Emissary’s Michel Regueiro delves into their upcoming Lovecraft-inspired album Eldritch, sharing insights on crafting dark, chaotic riffs and translating eerie, otherworldly stories into intense metal soundscapes.
Well, I had the first riffs and they sounded a bit chaotic to me, and then I started reading the story, I loved the title and thought I gotta do something with this. As the story progressed and built into a climax, I realized it was perfect for the music. So, I fashioned the rest based on how I visualized it in my head.
2. The
song captures the “hellish Sabbat-time” in Arkham. How did you approach
translating such a vivid and dark concept into music?
Mainly by switching rhythm patterns and building up the tension so that it
would have this sense of urgency and foreboding. The story insists on
irregularities and how things are not what they appear to be; so, playing it
straight was out of the question.
3. Emissary's
music blends thrash, death, black, and traditional metal. How do you keep a
unique sound while drawing from so many iconic styles?
It wasn't really intentional, it's just the stuff I like, and I guess
influences creep out naturally. I have always played what comes naturally
to me.
4. You
recorded “At the Throne of Chaos” in Capricorn Studios and then mixed it at
Moontower Studios. How did these studio experiences contribute to the track’s
final sound?
It was recorded quite quickly actually and we ran into a few hiccups along the
way, but the rhythm tracks were done live and that gave the sound an exciting
feel. The first raw mix had this old Bathory/Sodom sound but it was polished a
bit up at Moontower Studios to bring it to a nowadays industry standard.
Both mixes kicked ass in my opinion.
5. With
the addition of Phillip Graves as guitarist earlier this year, how has
Emissary’s lineup and chemistry evolved since your formation in 2023?
Yeah, besides bringing his musicality and expertises, his arrival definitely
gave us an internal boost. We were having a tough time trying to find a second
guitar player and this thickened the sound and made everything sound stronger
and sharper. Personality wise, we all got along from day one.
6. The
Lovecraftian theme seems to run deep in Eldritch. Could you share
more about the album’s narrative and any recurring themes that fans should
expect?
Well, the album is supposed to be like a voyage into an Eldritch world —the
first two tracks follow a narrative and then it cuts loose into all these tales
and lore. I came up with some of them myself and there are stuff by Lovecraft,
Hodgson, Chambers and even John Carpenter!
7. Michel,
you've been involved in bands like The Evil Dead and Wicked Leather. How has
your past musical experience influenced Emissary’s direction and sound?
Well, I
don't think my musical approach has changed a lot or if it has changed at
all. It's just that I'm wiser and have learnt from past mistakes. However,
playing in Wicked Leather at the same time lets me stretch my writing a bit
more; so, I use the darker music for Emissary and keep the epicness and classic
heavy metal sound for Wicked Leather.
It's an ideal situation. Regarding Wicked Leather, stay tuned for news very
soon!
8. With Eldritch scheduled
for early 2025, what has been the most challenging part of creating the album,
and how did you overcome it?
Definitely the lyrics. Adapting the source material into song structure is a
complete bitch, the music is no problem at all, but coming up with lyrics
without being overtly referencial to the source material while still
maintaining a mysterious ambiance is hard, at least for me. How do I overcome
it? By forcing myself to write lyrics during the night shift at work.
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9. Your
label, Fetzner Death Records, has a strong reputation in the metal community.
How did your partnership with them come about, and how has it shaped your
vision for Eldritch?
I wrote to Fetzner when we had the raw mix and he was interested, told me to
get in touch once we had the album done so as soon as all the songs were ready
we cut a deal. I'm grateful that they gave us this opportunity.
10. What
can fans expect from Emissary’s live performances, especially with the
Lovecraftian themes and the chaotic energy of your music?
They can expect an absolute blast, an energetic show that will shake them to
their Core. We are not a crappy band that's afraid of getting our hair messed
up from headbanging. Expect pure adrenaline the way it used to be
11. With
Halloween here and Eldritch on the horizon, what message would
you like to share with fans eagerly awaiting your debut LP?
But of
course "Heed the Emissary!!"
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