Interview with HADEAN CULT
!!!OCCULT HEAVY ROCK!!!
We had a conversation with HADEAN CULT.Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
1. Tell us a few things about HADEAN CULT (Members, Starting Year etc).
Thank you for inviting us! We are Stoicheia (vocals) and Hadean (all other duties). We came together as what we believe might be a magical unit in 2018 and managed to put some music out just a few weeks ago (June 2020). Some people think that it sounds pretty good and that there's something interesting going on with our songs, despite us working on a zero budget out of a garage/bedroom.
2. You have recently released your album ''Don The Mantle''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
We are very small, barely a blip on the radar of a few insatiable occult rock / doom fans so it's way too early to say anything meaningful other than we are overjoyed to have had our music heard basically all over the world, and to have received a lot of support, attention, a couple of nice reviews and even some pocket change to stash away for our forthcoming music. Don the Mantle is quite literally a collection of the first songs we ever made. In another sense, our first furrow. The feedback is 99% positive so we are slowly growing more confident that we got some things right.
3. Who is the main writer of your songs & how you get the inspiration to compose a song?
Hadean does the writing, and Stoicheia is the vessel. We don't believe in inspiration, we rather take the necessary steps for the subconscious to irrigate the conscious, then hope we have the chops and sufficient understanding of our instruments to put it all together when we come out of the "liminal" state. For what it's worth, we found that generally lyrics come first - with proper invitation. We are still working on the more advanced techniques of theft.
4. Label or DIY and why?
Things are currently dictated by necessity. We do everything ourselves because we are utter outsiders. We'd be open to offers from well-meaning and experienced people, naturally. But it remains to be seen whether our material warrants that - only time will tell.
5. Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Cassette tape was the entryway for us, pirating songs off of late night radio, then CD's somehow stuck as a favorite medium (90% of our music collection) to this day - although digital is honestly fine. Hadean Cult is currently download only, but we are working on a booklet to include with our CD edition which will come if support for the band continues. Vinyl is quite obviously the superior medium, but to our knowledge it doesn't fit in a car, and we bond with music best during our travels.
6. Your music style (Occult Rock?) reminds me of DEVIL'S BLOOD (R.I.P.), & JEX THOTH. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Selim's music left us an unhealing scar of beauty and a promise of what calls from beyond the stars. Things like that will make you pick up a guitar for sure. We love too many bands to list, but we should probably at least mention Blood Ceremony - we think their songwriting skills grew exponentially with each release and that's something we wish to be able to do ourselves. Develop ideas, put music first, and worry about whether you fit into a "scene" or genre later.
7. 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 of your Band?
Yes we have - on both sides of the trench between the rational and irrational world. It is upon the individual to decide what should be done. The effects are real, but such acts must coincide with another kind of sacrifice - that of attaining adequate musical expression skills. There needs to be a balance between those two. Another work in progress for us.
8. It seems that you are inspired from occult stuff.Are you interested in / practicing some kind of magic/witchcraft?
All right, a very intimate question but we will entertain it! A fair bit, yes - and here we are in a similar situation to what we're aspiring to be able to do musically - still trying to find our "range." We're pursuing our own way, vaguely in the vein of Chumbley, Spare, Cochrane, etc. - but with our own spin, and a little more of the Balkans in it.
9. Describe your ideal live show as a performance Band. Have you already experienced that?
We both have a fair bit of stage experience, but Hadean Cult is ours, it's new and we must wait and see if we'll be fortunate enough to put together a live band. If and when we do - I don't believe we'll be to theatrical. We like it when music speaks convincingly enough.
10. Which attributes, do you think, that a new Rock Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Memorable melodies and something authentic in the song structure. A big sound as well. Finally, either a deep purse or enormous willpower and perseverance.
11. Do you believe that Bandcamp and other Digital Platforms help the new Rock bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a Band to promote its work?
A good enough start for us - which may also be a swift, inglorious end. Again, we'll see shortly. The best way is being prolific, putting out a lot of good stuff, being committed and doing live gigs. But we ourselves had to be realistic.
12. On your Bandcamp's page it is mentioned that you are located in the city of Thessaloniki, while you are not from Greece. Why is that? Are you interested in or inspired by the Hellenic culture?
Hadean Cult was conceived while both Stoicheia and Hadean lived in Thessaloniki. Capitol of the Balkans and a city whose voice rings out with hatred of tyranny and love of liberty. A city that knows pain, but still owns her soul. These are only a few of our impressions. The Hellenic culture is to our minds unrivaled and relevant to this day, even though we clearly see that the West has lost the plot and is racing into mindless tyranny and oppression so people have justifiably less time for classical studies and more urgent problems that need addressing.
13. Tell us a few things about the Rock Scene in Serbia (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
We have very little to say. We mainly follow the d-beat, grind, necro speed scene. We love Terrörhammer, Dishumanity, Emetica, The Evil One... But we find the general spirit of new music in Serbia plagued by paranoia, fear, distrust and fragmentation between communities. Not to mention the dearth of actual studios where something fresh can happen. Serbia is a poor country, and it manifests all too readily. Enthusiasm comes in short bursts and doesn't take root. Maybe we're wrong, but this has been our experience. Too bad, because there's plenty of talent.
14. Do you know anything about the Hellenic Rock Scene?
Vintage Rebetiko music wipes the floor with 95% of modern rock. Attitude, balls, life's hardship transmuted into hard-hitting lines - amazing stuff. We love Rotting Christ just like everybody else! We heard Bus live recently and enjoyed the show quite a bit.
15. What are your future plans?
More music, and hopefully executed to a higher standard. We need support - we'll manage without it, but it would really speed things up. We are busy writing the next LP, and it's going well. If we can make that a reality, we will probably look into putting together a live band.
16. Thank you very much for your time & Keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thanks again for being curious about a band as new and small as ours. It's an unexpected pleasure, which is also how some people view our music - for which we are truly grateful. Cheers!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
HADEAN CULT CONTACT: