Interview:


Without doubt the French scene gave us some pretty interesting Black Metal bands in recent years, here's one of them; the young Acedia Mundi from Paris released their debut album last year on Throats Productions (CD) and Narbentage Produktionen (tape), which seems to have stirred positive reactions. Here's what the guys told us about them and their debut material.

First of all, what's up with the French Black Metal scene being so damn fruitful lately? There are so many new good bands hailing from France that it seems the spring is neverending.
W: It is true that 2017 has been a pretty interesting year for Black Metal here in France. We have seen the return of Arkhon Infaustus after 10 years of silence. Plus, Debemur Morti Productions released both Blut Aus Nord’s "Deus Salutis Meae" and Throane’s "Plus une Main à mordre". Our label, Throats Productions, also produced the new Black March entitled "Praeludium Exterminii" and Hats Barn’s "N.A.H.A.S.H". We’ve also been pretty thrilled with Heir’s "Au Peuple de l’Abîme".
V: 2017 has been very prolific. As W mentioned it, the return of Arkhon Infaustus, for example, that is one of our many influences, was unexpected. And with bands like Decline of the I or Au Champs des Morts, we see new influences, sounds and atmospheres. French black metal is rather healthy and inspired, for sure.

How come Acedia Mundi is still a studio project rather than a live band since you have a complete line-up at the moment? Or things have changed since your latest bio update?
W: You are correct, we do have a complete live line-up at the moment. We have welcomed A. on drums and G. (Atavisma) on guitar. What we’ve been doing for the past months is to rehearse as much as we can to promote "S.H.S" on stage next year. There will be a lot of announcements soon. We have some pretty nice shows coming up, here in France and away from our borders.

Again from your bio: "The band is extremely scrupulous with lyrics, abandoning the boring habit of screaming about Satan without having any knowledge of esotericism." This is a pretty bold statement, please explain. Also please tell us about your lyrical content. Why are some tracks on your debut album in French, and some other in English?
W: Although I did not write any lyrics for the album I was the one who mentioned that nuance about esotericism in the bio. I do believe there is a lot to look for in esotericism, occultism and mysticism. We’ve actually seen it these past few years with the "rise" of Ritualistic Balck Metal. Yet, I feel it has become a facade. It’s been decades that bands have yelled the name of Satan on stage without giving it any deep meaning. What once was an act of provocation lost its meaning; and now that some people go beyond that and start to get some interest in the Qabalah or Gnosis per example, most of the bands just settle for the aesthetics of ancient mysticism. I find that quite pitiful to say the least. 
V: To be honest, I don’t give a shit about these ritualistic “bullshits”. If we want to take black metal to another level, we have to break with this satanic vibe, whether there are true convictions or not. Satan doesn’t frighten anyone nowadays. In Acedia Mundi, the statement is pretty clear: if there is a “so called Satan”, it’s in the dark sides of mankind. Pedophilia, incest, vanity in human existence and alienation are much more evil incarnated than this codified diabolical folklore we find in black metal. I do believe it was exciting and threatening in the 90’s, because some bands really had a violent behavior. But now I just see retarded teenagers jerk off with some horrific stories.

Your music sounds like a swarm of killer bees, it's relentlessly pounding and harassing the listener, what have you brought new or personal to the traditional Black Metal you took as working canvas (as per your bio again)?
V: Your metaphor is cute ! More seriously, we tried to create a “modern” black metal. We don’t want to sound like an uninspired patchwork of all that has been done in the past and that we can see in many recent bands. We have our influences, that’s sure, but we tried to bring out our own personality through dissonant arpeggio, crawling melodies and sharped riffs. In the band, we are obviously black metal fans, but we also like different kinds of music that feed our artistic background. I don’t think we are renewing anything. Everything has been more or less done anyway. But we try as much as possible to create our own universe. Creating the music that we’d all like to listen is the whole process that drives Acedia Mundi.

One interesting element in your music, I think, is the emphasis of the bass lines, very upfront, very aggressive and distinguishable, not original in full, but unlike many other bands, that's for sure. Is my observation accurate?
W: Your observation is accurate indeed. When V. and J. contacted me back in 2014 to work on the bass for the album they knew they wanted something not too technical but strong and memorable. The bass-lines had to struck right and not melt with the rest of the instruments. The emphasis on some of the bass-line is also due to the amazing work of Andrew Guillotin from the Hybreed Studio (Merrimack, Temple of Baal, Glorior Belli). As I did not record my bass-lines at his studio (they were recorded at Mannaz Records) he reamped the whole thing and did some choices that we’re pretty happy about. 

The music on your debut album paints a sinister, disturbing atmosphere that brings one's mind to a mental hospital, and that's mostly due to the dissonant guitar work, to their surprisingly twisted structures. What's your aim in what concerns the feelings your music transmits, the atmospheres you create?
V: Your interpretation is accurate. We are inspired by everything that belongs to the field of psychiatry, psychoanalysis and deviances that the human mind can put into practice. Dissonance is synonymous with sickness or tormented atmospheres, something that violates the spirit. But we try to use dissonance sparingly. The music must also remain catchy and allow breathing time. A kind of suspension preparing you for the worst.

What does Acedia Mundi means, and what does the band means to you? What's the band's statement at this point in time?
W: Acedia Mundi is latin for "Disgust of the World". Wether the world is the object of the subject of that feeling of disgust is up to the listener. The word "acedia" itself comes from Ancient Greek and its primordial meaning is "lack of care". Acedia is a spiritual disease whose roots go back to the fathers of the desert. Aquinas defined acedia as a form of "disgust with activity". It relates to the fact of doing several things but the one you are supposed to be doing. It is a way to avoid the existential question "What am I supposed to be doing?". I believe this disease suits our century.

December 2017


acediamundi.bandcamp.com/releases
www.facebook.com/AcediaMundi