SCÁTH NA DÉITHE - INTERVIEW

1. The first EP came out about a year and a half ago, when you said that the composition and recording of "The Horrors of Old" was natural and quite fluid, tell us a bit as has been the process of composition and recording of this new Album? Perhaps knowing the repercussion that had reached the previous Ep., Was an added pressure to confront the composition of this "Pledge Nothing but Flesh"?
The album was written over the early part of 2016, the process was very similar to the writting process of the EP. When we rehearsed we would record ourselves playing the songs start to finish at the end of a rehearsal, when you are composing songs of this length it can be nessesary to do this so when we would meet again we would be sure of what we were playing. We were extremely pleased with the responce we got to the EP but we didn't feel any pressure to try and live up to it or try recreate it's success.

2. In this new album continue to deepen in the different styles present in his previous work, which are mainly death and black and I think they have also worked in the more atmospheric part of his sound, adding some passages quite good, achieving a Album with a more defined and mature sound, can we say that they have taken note of the best of "The Horrors of Old" and that they have worked and evolved to find the sound of this "Pledge Nothing but Flesh"?
We were very focused from the start of the writting process of this album on wanting to expand upon the sound of the EP. We had the goal of compossing a full length album when we started working on the songs so the addition of atmospheric parts and new elements was very much intentional. Over the course of the album it was very important to us that the listener would be introduced to a new feel or sound as the album progressed.

3. Whose idea was it to include the two instrumental pieces in the album and what objective did you look for with them?
The first piece is an introduction, it's purpose is to set the mood and help the listener to become absorbed in the atmosphere we created on the album. The second instrumental piece is there to provide a contrast between the harsh songs that went before and to lead into the second half of the album. Pledge nothing flesh is arranged the way it is to be an album of two parts, the first half is all out rage, where as the second half is meant to be more reflective and sorrowful. 

4. The inspiration to write the lyrics of the songs, still comes from the stories and legends of the Irish tradition?
Yes absolutely. I take all the inspiration for the lyrics from Irish folklore and traditions, but as I say they are there to inspire, not to be simply copied. I don't just recount the story of what happened in these folk tales and use that for lyrics, I want to draw on the imagery present in these tales,the lessons and emotions they conjure up. I am extremely passionate about reading these stories, there is an endless amount of sorrow and misery present in many of these tales, so much so that I find it hard not be moved by them to create.

5. During this year, do you contemplate the possibility of bringing the group's music to the live, offering some concert?
It is something we are interested in doing but for the foreseeable future we won't be able to make it happen.

6. Do you continue to get the digital edition of your music for the digital format as well as for the cd, there are no offers on the part of some seal to be able to edit your music or is that you feel more comfortable in this way to have control over your work?
If you are talking about working with labels we are open and looking for labels to work with to release our music. We are going to be releasing a limited edition cassette of Pledge Nothing But Flesh this comming March through the label Metal Defiance Productions. We are trying to find a label at present to release the album on vinyl also.

7. With the recent albums edited by already consecrated bands like Primordial, Celtachor or Slidhr and with the irruption of other new bands like Apokathilosis or Mortichnia we can say that the health of the Irish extreme metal is in good health?
Yes the Irish scene is very healthy, there are many bands currently making a name for themselves outside the confines of a small country like Ireland, and for such a small country there are a large number of extremely talented bands. Besides those you mentioned I would encourage people to check out Aeternum Vale, Coscradh, Mourning Beloveth, Gaoth, Legion Of Wolves to name a few. For those who really want to discover all the amazing bands Ireland has to offer I would recommend visiting the Irish Metal Archive website.

8. "Pledge Nothing but Flesh" is a short time market, what expectations have you created for this album and that awaits your followers in the coming months by Scáth na Déithe?
We hope to reach as many people as possible with this release and hopefully gain some new fans and attract the attention of labels. We are overwhelmed with the reaction we have recieved so far and exremely grateful to everyone who has supported us and purchased the album. Going forward we hope to record another EP before the end of the year, it is currently in the early stages of being written.

9. Thank you very much for taking the time to Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for the followers of Scath na Déithe, this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.
We would just like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who has supported us in any way and listened to our music. Sláinte!

SCÁTH NA DÉITHE - INTERVIEW

1. The band was born in 2015, How and why did you decide to create the band and why choose the name Scath na Déithe?

ST: Cathal and I knew each other from gigging with our other bands (Nautilus and Astralnaut) but I’ve more recently discovered Dúnmharú. Cathal has been consistently releasing EPS with Dúnmharú over the years and once I discovered them I knew I had to work with him.

Initially we had planned to get together to write and record one song purely for fun however that quickly turned into what we have now.

CH: We wanted a name in the Irish language that would reflect some of the themes in our music, we chose Scáth Na Déithe, which roughly translates as “The Shadow of the Gods.”

2. At this time you have released your first EP, "The Horrors of Old", how was the process of writing and recording the songs? What is your way of working in the studio?

