck Nick this isn’t a
Christian band that makes wishes. I only want to have respect and to continue
to make my music as I feel it.
14.WHICH IS THE BEST DREAM AND WHICH
IS THE WORST NIGHTMARE YOU’VE EVER SEEN?
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Laldaboath: Too personal...
15.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW
TO HAVE?
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Laldaboath: Hum.. I’m not good at this..
Maybe something like “How an underground band can survive in a country
where the underground is dead!!”
16.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?
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Laldaboath: Thanks again Nick for this
great interview. I think that you have asked almost everything, maybe something
relative to rip offs like the Greek label Sinister!! Everyone is free to
write to us!! Support the underground and also ask about the merchandise
that we have!! I will ask you one question, how are Greek females in the
Black Metal scene EHEHEEH!!!!
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HATE US WE DON’T CARE!!!!!