At least since the release of „Moonlover“, GHOST BATH are a constant in post-black metal – although a debatable one. Their new record „Starmourner“ is the second part of the trilogy started with „Moonlover“. In this interview with bandleader Dennis you can read more about how these two albums are musically and conceptionally different from each other, why GHOST BATH did focus more on emotional lead melodies and for which reason „Starmourner“ is almost twice as long as its predecessor.
You play modern post-black metal which is rather far from traditional black metal. What is it that fascinates you the most about black metal and post-rock?
I think the main aspect that attracts me to black metal is its focus on mood and atmosphere, and the manipulation of that in a similar fashion to classical music. I think the post-rock elements take that even one step further with emotional builds, climaxes, and declines.
I get the impression that you are getting more and more well known within the post-black metal scene while many other bands of the genre are stuck in the underground. Why do you think is that so?
I honestly have no clue. The only thing that comes to mind is that we are more polarizing than a lot of bands – which may have something to do with it.
The genre you play is sometimes criticized and you yourself surely had to deal with some bad feedback because you sound so different from most of the other bands on nuclear blast. How do you cope with that?
I think if you’re going to be an artist of any kind, then you have to have thick skin. You are putting yourself out there for the world to experience and criticize. To me, any reaction is a good thing – whether that be someone laughing, crying, getting angry, hating, or loving.
Some people see many musical parallels between you and Deafheaven. What do you think about that?
I don’t really see it. I think if you look on a very surface level, then there are some similarities. But if you want true comparisons then look more into Austere, Germ, Silencer, Woods Of Desolation, ect. My main inspiration is Agalloch, although I don’t think we sound to close to them either.
„Starmourner“ is your new album. It’s the second part of a trilogy that started with your previous release „Moonlover“. Did you already know at that time that it’d be the start of a trilogy or did you just realize it while creating „Starmourner“?
I had the entire trilogy planned conceptually before I recorded „Moonlover“. I also have had all of the album titles picked out and the general direction I wanted to take them.
While „Moonlover“ deals with sorrow, earth and purgatory, the themes of your new album revolve around joy, cosmos and paradise. What is your personal connection to those subjects?
I think they are more catalysts than anything to explore the human emotions I wish to convey. I am a strong proponent of contrast and so I use these themes to explore internally.
Do you already know the concept of the last part of the trilogy?
I do. I’ve revealed the ideas in a few interviews. The basic human emotion of Doom. And the last part of the divine comedy: Inferno.
The concept of „Starmourner“ is much more positive than that of your previous album which can even be heard in the melodies. However, your vocals still sound very desperate. Why?
I see it as the music and melodies are surrounding myself and the listener, but they are not a part of it. It represents hope and happiness that is unreachable and the screams are from a desparate person, isolated and disconnected from joy.
The vocals sound a little bit different from „Moonlover“, the screams are still very bleak and sad, but sometimes also a bit more aggressive and more akin to traditional black metal. What’s the reason for this change?
I think I’ve just developed over time a certain way of screaming. Also, with different concepts and ideas behind the songs, I express myself differently within their context.
I also think you make more prominent use of emotional lead melodies like the one on the „Moonlover“ track „Golden Number“. Was this a conscious decision and if so, why?
It was. I believe the ideas of joy, ecstacy, paradise, and the cosmos called for more soaring leads and melodies.
Is there a track on the album that is in any way special to you? And if so, which one and why?
I think „Elysian“ would be the most special. I think I wrote that one at a certain time in my life that it brings me memories to listen to it.
Contrary to the tracks on your preceding album the ones on „Starmourner“ have one word titles like the ones on your debut. Why?
The titles are actually in context of the short stories/parables I wrote for each track. The stories had one word titles and so the songs do as well. I think the idea of containing an entire song into one word is elegant in a way.
„Starmourner“ is over 70 minutes long, almost half an hour longer than „Moonlover“. Why is that so?
The idea of paradisio, the heavens, and the expanse of the cosmos lead me to write a longer album to encompass its vastness. I also like the idea of a religious epic.
Instead of using an already existing picture as artwork for the album like on your first two records, „Starmourner“ features an original painting as artwork. Why? And what else can you tell us about the cover art?
I couldn’t find anything that fit with the album’s sound and ideas. So I worked with Luciana Nedelea Artworks and she created many beautiful pieces for the album. I really have to feel the perfect vibe in the artwork for my music.
In the US the album is released through Nuclear Blast, while in Europe Northern Silence is the releasing record label. Why did you choose this way of releasing the record?
Northern Silence is our original label and we are on them for a certain number of albums. Nuclear Blast reached out later on to re-release „Moonlover“ for us in North America and digitally. The new record will even be released in Japan this year on Ward Records.
Do you got plans for playing live in the near future, maybe even in Europe?
Yes, we like to play as much as possible. We are touring Canada and the US April 14-26 with Astronoid. Then we hit Europe starting May 7th with Katatonia in the UK. After that we play all over Europe with Heretoir, King Apathy, Trap Them, and Crippled Black Phoenix until June 26.
At last I’d like to go though our traditional Metal1.info-Brainstorming:
Like a word association?
Clean vocals: Astronoid
Best album in black metal and post-rock: Agalloch – „Marrow of the Spirit“
Star: Origin of life.
The Holy Bible: Surrealism. Layered meaning.
Happiness: Hard work. Persistence.
GHOST BATH in ten years: vaporwave
Alright, thanks again for letting us to this interview with you. The final words shall be yours:
Thanks for the interview. Check out ghostbath.com if you want to see all of the beautiful art for the album and read some strange parables. Thanks!
1. Mai 2017 Stephan Rajchl