Already a year after their previous album, the American symphonic black/death metallers RAPHEUMETS WELL released their overwelming third record „Enders Door“, which had just a minor weakness, namely its production. Drummer Joshua talked to us about why the sound of their albums still challenges the band, what there is to know about their own thought up sci-fi comsos and what probably will happen to Stephen Hawking in case extraterrestrials will land on earth.
You created your own sci-fi world for your music, so I guess your bandname RAPHEUMETS WELL derives from that. What exactly is the meaning behind it?
The name is a personification for gravity wells throughout the multiverse, in this particular dimension, the name Rapheumets is used to express the conscious endeavors of the guardian of inter-dimensional travel. The dimension in which the plot of our story takes place, it is a bio-centristic universe and life is a catalyst for the evolution of organic matter. So “life” in the sense of “self-awareness” can be attributed to things such as black holes and even planetoids.
You play symphonic death and black metal. Which bands and musicians serve you as role models for that?
We have a large array of influence, so here it goes: Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Morbid Angel, Nile, Acid Bath, Hypocrisy, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Septicflesh, The Faceless, Fallujah, Testament, Black Crown Initiate, Enfold Darkness, and Devin Townsend.
What, in your opinion, separates you from other bands of the same genre?
Well, we actually never stick right to the genre. We never sit down and think “we are going to write black metal or death metal”, we simply write and this is what comes out. We actually write purely to the story. We write the story first, then we auditor-ly write to the emotion and plot of the story. It is quite a task, much different than simply writing a cool riff, we have to find the actual emotion in the story and make it all connect.
Enders Door“ is already your third album, just one year after „The Exile“. How did you manage to create such a monster of a record in such a short period of time?
We love to write, but with the new line up we thought it was necessary to write a new album to showcase the new members abilities. Honestly, I do not know how we did it either! (laughs) We have been super busy, non stop trying to bring our vision to the metal scene.
As already mentioned, you are telling your own sci-fi story through the music of your band. Can you give us a short overlook on it?
It is quite complicated. Actually in its complication we are hoping to lure people who enjoy things like the “Elder Scrolls Series” and “Mass Effect” which are very lore rich epics/video games. We created a dimension using very similar physics as our own universe in terms of how life evolved (according to current science). We plugged in the variable that life is a force similar to electromagnetism, the strong and weak nuclear forces, and gravity. Life as a current, a cosmic stream. From this, the first inhabitants evolved and became the first masters of this verse, as bestowed by the collective conscious called Aea. They then aided in the propagation of life through out the dimension. Unfortunately with the value of change, turmoil ensues thus begins the plots of our album. Its very complicated to sum up. The first album is the great of these first beings (which are called the Atai), the second album is a complex story that happens during the first war in which a character “Darmak Ilnda” discovers that a rebel elder Atai has indoctrinated the hierarchy of his planet, in his benevolence he was discovered by insidious servants of the Elder in which he is exiled and tortured (in a rather complex way). But though circumstances he returns to his home-world in which he literally destroys his planet.
Which part of the story is told on “Enders Door“?
Of course our newest story follows up on the fate of a very important character from the first album “Eishar” who is the created daughter of the Elder Atai “Sainath”. Others know her as the great betrayer and the left hand of death. A traveler, through complex reasons in trying to find his brother’s wrecked star vessel, discovers her planet of imprisonment in which he is seduced by her. In discovering truth about her, he flees to find his brothers distress beacon but instead he finds a “faced” door. This door is a gateway to the antagonist of the first story “Urgael” a being who feeds on organic dimensions (or any dimension that is woven from the lifestream of Aea). In short, there is a complicated love story in which leads to the main character being imprisoned in a vile place and thus begins his journey (the story of course will bring all of this together). So, this story is basically centered around the traveler, his journey to find his brother, and his complicated love story for a planet killing demi-goddess.
Do you consider one day also telling your sci-fi story through another medium apart from music?
Yes, we wrote a book! WOOOO! We printed the books off and they can be purchased through our store or directly from us. We will be working on mediums to get this book out to the public.
