Interview with Merrimack

Based on the recent release of their latest album "Grey Rigorism" and their winter tour with Marduk and others, we geared up to interview these French Black Metal warriors and talked about their new album, the concept behind "Grey Rigorism" and social networks among other things. Keep reading for the transcript of this interview with Terrorizt.

Infernal Masquerade: “Grey Rigorism” marks the band’s third full length album, in your opinion, what has changed in the band’s sound and philosophy since your first album “Ashes Of Purification”?

Terrorizt (vox): Lots of things have changed since the line-up has drastically changed right after the release of “Ashes...”. Some people who were involved in the band from the very beginning have left, so it's undeniable it had a big impact on the sound. Also we had a lot more budget for the next albums, so obviously the sound got... a lot bigger! The overall philosophy stayed utterly dark and satanic, though it became a lot more personal since I handle all the lyrics since that I have arrived.

I.M: What is the overall concept or ideas behind “Grey Rigorism”, is it a concept album, if not can you elaborate a bit about the lyrics behind the songs?

T: It's still very religious, but I guess it's precisely what you guys expect from us, right? We've been very much influenced by the movie “Sous le Soleil de Satan” by Maurice Pialat, and then by the works of Georges Bernanos in general. The new album goes against the overall futility. It holds the will to go further on the spiritual quest that is supposed to bowl over all the personal fundaments of those to walk this path; to go on no matter the price to pay or the sacrifices to make, towards the process of accomplishment despite judgments, shame and despair.

I.M: What is the main driving force behind Merrimack, both in inspiration and desire to make music?

T: Our absolute conviction in our religious / spiritual quest. You start playing Black-Metal because you are dragged to the dark. You embrace it, explore it, and become one with it. If you do it right, indeed.

I.M: What is your take on current social networking sites that allow people to share and have access to an unlimited number of bands that previously where ‘garage only’ bands? Do you think this is decreasing the quality of the music people get access to? What impact do you think this has had on the Black Metal scene?

T: We used to hate it. All of us have known the “paper era”, when you had to actually write letters – I mean with a pen – and then go to the post office to buy a stamp for Bulgaria, wait for it to arrive, pray for it not to get lost... Well, you were there at that time – I guess – so you know what I'm talking about. Of course all this Myspace thing seems kind of “way too easy”. We've been despising it for some time, but there's a time to be an old cunt and a time to live in the present day. Few things are all black or white. These networks are of course marvelous tools of communication, so it would be pointless to keep on ignoring it, especially considering the increasing interest for Merrimack. This said, we're perfectly aware it has very negative aspects. It gives most of listeners shitty habits. When you had to wait weeks or months to eventually receive this demo from, let's say Bulgaria, you LISTENED to it, carefully, several times, you made sure you were listening to it in the right conditions, in the right mood. Today it's so easy that you can check out 74 different bands in the same day, listen 15 seconds of the first song and proudly declare it's shit, because oh my god, you're so intolerant and evil, and you know so much better than anyone else what all of this is all about. Fuck it. That's for the listeners, who in the end do everything but listen. And then you have these “garage bands” you're talking about. Today new bands don't even bother to release demos, when you can put one shameful reh' track on your Myspace player, and send bulletins about EVERYTHING you do. “We've rehearsed yesterday!” “We'll soon have one new song ready” “My meal was actually very tasty” “Our singer is not too sure about his sexual orientation”... like if people were actually giving a shit. These networks sadly allow all these cunts to behave as if they were someone, whereas they are more no one than ever. I don't really know what impact it has had on the Black-Metal scene. It has had one for sure, which I guess is positive and negative at the same time. You just have to be very careful how you use these things.

I.M: Merrimack is set to be touring with Marduk this winter in the USA, are you guys psyched about this tour? How did you guys got on the bill?

T: I won't deny we're all very happy. Marduk is a band we have much respect for. We've all been listening to them a lot when we were 16/17/18. We're very enthusiastic about the artistic part of it (playing 26 shows with bands we like a lot, defending the new album) but about the human part as well (discovering new territories, new audiences...) This will be a very extreme experience for sure. How did we get on the bill? Moribund has contacted Thunderdome Touring who are responsible for Marduk in the US to submit the idea of putting us on the tour, and as we're a killer band, everyone found that it was a brilliant project.

I.M: If budget was not an issue, what props would your guys use to have a special performance, let’s say recording for a live DVD?

T: We've never been thinking about it since... budget is actually an issue! I think we'd try to make something very Black-Metal, I mean very Black and very Metal, with everything to make this experience as extreme and uncomfortable as possible for the audience: a massive stage show with pyrotechnics, huge banners and flags, animal (human?) carcasses everywhere, projections on the walls so wherever you look you can't escape atrocity, a paintings / sculptures exhibition in the hall, and a rain of blood and ashes. I've always liked stuff falling from the ceiling at gigs. So if any millionaire is reading this, feel free to make it happen!

I.M: Anything else you want to add for your fans and our readers?

T: Our new album is now out and available everywhere, so make sure to check it (and to actually buy it instead of downloading it). The vinyl version will be available very soon (late october / early november). We hope to see you all on tour, my it be in USA or Europe.
Have faith in the Devil
Hail Satan
Terrorizt on behalf of Merrimack anno 2009

Thanks for the interview, good luck promoting the new album and looking forward to see you guys on tour in the USA!