Good morning, thank you so much for answering these questions. How's everything going in Carinthia?
Achlycet & Tenebris:
We’re good thanks for having us, just had our release show last weekend.
1. In 2024, you decided to launch Verba Serpentis. However, all the members are also in other bands. How did the idea to start another project come about? What does Verba Serpentis offer that sets it apart from your other bands? Why the name Verba Serpentis, and what does it refer to?
Achlycet:
I knew Tenebris before, and we had already talked about starting a band earlier since we were both interested in occult topics and liked a similar style of black metal.
When there was a lack of movement in our other bands, we decided it was the right time to start this band.
Musically, it’s different from my other bands, and it’s also the only one where I can really dig into the topics that interest me, as well as personal matters and interests.
Tenebris:
Verba Serpentis means “Words of the Serpent” and was a quite logical choice because it represents the idea behind the band: to spread the Luciferian message throughout the world.
2. With Verba Serpentis, it seems you want to maintain a "low profile," meaning you want to build things gradually, in an underground and classic way. By this, I mean that you started by releasing a couple of EPs. Do you think this is the right approach in a style like black metal—to start slowly with "smaller" releases to gradually build public interest? Is black metal a genre that lends itself to this approach as a way to solidify a career?
Tenebris:
Nowadays, the attention span of people is quite short. That’s why the idea of an EP is more compelling to me, as the focus can be maintained. On the other hand, you can give more new material to the fans in shorter periods of time, and the “danger” of having to use a “filler” song to complete a whole album is eliminated. Nonetheless, the next output will be a full-length album, also because labels won’t work with you if you only release EPs.
3. You've just released your second EP, "Torchbearers." How did you approach the songwriting and recording process for this second release? How do you think your sound has evolved between the two releases? What brands of instruments did you use in the process?
Achlycet:
The songwriting never really stopped between the first and the second EP. However, for the second EP there are way more two-voiced guitar parts than on the first one, since during the first release it was not yet certain that the band would have two guitarists. So I would say it became more creative and multifaceted.
For guitars, Malphas and I use Solar Guitars. Somnifer also uses a Solar bass guitar, and Tenebris uses Mapex drums.
4. The five tracks on "Torchbearers" maintain a dark, mystical, and occult black metal tone, with an aura of Satanism that permeates the entire work from the beginning. How would you describe the sound of the new EP to someone who hasn't heard it yet? What bands or styles influenced its composition?
Achlycet:
Melodic black metal. Some songs have atmospheric elements, while others have a death metal touch. I like to keep a good variation between songs so it’s not all the same and every track feels somewhat different. Additionally, I like to include some dissonant parts as well as epic or “golden” passages, as I would say this also reflects the lyrics and themes.
5. Lyrics steeped in Satanism, mystical elements, and occultism. Do you consider these themes essential within a style like black metal? What inspires you when writing your lyrics? Do the lyrics adapt to the music, or vice versa?
Achlycet:
These elements definitely have a “home” in black metal, although black metal is a broad genre with many different lyrical directions.
I mostly write the music first and the lyrics afterwards. However, most of the time I already know what the songs should be about beforehand, or I discover it during the writing process.
The lyrics themselves come from many different inspirations. Some are inspired by things I see and experience, others by personal rituals or topics that interest me. For me, it’s mainly important that they are honest, authentic, and that I can stand behind them.
6. Your first EP was released by the now-defunct Austrian record label Kvlt und Kaos Productions. However, for this new EP, you've opted for self-release. Is it difficult to secure the support of a record label when releasing new material for a black metal band just starting out? How are you managing this entire process?
Tenebris:
It’s not easy, that’s for sure. But if you stand behind your music and also bring that energy to the stage, people will notice and labels will come. We also had offers for this EP but decided to go solo for this release. That may change in the future.
7. However, you did have the support of the German studio Soundtempel Studio for the recording. Why did you choose them, and what do you think their work contributed to the final result of the EP?
