Calvarium. Interview with Stevan Chada

Interview by Jay Parker

Hi This is Jay Reporting from Bogota, Colombia... Today I’m lucky enough to be talking with Stevan from the Indonesia band Calvarium...

Hi man, thanks for taking the time to talk to our readers...

1. Tell us about Calvarium... when and where was the band formed? who is in the current line up? Why was the band formed?

The band was formed in 2012, it's a long journey since I am not the founder of the band, it was Asmodeus and some of his colleague that formed the band. Some of them now resign from Calvarium, the band have a long list of ex-members. the current line up end up with me on Vocal since 2019, Pangkunang as a guitarist and Asmodeus on drum (They were the band's founders since the beginning), we also have Andre who played bass, and Gil who also play guitar (he join US last year).

2. Describe your sound in 5 words.

Rebbellious, Ellegant, Melodious, Explosive, yet Spiritual.

3. Run us through your releases, first to last...

We release the self-titled back in 2013, then the EP voices of devil inside in 2014 (re-released in 2015), and then the full-length came out in 2020. We are planned to do our next full-length (now in process).

4. Who writes the music/ lyrics?

Pangkunang and Asmodeus were wrote almost every music in Calvarium, I wrote the lyrics for the latest album.

5. Your sound is a vast dark cold wasteland of metal and melodies... what is the inspiration behind your sound and the lyrics?

The sound really has a basic Blackened Death Metal vibes on it since most of US influenced by BM/DM bands like, say... Vader, Vital remains, Behemoth, or Rotting Christ. Pangkunang have this riffing style since back then. Calvarium never changed a lot of the sound. And since I joined the band, the lyrics have more improved to the journey of mythological and folk theme. We brought up Sangihe pagan folklore and myth because I think that’s more important and fit with the band’s overall image since most of US came from Sangihe island (or had a bloodline related to that origin). Instead of talking about Satanism, we expressed our rebellion through religious fundamentalism with what our ancestors really were.

6. Your sound is very technical and symphonically polished, when did you start as musicians? What inspired you to become a black metal musician?

I personally started played rock music since 15 years old. My first black metal band formed in 2011, the time when I was 16. Black metal had something different and have an important role through my teenage life. It’s not just about having beer and played loud music. It is truly about digging deep through your deepest dark heart. And ready to question everything about your existence. There’s a lot of philosophical aspect in black metal than in any other heavy metal subgenre. It is dark a mysterious but at the same time you ended up find beauty in it.

7. Tell us about the metal scene there in Indonesia...

Metal scene in general was pretty big in Indonesia, but if we talk black metal scene in specific, we have an awesome underground community in almost every island. From Java to Sulawesi. You can hear some of the popular Indonesian black metal band on YouTube. But you know, if you digging deeply into the scene. You’ll always find interesting bands/projects.

8. What are Caldarium’s plans for the future? Are you recording at the moment?

We planned to do our first video clip, we also on the process of recording our single for now. The new split with The Witch from Colombia Will also planned to release at the end of this year.

9. If you could play or record with any musician or band live or dead who would it be and why?

Dead from Mayhem and B from life lover. They both inspired me personally.

10. Do you have any advice for up and coming musicians out there?

Do not forget who you really were. Stay safe and keep up the good work and spread the rebels!

11. Would you like to add anything?

I recommended you to listen to Natjaard or Glora Nexus if you are new about Indonesian Black Metal.