Interviews: Hubris

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Black Metal band, Hubris, from the USA. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE. 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Was it planned, or did it just happen organically?

Lichfiend: While studying Classical literature all the way back in high school, I was reading The Odyssey and chanced upon Hubris as a vocabulary term, and I thought it would make a great band name. Upon researching further, and finding that the word originally meant sin so great it was a crime against the gods and nature, it felt like an even better fit for what would become this band.

Hellskald: Ironically, it's the study of Classics that solidified the name for me. When you look into it, "hybris" is a term in ancient Greece that refers to crimes of power: shit you didn't have to do to other people--you did it just to be horrible. That's why Hubris is a crime against the gods and nature. Since this band is about painting pictures of humanity's most heinous and disgraceful realities, that one word perfectly summed it all up.

2. Why did you choose to play this genre? 

Hellskald: Since the concept behind the group is to explore the worst impulses of humankind in an artistic framework, black metal is perfect for that purpose because of how it sounds and because of its misanthropic bent. I grew up learning and loving classical music, and I was always drawn to composers and pieces with harsher, energetic, and dissonant tones and atmospheres; black metal showed me and Lichfiend a style of music that could match that feeling and level of creativity all the time.

Lichfiend: I connected to the unsettling atmosphere of black metal more than any other kind of music. I listen to so many different styles of music, but after delving deep into black metal when I was young, before starting this band, black metal just naturally ended up flowing from my mind because I felt so deeply connected to it.

Melkorpse: Deragore: I like a good challenge, and this music was beyond my grasp/ability when I first joined. It's since pushed me past the limits of what I thought I could do.

Melkorpse: Scene chose us. No one wants to start at the top of the mountain. 

3. Did you know each other before forming the band?

Hellskald: Lichfiend and I are brothers, and music was an important part of our household from Day 1. I met Melkorpse in college because I had the good bud, so we started hanging out. I was at a state school in southwest NY that ironically focused on music and simply had no musicians interested in playing anything other than classical or hippie college jam rock. So, I called up my brother and Matt and told them, "All these people are way too happy to care about this music, and that we needed to start a band.

Deragore: I was new to the area, so the first time I met Andy, Jesse, and Matt was at my audition.

Hellskald: Yes, our first drummer left the band, and it was actually a percussion professor at that college who referred us to Deragore. The rest has been history since 2010.

4. What is each band member's favorite band?

Hellskald: All of our tastes are diverse, and picking one would be impossible. In black metal, I listen to a lot of Katharsis, Myrkskog, Watain; the others will also echo bands in my heavy rotation. I'm always listening to Meshuggah. I still listen to a lot of classical, too, and I rarely hear a Beethoven piece I don't like.

Lichfiend: too many to narrow down and too many to list all here, but a few: Black Sabbath, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, The Tragically Hip, Taake, Gorgoroth, Orcustus. More recently, I've been listening to a lot of Spirit Possession. 

Melkorpse: 80's Metallica/Ozzy era Sabbath

Deragore: Metallica was the reason I got into music, but since then, my influences have ranged from Dimmu Borgir and Havukruunu to Snarky Puppy and Kitka.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Melkorpse: My band, Nate's. Pushing each other past our musical limits has been a pleasure.

Lichfiend: Musically, humanity at large. Individually, people can be a great positive, but collectively, they're so constantly disappointing and exhausting, when they could be so much more. That never-ending font of disdain flows into riffs quite naturally for me. Lyrics come second for me, writing after the song is complete. My lyrical inspirations are from witnessing the world around me, fiction, and religious texts.

Hellskald: For me, inspiration comes from a combo of what the others said. My brain is very musically-focused, and if I think about a concept and wonder what the music to such a concept would sound like, my mind just pulls it from the ether. I find it hard to work in a vacuum, though, so after that initial genesis, collaborating with my bandmates is what helps bring a piece to life and completion. We would also be remiss not to mention Guitar Pro; notating everything has given us the power to make more complex musical structures, and seeing that develop on paper can lead to more inspiration.

6. Where was your last gig?

Deragore: Slutfest, and it was an amazing experience at an awesome venue that was run professionally and respectfully.

Hellskald: Yep, Slutfest at Chapel of Bones in Raleigh, NC, at the end of a run of shows to support it. What if, during your set, pole dancers were spinning in front of the stage, and what if, between bands, there was competitive blood wrestling in the parking lot? Incredible time, and to a sold-out crowd hungry for riffs and, well, whatever they were into. Big shoutouts to Chapel of Bones for having us. Raleigh scene rules.

