In this exclusive interview, the members of Cognizance discuss the genesis of
their upcoming release, "Phantazein." From the album's conceptual
roots to collaborations with renowned artists, they delve into the creative
process and its impact on the band's evolving sound.
1.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of Phantazein! Can you share the
inspiration behind the concept album and how it represents a departure from
your previous works?
Alex: Musically
the inspiration remains as it always has done and that is; whatever bands or
music we’re jamming at the time alongside the sounds that interest us on
guitar. Inspiration also usually comes from trying something different/evolving
the band's sound. Lyrically the inspiration came from books or modern history
that Paul and myself found interesting: Adam Curtis, Gulag archipelago, Soviet
history, Brutalist architecture etc. This is the first time we’ve tried to take
elements of the lyrical content and recreate it in the sonic realm using
different textures/effects as well as the core composition.
2. Phantazein
is described as a concept album that delves into the intricate interplay
between art, obsession, and environment. How did this thematic focus come
about, and how did it influence the creative process during the album's
production?
Alex: Sitting
at McDonald’s in Selby, UK one fine afternoon Paul pitched the rough concept to
Chris and I. Essentially outlining the concept about an inventor circa 80 years
ago or so creates a machine that allows mankind to hear radio transmissions
still circulating from the past. We then heavily built on this theme and shaped
up 11 songs that dive into great detail about different events that unfold in
this universe alongside telling from the point of view from different
characters the work of our protagonist impacts.
3. The
album artwork by Dan P Carter (Behemoth, Empire State Bastard) is visually
striking. How did the collaboration with Carter come to be, and what aspects of
Phantazein did you want the artwork to capture?
Chris: When
the concept came together, we were adamant we didn’t want artwork that just
looks good and suits the genre, for the sake of it. It had to have meaning, we
wanted the listener to read into the artwork and fathom the concept for
themselves. Being a pal of Carter’s, (Chris), I knew instantly this would be
straight up his alley. So much of his artwork has hidden messages and
meaning. So we dropped him a text and he was on board straightaway. The
setting of our story is Soviet Russia so we wanted a real monochromatic colour
palette to represent the brutalist architecture and environment. The rest,
we’ll leave for the listener to figure out.
4. With
two previous albums under Prosthetic Records, Phantazein marks your debut with
Willowtip Records. How has this transition impacted your approach to creating
and presenting music?
Alex: No
major change on this front, when we signed our deal with Willowtip the album
was already done, mixed and mastered. We ended our relationship with Prosthetic
a couple of months before we went into the studio. As we were recording the
album there was a lot of uncertainty how we would get the record out there and
if any labels would be interested in ‘rolling the dice’ with Cognizance.
Fortunately, Jason at Willowtip was a fan of the band and wanted to work with
us (thank you boss!). We're grateful for the opportunity to put the album out
on his label.
5. Ronnie
Björnström, known for his work with bands like Aeon and Blood Red Throne,
handled the mix and master for Phantazein. How did this collaboration enhance
the album's sound, and what unique contributions did he bring to the table?
Alex: I had
been aware of Ronnie's work for some time via various European bands he's mixed
over the years, however when I heard his mix for 'Imperial Congregation' by
Blood Red Throne I was blown away by how incredible it sounded. I knew we
needed to work with this guy. Besides the quality of his mixes what greatly
stood out to us was he believes every band should sound like themselves which
means no dependence on particular mix templates/presets which I personally
believe is making a lot of modern metal extremely boring and predictable. We
worked ground up with Ronnie, agreed on the guitar and bass sound upfront and
the tones we recorded with we committed to with no reamps. Since the band
recorded and self-produced as soon as a song was finished we would send them to
him to see if anything needed a re-take. Ronnie's legendary contribution was
making us sound the best we have ever sounded. Taking elements of what we like
from Malignant Dominion and Upheaval then magically making them work in the
heavyweight mix he did for Phantazein. He's a lovely man and a very very easy
reliable mix engineer to work with - sometimes mixing is stressful but he made
it fun!
6. As a
band, how do you see Phantazein contributing to your legacy in the underground
metal scene? What sets this album apart from your previous releases, and what
do you hope listeners take away from it?
Paul: It
is definitely our most ambitious endeavour so far, especially since it's a
concept album. All of our releases have had some sort of a theme, but this
time we focused a lot more on creating a story and background for the music and
lyrical content to tie into which we believe deepens the
experience a little. Of course, there is still plenty of room for personal
interpretation as we find it very important for listeners to have the ability
to relate their own experiences to our music. As far as our legacy goes,
this is probably more for others to decide what it does or doesn't. The
important thing however is that as a band, when we listen back to Phantazein,
we feel artistically fulfilled.
7. The
lineup for Cognizance remains strong with familiar faces and talent. How has
the synergy among the band members evolved over time, and how did it shape the
recording process of Phantazein?
Paul: The
most important aspect of us being a band is that we all get along as people
first and then as musicians. If we were not in the band and met elsewhere, we
would probably still be friends. This is really important as
it harbours respect and everyone knowing when to put their ego aside
and remember that the "magic" is in all of us doing music together
rather than someone individually getting exactly what they want all the time.
This plays well into the recording process as recording an album can be
very demanding, especially in our genre. For Phantazein, like Upheaval, we
rented a cottage in the middle of nowhere for two weeks and setup a studio with
all our gear. Although some days were challenging and some days were more
difficult than others, in overall it was a really enjoyable experience and it
brought us a little closer as a band and more importantly as friends.
8. Alex
Baillie mentioned that Phantazein is the band's "most creative and
individual record yet." Can you elaborate on the evolution of Cognizance's
sound and artistic vision, and how it has been shaped by both internal and
external influences?
Paul: As
mentioned previously, Phantazein is a concept album. This time we came up with
the concept first and wrote the music and lyrics afterwards to fit
the narrative. Most of our influences stem from things outside of music such as
films and/or books. Musically, we listen to a lot of non-metal music as a band
which probably helps a little in keeping things
somewhat outside of the typical "death metal" formwork.
9. Considering
the immersive nature of Phantazein, are there any plans for visual
accompaniments such as music videos or live performances that aim to further
enhance the storytelling aspect of the album?
Paul: We
have released two music videos so far, one for "The Towering
Monument" and one for "Shadowgraph". We plan on doing more
visual content in support of this release so if you are reading this, keep your
eyes peeled
10. Looking
ahead, what can fans expect from Cognizance in terms of future projects, tours,
or any other exciting developments?
Paul: All
of us are deep into full time careers, so full on touring is not currently on
the cards. However, we want to start playing live more
so hopefully we can get the planets to align and book some dates
around the UK and EU.
COGNIZANCE (@cognizanceband) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
Phantazein | Cognizance (bandcamp.com)
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