1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new ep?

I retired myself and during this time, I learned to play guitar bass, I tested a lot of different audio material, I am also interested in Budhism and I did punk music. Lafforgue continued to develop Stille Volk with Arexis. Then the latter changed direction on experimental music, he wrote two books and he makes plastic and graphic art. As you imagine, everyone is following various projects, and now the challenge will be not to spread ourselves.

2. In January you had released a new ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It is very atmospheric, we can feel the Stille Volk’s experience. It differs from what we did in the latest 90’s. Indeed, Lafforgue instilled this atmospheric desire and low tempo. Arexis proposed an Ep concept by suggesting the entity of a forest, a forest cesspool whose he had the secret. I remained very aggressive in my singing to liven up the whole. Then, it was born a balance that I think we succeeded.

3. The band was playing 'pagan metal' in the early 90's when the style was not as big as it is now, do you feel that you were a huge influence on some of the earlier bands?

Yeah, I think that we have clearly mark the underground of the past years, but I think that 1996 is too far for touching new generations, I do not find myself in today Pagan. There is something that fallen asleep, I mean, the dark, aggressive, earthy, rural side, I would even say this authentic side of pagan metal. Paganism is serious, it is not a simple village festival where wine flows freely.

4. The band was broken up for 20 years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform the band?

The Beginning of Stille Volk was an evidence for Lafforgue and Arexis, choices that belong to each other have been taken. But in the same vein the initial project of Sus scrofa wasn’t successful at this time, so get back together was also an evidence.

5. The lyrics cover 'Pyrean Paganism', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Paganism and also do you feel that the Paganism of your culture has been over looked compared to the more well-known Nordic or Celtic pagan cultures?

Yes, Arexis worked hard on it, we met in a rural land, We love mountains, earth, The Pyrenees, traditions, the mystical side of everything. In the early 90’s everyone was claiming its own culture, its belonging, its pantheon, we just did the same. I wouldn’t say that we were overlooked, or neglected, no, perhaps we were the only representatives and then you know, The Pyrenees is a very small chain of mountain across the world.


6. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Sus Scrofa'?

Sus Scrofa is the scientific name of the breed of the boar, a robust wild pig living in our French forests. The boar is both brutal confrontation and discretion, it is solitary and secret, and it is a lord in the forest, what better emblem as this one?

7. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Yes, at the beginning, but I can’t answer to your question because we mostly worked on the recording, in studio, but the three of us have a stage experience.

8. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

The group is divided on the subject, but I hope that we will honor the opportunities.

9. The new ep was released on 'Nomos Dei Productions', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

This is a Russian independent producer who produces what he likes. Furthermore, is an apolitical label contrary to received wisdom.

10. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by fans of pagan and black metal?

The Ep seems to really work, according to critics and fans.

11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Stille Volk (Lafforgue/Arexis) released their new album (Holy Rec). Antaoma (Lafforgue) will release very soon a second album. Labreiche (Lafforgue/Arexis) and Cober ord (Arexis) have released one. Arexis and Lafforgue are preparing lives for their Labreiche project. And I’m going to recording an Ep during August for my project of Black Death called Malobestio.

12. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Always atmospheric, different from the Ep. A Lp is planned next year if everything goes well.

13. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

For me, a lot! I like progressive music for bass playing, I love King Crimson, who is for me the elite. In which concerns Black Metal I’m more inspired by Greek and Slav bands but I also like to listen the progression of Enslaved, the unhealthy side of Mayhem and the power of Marduk especially during live shows.

14. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

First, I would like to thank you for your interest in the band. For me Black Metal is a cry in the night, it is a mind that never really leaves you.

   Seedna  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  an atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Forlorn"  which  will  be  released in  July  by Transcending  Obscurity.

 Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  after  a  few  seconds  the  music  starts  getting  more  distorted  along  with  spoken  word  parts  also  being  used  briefly  and  after  the  intro the  music  starts  going  into  a  heavier  direction  and  the  guitars  solos  and  leads  the  band  uses  stick  to  a  very  melodic  style.

  A  great  portion   of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  and  you  can  also  hear  elements  of  post  rock  in  the  music  and  clean playing  can  also  be  heard  in certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  small  amount  of  whispers  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  black  metal  style.

