Interview with Damnum Animus (2011)

Neoclassically-inspired black metal mastermind "Chaosweaver", the man behind Damnum Animus who's been reviewed twice on Goul's Crypt, agreed to do an interview on the basics and future of his solo project Damnum Animus and had this to say:

Goul

So you're from North Carolina. What's the scene like there?

Chaosweaver

The metal scene in North Carolina, as a whole, is fairly diverse, but I live in a podunk town where very few people like metal. Those that do normally are classified as scene kids, because many of the so called "metal" bands out here are stereotypical deathcore. However, there are a few notables, such as Final Curse (classic thrash), Black Acid Moon (stoner doom), and Syopsis (techdeath).

Goul

So I don't take it there are any bands like yours, genre-wise, in your area?

Chaosweaver

Unfortunately, no. Finding another member with similar influences is hard enough, let alone finding other bands.

Goul

What inspired you to make what is essentially neoclassical music mixed with ambient and black metal vocals and drumming?

Chaosweaver

This started, as you may or may not know, as a DSBM (Depressive Black Metal) project. The transition from that to what Damnum Animus became was pure happenstance; I was messing around with a MIDI file of "The Last of My Kind" on my DAW, and put cellos in place of the guitars. Voila, Damnum Animus was born. That being said, I've always had a love for classical music, especially bombastic classical (movie soundtracks, Tchaikovsky), so transitioning wasn't a stretch of the musical imagination.

Goul

Did this genre come naturally to you?

Chaosweaver

Some of the elements took some getting used to. Creating an atmosphere isn't the easiest thing to do if you're used to metalcore style songwriting.

Goul

Are you in any other bands, or do you have any other musical projects?

Chaosweaver

I have both, in fact.

Invoking the Divine: an experimental metal band with my good friend Josh Horne.

The Fall of the Heretic: a metalcore project that I've been messing with for a good 6 years.

Decaying My Youth: death/doom metal project. Main feature: huge riffing.

Goul

To return to Damnum Animus, how was the initial response to your style of music, especially "Sanity: The Lies of the Father"?

Chaosweaver

Generally, the response was good. I got several reviews commenting on the "coldness" of the music, which was what I was going for. The main complaints were the sudden stops and starts, as well as the similarity of the tracks.

Goul

Since you're only one person in the band it seems obvious to ask: Why? Why are you the sole person in Damnum Animus? Is it because of creative controle, was it too difficult to find band mates, or something other?

Chaosweaver

It's multiple things. Creative control was never an issue, as the other bands I've been in have never had that problem. The main reason I'm the sole person in Damnum Animus is finding people with similar influences. Drummers are hard to come by in this area of North Carolina, as are good bassists. Session musicians are not out of the question; however, it doesn't seem like there will be any for a good while.

Goul

Can you tell us about the pros and cons of being a one man band?

Chaosweaver

Pros:

No arguments with band members.

Make your own working schedule (rather than practice x times a week).

Decide exactly where the band will go.

Cons:

Some ideas sound great to you, but shit to others.

Less outside influence to add new sounds to the band.

No live playing.

That last one is a big one.

Goul

Do you have any goals regarding Damnum Animus?

Chaosweaver

Yes, I'd like to play live at least once.

Goul

You've got a new release coming out sometime in the future called "Beneath the Swells". Can you tell us a little about this album and what it's gonna feature?

Chaosweaver

This will be a FULL LENGTH album. It will feature many of the same elements of the previous EP: symphonic soundscapes, ambient and black metal influences; however, it will feature both acoustic and electric guitars, more vocal variance including clean vocals, epic length songs (10+ minutes), and much more. The lyrical content is also much different. The last album was focused on depression, religious struggles, and hopelessness; this album will be focused on depression as well, but the lyrics will be written through my love of oceans. It's going to be nothing like you've ever heard; the old EP will be "Thrown To The Sharks" (song title!).

Goul

If you wouldn't like to add anything, this concludes the interview! Thanks a lot!

Chaosweaver

All I'd like to say at this point is thanks to everyone who's listened to the music and given me feedback on it, including you. Get the album when it comes out!


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Read the original review of Sanity: Lies of the Father and Forgotten by the Waves

Damnum Animus - Forgotten by the Waves [Track] (2011, Self-released)

Some readers will perhaps remember the review I did recently of Damnum Animus' debut entitled "Sanity: The Lies of the Father", and I'm happy to present Damnum Animus' newest track "Forgotten by the Waves", which will be featured on the upcoming EP called "Beneath the Swells" which will be out later this year.

Damnum Animus, which received 6/10 guitars, delivered 'sombre classically-inspired black metal' with a clear atmospheric focus. I was glad to hear that this solo project has not abandoned any of the solid elements of the first release and have actually improved a little.

