Drekavac is a black metal band from Aberdeen that strives to maintain traditional roots in black metal whilst adding their own elements to it, bringing the sound into the present. Drekavac’s message is of misanthropy with subtle pagan(heathen) ideologies and beliefs woven throughout. We recently caught up with Hyperion, the lead singer and founder of Drekavac, to find out a little more about the band. See what happened below…
How did you get started?
I knew a drummer at the beginning that wanted to start a Black Metal band I also had contact with a guitarist I’d never met before but knew through friends, that was the beginning. Then I brought in two other musicians, I’d had worked with before, to finalise the lineup.
You released your debut full length Incipit Demonas Pandorum earlier this year, can you tell me about the writing and recording process?
A lot of the writing for Incipit Demonas Pandorum had been done in the run up to the recording date, we already pretty much had an albums worth of material anyway as we’d knock out the songs pretty fast. We mostly just focused on getting the songs as solid as possible before recording them.
The recording process was intense we initially spent two whole days from morning to night crammed into this tiny underground studio getting everything down. Everything went as per usual with the drums, guitars and bass however the vocals were abit more complicated. I wasnt happy with the first recordings I did so I booked extra time to re-do them. I felt initially the vocals lacked intensity in their execution. I re-recorded everything and was happy with the final results. I even had an opportunity to play round with some vocal effects which can be heard in Miasma of Dark Energies.
We also added extra bits in to enhance the mood. The guitarist wanted to use a bow to add some atmospheric pieces, and we also added keys.
Which track are you most proud of?
The track I am most proud of is Abomination of Flesh. In terms of song writing its a great balance between all the elements that made Drekavac’s sound at the time. Also the vocals, lyrics and melody I am most proud of in that song. It’s unsurprising it still endures to this day in our sets.
Were there any tracks that were more of a challenge to get right?
Generally all the tracks had their challenges, so no one track was particularly challenging. We really had a small window of time to get all the tracks done so generally we couldnt pace ourselves so things like physical exhaustion kicked in making things challenging.
Any interesting tales from the studio?
The studio is underneath a dilapidated old building from like a hundred years ago, and there was this old cologne machine from like the 1930’s in the toilet. You had to climb three stairwells to get to the toilet and when you were up there in the toilets no one could hear you. The lighting was very poor and your surrounded by this stuff that, is old it, seems so alien.
It was quite inspiring in terms of getting myself in the right mindset. I would sit up there alone and contemplate everything that was happening.
In a daze after recording vocals one time, I daubed symbols all over a old dirty window in blood in the place. That’s how much our heads were in the recording.
What has been your best experience in the business?
My best experience in the business was playing with Napalm Death, I’m yet to top that but I’m keen to. It wasn’t so much playing with Napalm Death, although that was still great, it was how I was treated by the establishment we were performing in.
What’s the hardest thing about being in the business?
The hardest thing for me is working with other people. I dont like people very much as it is and perhaps it’s the nature of the beast, in terms of being in a band, that you have to work with other people.
What inspires you?
The world around me, it’s an ancient entity of death, misery and darkness. Filled with meager self destructive parasites that are so self-assured of their own superiority. Crawling all over it like maggots and burrowing into it to feed its own gluttony for death and decay.
And what does 2015 have in store for Drekavac?
A new line up, and a new E.P. Some festival appearances and more shows.
Drekavac: Facebook
