Venezuelan black metal veterans Noctis Imperium discuss their 25-year journey, reunion, collaboration with Nicholas Barker, upcoming single I Am, and their commitment to solidarity through extreme music.
1.
Noctis Imperium emerged in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, in 2001 as a one-man
Black Metal project before evolving into a full band. Looking back at those
early years, what initially inspired Isaías Guilarte to create Noctis Imperium,
and how has the band's original vision evolved over the past 25 years?
Isa: As a
passionate music fan, I was always drawn towards expressing myself through
music and pay tribute to the sounds that shaped my life and I guess there was
something about the extreme bands that were being presented to me at the time
like Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Morbid Angel, etc., those records from the 90's
captured something that felt powerful and timeless. Then after writing a few
songs, having tried to create the band with different people it all began to
take shape and slowly, with time, it became some sort of mission to make a
statement in the Venezuelan black metal scene.
Nowadays,
after establishing ourselves and all that we've experienced, I think we learned
a lot and we want to keep creating and perfecting our craft. We just want to be
proud of whatever it is we put our effort into and enjoy the journey as much as
possible.
2. Your
first demos, released in 2003 and 2004, received positive attention throughout
the Latin American underground, including magazines and zines from Peru, Cuba,
Bolivia, and Mexico. What was it like building a reputation in the underground
scene at a time when independent bands had far fewer digital tools to reach
international audiences?
Isa: it
felt surreal, to be contacted by people from abroad and seeing the reactions.
There were fewer tools but that made it simpler and easier to have access to
the people that mattered. The underground scene was booming, especially in
South America where fans finally had access to learn about metal bands from our
own continent, you just needed a computer, Metal-Archives and online forums.
Some diehard just had to check the list of black metal bands from each place
and at the time it wasn't an infinite list like it is today. It was a
priviledge to have that happen to Noctis Imperium. I didn't have much
expectations at first and to have been reached by people from all over South
America blew me away.
3. In
2008, Noctis Imperium had the opportunity to work with legendary drummer
Nicholas Barker, known for his work with Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, and
other extreme metal acts. How did this collaboration come about, and what
impact did his drumming and musical approach have on the band's sound,
particularly on the material that led to Imperium and Nihil?
Isa: To
answer the first part of your question simply: we'd been looking for a drummer
to record our music for some time when he released a note to the press saying
he was available for session work. I was bold and impulsive, I mean it was
Nicholas Barker, so I contacted him immediately showing him our songs - he
liked our music and from then I talked to the rest of the band and we made it
happen.
He is a
master drummer; you can see that as soon as he sits in front of the kit and
plays the first note. He knows how to put a touch on things that doesn't
necessarily changes the songs but gives it that something to make them special.
Plus it's him, you know? If he had a suggestion for any type of arrangement, we
listened.
It kinda is
a lot of pressure and a responsibility to have the same dude that recorded V
Empire and Death Cult Armageddon on your record. I've always been in charge of
mixing our music but this time we had to find the right person to have him
sound how it's due, so we worked with José 'Matulator' Goitia on that and I
think he did a great job.
4. Your 2010 EP Nihil, released through Abyss
Records, helped take Noctis Imperium beyond Venezuela through the European
Imperium Tour, with performances in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. What
are your strongest memories of that tour, and what did performing for European
audiences teach you about presenting Venezuelan extreme metal to the world?
Isa: Oh
man, sleeping on benches in the cold at the train station from Steenwijk to
Amsterdam is a fun memory haha. It was great overall, some dates didn't do too
well but as an underground black metal band from Venezuela it's understandable.
Playing Portugal was the most fun, the people there were the most passionate
and we played some special venues in Guarda, Covilha and Castelo Branco.
Playing in Holland was cool too, we played a festival were we shared the stage
with some killer bands in Steenwijk and in Amsterdam we had the chance to play
in the legendary 'The Cave'.
Daniel: The
memories of the European tour fill us with pride and a strong desire to go back
- it was the first time taking our music abroad. Particularly, the impact of
being on those stages and in some of those cities where people didn't know us
and the audience didn't speak our language, yet immediately connected with our
show. It's clear that metal speaks a universal language when worked with
conviction and passion on stage—the audience recognizes that instantly.
5. In
April 2025, you reunited with the original lineup in Barcelona for the first
time in over a decade and released a special 20th-anniversary edition of Nihil.
How emotional and significant was this reunion for you, and did returning to
that material change the way you understand the music you created together?
Isa: We
spent a few years inactive before that, with some of us living in different
countries and the critical socio-economic situation that Venezuela has endured
for so long, so in the wake of our 20th anniversary we decided to slowly test
the waters and undertake on some projects that felt manageable involving the
original four and see where that took us. Soon enough, without too much
planning, as people found out about that, offers for live shows started coming
in and we suddenly found ourselves in the rehearsal studio working on a setlist
for a show in less than a week's notice. Not only was it good for the band as a
starting point but it was good for the scene. It hasn't been easy, especially
for the metal scene in our country and seeing Noctis Imperium back together and
doing shows, I think it helped reinvigorate us as a community.
