New Zealand duo KRUOR NOCTIS play harrowing and raw black metal and have already released an excellent EP entitled "Craven Whispers" and two splits. As I was very impressed by the material on their latest EP I decided to contact the band for an interview.
Hails! Can you tell us a little bit about the formation of KRUOR NOCTIS and from which portal this malevolent entity spawned from?
Vaari: Vaark and I probably haven't seen each other for about 7 years, we used to jam a bit but never got a project off the ground together. When he asked out of the blue if I wanted to do some vocals for his project, I said yes.. I had been fairly inactive for a few years, and had not attempted putting anything vocal wise together for over a decade, so it seemed like a good challenge.
Vaark: I formed Kruor Noctis in 2006, it started as a one man entity. I always wrote black metal since around 2003 whenever I had spare time but I wanted to manifest something specific to put a far darker focus into the material I produced. I didn't want to wait to find the right people with a similar goal because I lived in a quite remote part of New Zealand and nothing would have come of it. Vaari and I had worked together in the past so when I started on new material he came to mind immediately.
What does KRUOR NOCTIS mean and what inspired the name?
Vaark: At the time of the bands inception I had a keen interest in Kaosgnosticism. I wanted a name that, in some way, represented the transformation from this world to the next. Blood Night came to mind with Blood representing the life force, and Night representing the void we all came from, and return to.
Which bands influenced your songwriting and how would you describe your sound to those who haven’t heard it before?
Vaari: There are some risks with answering that question, let's just say I was 14 in the early 90's. If anyone asks what we sound like, I usually answer dense and bleak, it’s uncomfortable music for uncomfortable people.
Vaark: Dissection was and is a big influence on me, but I wouldn't say our sound has any similarities. Kruor Noctis is an aural wall of chaotic asphyxiation.
What kind of images do you wish to instil in the listener’s mind when he/she is listening to your music?
Vaari: If you are familiar with Thomas Ligotti, I want people to have that very real yet unknowable horror creep up on them. Little glimpses of the dark behind the dark.
Vaark: I never try to consider the listener when I write this music. The emotions I feel whilst writing it have an entirely menacing and hostile intent.
I’d like to know a little bit about the recording circumstances of “Craven Whispers” and what inspired its bleak atmosphere.
Vaari: Remote, very remote. Trying to snatch moments to get anything done, with no sleep and a newborn. Thankfully Vaark and I don't have a problem with honest criticism, so if it makes to the cut, then it is not too shit by our reckoning.
Vaark: I was studying philosophy and felt inspired. I wrote and recorded a bunch of material and forwarded it all to Maldorer and Vaari to have their input. It all fell into place on its own.
I feel like your ambient parts are actually quite interesting and truly dark, as opposed to how other bands use ambience to make their music sound “nice” – care to comment?
Vaari: Visions of Ulnahar is pretty fucking great. Even in the moments of prettiness, there is something building there on the horizon. Check him out. Do it.
Vaark: I wanted a meditative element to contrast our music. A space of inflection before the storm.
I’ve been interested in the NZ scene for a while now, and know quite a few bands from there (Ulcerate, Verberis, Sinistrous Diabolus, etc.) Do you think your country has a healthy scene considering how small it is? What’s the pros and cons in your opinion?
Vaari: The scene is not something that I have engaged with really, even if I have been tangentially present for an age. The pool of good, accessible drummers is a major con, but I am sure that is true of every scene.
Vaark: The talent pool is quite limited, you will find a lot of the same people in any of the bands that are any good. There is a lot of bullshit here like anywhere else. I think New Zealand being a more isolated and bleak Norway has something to do with the great sound we have here. People are recognising it more which is good.
What’s some of the best albums you’ve heard this year? Do you make an effort to check out new bands?
