Cuban-born black/thrash metal band Ancestor of Kaos returns with Animal Ritual, a fierce album exploring chaos, freedom, and legacy. We discuss their influences, creative process, and journey from Cuba to the U.S.
1. "Animal
Ritual" marks a new chapter for Ancestor of Kaos. What inspired the themes
and lyrics of this album?
Hi and
thank you for the interview! “Animal Ritual” is our album number 4. Written
during 2020 to 2022, recorded and produced between 2023 and 2024 and released
in 2025. We took the inspiration from our daily lives, these recent years have
been very chaotic, many concepts were challenged and the necessity for freedom
has been proven to be essential in how must of us humans want to live our
lives
2. Your
sound is deeply rooted in black and thrash metal. What bands or artists have
influenced your songwriting the most?
We feel
influenced from a lot of traditional Metal from the ‘80s and 90’s from bands
like Mayhem, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Death … but our musical background goes
beyond that, we like to listen to a lot of Latin jazz and Afro Cuban music
which somehow always find its way out when we write our songs. We like rhythm
and melodies that people can remember, that combination it’s what’s important
for us.
3. The
band was originally formed in Cuba and later relocated to the U.S. How has this
transition influenced your music and identity as a band?
We are
still 4 Cubans in the band. We feel very grateful to this great country for
everything we have personally achieved and also as a band. The possibilities
are endless when you are a free man and that we felt for the first time when we
moved to the U.S.
4. Can
you tell us about the creative process behind "Animal
Ritual"? Were there any challenges or surprises during the recording?
“Animal
Ritual” and our previous album “Ancestor of Kaos” were both recorded at our
rehearsal space Exile Studio, which is a warehouse here in Las Vegas, Nevada.
All the recording and production was done by our drummer Alcides and myself
(Joel)
5. You
took a brief hiatus between 2015 and 2020. What led to that break, and what
fueled your return with a renewed lineup?
After we
moved to the U.S we relocated first in Miami, Florida and from 2013 to 2016 we
were very active live in that area, after that we needed sometime to put our
personal lives in order, moving from a third world communist country is kind of
like coming from a different planet, once we had everything we needed we
restarted the band, it was something necessary.
6. The
single "Legacy" was released ahead of the album. What does this track
represent within the overall concept of "Animal Ritual"?
“Legacy” is
a song about the reasons what we still do what we do. Heavy Metal is a way of
live, every man should write a book, have a son and plant a tree before he dies
because that’s what would be left of him when he dies, your creation is the
only way to immortality.
7. You’ve
shared the stage with legendary bands like Deicide and Goatwhore. How have
these experiences shaped Ancestor of Kaos as a live act?
Sharing the
stage with bands that we grew up listening to is always a very rewarding
experience. It’s something we never even dreamed when we started this band in
Cuba in 2005.
8. Horror
Pain Gore Death is releasing the album. How did you connect with the label, and
what does this partnership mean for the band’s future?
We first
contacted Horror Pain Gore Death back in 2016 but then came the period were we
had to stop so once we had our new material ready we started getting things
rolling again with them, we are very grateful with them and we recommend bands
to get in contact with them, since we announced the signing our numbers have
been increasing by the day.
9. Black
metal often carries strong aesthetic and philosophical themes. What message or
atmosphere do you aim to convey with "Animal Ritual"?
We write
songs about liberty and death and everything that made us humans. Black Metal
is a feeling and every one listening should find its own way within.
Ancestor of kaos (@ancestor_ofkaos) • Instagram photos and videos
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