ML: For me,
it was a massive impact to play with the original lineup again after 17 years.
Meeting up with people from the scene was incredible, and it was a great night.
I think that reunion reignited our enthusiasm to start again with even more
power.
Daniel: The
initial idea was to work on an audiovisual project, since we were coming back
and our anniversary date was approaching, so we started working under that
initiative, but in the end and in short, we only completed one concert with
this reunion.
Isa: We are
still working on that audiovisual project but with our current lineup.
Daniel:
Honestly, we found ourselves once again facing the old reasons why we stopped
working with a former member of that lineup.
6. Your
history includes extensive touring across Venezuela, from the Amazonas region
to the country's eastern, central, and western territories. How important has
it been for Noctis Imperium to represent the Venezuelan metal scene, and what
challenges do extreme metal bands face when trying to sustain their activities
in the country's musical and economic environment?
Keiv:
Keeping a presence in the scene and maintaining our passion has always been a
challenge; we have seen many people leave the country and the closure of many
great venues where we grew up doing what we love. Despite that, the motivation
to keep being heard and doing what we love has made every moment dedicated to
it very valuable and a source of pride for us.
Daniel:
Having traveled through almost all of Venezuela from end to end across the
country's different regions has been fundamental to our identity. Representing
the national scene is not only a source of pride, but a commitment to our
history and to the people who have always supported us, and it's been a great
learning experience.
Isa: The
longer we go the more important it is to us to represent our country. Given the
critical conditions we've faced for years, we've learnt to adapt and to pace
ourselves, how to make the most out of our resources and do what we can with
what we have.
Daniel: The
truth is that keeping an active extreme metal band in the current context
demands an almost superhuman resilience. The economic and logistical hurdles
are constant: from technical production and self-managing, gear and
instruments, to the difficulty of organizing independent tours and events in a
complex environment. However, what keeps us standing is precisely that
stubbornness and conviction in what we do. For us, playing extreme metal here
is no easy road, but every obstacle we overcome gives even more weight and
authenticity to our work.
Keiv: We
are still working to reach everyone with our music, whether they left or not,
getting our sound to newer generations. Sharing with the people who follow us
and attracting new listeners to the genre more and more has made every single
moment truly worth it.
Isa: It's given us a sense of purpose bigger than
ourselves as we understand how significant it is to our people and we know how
much they value what we do.
7. In
2026, you released Resistencia 666 as a charitable initiative, donating its
sales revenue to support victims of the double earthquake in La Guaira. What
motivated you to use your music in support of the affected communities, and how
do you see the relationship between the extreme metal underground and
solidarity beyond the stage?
Isa: We
released the song months before the earthquakes happened but it's message
stands with what we've been discussing. Hardship is almost a permanent
condition in today's world and of course we're gonna focus particularly on our
country. That's why we decided to cover this classic track, which bears a
message of resilience, from one of the pioneers of Venezuelan metal. So when
the tragedy happened, the first thing that came to mind as a way to get people
involved in aiding the victims was to use our music. We didn't do it
immediately though, as the response from the general public was massive.
Daniel: For
us—and for many people—it was not an option to stand by idly while observing
that it was the people by themselves taking action from the very first moment
to aid those affected.
Isa:
Everybody was involved in the beginning but as time went on we've seen how the
support has faded and the topic has slowly off but there's still lots to do for
the those whose lives have been devastated. We want to remind everyone that
they still need help and that there's lots to do. That's why we got in touch
with our good friends from DocuMetal and they linked us with the Civil
Association 'Los Teques Apoya' who are working on bringing aid directly to the
victims. Hopefully we can get more people involved in anyway, that's our main
goal.
Daniel:
Ultimately, extreme music has always been a reflection of the harshest
realities, and responding to that with solidarity is the most honest way to
stay true to what we sing and live.
Keiv: We
want to stay strong despite everything we have faced and, as the song says: we
must resist.
8. Your
upcoming single I Am, scheduled for release on October 30, 2026, is described
as a nearly nine-minute composition, plus an intro, taking listeners on a
semi-cosmic spiritual journey from the roots of existence to the ultimate
expression of Thelemic will. What philosophical or spiritual ideas lie at the
heart of this composition, and how did you translate such ambitious concepts
into music?
Isa: 'I am'
is the result of taking the core of Noctis Imperium's sound and whether
consciously or otherwise, expanding it to unexplored territories, fueled as
I've said before, by a creative necessity that translates into the marriage
between scientific and spiritual concepts in an alchemic brew that may or may
not cause hallucinations. But really, it's just us daring to push ourselves. I
would like to leave the ideas behind the words open to the listener, yet they
are intertwined with the music and that same impulse that drives us to do these
types of experiments. The main underlying philosophy remains the same
throughout our career: to carve one's own path, not allowing for any
interference, no matter what.
9. I Am
brings together an impressive lineup, featuring Nicholas Barker on drums, Hugo
Fuguet (ex-Baphomet) on guitar solo, and Alfredo Demey of Mulato on saxophone.
How did these collaborations develop, and how did the different musicians'
contributions help shape the song's atmosphere, technical intensity, and
overall identity?
