Interview Unburnt

Unburnt’s latest album Elevation marks a four-year evolution since Procession. In this interview, the band discusses their creative growth, conceptual themes, visual identity, and the journey they hope to take listeners on.

1. Elevation showcases four years of growth since Procession. How did the band’s creative approach evolve during this time?

Our creative process is quite lengthy and collaborative. We bring in influences that inspire us in the moment, and with Elevation, we dedicated even more time to arrangements than on previous albums and EPs. This extended process is the main difference since Procession.

2. Could you walk us through the concept behind Elevation? What themes or ideas were you hoping to explore on this album?

Elevation is a metaphor for the consequences of a neglected world that leaves us to face our own failures. Through this album, we wanted to explore themes of decay, responsibility, and the harsh reality of the situation we're in.

3. Unburnt’s sound is often described as dark, ethereal, and intense, drawing comparisons to bands like Neurosis and The Ocean. What specific influences shape your music, and how do you aim to differentiate your sound within the post-metal genre?

We draw our influences from the bosses of the genre but by tinting our Post Metal with Post Rock sound/ambiances and old bands progressive inspirations.

4. The new album is visually striking, with a carefully crafted aesthetic. How important is the visual element to Unburnt’s identity, and how did you approach the album’s artwork and presentation?

We wanted something that went against the typical metal and post-metal aesthetic, with Elevation, we aimed for artwork and presentation that would speak to everyone, regardless of musical background, like an universal language.

5. You’ve mentioned using poetic metaphors in your lyrics, influenced by personal experiences viewed through an esoteric lens. Can you give us insight into the writing process behind some of these lyrics?

Our process is pretty much the same every time we have to write lyrics for a new song. Seb immerses himself in the atmosphere of the different universes of the song. This involves an intensive listening period of the demos. Is this passage rather melancholic? Should we whisper or shout at this moment? It's a very intuitive approach in the end. Then we start laying down vocal lines without worrying about the words used and little by little the lyrics take shape in accordance with the mood of the song, including personal reflections, lived experiences. They often deal with difficult subjects, addiction, suicide, cannibalism, self-destruction... We try to bring beauty to darkness by using an imaginative, organic vocabulary, a bit like mental images. The most important thing for us is that the lyrics can touch as many people as possible and leave room for interpretation. When the result is more or less set, we move on to the pre-production stage so that we can take a step back and make corrections if necessary. It should also be said that everyone brings very cool and inspiring ideas, so it's really an interesting part of the composition process.

6. Post-metal often balances heaviness with introspective or ambient moments. How do you approach the contrast between these elements when composing new music?

This contrast is really important to us, and I think it’s quite clear when you listen to our music. We like to bring nuance to our tracks—those introspective or ambient moments allow us to introduce new sounds and influences, adding depth and variety to our compositions.

7. The album spans six tracks and 45 minutes, a length that suggests a journey for the listener. What experience do you hope listeners have when they play Elevation from start to finish?

Our goal with Elevation is to provide the listener with a one-way epic journey. A first listen that will literally be a unique experience, each song bringing a different prism to the overall concept - which can be assimilated to a flight forward into the unknown - like so many puzzle pieces of an understanding of our universe. We can think of spiritual Elevation, the search for answers to our fears and doubts through the stars, a desire to simply become better people? Are we really destroying a unique and precious world? Will we launch ourselves into the vastness in search of a new home rather than becoming aware of our mistakes? These are the lines of thought that are, in fact, only the beginning of the journey.

8. With a lineup solidified in 2017, how have you grown together as a band, both musically and personally?

We’ve all known each other since before Unburnt, through different bands. Over time, each of us has found our place within the group’s process,some of us focus more on composition, while others are more involved in arrangement, and so on. This continues to evolve as our music evolves.

9. Unburnt has shared the stage with acts like Klone, Hangman’s Chair, and Phil Anselmo. How have these live experiences shaped you as musicians, and how do you bring that energy into the studio?

When you’re told you’ll be sharing the stage with Phil Anselmo, it’s hard to believe it’s actually happening! It definitely pumps you up to give everything you’ve got. We also recently played with Hangman’s Chair, a band we really admire, those guys are simply inspiring. Playing with bands like these has a huge impact on our motivation and pushes us to bring that same energy and dedication into the studio.

10. Elevation is available on both LP and digital platforms. Do you feel there’s something unique about experiencing your music on vinyl versus digitally?

We feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in offering our music on vinyl because it reflects all our hard work, both in the music and the visuals. But we also appreciate digital platforms, as they make it easy for everyone to enjoy our music

11. As artists based in the Grand Est region of France, how has your local scene influenced you, and how do you feel Unburnt fits into the broader European post-metal landscape?

We have been more influenced by the Swiss, German and Nordic scene with bands like Unfold, Kruger, The Ocean, Cult of Luna and Zatokrev than by our local scene.

12. Finally, what’s next for Unburnt following Elevation? Any plans for tours, collaborations, or further experimentation with your sound?

We want to keep promoting the album through live shows, hopefully reaching beyond our region and even go on tour if the opportunity shows up. We're excited to bring Elevation to more audiences and see where it takes us!"

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