- Interview for Primitive Ways Zine -
- Interview with Adrien vocalist and all Instruments of Vociferian done by Patrick S. -
1.Hails Adrien When did you first discover metal music? Who were some of the first bands you listened to?
Salutations to you, your fanzine and all the readers of it. About your first question, it all depends about how you define "metal music".
To answer more easily to your interrogation, I can say that music really has touched me when I was around 8 years old. Discovering this way different style of sound very accidentally, just watching TV, where I've been able to see a video from Guns N'Roses... Then it was a pure revelation for me. It immediately gave me a thrill that from there I've been always searching and I'm still carving for nowadays, of course. I knew at this time, that something like a seed has been rooted in me and that it would never stop growing until I die.
2.Adrien you formed Vociferian in 1998 what gave you the idea to form this band/project?How did you come up with the name for the band?
I was already inloved at this period in some local bands. And was already disappointed about the lack of seriousness and involvement of friends and muscians that I used to play with.
In the meantime I was already verry influenced myself, by the 90's great era of the purest and traditional black metal scene with some hints of death metal and black death metal roots as well.
Finally the necessity to form something unique and shape it all by myself without any other protagonist behind of it just came as an evidence, something very natural. As I've always been someone lost deep in my internal questioning and thoughts you know... lonesome and introspective.
3.Adrien you are the sole member of Vociferian did you plan to keep Vociferian a one man band or have you ever looked for other members to join?
Vociferian will always be a one man band, because it's the purest nature of it. To me, it would have absolutely no sense to change its structure in what makes of it its real entity actually.
For example, Vociferian has never played any live shows until now, and I don't think that it will happen one day. Even if I'm not of those who close the door to any possibility... time will tell.
For now, I recently took the decision to require the skills of a session drummer. Not that I couldn't do the work myself, just that regarding my personal life and planning deadlines it has become difficult for me not to delegate this part of the creating process. Hopefully, I found trust in a very good musician and drummer who works it all with all the seriousness and expectations that I ask for. He is very involved and ready to work it enough to make it 100% in the shape I'm waiting for.
4.If you had the opportunity to work with any musican's {past or present} who are some musicians you would like to work with?
Something probably absolutely impossible... but if this could happen... Guys of GN'R in the very early 90's or at the opposite work on something with mister Morgan Hakansson would be a with great pleasure and honor for me of course.
5.How would you say Vociferian's music has changed over the years? Who are some of the biggest influences for this band?
Vociferian had many shapes since its creation, and it's also what is fully part of it's unique entity. It has been first influenced by the 2nd wave of the 90's "traditional" black metal scene, with the grimness, coldness and very scandinavian and european elitist imprint. And later it has been more filled with the aggression of unadulterated satanic despise and ferocity of the blackest emanations of evil orthodoxy and bestial darkness. Finally it often returns to roots with the natural breeze breathing by the forests and earthly energies like for example you can feel it listening to the "Beredsamkeit" opus. If I really had to mention of very few influences I wouldn't be that original, just saying Immortal, Marduk, Impaled Nazarene, Bathory, Vinterland, Ildjarn, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum, Von, Sarcofago, Impiety, Beherit ... you know, nothing that out-of-the-box. As we all know where we are coming from... end of 80's & the 90's golden era of these genres
6.Does Vociferian have any new merchandise or releases coming out this year? If yes can you please let the fans know when it will be available and where can the fans buy the stuff?
Recently, a limited edition of a Long Sleeve Shirt and a Hooded Sweater has been released by Jinn Merchandising who officially release licenced merch for great names like Impiety, Enthroned, Nargaroth and so on... I heard that the hoodies are already sold out and there will be no reprint of them as it was a special occasion release in the name of the "Possezed Worshiperz Ov Doom" track that was figuring on the "Triumphant Usurper Beast" album release of 2005. A great design that was created for it by the artist who lately worked the principal sigil of the Marduk "Front Schwein" release and merchandising. A few items of the Long Sleeve must still be available and you can find contact searching for "Jinn Merchandise" on Facebook. We are also seeing to produce some new Vociferian official logo metallic pins/bages with the same merchandising provider from Asia.
Another Hooded Sweaters entitled "Jugement" is in preparation, fully printed (sleeves and hood printed).
I'm particularly expecting for this one that will be released by a US label. Because it is really well representative about the way Vociferian is nowadays taking...
The spirit and mind of it of now. We also worked it with the same artist as mentioned above, and he really satisfied all my expectations concerning it.
So don't miss this really great merchandising release VERY soon out. Just keeping an eye opened on these pages:
www.facebook.com/vociferian
http://vociferian.blogspot.com/vociferian
7. Adrien when did you first start playing the guitars? Are you self-taught or did you take lessons when first starting out?
I learned a bit about playing guitar since I was around 10 years old, I had a few lessons with a music teacher then. I've been teached a very few about "solfege", just enough to get on a classic guitar and start practicing.
