Messe Noir have unleashed a furious brand of death/black metal upon the underground which they dubbed "war metal." Don't think Bolt Thrower here, people. Messe Noir's material is much faster, much more frantic and a hell of a lot more inventive. Read on to find out what cranks the minds of these musically twisted individuals.
Interviewed by Al Kikuras. Pics courtesy of Messe Noir.
UtU: How and when did Messe Noir form?
Matthew Messe Noir was formed in 1995 when we had our current line up. Before that we went through many members We had many names kicking around like Eviscerate, we released one song on a Natas compilation tape. When we kicked our bass player out is when we knew we were Messe Noir. The show we played that day was great, we played really fast and tight (actually sounded better without the bass messebandh.jpgplayer).
UTU: Were there any releases previous to Mandal - Gate of the Calling?
M: We previously released a two track demo that featured "Excommunicated" and "Heralds of Pestilence." This demo was encouraged by our friends and fans. We never intended to release these two songs as a demo, but since its release in October 1995 the demo sold over 300 recordings The demo, The Throne of Ninninhagal, consists of re-recorded "Excommunicated," "Heralds of Pestilence" and two new tracks: "Passage to Tchort" and "Messe Noir." The demo was released in the fall of 1996. Now we have a CD called Mandal -Gate of the Calling which is an 8-song CD that is professionally done.
UTU: Have there been many changes to the lineup thus far?
M: We actually had a five piece band: two guitars, bass, drums and a
singer. The first guitar player quite because of a woman and the bassplayer we kicked out because of a woman when he did not show up for a show.
UTU: The lineup is not listed inside the CD. Was that intentional?
M: No! We just did not list it. It does not matter to us. The band members are: Joe Giannetti (vocalist) from Natas Productions, Mike Morrill on drums, and Matthew on rhythm guitar.
UTU: What is the source of the text inside the layout of Mandal - Gate of the Calling?
M: Sumerian text. It was chosen because they are the oldest known civilization that was organized. They believed in many different things, so we have read about anyway. There are a lot of religious text are based on what the Sumerians wrote about. The Sumerians left us with a great amount to think about and change what we all believe in. What I mean is don't believe in every thing you hear our read. I guess it is just an interest.
UTU: Is there a unifying concept behind the release?
M: The signs on the front cover tell everything!
UTU: What is a live Messe Noir performance like?
M: To describe a show is hard to do. Some shows are violent and some shows people stare at us.
UTU: In your opinion, is there anyone that could beat up Mr. T?
NO ONE can beat up Mr. T.M: I think that Pee Wee Herman could. He would jerk Mr. T off and then kick him in the balls!
UTU: Explain the concept of "War Metal."
M: We chose the non-repetitive style of music because we hate the repetitiveness in every style of music today. Every type of music repeats. Hate, aggrivation and anger is were it comes from. So, far as we know this is the first type of music that is structured in this way. It is really boring when you listen to music and it becomes predictable. It's like watching a movie, I know what going to happen next. Music of today makes us frustrated, everyone is ripping off each other. The structure of the music is self is not that difficult you just have to listen to it more carefully. There are a lot of changes in songs like for example there are 22 different parts in the song, "The Ancients."
UTU: How close are your personal beliefs and practices to the concepts conveyed through Messe Noir?
M: Beliefs- have none!! We do not believe in anything that is not real!! Messe Noir's music explains itself, if you can listen to the many changes in the music, then you will realize the concept behind our music.
UTU: It seems that in the underground, when a band achieves some level of commercial success, even if they do not change their style, they are considered to be "sellouts." Do you feel popularity can be equated with selling out?
M: Selling out - money is money!!! We have to live!! Selling out your style and popularity is different. Then you suck!!
Bet their drummer couldn't beat up Mr. T.UTU: What albums have you been listening to lately?
M: Black Sabbath Reunion, Mayhem Wolf's Lair Abyss, Dark Funeral, Marduk, Bach Brandenburg concertos.
UTU: Who would win in a fight: Roseanne Barr or Rosie O'Donnel?
M: Rosie O'Donnel. She would stuff twinkes down her mouth.
UTU: If you had to fuck the winner, who would you be rooting for?
M: ARRRGGGG! Fuck 'em both up the ASS!
UTU: Black Metal just went through an enormous surge of popularity in the underground. As with Death Metal and Thrash and numerous other genres that have experienced sudden growth spurts, Black Metal is beginning to thin out and the bandwagon jumpers are beginning to stray by the wayside. What bands do you think will persevere through the "flushing out" of the scene?
M: Not sure... the more I listen to the bands of today it seems that they do not put that much effort in their music, so that is hard to say!
UTU: OMany have accused bands such as Emperor and Cradle of Filth of "selling out" by accepting their relative commercial success and signing with a larger label on the grounds that the very nature of Black Metal is to resist popular acceptance and constantly struggle against the mainstream. What is your stance on this?
M: Ahhhh, fuck it, man! So what? The more commercial they go it, means that more extreme bands will rise and follow and the music will progress. That is the whole idea.
UTU: In the unlikely event that the elements of barbaric Black Metal become mainstream (that is, popular among the general metal-buying population), where do you envision extreme music going from there? Can it get any more extreme, in your opinion?
M: Extreme? It can definitely get more extreme!!! The more extreme the better!!
UTU: Have you written any material since Mandal?
M: Yes. We are currently working new material for our next CD project. The music is faster and heavier, the structure of the songs are more difficult to play! We plan to blow the minds of our fans!!
UTU: What is the one thing you most want to accomplish with Messe Noir?
M: To change music!!!
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