Blackend Special Podcast Episode: NOCTEM special and interview with EXO

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WARNING: this is music that's going to piss-off everybody around you!  Not since the great Cronos of Venom schemed and conjured the first bass lines for the album Welcome to Hell has there been a more blasphemous,  perverse, obscene and loud metal show!

Playlist of Doom! 

1. NOCTEM - Devine Xib'alb'a, album: Exilium 
2. NOCTEM - Apsu Dethroned, album: Exilium
3. WATAIN - De Profundis, album: The Wild Hunt
4. NOCTEM - Eidolon, album: Exilium
5. TAAKE - Stiden Hus, EP: Kulde
6. NOCTEM - The Rising Horns, album: Exilium
7. SEOL - Intro/Ascensus, EP: Ascensus
8. NOCTEM - The Adamantine Doors, album: Exilium
9. MYRKUR - Ravnens Banner, album: Myrkur
10. SEPTICFLESH - Order of Dracul, album: Titan

This time we open a dark chapter and release from the depths of  Hades quires of destruction. In this special 'Blackend Episode', we feature an interview with lead guitarist EXO of Spanish blackend death metal act NOCTEM and curate songs from the band's latest release 'EXILIUM' (Art Gate/Prosthetic Records) which can be described by guitarist EXO as, "...the band's best effort." 

The EXILIUM album is NOCTEM's most musically mature album to the date with a more darker sound as described by EXO, "...this album contains a lot more of black metal, and it is very dark. I'm talking about the guitar riffs, the bass lines, even the sound of the drum kit is more black metal oriented. I guess this happened naturally. We were not thinking about what would be the best sound for the next album. The OBLIVION album was more death metal oriented, and right now we wanted to do something more darker, more black with more atmosphere. For the moment, I think it is the about the people have received in a better way and the press also." 

EXILIUM brings to closure the themes of ancient cultures which were the main concept for the previous albums. Guitarist EXO states, "This album is based on the Sumerian culture. Let's say this album closes the trilogy where we are treating the topic of ancient civilizations...with this record we are closing this episode in NOCTEM's carrier."

The writing process for the album as in the previous centers around the symbiotic writing relationship between vocalist BELETH and guitarst EXO in which together they compose the core structures for the songs. EXO explains how the songs are composed , "Muscially, we always work in the same line. First, I write the guitar lines with BELETH; we sit front to front and discuss about the music. I really like to combine the composition techniques. I like to create music alone and bring it to the rehearsal place and share it to discuss about the music; he starts thinking about lyrics. Most of the time, he creates the topic and then I create the music, and then the bass lines and drums are added after that. We give body to the song and finally we do the vocals."

The EXILIUM record was released at the beginning of the year by ART GATE RECORDS and was then picked up by PROSTHETIC RECORDS for distribution in North America in September. EXO explains how he feels about being exposed to the north American metal heads, "The feedback is working in a very good way; we received a lot of reviews for the album; and some interviews also. I think people are liking it. We had our first contact with the American audience/metal heads with our previous album OBLIVION...for the moment it's working very well; people are liking it a lot." 

Artwork by: Edmundo Saiz
Tracklist:
1. Enuma Elish
2. Apsu Dethroned
3. Decrepit Human Kingdom
4. Tiamat’s crown
5. The Rising Horns
6. Halo of Repugnance
7. Egregor
8. The Splint Of Destinations
9. Eidolon
10. The Adamantine Doors

Constant touring and personal sacrifices have to be made to be a full member of NOCTEM. It is not an easy life to play and tour for a band with a high level of activity; furthermore, maintaining a high level of physical  endurance will performing NOCTEM's music live which in itself can be described as 'a battle' in the words of guitarist EXO. This high level of activity combined with the demanding strains of performing live and life on the road are not suited for all the musicians who have been part of the band.  So far, band member changes have been a constant for the positions of rhythm guitar and drums for previous releases and EXILIUM isn't the exception. Regarding the new members of the band, EXO explains, "It is not easy to belong to a band with a high level of activity. We do several tours almost every year. We are always performing in different festivals and individual shows. This band requires a lot of effort. Sacrifices that you have to put into it, and dedication. Not all people are prepared for that. It is very different to see the activity of the band from the outside then it is from the inside. Because once inside you have to dedicate a lot of time. Right now we have VHERT on the drums; we started playing with him three years ago, and NEKROS who is the other guitar player; he entered the band two years ago."

Members: 


Beleth - Vocals 
Exo - Guitars 
Nekros-Guitars 
Ul - Bass 
Vhert - Drums

Purchase EXILIUM at
NOCTEM official website http://www.noctemofficial.com/home/
ART GATE RECORDS http://www.artgatesrecords.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=73
i-Tunes store https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/exilium/id819257946
Prosthetic Records: http://store.prostheticrecords.com/products/532417-noctem-exilium-cd


Dark hordes featured include new music by artists WATAIN [The Wild Hun], TAAKE [KULDE] and SEPTICFLESH [TITAN]. Including solo female black metal MYRKUR and Guatemala black metal band SEOL.

Watain

Taake

SepticFlesh

Myrkur

Seol

God hates metal!


"Black Metal’s legions have made their own desperate attempt to illumine the darkness. Their weapons are blasphemy and fire, coupled  with heavy sonic artillery and spurred on by powerful internal and infernal impuls es." -Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground