After a long time Jacopo Fano made a new interview with the USA/Croatia based black metal duo Black Antlers.
1. Oh well guys. It’d be nice if you could introduce yourself to our readers. I know BA are pretty known in the underground (at least many people seem to know you ahahha), but some words before starting could be
what it needs!
Justin: I don't know if we are well known but we have had some nice comments from a few people, which is nice.
Rob: There's not much to say. Last year Justin contacted me that he needed a logo for a side project
of his, and after some talk he asked me if I'd be interested to do vocals on the demo. The rest is history.
2. Two demos so far (plus another one soon on our tape-player). What are your main strong points as a whole? It’s hard to carve your way in the black metal genre, but I believe BA’ve got a very distinctive sound, I mean, I cannot wait for the addition of synth and real drums, something that’s going to pair with an outstanding guitar tone and an amazing use of vocals…
Justin: I mean as for me my main thing is playing stringed instruments, i play guitar, ukulele, mandolin, bass etc but one of my skills is creating ambience with guitar in my other project (i AM esper) so i try to mix some raw BM riffing with the raw ambience from my other project.
Rob: I'm glad that You enjoy our music so much. What I can say is: that I don't think much when recording.
I just let my emotions flow.
what it needs!
Justin: I don't know if we are well known but we have had some nice comments from a few people, which is nice.
Rob: There's not much to say. Last year Justin contacted me that he needed a logo for a side project
of his, and after some talk he asked me if I'd be interested to do vocals on the demo. The rest is history.
2. Two demos so far (plus another one soon on our tape-player). What are your main strong points as a whole? It’s hard to carve your way in the black metal genre, but I believe BA’ve got a very distinctive sound, I mean, I cannot wait for the addition of synth and real drums, something that’s going to pair with an outstanding guitar tone and an amazing use of vocals…
Justin: I mean as for me my main thing is playing stringed instruments, i play guitar, ukulele, mandolin, bass etc but one of my skills is creating ambience with guitar in my other project (i AM esper) so i try to mix some raw BM riffing with the raw ambience from my other project.
Rob: I'm glad that You enjoy our music so much. What I can say is: that I don't think much when recording.
I just let my emotions flow.
3. I’ve read comments regarding neonazism below one of your video on Youtube. What’s your stance?
Justin: I think everyone in this world is equal were not better or worse it makes no difference to me what race, color or religion you are as long as you are a good person. I can't stand homophobia or racism.
Rob: True, a while back someone posted a nazi comment on our Youtube videos. What I can say
we're not a nazi band. We're against every kind of hate, be it racism, animal cruelty or any other form.
As I'm sure some may know I'm a christian so, You can imagine my stance on things like that.
4. What’re the news you’re gonna bring to the table on the third demo by BA? (ok, it’s a silly question, you’ve said a thousand of times on your Facebook, but maybe someone doesn’t follow the mockest social network in the world)
Justin: The new Demo III should be finished soon! expect the same very very lo-fi black metal with some ritual ambient thrown in but this time with more Aggressive vocals on robs part and real live drums (no drum machine) from void the session drummer.
Rob: Basically it will be the "classic" Antlers sound but with much more aggressive vocals and some folkish
elements. We first thought about adding synths but after some problems we decided to not use them.
I don't want to say much but this demo will have a more ritualistic feel and a fuller sound then the last two.
5. How did you decide to found a raw black project? It’s rather far from, well, I Am Esper or Synkretismos Mutare…
Justin: We both enjoy some Black metal and wanted to from a project mixing our styles of ambience together in a more metal based platform just to experiment with a more straight forward genre (while still making it less conventional than usual BM).
Rob: How I said Justin contacted me about session vocals on the first demo but after it I've become
a full member. I wouldn't say that it's far from my other projects because I've always added black metal elements into my music. And to be honest my next Synkretismos Mutare album will be raw metal with some odd elements.
6. How is a common recording session? Who’s the first to made up a track?
Justin: Usually it starts with my guitars as the base and than rob and who ever else
is doing sessions for us adds on top of that.
Rob: It's pretty much sending tracks back and fort. Both of us do everything, witch means that
I'm not only doing vocals but I also add guitars, drums, effects etc. Same goes for Justin.
Justin: I think everyone in this world is equal were not better or worse it makes no difference to me what race, color or religion you are as long as you are a good person. I can't stand homophobia or racism.
Rob: True, a while back someone posted a nazi comment on our Youtube videos. What I can say
we're not a nazi band. We're against every kind of hate, be it racism, animal cruelty or any other form.
As I'm sure some may know I'm a christian so, You can imagine my stance on things like that.
4. What’re the news you’re gonna bring to the table on the third demo by BA? (ok, it’s a silly question, you’ve said a thousand of times on your Facebook, but maybe someone doesn’t follow the mockest social network in the world)
Justin: The new Demo III should be finished soon! expect the same very very lo-fi black metal with some ritual ambient thrown in but this time with more Aggressive vocals on robs part and real live drums (no drum machine) from void the session drummer.
Rob: Basically it will be the "classic" Antlers sound but with much more aggressive vocals and some folkish
elements. We first thought about adding synths but after some problems we decided to not use them.
I don't want to say much but this demo will have a more ritualistic feel and a fuller sound then the last two.
5. How did you decide to found a raw black project? It’s rather far from, well, I Am Esper or Synkretismos Mutare…
Justin: We both enjoy some Black metal and wanted to from a project mixing our styles of ambience together in a more metal based platform just to experiment with a more straight forward genre (while still making it less conventional than usual BM).
Rob: How I said Justin contacted me about session vocals on the first demo but after it I've become
a full member. I wouldn't say that it's far from my other projects because I've always added black metal elements into my music. And to be honest my next Synkretismos Mutare album will be raw metal with some odd elements.
