Winterfylleth is the Old English name for October, so it's fitting that these British black metal lords will release their 4th full-length album, The Divination of Antiquity (Candlelight Records), on October 6 (10/07 in the States). For those of you already familiar with this incredible band, you know that October provides the perfect backdrop for the enchanting, pastoral, pagan black metal purveyed by the Winterfylleth gents. I recently caught up with guitarist and vocalist Chris Naughton to get his thoughts on the new album and the band's upcoming plans.
How would you describe your sound to those unfamiliar with the band?
Chris Naughton: Winterfylleth plays black metal with a distinctly British twist on it. We have brought in folk, monk chant and other traditional influences into the black metal style and have hopefully made it our own. We sings songs about our history that relate to how we could - as a people - change and adapt to our pressing social and political issues in the modern world. The songs are typically quite expansive in length and quite epic/emotional in their style. Check out this video of our latest 'single' to get a feel for what we are doing as a band
How does The Divination of Antiquity differ from your previous releases?
CN: I think this album is a progression from the other albums, as they all have been I feel. It is our 4th album as a band and finds us in a place where we have been together for 7-8 years and have really found our way as a band and as songwriters. We have had the chance to do tours together and play bigger shows, really honing our live performances, and I feel this has really translated into our writing. We’ve a few different songs on this album compared to the other albums and have moved the sound into broader realms than just black metal on a few songs. I think this keep it interesting and puts a nice twist on what a Winterfylleth song can be. Also I think the production on this record is better than the previous albums. We had more time to consider it and also the
surroundings of a new studio environment alongside our long term producer, Chris Fielding, really helped the sound.
Who are some of your main influences?
CN: In terms of our individual influences as band members, they are quite varied across the spectrum of metal, and beyond. But as a band I would say our influences are bands like Drudkh, Primordial, Enslaved, Ulver, Hate Forest, Bathory and bands who have mixed the aggression and passion of black metal with the folk influences and culture of their countries.
What inspired you to start playing music?
CN: Personally (as I can only speak for myself here) I always loved rock and heavy metal music and grew up around great British rock bands like Queen, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep and Cream. I lived in a town with a huge punk rock and live music scene, which really inspired me to pick up a guitar in my early teens and start trying to learn and write songs. I always loved the way that Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore played the guitar and wanted to be like that. I just happens I discovered heavier more underground bands and went down that route, which led me to playing black metal.
Who are some current bands that you're listening to?
CN: For me personally, I am listening to the following at the moment:
Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden
Ghast – Dread Doom Ruin
The Ruins of Beverast – Blood Vaults
Necros Christos – Nine Graves
The King is Blind - The Deficiencies Of Man
Worship – Terranean Wake
Opeth – Deliverance
My Dying Bride – The Vaulted Shadows
Eastern Front – Descent into Genocide
Bölzer – Soma
Sheol – Sepulchral Ruins Below the Temple
Ashes – Hreow
How did Winterfylleth come together?
CN: Winterfylleth came together in 2007 as Simon and I were wrapping up the Atavist – doom metal
band – project we used to do. We talked about doing songs based on history and culture and trying to put a uniquely English spin on to black metal. It started off raw and punky in the beginning but we soon refined that to be the expansive, flowing black metal you would hear today.
What kind of gear did you use on the new album and does that differ at all from your live setup?
CN: On the record we used 3 different guitar amplifiers; a Peavey 5150, a Peavey XXX and a Green amp belonging to our producer Chris. We also used an Ampeg bass rig. In terms of this differing from the live environment, we tend to just use the XXX amps live and have a Peavey bass head we tour with. In terms of guitars, I use and am endorsed by Caparison guitars and I used my custom Dellinger fx guitar on the album. Mark is endorsed by Fender/Jackson and used his baritone Telecaster on the album. Simon played a custom Mapex kit on the album with Paiste cymbals, but he also uses that live so there is no change there.
Do you have any touring plans coming up?
CN: We have a few things coming up. We play Colchester with our friends in Eastern Front and The King is Blind on Sept 20th; we play our label's ‘Candlefest’ show in London on October 4th; Damnation Festival in Leeds on November 1st; and then a 5 date UK/Ireland tour with Behemoth, Decapitated and Grand Magus in December from the 9th to the 13th. Otherwise, we have a few things on the back burner for 2015, so keep a look out.
