We Hold The Truth forge a raw, emotional path through modern black metal. In this interview, they discuss artistic evolution, societal critique, and the deeply personal roots of their powerful sound.
1. Let’s
start with the beginning — what drove you to form We Hold The Truth,
and how did your shared vision for the band come together?
When BKT
and KSN founded the band, black metal was a major influence, but there was also
a desire to incorporate elements from other styles. This is noticeable on our
first demo, Sorry for the Noise, as well as on The Ascent EP. Over the years,
new people joined the band, and some left (like KSN, who went back to live in
his native island). Desires have changed, and with them the musical and visual
aesthetic evolved. The themes addressed in the lyrics, on the other hand, have
not changed since the very beginning.
2. Your
lyrics tackle themes like ecological disaster, societal hatred, and the
inevitability of death. How do these subjects influence your writing process,
both musically and lyrically?
These
themes are fundamental to the group and have been with us from the outset. We
don't see ourselves as militants, but we question our world and take a dark
look at our society and its evolution. JNK: Almost all our texts are personal
experiences, in the sense that they are somehow about my perception - and the
transcription of this perception - of events, current events, realities that
we, a relative, but sometimes complete strangers, have experienced, are
experiencing or are about to experience. Of course, there are subjects that are
much more familiar to us, and that helps in the writing process. But I treat
social issues that are sometimes more remote from us in the same way, immersing
myself in them, trying to stage the emotions that these subjects evoke for me,
to better convey them.
3. Your
sound is described as both brutal and melancholic, and Attente
Éternelle marks a turning point in your sonic identity. What sets this
new EP apart from The Ascent in terms of atmosphere,
composition, and intent?
This new EP
does indeed mark a real change in terms of sound. We've put aside the multiple
influences that were expressed in our first tracks, to refocus solely on black
metal. We wanted modern black metal, sometimes brutal, sometimes melodic. And
we approached the composition process differently, giving ourselves more time
to hone each composition, allowing us to chisel out each track, each riff. The
other big change is the use of French for all the lyrics. This allows us to
work out figures of speech more easily and to embody even more what we express
in our lyrics.
4. You've
shared stages with bands at festivals like the Off du Hellfest and Nantes Metal
Fest. How have these live experiences shaped your identity and connection with
your audience?
We've been
lucky enough to play some major events right from the start, and we're very
grateful to the people who've put their trust in us and supported us! We had
little or no stage experience before We Hold The Truth, and playing big stages
has helped us progress tremendously. We've learned to shape our show to give it
depth, to bring out atmospheres, and to transmit energy to our audience, while
bringing out the melancholy specific to our universe at the same time.
5. Bands
like Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, Mgła, and Harakiri for the Sky inspire you. How
do you incorporate those influences while maintaining a sound that is
distinctly your own?
These are
the influences we cited in the early days of the band, depending on individual
preferences, and they're still with us today. Unconsciously, our many
influences infuse our music. However, our compositional process has become very
organic and personal. We think that's what black metal should be: the
expression of raw emotion, without worrying about sounding like this or that
other band.
6. The
name We Hold The Truth suggests a deeper philosophical or
existential meaning. What truth are you trying to hold — or reveal — through
your music?
“We” refers
to humanity, but not to the 5 of us! This name is actually highly ironic. It's
a critique of mankind's sense of omnipotence, of believing we know everything
about everything, while destroying our planet at breakneck speed. This name
invites us to question our convictions and beliefs. There's an interesting
polysemy to the word "hold". It can be understood as "to
possess", but also, "to keep" (in the sense of "to
protect"), "to embrace", ... which also echo the fact that there
isn't a single truth, but truths, individual or collective, sensory or
rational.
7. Your
upcoming tour for Attente Éternelle includes shows with bands
like Obscura Qalma and Infamie. What can fans expect from your new live set,
and how does the new material translate to the stage?
We've
totally changed our setlist for this tour so that we can play our new EP
entirely. We've also rethought the sound and visual ambience: we've added
samples to keep the audience in our universe throughout the concert, and we
don't communicate on stage for the same reason. The new tracks really come into
their own live, distilling more brutality throughout the set, quickly drawing
the audience into our artistic universe.
8. France
has a strong and diverse black metal scene. What’s it like to be part of the
Nantes scene in particular, and how do you see your place within the broader
French black metal landscape?
Yes, black
metal has been well represented in France for many years now, and it's always
nice to see the old bands continuing to create, as well as new bands appearing
with sometimes different interpretations. That's what makes this scene so
interesting: different visions and varied arts. After that, you may or may not
like the bands' proposals, but they have the merit of creating. Thanks to the
proximity of medium-sized and big events in the region, and also to the
conviction and efforts of a few passionate concert organizers, the Nantes scene
is dynamic and lively. It's a virtuous circle in a way: when you see the
efforts some people make to maintain a quality underground cultural offering,
you want to live up to it as a musician, especially at our level as an emerging
band.
9. The
emotional weight in your music is palpable. Do personal experiences play a role
in your songwriting, or do you tend to approach it from a more global or
conceptual perspective?
We share
common convictions, and our respective personal experiences obviously come into
play a lot. It's essential for us to be totally inhabited by our emotions on
stage. JNK: As a lyricist, I didn't want our lyrics to be mere pretexts, using
hackneyed clichés (the satanic imagery over-represented in black, the
hyper-virility of metal, etc.). I couldn't see myself succeeding in projecting
something to the public if I didn't believe myself in what our lyrics were
saying. Hence the idea of using themes that touch us, things that are personal,
things that are real and tangible. Subjects like depression, the violence
inherent in our societies, social misery, are themes that we are confronted
with, and so are the people who listen to us. And these words also convey an
emotion that allows me to place my singing, to try to express it in my
modulations of vocal techniques.
10. Looking
ahead, what’s your vision for the future of We Hold The Truth —
musically, lyrically, and in terms of your message to the world?
We've found
an identity that we like and that brings us together, both musically and
lyrically. However, we have always followed our emotions, our perception and
our feelings of the moment. We'll continue to do so. Although we'll continue to
make black metal and talk about the downfall of humanity, we'll never apply a
ready-made recipe. Still, there's a good chance we'll continue to move towards
greater brutality.
Post a Comment