I had the honour to do an interview with the notorious Gilbert Miranda: a talented Costa Rican maniac renowned for his artwork and involvement in killer bands like Paganus Doctrina and Insepulto. Enjoy the interview.
Greetings, Gilbert! Firstly, can you give us an update on the current status of your two bands, Paganus Doctrina and Insepulto, including a brief description of each output's sound and aesthetics?
Hi Jim! Thanks for the interview, mate.
Paganus Doctrina is on hold since 2015. I have no time nor will to write new music at the moment since I founded Lingua Mortis Artwork back in 2016. All my efforts are totally oriented to strengthen LM as much as possible since it is my passion and my job at this very moment in my life. Paganus Doctrina is extreme Black/Death Metal. Perhaps somewhere in the future I might pick the guitar up and write some new tunes, but that’s not in schedule at the moment.
In regards of Insepulto: I’m not part of it since 2018. So, I have nothing to say about it anymore.
What can you tell us about Lingua Mortis Artwork and how it all started? Are you able to make a living from it?
Lingua
Mortis Artwork is the brand I founded in 2016 to develop myself as an
artist within the metal scene. It came out spontaneously and with no
plans or expectations at all. I was unemployed back then and had no
income at all nor any chance to get a new job on the Construction/
Architecture field because of the economic crisis back then. Then all of a sudden, Morbid Funeral, a friend's band, contacted me to do a layout
for the reissue of their album "The Occult" on tape format. I suggested
them to do a custom made artwork for the cover instead of a digital
collage. They agreed and I started working on pen in an amateurish
drawing that became the cover. I thought to myself that if I would
invest more time into practice and lots of discipline things might
become
better and bigger. So that is how I started practicing drawing every
day until the present day, looking to improve my skills, explore new
techniques, everything by prove and mistake. I started posting my
drawings on Facebook and people seemed to like it. Then, INVOCATION
SPELLS from Chile knocked
on my door
and purchased
my first drawing to adorn the front cover for their second album
released via Hells headbangers, and that was quite a surprise and huge
incentive to actually pursue on getting better in the art fields.
They took an amateur practice drawing for it and HH released it!
Fuck! That was the moment I realized a youth dream could actually
become something serious. And that is how I started Lingua Mortis
Artwork, my passion and my current job. I love it! It is a demanding
job but it never feels like you are actually working. Perhaps I won’t
become a millionaire but it certainty makes feel alive and I’m able to
pay the bills. And that my friend, is quite an achievement if you ask
me. I took the name Lingua Mortis after a song by the Chilean black
metal band, FORCE OF DARKNESS. Since the semantic of my art deals
with the darker aspects of death and the occult, I think the name
fits
perfectly to my aims.
What are some of your biggest artistic inspirations, and what does your process entail when working on a new piece?
My inspiration comes from many sources. Visual artists in the metal scene have always inspired me a lot: Mark Riddick, Christopher Moyen, Juanjo Castellano, Ed Repka, Dereck Riggs, Dan Sea Grave, Necrolord, Daniel Corcuera, and lots more. Also, music plays an important role as well as literature. I’m constantly reading and watching in order to improve and get inspiration.
The process of my work is not that different from the one I applied when being involved in architecture. The client comes over and asks me to do a logo or artwork, I inform them on my rates and different alternatives I offer. Once we agreed to work together I start to discuss ideas that comes from both sides in order to fit and surpass the expectations of my client. Once the concept is set I start a series of drafts and sketches that I bring to the band with the aim to set a definitive composition to work with. During the process I bring advances for them to get a sneak peek on how everything is devolving. Once the artwork is done, it is delivered when it is totally paid. I don’t request money advances. I haven’t had the need for that so far. I have the luck that the band’s I’ve work with are serious and honest. I’m so thankful for this! I know cases of other designers that are really sad when it comes to irresponsible and blatant “clients”… Basically, that is the way it works.
What's happening with your 'zine "Call To The Infernal Hordes"? Is it still active? How many issues have you put out?
CTTIH is dead since 2015. I put only 9 issues out of which the first three were written in Spanish while the rest were published in English. CTTIH represented my second endeavor as a 'zine editor, I had a former one published in the '90s called UNHOLY. There are no plans to come up with a 'zine anymore, have no time nor will to do it. I respect so much 'zine editors because it demands a hell of work and devotion. I love doing artwork for printed fanzines. I would like to have more commissions in that department.
What are you currently listening to? Discover any good bands lately? How's the scene in Costa Rica these days?