Anything else you'd like to add?
CN: The Divination of Antiquity is out Oct 6th. Hail Heritage.
Chris Naughton: Winterfylleth plays black metal with a distinctly British twist on it. We have brought in folk, monk chant and other traditional influences into the black metal style and have hopefully made it our own. We sings songs about our history that relate to how we could - as a people - change and adapt to our pressing social and political issues in the modern world. The songs are typically quite expansive in length and quite epic/emotional in their style. Check out this video of our latest 'single' to get a feel for what we are doing as a band
How does The Divination of Antiquity differ from your previous releases?
CN: I think this album is a progression from the other albums, as they all have been I feel. It is our 4th album as a band and finds us in a place where we have been together for 7-8 years and have really found our way as a band and as songwriters. We have had the chance to do tours together and play bigger shows, really honing our live performances, and I feel this has really translated into our writing. We’ve a few different songs on this album compared to the other albums and have moved the sound into broader realms than just black metal on a few songs. I think this keep it interesting and puts a nice twist on what a Winterfylleth song can be. Also I think the production on this record is better than the previous albums. We had more time to consider it and also the
surroundings of a new studio environment alongside our long term producer, Chris Fielding, really helped the sound.
Who are some of your main influences?
CN: In terms of our individual influences as band members, they are quite varied across the spectrum of metal, and beyond. But as a band I would say our influences are bands like Drudkh, Primordial, Enslaved, Ulver, Hate Forest, Bathory and bands who have mixed the aggression and passion of black metal with the folk influences and culture of their countries.
What inspired you to start playing music?
CN: Personally (as I can only speak for myself here) I always loved rock and heavy metal music and grew up around great British rock bands like Queen, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep and Cream. I lived in a town with a huge punk rock and live music scene, which really inspired me to pick up a guitar in my early teens and start trying to learn and write songs. I always loved the way that Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore played the guitar and wanted to be like that. I just happens I discovered heavier more underground bands and went down that route, which led me to playing black metal.
Who are some current bands that you're listening to?
CN: For me personally, I am listening to the following at the moment:
Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden
Ghast – Dread Doom Ruin
The Ruins of Beverast – Blood Vaults
Necros Christos – Nine Graves
The King is Blind - The Deficiencies Of Man
Worship – Terranean Wake
Opeth – Deliverance
My Dying Bride – The Vaulted Shadows
Eastern Front – Descent into Genocide
Bölzer – Soma
Sheol – Sepulchral Ruins Below the Temple
Ashes – Hreow
How did Winterfylleth come together?
CN: Winterfylleth came together in 2007 as Simon and I were wrapping up the Atavist – doom metal
band – project we used to do. We talked about doing songs based on history and culture and trying to put a uniquely English spin on to black metal. It started off raw and punky in the beginning but we soon refined that to be the expansive, flowing black metal you would hear today.
What kind of gear did you use on the new album and does that differ at all from your live setup?
CN: On the record we used 3 different guitar amplifiers; a Peavey 5150, a Peavey XXX and a Green amp belonging to our producer Chris. We also used an Ampeg bass rig. In terms of this differing from the live environment, we tend to just use the XXX amps live and have a Peavey bass head we tour with. In terms of guitars, I use and am endorsed by Caparison guitars and I used my custom Dellinger fx guitar on the album. Mark is endorsed by Fender/Jackson and used his baritone Telecaster on the album. Simon played a custom Mapex kit on the album with Paiste cymbals, but he also uses that live so there is no change there.
Do you have any touring plans coming up?
CN: We have a few things coming up. We play Colchester with our friends in Eastern Front and The King is Blind on Sept 20th; we play our label's ‘Candlefest’ show in London on October 4th; Damnation Festival in Leeds on November 1st; and then a 5 date UK/Ireland tour with Behemoth, Decapitated and Grand Magus in December from the 9th to the 13th. Otherwise, we have a few things on the back burner for 2015, so keep a look out.
Anything else you'd like to add?
CN: The Divination of Antiquity is out Oct 6th. Hail Heritage.
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