Interviews About Albums: Mythbegotten - Tales From The Unseelie Court (2024)

In this new interview, we sat down with the American Folk Metal/Power Metal/Symphonic Metal band Mythbegotten to ask questions about their album, "Tales From The Unseelie Court".

1. What can you say about this new CD?

Lyrically and thematically it’s an exploration of dark fantasy, bits of epic fantasy, and the folklore of the British Isles (particularly the spookier stuff). Musically, it’s an amalgamation of our individual and collective approaches to writing and arranging. Broadly, the music presents itself through Connor’s influences in melodic death and progressive metal, Dan’s melodic sensibilities from folk and power metal, and Joe tying it all together with a dark fantasy orchestral vibe.

2. What is the meaning of the CD name?

With the somewhat varied source material for the individual tracks, we decided to present the album as just that: a collection of stories that one might hear recounted by those in attendance at a gathering of the Unseelie fey.

3. Which one is the composer of the CD?

All three of us have composition credits on the album, with different songs and sections coming from different members. As the writing progresses, the usual division of labor is that Connor handles most of the band arrangement, riffs, and structure; Joe tackles the orchestral composition; and Dan writes the top line and most of the lyrics. Across the album, though there are riffs, structures, and lines that come from each of us, and that’s what creates the sound of the album.

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

Dan: “Omen of Embers”. This one was both challenging and very fun to sing, and it's just such an anthemic track with lots of fun catchy melodies.

Connor: While it feels a little like cheating to pick the longest song, I’m very proud of how “Of Wrath and Ruin” came out. It was our most collaborative composition process, contains some of my favorite riffs on the album, and I think is one of the most successful mixes.

Joe: Perhaps to my surprise, I think it’s gotta be “Mallt-y-Nos”. With some of the more unorthodox instrumentation, aggressive passages, and expressivity ranging from soothing to chaotic, there’s something in it for everyone.

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

While the stories of the individual songs could be broken down to find their individual meanings, I’d say the album as a whole is thematically a celebration of the ancient human tradition of sharing stories new and old that frighten or inspire, with this album serving as our contribution to that bardic tradition.

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

Dan: I’m fond of “This vast and stygian land below confounds my weakening mind / I could not have prepared for all the horrors we would find / Vast charnel mounds and pens we found for raising men as a game / A necrophagic hell to which my lineage laid claim” from “Beneath Exham Priory”

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

Musically, there are definitely a few groups with identifiable influence. Blind Guardian, Equilibrium, Ensiferum, and Kamelot probably come through the most, with other influential acts including Seven Spires, The Ocean, and Protest the Hero. Bach, Beethoven, Danny Elfman, Howard Shore, and John Williams also served as star models, informing much of the orchestration process.

8. Something to add?

Go buy the CD at mythbegotten.bandcamp.com today!