1. You have been active since 2020, what made you want to create the band? Why did you choose the name Serpents Oath and what does it refer to?
SERPENTS OATH started as a new creature comprised of 3 adepts of Belgium’s extreme metal scene. As soon as we met up and started creating together, we realized they were establishing a very different entity. Hence we decided to leave the past behind and give birth to this new Beast.
As this unholy trinity we unleashed our debut album ‘Nihil‘ through Soulseller Records in 2020 to much critical acclaim. With its relentless and unforgiving version of nihilistic black metal it took the world by storm.
Since then, we have expanded our line-up to five sworn in members. Working and recording on our sophomore album as a full band brought a new dimension to the record that is recognizable from the first listen. “Ascension” saw the light of day in 2022 and this opus brought only crushing riffs, pounding drums and terrorizing screams.
Now in 2023 we have joined forces with Odium Records to unleash our third album “Revelation” upon the hordes. A distinct step forward both in song writing and production, this latest opus is showing that the Flame burns brighter than ever.
The vision behind the band is one of transformation. This shines through first and foremost in the lyrics and is carried through in the cover art and other visuals. The transformation is that of an individual striving to become transhuman with the ultimate goal of beating even Death. This is the ultimate rebellion as even Death is not accepted as a given.
The band name was very deliberately chosen. On the one side there is a clear link to the Drakonian Current (Serpents) and our dedication to it (Oath). It is also a reference to the Oath of Fealty that is pledged when dedicating oneself to the Drakonian Path. The vision behind the band is one of transformation. Symbolically this is also represented in the Band’s logo, where the Serpents form the basis of life (the dragon that is visible even in a DNA strand, the building block of all life). Those Serpents also represent the connection with the source within oneself. The eye in the middle represents the awakening of the third eye, essentially the awakening of the Inner Self and thus your ascension to become your own God. Even the Serpent itself is a symbol of transformation, as it continuously sheds its skin and emerges anew.
2. Even though the members of Serpents Oath are veterans in the extreme scene, it is not something you promote to make Serpents Oath known, why is that, do you want people to focus on this new band without taking into account How much of your past does it have to do with what you offer in Serpents Oath? Does it have anything to do with your other projects?
We all have long histories in the extreme metal scene and have played in several bands throughout the years. However, from the start we decided not to name drop any of those bands, as we wanted people to listen to Serpents Oath with a fresh pair of ears and an open mind, not because we played with such and such band. The past doesn’t matter anymore as it is the road ahead with Serpents Oath that is our total focus.
3. “Revelation” is your third album, how have you approached the process of writing and recording this new album? What do you think has changed in the sound of the new album compared to its predecessors? What brands of instruments have you used? in the process?
Daenum, guitar player from day one, brought the majority of the music to the table. On the first album he then brought those ideas into the rehearsal room where, together with Draghul on drums and myself on vocals, we shaped these into the songs you hear on the album. We had already started the same process for the next album and had about 5 songs ready. The new members then contributed more in the final 3. However, having then the possibility to play the first batch of songs with a second guitar and a bass in the rehearsal room, you start to already add some extra layers and fine tune ideas that you couldn’t do before. Hence even those songs were brought to the next level.
The fact that we live in the vicinity of each other and get together several times per week to play music and discuss a variety of topics has had a major influence as well. It has meant that we have established a unique bond as we have become more than the sum of our parts. It also meant that musically we got aligned very quickly and could test out new ideas immediately and keep new music flowing. Spending that much time together not only means that you get attuned to each other but also that you keep pushing each other to constantly improve. Our vision of transformation also applies to that: tomorrow you should be a better version of yourself than today. Just like the Serpent that sheds its skin, and a new version emerges, so have we evolved and that evolution you can hear on the new album “Revelation”.
4. In the end, an occult touch has just been installed in your sound. Do you consider yourself an occult black metal band? How do you define the sound of the new album for those who have not heard it yet? What bands and sounds are an inspiration for you? when composing music for Serpents Oath?
The involvement in the Dark Arts has been just as long as my involvement in extreme metal music. Over decades I have walked on my own individual path and that obviously has formed me as a person. Hence it feels only natural to use that in my lyrics as it is deeply personal. I approach the Dark Arts in a very practical manner and use it in my everyday life. The aim is for my work on the Nightside to leave footprints in the Day. To summarize this in a couple of lines isn’t possible but suffice to say: test everything, believe nothing!
