This year marks the 20th anniversary of Australia-based Denouncement Pyre, a band that I feel does not always get the credit it does deserve based on its music. Last year, the band released their fourth album with ‘Forever Burning’ through Agonia Records, and while minor divergencies and stylistic developments can be observed on a detailed level, it is especially apparent again that consistency in quality is one of Denouncement Pyre’s core values. I spoke to founder, vocalist and guitarist D. about the latter album and its drivers. The result is a concise update from down under…
Hi D., thanks for making some time for our interview and welcome to The Whispering Darkness. Your latest album ‘Forever Burning’ is slowly but surely heading towards its first anniversary, so this might be a good moment for reflection. How do you personally look back on the whole process of making the album?
The writing process was most enjoyable. One of the best parts of playing music for me is the process of writing and building ideas. It’s the creative aspect of the whole process that is hugely fulfilling.
The actual tracking sessions went well also. In particular the drum sessions were on fire, with L. doing a ripping job behind the kit. The vocal sessions had a killer vibe too with everything flowing quite well.
By the time we got to mixing it became more challenging. We were in and out of ridiculous lockdown laws here in Melbourne that attempted to restrict our movement and made it difficult to get together. That mostly impacted mixing, a little with recording to, however we persevered and managed to bend the rules a little here and there to get the album finished.
To me personally, ‘Forever Burning’ is the best Denouncement Pyre album to date. Although it lost a bit of the Death Metal crunch it definitely sounds the most versatile and musically balanced.
A lot of the feedback we have seen has said the same thing in terms of Forever Burning being the best or one of the best records. It’s great to hear. I think it’s the most old school record we have done with plenty of dynamics, that’s for sure.
I had already touched on it briefly, on the new album, the musical transition from a Black/Death Metal band to a full-blown and Black Metal band with a Swedish slant seems to be complete. Is this a conscious evolution or growth, if you like, or is this something that has gradually and unconsciously grown that way
We don’t consciously aim to explore one aspect of our sound over another. The freedom that Denouncement Pyre gives me with writing is that I can include ideas that you could consider black, death, thrash, or whatever, and it still seems to remain cohesive because the band has never been pigeoned hole with one particular style. It’s an ever evolving beast and whilst the sound is particularly more black metal focused now compared to the earlier material, the ideas within any record are a combination of styles still. I don’t consider that when writing at all. For me it’s more about capturing a feeling that is dark, fiery, and as close to the core of what inspires us as possible, and through arrangements that are catchy and memorable.
This year, Denouncement Pyre marks its 20th anniversary of the band. Looking back on that musical journey, what do you consider the most memorable highlights? Are there things you are particularly proud of? Would you perhaps do some things differently?
I’m proud of all of our albums. I think they’ve grown stronger as we’ve progressed. In terms of highlights, for me writing and recording are what I enjoy most and all of the albums hold some significance in terms of where we were at during those times.
In terms of live, we’ve played some ripping shows and are still going strong on that front, particularly those we played with Marduk & Inquisition, Absu & Portal tour, Maryland Daethfest in 2016, plus heaps of shows with Aussie bands.
Despite that Denouncement Pyre is no Rammstein, Black Sabbath or Metallica for whom it is considered quite normal to come out with special stuff like extremely expensive box sets or anniversary editions, is there anything you have in mind to mark this anniversary of the band?
Nothing planned release wise. I’m not into the idea of putting out releases for the sake of it. There has to be real purpose with the material or better not to do it. But we do plan to do a 20th anniversary show here in Melbourne
Sometimes, for the innocent bystander and non-musician as myself, it can be hard to tackle everything a band gets through while writing and arranging a new record, but my guess is that it can be even harder if you are so closely involved, let alone if it is your own musical legacy. What would you consider your most important musical development over the course of the twenty years of the existence of the band?
As I am so involved in everything Denouncement Pyre does from the initial forming of ideas to the finished works that you hear, it’s hard for me to be objective about it. I think the way the band has evolved is a testament to the fire & will that drives us. Most bands start off with a spark and then lose it, for us the hunger has only grown stronger and I think the progression of the albums has shown that
Back to ‘Forever Burning’ then. For this new album, you partnered with Polish Agonia Records and left Hells Headbangers Records, the band’s permanent home since 2010. I did find that surprising. Was there a special reason for that?
Agonia were able to deliver on what we wanted and after 3 albums on Hells Headbangers it felt like the right time to move on
Taking a quick look at the song titles and reading the lyric sheet enclosed with the LP, some songs, like ‘Hung Like Swine’ seem to particularly wild and violent. Since you are responsible for the lyrics, “what madness drove you in there?”
Various scum & swine I have encounted over the years. Lessons learnt on bridges burned. Some people just need a noose.
Over the course of the past 20 years, have you been inspired by different things or is the drive, musical influences and sources of inspiration still largely the same?
Musically our influences are the same. 80s-90s black and death metal. We still listen to all of the bands that shaped our idea of extreme metal, of course! In terms of inspiration, this is found in many forms and is always evolving. I am inspired by various facets of underground culture, books, films, and personal experience.
All three of you are also active in other bands, including Nocturnal Graves, Hunters Moon and Funerary Pit. I can imagine this brings busy schedules, how do you divide your attention between all those bands? And speaking of that, is there any news on the front of those bands?
All seems ok in managing various bands and projects. You just prioritise whatever is happening at that moment, whether it’s receding or live shows.
I am only involved with Nocturnal Graves and Hunters Moon. Currently nothing to report on the Nocturnal Graves front. For Hunters Moon there are new songs being worked on slowly for a second album. Funerary Pit I’m not sure of.
We have a new band though, including myself and J. from Nocturnal Graves, called Psychic Mass. Its late 60s-70s occult influenced rock. An EP is up on bandcamp now. Check it out!
Picking up on the previous question. ‘Black Sun Unbound’ dates back to 2016. Denouncement Pyre has never been a band that seems to be in a big hurry, is this to do with those busy schedules or do you like to just take your time on the writing process properly?
There were various reasons for the long gap between Black Sun Unbound and Forever Burning, mostly influences outside of the band, but it’s not my preference to have such a long time between albums. Prior to that we had released 3 albums, one every 3rd year. The next one will be quicker for sure. We are working on some ideas already.
Again, thanks for your time D., feel free to close it off with your own words.
Thanks for the interview.
[Live pictures by Odin Imaging]
