(by Mike Riddick)
1. Please introduce DARK CELEBRATION for our readers.
Greetings Mike and all the metal maniacs. Well, Dark Celebration began in 1996 in Brazil playing death / black metal. In the past 13 years we incorporated a number of elements and influences trying to make our music unique in every single release. During this time, we released 1 demo tape, 1 EP, 1 split album and 2 full lengths. Our last album, “Phlegton: The Transcendence of Demon Lords” was recently released by Paragon Records and features seven songs. We are currently working on new songs for the next release. Some new titles are YHWH: Utopia, Branding The Mark of Devil, Snowballing Whore Angels and The Murdergod Catharsys.
2. One of your members also comes from the pagan metal band TIWAZ. Is there a strong relationship with both bands?
R.N. is a member of Tiwaz since its beginning. We are all good friends even outside of music, but we work apart. Both bands have its own way of doing music, but we always enjoy drinking and good metal.
3. You have recently released your new album, “Phlegton: The Transcendence of Demon Lords,” on Paragon Records. How did this arrangement with Paragon happen? Please tell us about the new album and how it differs from your previous releases.
R.N. had contact with Mike from Paragon Records for a very long time and that gave us this opportunity to join the label. We could not be happier because Paragon Records has supported us brilliantly. Everything went perfectly well for this release, despite the distance. The big difference I see between “Phlegton” and our past releases is the richness of arrangements that have become much more interesting. It is easy to realize that because there are two distinct phases in this album. Certainly some things could be better in recording and mixing, but the final result pleased us very much.
4. I believe some of your members have an interest in paganism. Do you have an interest in the local gods and history of your region?
Some of us actually have a good interest in history and paganism. Personally I think the ancestral culture is quite fascinating, but take it only as a curiosity. We were born and live in an area of Brazil quite famous for its rich culture and its traditions. The south Brazilian people have the habit of going from father to son with a tradition and pride of being born here, which sometimes unfortunately ends up being confused with political questions.
5. How is the scene in Brazil? It seems like a lot of excellent bands are coming from South America lately. Can you name some other bands from your country that are worth checking out?
The Brazilian scene is huge. There are tons of bands doing incredible work. It’s impossible to name one or many bands as a reference, believe me. It is worth researching about that in Metal Archives or Myspace. You will have many surprises about the Brazilian Metal firepower.
6. What are your band’s objectives and what goals have you set for the long term?
We do not usually draw well-defined objectives. Things happen in the time that they should happen. For now we are creating some new songs to be included in our next album, but without a date set yet. What we usually do is before starting the new song writing; we discuss what the new music objectives are and let things flow from there.
7. Do you have any interesting stories to share with us about experiences playing and participating in DARK CELEBRATION?
The most bizarre facts are always involving gallons and gallons of alcohol. The problem is that the memory ends up getting smoky. I remember some interesting facts inside the bus in which we almost died after a tire stuck in a curve or about the windshield shattered and traveling a thousand of kilometers without it. The most common is simply involves the bus driver removing the body of some band member who fell in front of the bathroom, interrupting the passage of others.
8. Please share some final thoughts with our readers…
I would like to thank you Mike and all the readers of Metal Maniacs for the opportunity and interest in the work of Dark Celebration. I invite everyone to know more about us and our brothers of Paragon Records, which has one of the best cast of bands on the planet.
