Your
debut album Drown in Solitude has just been released on Goatwarex. Can you tell
me about it and some of your thoughts and concepts that went into its
development? Interview with Desolate of Funeral Mourning/Pestilential Shadows 2007
By Bradley Smith
Your
debut album Drown in Solitude has just been released on Goatwarex. Can you tell
me about it and some of your thoughts and concepts that went into its
development?
Funeral Mourning’s direction is and always will revolve around negativity and death. The recording of Drown in solitude is a reflection of my personal misanthropic, death worshipping and negative views within this rotten shell of a world. This world is empty and so are it’s putrid inhabitants.
You also play in a furious black metal band Pestilential Shadows correct? Can you give me some back ground on this project? Is this your main band or is it Funeral Mourning?
Yes, Funeral Mourning is and always will be my main expression and I believe Pestilential Shadows can stand on it’s own.
What made you decide to go with Goatwarex for both projects? What do you think of that label and some of your fellow roster mates?
Goatowarex expressed interest in both of the projects and I believe Goatowarex has done a worthy job for us. As for some of the bands on his roster…they have some excellent releases, I would recommend Kilte, Urfaust & Mortifera amongst others.
There are so many styles and Moods of doom. How do you view Funeral Mourning’s standing within that scene and what sorts of moods do you associate with Funeral Mourning?
I agree that there is many styles/types of doom…some appeal to me and some don’t. But in the end, Funeral Mourning is a reflection of my decaying mind therefore injecting spores of death inducing behaviour…driving the listener into a sense of nothingness, Battling seas of depression and misery.
It surprises me that I don’t see more black metal musicians participating in dark doom projects as I think those two styles can be mutually supportive. What are you thoughts on how those two styles can play into the development of each other and what sorts of mental states each one requires?
Black metal and doom to me can be quite similar musically but it’s up to the individual how they interpret it…the thing people miss is that music is an expression of what they feel/think, Whatever you are involved with, the lyrical themes are up to you entirely so the music should be the outcome of the mental state.
How does it feel to be coming from a land with such a Rich history in regards to metal, with the likes of Hobbs Angel of Death, Destroyer 666, Mortal Sin and so many others? Do you feel a part of the Australian scene or do you try and keep disconnected from it? Have any Australian bands had an influence on you?
Australia is no different to any other plain of existence; the genres of music here are the same as anywhere else. It would make no difference to me if I were somewhere else as the entire world is a rotten carcass and would still inspire me to loathe humanity. I stay detached from any “scene” and walk my own dark path. There are bands here that have appealed to me in some form but never influenced me musically.
Everyone always associates black metal and its associated philosophies with the cold north but to me Deserts present equally influential environs with the harsh climate and isolation that it invokes. What do you think? Do you ever spend time in the desert?
I agree that the connection with the cold and dark themes/imagery is ever
present and that is fine.
As for the desert, it presents a plain of bleak
emptiness, which appeals to me.
A platform of solitude among many others.
The concept and impact of negativity within every day life seems to be an overriding emotion for you based on some of our limited contact. How do you infuse that sort of thought pattern into your everyday existence?
Negativity to me is something that is unavoidable; and I embrace it. This world is in ruin therefore inspiring me to loathe and weaken all forms of life.
After reading some of the song titles I was wondering how does a person become at one with the Void? Is that sort of a literal communion or is it figurative and what does it represent?
The Pestilential Shadows title is for your own belief/demise, but we are all at one with the void, living in this modern day nausea, you are alone and writhing in this miserable aura of human waste.
What major issues in the world and in Australia really get you irritated and ranting? If you could change one thing both inside Australia and in the outside world what would it be?
The fact the people believe that they are playing some kind of significant role on this revolting planet. Understand that the “gift” of life also comes with the cloaking shadow of death…you enter this world, Consume then perish. No amount of happiness and material items will make death go away, it is with you forever. Modern day society is terrible and the sooner this foul world is destroyed the better…
So what is Next for both Funeral Mourning and Pestilential Shadows?
Funeral Mourning will appear on a split cd “Emission through self infliction” with Belgian band “Kilte” on Goatowarex. Time will tell what other acts of death worship will be unleashed.
I wanted to leave any final Words of desolate inspiration to you…..