Interview With Darzamat

Interview With Darzamat:

Thanks for the interview and let's get started with the questions:

I.M: After an impressive debut album with "In The Flames of Black Art", the band took 7 years to release their next full length album "Oniriad", what happened during this time (besides the release of an EP in 1999)?

Darzamat was created in the latter half of the 90s. Back then we recorded two things: the full-length album In the Flames of Black Art and MCD In the Opium of Black Veil. Then, after a long break, we released an album which was a signal for me to start thinking of changes in the band. The Oniriad album, which is what I mean here, was a huge compromise between musicians who naturally steered in opposite directions.

In 2003 we had a revolution in the ranks and the result was simple: of all the pre-2003 era musicians practically only I remain. This resulted in a serious change - in musical direction, in style, in image. I wanted to refresh Darzamat, which basically meant putting a new band together. Before, it had been really hard for me to find a compromise with the original founding member, Simon. Our visions as to what the band should sound and look like had been completely different; our priorities had differed. Back in 2003 I even thought I should start a totally new project, but many people made it a point to convince me to continue with Darzamat. That is why the history of the Darzamat-as-we-know-it-now really dates back to 2003. This fresh lineup has been responsible for Semidevilish, Transkarpatia, and Solfernus Path, as well as the DVD Live Profanity. We also began playing live, which we hadn't done before, in the 90s. That band had been solely a studio effort.

I.M: It's been 4 years since "Transkarpatia" can you please tell us more about the whole process of writing and recording your new album: "Solfernus' Path"?

We began working on our new album in the fall of 2007, right after the release of our first DVD, Live Profanity. This was a really specific moment for us, since releasing this material marked the fulfillment of the final contract obligations for our Polish label, Metal Mind Productions. It was then that we decided not to renew our contract with MMP but to try another label instead. For that reason there were no deadlines for us to worry about. As no date was scheduled for our next release, we were in no hurry, so we took some time and entered the studio in the winter to record all the tracks.
I must admit that the situation during the Solfernus Path sessions was very comfortable. We weren't concerned with economizing at all: our sole concern was the quality of the album, which is why during the sessions we worked in as many as three different studios. All the instruments and vocal tracks were laid down in Poland under the scrutinizing eye - and ear - of our sound engineer, Jaroslaw Toiffl. We worked on the drums and guitars in HH Poland studio in Gliwice; the vocals were done in Maq Studio. As to the keyboard parts, we got these done in Red Room studio. For each instrument we chose the most optimal place to lay down the tracks and we spent quite some time analyzing all the elements of this puzzle. We listened to various bands produced in those places and at the end of the day we didn't have any doubt as to our choices - they were simply perfect. The only thing that mattered was the effect total, and we are positive it will satisfy the biggest of malcontents. Hence, the process of recording took us over a month; after that, the songs were mixed in Sweden by Jonas Kjellgren - the Scar Symmetry axeman - in Black Lounge Studios. Frankly, it turned out that Mr. Perfect Symmetry was in no hurry either: his work took around four weeks. But I'm the first in line to admit that the finished album sounds excellent, so it was well worth the wait.

On the new album, King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque contributes a solo to the song "King Of The Burning Anthems" and Stone Sour's Roy Mayorga composed an intro.
Andy is not only an excellent guitar player and a producer, but also a great personality. Yes, we did meet during the sessions for our previous album. We've been in touch ever since, and when another occasion for cooperation arose, we didn't hesitate for a second. Him playing a solo on a Darzamat album was a dream come true; it was really supernatural that he agreed to participate in the sessions. This is the most important album in the history of the band, and it took us a lot of work. We poured loads of energy and emotions into it, and the presence of LaRocque on this album is the crown jewel in the whole structure. I take enormous pride in the fact that he is there, because so far all the records he has appeared on as guest performer are special. Just look at the list: Death, Individual Thought Patterns; At The Gates, Slaughter of the Soul; Evergrey, Dark Discovery; Dimmu Borgir, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia. And now we are on that list as well! (laughs)

We've been friends with Roy Mayorga for quite some time as well. When we recorded Transkarpatia, he sent us his congrats - he simply liked the album a lot and he wrote to tell us so. We've been in touch ever since and when he shows up in Poland for a gig, we always try to find time to see him.

I.M: Can you please tell us more about the concept or ideas behind "Solfernus' Path"?

For the first time in our history we decided to create a concept album. The idea was a novelty, but to be honest we had been thinking of such a move for quite some time. Since the days of my youth I've been fascinated with concept albums, such as released by, say, King Diamond. So that move was simply unavoidable, it was just a question of time.

A coherent story to be told by lyrics and music alike is much more of a challenge than fashioning ten new songs in the same stylistic vein. As the story unfolds, so does the music and both elements have to go hand in hand. It is, in a way, like a movie script, created to pull the audience in.

The story told on the album takes place in a mystic scenery as provided by Countess Josephine von Küchmeister's manor, the inspiration for which we derived from two truly fantastic places in Silesia, namely the Willa Caro in Gliwice and the palace in Plawniowice. The tale itself is set in the beginning of the 20th century. Our main hero is a young medical student who undergoes a spiritual transformation - he experiences the existence of the incorporeal world and perceives the other side. The whole story is permeated by a fairytale-like atmosphere, full of occult key concepts. Nothing is obvious, nothing is  predictable.

