1. You have been active since 2017, what pushed you to create the band? Why did you choose the name Decipher and what does it refer to?
I’ve known our guitarist K.C since we were little and we talked about making a band on several occasions. So when we decided to finally make it happen our drummer N.C joined and we started rehearsals and compositions for our EP in October of 2017. I brought the name to the table as it was a word I had noted for some time before we formed the band. The meaning behind it is a call to decrypt what is happening around us every day and to realize that everything that is supposed to happen will indeed come true.
2. Despite having been active for a relatively short period of time, you have already gone through some changes in the line-up, do you have a high work rate or have you simply not found the right people?
Well, we progressed kind of fast and not everyone could follow that until now.
It’s not a huge “work” rate but things move fast. We are now a team of people with the same vision and the same drive to do what has to be done regarding the band.
3. You have released an EP and a full album to date, however if I'm not mistaken, the songs on the album and the Ep date from the same year, 2019, why did it take you so long to edit the full album? What brands of instruments have you used for the composition and recording of the album and how do you approach this process?
Compositions for the album had started at the same time compositions for the EP were finished. We recorded the album in 2019 and since then we worked on its production which was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Our vocal sessions were delayed as well because of that situation.
4. In the sound of the album you collect influences from classic death and black sounds, without renouncing sections that can be reminiscent of doom, certain touches of melody and a lot of darkness. how would you describe the sound of the album for those who haven't heard it yet? What bands or styles have influenced you when it comes to shaping the sound of the album? Has the Hellenic school of black metal from the nineties been a reference when it comes to focusing the sound of the album?
When composing, our goals are poisonous riffs and melodies that are structured in a way that they can be engraved in the mind of the listener. Some of our influences are Slayer, Celtic Frost, Deathspell Omega. We are definitely affected by early hellenic black metal records but we don’t have this sound and approach as a reference when it comes to Decipher.
5. So the tone of darkness and destruction emanating from the sound of the album somehow also this tone is present in the lyrics, who is in charge of writing the lyrics and how do they relate to the sound of the album? music or vice versa?
Our former vocalist M.L and myself wrote the lyrics for “Arcane Paths to Resurrection”. Music was composed first and then the lyrics followed but, there were some tracks that lyrics were written on the spot directly after their composition.We try our best interpet the feelings each song creates into words.
6. You have made the "live" recording of the album in the D studios in Athens, I suppose that it is not a very typical way of working nowadays where technologies play a fundamental role, at what moment and why do you take the decision to carry out the recording of the album in this way and what do you think this process has meant for the final result of the sound of the album?
Mihail Karpathiou from had been listening to our rehearsals back at the time we were rehearsing in D Studio and he pushed us to record live since we were able to do it.
So we kept on rehearsing and managed to pull it off. It was our best recording experience and after that we decided to always record this way. The band is connected even better; we didn't just follow a soulless metronome click track during tracking.
7. The final mixing and mastering of the album was done at Pentagram studios by George Emmanuel, why did you decide to work with him and how did the whole process turn out?
We liked the sound George was producing in Pentagram Studio and his approach in producing music in general, so we decided to let him handle the mix and master of the album.
8. Your first Ep was self-published, however for the edition of the album you have had the support of Transcending Obscurity Records, how did the contact with this record label and subsequent edition of them album come about? Are you satisfied with the work done by your part?
During the COVID-19 outbreak we were in the search for a label since we already had our album ready. I had been watching Transcending Obscurity’s progress for the last few years and knew from some fellow bands that Kunal is doing a great job. When we sent our material the label liked it from the first listen so we ended up releasing A.P.T.R through them.
9. Previously I commented on the Greek tradition in the nineties with a very powerful scene, how do you see the current situation within black metal with respect to that time? How would you describe the scene of a style like black metal in a city like Athens?
I feel like the essence and feel transposed into music of past times may be missing from today’s black metal and metal music in general. But, there are still great bands coming out every year. I believe we have a very strong black metal scene in Greece that, as it seems, will only keep on growing.
10. I suppose that by taking the songs recorded since 2019, some of you will have already slipped into a concert and I suppose that you would have some reference regarding how the album could work thanks to the response of the public, how have you managed this situation of having something already recorded but not edited and that you could present live? What next concerts do you have planned for the next few dates?
We definitely noticed that people respected the band’s progression from the EP songs to our album. And this direction is where we want to be right now and what reflects us the most.
Regarding booking shows, we just played wherever we had the chance. We also slightly changed our set list every time to keep things interesting.
Currently, we are looking to book more shows to promote “Arcane Paths to Resurrection”.
11. How were your beginnings in music: first concerts you attended, first albums you bought? What event in your lives pushed you to want to be musicians?
My mother is the one who got me to listen to metal music. First album I bought was “Number of the Beast” and the first metal concert I went to was Iron Maiden. Listening to metal made me want to play from the very beginning as well. The first concerts I went to just made this desire even stronger every time.
12. What album represents for you the essence of black metal? What last albums have you bought?
The essence of black metal is in “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” by Mayhem.
My most recent buys were “Mutatis Mutandis” by fellow Greek black metallers Kevel on CD, Maruk’s “Victoria” on vinyl and “Heartwork” by Carcass on vinyl.
13. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for Decipher fans this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.
Thank you for the interview and interest in our band.
We hope to see everyone at a venue near you and raise the horns together.
All the best to Black Metal Spirit.
Hails !
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