Alien Carcass's debut album Entropic Visions of a Celestial Heaven promises a brutal blend of death metal and sci-fi horror. Discover the creative process and cosmic chaos!
1.
Congratulations on your upcoming debut album Entropic Visions of a Celestial
Heaven! Can you share the creative process behind the album and how the concept
of blending brutal death metal with sci-fi horror developed?
Many thanks
for the congratulations. The album itself and the Alien Carcass project have
been in development for some years now. It started with the EP back in 2021 and
then kind of snowballed as I began recording more and more. I’ve had the
concept for a while and have been recording the first full-length album for
years now, adding and removing bits, writing synth lines and drums, recording
guitars, and playing with BPMs and speed (the grindcore side of things). I had
the concept for the project years ago, forming it in 2020 with the aim of
creating the most intense and unhinged music I could write, while avoiding
falling completely into goregrind or noise music. The sci-fi aspect of metal
has always intrigued me, as old horror movies go hand in hand with metal—brutal
death and horror make a perfect fit.
2. The
album title evokes powerful imagery. What inspired the name Entropic Visions of
a Celestial Heaven? Is there a particular message or theme you aim to
convey through the album?
The album
title evokes a vivid vision of a story about an alien and hostile heaven, its
meaning rooted in the nihilism of horror sci-fi, similar to Lovecraft's stories
and 80s horror films. But it also reflects the story of the project itself—the
idea of galactic death and war, with many dead civilizations and lost
technology and knowledge. A war fought between alien and demon. Heavens versus
the advanced civilizations of the universe. It raises the question: when do
advanced civilizations become gods themselves? Would they simply destroy
themselves in their greed? There are many interpretations these names could
lead to, but truthfully, it just sounded cool.
3. Alien
Carcass defines itself as 'Brutal Cosmic Blackened Death Metal with Grindcore
elements.' How do you merge these diverse subgenres in your sound, and what
bands or influences helped shape this unique combination?
There is a
continuous theme throughout the album, which follows the essence of fast,
grinding metal with synth lines and dark ambience to fill the gaps and build
atmosphere. However, each track on the album is written and mixed a bit
differently. I wanted to show some diversity in this release, not tie it down
to one genre. I didn't want every song to sound the same or have an album that
feels like 40 minutes of the same three-to-five-minute track repeating over and
over. So, I played with themes from brutal death, atmospheric black metal,
grindcore, and other fast subgenres. Some tracks sound like previous Alien
Carcass releases, while others are quite different. Grindcore is such a fun
genre to experiment with—there are no rules when it comes to intensity and
speed, and I love that. I also have a deep appreciation for old-school death
metal, which you’ll hear plenty of in this album as well.
4.
Sci-fi horror seems like an integral part of your music and aesthetic. Are
there any particular science fiction or horror stories, films, or concepts that
influenced the album's lyrics or atmosphere?
There are definitely a few influences, as I’m a big horror nerd. I grew up watching films like Alien and Predator. I have a love for old sci-fi, especially cartoons. The Thing (1982) and the book that inspired it are some of my favorite media of all time. I’m also an avid old-school Halo fan. Cosmic horror is one of my favorite genres, especially anything gory, unsettling, or profound. Monster movies are also great.
5. You
mentioned that the album promises 'a violent surge of chaos across the cosmos
of extremity, death, and sci-fi horror.' How do you translate this chaotic
cosmic theme into the music, particularly in terms of song structure,
instrumentation, and production?
I think the
chaos of the album is rooted deeply in the structure and tones. The mixing is
very aggressive and in-your-face, which is exactly how I wanted it to be. The
songs themselves can be unpredictable, and I really aimed for an unhinged
cosmic atmosphere. I want the album to tell a story, but that story is up to
the listener. The music provides the tools—theme, rhythm, and atmosphere—to
help shape it. As I mentioned before, it loosely follows a narrative of aliens
versus celestial beings, but that's just my own interpretation.
6. As a
band, how do you approach the balance between maintaining brutal extremity in
your sound while still crafting songs that engage and resonate with listeners?
At times,
I’ve felt the need to simplify the structure or break apart the converging
chaos within the music. I can easily get carried away with this project, and
sometimes I end up with tracks that are too repetitive, too fast, or too
chaotic. I aim to keep the music as chaotic and heavy as possible, but within
reason—making sure it remains metal and not just straight-up noise. There are
many layers to the songs, and I’ve tried to give everything enough room to
breathe, even if that air is the poisoned air of Venus. As for engaging the
listener, if speed and heaviness aren’t enough, I hope the atmosphere will
capture their attention. There’s a lot happening in some tracks, with hidden
layers to discover.
7. Can
you talk about the recording process for Entropic Visions of a Celestial
Heaven? Were there any challenges in capturing the intensity and cosmic chaos
of your live sound in the studio?
Most of the
tracks and instrumental layers were recorded over long periods—sometimes months
or even years apart. My recording habits and style have changed over time, but
I’ve tried to stay true to the original vision I had. Any new ideas will be
saved for a second album, if this one is successful. I purposely used some old
or damaged equipment, running things through lots of pedals and VST effects,
mostly for the synth layers and vocals. For the guitar and bass, I kept them as
raw as possible in the old-school death metal style. I don’t like things
sounding too clean or polished—I dislike overmixed or overproduced metal. Alien
Carcass is almost a statement against the overly polished, commercial metal
we’ve been getting lately. Music should be art, not a product.
8. With
select tracks already available on Spotify and Bandcamp, what has the initial
reaction been like from both your fans and new listeners? Have any songs in
particular stood out as fan favorites?
So far, the
standout track has been "Galactic Entrails," which blends old-school
death metal, sci-fi, and some thrash riffs. I had a good friend come in and
work with me on that track.
9. As
Halloween is set as the release date for the full album, how do you feel about
releasing your debut on such an iconic day for horror and metal fans? Do you
have any special plans or events lined up to celebrate the release?
I’ll
definitely be at a Halloween gathering, one way or another. The album will be
released that night, and I may have a little ritual for it around a fire.
Halloween has always been my favorite time to release things—my first EP was
also released on October 31st, back in 2021. For now, the album will be a
digital-only release, but depending on how things go (as a poor solo artist), I
may find a way to press physical copies. The release is independent for now,
but that may change as time goes on.
Thanks for
having me.
D.A.
Alien Carcass (@aliencarcassband) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
Entropic Visions Of A Celestial Heaven | Alien Carcass (bandcamp.com)
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