6. How is a common recording session? Who’s the first to made up a track?
Justin: Usually it starts with my guitars as the base and than rob and who ever else
is doing sessions for us adds on top of that.
Rob: It's pretty much sending tracks back and fort. Both of us do everything, witch means that
I'm not only doing vocals but I also add guitars, drums, effects etc. Same goes for Justin.
7. What’re your most relevant influences?
Justin: For me i like a lot of kinds of music from drone/minimalism to ambient, black metal and folk and even some pop music. paysage d'hiver and ildjarn id say are my biggest influences for this project.
Rob: I can't speak for Justin, but when it comes to music especially my vocals I'm very inspired by Rainer Landfermann (Bethlehem) & Attila Csihar (Mayhem), but I don't limit myself when it comes to music and art in general. I listen to everything from extreme metal over ambient, folk, blues, classic even hip-hop.
8. What’s your first experience in music, generally speaking? (if your memory serves you!)
Justin: My dad playing his classical guitar and me finally asking him to show me a chord or two
than it just went from there about age 13 or 14 can't exactly remember now.
Rob: As far as I can remember my first cd was a Eminem album hehe. Back then I listened to a lot of hip-hop music then somewhere with 15 I started discovering alternative music and now You can see what happened with me :D But if You mean, when I've started playing it was about 7 years ago when I started practicing metal vocals.
9. I know, it’s impossible…but do you think BA’s music could be reproduced during a live show?
Justin: I think it could be in a very raw form with a drummer, me on guitar and rob on vocals. If we ever
had the chance to do that i would not pass it up for good times hahah.
Rob: It would be great to play our songs live but the huge distance between us makes it tricky.
10. What’re your source to write the lyrics, and also to forge the music? Nature maybe? Personal struggles? The so-called “Magic of the moment”?
Justin: You could have to speak to rob about that thats his department.
Rob: Regarding lyrics, there are nature inspired songs, social criticism and of course emotions that are inside of me. You can interpret every song for Yourself but in general they all have a clear meaning. At least, for us.
11. What’re your thoughts about the current black metal scene? Do you believe (especially Justin who’s older than me and Bob) now black metal ain’t what once was?
Justin: Honestly im disgusted with it. way to many trolls now, ripp off labels and little kids making shitty music just to troll or be 'cool' its pathetic. but i make music for me, and try not to pay attention to this bullshit anymore.
Rob: I think it's stupid to think about it. Of course it isn't what it was back then when it started but I wouldn't say that it's a bad thing. Sure, we many worthless bands today but if they enjoy playing it, who am I to tell them different. I personaly love many bands of today such as: "Thy Light", "Ellende", "Ekove Efrits", "Nortt", "Hortor" etc. You can always find pearls in all this garbage You just have to look.
12. Our interview is all but finished. Is there something you want to add before quitting? (of course, thank you for finding the time to answer to my questions!)
Justin: Thank you so much for your interest in Black Antlers and for the support much appreciated! cheers!
Rob: Thank You for Your time and interest in our music. Wish You and everyone who reads this all the best.
Justin: For me i like a lot of kinds of music from drone/minimalism to ambient, black metal and folk and even some pop music. paysage d'hiver and ildjarn id say are my biggest influences for this project.
Rob: I can't speak for Justin, but when it comes to music especially my vocals I'm very inspired by Rainer Landfermann (Bethlehem) & Attila Csihar (Mayhem), but I don't limit myself when it comes to music and art in general. I listen to everything from extreme metal over ambient, folk, blues, classic even hip-hop.
8. What’s your first experience in music, generally speaking? (if your memory serves you!)
Justin: My dad playing his classical guitar and me finally asking him to show me a chord or two
than it just went from there about age 13 or 14 can't exactly remember now.
Rob: As far as I can remember my first cd was a Eminem album hehe. Back then I listened to a lot of hip-hop music then somewhere with 15 I started discovering alternative music and now You can see what happened with me :D But if You mean, when I've started playing it was about 7 years ago when I started practicing metal vocals.
9. I know, it’s impossible…but do you think BA’s music could be reproduced during a live show?
Justin: I think it could be in a very raw form with a drummer, me on guitar and rob on vocals. If we ever
had the chance to do that i would not pass it up for good times hahah.
Rob: It would be great to play our songs live but the huge distance between us makes it tricky.
10. What’re your source to write the lyrics, and also to forge the music? Nature maybe? Personal struggles? The so-called “Magic of the moment”?
Justin: You could have to speak to rob about that thats his department.
Rob: Regarding lyrics, there are nature inspired songs, social criticism and of course emotions that are inside of me. You can interpret every song for Yourself but in general they all have a clear meaning. At least, for us.
11. What’re your thoughts about the current black metal scene? Do you believe (especially Justin who’s older than me and Bob) now black metal ain’t what once was?
Justin: Honestly im disgusted with it. way to many trolls now, ripp off labels and little kids making shitty music just to troll or be 'cool' its pathetic. but i make music for me, and try not to pay attention to this bullshit anymore.
Rob: I think it's stupid to think about it. Of course it isn't what it was back then when it started but I wouldn't say that it's a bad thing. Sure, we many worthless bands today but if they enjoy playing it, who am I to tell them different. I personaly love many bands of today such as: "Thy Light", "Ellende", "Ekove Efrits", "Nortt", "Hortor" etc. You can always find pearls in all this garbage You just have to look.
12. Our interview is all but finished. Is there something you want to add before quitting? (of course, thank you for finding the time to answer to my questions!)
Justin: Thank you so much for your interest in Black Antlers and for the support much appreciated! cheers!
Rob: Thank You for Your time and interest in our music. Wish You and everyone who reads this all the best.