Tenebris:
I worked with Stefan (Traunmüller) in my previous bands, and he always delivered high-quality work. He’s been deeply rooted in black metal for many years, so he knows what he’s talking about. He’s pretty swift and always open to new ideas or changes, so overall he’s easy to work with, and that’s very important
8. For the album artwork, you collaborated with Serpentchron. To a certain extent, it maintains a continuity with your previous EP. Why did you decide to work with Serpentchron, and what does this cover represent?
Achlycet:
Working with Serpentchron was easy on the first EP, as he quickly understood what our music was about and we were very pleased with the outcome. So we decided to work with him again.
The cover represents the album title in a way - Torchbearers. We came up with the basic idea of having an individual “holding the black flame” inside a ruin or decayed monument, with snakes whispering to him. The rest was created and realized by Serpentchron.
9. You've promoted both EPs with the release of videos for the tracks included on them, something not entirely common in this genre, especially for smaller bands. How did the idea of working on these songs and releasing a music video come about? How did you develop this whole process?
Achlycet:
Yes, we already have two videos for the new EP, and there will be another one soon.
I think nowadays it’s important to also have a visual component to the music, especially since social media plays such a big role and people tend not to really dig deeply into things. Fortunately, I think black metal fans are still more likely to explore the deeper meaning behind the music, but if you want to reach people, something visual definitely helps.
For the lyric video, I wanted to have something rather simple since the lyrics are already the main focus.
For the visualizer, I reached out to a guy called David Tomanek, who also created visualizers for other bands, such as Akhlys. He liked our material, so we sent him the lyrics and some basic ideas, and he created this very cool video which we are very pleased with.
I don’t want to spoil too much about the upcoming release, but there will definitely be another video.
10. You've always been open to the possibility of playing concerts. How important is it for you to connect with your fans and be able to perform your music live? What dates do you currently have planned to promote the new EP?
Tenebris:
Playing live is great, and we’re always on the lookout for opportunities to bring our music to the world. The words of Lucifer have to be planted on fruitful soil so they can grow and manifest themselves in the minds of people. We have some festivals and club shows in Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic this year to promote the EP.
11. What's the extreme metal scene like in a region like Carinthia? Which bands from your area would you recommend? How would you describe the tradition and current state of Austrian black metal?
Tenebris:
We have a pretty strong scene here, with bands like Irdorath, Blightbringer, Karner, and of course bands we also play in, such as Schänder, Draugr, and Scion of Darkness. With our club KV Blasphemic Rites, we also organize concerts for different bands, and this year we are starting our first open-air event - “Blasphemic Rites Open Air” - with bands like Yoth Iria and Kvaen.
12. What were your beginnings in music like? What were the first concerts you attended? What were the first albums you bought? What event in your lives pushed you to want to become musicians?
Achlycet:
I started playing guitar rather late and didn’t practice too much in the beginning. After I joined my first band, Scion of Darkness, I really started practicing a lot.
One of my first metal concerts was an underground metal show in Klagenfurt. One of the guys who played that night is now my bandmate in another band I play in (Schänder), haha.
Puh, to be honest, I have no idea what the first record I bought was. I think it was a sampler from the only issue of Metal Hammer magazine I ever bought.
When I started playing guitar, I always wanted to write my own material, and after joining my first band and playing my first shows, I realized this was something I kind of had to do.
13. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What are the latest albums you've bought?
Achlycet:
Tsjuder - Desert Northern Hell
Dissection - Live in Stockholm
Mgla - Exercises in Futility
To be honest, I haven’t bought a record in quite some time. Nowadays, I mostly buy T-shirts to support bands. The last merchandise I bought was from Enthroned. I saw them at Dark Easter Metal Meeting - awesome band.
The latest record I really like is De Pinte by Misotheist.
Tenebris:
Dissection - every Album
Watain - Sworn to the Dark
True Black Dawn - Of thick-circling Shadows (which is also the last i bought)
14. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit. If you'd like to add anything for Verba Serpentis fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
Achlycet:
Thanks for having us.
Make sure to attend one of our live shows.
Hail the Black Flame!
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Vinyl, LP, Album, Ultra clear
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