Blackened Horde: How did the band get started?
Fernando: Altars Of Rebellion begins in ninety-nine under the name of Rebellion, initially the band had a marked influence towards conventional Black Metal, hence the need to translate their art into the studio arises so they begin to work on what would be Hidden Forces of the year two thousand one (2001). Later the band undergoes some changes in the line-up likewise, it would become a band of 5 members where for the year Two thousand three (2003) they would release their 2nd work called Infernal Paradise.
After some time of looking for sounds that are coupled to something more forceful, the band decides to change its name to Altars Of Rebellion and it would also start working on their third work called The Dominant Material Origin, today the band is launching their fourth I work entitled Capital Phase Of Karma in which special guests of the international stature participate such as Marco Pitruzzella, drummer of (Six Feet Under – Rings Of Saturn). Luis Battilana Paraguayan Guitarist of the band Blasphemer. A work with 8 powerful tracks in which the central theme is the Deadly Sins that frame clear influences of technical death metal with symphonic overtones!!
Blackened Horde: What kind of music do you play?
Fernando: We basically work on styles or rather sub-genres such as Technical Death Metal and Black Metal, with melodic and symphonic touches.
Blackened Horde: How has the fan response been?
Fernando: Everything has been great, since we launched Capital Phase of Karma, the response from the critics has been very positive, with important national and international reviews. I think this work is very important for the band as it marks a before and later, with clear objectives where we want to go. This work has not been worth being very notably on the international scene.
Blackened Horde: Where did the band name come from?
Fernando: Every person you have come into contact with has been imposing fear on you, because fear is the antithesis of freedom. The more afraid you are, the less the possibility of freedom. The more fear there is, the less the possibility of rebellion.
Well, Altars of Rebellion represents the human being who has managed to overcome his own paradigms and confusions.
Blackened Horde: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Fernando: The band’s current line up features Fernando Khristos (me) – Vocals – Keyboards Orquestation Belitio – Bass Clean Voice Dallkiel – Guitars.
Blackened Horde: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Fernando: We have 4 albums:
*Fuerzas Ocultas – 2001
*Infernal Paradise – 2003
*The Dominant Material Origin – 2011
*Capital Phase Of Karma – 2021
Blackened Horde: Tell me about some of the songs on the latest CD?
Fernando: Flesh made greed – avarice.
Well, I think we had to take that break to find out what direction to take, and it was something very positive. When I decided to write capital phase of karma, I had many fresh ideas, all around a death metal eloquently, without losing the essence of black metal, but resulting in what we were looking for and Flesh made greed marked the beginning of everything.
Another song that I like is The loss of the sense – wrath I really think it was necessary to evoke anger in this song so it starts with a fairly strong cut, powerful and fast riffs, followed by forceful arrangements and choruses that give it a lot elegance to the song.
Blackened Horde: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Fernando: The music and lyrics is write by Fernando Khristos.
Blackened Horde: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Fernando: Well, our album are conceptual and in this opportunity F.K wrote about of seven sins, It is always said that what is forbidden is the most desired, the capital sins themselves offer a broad topic to debate Regardless of the validity or not of the idea of sin in our societies, there are seven passions deeply rooted in the human psyche. Can we imagine the human being without them? I think not. Would the world be better if these inclinations did not condition our attitudes? It is essential to know how to recognize and feel that the capital sins are there, not in vain, each one has its representation in the form of demons, the investigations and documentaries that have been made on this subject are various. I even think that for art in this case music becomes much easier to talk about this and even more to represent it, from the first works of the western tradition to the most recent ones, the deadly sins have been portrayed in multiple genres and through different perspectives. I guess we will not be the only band that addresses this issue or the last one.
Blackened Horde: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism? (If this applies)
Fernando: I believe that there are currents of respect, however the terms satanism and occultism have been really misinterpreted, because in reality Satanism became a religion that I am not interested in following. I clarify, I am not a Christian but I am not on the other side, everything It is summarized in who am I where I am going and what is my mission, which for me is something more eloquent, that is why I detest religions.
Blackened Horde: Do you have any side projects?
Fernando: At this moment I am solely focused on Altars of Rebellion.
Blackened Horde: Who are some of your musical influences?
Fernando: Well my inspirations are is most classic music, composer how Beethoven, Vivaldi, Rachmaninoff, Wagner, Mozart, Berlioz.
Of course I have idols in all styles of metal, among them are
Chuck Schuldiner —- Death
Travis Ryan ——- Cattle Decapitation
Ben Duerr ——— Shadow of Intent
Dani Filth —— Cradle Of Filth
Dave Hunt ——- Anaal Nathrack
And bands I listen most technical death metal
Necropagisht – Archpire – Inferi – Spawn of Posession – Obscura – the faceless –
And symphonic death metal
Flesh god apocalypse- Anorexia Nervosa – Septic Flesh – Dimmu Borgir
I think I have more but this is what I listen to the most.
Blackened Horde: What is the band like when you play live?
Fernando: I think there is a certain evolution in it, live events are the opportunity to show that everything we did in a recording work can really be very well executed. It is important to create a link between the public and the band, that is why we have worked with more interaction at this point, they will undoubtedly be in for a big surprise.
Blackened Horde: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Fernando: At the moment we have only played in Ecuador, we are close to visiting Mexico which will be a very great tour for next year.
Blackened Horde: How big of a crowd do you normally get?
Fernando: Well I think we have had everything, from playing for 50 people to having a full square. I think this is part of all this and it should be so, surely there will be the opportunity to play at events where the public is massive.
Blackened Horde: How is the crowd response when you play?
Fernando: Wow the response has been very positive. It is great to watch everyone from the stage and then share at some point all their points of view of what the concert was.
Blackened Horde: What do you think about the underground scene?
Fernando: I think that underground metal has been a fundamental base for new bands to make their appearance, although I think that it is no longer entirely underground. The matter is already more focused towards being visible and even more so with a number of bands that you find in the world network everything becomes easier, therefore I do not think it is very underground, of course this movement must continue to do its part, somehow everyone got out of there.
Blackened Horde: What are some of your new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Fernando: Well, I have several, Shadow of Intent, Inferi, Alkaloid, Black Crown Initiate, Born Of Osiris, wormhole, Beneath the Massacre, MGLA, Gaerea, Der weg Einer Freiheit, Archspyre and more!!
Blackened Horde: Since the Covid Pandemic has that hurt the band in making music at all?
Fernando: Not really, our last album was created in the middle of the pandemic, I think it was a favorable point since we had more time to dedicate to our music listening, writing, making arrangements, and that made our album more directed towards what we are looking as a band.
Blackened Horde: What advice would you as a musician give to a fellow musician just starting out?
Fernando: Bravo friend, go ahead, this is worth all the damn pain, there will be difficult moments but there we must show what we are truly made of.
Blackened Horde: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Fernando: In fact we have already started, we have 5 songs for the new but we will wait to continue working on the rest of our material by the end of next year. We do not want to lose the north and we go without stopping.
Blackened Horde: What does the future hold for the band??
Fernando: The future of the band is something exciting, in the present, the diffusion of capital phase of karma continues with some concerts that are already programmed, several surprises!!! New material in the long term, we will share on our social networks, so stay tuned!!
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/altarsofrebellion/
https://altarsofrebellion.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.instagram.com/altarsofrebellion/
https://twitter.com/Altarsofrebel
https://www.reverbnation.com/altarsofrebellion
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0yfSWfCL8NK8oXhsIYgDPl
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5iozQ4CCs5L8dk1pFFt6Bw