Search CackBlabbath
|
Exclusive new Imperial Vengeance interviewHere at Cack Blabbath we make no secet of our love of Imperial Vengeance. Their debut album, At The
Going Down Of The Sun, was one of the top releases of last year and we are eagerly awaiting their new
release due out later this year.
With a new DVD out now, a Summer tour with Sabbat and and the new album on the way our Amanda caught
up with Dave Bryan to get an update on all things IV.
 |
You have recently released the 6th AIRBORNE DIVISION, do you think that this will give the casual
viewer and fans alike a deeper insight into what Imperial Vengeance are about?
I would hope so. Obviously I am very close to both of the videos being in the director’s chair
for them, and so it is not easy for me to have a clear perspective about insight. I think both videos
show the band for what it is- dynamic, visually exciting, and- in the case of Night Boat To Cairo- not
without a sense of humour. The Airborne video’s sole purpose was to introduce the live line up to the
fan base, and my choice to do it in a white room with no frills was partly to show the band at its’
most minimal level, but also a bit of a statement about music videos in general: ie. that one doesn’t
have to hide behind the whistles and bells of endless explosions, swooping camera shots over
post-apocalyptic cities and use of a props department that would make Peter Jackson’s LotR look undersized,
to make your point.
|
When you originally released 'At the Going Down of the Sun' there were some naysayers who accused
you of manipulating Harry Patch's voice on the title track to make it sound evil. Do you think that the
footage of Harry on the DVD will finally put this rumor to rest?
Who can say? There will always be those that will try to put their proverbial fly into the ointment.
Why ? I have no idea. All I do know, is that Charles and I were lucky enough to spend the afternoon with
Harry, and his voice was quiet, and slightly accented with a West-country twang; I remember joking with
him about the "end result" of the song and warning him not to play it too loudly, or he'd get complaints
from his neighbours. it never occurred to me once it would sound “evil”. I think people listen for things
that are not really there.
I've heard people describe Imperial Vengeance's look and style as 'Steampunk' would you agree with
that assumption?
Not really, but then I am the ultimate pedant. If anything, the "look" is an eclectic mix of
styles and cuts from between 1878 and 1945. Stylistically it is closer to the ethos of Ruritanian
literature, and to some extent, the stylised feel of David Lynch’s "Dune" rather than this current
trend of Gilliamesque Neo-Victorianism that I see all over the internet. The back story to the “look”
is thus: Originally, in the first photo shoot Charles and I did for IV, we wore authentic 1914 WW1
Field uniforms. This was very striking, but I was concerned that the band would be tagged as a “war-band”,
and therefore very limiting. So for the next photographic outingthat went into the military territory,
I took the outlines - which were essentially rooted in the WW1 period and abstracted the other details
so the “uniforms” were no longer placed in any specific time or place, but still suggested a militaristic
past.To utilise the WW1 imagery any further could be seen as exploitive and disrespectful.
People – usually critics, and I use that term very loosely - do seem to need to label, classify and
taxonomize, and are uneasy if things don’t sit in once category or another, as it makes their job
slightly more complicated: it means they have to research something or come up with an individual
point of view. To call us “Steam Punk” is just another lazy journalistic statement that actually means
nothing. “ Ah, yes, but the goggles are “steam punk” aren’t they?” I hear you cry, to which I answer,
"One costume detail does not define a genre". You might as well call Fields of the Nephillim or Rammstein
a “steam punk” band based on that.
|
On the 6th AIRBORNE DIVISION DVD you make mention of the TARDIS, I happen to know that one of
the songs featured on 'At the Going Down of the Sun' has many references to one of Doctor Who's greatest
foes, have many other people noticed this?
On the commentary, I refer to the footage of the Police Call Box as the TARDIS, because that
is what the Police Box has now become in the modern day mindset, and of course the copyright of the
actual thing itself has become property of the BBC: Life mirrors art. The song on ATGDOTS “Unto That
End” is largely an allegory about “God delusion” in the face of fascism, and plays with the premise
that absolute power ultimately corrupts. Its’ other meanings are totally open to interpretation. One
of the joys of IV is that lyrically I can play with ideas on a very broad level, and that I can allude
to many notions whether they be historical or fantastic, the deciphering of the metaphor is up to the
individual.
|
|
The cover art for your next release 'Black Heart of Empire' (due out this autumn) has a Dickensian feel to it, is this a complete departure from the more Militaristic style of your previous album 'At the Going Down of the Sun' or more of a natural progression? And does this mean we can expect a change of style in the costumes the band wear too?
It is an expansion of the original concept. Although the cover of ATGDOTS focussed on the more militaristic imagery; which it had to do really because of the subject matter of the title track, only three other songs had any real “martial content”. I guess the video for Airborne and the prominence of Harry’s appearance cemented the theme in the mind of the audience. Image wise, the next album will focus on the darker side of life under the Empire: the first half of the album will be essentially London-centric; a world of treachery, of gas lit streets and class divide. There are no “war songs” as I think we have covered that ground now, and there are many more topics for us to explore. What I will say, is that yes, the stage costumes will also shift gear slightly, but if you are expecting to see some ghastly metal version to Lionel Bart’s “Oliver” you are going to be disappointed.
 |
The 'Black Heart of Empire' in being in conjunction with a 'Penny Dreadful' publication, could you explain to us in a little more detail what a 'Penny Dreadful' is and what we can expect to see in it?
