Unaussprechlichen Kulten have recently released their third album Baphomet Pan Shub-Niggurath and it’s a veritable feast of occult Death Metal. Between bouts of blasting it out at high volume I quizzed guitarist/vocalist Joseph Curwen about the album hoping he could shed some light on the dark depths within…
For those who are unfamiliar with your band – introduce yourself!
To the readers of Wonderbox! Of course all of you are unfamiliar with our band! We come from the end of the world: Chile, so the” third world” sends his curses to the “first world”!
Give us a bit of history to Unaussprechlichen Kulten
We start in early 2000 in Santiago, Chile with a couple of demos, inspired at Lovecraft’s “literary”. Our style: OCCULT DEATH METAL, taking inspiration from old and new metal.
Until now, we have 3 albums, some 7 inches and some splits, this year 2014 (September) we will do our second European tour.
What are your influences?
The “Olds Ones” are our spiritual influences! About Metal influences, you know from classics like SLAYER (old), MERCYFUL FATE, INFERNAL MAJESTY until INCANTATION, MORTEM (Peru), NECRODEATH, INCUBUS (USA), GORGUTS, SHUB NIGGURATH, IMMOLATION, PENTAGRAM (Chile), MORTA SKULD, DISMEMBER, NOCTURNUS and of course The Almighty SADISTIC INTENT.
We have a foot in Swedish/Finnish, and the other in American and South American DEATH METAL (80-90s) and a bit of influence (guitars) from some new bands like Deathspell Omega.
What are you listening to at the moment that you would like to recommend?
From Chile: GODLESS (maybe the best Chilean band!), DEMONIC RAGE, FORCE OF DARKNESS, MAGNANIMVS, ATOMICIDE, HADES ARCHER, DIABOLICAL MESSIAH, ANCIENT CRYPTS, SLAUGHTBBATH, INVICIBLE FORCE, HORRIFYING, ATHANATOS… Pure feeling!
Foreign: POISONUS, DAEMONIC, ATARXYS (Arrrg the last album rulezzz), VOIDS OF VOMIT, ZOMBIFICATION, SWALLOWED, TOMBSTONE (Italy), IMPOSER,ABYSS (Canada), ECTOVOID, BLESSED OFAL, INCARCERATION, NECROHOLOCAUST, EVOKED TERROR, HATESPAWN, LATERN, AFTER DEATH, MASADA, ORDO INFERNUS SKELETHAL, SULPHUR AEON, GOREPHILIA, HAEMOPHAGUS among many others.
Tell us about your new album
The concept background of this new Chapter it is a consolidation of mythology in relation with the “Goat Worship”, the Eliphas Levi´s Baphomet, the God Pan and Lovecraft´s Shub Niggurath, mixed with universal mythology and even Chilean legends.
Was recorded in one month at DM6 studio, at home, this year 2014. We have recorded all of our albums there and also our rehearsal room is there. The owner of this studio (Pablo Clares) knows how Death Metal must be recording.
The cover art was painted by Daniel Corcuera in a fuckin awesome way!
Are you happy with how it turned out?
I’m pretty satisfied, until now the album have good promotion from both labels: IRON BONEHEAD and DARK DESCENT. Talking about music, to me is our better work, but the best, will come in the future.
What can you tell us about the lyrics/themes of the songs?
As you may know, mainly the Lovecraft’s myths and their relation with the “Mysteries of Death” are the core of our lyrics. The deities of Lovecraft represent archetypes present in different cultures and every culture has something that we called “The Memory of the Blood”, that’s what creates “worships”, myths and religions in relation with “common” monsters like Hydras or Sea Serpents, so we take the Lovecraft terminology to explain with “his words” spiritual concepts that otherwise we would be forced to use “christians” or “common” terms.
How do you go about writing your songs?
About Metal, first I do the riffs, arrangements and disharmonies of guitars, in accordance to what lyrics need, like faster, slower or thicker parts, thinking in the “concept” under the lyrics all the time. After “a-melodic” line are ok, I show guitars to Butcher, drum is 100% his responsibility. Then we adjust the structure and cuts, together in the rehearsal room.
How do you see your songs/direction developing in the future?
The most twisted, morbid and creepy that our capabilities allow. Special techniques or sound??? Who cares?…..
What’s next for Unaussprechlichen Kulten?
In September of this year 2014 we will be in Europe in our second tour with INCARCERATION and ZOMBIFICATION in Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland and Belgium, and finally with DECAPITATED CHRIST! In Spain, France and Portugal.
Thanks!
Wonderbox Metal 