Interview withLord Eibon of Eibon la Furies
Out of the darkness of the British Black Metal scene rises the standard of EIBON LA FURIES to lead the faithful onward to a new golden dawn of Victorian Occult and Jack the Ripper inspired sonic dissonance. Since their first demos several years ago, EIBON LA FURIES have been a fervently independent voice, a prime example being the infamous piano and female vocal cover of DARKTHRONE's classic 'Transylvanian Hunger' which divided the Black Metal world. But fresh from a slot at the prestigious Bloodstock Festival in 2009 the band was signed to Code666 records and now is ready to open the book on a new chapter with the release of their debut 'The Blood of the Realm'. Sean M. Palfrey communes through the ether with Lord Eibon.
Reflections of Darkness (RoD): First of all, congratulations on the new album. It sounds like a great deal of time an effort went into getting it to sound perfect. What was the recording process like for you?
Lord Eibon (Lord): Fortunately for EIBON LA FURIES, both I and Spectral Symphony, have quite a lot of studio experience so recording, mixing and mastering the album in our own studio was a process we were very at home with. We spent a great deal of time making sure the foundations were solid, because as you know there is so much chaotic madness to fit into the music of EIBON LA FURIES. Along the whole process we still learnt a great deal and I think you will hear that in the next album.
RoD: Who are your musical influences and how have they translated into the sound of EIBON LA FURIES?
Lord: The musical influences are very varied for us, and to tell the truth in so far as Black Metal are really from the 80's - bands such as VENOM for that sheer passion of insanity, MERCYFUL FATE (and King Diamond) for the wonderful progressive edge they brought to the whole angle of the darker and the more extreme side of metal, and SABBAT for probably being the best link-pin between what was started in the 80s and has progressed to what English Black Metal has become - they certainly blew those doors wide open to allow creativity and English idiosyncrasies run to the fore. Other bands that feed into the EIBON LA FURIES psyche are bands as diverse as FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM for their ability to create such soundscapes, ENIGMA if he was twisted through a Victorian blender of side-show freak induced madness, and ARCTURUS for their musical journeys into the sublime.RoD: One of my earliest memories of the band was of the DARKTHRONE cover ‘Transylvanian Hunger’ which used only piano and female vocals. That seemed to divide listeners particularly, but have you found that as you’ve gone on that you still divide the traditional Black Metal audience?
Lord: Of course, but I think any band trying to push through boundaries will always have this. I think we find it's a simple equation - those who believe Black Metal to be full of individualism and creativity, who explore the possibilities and are prepared to take risks on the journey know what EIBON LA FURIES are about. But there are many who self limit themselves as fans of a genre of music that is the last bastion of fortitude, creativity and a true journey into oneself. My belief is that Black Metal should be both cataclysmic and esoteric. EIBON LA FURIES strives to include both these traits in differing measures within our musical endeavours.
RoD: Which bands (if any) do you feel an affinity with?
Lord: We certainly feel affinity with various bands within the extreme side of British Metal. Bands like IMPERIAL VENEGANCE and A FOREST OF STARS obviously - although we all approach the subject matter differently and our musical styles are quite different. I think we have an understanding of why the Victorian aesthetic is such a great subject matter for lyrical inspiration. There are some great British Black Metal bands that we have met; bands like ICENI, OLD CORPSE ROAD, NORTHERN OAK and SELF INFLICTED VIOLENCE. We have very little in common sound wise but I think, in the underground there is an affinity through the adversity of the common and, at times, shared journey.
RoD: Another re-occurring theme on the album is the Jack the Ripper case of 1888. What is it that attracts you to ‘Saucy Jack’?
Lord: The song '... And By The Moonlight' was written many years ago and when working on the second CD myself and Spectral Symphony had decided to make an EIBON LA FURIES video for it. At this time I was writing the song that would become 'I Am Whitechapel' and Spectral Symphony was working on what would become the first two parts of 'A Shadow Over London', so really it wasn't a conscious decision, but more fell together. It felt right at the time to explore the folklore. I had always thought 'The Ripper' was one of Judas Priest’s great songs so I decided to do a very extreme version of the song. The front cover of the CD shows the body of Mary Kelly as she was found at Millers Courton the 9th November 1888. It's that picture that when I first saw I realised how chilling the truth of Jack the Ripper must be. The folklore became abjectly real at that moment!
RoD: How did the partnership with Code666 records come about?
Lord: We approached various companies after the release of 'Yours Truly... From Hell' and courted a certain amount of interest. During this period Code666 Records made contact and asked to send them everything we'd done and where we were as a band. Ultimately they made us a good offer and I have a great respect for Code666 as a label (and the bands that are already on their roster) so joining them seemed the perfect place. Talking to various people within the industry of extreme metal they believe that EIBON LA FURIES belong on a label such as Code666 - it is just great that things have worked out this way.
RoD: How has the album been received thus far, and has it met your expectations?
Lord: 'The Blood of the Realm' has been received very well by many reviewers, although there are those who maybe haven't seen the full scope of vision in there... yet! We are very aware of what EIBON LA FURIES is and the music we create. There are depths in there and to quite a degree it deals with intelligentsia; esoteric and cataclysmic thoughts weaved into not only the lyrics but the music as well. We find it a journey that is easy to understand, but are aware that not all journeys are for all people. I think the way we look at 'The Blood of the Realm' and how it has been received so far as a good starting point, but is everyone prepared to think about necromancy through science, explorations of moral evil and an uncomfortable truth, all weaved into the music as well as the lyrics? Maybe we are a bit too much for some!!! The new songs that are already being written for the next album will take the themes and music much further... but that is another story.
RoD: As a band with such a distinctive visual style, videos as promotional tools have been utilised to great effect in the past. Will you be making any more short films / music videos for the current album?
Lord: There are no plans to make any more videos for this album, unless it is from live performances. These I'm sure will be shown on our website, especially as the shows build up to be more extravagant. We are hoping to film our headline show at the ‘Weekend at the Asylum’ Steampunk festival. This is currently planned as a ten person show with stage performers, fire-breathers, angle-grinders, magic and all the macabre fun of a Victorian freak show. We will, of course, be making more video promo clips for the next album. This is where our creativity is now focussed.
RoD: You won the Bloodstock unsigned band competition last year and played the festival. What was that experience like and do you think it has helped to raise the profile of the band?
Lord: Bloodstock is such a great UK metal festival, and unique for our island. It is a true metal festival and attracts the most discerning fans... and the craziest! Our experience was excellent and a big thank you to all who voted for us and turned up to watch us perform. It was heartening to see so many new faces in the crowd and sell out of merchandise! I am sure playing at Bloodstock has helped raise the profile of EIBON LA FURIES. We hope sometime in the future to return to play Bloodstock.
RoD: Where will the band be going off the back of this current release - are there any tours or even new releases in the pipeline?
Lord: Early next year we're out for some shows with our good friends in OLD CORPSE ROAD, NORTHERN OAK and A FOREST OF STARS. The plan is to cover a good section of the UK with four of the upcoming UK Black Metal bands - it should be... intense! The next album - 'The Immoral Compass' is currently in the writing stage with four definite songs written and more in various stages of creative development. Video wise there will be a new promo video made for this album with all the full show of what we do cinematically.
http://www.eibonlafuries.co.uk/ / www.myspace.com/eibonlafuries / http://www.code666.com/
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