Robex Lundgren virkblogg.

Have any of you played in other bands? Yes: all band members also play in Sektarism (holy ritual doom) and Malekhamoves (death metal). Shaamanik B. is also involved in Witchthroat Serpent (stoner/doom) and Habsyll (drone), and Kristik A.K. plays in Merrimack, Vorkreist and Decline of the I.

How is it that you started playing music? Just like every other metalhead: by picking up an instrument during our youth…

What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you? As of today, the line-up is: Eklesjias’tik Berzerk (vocals), Messiatanik Armrek (guitars), Kristik AK (bass) and Shaamanik B. (drums). Our ages are of no importance.

Have you had other previous members? Crüxvheryn K. (from Darvulia) was the band’s first bassist, and Clerik Mor-ka’an the first drummer.

Did you make music even when you were young? Some of us played in various teen bands, some didn’t.

Where are you from? All band members are from the area of Toulouse, southwestern France.

What year did the band form? 2002.

What's your style of genre? Black metal.

What inspires you? Satan, death and darkness. The hypocrisy of humanity. The beauty of murder. The futility of common beliefs. The vacuum of human existence. The omnipotence of the Lord.

How often and where do you rehearse? Regularly, in the band’s own rehearsal room.

How have you developed since you started with the music? As human beings, the practice of music and Black Arts gave us a stronger will and a clearer vision. As musicians, our releases speak for ourselves. Malhkebre always stayed (and always will) a brutal and fanatical black metal band.

Do you have other interests of work outside the band? All forms of arts, philosophy, spirituality and a personal occult path for each of us.

Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? We already have a label which endorses us, Battleskr’s. We search for co-operations for the future releases, mostly for foreign countries. It’s mandatory to work with different partners now if you want to develop your band and spread your message.

What made you decide to make this music? It came through us, it was not a decision. We felt the voice of the Lord and He spoke, using us as tools. Sometimes you have to stay humble and accept that everything you create don’t come from you. You are a small part of a larger scheme.

What are your songs about? Just read the lyrics!

Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? Berzerk writes most part of the lyrics, Armrek most part of the riffs. All is blended with common work during rehearsals. But since I explained we work for a greater consciousness, who cares anyway?

Do you start with the music or the lyrics? This question is of no interest.

Do you compose in a certain inviroment? Yes. There’s a part of sacred in what we do, we cannot compose here or there, in no particular moment; It has to be ritualized.

Have you done any covers live? No.

What language do you sing in? Mostly English & French, sometimes Latin.

What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? Smallest gig we made were certainly in Zürich, in front of maybe 20 people. Pure maniacs, the gig was crazy and the ambiance extremely violent. You don’t always need big crowds to summon the Devil, and that night He surely was here. Biggest audience may have been 1000 people or so at Speyer Grey Mass.

What was your first gig like? Violent and sinister, as every Black metal gig should be.

What was your latest gig? A special concert in an underground crypt, on tour with Hetroertzen. A very, very special evening, ridden with devotion and black magic.

Have you had to cancel a gig? Yes.

Where have you played live this year? No gigs were planned for 2016, this year is dedicated to rehearsal and recording of the new album. We may play somewhere this winter, but it’s not sure.

Where do you plan to gig the comming year? We are working for future dates. It will be announced in time…

When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? This is certainly the most uninteresting question we have ever been asked. 

Where can people buy your merchandise? www.necrocosm.org

What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? As listeners, we must have the record in our hands, see the artwork, read the lyrics in order to listen to it correctly. It’s an overall feeling, a stimulation of several senses, not just “listening for fun”. We don’t understand people who can get rid of all this and just simply download music without any interest for the visual dimension of it. They clearly lack something, and can’t get the point of the artist. 

How do you think the music industry have changed because of this? It has changed in a bad way. Some things are more positive, with a better spreading of the music for example: it’s easier to get an album or demo from a foreign country due to internet, and to spread yours. But it seems that a lot of individuals have a more and more superficial relationship to music (and art in general). It has become a mere entertainment for long, sadly.

What do you think of my work? This is a question a journalist/fanzine writer is not expected to ask. We are not here to talk about you.

How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? Most of your questions are so bland I guess it won’t help…

Do you have any role models or idols? We are not fourteen years old anymore.

Why do you think that they exist? Because people are weak and need something or someone to give a meaning for their lives.

Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? We are influenced by both old and recent bands. When art is created with dedication, insight and honesty, it is of no importance if it’s from the eighties or from last year. Sure, there may have be some periods in time with more quality bands, like the beginning of the nineties for exemple, but strong and inspiring bands are still here. Old Mayhem and recent Teitanblood are of equal importance if you need to pick a few.

What have been your biggest obstacles? Everything can be an obstacle. And the biggest one is often yourself. One must be prepared to put himself into question and doubt to march on and progress.

How do you get psyched for a gig? We summon an egregore, an entity larger than ourselves. We work backstage to attain a certain point of concentration. When the ceremony goes well we can come close to a form of extasis that will feed the entity.

Do you have any new material? A new album has been recorded in June/July. It will be out in a few months, just be patient.

What are your web sites? www.malhkebre.org www.theapostlesofignominy.org and facebook.com/malhkebre

How can people reach you? Through our websites.

What are your plans for the future? Touring and recording, spreading the disease...