DECLINE OF THE I (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. What are you currently up to?
Hello, I’m very excited by the release of Inhibition, and in the promotion process. It’s something very personnal, and I’m very proud of it.
– You are known for playing in different Black Metal bands, in fact this same 2012 you have released new albums with both VORKREIST and MERRIMACK. What motivated you to form DECLINE OF THE I and why? If you don’t mind I would like you to share some history of this project.
Yes, busy year ! Actually, I always worked on more personnal projects. I released 5 albums with Love Lies Bleeing, my previews solo project. We can way that there is a kind of link between LLB and DOTI, as I started the second one, shortly after the end of the first one. Thing is that, it took a long time between the beginning of the composition, recording etc. of Inhibition and it’s actual release.
It’s a need for me, to express what really lies inside me. I just try to express these “ inner waves” by music. I don’t chose a particular style, it just comes naturally. That’s why you can hear so many different type of inspirations… From the rawest Black metal to something softer like Neurosis…
Then I started to think about a concept. It’s the first time I really try to build a concept along with my music. And, I felt that what I was composing was in adequation with the work of Laborit I was reading at that time.
– And could you please introduce the line-up that is playing with you?
I composed everything, played guitar, bass, samples, piano, synths and a bit of vocals. The other ones are G. who also sings in Eibon, S. who disappeared since then, and N., previews drummer of Merrimack.
– You are about to release your debut album with DECLINE OF THE I, entitled “Inhibition”; why such title? It’s really evocative and inspiring, specially for a such introspective band I’d dare say.
It’s the one the 3 reactions to an aggression. If you cannot flee or fight, you are in inhibition of action. You cannot avoid the evil that eats you. That’s why the music is so neurasthenic, heavy… Your nervous system creates power that destroys yourself ‘cause all this energy cannot be used to act. I wanted to transpose this state of being into music. I was in this state when I started to compose the album, so it came naturally. And it was a way, for me, to escape from this situation.
– What musical influences does DECLINE OF THE I has? As it has not the usual rough Black Metal sound of some of your other bands, in fact it seems like you are mixing BM with certain NEUROSIS elements, etc.
As I told, it came naturally, and it was the type of feeling I wanted, needed to express. And, yes, being pragmatic, I can say that post hardcore, black metal and even some dark industrial can really fit with this feeling.
And I’m a huge fan of Neurosis, so, yes, it’s not a coincidence…
– “Inhibition” is the first part of a trilogy so, what’s the concept behind this trilogy and behind this first sequence?
The 2 other albums will be about the 2 other reactions toward an aggression. Next one will be the fight, and the last one will be the escape. And the music will follow these reactions. It’s very stimulating to create something than comes from my inside, and at the same time that is driven by a concept. And of course, I chose this Laborit’s Theory because I truly felt it at many periods of my life.
– Talking about such, do you already have something ready (music-wise) for the next two parts?
Yes. I work on 2nd and 3rd parts at the same time. So I’ve allreaday some tracks or extracts for both albums. If things are going well (but, I’m not very optimistic, to be honest…) I could record the 2nd album next summer, and the 3rd one, one year after… Let’s see if it happenes !
– This trilogy studies the “inhibition”, “rebellion” and “escape”. Why did you choose these three reactions? Is it easy to explore them both on a physical and mental level?
I didn’t choose them as I just follow the theory of Henri Laborit. He made this very interesting experience with rats.
Put a rat in a cage. A beep warns that the cage will be electrified. There is a space, in the cage, where there is no electric shock. After a while, the rat understands, and as soon as he hears the signal, he runs toward the safe place. We measure his health : no pb, he’s fine. So, here is the firt reaction to an aggression : escaping
2nd experience : the same as the previews one, but there is no safe place. So the rat can’t escape and has to received the electric shocks. His health decreased after a while, he’s about to die… 2nd reaction : inhibition of action.
3rd experience : same as the 2nd one, but we put a 2nd rat in the cage. When the cage is electrified, the 2 rats fight against each other. It changes nothing to the amount of chock they receive. Just like in the 2nd experience. But, very interesting : after a while, their health is still good ! 3rd reaction : violence.
It really show that what kills the rat in the 2nd experience is not the electric shock but the impossibility of doing anything : he can’ act. And in the 3rd experience, even if the action of the 2 rats are useless, they don’t return their energy against themselves, because they act.
The worst thing in life is to be in inhibition of action, to be stuck.
And we are, at a lot of degrees, inhibited in our everyday life : society, morale, religion, family etc. All these structures can be our electrified cage, with no escape, except madness… or art.
– This being said; could you say the work of DECLINE OF THE I is also something both physical and psychological/emotional?
Exactly, for the reasons explained above.
– It caught my attention the way the voice is mixed on this record, as it is really low, which I personally think helps enhancing the overall atmosphere. Why did you want to get this very special sound?
Music is the most important. It has to speak to the body but expresses something metaphysical. I don’t want to bother the listener with too much “human” details, as the vocals etc. It has to be seen as an instrument, not like some body who is talking, as all talks are dogmatic. I prefer the pathos compare to the logos…
– On the other hand, guitars are really thick, they even seem to be inspired by Death Metal. How did you approach the guitar work for this effort?
As this album is about inhibition, I really needed a heavy sound, that crushes the chest of the listener. Being stuck can be a very violent feeling. It can kill you. That’s why I used more typical metal amps, to have this powerfull and deep sound.
– In general it seems this is your most experimental, passionate and emotional project, with a more modern touch, even near to the so-called Post-Black Metal. Is DECLINE OF THE I your most personal project (and not only in musical terms)?
Of course, it is. View explanations above…
– Anyway, all this about “Inhibition” being said; how could you describe this opus in just 3 words?
Suffocating – Heavy – Emotional
– As I said before, you are a quite active musician into the French BM scene. What does inspire you and motivate you to keep on rolling?
I just need it. Would became mad or would have kill myself otherwise, I guess… It’s my way of expressing, expulsing what I can’ fight or flee from…
– And finally, what are your near-future plans? Is there any chance of taking DECLINE OF THE I to a live scenario or is it more of a studio band?
It depends. I considere it mainly as a studio project, but who knows… I have some ideas of what I could create on stage. Definitly not a typical metal gig, for sure…
– That has been everything from my side, thank you once more. If you want to add some final words; last lines are all yours.
Thks for the interesting interview. Follow our decline on Facebook : http://facebook.com/declineofthei
