(The debut album of the Greek black metal band Corax B.M., released this past January, drew the attention of Comrade Aleks, and that led to the following friendly discussion he had with the band’s two founders.)
Corax B.M. isn’t the most original band name in the metal world, but sometimes it’s better to keep things simple and straight. As the band’s story is, for example.
Corax (guitars, vocals), Énnea (vocals), Morker (drums), and Peisithanatos (bass) started the band in Athens, 2021. Some of them had an experience of performing heavy or extreme music before, some didn’t, that wasn’t an obstacle, and the EP Spread the Occult appeared in 2022. Those four tracks already pointed the direction the band had chosen to follow, and it was performed more accurately and sharper in the Pagana full-length (2024, The Circle Music).
Corax B. M. switched from occultism to heathenism very naturally, and the band’s approach to black metal with a well-known Hellenic touch helped them to create a remarkable piece of dark art. It’s mysterious, ominous, and evil to some degree, just as Hellenic black metal should be. We discussed Pagana and the band’s current plans with Corax and Morker.
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Hi there! How are you? Who’s online today?
Greetings! We’re doing okay. Hope you’re doing okay too! We are Corax and Morker, the founding members of Corax B.M.
Okay, Corax B.M is a new band, so please tell the story behind its origin. What made you join the black metal horde?
Morker: Corax saw some videos of mine playing the drums, so he reached out and offered me to collaborate to make a black metal project. We were going through some dark times in Greece back then, so our effort followed its way fluently. After me and Corax released two singles (“Bewitched”, “Thy Faithful Servant”), Peisithanatos and Énnea joined us to complete our first E.P. Spread The Occult. A proposal from the Polish record label Pagan Records made our project take the form of a solid band. Now we have two new members, Medusa and Obscuroth.
I see that Peisithanatos is one of the founding members of another local black metal act, Drama Noir, and Corax and Énnea perform in Blossom Death. What is this band? Is it active?
Corax: Yes! Both Drama Noir and Blossom Death are still active! Drama Noir recently released an album and now they’re focused on live performances. With Blossom Death we also released some new content and about two weeks ago we had a live show.
Actually, I need to write to Drama Noir too, they’re in my list. Well, Drama Noir took part in the five-way split Legends and Warriors of the Corinthian Throne. Don’t you want to support Corax B.M. by joining a good company in the form of a split too? Maybe you have a band on your mind?
Corax: Of course, we’d be interested in doing that! When the right opportunity arises, we’ll be sure to take advantage of it. Thinking about it now, perhaps our labelmates Kalt Vindur would be a good choice. They just released a great album Magna Mater – check it out if you haven’t yet! (Editor’s note: A good idea, and we recently published Comrade Aleks’ interview of them too.)
Actually I’ve sent them questions almost the same time I sent you. Your first EP Spread the Occult was released just a year ago, and the first question is… how serious were you about using these occult topics? Is it part of your life, or is it a necessity? A code to show that you belong to a specific genre?
Morker: We are using these Occult topics to express ourselves. We face every religion as Myths, we see them like stories that are trying to pass a secret message for the universe and the whole point of existence in a more human friendly way. So the meaning behind all these occult topics is that no matter if you’re lost in the dark, trust the process and have faith in the universe, because sometimes darkness can show you the light.
Did you witness a manifesting of the occult world in your own life? I don’t ask for stories like King Diamond told about ghosts and poltergeist in his own house, but if you have some…
Morker: If you’re using the full potential of your mind, you can manifest anything you want! But never forget about Karma… in the end everything is just energy.
The Magus himself performed vocals for one of the songs on this EP. How did you get in touch with him? Was it easy to get him?
Morker: Corax knew him in person before, as they’re both into martial arts. So when we asked him that it would be a huge honour to sing a song with us, he accepted almost immediately.
Spread the Occult was recorded with Dion Christodoulatos as your sound engineer. He also played with Corax before that. Did you return to him when you worked on Pagana?
Corax: Yes, we did! In addition, Morker recorded the drums at Eightball Club. Though, the final edit and mix/master was done by Dion.
Pagana was recorded with two bass guitars. How did you make this decision? What kind of sound did you search for?
Corax: We wanted to focus on a darker/deeper sound, but still melodic. Through the experimental phase of our pre-production we felt like we should work on something like this.
Can we consider this turn as a Necromantia’s influence?
Corax: Could be!
There was one song with Greek lyrics on the EP, and now most of the lyrics are written in your mother tongue. Do you feel more comfortable this way?
Corax: Writing lyrics in our native language can feel more natural, but it’s more like staying true to our roots.
Can you tell more about Pagana‘s lyrics? What kind of themes do you raise in your songs?
Corax: Our main theme when it comes to lyrics is still Dark and Occult, but in a more free spirit way… more like a Pagan way.
What meaning do you put in “a Pagan way”? A state of mind, an active practice of rituals, a worship to ancient deities, or something else?
Corax: More like a state of mind
You are influenced by the Hellenic black metal trinity to some degree, but there are also thrash elements in your songs. Are you into old Destruction’s stuff, or do you prefer some other bands?
Morker: Each and every one of us has different tastes in music, so when we try to combine some of our influences together this is what you get. Some of our mutual influences are Rotting Christ, Sepultura, Behemoth, Be’lakor, Mayhem, and Darkthrone.
Did you have guest musicians this time too?
Morker: No, we did not.
I see that you have played live since 2022. Does that mean that Greek metalheads have already heard some of your new songs?
Corax: Indeed! Yes, but we asked them not to film anything because they’re not ready to go public yet, and they respected that and we feel honoured!
How difficult or easy is it to organize a black metal gig in your region now? Do you take part in only black metal shows or do you just use any opportunity you have?
Corax: Honestly, nowadays is more difficult than it used to be, but in the end there’s always people that support. No! We are openminded enough not to judge other bands by their genre.
How popular are such gigs nowadays? Before how many visitors do you usually play?
Corax: Well, it depends on the gig. Metal clubs can do from 100-350 visitors and festivals from 700 and more. So far, aside with other friendly bands we are always half full.
What is your gigs schedule for 2024? Will you play outside Greece?
Morker: We have one live show scheduled so far. On March 1st, we have a live presentation for our album Pagana.
Okay, thanks for the interview. Did we skip something? What are your last words to our readers?
The pleasure is ours, thank you for your time. Just keep your minds open and hope you enjoy our new album that just came out!
https://www.facebook.com/CoraxB.M/
https://paganrecords.bandcamp.com/album/spread-the-occult
https://coraxbmthecircle.bandcamp.com/album/pagana