Good afternoon, thank you so much for answering these questions. How are things going in Wallers-Arenberg?
Hey! Thank you for the interview. Everything is fine right here!
1. Around 2021, Galibot released their first split album. Can we say that this was the moment the band was formed? Is this band a reflection of the friendship between three musicians from the north? What did this first release mean to you?
I don’t think you could say that was the moment the band was formed. It was more of an experimental phase, an embryonic stage, where Thomas first tried to set our theme to music. He took the opportunity to join this split album featuring various styles to give it a go. But the real band started with our demo; that’s when Galibot’s solid bass lines came into their own. It is a story of friendship between three people, each of whom has given Galibot a strong identity.
2. You use the name Galibot, which refers to the "children" who were forced to work in the mines in your area. How important is the mining culture of your region to you, to the point that it influenced the creation of the band?
Absolutely. The history and legacy of mining are everywhere in northern France. You can see it in the architecture, the red brick, the headframes and the slag heaps. And you can hear it in the stories told by our grandparents, who were involved in the industry. For us, it was obvious that we should tackle this subject, as it means so much to us and fits perfectly with black metal music.
3. Your first album, "Euch'mau noir" (2024), has just been reworked a couple of years later. How did the idea of reworking the album come about? What were you looking for with this rework? Has the band's identity changed that much in just a couple of years?
The idea of reworking ‘Euch'Mau Noir’ came to us because we didn’t feel the album was quite finished. Although its flaws might have added to its charm, at the time it was recorded most of us were students, inexperienced and still searching for our own sound. We wanted to create a final version of this album, one that was more polished and sounded like Galibot should sound to us. The band’s identity hasn’t changed that much; we’ve mainly sought to cement that identity with a more professional album.
4. You've just released your second full-length album, "Catabase," and you've also added a couple of new members to the band. What was the songwriting and recording process like for this second album? How did you decide to bring Julian and Christopher on board, and what was their involvement in the new album? How do you think the sound has evolved between the two albums? What brands of instruments did you use during the process?
The writing and composition process took place over the course of a few months, but was carried out very intensively. For example, for the guitars and bass, Thomas, Clément and Julian locked themselves away for several days at Minotaure Studio to come up with the riffs for *Catabase*. As for the lyrics, they are inspired by literature (Zola in particular) as well as Greek and Egyptian mythology. Thomas wrote the bulk of the lyrics, whilst I (Agathe) wrote some of them and adapted them to the music during topline and pre-production sessions in the studio. It was Robin who played on Catabase, though he has since left us to pursue other personal projects. Originally a three-piece, we intended to remain a studio project. Given the enthusiasm for Euch’Mau Noir, our excellent relationship with Julian, with whom we recorded it, and repeated requests for live performances, we were motivated to put together a live line-up—now a permanent one, although Chris has replaced Rob.
5."Catabase" delves deeper into a sound that manages to immerse us in the bowels of the earth, retaining the violence of past releases, but also offering a character where atmosphere has gained prominence, post-rock elements are welcome, the rage of hardcore is perfectly manifested, and there's also a focus on finding certain melodic elements. How would you describe the sound of the new album to someone who hasn't heard it yet? What bands and styles inspired you when composing the new album?
Indeed, as you pointed out, Catabase’s influences are diverse and varied. In terms of production, the album sounds a bit more modern than the previous one, whilst retaining a raw, gritty energy. Throughout the album, we move between what’s essentially third-wave black metal, a few brief passages of clean vocals, breakdowns, melodic riffs and a punk energy. I reckon described like that, it might sound a bit daunting! But in my opinion, the album is well-balanced and keeps things interesting. Our influences lean towards bands like Dissection, Misþyrming, Regarde les Hommes Tomber, Owls Woods Graves…
6. The influence of mining and the culture of your region on your lyrics is undeniable, but so is your ability to convey different feelings and emotions through your music. How important is it for you to share the culture of your area through your music? Do the lyrics adapt to the music, or vice versa? Is Diffamie an exception in a world dominated by male singers within extreme metal?
Galibot’s main focus is the mining history of the North, because that is where we come from; it is our heritage, that of our land, and the daily life of our ancestors. We are not campaigning to make this history known to the whole world, but it represents us, and fits perfectly within the Black Metal genre, which is dear to us. What’s more, our mining history is also that of other regions in France, and even around the world (I’m thinking, for example, of Brazil or Poland). This ruthless working-class existence and dark industry has plagued many parts of the globe, and resonates with a lot of people.
I’d say it’s more a case of the lyrics adapting to the music, although during the composition and writing process, there’s always an evolution to ensure the two are in harmony. Thomas writes most of the lyrics, as do I, particularly on Catabase. The words, turns of phrase and sentences evolve as I lay down the toplines so that they fit the music as well as possible and convey the emotions I want to express. I don’t know if I’m an exception, and I wouldn’t presume to claim that. What is certain is that the extreme metal scene is still dominated by men, and simply being a female singer, musician, artist or technician is still seen as an exception, which is a shame. In any case, I hope to become an exception for my singing, my music and my band, and not for my gender. I encourage every woman who is passionate about music to go for it and express herself through any style of music.
