Noctuary is an American black metal band that has been in the underground for a long time. We talked to guitarist Joseph Van Fossen and drummer Rob Alaniz that satisfied our curiosity about the career of the band and the new album "When Fires Breed Blood"

You have a new record in the stores now. "When Fires Breed Blood". Which are the main differences between this new record and "For Salvation..."?

Joseph: There are a lot of differences in the two. It's been 2 years since the release of For Salvation... and When Fires Breed Blood was long overdue. In those two years we had much more time to write the songs and perfect them
before entering the studio. We also had much more time in the studio to make sure the production was to our liking.

Is it correct to say that Noctuary´s Music is a blend of black metal and classical heavy metal like the one of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal? What do you think of dividing music in categories?

Joseph: Yeah.. that would be a fair description. I would actually say Noctuary is just an extreme metal band with influence from NWOBHM, Black metal, death metal, etc. As far as diving music into categories... I assume a lot of artists are against it because they assume they are so original and defy categorization... but I think it's necessary for people who want to know what kind of music that band plays, in case they would be interested in checking them out. I don't want to buy an album, expecting it to be some blazing fast necro-black metal, and it turning out to be New-York styled death metal... vice versa.


You are currently touring the USA...are there any plans to tour in Europe? What about South America?

Joseph: No plans as of yet. However, we would definitely like to get on the road in South America and Europe one day.

Why did you decide to reedit your demo "Where all Agony Prevails"? Is the new version enhanced compared to the 1996 one?

Joseph: Largactyl Records approached us originally about releasing For Salvation... The promotion, distribution and advance were just not enough to have us go for it. They offered to re-release the demo shortly after the album was recorded, and it finally was released in early 2000. The new version was remastered and the outro was updated.

I see from the tributes to bands in which you have participated that Venom, Metallica and Motorhead are bands that you like. Which other bands do you consider to be influential for you? Does everybody in the band listen to the same bands or each one has different musical tastes?

Joseph: I would say Megadeth is a big influence to us as well as Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Black Sabbath, etc. We all, pretty much, like the same bands... and then again we all like very different bands as well.

Do you feel some kind of relationships with the black metal scene of Scandinavia?

Joseph: Not really, I did have a harsh e-mail encounter with Mortiis though. Unfortunately, not much of Europe is opening themselves up to US 'black metal'... so we haven't found much support out there, but of the few who support us, they are very extreme underground individuals and we would like to go out there and perform for them one day.

I would like to ask you about the guest musicians in the new record. How did they end playing in your record? Which is the relationship that bounds you to them? (specially the one with Dr. Daniel Luszko that sounds strange for a metal band).

Joseph: Well, Albert Gonzales has been a long time friend of the band. He is an extraordinary guitarist who played with Rob back in the Evil Dead days(he also toured with Death on the Spiritual Healing tour, filling in for James Murphy). We just asked him about doing some leads on the new album and he was happy to oblige. James Reyes is another friend of the band. He is the
vocalist of another project we are involved in and he also did the artwork for the cover. Dr. Daniel Luzko is an award winning composer from Paraguay. He studied in Kansas and Poland, getting his phd in music composition. He has been my composition/theory professor for the last year and a half.

Well, regarding the last question, is it possible that new influences will arise in your music? Is Noctuary a constantly changing band? Is it possible that the completely different styles of music will appear in your music?

Joseph: Well, we're always evolving and trying new things... but we will not ever change so drastically, we stick to the formula which suits us, while expanding ideas as to not stagnate. Lately, more atonal ideas have been popping up, as well as more of an 80s influence. Only three new songs have been written so far, so anything can happen now.

How is the process of composition in the band? Who brings the main idea of a song and how do you develope this idea?

Joseph: Well, for a long time it was just myself and Ed (ex-bassist). So I took care of all of the song writing duties. Now it's a full lineup... and to keep Noctuary the same band, I still take care of most of that. The new guys definitely add their influence, and that is why we are evolving as a band. As time progresses and the new guitarist/bassist learns the noctuary style better, they will be better suited to write entire songs for the band.

This is a question for Robert Alaniz. Which was your evolution as a musician since the days in Evil Dead until now? Which are the main differences that you find between the two bands?

Rob: The evolution of my playing from Evildead on through Rise and presently in Noctuary has been for the most part a trial and error process. I am a completely self taught drummer and cant tell you what it is that i am playing from a technical standpoint, but i feel that this has forced me to be more creative and has allowed me to harness more of a feel for the music and respect for song structure as opposed to just having the music suffer from being a drum-solo with music on top. First and foremost, i care about the song, because at the end of the day thats the reason for being in a band for me. Its all about good songs. As for the difference between any of the bands
i have been in, i'll say right now that you can have all the chops as a player in the world but it wont get you anywhere if the right combination of good songs and a true bond of friendship within the ranks isnt there. I feel like i am finally in a band that cares about music more than how cool they
are (or how people percieve them to be)....

I would like to now, as a musician about the equipment that you use live and in the studio.

Joseph: Well, I personally have an arsenal of guitars that I use for different purposes: leads, rhythms, clean, etc. I also use an Ampeg vh140c head with a Marshall cab for live and studio. I borrowed Albert's Mesa Boogie Mark 3 to use for one of the rhythm tracks on the new record as well.

Rob:I used a 4 pc Pearl export, with an 8" timbalito downtuned for lack of a small drum. The cymbals were a mish mash of different types including Zildjian, Sabian and paiste custom "bells'" that were once full blown cymbals that i cracked and cut down.

Any final words for your fans in Argentina?

Joseph: Hails for your support... and hope to be able to spread our propaganda to the South American underground soon!!

Interviewed by Federico Marongiu

Roots-Comp, contributed with "Black Bleeding Soul" (1998)

For Salvation... CD (1998)

Motorhead Tribute - contributed with "Dead Forever" (1998)

Visionaries of the Macabre Vol.2 contributed with "Eternity Ever Fading" (2000)

Where All Agony Prevails-MCD, demo re-release (2000)

When Fires Breed Bood-CD (2000)

In the Sign of the Horns-Venom Tribute contributed with "Die Hard" (2000)

TBA-Metallica Tribute contributed with "Leper Messiah" (2000)

Rob Alaniz - drums

Joseph Van Fossen - guitar

John Mc Elroy - bass, vocals

Chris Price - guitar, vocals