The Total Sound Of The Undergound

Lelahel Metal

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.

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