A lot of bands do something similar to Downfall of Gaia, but few do it as well and in such an engaging way as they do. For the last few years, the German band has produced some of the more captivating forms of experimental, sludge-infused black metal.
With a new album out late last year entitled Aeon Unveils the Throes of Decay and a lot of gigs planned in the near future, the band is keeping itself busy. Lets check in with a couple of the guys to chat about what they have in store!
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Greetings! Congrats on the release of your third album! How do you see Aeon Unveils The Thrones of Decay in terms of the previous two records?
Dominik: Thanks a lot!
I would say Aeon Unveils The Thrones Of Decay is a pretty natural and organic sequel to our previous record. It's definitely our most aggressive and harsh sounding release to date but that was something we had in mind when we started with the songwriting.
While songs on our previous records grew slowly and things took their time, this time we tried to focus on pretty straight, fast and aggressive song structures.
A lot of bands out there today are mixing second-wave black metal influences with progressive and atmospheric elements. This can come off rather boring, but you guys manage to create very engaging music with real power to it- how do you approach the songwriting process?
Mike: I flew into Germany in March of 2014 for the first group of rehearsals, and Dominik and Peter (the guitarists) already had a handful of song skeletons written. They took turns presenting the songs to Toni and I, which is when we wrote our own parts and gave our feedback on song structure and arranging. This was my first time writing with Downfall of Gaia and I was surprised how organic it felt. We all bounced ideas off of each other and after two weeks of rehearsing and writing these new songs, Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay was pretty much done.
Before I left back home for New York, we recorded shitty basement demos to listen back to and edit. A month later we met back up in Hamburg and fleshed out the details of the songs and added vocals. When Dominik was done writing the lyrics, we spent a good week deciding who should scream what part and where. Since both guitarists and our bassist all share vocal duties, we had a lot of options to choose from.
Speaking of black metal, who would you say are your big influences on that side of the spectrum?
Dominik: I would say compared to our sound for example bands like Altar of Plagues or Wolves In The Throne Room definitely had an influence on what we are doing.
Personally diggin a lot bands like Agalloch (all time favourite), Watain, Thy Light, early Ulver…to name a few.
Mike: Some more recent influences would definitely have to be Hope Drone, Sannhet, Vilkacis, Vattnet Viskar, Mutilation Rites and Yellow Eyes. However, I agree with Dominik that Altar of Plagues and Wolves in The Throne Room have an influence in our sound.
You include some softer moments in-between the harsher ones. Is this to give the listener a moment to breathe? Or is it to create a dramatic opening between heavy bursts?
Mike: I think it’s a little bit of both. Like I mentioned in your previous question, the song writing was very organic for this record, so all of the softer moments have their place and purpose. I think without them, the heavier moments wouldn’t be as impactful.
For those without access to a lyrics sheet, what would you say is the primary subject matter of this new record?
Dominik: Aeon Unveils The Thrones Of Decay is a concept album about time and all of its relentless sides. It deals with the darker sides of life and the struggles everyone has to fight on a day to day base. Over the years each and everyone of us has to deal with loss, unwanted circumstances and uncomfortable situations. There is just nothing you can do about it. Lyrically each song deals with a different story, circumstances most of us already have experienced. If it's losing someone close, or uncomfortable changes that took place over the years and being forced to deal with it. It deals with the negative sides of a ticking clock.
Time has its good and its bad sides but it's definitely something unstoppable. One of the few things that's not willing to get controlled by mankind. While I was writing all of those lyrics I read a quote by Dion Boucicault – “Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them” and this quote describes the lyrics in a pretty accurate way!
Lastly, what touring plans do you have in store for fans in the United States this year (if any)?
Mike: We are about to embark on a east coast/mid-west US tour at the end of this month. Our tour kick-off is January 22nd at Quinn’s in Beacon, NY and we return to the almighty ST. Vitus Bar in Brooklyn on Friday, February 13th! Then we have a lengthy European tour with Germany's "Der Weg Einer Freiheit" in March/April 2015. Thanks for the interview guys!
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