Interview with France’s MERRIMACK

(by Mike Riddick)

Perhaps one of the most underrated bands in black metal, MERRIMACK are coming on strong, launching their first US tour in support of their latest album on Moribund Records…

It was 14 years ago when I was last in contact with you and Merrimack. You were completing your first demo, “Act I.” How do you feel the band has advanced and changed since then?

Perversifier (guitar) : Well, it’s been a while, as you mentioned it, so the band has obviously evolved a lot. The whole Black Metal genre has quite changed. First, we have improved as musicians, be it technically or artistically. Our tastes have changed also quite a lot. In the early eighties we were quite influenced by the Norwegian scene, which was extremely strong at that time, we are now into more modern Black Metal, something more twisted, chaotic, dirty and dissonant. We can’t stand the cheesy melodies of many Scandinavian bands now. Then, our dedication to this black art for the past 15 years has defined our personality in every detail. We know exactly where we are going.

MERRIMACK emerged from the underground back when everything was connected by postal mail, fliers, photocopied magazines and black metal was just beginning to gain some momentum in the scene. Were there many other bands from France who were active in the scene at the time? Who are some of the artists you were in touch with and are they still around today?

P : There were not that many active Black Metal bands then. I remember Antaeus, Enchantress Moon (who became later Eternal Majesty), Gorgon, Forest of Souls, and few others for the bands that I was in touch with, and there were of course many other appreciated bands such as Mutiilation, Osculum Infame, Puritas Viriginum, etc… Most of them are dead now.

What are your thoughts about the commercialization of black metal? What are some labels you believe are still publishing quality underground black metal?

P : The evolution of Black Metal is not something that I really appreciate. The scene is totally saturated by shit bands and crappy labels, and the bands which I used to like in the nineties turned into wimp commercial shit. Black Metal is not a dangerous music anymore, every kid can access to the music by surfing the Internet, so we have lost the quality to give place to the quantity. I’m a bit nostalgic of the nineties, but well, we have to live with our time. I won’t mention any label, since I believe that ALL of them still release 90% of unworthy releases, instead of focusing on the very best of the bands around.

Are you proud to be part of a local scene that houses some of the earliest underground labels like Osmose, Drakkar and Adipocere Records?

Terrorizt (vox): No, we don’t give a flying fuck. It’s useless to keep looking back, though it seems that’s what most of people do in the scene. The past had some great and some boring aspects, and at the end of the day it doesn’t matter at all. What matters is here and now. And all the terrifying mysteries that are yet to come.

What is the overall agenda of MERRIMACK? For example, what is the vision behind your music and creative forces?

T : It is without a doubt our absolute faith in darkness and everything that dwells into it. As most of the people involved in the Black-Metal milieu, we’ve always been fascinated by the other side of reality and the mysteries of the divine. We just took the decision to walk a step further in our contemplation and to actually dive into the knowledge of darkness and to open the gate for it to embrace our lives!

You will soon be visiting America on tour with MARDUK. Will this be your largest tour yet? What do you gain from your live shows and how important are they to the message and art of MERRIMACK?

T: Yes it is indeed our largest tour yet, and the first time we fly to the other side of the ocean. What we do gain from our live shows is this incredible feeling of communion, this trance-like state carrying revelations and tremendous power. The scene is where the ritual actually takes place, when the songs are unleashed with all their strength and meaning.

Please tell us about your new video. From the advance photographs, the video looks like an exceptional work of occult art! What is the inspiration behind it and who is the producer?

T : We have contacted Klister Prods, consisting of two film makers who are completely infected by the most disgusting Black-Metal madness, and let them do everything they wanted to. The result is probably one of the best Black-Metal videos ever (which is not difficult), if not the best. Some could argue that it’s full of clichés, which is not so true. There are some, but it was important for us all, in order to let them manifest for once in a way that is not cheesy and / or awkward and / or ridiculous. The result is a mix of the director’s fantasies and obsessions mixed with esoteric and occult references. We worked with the French porn actress Eliska Cross. The reason is she perfectly fits to the physical criteria wanted by the directors, plus we needed someone comfortable with nudity. This said, we wanted to avoid gratuitous pornography at any price and I consider the result as pretty decent.

P : Unfortunately, the video has been banned from both YouTube and DailyMotion websites at the moment, but we’ll put it online again on the Moribund Cult website, and an edited/censored version will be released for spreading on the most conservative medias.

How deep does your interest in the occult go? For example, your new video showcases the popular image of Baphomet, concieved by Eliphas Levi. Do you have an interest in Hermetism or the practices of the Templars? If so, what do these themes mean for you and how do you apply them to your life?

T : Hermetism is of course a pillar of the esoteric tradition so one can’t ignore it when beginning one’s initiation. The way all of this is applied in the everyday life is up to each adept, and only for him/herself. If some readers are interested in such mysteries, they are invited to look by themselves. If they have to find, they will.

Any final words for your American fans that await your arrival in the states?

T : We hope to see you all on tour. We expect you to be violent, fanatic and numerous. Our new album is now out and available everywhere, so make sure to check it (and to actually buy it instead of downloading it). The vinyl version will be available very soon (early November). Have faith in the Devil. Hail Satan.

www.myspace.com/merrimackofficial
http://merrimack.satanslegions.com/
www.moribundcult.com