CH: The songs for this EP came together very naturally, we had all the songs written and recorded within the space of a couple of months.

The EP recording session was done like most recordings now days, we recorded the drums first and then laid down all the other instruments one by one on top of the drums.

3. You are not newcomers, both are in other projects, that if one more related to her black and one with the rock, stoner, however Scath na Déithe offers a sound that has a black hand, but also a strong component doom or even funeral, how you will define the band's sound and what are your musical references?

CH: It is difficult to try to properly define the sound of a project you are involved in, as different people hear different things in your music. For me the core of our sound consists of black and death metal, with some of the melodic aspects of doom and an atmospheric element added in to the sound.

4. Another miss important in your compositions is the atmosphere, that time may recall pagan elements, similar to bands like Drudkh line, is it something intentional, I had made any comment on this?

CH: Being from Ireland that sort of atmosphere does tend to seep into your music, even though it’s not our intention to sound “pagan” or be a pagan metal band. There is a lot of sadness in traditional Irish music and folklore that for me can have an influence on the music I create.

5. I think the theme of the album revolves around death and everything around you arrive, why you choose to treat this topic in your lyrics?

CH: The lyrics on the EP do deal with death, they are based on two stories from Irish folklore, one is based on the story of mothers that have died that return nightly to try to steal away their children and the other is An Sluagh, the spirits of people who committed great sins when they were alive, who return to collect the souls of the dying.

I chose these stories to base the lyrics on because the dark side of Irish folklore and storytelling has always interested and influenced me.

6. The EP has had a good impact and both media and public do not hesitate to recognize the enormous potential of the band, satisfied with the repercussion?

ST: It’s great to see what people think of the music however we are keen to see how people react to the songs in a live setting. We have had some very positive reviews and feedback sent our way so we are very happy with the response so far.

CH: We are very satisfied with the attention we have gotten so far. We didn’t expect to receive as much positive feedback or attention, as we released the EP without having played any live shows or releasing anything prior to this. 

7. It surprised however that no record label interested in her edition of "The Horrors of Old," will there be any reissue in the future?

ST: We actually have had a little bit of interest from various labels, both local and not so local. We will be releasing “The Horrors of Old” on tape via Sarlacc Productions in the new year. We might also look at doing a CD release later in the year. Sarlacc have been putting out some great stuff recently, definitely worth checking out.

8. How were your beginnings in music: first cds, concerts, etc. Why decide to be a musician?

ST: I’ve been into metal from a young age however I have played in some very non-metal projects over the years. Piano and Clarinet were my first instruments. I took lessons in piano and clarinet for a few years but I was more interested in metal drumming than sitting in front of a piano. A double kick pedal soon followed.

CH: I’ve listened to hard rock and heavy metal as long as I can remember and over time I kept seeking out heavier and more extreme music. I would consider myself a songwriter more so than a fully developed musician, and learning the guitar was the way I chose to create the music I wanted to make.

9. What can you tell us about the scene black Irish?

CH: The Irish underground scene is very strong at the moment, there are a lot of bands who are making amazing metal; Altar Of Plagues, Slidhr, Malthusian, Vircolac, ZOM, Corr Mhóna, From The Bogs Of Aughiska, Oh Daith, and of course the bigger bands like Primordial and Mourning Beloveth.

10. The cover design was entrusted to Manum Diaboli Art, what do you want to represent with this cover and how it relates to the content of the album?

CH: I had worked with Manum Diaboli Art before on other projects and I can’t recommend him highly enough. The cover art depicts an old woman clinging on to old books and scraps of paper, this represents the old stories and folklore that our lyrical themes are based on. 

11. The recording was made in veterans Balbriggan Station Studios in operation since 1960, why did you choose these studies for recording?

CH: We chose to record here as the studio is extremely well equipped and suited to capturing the type of sound we wanted for this EP.

12. What future plans do you have for the band? Are you working on new songs?

ST: Cathal is working on new material right now so we hope to release a full length at some stage in 2016. I feel that The Horrors of Old was a suitable introduction however a full length seems more appropriate this time round.

CH: Early 2016 we will begin rehearsing new material that we hope to record soon after and release during the year as a full length, live shows are also a possibility in the new year.

13. Thank you very much for taking the time to Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for the followers of Scath na Déithe, this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.

CH: Thank you for taking the time to interview us and thanks to everyone who has checked out our music, sláinte!

Kawir / Nergal / Embrace of Thorns / Soulskinner - Emissaries of a Profane Advent 10,99 €

10"

1. Kawir - Prometheus 06:56

2. Nergal - Flegethon 04:47

3. Embrace of Thorns - Dismal Augur of Hierophant Mass 04:49

4. Soulskinner - 44 Caliber Killer 04:47

21:19

HAZTE CON ÉL EN : BLACK METAL SPIRIT STORE O DISCOGS