As explained above the vision behind the band is one of transformation. Symbolically this is also represented in the Band’s logo, where the Serpents form the basis of life (the dragon that is visible even in a DNA strand, the building block of all life). Those Serpents also represent the connection with the source within oneself. The eye in the middle represents the awakening of the third eye, essentially awakening the Inner Self and thus your Ascension to become your own God.
As you can imagine, striving for basically Immortality doesn’t happen over night and is approached from 2 sides: the Night- and the Dayside.
From a Dayside perspective the aim is to not physically die. This is very much rooted in the advancement of science prolonging life to the point where we live long enough to witness the day were dying of old age is no more. The first successful clinical tests of reversing the decay of cells have already happened.
From a Nightside perspective the aim is to not need a physical body. This is rooted on the astral plane where you train in order to be first aware and later control your astral body.
Both aspects are cemented in doing, not in believing, so it is a very practical approach.
In the end we play Black Metal. Some have called it Occult Black Metal, others Nihilistic Black Metal. Suffice to say that it is full of intensity that takes you by the scruff of your neck and doesn’t let go.
5. The theme of the album revolves around an initiatory journey: Genesis, apocalypse and resurrection. Could you better explain the concept of the album? Is there a connection with occultism in this theme? Why did you decide to deal with these themes? Do you adapt the music to the lyrics or vice versa?
The album describes the journey from initiate to adept divided into 3 chapters, split by the 3 intros “Invocatio Genesis” “Invocatio Apocalypsis” and “Invocatio Resurrectio”.
It all starts with the first step on your own path, symbolized by the Genesis chapter. In order to progress however, one has to break down the taught barriers and go through a process of de-identification, symbolized by the Apocalypse chapter. Only then can one be reborn, symbolized by the Resurrection chapter.
The three chapters thus look at a similar subject from different angles. If we look at fire, from a genesis perspective, we see it as the spark of life or the spark of an idea. From an apocalypse perspective, it is the all consuming fire devouring everything in its path. From a resurrection perspective, it is the inner flame, the Black Flame of spiritual enlightenment when one finds the Source within oneself. In summary it shows the transition of first nurturing your Inner Flame to eventually deploy it in order to devour everything that stands in your way with an all consuming inferno.
The title “Revelation” on the one hand refers to us revealing a new and improved version of ourselves. As the word itself comes from the Greek “apokalypsis”, which means unveiling or revealing. Hence in this context it speaks about some of the lyrical content as the revealing of divine mysteries.
6. You have made the jump from Soulseller Records to Odium Records, why did you decide to work with Odium Records for the new album?
After recording our debut album, we started looking for a label to see who would be interested. With Soulseller, we had a mutual friend who introduced us. From the first listen, they knew they wanted to work with us. From our side, we were honored to team up with Soulseller Records and join the home for bands like Gorgoroth and Svarttjern. Beyond that when we looked at the passion and respect they put into re-releases like Ancient Rites and Rotting Christ, we knew this would be the right label to work with. Since then, this impression was only been reaffirmed and it felt really good to work with such a professional team that respects our artistic vision and gives us the freedom to take everything we do to the next level. From their part they were really satisfied about the performance of our debut album as they offered us a new deal for the second album in the first month following the release.
However, since the release of our first album we were in contact with Shadow of Odium Records. From the beginning it was obvious that we shared the same vision on what Black Metal should be, so when it became time to look for the right label for our third release, it was clear to us to switch to Odium. We are honored to team up with an elite underground label that has released material from bands like Ofermod, Beastcraft, Acherontas, Varathron or Black Altar.
The most important aspect was that they put quality before everything else. This attitude is carried forward in the products themselves and this for example has led to the release of the limited edition wooden box set.
On top of that their promotion has been really good as they have made sure that, if you are into Black Metal, you will know about this release.
7. It is not very common for an extreme metal band to edit three videos for a new album, why did you make this decision? Who did you work with to record the videos? How has your fans' reaction to these videos been?
As we launched our debut album in the full lock down pandemic period, we only had videos to share our vision with the World. They were instantly picked up with great interest. From that point forward we have been building on that, release by release, to also use that avenue as a way to spread our message. Just like we pay a lot of care to the art that accompanies a release, just as much dedication goes into creating a visual representation of the song. This is all then taken to a higher level by working together with great visual artist who bring their expertise to each video. Visions realized by truly dedicated people in their own field that make the difference.