Is the thing we see on the artwork the “Enders Door“? What else can you tell us about the cover?
That is the door itself, the physical beacon for its presence in our dimension. The door is the beacon to Urgael, a primordial “thing” that is even complicated for us in writing its existence. (laughs) Urgael has found a way to slowly transition, adapt to the physics of this particular dimension through the endeavors of “Eishar” who is working a conduit for Urgael to manifest. You also see triangle headed creature called a “Dreth” which have a very important role in the story (which is revealed in the story). I will say that the Dreth are very evolved descendants of the very first “mortal” empire to space travel. There is a very complex story in who they are and why they evolved the way they have.
Which track on the “Enders Door“ is the most impressive to you and why?
That is going to be hard. I think the most diverse is “The Diminished Strategist” but the wildest is “Unveiling The Sapient”.
How was the feedback on your new album? If there was negative criticism, can you understand it and how do you handle it?
(Laughs) Yes there was! We are not trying to put a typical black metal or symphonic metal out. We literally built an entire world and musically scored it. It was hard due to the fact we are from the mountains of N.C., we had to fully produce everything ourselves. Everything you see is us. Unfortunately the music industry is unforgiving and some of our new changes was not well received to some music critiques. But we are absolutely ok with this, this does not deter us at all. Actually it encourages us that what we are doing is different and our audience/fans tends to be thoughtful and very introspective due to the complexity of our mission. But all in all, the reception has been great!
The production of the record is very powerful, but unfortunately also a bit chaotic and blurred. Are you satisfied with the production? In which way do you consider it to be accomplished or not?
Well, we are self produced with very limited equipment. We simply do not have the budget or resources that long term veteran bands have. But that does not stop us and will not. „The Exile“ was critiqued for being too crisp and digitized, this album we tried a more natural sound approach (lots of mics) and less digital. This has been critiqued as well, but we can use this information on the next album to improve our sound. There is a lot going on, the symphonies a lot are done layer by layer and can be up to 30 tracks. It is a lot of sound! But we are humbly still learning and improving our production, well until we can allocate the resources for a awesome producer. (hints at hypothetical producer)
You made use of guest musicians for guitar and bass on “Enders Door“. Why is that so and how will you handle that in the future?
Jonathan Finney was a founding member, but due to family complications he had to step out. So we wanted to honor him on this album. Brian Kingsland (the guest guitarist) is one of the best guitarist I have ever known. I have the pleasure of being his drummer in the band Enthean and he recently joined Nile. So, having him on the album is a huge treat for us!
How important is it to you to present your music live in contrary to writing new music and continuing with the story?
This is a work in progress. We are trying to relay our story while keeping a “metal centric” mission. Our live performances are starting to incorporate more visuals with actors joining us on upcoming shows. It is two different worlds, writing and performing but we are hard at work.
What are your next plans for RAPHEUMETS WELL?
International touring! We actually have a lot we are working on with promoting the book along with an album, working on traveling more, and even the possibility of some extra musical content coming out soon to showcase our new members a little more (possibly an EP?) as we have a neat story highlighting a particular plot we are wanting to share. We do have one more music video on its way!
Let’s now go through our traditional Metal1.info-Brainstorming:
Star Wars – Star Trek: Both, at once, in a three-way kind of thing.
Vesania: Just now discovered them, thank you, they’re awesome, we will be listening to this more!
Extraterrestrials: They are going to kick everyone’s ass and make Stephen Hawking a giant metal spider, strictly for their amusement.
Technicality – atmosphere: Atmosphere paints the world and technicality gives it contrast.
President Trump: We heard he likes to pee on 5th graders progress reports, so if that is someone’s interest.
RAPHEUMETS WELL in five years: We are going to be sexier, taller (for some), and we hope to see our brand expand to encompass the story and music as a full entity with a full production (a metal opera!).
Alright, once again thank you very much for this interview. The last words are yours:
Thank you very much for your time and everyone remember your local music scene. Some of the best musicians and bands are right beside you.
28. Juli 2017 Stephan Rajchl