Interviews About Albums: Lycantrophilia - The Tyranny Of Decay (2025)

In this new interview, we sat down with the French/German band Lycantrophilia to ask questions about their album, "The Tyranny Of Decay".

1. What can you say about this new album?

“The Tyranny of Decay” is a deeply conceptual album that revolves around decay as a universal law and the inescapable constant of existence. It’s our attempt to approach death and transience on a meta-level that usually lies beyond the scope of human thought. Musically, it’s our most diverse and ambitious work so far – darker, more atmospheric, but at the same time sharper and more direct than anything we’ve done before.

2. What is the meaning of the album name?

Much of the lyrical backbone of “The Tyranny of Decay” deals with finitude on a cosmic scale. Entropy can only ever increase, and time itself is nothing but the unfolding of entropy. As humans, we often find comfort in the idea that death creates space for new life. But when you set that against the unimaginably vast span of time that leads to the heat death of the universe – with life being just a brief flicker in between – that comforting thought collapses instantly. That’s where the tyranny lies.

3. Which one is the composer of the album?

All songs on The Tyranny of Decay were composed by me, Isegrimm. From the very first riff to the final arrangement, the vision comes from my hand. But Lycantrophilia is not a solo project – it lives through the interplay between my compositions and D.M.’s voice. His range is extraordinary: on this album, he moves effortlessly from shouts and growls to throat singing, clean vocals, and beyond. That spectrum breathes life into the songs and gives them their full depth. In the end, Lycantrophilia is the synergy of two people – my writing and his interpretation.

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

We’re proud of having created an album full of variety – each track stands on its own, yet they all unmistakably sound like Lycantrophilia. If I had to choose, I’d probably go with “Where the Heavens Fracture & Bleed” because it combines aggression and atmosphere in a way that sums up the whole record. I also know that “The Sovereign Scars of Ruin” is D.M.’s personal favorite on the album.

5. Is there a special message in this album?

The message is simple: the end is inevitable. It might sound like a cliché, but almost none of us has truly internalized what that means. Facing it without illusion is terrifying, but also strangely liberating.

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

Our lyrics are never an afterthought – they are meant to draw listeners into narrative and emotion. The opening lines of “Carnivorous Forest” give a good impression of the imagery we work with:

"Upon funereal boughs, the moonlight bleeds in silver pall, 

A canopy of carnivores, their whispers hunger’s call. 

The roots, like serpents coiling, drain the marrow from the slain, 

In sylvan crypts where famine reigns, no soul shall rise again." 

That’s just one glimpse – each song opens up its own world.

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album?

On a personal note, I want to thank my wife for her angelic patience during the countless hours I spent writing, composing, recording, and producing this record. I know I’m not always easy to live with, but my love and loyalty to her are lifelong and unshakable. Beyond that, inspiration came from literature, cosmic horror, astrophysics – and musically from our roots in melodic death and black metal, which we’ve twisted into something more cinematic and atmospheric this time.

8. Something to add?

Yes – to our loyal fans, and to everyone new who discovers us: thank you. We see you, we respect you, and we know how precious your time is. That you choose to spend some of it inside our sonic worlds is the greatest gift you could give us. Stay with us – there’s more to come.