Primordial Serpent. Interview with Geoff Coran

Interview by Jay Parker

Hi, this is Jay from Inside The Darkness reporting from Bogota, Colombia... Today I’m lucky enough to be talking to one of the most talented and most prolific musicians to have emerged over the last 2 years, Geoff from Primordial Serpent... First , thanks for taking the time out of your busy writing /recoding schedule to talk to our readers Second, Hail The Fucking Serpent!

1) Describe Primordial Serpent’s sound in 5 words

I’d describe it as aggressive, raw, melodic, epic, and heavy.

2) Tell us about PS... when/ Where/How/why was this reptillian monster created?

Well Primordial Started in m y basement of my home in Winnipeg, Canada. Initally it was to a music project inspired by the Dark Souls video game series and also to help me get through the covid pandemic due to Manitoba having very strict restrictions in place. But the reception I received from people inspired me to continue creating music for primordial serpent.

3) Run us through your discography... first to latest...

Sure thing! Ascension of the Dark Age, Father of the Abyss (EP), Ancient Myths and Legends, The Winter Warrior, Under the Sign of the Bloodmoon, and Hail the Serpent (EP).

4) Where can people buy your Cds/Merch? What labels are they on? What formats?

Well I have my own Bandcamp page for people to buy merch from (primordialserpent.bandcamp.com) but you can find my stuff on labels such as B.C.H. Records, Plague Demon Records, Knekelput Recordings, Worship the Void, Jemslabel (soon), Wormmoon Productions, Narcoleptica Productions, but my Bandcamp is a good place to start.

5) Tell us what inspires you man, why did you decide to create The Serpent? Where do the lyrics come from?

Well like I said, It was initailly a project to help me get through the covid pandemic due to the tight restrictions my province Manitoba had. Also I have friends of mine that play in black metal bands that really got me into the genre. As far as my inspirations go, they can come from anything. video games, occult themes, mythology, fantasy, and my own personal thoughts and interpretations.

6) What is your PS favourite album so far and why? And track?

Ancient Myths and Legends and Gnawing at the Roots of Yggdrasil. The reason being is because that was the album and song that earned my status as being well known in the black metal scene.

7) Tell us what got you into Black Metal and Metal in general.... What bands did you listen to growing up? What newer bands do you recommend now?

Growing up, I was into a lot of music and not just metal. I listened bands like King Crimson, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Misfits, Suicidal Tendencies, Blind Guardian, Death, Immortal, and Darkwave music of any kind. I think drew me specifically to black metal was that a lot of the artists in the genre handle the production themselves which to me indicates that they are very commited to their work as not just a musician but as an artist as well. I’ve always had respect for people where they want to have complete control of their art. Plus the sound of it is really raw and cathartic compared to most metal genres which is something that I adore. Bands that have inspired me for this music project and I would also recommend would be Sargeist, Immortal, Darkthrone, Warmoon Lord, Mgla, Watain, Bathory, Gorgoroth and even bands like Mercyful Fate, Venom, early Slayer have provided me with inspiration as well.

8) You are a multi instrumentalist, a terrorfyingly talented and productive one... What instruments do you use? Run us through your prized collection...

My equipment isn’t anything special. I use a Cort Custom HT guitar, SGR bass guitar which is a discount version of Schecter guitars, 60 watt delta amp, shure microphones (sm57 and sm7B), metalzone distortion pedal and sometimes my zoom effects pedal. but recently I’ve been trying different amp simulators such as the Bulldog amp sim from Audio Assault for future releases.

9) What is your recording process? How do you get from that riff stuck in your head to the sick and satanic finished track?

Well I usually just start with one riff and if it’s good, I record it and save it for future use. Then I just build upon it in a way that works well enough to be in a track just by playing whatever comes next in my head. Once I have a series of flowing riffs, I begin writing the rest from there.

10) Tell us about the scene there in Winnipeg and in Canada in general? Recommend some bands from Canada for our readers to listen to.

The scene in Canada has an excellent black metal scene. Other than Primordial Serpent, we also have Nocturnal Depature, Hellmoon, and Wilt from Winnipeg. But we also have groups like the legendary Blasphemy, Revenge, Spectral Wound, Panzerfaust, Panzerwar, Gris, and Forteresse.

11) Tell us about your plans for the future... The Serpent is flying high at the moment, international radio play, your Cds are going out all over the globe too... What’s to come? Will we see a tour? More albums?

Right now I’m working on an album called Tales from the Northern Vastlands. As far as playing this live, Very hard to say. That would be great if it did, but I think it’s going to remain a one man project.

12) How do you think this great old oak that we call Black metal will grow in the future? Where will its twisted twigs and beast ridden branches reach?

Hahaha I don’t know about that but you never know haha. I think you’ll see this style of music thriving hard in the underground music scene with many artists in the genre becoming more one man based than being a full on bands. That’s something that I’ve noticed a lot.

13) Would you like to add anything for our readers?

Just want to say thanks to everyone who has followed me and supported me on my musical journey. For those who recently discovered me and want to hear more, you can support me and follow me on Bandcamp, Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify.

Thanks man, killer. Always a pleasure.

Hail The Serpent!