Burial Oath returns with their intense new album The Cycles of Suffering under Redefining Darkness Records, bringing revitalized energy and a fierce lineup, ready to push black metal’s boundaries.
1. Congratulations
on signing with Redefining Darkness Records! What does this partnership mean
for Burial Oath, especially with the release of The Cycles of Suffering?
Thank you -
that remains to be seen. So far so good. Redefining has been good with
merchandising and additional PR. It’s also helping us get our material out
beyond what we’ve seen before, and that’s always a good thing.
2. After
a five-year hiatus, you’re back with a revitalized lineup and a powerful new
album. How did the addition of Mor Grish and R influence the creative process
and sound of The Cycles of Suffering?
The album
was actually written by D and myself (JV) back in 2019. But the addition of the
new guys has injected a venom into the band that there wasn’t previously. Both
of them have brought forth a new potential that I still don’t even think has
been fully realized, but it’s already coming through on new material we’re
writing.
3. Your
single “Pagan Fires” has already received praise for its catchy, blackened
grooves. What themes or messages do you explore in this track, and how does it
set the tone for the rest of the album?
This song
definitely delves into the vitality behind nature. We’re not necessarily a band
that subscribes to a certain religion/philosophy, but we do believe there is
power in the earth. Most of the album deals with blood worship and various
occult themes. I’d say this song is the stand out on the track list. If there’s
any song that I think sets the tone for the album and the band it’s Howling
Promethean Winds.
4. Can
you talk about the evolution of Burial Oath’s sound from Beyond the Vale of
Shadowlands to Subjugation of the Bastard Son and now The Cycles of Suffering?
What do you feel is the biggest change or progression?
The Cycles
of Suffering feels in a lot of ways like our first true release, being that
we’ve identified ourselves as a whole. Both of our previous albums are great,
and we’re still proud of Beyond. Subjugation was more of an experimental period
for us - with a desire to write unrelenting black metal. We honestly found
through that album cycle that we’d rather focus on quality structures and
writing going forward. So when it comes to “evolution”, I think this album is
really just picking up from where we left off on Shadowlands in a more mature
way. If there’s one major change, it’s that we’re less focused on what everyone
else is doing, and more about what Burial Oath is doing.
5. The
new album has been described as “pushing the boundaries of black metal.” How
did you approach blending traditional black metal influences with your unique
style in The Cycles of Suffering?
Quite the
compliment, though I guess I see it as more of a return to form, in a modern
way. We really respect the early bands that paved the way for black metal, but
we do know and understand that the genre needs to grow and improve. I really
think the only strategy we had when writing the album, and even into the new
material we’re currently writing, is just to remain focused on what sounds good
to us, and doing our own thing. However, that comes to be, is how it is! And
it’s a great/healthy way to write.
6. You’ll
be touring extensively in support of The Cycles of Suffering, starting with the
Territorial Damnation Tour this October and November. What can fans expect from
your live shows this time around?
Yep. This
is really just the first wave, as we’re already working on another tour. We
plan to play a lot of the songs off this record. Some of the old head fans may
only hear one or two staples but we do want to highlight this new era.
7. Your
music and compositions are known for their dark melodies and dynamic rhythms.
What’s your writing and recording process like, and how did you bring this
vision to life with Noah Buchanan at Mercinary Studios?
Thank you -
D and I usually write everything. He’s more of the riff guy and me the
structures, with a riff/tune I’ll bring to the table every now and then. We try
to keep it as organic as possible. If it feels forced, we usually try something
new. I am excited to get the new guys in on the process, since they’re both
fantastic musicians in their own right. It’ll be interesting to see what comes
to light with all of us firing on all cylinders. As far as recording, we always
tend to track live. We feel it’s the best way to capture the energy of each
song.
8. The
album artwork and design are striking. How did you collaborate with Nether
Temple, Vhan Spell Ov Hatred, and Greenfeather Media to capture the essence of
The Cycles of Suffering visually?
Thank you -
Nether Temple did the cover, Vhan a lot of the inner artwork within the
booklet; and Greenfeather Media is my own company that’s usually in charge of
the visual aspect of the band. We just took our time to find the artist(s) we
feel best expresses who we are. It’s about cohesion for us.
9. Looking
to the future, what excites you most about Burial Oath’s journey? Are there any
particular goals or visions you hope to achieve as a band in the coming years?
I’m excited about getting on the road on a larger scale. Our booking seems to be working hard already so hopefully we’ll see the turn around real soon. The only goal I have is being able to share our art with the world. Music and metal has done so much for me and my own confidence/personality that I’d like that opportunity to be that outlet for someone else.
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