Interviews: Exorcizphobia

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal band Exorcizphobia from the Czech Republic. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Your upcoming album “Neurosis Unbound” explores the darker corners of the human psyche. What sparked the concept behind the record?

Over the past two years, everyone in the band has gone through some pretty turbulent events in their personal lives. The existential nature of the lyrics naturally grew out of that experience.

2. How did the songwriting process for this album begin? Did the themes come first, or did the riffs lead the direction?

It almost always starts with riffs. Then we build a rough structure of the song. This time, we focused more on the atmosphere, making sure the intensity of the message matched the musical content.

3. The album blends thrash with crossover aggression. How would you describe the Exorcizphobia sound to someone hearing you for the first time?

You can hear a lot of different influences in our music. But I think that over the years we’ve developed our own recognizable sound. It’s hard to describe, but with a bit of exaggeration, I’d call it something like “weird thrash metal with a punk rock attitude.”

4. Fans of Voivod, Sacred Reich, and D.R.I. may hear some familiar elements. Which artists had the biggest influence on this album?

As I mentioned before, we’ve been around for about twenty years now, and we’ve developed our own voice and a certain path we follow. Over time, we’ve shaped our own way of expression from all our influences. So it’s not really that this album was directly influenced by any particular artists.

What’s interesting is that sometimes inspiration comes from music that’s completely different from what you actually play. You might suddenly get an idea while listening to classical music, hip hop, electronic stuff, or anything else, really. I think it’s important to stay open-minded and not set unnecessary boundaries for yourself.

5. The album artwork was created by Michel Langevin from Voivod. How did that collaboration come together, and what does the artwork represent?

Our connection with Away goes back to around 2012, when we opened for Voivod in Prague. In the following years, I also played in a band with my former bandmate Eric Forrest, so there has been a certain connection with people around Voivod for quite a while. I’m a big fan of Away’s artwork, so having him create the cover for our album was kind of a dream come true for me.

We first talked about the idea after a Voivod show at Modrá Vopice in Prague in 2025, and we finally agreed on the collaboration a year later at Cross Club, again in Prague, where we had another chance to play with Voivod.

The artwork is based on the lyrical themes of the album and reflects how Away personally interpreted them.

6. You handled production alongside Amak Golden. What was the vision for the sound of Neurosis Unbound?

We recorded the new album in Prague with Amak at Golden Hive Studio. It was both a learning experience and a lot of fun. We got along really well with Amak both personally and professionally, and he also handled the post-production.

He had a great feel for the overall atmosphere of the album from the very beginning. When it came to the final master, we had some pretty intense discussions about where to push the sound. We each had slightly different ideas about certain details, but that process helped us gradually arrive at the final result.

In the end, Neurosis Unbound sounds a bit tense and claustrophobic in places, and maybe even slightly uncomfortable for the listener at times. But that actually fits the spirit of the songs perfectly. It’s not an album that’s meant to calm you down. It’s more like it pulls you into the same space where it was created.

7. Thrash metal has a long legacy, but sometimes bands fall into nostalgia. How important was it for you to push the genre forward rather than simply recreate the past?

I don’t know if we really think about it that way. We’re not too focused on pushing the genre forward. In many ways, everything has already been done. But if you take what resonates with you and make it your own, you can build something unique out of it. That’s rock ’n’ roll.

It has always worked like that, and it probably always will. If you put your heart into it and bring your own perspective, something original can still emerge. That’s something nothing can really destroy, not even AI music or anything like that.

8. Was there a particular track on the album that pushed the band the furthest creatively?

I’d actually say the songs on this album are more straightforward than anything we’ve done before. But there are still some more demanding moments. For example, the opening track “True Lie” is a pretty intense riff-driven piece, and it can definitely make you sweat when playing it.

9. Lyrically, the album dives into mental struggle and psychological tension. Were there any real-world inspirations behind those themes?

Definitely. About two years ago, many of the certainties in my life started to fall apart, and I didn’t exactly deal with the situation in the best possible way. So everything that appears in the lyrics comes directly from my personal experience.

Music is actually a kind of self-therapy for me, so part of getting through that period was also getting all that stuff out of my system through these songs.

10. What was the most challenging part of bringing this album to life?

I think the most challenging part might have been simply going through that difficult period and surviving it…

11. The album is being released through Doomentia Records with a Japan edition through DTD Records. How did those partnerships come together?

Our previous album Digitotality was released in Japan through Spiritual Beast. That partnership ended, so we needed a new partner. Someone gave me the contact for Miyano and his label DTD. After getting to know him better, it was clear that this passionate guy was the right choice.

As for Doomentia Records, we’ve been working with them for a long time. They’re true professionals and completely reliable in everything.

12. How has the response been so far from fans hearing the first previews of the album?

We’ve received a lot of positive feedback on the first single, Neurosis Unbound. People are also excited to hear the rest of the material. I think once the second single, Cold, is released, they’ll be even more curious, as the song has quite an unusual vibe.

13. Thrash is known for its high-energy live shows. How do these new songs translate to the stage?

So far, we’ve only played one new song, Hell In Veins, live a few times, and the audience reaction has always been really intense! The other new tracks will be added to our set starting with the album release show in April, so we’ll see how they go.

14. Looking ahead, what are the band’s plans following the release of Neurosis Unbound?

We’re planning around forty shows to support the album. We also want to shoot a music video for one of the tracks. Later this year, a small split release is also expected.

15. Finally, what message would you like to send to Thrash fans who are about to experience this album for the first time?

Take it as an emotional, self-reflective ride and let yourself be carried by the atmosphere, or just put it on and don’t overthink it. It’s up to you. Be yourself and keep it real!

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