Interviewee: Moloch
Year: 2009
Website: myspace.com/artisianmetal
MySpace: myspace.com/artisianmetal
Label: Hellspell Productions
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Exclusive... So far! <
Artisian are set to play at the Loucifer Speaks / Toxic Trash Management Full Metal Racket festival in October, they have a new album out soon and also it's been a while since we're featured them here... So all of those things provided me with a good excuse to set up a new interview...
Lou: Hi, thanks for agreeing to this interview. I understand that Artisian is quite a busy band these days! I was just looking at the last Artisian interview we did and it was back in 2007! Anyway, for the benefit of anyone who hasn't listened to you yet, would you mind describing Artisian's music?
Moloch: Its raw black metal with grindcore and death metal elements. I am influenced by all extreme genres, I wanted, and still do, wish create the most brutal black/grind metal band on the planet.
Lou: What originally got you into Black Metal?
Moloch: Dark throne - in 1991 when what I consider to be black metal first appeared, 18 years on I still love this style of black metal.
Lou: Who is currently in the band?
Moloch: Moloch (me) vox and guitars, Verdelete on drums and Inquisitor on bass (session)
Lou: "Seargte Le Reothada" is, quite frankly, a work of art. What has the general reaction from the press and from fans been like?
Moloch: Thank you very much, there are elements I felt could have been done better, like the production, I felt it was a rushed job and not enough time and care was taken on it. but your a listener that gets it, so thats all that matters, same with fans that have bought the album.
The press??? ha! - very little, as usual.
People buy it, they say they love it, the press ignores us, and to be honest im happy with that, its not music for wankers like them, they are low life who have no understanding of the source and core of real passion in music, so id be more insulted if rags like terrorizer et al reviewed us and liked it, i dont do interviews with these idiots and and i dont want them anywhere near my music.
Lou: You mentioned to me recently that you were busy mixing a live album. How's that progressing at the moment?
Moloch: Its going well, Paul from Zebadiah Crowe (www.myspace.com/zebadiahcrowe) is dealing with it. He does all the Zebadiah music and is shit hot, he really harneses the FEELING in the black metal, so he is in charge of that.
Lou: Do you know which songs will feature on it yet? Which gig or tour was it recorded on?
Moloch: Its the live set from 2008, we were going to use tracks from the Napalm Death and Gorogoth shows, but I wasn't sent what I asked for and some of the recordings were a bit poor, we recorded it as a rehearsal with the ex bassist. Once he was gone, myself and the drummer went to another place and redid it - its called 'tHE cave sessions' I just wanted to have a really cold, raw, lo-fi release for people and myself that was just drums, guitar and vox. I wanted it really minimalist and raw and cold. to really harness the actaul feeling of Artisian.
Lou: Will you be releasing it independently or through a label?
Moloch: it will go out through Hellspell records, please see top friends (on Myspace).
Lou: Have you ever thought about doing a live DVD?
Moloch: lol, I'm dealing with that right now. I was let down by someone who recorded a show and it was supposed to be free with the cave sessions album, im trying really hard to make sure that still happens.
Lou: I also understand that there's another studio album in the pipeline. Does this one have a title yet, or a possible release date? (and will I be able to pre-order a copy??)
Moloch: its called 'a plague on all your houses' 7 tracks are done, It will have about 10, the artwork is finished and I have the studio booked for the summer, of course you can pre order a copy, Im planning on an October 31st Haloween release, thats when Artisian albums usually come out.
Lou: What sort of subjects will be covered in the forthcoming album?
Moloch: Misanthropy, Hatred, murder. the usual but just in a worse mood than usual, Im feeling calm today, but I had a really bad melt down last week, which takes the edge off, but it will build up again in a few days
Lou: What's the writing process like for Artisian?
Moloch: usually I have a severe manic phase, then the inevitable crash of depression bites, the cycle goes up and down faster and faster and faster till I have many cycles in the space of a few hours, sometimes 3-4 in one hour, then it all goes to shit, once I pick myself up all the lyrics and riffs start to flood out, its just the way it goes.
Lou: I've noticed (because I'm damn observant! lol) that you're currently sponsored by Schecter, Spaun Drums and Trick Drums. How did these deals come about?
Moloch: I got in touch with the companies, so did the drummer and sent our press kits etc and we got the deals.
Lou: Artisian's been around for quite a while now, and so it seems a bit silly to be talking about bands that have influenced you... So, do you think that you have influenced any bands?
Moloch: the bands that influenced be in the begining still have a massive impact today, so it's still masssivley relevent, I also search and find great new bands all the time, usually on tape!! I doubt Artisian has influenced anyone really, its only 5 years old. But if anyone has, please let me know, lolol
Lou: You're due to tour will Gorgoroth again soon, do you find that you get on well with those guys?
Moloch: we work well, the music fits on the bill, we get on well on a tour bus. They have a real chaos at the core, but thats what there spirit is. Artisian has a white hot anger, rage and disciplined, pre meditated hatred. Gaahl is a really great guy and the others are crazy, but thats the way they are.
Lou: Where and when will you be playing with Gorgoroth?
Moloch: depends on when the booker gets his arse in gear.
Lou: Which other gigs have you got coming up this year?
Moloch: Hymns of sickness, and your promotion in October. But I'm more focused on the albums this year, Artisian did 63 shows last year in 30 something countries. so, albums this year. touring again in 2010 will be the priority.
Lou: What are your favourite venues / countries to play in?
Moloch: Romania is great. the hermit in Essex, Black box in Bulgaria is huge and was packed. alot of the Balkans were good.
Lou: Where do you see Artisian in 5, or even 10, years time?
Moloch: more albums more tours. just keep slogging away. Just being consistent in delivering more and more faster, raw brutal black/grind and venting my rage and expressing misanthropy.
Lou: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions - it's very much appeciated!
Moloch: thanks for all your support. time and space. I look forward to doing the Haloween show your talking about putting on.
PRAY SATAN FATHER