At this very moment I’m listening to Iron Maiden’s “Matter of Life and Death” album because of my woman’s recommendation. It happens that it represents her favorite Maiden album and I haven't had the chance to actually listen to it. And I loved it! I’m more of a classical Iron Maiden era fan, you know. But I ended up loving this record. I need to purchase it sometime this year.
I’m not discovering that many bands as I used to do in the past. In any case, I’ve been recently possessed by the works of these bands while working: ARCTROS, AND OCEANS, SATANIKA, SLAUGHTER MESSIAH, SLAUGHTBBATH, LIK, ASPHYX, GOD DETHRONED, INVINCIBLE FORCE, VULTURE, COBRA SPELL, MIDNIGHT PRIEST, IRON SAVIOR, ONSLAUGHT, GRAVE DIGGER,SKULL FIST, DARK FORTRESS, TESTAMENT, SODOM… and lots more.
I’m not that updated on the current status of the Costa Rican scene. I have managed to know some bands mainly because they approached me for an artwork commission. I can recommend HERESY, PAGANIST, EXECUTOR, TROBEROTH and TEDIO. Certainly there are many more but don’t recall any at this moment.
Paganus Doctrina's 1995 demo "Natural Inbio de paganismo" is a cult gem in every conceivable way. How old were you guys when you recorded the material, and do you have any anecdotes to share from those days? If I'm not mistaken, you also had contact with Euronymous?
I was 18 years old when recorded the vocals for the demo. Anecdote is that I had terrible throat infection because of a heavy flu. I was barely recovering and I had to do the vocals anyway. I think you can hear that in several vocal parts. The demo is going to be reissued on CD format somewhere this year by an Uruguayan label I’m friends with and which will include some bonus material. I will make a painting based on the original demo cover to serve as front cover. Yeah, I had contact with Euronymous in 1993, we exchanged a couple of letters before he got killed. Not much to say about it actually.
When you guys recorded “Omnipotence Aeternae Diabolous” – were there any pressure to make a record that would withstand the test of time? Are you satisfied with the result? Furthermore, what can you tell us about the themes explored on that record?
There was no pressure in that regard. We just needed to expel all this black energy into sonic chaos and that is what we accomplished to do with OAD. I’m still satisfied with it. I wouldn’t change anything. It represents us the way we felt back then and it is black and corrosive as we wanted to be. Venomous, chaotic…with mistakes and everything. Love it!
Lyric-wise, it is a complete compendium devoted to the archetype of Lucifer, the philosophy behind Satanism and the occult. It’s up to the listener to create a landscape of reflection while getting a listening or just enjoy the poisonous chaos. Both choices are fine by me.
What’s your stance on social media and the myriad of clowns that pollute these platforms? What’s the pros and cons in your opinion?
I don’t care about people in social media anymore. If they want to make a fool of themselves it’s up to them. I use Social Media only to promote my projects, and more importantly LINGUA MORTIS ARTWORK. If you want to check my portfolio and follow my development/ improvement here’s where you can find me:
www.instagram.com/lingua_mortis_artwork
www.facebook.com/linguamortiscr
Email: u.xerxes.h@gmail.com
10 albums you can’t live without.
It’s hard for me to choose only 10 albums. Here are some of the most important records in my life: Iron Maiden (Seventh Son of A Seventh Son), King Diamond (Fatal Portrait), Def Leppard (Hysteria), Death (Scream Bloody Gore), Sarcofago (INRI), Mayhem (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas), Slayer (Show No Mercy), Kreator (Endless Pain), Testament (New Order) and Metallica (And Justice For All).
Do you think mankind should be self-governed, and if so, do you think we are capable of that, or are we too stupid and ignorant?
History shows we are useless as a mass. And the current pandemic situation shows it. No matter how much knowledge advances deep inside there is a complete lack of common sense. There is actual fear to life by the constant menace of death, and many just enslave themselves and stop actually living. Instead, they bet their existence locked inside their houses, like a bird into a cage and governments promote it as being “save”. At least the bird is there against its will and nature brought it more common sense than us, if you open the door it will fly away. We will close the door and embrace being locked. Death should be a reminder that we MUST LIVE without fear, because no matter how healthy or sick you are, you will be GONE someday, by a virus or by anything else. So yes, I think we are too stupid and ignorant.
Lastly, what does the future hold for your endeavors and how can people get in touch? Thanks for your time!
Thank you for the space in your site, Jim. It was quite an honor. Currently I’m in the process to find a new brand for my artwork endeavors oriented to the tattoo business. It might happen sooner or later this year. I will release new t-shirts and goodies as well. Keeping myself busy with Lingua Mortis is my priority now, as well as spending time with the people I care about and love. you can contact me via the details mentioned somewhere above. Cheers!