  At  times  the  music  can  be  very  progressive  and  when  synths  are  utilized  they  add  more  of  a  dark  atmosphere  to  the  music  while  also  being  very  tragic  at  times  and  the  black  metal  elements  are  closer  to  the  modern  style  of  the  genre  and  a  later  track  brings  in  a  small  amount of  classical  guitars  and  all  of  the  songs  are  very  diverse  and  sound  different  from  each  other  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  drones  and  ambient  soundscapes  and  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  all  instrumental.

  Seedna  plays  a  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  atmospheric  black  metal  while  also  adding  in  elements  of  post  rock  and  also  being  very  experimental  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  original  style,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover d ark a nd  spiritual  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Seedna  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  experimental  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  fan  of  this  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wander"  "Frozen"  and  "Abyssus".  8 out  of  10.  

  Thus  Defiled  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  around  for  more  than  20  years  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  compilation  album  "An  Unhallowed  Legacy"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Shadowflame  Productions  and  contains  2000  and  2002  ep's  "A  Darker  Beauty"  and  "Fire  Serpent  Dawn".

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  that  are  a  very  huge  part  of  both  recordings  and  after  awhile  grim  black  metal  screams  make  their presence  known  in  the  music  and  the  keyboards  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  and  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  slower  riffs.

   When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  songs  start  bringing  in  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  at  times  the  riffs  can  be  very  melodic  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  fashion  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  all  of  the  songs  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  When  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  give  the  songs  more  of  a  dark  atmosphere  and  some  songs  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  death  metal  growls  and  as  the  compilation  progresses  the  riffs  start  utilizing  more tremolo  picking  and the  way  the  songs  where  produced  still  sounds  very  powerful  to  this  day  and  on  the  second  ep  the  guitar  leads  and  riffs  start  incorporating  more  traditional  metal  elements  while some  riffs  start  adding  in  more  thrash  influences  while  also  keeping  the  raw  aggression  that  was  presented  on  the  first  recording.

 
  Thus  Defiled  played  a  style  of  black  metal  on  these  recordings  that  where  very  atmospheric  for  their  time  while  capturing  the  raw  and  melodic  vibe  of  that  era  and  also dding  in  a  touch  of  death  metal  which  makes  the  music  stand  out a  bit  more,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Demonology  and  Occultism  themes.

   In  my  opinion  Thus  Defiled  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  melodic  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eden  Stands  Aflame"  and  "Beyond  The  Seventh  Circle  Of  Fire".  8  out  of  10. 
   

  Typhoeus  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  a  majestic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2014  demo  "The  Black  Rivers  of  The  Serpent  Dragon".

  A  very  dark  keyboard  sound  starts  off  the  demo  and  they  also  use  a  variety  many  many  different  sounding  keys  and  after  awhile  the  music  starts  going  into  a  heavier  direction  which  also  introduces  grim  black  metal  screams  onto  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  use  melodies  in  soem  parts  of  the  songs.

  When  the  riffs  use  tremolo  picking  it  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  mixing  of  both  heavy  and  keyboard  parts  takes  the  music  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  most  of  the  tracks  are very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  a  lot  of  the  music  is  mostly  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  style  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  they  add  more  of  a  dark  and melodic  style  to  the  songs  and  when  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  give  the  music  more  of  an  epic  and  medieval  feeling  and  there  is  also  a brief  use  of  death  metal  growls  on  one  of  the  tracks  along  with  a  few  seconds  of  battle  samples  and  they  close  the  album  with  an  instrumental  track  which  is  also  an  ambient  piece.

  Typhoeus  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is very  raw, epic  and  atmospheric  sounding  in  the  90's  underground  European  tradition,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Greek  Mythology  and  Occult  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Typhoeus  are  a  very  great  sounding  majestic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blood  Under  Fullmoon"  and  "Storm  Of  A  Thousand  Swords".  8/5  out  of  10.   

  Shyy  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  rock  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2016  demo.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  guitar  sound  starts  off  the  demo  and  after  a  few  seconds  depressive  black metal  screams  and  clean  guitars  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  they  bring  in  more  of  a  post  rock  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  it  brings  in  more  of  a  raw  style  along  with  soem  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  At  times  the  riffs  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  and  clean  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  bring  in  more  of  a  raw,  melodic  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Shyy  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  modern  raw  and  atmospheric  style of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  in  with  post  rock  elements  to  create  2  very  dark  and  heavy  sounding  tracks,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  while t he  lyrics  are  written  in  their  native  tongue  and  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Shyy  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  rock  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Desfalecer".  8  out  of  10.