Interview with Vespasian Blessed by Perversion

I n t e r v i e w b y O l g a S c h n e i d e r

1. First of all, I’d like how to spend your time in a festival you were supposed to to say thank you for finding meaningful way. I’m writing take part in were postponed time to do this interview! songs, getting band-business till 2022. Do you have any How have you been doing so done, and I am doing more sport plans for this far during this weird time? Ave! I have to thank YOU to give us the opportunity to be featured in your magazine! You are absoWe always want to surprise ourselves with the new albums. We don’t want to record the same songs twice. year? Probably you’re gonna try to play some local shows w h i c h are way smaller? lutely right… We are conwe all live in firmed for some events, but at strange and weird than ever before. Besides, I am the moment nobody is really times at the moment but, I’m trying to reach a level when it able to say if these dates are doing fine. It is very import- comes to my cooking abilities. gonna happen. Be sure, we reant to have masterplan about 2. We know that some ally miss the live-shows. Hope-

fully some shows will happen this year. Meanwhile, our main plan at the moment is to dive deep in our new material and create the best songs possible.

3. Your latest album was released in 2019. Since now is probably the best time to work on something new, probably you’re actively using this chance at the moment, and we’re gonna hear some new material from you soon?

Yes, as already mentioned we spend a lot of time with songwriting and doing pre-productions. Horaz and me, we are very creative at the moment. We are collecting many ideas and we curious about the results. As you might know we are very obsessed with details, so there is still a long way to go. A new album can be expected for 2022.

4. German underground Black Metal scene is actively developing at the moment, meanwhile it’s kinda going downhill in Scandinavia where it was popularized years ago. What is your point about it? Is Germany gonna be the country when best Black Metal traditions are gonna be reborn?

What I like about the German scene is the fact, that nearly every band has its own sound. So, it is always thrilling to witness new releases from bands we knew for a long time and also

new bands. It is also fantastic to see how many good albums are released by Canadian bands and also bands from eastern Europe. In my opinion the extreme metal scene is very vital at the moment. Without a doubt Scandinavian bands have released eternal classics over the years, but maybe you are right… Scandinavia is not the hotspot for challenging and mind-blowing releases these days. But we all know… situations like that can change very quickly.

5. What, in your opinion, was the reason of such an active development of underground Extreme Metal in Germany that has been happening lately?

First of all, we love extreme art, hehe! Germany has always been a “metal-country”. We have a very good infrastructure when it comes to labels, festivals, magazines etc. From time to time, I think we have to much of everything, which results in people getting a little bit lazy and tired. But yeah, bands and fans here are always hungry for metal in general. What I also like to mention is the fact, that we have very good studios here, like Iguana Studios, Klangschmiede E, etc. Very passionate guys there who are working their asses off for interesting and professional releases. It’ s also good to see that the younger generation is still attracted by handmade music. So, in summary we have a very comfortable and exciting situation here.

6. Since 2010, you started taking part in world’s biggest Metal festivals in particular. What was your best experience ever when it’s about real-

ly massive festivals and why?

Oh, tons of memories come into my mind here. We had a great performance at the Metaldays Festival back in 2011. A stage placed in the woods, a majestic night under a starry sky. It was magic! I also remember our first appearance the Summer Breeze Festival (2011). It was about 4 o’ clock in the morning (!) when we entered the stage. We expected a tired and wasted crowd… but from the first note on, we felt that hellraising atmosphere on and in front of the stage. It was unbelievable. I will also never forget the great time we had in Belarus. We played a show in Minsk, and the people were so thankful and enthusiastic. Hopefully we can return in the near future. When it comes to stagecrews, I will always remember the crew of the Party.San Festival. They were so professional and affable. It can’t get any better! The best lightshow ever we had in Slovakia at the Gothoom Festival. What a fantastic festival. They know exactly what they are doing!

7. What’s the strongest aspect of Imperium Dekadenz and what aspects would you like to develop through your upcoming creations?

The main heading is and will always be the friendship between Horaz and me. We are surely very challenging and different characters, but we always manage to achieve professional and passion-driven results. This is exactly what we

have in mind for upcoming releases. Besides, we always want to surprise ourselves with the new albums. We don’t want to record the same songs twice. So, it’s important for us to be open for new influences, sounds, etc. You can imagine that is not that easy from time to time, as it takes a lot to make us satisfied. We are our hardest detractors.

8. You permanently use several languages in your lyrics. What does it mean for you personally? What does using one or another language depend on?

Language for us is a kind of an instrument. German sound harsh, English surely has more “flow”, Latin has something mysterious… We are simply trying to give the song what it needs. The chosen language underlines the atmosphere, so to say.

9. Our traditional question. W h a t would you like to say to our readers and crew at the end of this interview?

We want to thank each and everyone of you for your passion! It’s not self-evident to receive that great amount of support from nearly all over the world. Hopefully we can manage some shows in Russia someday. That would be a great experience! Bookers, get in touch!