Interviews About Albums: Hellpriests - Sermon (2024)

In this new interview, we sat down with the American Old School Black Metal band Hellpriests to ask questions about their album "Sermon".

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

The band feels this EP is an ode to the days of old-school black metal. We wanted the sound to be cold, raw, and aggressive. Much more than attempting to capture the sound of the greats, we wanted to capture the spirit. We wanted to take this anger and put it into music with sounds that are forged through our own individual musical experiences.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

Sermon fits with the religious theme of our band's name, Hellpriests. We wanted to take the listener on a journey of blasphemy. From the powerful, intricate bass lines, aggressive tremolo-focused guitar riffs, and a variety of shrieks and screeches by our vocalist to give the listener a truly hellish experience. The name Sermon invokes the mental image of serenity and bliss, but all tracks from our EP are dark mirrors of those concepts. All but one, with a closing track that puts you in a state of growing closer to your god

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

While a group effort, the main composer is founder and primary songwriter Richard Carrell. He gives freedom to each part to add their spin to a song but they all stem from two things. His ability to write riffs that are both aggressive and atmospheric and give song names with no particular idea allows the lyricist to create a concept based on his vision. These allow us as musicians to create a sound that isn't too brutal or too melodic. We hope to create the hellish sound of the hellpriests to entrance our listeners

4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

Hard to choose but the opening track hell’s Gate is a particular favorite of the group. It showcases the abilities of all the band members equally. Allowing everybody to present their talent without being overbearing. The track itself has a melody that is both beautiful and dark. The lyrics are inspired by the great dragon paintings by William Blake. To paint a picture in the listener's mind of the end times. To show what happens when the horned king wins.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is what is it?

While the lyrics are mostly anti-religious themes, that wasn't the main focus when creating this EP. we wanted to bring the old-school black metal thought process back to the forefront. Creating atmosphere and a picture of doom while being unapologetically who we are. A group of people that don't confine themselves to safe bubbles. We see people mask themselves afraid of criticism of their character. Hiding behind facades to be more liked. That is what we are against

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

“Of torn flesh and cardinal sin

Kneel, your judgment has arrived”

The first words to our first single “labyrinth” that describes who we are, the hellpriests. We are the judges of the modern metal scene. Watching as people use black metal as a blueprint with no originality or as an adjective word to give a harder edge to the more socially digestible metal genres such as thrash and death. We don't wish to be liked but only to speak our truth. Our truth is black metal is mainstream and needs to find its way back to its roots, to its home of uncomfortability and despair.

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

I like to thank each and every band member for contributing and creating something that is greater than the sum of its parts. As for inspiration we take from a lot both musically and artistically. We are inspired greatly by the hellraiser franchise and other fictional works but more than that, we are inspired by everyday horrors. While loving old-school black metal, we never tried to rip it off. We let the sound from within flow into the music while using black metal as our voice. Hoping the spirit is seen as alive and well through us, the Hellpriests.

8. Something to add?

Follow us on our journey by supporting us through our social media and streaming sites which can be found at https://linktr.ee/thehellpriests May 10 the dark ritual begins as Hellpriests release their debut EP “SERMON”