Isa: 'I am'
is one of the tracks we recorded with Nicholas that we never got to release, so
after all these years we still find ourselves with songs that have him on drums
yet they haven't seen the light of day.
Hugo has been a friend since I lived in
Caracas in 2002 - we met through mutual friends but he had already left his
long haired metalhead years well behind. He was an established guitar player
for some of the biggest commercial artists from Caracas and it was after some
time while I was recording the demo for Landsemk's 'Jamás perderé la fé' that I
learned he was the former guitarist for the legendary Baphomet. He first picked
up the guitar mainly because of rock and metal influences from the 80's. We got
him in 2004 to record a guest solo for them (Landsemk) and it was a no brainer
to ask him for one for Noctis, especially after having Nick on drums. He taught
me a couple of key musical lessons and I really dig his writing style.
The Alfredo
collab came about because we were looking for some type of horn or wind
instrument to enrich some of the songs. We really wanted to push our sound to
the extreme. And it turned out that the sax player for Mulato is cousins with
Daniel, our bass player, so he took care of getting him on the record. We got
him for 'Descensus ad inferos' and for 'I am' and his contribution is
definitely the chef's kiss on the song.
So, we got
three different legends in their own right, all in one song. We're really proud
of this work.
10. The
release of I Am also continues your commitment to charitable action, with all
proceeds from its Bandcamp sales going directly to Nicholas Barker's GoFundMe
campaign as he awaits a kidney transplant. Following your support for the
earthquake victims in La Guaira through Resistencia 666, why was it important
for you to dedicate this new release to helping a musician who has made such a
significant contribution to extreme metal? What message would you like
listeners to take from these two initiatives?
Isa: It
would be impossible for us to release new music featuring Nicholas while he's
under his current health condition and not think of helping in some way. It
wouldn't feel right.
Keiv: Metal
is unity; we must always support each other, especially nowadays since there's
fewer of us. Music has been so important in our lives; from childhood to the
present, metal has been that shelter.
Isa: Same
with 'Resistencia', it wasn't meant for that but after what happened, if
there's a way to motivate people and get them involved, we must do it. They
don't have to buy our music, as long as they're aware of the situation and find
a way to help. Get involved, send your contribution directly to the cause of
your choice. As long as you can help, why not do it?
11. I Am
was recorded at Estudios La Cabaña by Isaías Guilarte, with support from Daniel
Arrieche, mixed by José “Matula” Goitia, and mastered by Alex Krull of Atrocity
and Leaves' Eyes at Mastersound Studios. How did you approach the production of
such an expansive composition, and what role did the recording, mixing, and
mastering process play in achieving the sound you envisioned?
Isa: This
is how we've always worked: I take care of recording, mixing and mastering
everything we do. From the first record to 'Resistencia' - I make demos, the
band learns the songs, they add their arrangements and that's how we produce
music. Once Nick became a part of the record, everything changed though. Now we
had to make sure the drums sounded like something that resembled his sound.
There's a standard that goes well beyond our "usual formula" and with
that, a big responsibility.
We recorded
about 10 songs with him, which were all completed, mixed and mastered. The
process was more or less the same for all of them - I was the recording
engineer for the entire project and Daniel Arrieche from Madre Studios assisted
with the drums, making sure I was on the right track. He wasn't there the
entire process but he helped us get started safely. He's got tons of experience
and he was very valuable to the process - the raw takes sound fantastic. It was
him actually who got me in touch with Matula, who at the time had some of the
best sounding records in the venezuelan metal scene. I got to talk to him by
phone as he lived on the other side of the country and he was a really chill
dude, really easy to work with. Very detail oriented and very patient, even I
can attest to that. This part of the process relied mostly on emailing files
and sms communication.
Then
Nicholas hooked us up with Alex from Atrocity and he made the songs sound as
powerful as you hear.
So you can
see, the vision, purposedly or not, evolved and became something else. It goes
without saying, we're super proud of 'I am' and they way it turned out. We
wouldn't be releasing it otherwise.
12. With
I Am arriving on October 30, 2026, alongside a tribute cover honoring your
influences and other productions in development, Noctis Imperium appears to be
entering another important chapter. What can fans expect from the band in the
coming months, and how do you envision the next phase of Noctis Imperium while
remaining faithful to the dark, chaotic spirit that has defined you since 2001?
Isa: After
this release we have some live shows to end the year, one of them in November
with some of the biggest names in the Venezuelan black metal scene. Then we
have a few projects in store that are currently under work. The longer we go I
feel the better we become at getting across our vision - we're not 100% there
yet but we're slowly steering the ship towards the right direction. So you can
definitely expect a more effective Noctis Imperium. We still got songs to
release from the Barker sessions but now that we finally have someone like Keiv
Krampus, whom we're comfortable calling our official drummer, we do want to
give him his shine as well. So expect completely new music with our distinctive
black metal sound.
Keiv:
Surprises are coming that will let many know what we are made of. We have
plenty of material and a long way to go; be patient and you will be rewarded.
Post a Comment