In the summer of 2024, this Canadian duo simultaneously released two cassette tapes, a demo and a rehearsal. The aesthetics of both tapes and the overall image surrounding the band hold pretty little mystery: with their Black/Death Metal laced with chaos and fury, they honor their origins. However, some more European-oriented Black Metal can also be discovered in the band’s still young oeuvre. As avid supporters of this genre, it was of course time to treat this twosome to some questions…
Greetings and be welcome, let’s start right away. Listening to your self-titled debut demo, it is not quite rocket science to figure out what bands you are inspired by. Pillagery is obviously rooted in classic Bestial Black/Death Metal, but in my review for the demo I mentioned I recognized some (Norwegian) Black Metal beneath the grinding guitars. Did that make sense to you? And how would you describe your music yourself?
Absolutely. This is bludgeoning primitive black metal. We are not concerned with fitting a mold and our various influences are free to bleed in as they see fit.
In the review I mentioned a few bands as reference, in the end describing it as “less bulldozing than Proclamation” and “sharper in tone, reminding of the lesser Death Metal-tinged Archgoat records. Add a bit of classic Gorgoroth as a finishing touch. Of course that is just seen from my perspective, as a listener. What are your main sources of inspiration, both musically and non-musically?
Black metal and rage.
Together with the self-titled demo you have also put together a rehearsal tape. Both tapes contain entirely different tracks. Besides some differences in sound quality, what sets both of them apart? Do both of those tapes serve the same purpose? And are these tracks a glimpse of what Pillagery will become?
The rehearsal tape was actually recorded first, and is the first set of songs we smashed together. We chose to keep it tape only, for the true underground maniacs, whereas the Pillagery demo is directly intended as our first strike of violence. These tapes represent a weapon that shall be honed and sharpened to fuck the ass of god in the form of a full length record.
You have been in several bands before starting Pillagery. Although all of them are quite different in sound compared to the music you’re doing with Pillagery, I am wondering what was the spark that made you start this band…
I always wanted to do a simple bestial band like Von, and I always wanted to learn to play drums. I was working a shithole job with Sodomizer at the time so we would bash away after our shifts and this is the result.
Is there anything that you took with you to the music of Pillagery from your other/previous bands? And what about your fellow musician in Pillagery? There’s no exact information on his previous/other bands, how did his journey as a musician look like?
I will probably always inject a certain amount of first wave influence into everything I do, so probably that. As for Sodomizer he is behind Nefarious Scorn and other raw black metal projects as well as being a visual artist who has done a number of logos and album covers in the underground black metal scene as well as doing all the art for this band of course.
The whole imagery of Pillagery, including the long pseudonyms, the proto-corpse paint and the red/white/black colour scheme on the demo cover, it all git seamlessly with that of the founding fathers of the Bestial Black/Death Metal genre, Blasphemy and Beherit. No coincidence of course. How important is this part of Pillagery for you?
Those bands are of course some of our main influences for this project as well as we have a disdain for frilly romantic frames and Instagram “artists”. Crappy drawings of demons and violence will eternally be cooler than this digital trend in black metal.
If I am well-informed, being more focused on guitars and bass prior, Pillagery is the first band where you play the drums. How is that for you personally, and what made you want to start playing drums in the first place?
Drums are something I have always wanted to pursue, but never had the means until recently to practice regularly. Drummers are always the hardest to find so just doing it myself was always a goal.
The bands savage and brutal in nature always intrigue me, not only because they simply appeal to me, but also creatively. I have asked this question a few before, but I am still curious: how do you write a song in this specific style without drowning in too much noise or chaos? And is it any different for you compared to your previous experience in bands in which you had a different role, as guitarist or bassist?
We are angry people so I think we just do what comes naturally for the most part. It is important to keep it vicious and ripping, no matter how chaotic. A lot of bands just loop riffs over and over and it makes it fucking boring and not crushing anymore. We just play what we would wanna hear and if it doesn’t fucking rule then we throw it out. Being the drummer really allows me to control the flow of the chaos so I love that.
Canada obviously has some of the best known scenes when it comes to the classic Black/Death Metal hybrid. The legacy of Blasphemy will forever be tied to your country and its metal scene. How do you, as a relative youngster, look at and experience this musical background? Do you feel connected to your country’s Extreme Metal roots?
I mean I grew up getting drunk at the Pooley Angel so it’s fair to say it has always been an influence. I think bands from Canada often rule because shit is few and far between and it fucking sucks here, so the maniacs are fucking devoted. I can only hope we continue that pattern.
Not too long ago you had your first live appearance with Pillagery, on a great two-day festival. I can imagine that was pretty exciting, can you tell anything about your experience for this live debut? Are we going to see the band return to the stage more often?
We will absolutely play again given the proper lineup and opportunity. Forged in Defiance was a fuckin incredible way to debut this band and we are thankful to have had the opportunity open for legendary bands.
If I am not mistaken, you are running your own little label called Pain Chain Productions. I think mainly as a channel to release your own music? Can you tell us anything about it? Anything new coming up?
That is actually run by Sodomizer and his bandmate in Nefarious Scorn, though we do have plans of doing our own tape label eventually.
I’ve touched upon it already, but I am also curious to know what is going on with your other bands. Especially Empty Chalice seem to be quite active? And what about the great Doom Metal band that you have with your significant other?
Empty Chalice has a number of releases on the horizon, as well as some more dates in the United States with some killer black metal bands that we are very excited to announce. The Kathryn Danielle demo has been incredibly well received, and I can say that there is more heavy rockin occult doom on the way at some point in the future.
Alright, that was about it. I’m giving you the opportunity to wrap up this interview with your own last words. Anything you think I forgot…?
Hails The Whispering Darkness and WolfKult Religion for the support! PROMO MMXV has been recorded and will be sent exclusively to zines and labels containing songs to be included on the coming full length record. Interested parties contact Pillagery@gmail.com
HAIL ENTROPY VIOLENCE AND DEATH
FUCK THE BLOATED CORPSE OF MODERN BLACK METAL