One of the main things I had against the release was the more or less constantly going double pedals on the drums which got really monotonous during the EP, and to see Damnum Animus having gone for some more varying drums warmed my heart while listening to this chilling track.l' with a clear atmospheric focus. I was glad to hear that this solo project has not abandoned any of the solid elements of the first release and have actually improved a little.

The American band made itself noticable with the many different layers of classical instruments and I'm pleased to hear that this is a recurring element in the material. The vocals have gotten even better, which adds to the already good atmosphere of the track. I was at first a little in doubt about Forgotten by the Waves as Damnum Animus have opted for a more epic and less dusky approach to the neoclassical branch of black metal as I came to know it on Sanity: The Lies of the Father, but with a few listens it just grew on me. It still works, and you're never in doubt that it's still the same band you're listening to.

About halfway through Forgotten by the Waves there's this little part with piano that I think feel a little fabricated and fake, which is a real shame as it doesn't do anything good for the flow. I'm not too big on the following use of clean vocals either as they feel a little out of place.

All in all Damnum Animus is an evolving project, and it's nice to see an artist not afraid to try new elements. I'd rather see a band trying new things and failing than seeing a band writing the same material ad nauseum, and Damnum Animus may yet have a bright future. I'm looking forward to the release of Beneath the Swells at any rate.

This new track receives 6/10 guitars.

Damnum Animus - Forgotten by the Waves is available for free download HERE
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Damnum Animus - Sanity: The Lies of the Father [EP] (2011, self-released)

America has made itself very noticable in the later years of black metal, a genre which is moreso seen in conjunction with Scandinavia in Northern Europe. With bands like Absu, Ludicra, Leviathan and Xasthur, the Americans have proved their rightful place among the titans of black metal.

With no previous releases but this, Sanity: The Lies of the Father, this latin-named band makes its' way unto the scene with sombre classically-inspired black metal. Though I use the term "black metal" loosely, as Damnum Animus doesn't use guitars at all, but instead replaces it with classical instruments such as violins and pianos. The distant haunting harsh vocals and the double bass powered drums are actually the only thing about this upcoming American band that makes it black metal.

That being said, the vocal performance is amazing - Fitting for depressive black metal, this is an element that especially makes Damnum Animus stand out from the crowd. The vocals are incredibly well produced and fit so well into the atmospheric experience of the EP.

The drums tend to become a little monotonous with the near constant pounding of double bass pedals, but in this line of music this is not necessarily bad or even uncommon. I think it adds to the atmosphere and utter melancholy of the music, and depressive black metal - although I wouldn't refer to Damnum Animus as such - isn't exactly known for great variety. But other than that the drums still sound mechanic and repetitive, and I suspect the involvement of a drummachine.

Even though the classical instruments, mostly dominated by stringed instruments like violins, but in one occassion also what sounds like a trumpet, have overtaken the role of the guitar, I think that just a little guitar once in a while couldn't hurt. I can see, however, why one would choose to not incorporate guitars in music with such a heavy presence of neoclassical elements, as it could very easily turn into symphonic-sounding black metal like Limbonic Art or Anorexia Nervosa.

What is striking about the debut EP is, as I have previously hinted at, the chillingly cold atmosphere, reminding me of wet mist-covered northern forests. The composition of the classical elements adds to this feel, and I'm generally mildly impressed by the way it's incorporated into the music as it doesn't seem out of place in any way. The neoclassical parts of the 3 tracks mostly feature two or more layers of instruments, which I find is somethat that many people fail to achieve.

Soundwise and productionwise I feel Sanity: The Lies of the Father is consistently of good quality. I wish the first track wouldn't end so abruptly and the second track wouldn't start out of nowhere, because these facts ruin the otherwise good flow of the EP.

This EP proves to me that Damnum Animus really has something to offer. While neoclassical black metal certainly isn't untravelled lands, it surely isn't fully tried out, and I think this American one-man band does a lot to seek out the darker corners of the genre in all aspects.

What really bothers me about the EP is the drums. The drummachine lacks the feel of a human player, and feel is what this type of music thrives on, but this being the first release ever by Damnum Animus (which loosely translates to "Damned Soul", I believe) I think there's room for improvement, and I think Damnum Animus will release more and even better material in the future.

The lack of variety and the unfeeling drums is the only thing dragging the EP down from a 7 or an 8, but it is by no means bad, and therefore Damnum Animus - Sanity: The Lies of the Father recieves 6 out of 10 guitars.

Tracklist:

1. The Last of My Kind

2. Thoughts of a Dying Heart

3. The Lies of the Father

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