Black Metal
The most popular Black Metal band in Europe. They've recorded a demo called Despair, a pre-release tape called Martyrium & an album called The Return of The Black Death. Now, let's talk to Armoth who has something to say.
TBS-
Tell us how Antestor got started. Armoth- Vemod (guitar, keyboard),
Martyr (vocals), Pilgrim (guitar) and Paul (drums) started playing together in
1990. In '91 they released a demo tape containing 3 songs. In '92 the drummer
quit and the band had a break for a year or so. When they started playing again
in spring of '93, Armoth was replaced on drums. Later in June, we found
ourselves a permanent bass player called Gard. The name Antestor became the name
of the band in July, and in August we recorded our first demo under Antestor
entitled 'Despair'. The musical style was a mixture between doom and death metal.
Throughout the year of '94 we kept making songs and had several concerts. In
December '94 we went back into the studio and recorded the new material for the
album 'Martyrium'. This was more professionally done and was done in hope of
getting signed and having it released on a CD. The musical style was now doomy
death metal, with a lot more aggression and atmosphere, and with some influences
from black metal. Due to the absence of Armoth
in the first half of 1995, Vemod kept making songs, and in July when
Armoth came back, Pilgrim was replaced by Erkebisp, because of different musical
interests and influences. As a natural development the music got more and more
atmospheric and the style could be described as (atmospheric) sorrow metal. It
could as well be described as black metal, but with influences from Norwegian
folk music, it gave us our own sad and cold sound. In this period, from January
until July 1995, songs of higher quality, both musically and technically, were
made, and was the start of a new era for us. In December the same year, Erkebisp
announced he was quitting the band, due to other musical interests. He
participated on the recording of the 'The Return of the Black Death', before
quitting. That material was recorded in February '97, and they spent approx. 90
hours recording and remixing the entire material. In summer '97, several
promo-CDs were sent out to different labels, and Cacophonous Records were
willing to release the album. The label got in contact with them in the fall,
and after a lot of back and forth regarding the contract, they signed a
two-album-deal in May/June 1998. The album was released on September 14, 1998.
In the beginning of 1999, Martyr left the band due to some internal problems
within the band, and a vocalist has not yet been replaced. A permanent keyboard
player also joined us that winter, and new songs are being created.
What
bands have influenced your sound ? A lot of bands have influenced our
sound. The main bands are Satyricon, Burzum, Dark Throne, Dimmu Borgir etc., but
also several other bands or artists in different styles have influenced us in
one or several ways.
Where
you all christians before you've started the band ?
Let's
Talk about the "The Return of The Black Death" album. Have you got
good answers for it ? We have received a lot of positive feddback. The
only negative, is the sound. We kind of agree with that, but the sound was
supposed to be cold and sad, so the production fitted the music. It could have
been better, but we're more or less satisfied with it all.
Do
you plain to release another album in the near future ? Martyrium will be
released in November, hopefully, so that will be a blast! New material is being
made, so in a year or so, a new album might come out, who knows the time!
What
do you all do when you don't play with the band ? Any jobs ? I study to
become a radiologist and the others are working full time.
What
are your favourite bands ? A lot within the black metal genre, but also
bands making atmospheric music are among the favorites.
Why
the name Antestor ? It is Latin for witness, and since we are witnesses
for Christ, we thought it would be a good name.
Any
final statements ? Pray for unity within the band, protection,
inspiration and God's blessings over the band. Keep us in your prayers, we sure
need it! Thanks a lot! -Armoth. Contact: [email protected] or Antestor, Svein
Sander, Ovre vei 1b, 1369 Stabekk, Norway. E-mails are prefered!!!!