Summon: How did the band get started?
Dante: Well, I have always loved Death Metal and have always wanted to make some brutal music of my own. So in 2012, after I had a year under my belt of learning guitar I began practicing riffs, scouring youtube for ‘how-to’ videos and of course getting helpful tips from my teacher. I began the initial framework for what is now Crowfather. It was planned as a brutal Death Metal project but like all art, it has a will and life of its’ own. With the recording sessions for “Scorched in Retributions Flame” finished and the vocals ready to be tracked, I just got this black vibe and went with it. The result is what the first offering of Crowfather came to be. But I promise that this first recording will only be finding my footing, so to speak. The sound will evolve while the core elements remain intact.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Dante: I play a version of Black Metal with hints of Doom. The paralells others have drawn is a sound akin to Samael, Khold and Ihsahn. I like a smooth groove so it could be close to Black n’ Roll perhaps? I’ll let the listener draw their own conclusions on that though!
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Dante: Better than I expected. I was certain since I was a neophyte to playing guitar that it would be despised. I am glad I was proven wrong. I gave it my all and am staying the course. I want to thank the fans for their support without which I most likely would have given up.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Dante: Haha, oh wow…Well, you see, I am a huge fan of video games. I try to play whenever I’m not doing something more important. Anyway, I was playing a game called Darksiders II over the summer and there was this character in it named the ‘Crowfather.’ It stuck with me apparently because when I began to map out the initial stages for this endeavour I was racking my brain day and night trying to come up with a cool sounding name that also fit the ominous vibe I was attempting to portray. I let it sit for a few months because I became frustrated. Then one morning I woke up and the word “Crowfather” was echoing in my head. So there it began.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Dante: Hi My name is Dante Inferi formerly known as Wotan and I play all the instruments, program the drums/synths and provide the vocals.
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Dante: I also write the music and lyrics
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Dante: From the writings of LaVey, Crowley, Nietzsche whose philosophies have become the foundation in which I began my path. From stories I have read, sometimes I will just pull shit from random thought and expand upon it. Other times I will try to create a mythology of my own with pre-existing archetypes. There are even rare occasions where I will take the plot of a movie and twist it in my own may.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Dante: I cannot speak much for the occult aside from its uses in in creating great stories. I think many of the masses have used the occult and Satanism as a way of being rebellious for simple shock value. As for Satanism, there are many different types as there are people, so my view therefore, will also be varied. Satanism is, essentialy a way of life for me rather than a ‘religion’.. I pray to none, bow before none. When I hail Satan, I am hailing the symbolic form of nature and man. Hailing myself.
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Dante: Just one so far. PANDAEMONICON XIII released on StillBorn Twins Records. I am Currently working on my second offering as well as a split Misfits Tribute ep with Haunt and a split 7 inch with fellow New England artist Deathymn.
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Dante: There are but four songs. The first track Horns Toward Heaven in Defiance is pretty much an opening of the door. It sets the mood as very ominous and foreboding. Scorched in Retributions Flame is about the rise of the Left Hand Path. The chorus is rather catchy and speaks of “Silencing the sheep” which is pretty self explanatory. Descending Madness is a mashup of things, its most noticeable content lyrically is about the seven gods from the Necronomicon and Tiamat thrown in for good measure. Lucifer Unbound is pure anger directed at the book of lies known to the masses as the Holy Bible. It touches upon how only one side of the story has been heard for thousands of years, how morality has been inverted for convenient hate and slaughter of free thinkers. There is so much more to it but it would be half a novel worth of writing, so I leave it as it is. Judge for yourself.
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Dante: Yes quite a few actually. One is a project I began back in 2007 called TwentySecondSunrise. It’s like my version of Puscifer. Very enigmatic and eclectic. It was only electronica when I began it because at the time I had not learned to play guitar. The others are still in their respective early stages so I cannot expand on them further.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Dante: Danzig, Fear Factory, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Cradle of Filth, Samael, Dissection, Marduk, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Immortal, Misfits.
Summon: Which current bands?
Dante: Fear Factory, Goatwhore, Nachtmystium, Tsjuder, Cradle of Filth, Paths of Possession.
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Dante: I have never played live.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Dante: No. Never played live.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Dante: None.
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Dante: Dead.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Dante: In the past it was great. Lots of amazing and unique bands. Then it kind of died out for a few years and came back like a torrential rain. There are a lot of great acts here in the US now and sadly, a lot of replicas. Some of the most unique I have found on Reverbnation. Indie is the way to go. I think the artists on the Hells Headbangers label are also equally great. As are the artists on StillBorn Twins Records.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Dante: That was where Black Metal and many other types of music originated. I have the utmost respect for the overseas scene and most of what they’re doing music-wise.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Dante: Without a doubt bands like Nactmystium, Woe, Haunt, WinterLord, Deathymn, Murderous Ideology, Goatwhore, Abazagorath, Nequiter, Blacksoul Seraphim, Sorrowseed, Tyrants Blood, Wintercorpse, Formulus.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Dante: I’m currently working on new material. So Right now I guess!
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Dante: I hope the gears keep turning and I continue to make even more amazing music. I hope the fans dig what I am doing and continue to support Crowfather. You keep listening, I’ll keep creating!
AVE SATANAS!
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/Crowfather13
http://www.reverbnation.com/crowfather
