Interview with Leighton from South Africa based Black Metal Band Formless Devotion

Before we begin Leighton we would like to know how things are going back there in South Africa.

Hey, Things are going well over here, in general.

Well starting our talk regarding the band tell us something about Formless Devotion?

Formless Devotion started as a side project of myself and Orlok(Throne Below) in August 2013. The project focuses on the spiritual pursuit of apotheosis through the Draconian current.

Formless Devotion is a black metal band recently i tuned your track Spark of Separation from your upcoming EP loved the track. Can you tell us something about the upcoming EP to be released on Cyclopean Eye Productions.

Yes the EP will be released in the coming months. I am currently working on the album art and booklet. We are much honored o be under the banner of Cyclopean Eye Productions.

Can you say us in much detail about the E.P?

It consists of 4 tracks including an intro and outro. The EP deals with the progression of the subconscious mind through the attainment of death.

Death of the lesser self and the conditioned perception of this world, universe.

As far as i know you guys have released 3 more tracks. Apart from Spark of Seperation you guys have launched Aeonik Devotion, Illuminate My Temple and Prana Of The Drakon are these the tracks to be released in the EP?

Yes, that is correct. All of the tracks are available for streaming.

Coming beyond Formless Devotion tell us about the South African scene?

The South African scene is not too good to be honest. It is completely focused on metalcore, deathcore, djent... Things I really don't care for. There are a few bands producing decent work. Bands like Overthrust from Botswana, Blackcrowned from Cape town/UK, to name a few. The promoters are doing good work though. There's a Behemoth tour coming up in November.

Cool man Behemoth toured here last November headlining Silence Festival. So Leighton coming to your journey, Tell us how your journey began?

I started listening to rock at the age of 13. I started discovering extreme metal bands 2 years later and it has progressed ever since. My musical journey started in 2008 when I formed my solo project, Forestmist. I've been composing ever since. It was through Myspace that I first got acquainted with Brent(Orlok). We started our solo projects in the same year and we've been in contact ever since. Being from opposite ends of the country, we met for the first time last year and initially followed through with Formless Devotion. I have been composing a debut full-length for Forestmist since 2012. The composition/mixing and mastering process has come to and end a few months ago. Now we will be focusing on a concept for a Formless Devotion full-length and working towards finishing up some other projects that I'm currently busy with.

So it means Formless Devotion haven't played live until now.

We are not a live band, we are a duo.

So we are almost at the end now any message to the bands and metalheads who are keen to hear and know about you guys?

You can message and follow our updates on Facebook and Reverbnation. The support is much appreciated.

Lastly a space for you to ask if we SNRMB team has forgotten to ask you can ask us here?

I'll just add that I'm doing guitars, lyrics and vocals. Orlok does guitars, bass and programming

Thank you Leighton for your time

It’s been a pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.Here you go our band page link for Formless Devotion:
https://www.facebook.com/formlessdevotion

Check out my solo projects as well:

http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Forestmist/3540341824

https://soundcloud.com/leighton-misticus/the-dissolution-of-the-ten

Interview with Jonas Stålhammar from God Macabre

God Macabre was one of the first death metal bands in Sweden. The band formed in the end of the 80's under the name Macabre End. In 1991 they changed their name to God Macabre and released one song for the Pantalgia compilation and an album through the small German label Mangled Beyond Recognition Records before splitting up. In the year 2002 the album was remastered, remixed and re-released through the American Relapse Records.

TO get the bands update :-

Facebook :- https://www.facebook.com/godmacabreofficial/

Bandcamp :- https://godmacabre.bandcamp.com/

The Winterlong' Available Now via Relapse Records | Purchase:http://bit.ly/GodMacabre

Website:-http://godmacabre.bandcamp.com/

Before we begin we would like to know how was your experience at Maryland Death Fest?

MDF was really killer this year! Can't say I’m disappointed with anything. Great people, great atmosphere, cool venues and we did a great show. Will play there again any day

We would love to hear you guys again. God Macabre how has the journey been so far. As far as i know you joined the band later. Tell us how the journey was?

Well, the initial journey for the band wasn't that long. First formed in 1988 under a different name and changed to Macabre End in 1989. I joined the band in early 1990. Then we did our first demo and then changed name again in 1991 to God Macabre, recorded our album in late 1991 to split up in March 1992.

The bands initial days i.e 1998-1989 the band was named Botten Pa Burken , 1989-1991 as Macabre End and later in 1991 as God Macabre . What does the band name mean. Tell us about it?

Yeah, 1988-89 it was BPB which means Botten på Burken (Bottom of the jar in English). The style was more punk/grindcore then, in 1989-1991 as Macabre End and the final 10 months or so as God Macabre. That name came from a song I wrote with my old band Abhoth. It fitted the newer more dark lyrics better

Actually i was about to ask you the question regarding why you guys switched your genre from Punk/Grindcore to Death Metal. Also why was the band inactive for almost 21 years?

The switch to death metal came because that's what we wanted to play. As simple as that. The inactivity was because we split up the band back in 1992 mainly because we couldn't find a suitable drummer and bass player. But, i have to point out that we are not recording a new album now! We will do shows this year and then we'll see if we will continue with that in the future. We are all busy with our other bands you know

Well going beyond God Macabre Jonas tell us how your journey in Metal music begin?

Well, got into hardrock like Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Kiss and Black Sabbath back in the late 70's when I was a kid which later progressed with stuff like Motörhead, Venom, Voivod, Slayer, Metallica, Bathory, Celtic Frost and a lot if hardcore/punk stuff which then led me to the tape trading death metal scene around 1987.

Coming back to the band September 1990 a demo CONSUMED BY DARKNESS was released. 3years later after the band split up the debut album The Winterlong was released consisting of 7 tracks out of which two were instrumental tracks. The album was re-released in 19th Feb 2002 including 3 tracks. In 2008 Relapse Version of the album was released on Vinyl for 1st time by the Swedish Label Bloodharvest Record. Again in June 10 the album is re-released by Relapse. A bit curious how excited are you guys about the re-release?

Always, was excited about re-releasing "The Winterlong". Relapses are doing a great job promoting it

Well we can see that in various social media and as well as Relapse website as well. By the way tell us how was the response of fans when you guys decided to re-unite after 21 years?

The response has been amazing so far. It's very cool to able to play the album live now for fans in so many different places around the world.

Any tour updates after the re-release?

No new dates added so far

I was having a short talk with one of my cousins he witnessed you guys recently in MDF . He is one of the die hard fan of God Macabre he has requested me to ask you this question. Will there be a studio version of the live album Eve Of Souls Forsaken?

Well, all those songs, except the Carnage cover, are already available in studio versions on the album.

For sure, i will convey him the message. So Jonas, any message to the bands from Nepal and other parts of the world as well as the fans?

Just do what you believe in and try not to follow trends to much. Thank you very much for the support during these re-union days and beyond. "The Winterlong" is out once again on Relapse records

And also check out our other bands Bombs of Hades, Mordbrand, Space Probe Taurus and Torture Division

I am pretty sure that they will follow God Macabre's families other projects as well. Lastly a space for you to ask if we SNRMB team have forgotten to ask. Feel free to ask. Space all yours

Thanks for the interview and for the support!!