Funeral Storm’s second album, ‘Chthonic Invocations’ is another triumphant display of the Greek Black Metal sound, delving deep into the mystique of that distinctly recognizable atmosphere with its sinister and incantatory melodies and rhythms. This way the band is, slowly but surely, firmly cementing their name into the Greek Black Metal history books. With Funeral Storm main man Wampyrion Markhor Necrowolf I spoke about his musical and spiritual background and how that translates into his music, he’s also giving a glimpse on what is still in the works for Funeral Storm.
Hi Wampyrion, I would like to warmly welcome you to these pages. Before we go into your new album, ‘Chthonic Invocations’, I’d like to go back in time with you a little. I am always intrigued by how a band comes from an initial idea to a full-running band. As far as I know, except for maybe Raven Throne in the very early 00’s, Funeral Storm was your first serious band, solely founded and run by you for the first years. What made you choose to go and start a band on your own? And at what point did you decide to expand it to a full line-up?
Hi there and thanks for having me! It was supposed to become a full line-up band since day one. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any serious members to share my vision, so I kept composing music. Up to a point I was really tired and honestly stopped looking for members, so I just kept recording stuff.
Admittedly, I only got onto Funeral Storm with the Iron Bonehead Productions released split LP with Celestial Rite back in the early months of 2017, before you already put out a hand full of songs through two split releases as well as a compilation tape with unreleased material. If you look back at these first tracks, before you extended your line-up. What would you say is the main difference in composing music and running the band when you compare it to the current situation of the band as a five-piece?
It’s pretty safe to say that now at least I can actually sit down and turn the ideas into actual music. Back then I was just trying to play bass and guitar so unfortunately my skills couldn’t pick up with my ideas. Now it’s a lot easier as I mainly compose a certain style as I know exactly what I want to do. Then Arcania LVI comes in, deciding the main form of the song and adding lead guitars. If someone else comes with ideas we filter them out together until it ends up being a pure Funeral Storm song.
Alright, ‘Chthonic Invocations’ then, your second record. Apart from your split 7” EP with Synteleia from 2021 it has been silent from your side for five years, since the release of your debut album in 2019. What kept you from coming with anything new all that time? Was this new album really in the works that long or did you have other obligations to fulfil?
To be completely honest the album was supposed to be released in 2022. Right after we delivered Arcane Mysteries we kept composing and working on new songs. Yet covid came in and had other plans! Studios closing down, factories closing down, releases being delayed and so on. Necroabyssious got sick with Covid too so naturally he couldn’t record his parts.
Yet, although it took you quite a few years to come up with the follow-up for 2019’s ‘Arcane Mysteries’, the new album feels like time stood still, again. It offers a level of musicianship and sound that can easily compete with the previous album as well as the better albums of your contemporaries. Still, what would you mention as the main difference when you compare both full-length records? Is there anything you have really done completely differently?
Not really! The only actual difference is that Arcania LVI found an album ready to be recorded with minor changes here and there. This time she could also compose, like the main riff for “The Covenant Of Old” for example plus now we have found the recipe to work together. Last but not least every year we have more experience! We pretty much wanted to use the exact same guitar sounds, bass sound, drum machine and keys. Something a bit different also is that this time I got a lot more involved in the mixing process.
We obviously do not need to discuss the sources of inspiration for Funeral Storm as it slides just in the same tradition of the classic Greek Black Metal bands. But what I am still baffled about is that there are still a fair amount of bands playing this style, including classic acts such as Varathron, and that it still holds that same sort of magic. I am not a musician myself, so can you please take us with you into the creative process a little, how do you keep this sort of music still thoroughly captivating, even when the frame of the Hellenic Black Metal genre is quite limited?
Well it’s pretty safe to say that whatever you actually listen to, somehow becomes a part of you. It’s not really limited. Somehow I grew up loving bands such as Angel Witch, Randy, the first 2 Iron Maiden albums, Venom, Bathory, Candlemass, Running Wild, Warlord, Mercyful Fate and Kind Diamond. If you combine all these you get Hellenic Black Metal.
This is the main difference with the rest of the black metal scene from other countries. So in all honesty it’s just the way I compose. And believe me I’ve tried a lot composing stuff like the Finish scene which I also love but it’s not imprinted yet!