Vaari: I don't think I am in touch with what black metal is up to this year. Naxzul's "Irkalla" is pretty great. The newest albums that have remained getting some play are Delirant's self titled, amazing Spanish band, Vitriol "Chrysalis" and Cultus Profano's "Accursed Possession"
Vaark: The Warmoon Lord and Chamber of Unlight albums are superb, very much looking forward to the new Pestilential Shadows album also.
What’s your opinion on your neighbours’ Australia and their metal scene? Surely the greatness of bands such as Destroyer 666, Bestial Warlust, Portal, etc., cannot be denied!
Vaari: They can do them, we can do us.
Vaark: We don't have a lot to do with them. Nazxul and Drowning the Light are great.
Now I’d like you to share your opinion on the following tracks and give each a rating out of 10:
Vaari: This going to suck, nothing personal other bands, wholeheartedly believe that music is about doing what is right for you and fuck everyone else.
Vaari: Dimmu with added grit. Would probably give another spin. 6/10
Vaark: Love Seance Records and what they do, this isn't bad for what it is. 7/10
Vaark: I enjoyed this, for me it sounded as though Angelcorpse and Blasphemophagher had some grotesque offspring, enjoy the beherit worship in the middle too. 8/10
Vaari: Apparently I am going to be that prick that compares everyone to old bands. Kinda Entombed hooks with early Mayhem aggression. Not sure if for me. 6.5/10
Vaari: Ok. Just the soundtrack to my 1999/2000. This was the song that turned me on to the madness that is Steve Austin. This song is perfect example of communicating what you want heard. 11/10.
Vaark: Don't know enough about this genre, not what I'd listen to. 0/10
Vaari: No thanks. 2/10
Vaark: Again, not my thing. 0/10
Vaari: A touch more polished than I usually like, but I got distracted and started to listening to the rest of the songs on the album. They have that "something" interesting that is them. 8/10
Vaark: This is pretty unusual, I enjoyed it for the most part. 7/10
How is the whole covid bullshit over in New Zealand and how has it affected you? Do you think it’s mandatory to do exactly as the government tells us? Is humanity free or enslaved?
Vaari: The lockdown was pretty surreal at first but having to still work kinda normalised pretty quick. Cogs still have to turn, the machine just changed it's messaging. Humans choose their masters, that is what option B is for.
Vaark: New Zealand handled it pretty well. Isolation helps. I tend to turn to experts on matters I know nothing about, if our government is heeding the advice of experts then that is probably the best advice I could take.
What’s some of your favourite films of all time and what is your opinion on New Zealand cinema? I’ve seen some entertaining films from your country such as The Ugly (underrated!), Black Sheep, Brain Dead, What We Do In The Shadows, Bad Taste, etc.
Vaari: Love a good slowburn. The Wailing (2016), A Dark Song (2016) and Hereditary (2018) are my recent go to recommendations. And anything Kubrick, Jodorowsky or Lynch. NZ cinema can be fun, but it seems a little scared to move beyond the clown mask and into something real. I guess that's why Once Were Warriors (1994) was such a stand out, it peeled back that "she'll be right mate" veneer that people like to hide behind.
Vaark: Once Were Warriors shows a side of New Zealand many probably have no idea about. I am a big Lord of the Rings fan also, but I am mostly a sci-fi fan. Arrival, Bladerunner, Pandorum and Event Horizon are some of my favourites.
If your music was a weapon & could kill people, how would they die?
Vaari: Isolation tank dropped into the Mariana Trench. Enjoy.
Vaark: Pull the air from your body. So if there's air left in your lungs, they will rupture. Oxygen in the rest of your body will also expand. You'll balloon up to twice your normal size, but you won't explode.
Finally, what does the future hold for KRUOR NOCTIS? Thanks for your time!
Vaari: A full release once we navigate the current roster of riffs for the cull.
Vaark: Our split with three other groups of New Zealand Black metal acolytes has just been released. Four very strong tracks from a few long standing New Zealand black metal acts along with two newer ones. This is available through Maelstrom Brink Records both digitally and on Cassette through their bandcamp
