Interviews: False Messiah

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal/Cinematic Dark Metal/Symphonic Dark Metal band False Messiah. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did the name False Messiah come from?

The name reflects the idea of blind belief within human consciousness. Throughout history, societies have searched for saviors, political, religious, or technological. But those promises often lead to disillusionment or manipulation. False Messiah evokes that tension between hope and illusion. The name questions authority, ideologies, and the systems that claim to guide humanity. It also reflects the dark and dystopian atmosphere that currently runs through both our world and our music.

2. Was the band formed with a clear vision from the start, or did it evolve naturally over time?

A bit of both. The project was born with a fairly clear conceptual vision: to create a metal collective with a cinematic and atmospheric sonic aesthetic, while remaining faithful to our heavy, thrash, and death roots, but also open to modernity, storytelling, and a strong visual identity. Musically, however, the project evolved quite naturally through collaborations. Different musicians, producers, and singers brought their own colors to the project. The core idea remained the same, but the musical universe developed progressively.

3. What drew you to creating cinematic symphonic dark metal?

We wanted to create something that goes beyond the traditional format of a band. Cinematic symphonic dark metal allows us to combine heavy riffs, orchestration, electronic textures, and musical storytelling. It almost approaches the feeling of a film soundtrack. This approach allows us to build worlds, not just songs. And we also wanted to refresh, through clear and aggressive female vocals, the legacy of bands like Queensrÿche, Savatage, and Manowar.

4. How did the concept behind your upcoming album, Seven, develop?

The concept developed around the idea of collapse and rebirth. In a world dominated by surveillance, algorithms, and fragile institutions, what happens when those systems begin to crack?

Seven evokes the emergence of individuals who refuse to disappear within those structures. The number seven symbolizes a group, a force, perhaps even a myth. It is a magical number, depending on each listener’s interpretation.

5. What inspired the themes explored in your new single “Iron Sky”?

To be very honest, it is the emergence of this robotic warfare that we witness every day, whether in Ukraine, the Middle East, and now even in Central and Latin America, particularly the use of small drones that, in an autonomous (or almost autonomous) way, take lives.

This inspired the writing of “Iron Sky”. It is a realization of the rise of invisible control structures within our modern societies. Surveillance technologies, automated systems, and predictive algorithms shape our lives far more than we realize.

This sky feels metallic, artificial, and oppressive. It is this sky made of iron drones falling down on us. It is a dystopian vision, but also very close to certain realities.

6. The track touches on ideas like technology, surveillance, and control. What message are you hoping listeners take away from it?

The song does not try to deliver a simple message. Instead, it raises questions.

Technology can be a powerful tool for humanity, but it can also become an instrument of control and mass destruction if we stop questioning it. “Iron Sky” simply invites listeners to remain conscious, critical, and independent in the face of these systems.

7. How do you approach blending orchestration, electronic textures, and heavy guitars into such a cinematic soundscape?

We approach the creative process almost like film music. We visualize the environment first, then each element takes its place within the emotional narrative.

The orchestration brings scale and tension, electronic textures and keyboards create the atmosphere, while the bass/drum impact and simple but effective guitar riffs bring the necessary energy.

Once the music is in place, we complete the lyrics, knowing that we already had a framework and a guiding thread from the beginning. Rather than layering elements randomly, we build each part like a scene in a film.

8. Which bands or artists influenced your sound the most while creating this album?

The influences come from several worlds. Classic heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Accept shaped our understanding of riffs and power.

More extreme bands such as Sepultura, Slayer, and the thrash scene influenced the intensity. And on the cinematic side, composers like Hans Zimmer and Vangelis inspired the atmosphere and epic dimension, as well as Trent Reznor for the darker tone.

9. Can you walk us through the songwriting and recording process for “Iron Sky”?

The track began with a main keyboard/guitar melody and an atmosphere. From there, we built the orchestral architecture around that foundation.

Once the musical structure was solid, the lyrics and vocal lines were developed to reinforce the narrative tension. The recording involved multiple layers: guitars, orchestration, electronic textures, and finally the vocals.

The objective was to create a song that works as an opening chapter.

10. What is the meaning behind the artwork for the single and the overall visual aesthetic?

The artwork reflects the universe of the album: dark, symbolic, and slightly mythological. We wanted something timeless rather than following visual trends.

The visual aesthetic of False Messiah is based on archetypes, warriors, symbols, ruins, and abstract landscapes. The idea is to suggest a much larger world behind each image.

We decided to work with the same artist for all our visuals. In this sense, we clearly take inspiration from Iron Maiden. For this album, we have many visuals, and we want to immerse the audience in our universe.

11. What was the experience like working with Semetery Records on this release?

Semetery Records has a history connected to the European underground metal scene. This dimension brings a certain authenticity and artistic freedom.

It allows us to work without commercial pressure and remain faithful to the vision of the project. In a way, it reconnects with the spirit of the underground metal scene of past decades.

12. How does “Iron Sky” set the stage for the rest of the album Seven?

“Iron Sky” acts as the first chapter. It presents the world of the album: cold, controlled, and beginning to crack.

The following songs explore what happens when resistance begins to emerge.

13. Do you view Seven as a conceptual or narrative-driven record?

Yes, clearly. The album follows a narrative arc. Each song represents a moment in the evolution of that universe.

It is not a completely linear story, but there is a conceptual thread running through the entire album.

14. Have you started planning live performances for this new material?

It is something we are considering carefully. The project has a strong cinematic and visual dimension.

If we perform live, we want the stage experience to reflect that immersion.

15. Where was your most recent live show?

False Messiah is currently mainly a studio project. We focused our energy on building the music and the visual universe before considering the stage.

16. Where would you most like to perform in the future?

Since we operate from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Europe would be a natural territory, particularly because of the project’s history and its roots in European metal culture.

Festivals that welcome atmospheric or cinematic projects would be ideal environments. But to be very honest, we have no pretension or dreams of grandeur.

If the audience welcomes our music positively and the journey grows naturally, we will perform wherever destiny leads us. But one thing is certain: it will require resources to bring this to life, so it will probably take some time.

17. Which artist would you most like to collaborate with someday?

It would be interesting to collaborate with artists who understand both the heavy dimension and the cinematic dimension of music. Someone like Devin Townsend, or even composers who work in film.

18. Have any of you ever experienced stage fright?

Stage fright is part of every artist’s experience. The best way to manage it is preparation and focus. Once the music starts, that tension usually transforms into energy.

19. What’s the strangest thing a fan has ever asked you?

False Messiah does not have fans yet… and we hope to have some very soon, thanks to you!

All their strange requests will be welcome. But as always, we remain human and certainly won’t be able to fulfill all their wishes. After all, we are not false messiahs!

20. What do your fans mean to you?

They give life to the project beyond the studio. When listeners connect with the music and the universe we create, the world of False Messiah becomes something real and shared.

21. What do you think of Breathing The Core Zine?

It is always positive to see independent media supporting heavy music and underground projects. Platforms like Breathing The Core play an important role in allowing new projects to be discovered.

22. Is there anything you’d like to share with fans ahead of the release of Seven?

Simply that Seven was created with a lot of patience and passion. It is not just a collection of songs, but a universe, an atmosphere, and a vision.

We hope listeners will take the time to explore it from beginning to end because, in all humility and without comparing ourselves to anyone, we are very proud of it.

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