7. The new album will be released by Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions. How did the opportunity to work together on the new album come about? Was the idea to reissue the first album also partly Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions'?
Our collaboration with LADLO began with an order placed by the boss on our Bandcamp page; when we saw his name, we put together a box containing all our merchandise and a letter expressing our admiration and our motivation for joining this label. That’s how the LADLO adventure began! The release of Catabase happened very quickly, and whilst we were working on it, LADLO suggested a reissue of Euch’Mau Noir. We liked the idea, because although we love the first version, it wasn’t quite polished enough for our liking. We were still searching for our sound identity; it was the beginning. We’re delighted with these first two releases on the label.
8. For the entire recording, mixing, and mastering process of the new album, you worked with Minotaure Studio and Studio Sainte Marthe. Why did you decide to work with them? What do you think their work contributed to the final sound of the new album?
Absolutely! For us, it was essential to work with Minotaure Studio (which is our guitarist Julian’s studio), as he was the one who saw Galibot through its early days and, in a way, shaped its sound. What’s more, working and recording at Julian’s studio means we can stay there for hours, go back and revisit things, make changes, and take the time to think things through... On the other hand, for the mixing and mastering, we wanted a fresh approach, a new pair of ears to help our sound evolve. That’s why we turned to Francis Caste at Studio Sainte-Marthe. As fans of the bands he’s produced (Hangman’s Chair, Regarde les Hommes Tomber…), it was an honour to be able to work with him. By following our instructions and understanding the essence of Galibot, he managed to add his own touch and we’re delighted with the mix he produced for Catabase. That’s exactly how we wanted Galibot to sound.
9. You illustrated the cover of the new album with an industrial image of a mine. How did the idea for this image come about? Where is this place located?
If you look at the covers of our demos right up to Catabase, you can see that we’re getting closer and closer to the heart of the mine. On the Catabase cover, we are on the tracks used to sort the coal wagons, inside the Wallers-Arenberg headframe that can be seen on the previous covers. These tracks form various paths that intertwine in the darkness and lead us into the depths.
10. I don't know if you're familiar with the German band Dauþuz, a band with a very similar theme to yours and who also play black metal. Are there any other bands with a similar theme that you could tell us about? How would you describe the extreme metal scene in your region?
We know this band yes! Still in France, I can mention the Silicose project, which also explores the history of mining, as well as the social history and class dynamics linked to this industry in eastern France, for example. We’re lucky that in northern France the metal scene – and the music scene in general – is very active. We’ve had lots of bands established for several years now, as well as some great up-and-coming bands recently! Without even limiting ourselves to the extreme scene, bands like SUP/Supuration, November, Canteleu, Sloth Temple, Nornes… form the backbone of our alternative scene.
11. What are your concert plans for the live presentation of the new album? What can your fans expect from one of your concerts?
We’ve just returned from a three-date tour of France with Mephorash to kick off the album’s promotion. This summer, we’ll be playing on 28 June at the MCP Apache in Belgium, and on 4 July in Arras, in the north. From September onwards, we’ll be playing a string of great festivals such as Muscadeath and Nightfest. More exciting dates will be announced soon, but I won’t say any more for now… A Galibot gig is raw energy, an immersive experience in the hell of the mine and a series of different scenes. The best thing is to come and see it live!
12. How did you get started in music? 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?
I’ve always been passionate about music and performing, ever since I was a child. As for metal, it all started when I was 11, I think, with neo-metal bands like System of a Down and Korn. The very first CD I bought with my own money was an Eminem album – *Marshall Mathers II*, I think – which had just come out at the time. Then I quickly bought the whole SOAD discography. The first proper gig I went to see was Apocalyptica, with Dagoba as the support act, in 2016 or 2017. I started playing guitar at secondary school, and a bit later I joined my first black metal band, where I was the guitarist. It was mainly when I saw Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult live at In Theatrum Denonium that it hit me: I could sing black metal too. That’s how I started practising, then I released a demo for a solo project, and that’s when the Galibot adventure began!
13. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What are the most recent albums you've bought?
That’s a tough question! And I think we’d all have different answers depending on which band we’re talking about. It’s hard to choose... But for my part, I’d say perhaps *Bergtatt* by Ulver – definitely one of my favourite bands. It’s a black metal album from the 90s that I’ll never tire of. The albums I buy these days are by bands I’m going to see live. The latest ones I’ve bought are Excerpts from a future past by Hällas, The great disappointment by Wake the Dead and and Esse Est Percipi by Autumn Nostalgie (such a classic !).
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 Galibot's fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
Thank you for these insightful and interesting questions! And to all Galibot fans, I invite you to delve into the depths of the earth by listening to *Catabase*, and above all, to come and see us live!
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