8. You have also changed recording studios, in this case you have worked at Project Zero Studio in Belgium, why this change of studios? What do you think being able to work with Project Zero has contributed to the final result of the album?
As this is the third record, we realized we had to challenge ourselves. Not only did we switch labels, but we also went to a different studio. The goal was to capture the energy that our live performances have and combine that with a pulverizing sound. At Project Zero Studio we achieved exactly that goal.
We had already worked together with Yarne on the video clips from our previous releases and that always was a great cooperation. When he then opened up his new studio, we deiced to pay him a visit. During that visit it became clear that he understood what we were trying to deliver and convinced us that he would be the right guy to achieve the result. Now we are very glad we took that chance as Yarne pushed us to our limits when recording and then assured the mixing and mastering delivered that skull crushing result.
9. The cover continues to maintain that occult and dark character, who designed the cover of the new album and how does it relate to the content of the album?
The 3 albums are clearly linked visually. On the first album, the vision of rebellion was represented in the cover art. It showed the first rebellion, Lucifer that leads the War in Heaven. Only this time the outcome is different, and the rebellion succeeds, visualized by Lucifer casting out the Arch Angel Michael and therefore a perfect representation of the ultimate victory of free will.
The second album showed the next chapter of that rebellion. Lucifer has now stormed the Throne of God only to find it empty and thus ascends to become his own God.
This third piece portrays him claiming that Throne for him to reign from over all creation.
All of these concepts were turned into Flesh by Néstor Avalos. I have known Nestor for a long time and there was an instant connection from day one. Apart from being a great artist, he is also very familiar with the occult workings, so when giving him a brief he immediately understands what we are looking for. We are really looking to have our vision made into to flesh and Nestor is the perfect artist to do that.
10. For some time now it seems that the classic bands from Belgium, Holland and Denmark have found continuity in a new batch of extreme metal, I don't know if it can be called a scene but the truth is that the quality is excessive and rich In nuances, what is your opinion of the black metal scene in the countries mentioned above and how do you think Serpents Oaths fits into it?
It is great to see the quality that has come out in the last years. Even if we are a small country, we understand like no other the importance of delivering something exceptional. It doesn’t matter if it is chocolate, beer or metal. As long as you deliver something that makes a difference, people will pick it up, no matter where you’re from. That has always been our starting point anyway, as in the end the geographical origin of the band is secondary to us. A band has to deliver music that leaves a mark, no matter what its origin is. That is the essence which will capture the attention of the listener rather than where the band lives. For us as well, it was never about carving out a spot in Belgian Black Metal, rather than establishing Serpents Oath in Black Metal in general.
11. Have you already started the live presentation of the new songs? How is the public's response?
Bringing our vision to life on stage has always been our aim. The energy that we receive from the audience has been immense. It is what keeps you pushing for more and as such becomes part of that transformative process. In the end that is what the aim of extreme music is, to be played live with an audience that loses themselves, as that is what lifts you to another plane. Nothing compares to that. Take all the live streams or live recordings you want, they cannot capture that energy. You have to be present in order to experience it. How else can you smell the incense, taste the blood in the air and feel the warmth of the flame on your skin? Only in a live environment does this music truly come alive!
12. How were your beginnings in music: first concerts you attended, first albums you bought? What happened in your lives that pushed you to want to be musicians?
My first cassette that a friend recorded for me, when I was around 13, was AC/DC and Iron Maiden. Not a bad start. A year later however a friend of my brother’s lend me some defining albums: Possessed/Seven Churches, VoiVod/RRRÖÖÖAARRR and Metallica/Ride the lightning. That for sure opened another gateway and it evolved from there.
On the live front, although I had visited some smaller live concerts of local metal bands, my first major concert was Metallica on their “and justice for all” tour.
13. What album represents for you the essence of black metal? What latest albums have you bought?
Black Metal isn’t just about tremelo picking, blast beats and high pitched screams. It is all about the intent that is put behind it. It is not meant to be safe or easy digestable, rather the contrary, it was always intended to go against the stream. My top 3 are: WATAIN (Sworn to the Dark), TAAKE (Doedskvad) and ARCHGOAT (The light-devouring Darkness).
14. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for Serpents Oath fans this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.
We are proud to be able to share our new album “Revelation” with the world. Thanks for the support, this interview and giving us the chance to share our Vision with others. For the readers, be sure to check out our music and prepare to be bound by the Serpents Oath.
Test everything, believe nothing!
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