The band I’m inviting you to meet today, Inculter, may be a complete unknown for many of our Lectors, but the truth is different for this Norwegian Black Thrash band, because our shores are not uncharted territory. A year and a half ago, Inculter played in Madrid and Barcelona at the first edition of the Catalan association Manguales’ eponymous festival. This festival, which was also scheduled to take place in our land, VLC, had to be canceled due to the disasters caused by the DANA.
But in VALENCIA’N’METAL AROUND THE WORLD, who always looking for a great new bands to speak and learn with, when know the existence of Inculter and after listening carefully, didn’t hesitate for a moment to contact with them.
Remi Andrè Nygård, Inculter‘s guitarist and lead vocals, very kindly accepted my invitation to participate to my portal. And here’s what he told me.
Kat: Hello Remi! And thank you so much to take a little of your time for response a few questions for our webzine VALENCIA’N’METAL AROUND THE WORLD. Let’s begin! Inculter is a Norwegian band that is relatively little known here at SPN. So, for those who don’t know you yet, tell me, when and who started Inculter? Are you the same members who started it or have there been changes in you line up?
Remi: Hi! Inculter started as a thrashing duo in 2012. Back then it was just me (Remi) on guitar/vocals and Even Bakke on drums, we were only 14 and 12 years old at the time. We released a couple of singles the first year, before our first bass player Cato Bakke joined the band in 2013. It was with this lineup we made our debut EP (Stygian Deluge) and our debut full-length (Persisting Devolution, 2015). Since then we have released two more full length albums and many changes have been made to the lineup. The latest album was Morbid Origin, which was released in 2023.
K.: For many people Norway is the quintessential birthplace of Black Metal, because many of the best Black Metal bands have come from there. Do you think Norway has special characteristics for Black Metal that aren’t found in other countries or does it have nothing to do with it?
Remi: Yes for sure! I have a feeling that the 90s Black Metal sound has morphed its way into many of the other sub-genres of the Metal scene in Norway. Many of the bands doing Thrash or Death Metal here has some kind of inspirations coming from the Black Metal, which can make for a kind of unique and darker sound to the genres.
K.: Yes, I am agree with your point of view. But luckily the Norwegian scene doesn’t only live off BM because your scene have many other bands like Turbonegro, Chrome Division or The Carburetors and many that could make us consider that Norway’s mainstream it could be Black Metal and the Underground could be the everything else. Don’t you think it’s a little unfair that, given the size of your scene, Norway is only known for one genre?
Remi: I don’t know if it’s unfair, but I certainly think that people should open their eyes to the Norwegian Thrash and Death Metal scene. We have some of the best new bands in these genres, but they never get the full recognition that they deserve. Check out Abhorration and Sovereign, both bands released absolutely fantastic debut albums last year, best Death Metal albums I’ve heard in a long time.
K.: I am agree with you again and I’ll check it up those bands you recommend and I will listen to them. When I started to listen Metal, one of the bands that caught my attention the most within your scene was, of course, Aura Noir and their unique way of fusing Black and Thrash.
Was Aura Noir the reason by you decided for this style?
Remi: They were definitely a part of the equation, though not the whole reason of course. I’ve loved Aura Noir ever since I discovered them fifteen years ago, and they continue to amaze me both on record and live.
K.: Yes! They are still incredible. But, could you explain to me in your own words what Black / Thrash is?
Remi: I would just say that it is a mix of Thrash and Black metal. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that. Just listen to Aura Noir, they are the prime example.
K.: And why do you think there are sectors that still don’t consider this genre like an original and unique style?
Remi: It’s been around since the 80s/90s, so it’s not like it’s groundbreaking to mix the genres nowadays.
K.: Aura Noir’s influence is present in many other bands like Condor or Nekromantheon. Would you like to be able to participate together in a kind of ‘The Aura Noir Legacy Fest’? Has anyone ever considered it?
Remi: Haha, well who knows. I think the Aura Noir guys would be quite embarrassed if something like that would ever happen though.
Inculter (2023, ‘Morbid Origin’ photo session)
K.: In Inculter you seek the purist musical form of Black / Thrash. However, having listened (and on several occasions) to your first three albums: ‘Persisting Devolution’ (2015), ‘Fatal Visions’ (2019) and ‘Morbid Origin’ (2023), I realized that your musical expression is darker than other bands like Condor or Nekromantheon. Do you agree? And if you agree, why do you think there is this nuance that separates you from the others?
Remi: That is kind of a subjective matter, I haven’t really thought of our music as any darker than Condor or Nekromantheon, but if you feel that, it’s cool! There are definitely nuances that separate the Norwegian Thrash bands, I’ve always felt that each has its own style within the genre. It may not always be very apparent to new listeners, but if you dive into it, you can really hear lots of differences.
K.: As I mentioned before, Inculter’s latest album, Morbid Origin, was released in 2023. Are you preparing new material to go back into the studio?
Remi: Yes! We’re hoping to go to the studio to record a new album this year. We have lots of new material, we just need to find time to rehearse a lot and complete the songs.
K.: Great news! We will be on the lookout. Inculter currently with Edged Circle Productions, a Norwegian label focused, according to my information, on Black Metal. Tell me, is it difficult for labels nowadays to take care with bands that practice a style as unconventional as yours?
Remi: It’s pretty obvious that Black/Thrash isn’t a luxurious genre. I don’t know how labels work with such niche genres, but it seems to have been doing fine for us at least, not a lot of money, but neither a lot of expenses, so I think we’re all good.
K.: And do you think sometimes it wouldn’t be better to leave everything in the digital platforms or are you one of those who prefer the physical format no matter what?
Remi: Physical format all the way. Fans of this genre luckily still buy records. Digital is fine of course, but for myself, I don’t feel like full satisfaction of releasing a record before I hold the physical format in my hands.
K.: The fact that Black/Thrash combines the best of both styles, is that also reflected in the lyrics? Who usually handles the lyrics in Inculter?
Remi: The lyrics are usually written by me or Daniel (Tveit, drums). It reflects all kinds of stuff, from occult rituals to mental troubles.
K.: I see… with this, the themes are unlimited. If I know well, your last show was on May 28th in Bergen. Do you have more dates closed? Will you be at any festivals this summer?
Remi: We don’t have anything that has been announced yet. This year we will focus on finishing the next album and maybe do a few shows if we find time for it.
K.: That’s a great goal, too. I know that the last year you visit Spain for a few shows. Do you like return to SPN?
Remi: Yeah correct! We were doing three shows with the fellow Norwegian thrashers Nekromantheon. Sadly the tragic flood in Valencia happened, we were supposed to do one of the shows there. So first priority would be to be back in Valencia to make up for the show that didn’t happen.
K.: Oh! That’s make me happy! I hope it can be true and I have the opportunity to see you live. So, Remi if you want to add anything else, go ahead!
Remi: Thanks for the interview! Hopefully we will have a new album in the not so far future, so stay tuned. Cheers.
K.: We will. Thanks so much for you time. Very appreciated.
Inculter in RRSS
https://www.instagram.com/inculterofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/Inculter
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/6frSuLML1AfhbPSQv67pAL