Symphonic black metallers Zorakarer formed in 2012 released a demo a year later then the following year released their debut full-length album. Frontman vocalist/guitarist Jacob Williams and guitarist Brandon Gilling discuss the debut album and some details about the band themselves.
1. Can I get a backstory on the band/ band biography?
Jake: “I started the whole thing myself really. I started writing the material in 2007 as a side project but didn't really bring it to life until 2012 when I recorded the first demo with Phil Cancilla from Hank 3. I couldn't really find anyone to be able to play the material until Brandon asked me if I wanted to make it a real thing. Then he moved to Portland and we started finding members”.
2. How did you guys come up with your band name?
Both: “We are really into paganism and anything pre-mid bronze age cultures, so Zorakarer is actually a stone circle in what is now modern day Armenia. Plus the mystery around stone circles are fucking cool!”
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Both: “The band is from Portland, OR and there are a lot of Cascadian black metal and stoner doom metal bands out here. So we are really the oddball out so to speak playing symphonic black metal besides Ceremonial Castings. Some of our favorite local bands are Spectral Tombs, Spellcaster, Ceremonial Castings, Winter in the Blood, Druden, and Cemetery Lust.”
4. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?
Brandon: “For this record it kind of jumps around a little. There’s a lot of pagan, mythological, and horror themes we drew on and a lot of them do have underlying messages in there. When I wrote the lyrics I was pretty pissed off about a lot of things in my life but also wanted to incorporate shit we think is cool. So I basically wrote the lyrics that could be interpreted in a few ways. Whether it's through the eyes of someone going crazy because Cthulu is coming to fuck shit up or someone could take it with the sense of empowerment to get through their bullshit life if that makes sense?”
5. What bands have influenced your band and its sound?
Both: “Fuck theres a lot haha. The main ones are Emperor, Dimmu Borir, Old Man's Child, Windir, Dissection, and then a lot of classical music like Brahms, Scarlatti, Handel, Chopin, etc.”
6. Is there any story or concept behind the "Clarion Call Of Destiny" title?Jake: “I just sort of came up with the title and it sounded epic so we were like fuck it let's go with that.”
7. Who produced "Clarion Call Of Destiny" and what was it like working with them?
Brandon: “Jake recorded, mixed, and mastered the whole record. It's pretty impresiive really, it's funny to sit down with the guy and watch him get mad at technology though haha.”
8. Who did the cover art for "Clarion Call Of Destiny" and how much input did you have on it?
Both: “We had Juan Jose Castellano do the artwork for us. This guy does some killer stuff! He did artwork for Asmodeus from Austria and after we saw the artwork he did we were floored and knew we had to have him do it. And we had 100% control over what the artwork would be.”
9. Select two songs from "Clarion Call Of Destiny" and tell us what inspired the lyrics.
Both: "The Pass of Torech Ungol" is obviously inspired by Lord of the Rings. Its all about Shelob and her killing her victims. Brethren of the Oakthorn Vale is based on Celtic pagan warriors.”
10. Do you guys have any favorites off this album? If so, which and why?
Jake: “I'd have to say 'Brethren of the Oakthorn vale" is my favorite. I think it's the most well rounded song on the album because it has all the elements of the songs on the record in one.” Brandon: "Anthems Sung From A Dying World" is my favorite. It's definitely the most intense song on the record.”
11. What are your upcoming touring/show plans?
Both: “We actually kick off our first tour May 21st in Sacramento and play through May 25th ending in Pasadena. We have some things in the works right now for Fall which we will reveal later on.”
12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Both: “You can go to Zorakarerofficial.com to stream and buy the physical and digital copies. Also all of our merch is there as well. Or you can just go to Zorakarer.bandcamp.com”.
13. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?Both: “That's a tough one haha. Maybe "this is fucking cool!" We just hope everyone enjoys what we have out and continues to support us.”
14. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?
Both: “We will be on the road a lot for sure. We plan to have an EP out in 6 months then after that another full length so we will be pretty busy. The newer material will be a lot more aggressive and very satanic.”
15. Any final words of wisdom?
Both: “Hail Satan.”
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