Naturally, the eponymous Solfernus is not the main hero, he's just a gray eminence. This character is respectfully lifted from a work entitled Playing with the Devil, written by Czech dramatist Jan Drda. Still, this is just inspiration, an impulse which does not mean we take Drda's story as-is. In fact, his play is grotesque and rather humorous. Our story, on the other - left! - hand (laughs) has a totally different character, closer to horror stories of a Polish classic Stefan Grabinski than to the work of the Czech playwright.
I would like to leave it at that, because first of all I don't want to spoil the fun of listening to the record and plunging into the story depicted in the album's booklet. Second of all, I would be the last to impose my vision and interpretation on anybody. I'm positive everyone will find their own route through the story. The path of Solfernus's is merely a symbol and everyone may have their own key to interpret it

I.M: What can you say it's the main difference both musically and lyrically between the two albums?

It is really hard to make comparison between "Solfernus' Path" and the rest of the albums, also "Transkarpatia". I feel a completely new quality was brouhgt in to our music.  The best album in the history of the band? (laughs) I'm not a big fan of such pompous declarations, but it's hard not to admit that each band wants to go higher than the last album. Additionally, we realized - and realized well - that this album was supposed to create interest in the record label circles. That's why we took extra care not only to write and record great music, but also to achieve the best possible sound. Plus, we paid a lot of attention to the visual side of the whole endeavor, working on the photos and the cover. All details of music, arrangements and the artwork were taken into consideration. I'm positive that after getting acquainted with the album, the fans are going to say that it was really worth the wait.

I.M: How do you expect fans of the band and other metal heads will receive the new album?

I hope they will receive it exactly the way we see (and hear) it: it is a bunch of metal hit-songs with their roots firmly planted in heavy and aggressive playing. Plus they are enveloped in thick, dark atmosphere characteristic for our band. Surely a big surprise about this record is the fact that it is a concept album, with the story especially interesting for people who are fond of writers like Edgar Allan Poe.

I.M: What is the reason behind Darzamat's ever changing musical style, it seems that whenever I listen to a new album, there is something else and fresh? Will the band ever settle for a particular style?

What I love about this band is that we constantly search for different inspirations and styles, that we constantly try to evolve. We don't stand in the same spot and record albums which sound alike. But - and we are conscious of that - when our fans reach for the new album, they never feel disappointed or misled - it's still Darzamat, all the way through. But I think our musical search and the creative whirls will continue in this band.

I.M: How was the live DVD recording process? Where you guys nervous when playing that gig?

Live Profanity DVD was a recapitulation of sorts, a summing-up of a certain stage of Darzamat's development. Personally I love DVD releases because with all the behind-the-scenes footage they afford the audience a chance to get close to their band of choice. Also, they usually grant a possibility to see the band live. Darzamat doesn't play every nook-and-cranny, so for many fans from different parts of the world it is the only occasion to see our show.
I really like that particular release of ours and I believe that as of that time it was the best thing we could do. Of course we had some problems with producing that material, but they were largely beyond our capacity to foresee and prevent. For example, the Metalmania gig - and making a recording of it, which would later become the main dish on the DVD - had at the time a big question mark hovering above it, because two days earlier our vocalist Nera had landed in the hospital. We didn't know if the recording would happen or not, and this situation lasted until the very last moments before the gig itself, when finally Nera showed up straight out of the hospital bed. She is a very tough and charismatic girl, and she's got unbelievable character. In a situation like this many guys would give up, but not her! (laughs)

I.M: After long negotiations you guys signed with Massacre Records, what was the main reason you guys signed with this label?

As far back as in the late 90 we were close to signing a deal with them; unfortunately it didn't come through. So, after all these years we are all the more thrilled to see that the Solfernus Path ultimately led us back to Massacre Records door (laughs) and that finally we will have a chance to work together.
As far as our expectations are concerned, we'd really appreciate much better promotion of our band than we experienced before. The previous companies we worked with had much, much smaller possibilities. That is why I'm positive that thanks to Massacre Records we will take a leap forward. I firmly believe that the experience which the MR staff has gained over the years will result in the chance for many more to even get a hold of Darzamat's albums. We put a lot of hope in the promotion and distribution prospects of the Solfernus Path album and also we are really looking forward with great curiosity to seeing the fruit of our cooperation with Massacre Records over our future albums.

I.M: Any touring planned in support of "Solfernus' Path" (like a re-schedule of the Mexican tour?)?

Naturally we will want to play as many gigs as possible to promote our new album. At this moment we are in the process of looking for the right concert agency which would lay their support for us. I hope that in a couple of weeks we will be able to disclose what our choice in this matter is.
Still, we want to get some action before that is settled, so we started booking the dates ourselves and this year we are playing festival in Belgium. Also, in February 2010 we are scheduled to do a 10 gig tour of Poland. We're looking forward to some serious touring around Europe in a good company.

I.M: Any other things you guys want to add for your fans and our readers?

I also must add that next year we plan to release our side project albums. Our singer, with a little help from our axeman Chris, is preparing a debut album for something called NeraNature. Nera lends her name to this project, which will be closer to alternative rock, as it evokes the spirit of The Gatherning or Katatonia rather than the true metal roar. There will be loads of great harmonies and melodies, so watch out for that.

As for me, I'm in for a little exhumation session as I'm planning  to 'reload' my forgotten old band, Mastiphal. We already got together with the guys for a couple of rehearsals and we filled them with dirty black n'roll, so you can expect tough and non-compromising music coming your way.

I.M: Thanks for the interview and good luck with the promotion of the new album!

Thank you for your questions and support. I hope new album of Darzamat will reach each corner of world and in consequence we will get there to play for you. Stay metal!

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