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| When Moon formed in 2007, was it always your intent
to make this a one man project with session members for live shows? Please explain why.
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Miasmyr:
It was originally a studio project of mine, the band formed from the interest of others. The band I was in at the time went on to form the initial line-up for Moon.
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| What is it that motivates you to have such raw sounding material that focuses on atmosphere? Is it a performance of Black Metal you enjoy more, or is there a deeper meaning?
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Miasmyr:
The music has developed through my intuitive preference for a raw and atmospheric sound but there is also an introspective drive that has always been the prime motivator. The atmospheric element brings about an environment for a cold and harsh inner world of demotive states and communication with elementals and afflictive shades. The choice of production and instrumentation reflects this harsh but reflective medium.
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| You issued a number of smaller releases prior to Caduceus Chalice, and for this album you went with the underground label Moribund. Is the band purposely trying to remain in the shadows of the underground, and why?
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Miasmyr:
I only want to gain enough exposure for those who would be interested to know about it. There's no point in presenting it to a wider audience since it's not likely to appeal to the mass public.
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| Do you feel that the Metal masses in general would be ready for an album like Caduceus Chalice had it been released through a larger label?
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Miasmyr:
I don't specifically take a preference to metal; the most appealing aspects of black metal are the rejection of convention and precedence placed on darkness and the arcane. Moon is not suited to a wide metal audience, its obscure Black Metal that stands on the fringes.
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| Caduceus Chalice clearly has a lot of focus on atmosphere, but the guitars seemed to hone in more to the general Black Metal sound. Was this intentional, or is my interpretation wrong and the guitars do more then that? If so, what do they add to the music?
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Miasmyr:
There is emphasis placed on atmosphere but the guitar sound brings out the cold and arcane feel which that I want to put across. By contrast there are sections where there is an absence of guitars alleviating the harsh tone and dissonance to give way to a more despondent and bodiless transcendental quality.
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| There's also a few changes in volume levels to the instruments and vocals throughout. Why did you decide to do this?
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Miasmyr:
Each song has its own character and while they merge as a whole conceptually they need to be treated as individual pieces. The variety of different distortions and levels drives home the idea that the music can offer something more through subtle timbre and tone variation. The levels of instruments are varied to suit the overall feel of the track, for example the choirs in Beneath work best at a more subtle level blending with the other parts whereas their greater presence in Forest Samhain gives it another layer; both approaches build dimension but in different ways.
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| Obviously, the lyrics are completely indecipherable, and I receive the material digitally so I have no idea if there actually are lyrics or not. Are there any actual set lyrics to this release?
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Miasmyr:
Some of the songs have lyrics set for them, others were adlib with an emphasis on expression and the sound being produced. Sometimes words inhibit expression so there are parts where there aren't any.
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| Is there any sort of concept to this release in the music (or lyrics if you acknowledge there to be any)?
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Miasmyr:
The music serves as guided imagery for astral projection in a microcosmic sense that could align with the macrocosmic dimensional plane if one is theistic enough to draw the connection. The subject matter is of ritualism, necromancy and wordless travels inside the Underworld. The CD title refers to the caduceus and chalice as symbols of male and female sex organs that are representative in a magickal sense of will imposing upon the hidden world to bring it into realization.
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| Does Moon intend to do some live shows with session members or anything else to promote the album?
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Miasmyr:
The band is playing a live show in Brisbane our home town in the next month which will be promoting the CD.
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| How does the material sound live? Is it or will it be any different? |
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Miasmyr:
The live sound is a little different with more streamlined instrumentation without the addition of extra layers and effects but sounds essentially the same. The raw but atmospheric quality is still present.
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| Is there anything special that Moon does to prepare for a show, or even when you went in to record the album, say like a specific setting or atmosphere you try to establish, or perhaps some kind of tradition or ritual you perform?
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Miasmyr:
I draw a drop of blood from myself before each performance or session to symbolize my own essence being put into the work. This gives greater strength to the performance.
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| Caduceus Chalice" has been out for a little while now. What has the feedback from fans and even the media been like? Is it what you expected it to be?
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Miasmyr:
The response has been favourable; many listeners appear to get a lot out of it. While it's not going to appeal to everyone it's generally a welcomed release.
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| Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for me. I hope all goes well with Moon and Caduceus Chalice.
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Miasmyr:
Thanks for the interview.
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