Interviews About Albums: In This House Of Mourning - Enlèvement (2025)

In this new interview, we sat down with the American Extreme Metal/Doom Metal band In This House Of Mourning to ask questions about their album, "Enlévement".

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

Enlèvement is definitely my best work to date, which includes my time in Mountain God. It was recorded over a 2-year span, beginning life as a simple scratch track and evolving into what you hear now. Everyone seems to call the record something different, as if the music is genreless. I understand that completely. I simply call it extreme metal, as it draws on my influences, including doom, death, and industrial music. Vocally, there is a good amount of lows on there, as well as high-pitched, nasal shrieks. When it comes to the vocals, I was inspired by old school, death metal growls (Morbid Angel), and more contemporary acts like Ethan from Primitive Man and Dragged into Sunlight. The shrieking reminds me a bit of Weedeater, and later Death. The folks in Jotunheim (Black Metal, NYC) think I sound like the dude from Carpathian Forest, which is a huge compliment.

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

It means “abduction” or “kidnapping”. It’s also a euphemism for what I think our society has become, except the victim is so deplorable and shitty that no one puts in a call to search for them. Given the state of the world, why would you? Good fucking riddan,ce I say. More air for the rest of us.

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

I guess I’m the “one”. Ben. I wrote all of the music, with the exception of the drum parts. I composed everything on a scratch track. Aady Pandit, engineer of many bands including Jotunheim, Magus Beast, and Firehaze, amongst others, recorded drums using a session drummer. Once those were done, we fired up a Mesa Boogie amp, a Sansamp, and recorded all the instruments. Keys and leads followed, with vocals coming last. Ultimately, Aady and I put the whole record together.

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

It's hard to say as the record is really like one long song. I love the verse in Altar, as well as the jazzy, psych breakdown at the end of Reckoning. Arvist Notal, a huge inspiration and friend to the band, did the voiceover at the beginning of the record. Scent is like old school death metal. Gun to my head- I’d have to say that Scent more or less sums up the record.

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

The record works on a lot of levels. In its simplest form, it's a musical soundtrack to films like Fire in the Sky, The X Files, and Alien. On a deeper level, it's a reflection of what I see in society. Special message? People are fucking awful. Most of them at least. We love to say that “we actually have more in common than we have differences”. That’s probably true. We starve for attention- yearn for material things- and care more about ourselves than our neighbors. We’ll suck the resources from the planet until they are bone dry. Then we’ll be in a Mad Max world. Can’t wait. At least by then, the survivors don’t have to be hemmed in by rules, laws, or consequences.

6. Are there some lyrics that you want to share?

“You will be the one, chosen for your form

You will be the one, destined for the slab”

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

Hysterical question. No- I don't want to thank anyone for this record. Listen to it and then ask that question of yourself. There is nothing positive or happy about these songs. This is not a gimmick like the garbage, bullshit Satanic bands out there, or the douche bags who play dress up with their spikes, masks, and chains. I feel sick to my stomach when I listen to the record, and no, I haven’t shared it with anyone that I’m close to in my life outside of music. I can just imagine myself- “Hey mom, here is a record about aliens pulling someone’s insides out in an attempt to take their seed for the purposes of breeding. Thanks for everything!” As for inspiration- our shitty fucking society. And Incantation, Dragged into Sunlight, Primitive Man, Celtic Frost, Godflesh, and many, many others.

8. Something to add?

Yes. Many folks continue to refer to Enlèvement as lo-fi. I absolutely take it as a compliment. However, I do find this problematic to some degree. The record was made with real drums, real instruments, and tube amplifiers. No cut-up riffs, surgical engineering, triggered bullshit, totally fake vocals, or anything like that during the recording process. I think that music today is so overproduced (yes, awful djent bands and modern synthetic metal bands- you) that it makes anything “real” sound like it was made in a garage or basement Burzum style. As Aady said when I mentioned this interview:

“Folks, we didn’t use fake amps, drum machines, or mix in Pro Tools

Just like every album we grew up with

That’s what you’re hearing.”

All my negativity aside- I’m very proud of Enlèvement, and Aady and I enjoyed recording it. We’re thankful for the support and the interest in the record and how it was recorded, and I’m definitely inspired to continue making music. It actually surprises me how much people enjoy the music and want more of it. Thanks for the interview, and thanks for the questions.