Slightly picking up on the previous question. A part of the classic and all-recognizable Hellenic Black Metal sound is the frantic drum machine used on the earliest recordings in the Greek scene. You are also using programmed drums on your recordings too, but, for example, Metal-Archives does mention a flesh-and-blood drummer who has apparently been part of the band since 2019, but he does not seem to be heard on the album – at least, he is not mentioned on the LP’s inlay. I can imagine opting for the drum machine for the authentic sound and a real drummer for live shows…. But I’d be interested to hear from you, what exactly is the situation and what is Dimitris “Damien” Kanellopoulos’ role in the band?
Yes indeed. Damien was supposed to be joining us for a couple of live shows only, which unfortunately didn’t take place. As for the recordings I will always prefer a drum machine to be completely honest as it saves a lot of time from editing. Damien had some health issues and is not a member of Funeral Storm anymore.
It may not be as original today, but it is certainly no less intriguing: you base your music mainly around the Cthulhu mythos. Although Black Metal these days is also open to singing about the birds and the bees, you stick to the occult, ancient mysteries and myths and H.P. Lovecraft. What does this mean to you?
Everything! H.P. Lovecraft to me personally was a prophet. Of course I was interested and do study the occult since I was really young and was also fascinated from the dark stories of my country. For me Black Metal is supposed to be about these exact subjects and keep out politics, birds and bees as you said. To me that is not Black Metal and I am not saying that I don’t like bands like that to avoid any misunderstandings!
You are also said to be a member of the administration team of the “Cult of Cthulhu”. Can you tell a bit about that as well? What exactly is that?
Yes I was. Unfortunately the Cult is no more, but we have created two new organisations called “Temple Of The Old Ones” and “Temple Of The Ancient Ones”. Both under one roof but the second one clearly theistic which I run alone for now with the precious help of course of some really extraordinary individuals. We do believe in the possibility of the existence of the ones from the great beyond and we support the idea that we come from them. In every race and country you see reports from the ancient tribes about Gods that came from the outer space. Some named them Aliens, some Gods, some Annunaki etc. To us they are the exact same creatures much like the amazing similarity of Typhon and Cthulhu or Satan, Loki, Prometheus, Nyarlathotep.
Just out of curiosity, what would you consider your favourite Greek Black Metal record of all time and why? What does it mean to you and how did this record affect the way you listen to music and create your own?
Not sure I can choose! Every time I listen to the first two albums from Varathron, Necromantia, Thou Art Lord and Rotting Christ I say “this is my favourite album”. In any case all 8 of them affected me the exact same way!
I mean if I think about it I am inspired by those melodies from Rotting Christ, the mid-tempo riffs from Varathron, the straight to your face music from Thou Art Lord and the darkness of Necromantia. If I had to really, really choose one of them I would say “His Majesty At The Swamp” though because of the gloomy atmosphere!
Besides Funeral Storm, you are active in quite a few other bands and have been part of a considerable amount of others, you also used to run a little label. And for Funeral Storm you have worked with a lot of other musicians and individuals from the local Greek Extreme Metal scene. That makes you a well-versed insider in Greek Black Metal. How would you describe that current scene yourself? And what role do you see Funeral Storm taking in this?
I must say that there is no actual scene in the romantic sense. You see individuals from well-known bands talking bullshit about other bands on their songs on YouTube behind a nickname but don’t have the balls to come and say anything straight to your face. Imagine I was reading an interview from a friend’s fanzine and the guy talked shit about me without actually knowing me. There are as I say “wolfpacks” though which it’s a good thing. Besides we can’t be friends with everyone and that’s absolutely ok of course. Some people just have to finally grow up.
As for Funeral Storm we see ourselves as fans of this style and enjoy doing music together. We don’t appreciate the rockstar wannabe attitude.
Slowly working towards the closing off of this interview. Of course I am curious to know if we will need to wait another five years for the next Funeral Storm record to surface. Is there anything in the pipeline for the band in the coming period? And any news on your other musical endeavours maybe?
Truth be told I hope if everything goes well, the third album will be out in 2026! As I mentioned earlier the album “Chthonic Invocations” was ready and delivered a couple of years back and in the meantime we kept composing music so I honestly hope it will be released a lot sooner!
We are also currently working on a split release with our brothers Morcrof from Brasil and there’s another one in the near future with one of my favourite bands from the US. A band I was listening to since I was like 13-14, so you can imagine I am really excited!
As for the rest of the musical stuff they are currently set aside in order for us to promote “Chthonic Invocations”!
Alright, that was it for now. I’d like to thank you for your words and the time invested. I am gladly leaving the last words to you…
Thanks so much for the chance to speak my mind freely. Keep up the great work my friend!
To all of the people reading this, stay underground!
Ad Majorem Nyarlathotep Gloriam!
