Interview: Tahazu (Black Metal)
Tahazu are an up and coming Black Metal project from Madison, Wisconsin. Their music features very cold, harsh, and extremely grim soundscapes that leave the listener with a feeling of esoteric dread. It is definitely not an "easy listening" style Black Metal project, and should appeal to those who like their Black Metal or Metal in general, experimental and challenging. I recently had the opportunity to interview their mainman (also going by the name Tahazu), and this is what he had to say:
Tell me about the project, how did it start?
- I started my solo project under the name Tahazu in 2015 after going back and finishing college, had some decent free time while working and had played in multiple prior bands and wanted to start playing my own material and collaborating more consistently. Since then it's been fantastic in both reception and opportunities, working with artists all over the globe and multiple small and underground labels.
What inspired you to play the style of black metal you play?
- I've listened to various kinds of Black Metal since I was about 10 years old, and always wanted to play that style of Metal ever since the last BM band I was in dissolved with members leaving to pursue careers and the death of our other guitarist, in his passing it inspired me to start again, apart from being so connected to the community in various ways. Definitely most inspired by the Scandinavian (Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish), Polish, French, and US Black Metal styles and concepts so I went for it.
Tell me about the recording process – what does this entail?
- I prefer a more analog fusion style of recording-- there is no dry feed guitars, I always mic my amplifier and do very little in post production to the vocals. Drums are programmed only due to lack of space and funds to record live drums most of the time, though for live performances in the future I will have a live session drummer, and in regards to drums I always try to make them as organic feeling as possible, was definitely a new learning curve when initially starting, and thankfully the qualitative dynamics of the drums in the releases since Oblationes Ad Nihilum and Black Prophecies have been much more organic and goal- fulfilling in the sound, balance, and style. Having also been a live/venue sound technician/engineer that helps my recording process in understanding how to balance and overall mix the tracks to create the raw style without being too linear.
What are some occult concepts that inspire Tahazu?
- I thoroughly enjoy older philosophies like Marcus Aurelius and Nietzsche, history, and various works ranging from Ars Goetia and Crowley to more fictional implications, depends on the release and what i'm trying to convey in a generally encompassing theme.
Some of the releases don’t have lyrics printed. Why is this and what are the lyrics normally regarding?
- Ah, yes, I did that with some relative intent as the project and releases progressed, primarily lyrical themes are about death/death worship, and the fruitless struggle of humanity against mortality. Tahazu the name itself means "Battle" in ancient Sumerian with a heavy implication of humanity's battle against itself, and the battle of religion and it's protagonists/antagonists and their influence on man. I like to put a realist perspective on things with a general "nobody gets out alive", and point out the flaws and damage religion and others have done and it's perpetual impact.
What are some ambient, noise or death industrial artists you dig, (seems like there’s an influence of this stuff on some of the releases)?
Hmmm, I really enjoy Dungeon Synth in all its variety, Dark Ambient artists like Sumatran Black (who I'm also working on a release with right now), certain Black Metal/Ambient crossover bands like Nibiru, Atmospheric Black Metal is usually in a playlist or acquired CD to some capacity too in all it's variety. I don't really listen to much Industrial unless it's a more avant garde fusion style like Blut Aus Nord or Anaal Nathrakh, or some of those in the French or Icelandic scenes. I listen to a lot of straight up Black Metal, Death Metal, and a little Grind here and there.
You have 19 releases on Bandcamp- How do you account for being so prolific?
- *laughs* I don't know that i'm very prolific, but I definitely take advantage of networking on various platforms to the fullest-- especially on musician- based platforms like Soundcloud, that's been huge in spreading the word on releases and conjointly working with other artists on releases and new bands/projects-- sometimes all it takes is just reaching out with a message, got to get out of the comfort zone to advance yourself in this aspect. I don't really use "social media" so it's a lot of physical and alternative platforms' word of mouth, and building connections and rapport with various labels and artists. The Youtube promotion scene is great too, lots of great people out there devoted to independent and underground artists and sharing their releases, one of the better facets of modern technology I guess.
Thanks for taking the time to interview, in parting I would like to share some upcoming releases and other projects I am involved with.
- New Tahazu split coming soon with Lunar Illusion, and with The Bloody Crimson Void, Veriez, and Ultrasuicide in another multi-band split/collaboration
- New Ordo Malum international band's second album is coming soon
- Death Metal project the Anointing Maelstrom is working on a new release, the first Demo/EP is going to tape with World Hearse Productions soon
- Hypogeum Records just released the Decarabia/Tahazu release "Dreams of Eternal Frost" on cassette and is now available on their bandcamp, it is our 4th full length
- New TETH-NAHASH album with Tzel from the band Aera will be coming out soon
- New international Black Metal project Throne ov Ose will be releasing it's first Demo/EP soon
- New international project with Decarabia and Sumatran Black will be releasing a full album in score format soon
- And I am pleased to announce the newest international collaboration band Decoherence will be releasing its first Demo on 7" vinyl in the near future
FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING TAHAZU ALSO CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING LINKS:
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