7. Where would you like to perform in the future?

Lichfiend: Fests, all the fests. Getting in front of that many people at once always feels great, and it's the best vehicle to get our music into as many ears as possible. It's beyond time that we get over to Fortress Europa; hopefully, we break that barrier sooner rather than later.

Deragore: It's a long way off, but my goal is Maryland Death Fest. It's in our backyard, and we're more than up for the task.

Melkorpse: Europe, Japan, Argentina, Canada

Hellskald: Echo all, with a focus outside of the USA. I'd love to get back to the West Coast, though; we haven't played CA or PNW in too long, and I miss the fans and the scenery.

8. Which artist or band would you like to collaborate with? 

Lichfiend: I feel like I have the best collaborators I could ask for in Hubris, but Louis Dithomas-Keller from Seplophile is a tremendous talent, and I'd love to get some collaboration in with him.

Melkorpse: Also, Lou

Hellskald: If I add any more collaborators, I might implode; see my other groups: Antiquity (NC), Helianthus, Temple of Mammon, Ferus Din. There's more collaboration than that happening behind the scenes. I'm still open to new creative ideas, though, and if I had time, I'd love to get back into playing in a Baroque consort; I'd also be delighted to bring those two worlds together.

9. Is there anyone you wouldn’t want to collaborate with?

Deragore: Any band espousing any kind of white nationalism. Our hate is based on more than petty things like skin color and cultural background.

Hellskald: I second Deragore, NSBM fuck off. Complete the pipeline and leave black metal to go be crusaders.

Lichfiend: Plenty.

10. Have any of you ever experienced stage fright? Do you have any tips for beginners on overcoming it?

Lichfiend: Not really. Nerves are normal when you first start. Have a couple of beers, or a toke, or eat some potassium or something. Overcome that in whatever way helps you, but just go through it and learn from it if you fail.

Melkorpse: Never have I ever been nervous on-stage

Deragore: I've experienced it playing other kinds of music, but never performing our stuff.

Advice: Remember that you love music, and being able to express it/perform it live is an experience like no other. Also, knowing that you're a superior band fuels confidence.

Hellskald: Playing in orchestras and small ensembles as a kid set me up to feel natural on stage, and those groups taught me that thorough preparation is key; if you practice your ass off and are confident in your parts, there's little to fear in a performance. If I'm ever anxious before a show, it's probably because the music is incredibly difficult (see: Ferus Din); the way I've always overcome such feelings is to get into character, and looking upon everyone with scorn as Hellskald works every time.

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

Lichfiend: In how my particular writing style has evolved, probably Gorgoroth, Marduk, 1349, Dark Funeral. But I grew up on groups like Gentle Giant and King Crimson, and they also had a profound impact on how I look at composition. 

Hellskald: Since we're brothers, you can imagine I'll echo Lichfiend there. For metal, I'll add that Cannibal Corpse, Immortal, and Myrkskog were foundational, and that I also draw from Katharsis and Throne of Katarsis quite a lot. Composers of yore are also always in my music.

Deragore: Metallica initially, but some of my biggest influences are: Dream Theater, Opeth, Immune Borgir, Tool, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth

Melkorpse: Gorgoroth, Immortal, Sabbath, Metallica, Megadeth, The Doors 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Deragore: I haven't been asked for anything weird, but we were offered an Epinephrine Pen in exchange for marijuana once in Iowa.

Hellskald: You'd be surprised how many drunk motherfuckers have offered to join my band and replace one of my bros who can play all the music in his sleep. "All I'm sayin--is I'm the real deal." Okay, buddy, go to bed.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Lichfiend: Individually, it really comes down to the person. But by and large, I appreciate anyone who finds our music engaging. I write for myself, and for the others in Hubris, but if other people get some kind of connection out of it, and support us enough to consider themselves fans, I truly appreciate that.

Hellskald: Like I said, this can't exist in a vacuum. Art is relational, and though we don't write for other people, hearing and reading people talk about this music is always exciting and humbling at once. I am most grateful for turnout; anyone who, after working bullshit jobs and taking care of their lives, decides to spend their time, energy, and money on Hubris has my support right back.

14. What do you think of our site?

Hellskald: Super cool design, and it's chock full of bands I don't know yet, so I'll be visiting to take notes and breathe the Core myself!

15. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Hellskald: Much thanks to Breathing the Core for reaching out and sharing our thoughts!

Melkorpse: We are Hubris, you are scum.

Lichfiend: Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming album. A fuck ton of work went into this project, and we can't wait to unleash it upon you all.