The Penny Dreadful was weekly illustrated publication targeted principally at the working class youth of the nineteenth century, usually featuring lurid serial stories appearing in parts over a number of weeks, with each part costing a penny. They started in 1830s,as a cheap alternative to mainstream fictional serials .The stories themselves were reprints or sometimes rewrites of Gothic thrillers or stories about famous criminals. Highwaymen were popular heroes and indeed the character of “Sweeney Todd” was a figure that came out of this curious type of publication.
Our take on the Penny Dreadful will be pretty true to the original concept- and will contain the lyrical themes of what you will be getting on the album combined with an array of illustrations and period trivia. The reason why we are doing it is that we believe that the concept of the traditional CD release is pretty much done to death, and without charm or magic. I am a big fan of large format packaging, and to have something that accompanies the release that enhances the “mood” of what we do with IV, that allows the listener to come into our strange little world for the hour or so when engaging with the music, makes the trip a little more enjoyable. When I was young, Vinyl releases with their bigger pictures and extensive sleeve notes etc. seemed to have an interactive quality that you simply don’t get with a CD, or a downloaded file, so in a way it’s a bit of nostalgia too, but that’s not a bad thing.
|
The Sabbat/Cindersfall/Imperial Vengeance tour kicks off on August 16th (please check http://www.myspace.com/imperialvengeanceuk for times/dates and venues where you can catch IV live) I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing you Imperial Venegance, but for those less fortunate who haven't what can they expect to see at an Imperial Vengeance live show?
Well, depending on the venues, the shows will be punctuated with theatrical elements and effects to enhance your viewing pleasure. Pyro will play a big part of this. So stand back. The performance is pretty intense- and because of Charles being totally "in the zone" there isn’t any of that “Let me see your hands” banter. However if you do like something a little odd, and enjoy some pretty in your face musical stylings, we are certainly worth coming to see.
It has already been publicised that Soprano vocalist Lori Lewis (Therion,Aesma Daeva) is making a guest appearance on your new album, can we expect any other guest appearences?
Yes. Two others. These will be revealed as and when. Working with Lori was a delight, and I am keen for people to hear the result, she was amazing, but then why go for anything less than amazing?
|
|
Mr Bryan if I may be so bold would you please indulge me and answer some slightly more personal questions? Back the DVD for a moment, there is a section called 'A Gentlemans Miscellany' I would like to ask you Mr Bryan, what miscellany can you not live without?
Tea, comfy sofas and fashionable periodicals. Large cigars used to be pretty high on the list, but I have since quit smoking, it’s an expensive habit and between Charles and myself were getting through about anything between £200 and £300 month on the things. Actually at one point we were smoking cigars that were about £100 a pop. That had to stop, as it was a bit like rolling up a couple of fifty pound notes in front of your friends, setting fire to them, and then forcing them to inhale your indulgence. Actually that was what it was, no “like” about it.
When you have a day off from the current flurry of activity with forthcoming albums etc what do you do to relax and unwind?
It’s rare that I do but I tend to indulge my more artistic leanings on these occasions, and usually the creativity will come to the fore. I studied Fine Art as a student, and so often resort to this in the “down time”. Recently I have done a series of works inspired by the flight paths of crows, and another based the deconstruction of crows nests. Crows have featured heavily recently, as you can see; but you have to use what’s at hand, and living on the edge of the countryside, there do seem to be a lot of the things. I do actually belong to a couple of “Gentlemans clubs” in London, where I can escape to and escape the horrors of life. Members Only.
The Internet is currently awash with the cry of 'datsnotmetulz' it seems that a certain group of people feel that if you are not wearing corpse paint and/or a member of Slayer/Metallica/generic Thrash Metal band you aren't 'Metal' how would you respond to the narrowminded attitude?
Their loss. Ignorance is bliss - they must be in ecstasy. Seriously though, who is anyone to tell anyone else what is – or is not “metal”? In these days where anyone can be a critic or have a blog or a website, the sheer amount of this sort of self opinionated silliness is beyond belief. I don’t like “genres” and never have done – if you like something, you like something, simple as that, who gives a toss whether it conforms to someone else’s tick boxes or taste?
Many of the rest of us who are apparently 'notmetulz' as we have a comparatively broad range of musical tastes, like to ocassionally listen too the odd Operatic aria or bouncy pop track. When in the privacy of your own home what do you prefer to listen to?
It’s a mood thing. I do indulge in orchestrated works, largely because I find them very inspiring; but of course I do have fleeting moments of whimsy, and more often as not the likes of The Cardiacs, Madness, Devil Doll, The Pet Shop Boys, Fish-era Marillion, and Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts will be heard coming from an open window. I do listen to a lot of spoken word too, as constant music gets a bit much sometimes. I like the tone of Radio4.
As it is currently Festival Season, does a distinguised Gentleman such as yourself ever feel the urge to go camp in a field with the unwashed masses and get in on the 'festival vibe'?
No. I have no desire whatsoever for any of that at all, thanks all the same.
If you could choose any Festival (not limited to the UK) for Imperial Vengeance to play at which would it be and why?
Glastonbury. A broad canvas of music spanning many genres, what’s not to like?
Lastly ..
If you could go back in time and change anything what would it be...
It’s not a good idea. The problems that would spring from time dilation and the paradoxes created from compossibilty or retrocausality scarcely bear thinking about.
Finally,Thank you David for taking the time out to speak with me .. Do you have any last words for your fans eagerly awaiting the tour and new album?
Buy it. Actually no, buy two. And a shirt. And if you are coming to see us, tell your friends and bring a big union flag.
|
|
