Menelyagor is the creator and singularly driven voice that is Artanor. From the glorious debut of In Servitude of Darkness, a multi-layered dense melodic offering, its conceptual world building based on Menelyagor’s own works to the brand-new release Devastating Hate. At first its polar opposite, rawer, darker, brutal and visceral, yet they are both from the same creativity that explores the many facets and majesty that is extreme black metal.
‘’Firstly, thanks for the opportunity to do an interview Sparky. I would be lying if I said I’m comfortable with doing these kinds of things! So, bear with me, and here goes.
‘’Perhaps it is brief, brutal and unexpected, for people that don’t know me personally, but this is exactly how I tend to work. I think personally its unexpected in the way I released it, which is as a mini album. That decision only came about after numerous recording failures, computer issues, and lack of motivation to complete the recording and release it as a full album, which was the original intention. I lost previous recordings, and didn’t want to redo the entire thing, so I guess I can point blame in all kinds of directions, or I can just accept that it is what it is now, ha-ha.
It is the polar opposite of In Servitude of Darkness”.
I suppose in many ways to a listener, it will be. I’ve never done anything like ISoD before, and I had a lot more time to mould it sonically around an already developed idea, being the first book, I had completed in ‘The Rise of Meklarah’ series, which is yet another project still in limbo.
Even though the music for ISoD was done with varying degrees of spontaneity itself, I still had a baseline I wanted to adhere to. So, in actual fact, that was the most foreign way I have ever gone about writing and recording to date.
It is pure raw dark black metal. The decision to make it so after the complexity of In Servitude of Darkness”.
‘’I guess the simple answer is it was all about time and place. I don’t think I intentionally set out and aim for a particular sound, with the obvious exception of the above-mentioned album. I was in a far ‘angrier’ state of mind at the time I first wrote ‘Devourer ‘, and the successive tracks followed in suit. There was, however, no conscious decision to aim for a particular sound.
A more spontaneous expression of Black Metal?
‘’Definitely. I think all of my releases are rather spontaneous.
‘’I believe Devastating Hate has probably reflected my actual state of being in the most accurate way. It was quite relieving to get these songs recorded. And overall, I am happy with the result.
How do you describe Devastating Hate?
‘’I describe it as a release of built-up negative emotions. For me personally, Devastating Hate, in words, is how I live my day-to-day life. My frustration, my anxiety, anger and hate towards life, and the world in general. All consuming feelings that manifest and grow like a cancerous tumour. The result being the effects those feelings have on those around me. Namely my family, my kids, and small circle of friends. That is the devastation of hate.
‘’Angus (Greallach) did a fantastic job of personifying this in the cover artwork, which is a hydra tearing itself apart, and devouring itself. An act of pure self hate and destruction. The cause and effect of years, even decades of hateful thoughts.
The Devourer?
‘’This was the first track I wrote for this EP, almost straight after the completion of ISoD. The song title just jumped out at me and depicted in an almost perfect way the inexplicable urge I have to dwell on, and build negative feelings into a sometimes, all-consuming things.
‘’Upon completing the song and coming up with the song title the lyrics just flowed, completing the story as to how I was feeling. We can’t see the feeling, but is there, usually reflected to others by the mask we wear.
‘’It is nothing more than our negative thoughts working against us. Insatiably feeding our hatred and devouring any good, or happy thoughts...
It lacks your trademark balance and harmony? Was this intentional to be bleaker and heavier?
‘I suppose if I am good at doing anything, musically, it is getting my feelings out, audibly. I don’t think the shift in sound was ‘intentional’, per se, but I think my feelings at the time, genuinely were. Because of that, the music came out that way.
‘ISoD had a rather challenging theme. Particularly for quite an average musician, such as myself. The focus was on balancing the good and bad. Devastating Hate, in comparison, is about disparity, and having no balance.
Did it surprise you when it was finished?
‘I was a bit surprised with how different it came out to ISoD, after a back-to-back listen. But it was a good surprise. I don’t think I have ever put together two things that sound the same upon completion. Obviously, there are going to be similarities, but those similarities can differ quite a lot.
‘I think the biggest surprise, in hindsight, is that I sporadically released it as a mini album, as opposed to a full-length album. I can only blame that on impatience, and the zero care factor I had after an evening drinking beer. Ha.
What drew you to the heavier side of music and why does it inspire you so?
‘Upon first listening to heavier music, right back when mum used to blast the Sabbath, Floyd, Priest, etc, when I was young, I found heavier music to be both extremely calming and empowering. When I discovered Black Metal in my later teens, I knew I had found my ‘happy music’, and I have not looked back ever since.
‘I find music like this taps into one’s very being, and this can be the single inspiration needed for one to channel those feelings into music of their own.
Is the Ep a brief interlude before the return of your own individual universe that began with the Rise of Meklarah?
‘’I don’t have any current plans to revisit that universe, if I’m being totally honest. But I wouldn’t go as far as definitively ruling the possibility out. The idea of getting this release out was, however, so I can put full focus into the next release.
Your varied releases prove Extreme music is timeless, where can it go and progress?
‘This is true and poses a rather interesting question. I don’t believe I have ever put any kind of restrictions, or rules on what I do. I read what people write about my music, influences etc, and find it fascinating – especially when reading some of the genres I’ve been compared to. Genres and bands I haven’t even listened to, ha-ha. It definitely shows how different things can blend together in a cohesive way, intentionally, or not.
‘I just walk the path, to see what unfolds, and more often than not find it to be the most satisfying part of being a musician. Hearing the songs in their infancy - upon first creation, then watching them develop into their final, completed forms. It is a rather intimate process.
What inspired you to pursue extreme music and its importance to you?
‘For me, it was a way to handle frustrations and the angst of daily life. Channelling those feelings into music, was, and is a release that I don’t think I can get by doing anything else.
‘So, it’s very important to me, because if I don’t, or can’t focus on music – in some way or another – be that listening to or creating, then I end up spiralling into a bad place. Sometimes, very bad places, and those places come with consequences. I’ve seen the way this has affected the people around me too many times and would rather avoid it.
Does it represent more than just a sound but a unique perspective on the world?
‘I believe so. I think we all have the ability to leave our mark, as we as a species are all very different. We can have similar traits, even similar upbringings, but no two people are the same. This fact is what gives the world such varied music, as I believe music, particularly black metal – and other heavier genres, really do reflect individual people’s personalities at a much higher degree of accuracy than the others.
‘This is and has always been what draws me to black metal. What draws me to understanding and embracing the darkness. Nothing else is as satisfying, and real.
Plans for the future and other releases.
'After such a long hiatus after the venture of Fen Hollen, and the haphazard Artanor releases over the last two decades, I am now ready and willing to record what I can, while I still have the time to do so.
'I am even considering a live show or two, depending on future circumstances, and the ability to find and secure some session musicians, but for now, nothing is off the table for the future.
Top 6 albums of all time?
Evilfeast – Funeral Sorcery
Satyricon – Dark Medieval Times
Arckanum – Antikosmos
Pest – Blasphemy is My Throne
Gorgoroth – Pentagram
Gehenna – First Spell
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