Of course I put my hands on an electric guitar quickly after that. And as my ear was already enough skilled to recognize notes in a song that appreciated for example and try to find these same notes back on the neck of my guitar, then the lessons of my teacher didn't appeal me that much from there and I prefered to practice all by myself searching for things I'd like to play, composing personal stuff and so on... So I think that I'm more of a self-taught musician in the end, to answer you well.
8.Who are some of your influences /favorite guitarists? Besides singing and playing the guitars what other instruments do you play? Are their any instruments you would like to learn someday?
As favorite guitarsists I could mention Slash (not original, but he does the job for what is for me the biggest "guitar hero" of this planet), Kirk Hammett (even lacking of "feeling" beside of Slash as an example), for the black metal investigation I would still think of Morgan Hakansson even if some other great names of the scene may be very much more talented and expert... I like a lot his way of composing some very tough and straight warring hymns... I like a very too long list of other musical subgenres which includes great guitarists so that would be really to hard for me to mentioned all those who I admire here of course.
I play drums of course, as I used to record all instruments myself, and the same for bass guitar... also a bit of keyboard and piano (very few)
9.Adrien you also handle the vocals for the band when did you first become interested in singing/growling? Do you do anything special to keep your throat/voice healthy ?Who are some of your favorite vocalist?
I started "growling" very young (maybe 12), just after being confronted to my first listen at some "deep grunted vocals" thrash and death metal acts of course. I was so impressed by such a morbid way to express yourself by the vocals that I immediately attempted to do the same... and well... it came very naturally actually. I mean, I never really thought about how doing this. It was like a second nature already there and I just had to let it burst out from inside me.
I have no special trick or advice to keep your voice safe and healthy. I mean that's true that sometime you have to get some rest for your throat to recover well before torturing it again that way. And I often take care of it, when I know that I'm about to record some new vocals sessions of course.
10.In your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground metal scene today? And what does the term Underground metal mean to you?
I will answer first to the second side of your question. Because it's really simple for me to say that Underground means "against the main stream". All is said in it, nowadays something known or less known does have no importance. You have to fight for your own ideas, for what you believe in... not for what a group or "pseudo elite" may think. THIS is what I consider as the spirit of this word : UNDERGROUND
Today the underground scene is polluted and very saturated. There are too much new things, to much polluting bands that have absolutely no culture and no honor, no background and only here to proclaim their poor "fame" with no glory. While some other great names are just drowned with the rest of this filth and therefore can't emerge the way they should deserve...
Here is how I see the scene today. People are also always more less buying that downloading, which is a sad reality... but we are here and until it's the case the scene will stand and still!
11.Besides Vociferian you were also in the mighty Luger band when did you form this band? How would you say the music was different then Vociferian's?
Lüger was formed in 200/2003. It was meant to produce a militarist blackened death metal act, with the coldness of war and elitism of totalitarian imagery... as well as the irreverence and heavy weight of a horned divison of panzers. Our intentions at this time was to be the european response to a band such VON, embraced with the atmospheres of the iron legions.
12.I read on your F.B page that you are getting ready to re-release the Kill,Worship and Die on Lp what label will this be through? How many copies are available?
It will be very limited: 300 copies! As the CD version that had been out 10 years ago was sold out the year of its release in 2005 (limited to 1000 items).
DEATHCAMP RECORDS has just opened the pre-orders of the LP edition which will include a fantastic alternative cover artwork.
You can place pre-order for 20€ + postage at deathcamprecords@hotmail.com
13.Will you or any label's be releasing Kill,Worship and Die on cd or possibly cassette format? Why did the band stop/break-up? Have you ever thought of bringing it back from the dead?
There will be no other re-edition, that's the integrity of the band that I want to preserve this way. Those who have the first CD edition are lucky to have such a great collector in their hands. That's also why I wanted an alternative artwork for the LP edition. This way both release will stay totally unique and rare!
I don't want to come back on the reason about the initial split of the band. It has been apolemic for too long and I prefer to look and move forward.
I always stand and turn my eyes towards tomorrow than being passive and wasting my time with lost feuds from the past.
14.Besides Vociferian are you currently working with any other bands or projects? If yes please tell the readers about them?
Of course I do. Soon will be out the whole discography of Macabra (my death metal band with Mark Riddick) on the norwaygian label Apocalyptic Empire Records. Ebauche Noire debut album will also appear on a Digipack this summer on Nyarlathotep Records (Brazil)... For 2016 we are thinking about the LP edition of the Goatholocaust "Satan Jugend" full length for the decade of its original release on Infernus Rex (RIP) Netherlands...
A 4 way 7' split EP with Vociferian/Manticore/ Obeisance/Infernal Execrator is scheduled for this year and I'm seriously working on the next Vociferian full length which will be once more a very personal and unique piece in its concept and interpretation.
15.Thank you Adrien for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?
3 ones: OBEY PROFANATORY FORCES!
das ist gut
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