Interview with ARPENTEUR

!!!FRENCH OLD SCHOOL TRUE HEAVY METAL!!!

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about ARPENTEUR (Members, Starting Year etc).
First of all I would like to thank you for the opportunity and reaching out to me! The new album "Liberté, Fraternité, Sordidité!" came out last night and I have been waiting for this day for almost 5 years.The idea of this band all started after the Vouziers Festival in 2018 where a lot of amazing classic french heavy metal bands have been performing. A friend of mine in Herzel, told me that he got a fine for just walking around the streets without an intent called "Loitering", in french slang being an Arpenteur. It's a criminal offense in France apparently. I found it ridiculously sordide so the name was given... In 2020 the demo "Sordide Depuis 1664" was released on tape on our freshly born record label called Cursed Ritual Records. It sold out in a couple of months and was well received by the french heavy metal circle. Around 2020-2021, 2 secret shows took place in Paris at a house party.,I'm the sole member of this project and I wrote, recorded and mixed everything by myself. Except for the incredible lead solos performed on the album by Guillaume de Chaînes. (Dracula/Tarot/Wizar'd).

You have recently released your EP ''Liberté, Fraternité, Sordidité!''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Some really dedicated people have been waiting for this release for quite a while and the feedback have been positive so far. No feedback from the press yet, as the release was only out for less than a day.

Label or DIY and why?
DIY Label. In my case, the decision is easy. It will be released through the label we created with some friends. For other bands, I recommend labels in the beginning of their career for publicity, however I have negative experience with labels so I'm not advocating this.

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
I love all four alternatives, for different reasons. The vinyl for the whole "ritual" around listening to an album. Cleaning it, putting it on the turntable, enjoying the giant cover, actually reading the lyrics included on an insert. It's a whole experience. Tape is convenient for brining it to festivals or park-hangouts while drinking and having a boombox around. CD usually have bonus tracks in most releases and there are some nice compilations out there. Digital is simple and easy after a long day at work, and easy to share with other people.

Your music style is Heavy Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Well, to name just a few: 38 Tonnes, Abyss, ADX, Aftermath, Airbus, Alpheratz, Angel Crash, Anoxie, Anthracite, Anyway, Ark en Ciel, Aphrodisiaque, Astaroth, Atoll, Attentat Rock, Auroch, Axton Pryte, Blaspheme + especially MARC FERY, Blue Wolf, Bronx, Century, Charter, Chien Jaune, China Blue, Chrysis, Citadelle, Croizade, DAB, Damocles, Danger Zone, Death Power, Death’s Angels, Demon Eyes, Der Kaiser, Desdemona, Drakkard, Diatribe, Drifter, Dum-Dum Bullet, Dygitals, Eclats, Eclipse, Enoch, Epsylon, Excalibur, Excess, Exophenes, Fisc, Foetus, H&H, H-Bomb, Harfang, Haute-Tension, Herzel, Hexecutor, High Power, Highland Queen, Holster, Hotchkiss, Hürlement, Icare, Jinx,Jumper Lace, Khrom, Killers, Lawlessness, Legend, Lost Horizon, Lust, MiF, Malediction, Malicorne, Marienthal, Marécage, Mistreated, Morsüre, Mox-Nix, Mystery Blue, Nightmare, Nightreaper, Orialix, Oxenkiller, Pacemaker, Penzzer, Permafrost, Ponce Pilate, Pourquoi Pas, Predator, Pregnant Virgin, Presage, Psychose, Rozz, Satan Jokers, Scarcrow, Scénario, Seismes, Self Induction, Shakin’ Street, Shelder, Shunt, Sortilége, Stallion, Stators, Stocks, Strattson, Square, Squealer, Stratége, Sultans’ Seed, Synthése, Steel Angel, Tentation, Ténébres, Thunder, Titan, Tokyo, Trust, Venin, Vitriol, Vixen, Voie De Fait, Voodoo Child, Vulcain, Warning, Witchcraft, WKRX, Wodan, XS, Yuggs.

Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
I don't strive for success. It's simply for my own enjoyment. For other bands, I think the biggest sacrifice you can make for your band is your time. When you get older you realize time is not given, only borrowed. I don't see putting money into a band as a sacrifice. Time is something you will never get back. I did sacrifice a lot of my time through my younger years.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Probably at midnight, on a small festival in a forest for 100-200 people who are actually into the band, the crowd being fucked up drunk, drugged up and sordide. Some flame-show. A DIY backdrop. No barriers or guards. A case of cooled down 1664 blanche on stage and a pile of cocaine on a Marshall JCM 800 next to me.  Didn't experience it yet. The cold 1664's and cocaine are easy to get, but to have a crowd actually doing something instead of just standing is hard to achieve nowadays.

What attributes do you think that a new Heavy Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Don't strive for success and don't try to get your influences only from heavy metal, because then you will end up sounding like everyone else. Apart from the list I shared at point #5.  I listen to a lot of different genres like Cambodian and Thai psychedelic, Japanese city pop, post punk, Turkish folk or Russian punk.

Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Heavy Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Yes definitely, unfortunately we have to bow down to technology as it's an easy way to promote music and art. I think Bandcamp, Youtube, Soundcloud, Facebook and Instagram are pretty efficient way to promote music, although as many other things, these platforms can be used for good or bad. These are nice platforms if they are used for the right things.

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Paris, France (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
It's not really metal but I would like to add that Negatif by Alvida is one of the greatest releases that came out in the past years. Unfortunately there are not many new bands around in the French heavy metal scene, it's almost non-existent. I would like to lift out Herzel, Citadelle, Hürlement, Tentation, Animalize and Meurtrières.

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Not much unfortunately, only the festivals, labels and some old school bands.

The last 3 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange & new situations in our everyday life (covid, lock-down etc.) Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
Mostly negatively. No shows, no concerts, harder to meet up with friends, and barely any travels abroad. However I managed to buy a lot of records, supporting bands when they needed it the most. Was a nice opportunity to write music as well.

What are your future plans?
Nothing at the moment. I don't think the band will ever play live to be honest.

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you very much for the opportunity and for the first interview of Arpenteur! Stay Sordide!

By Steve the Filthy Dog.

ARPENTEUR CONTACT:

https://arpenteur1664.bandcamp.com/