Coming from Estonia, Goatsmegma performs that kind of Black Metal that is totally destructive and without the slightest concern to please the most sensitive ears. Below is an interview with guitarist Goathanger 666 which was conducted by my good friend Ary Necrocult who is the editor of Noctum magazine and kindly provided to Black Metal Terror magazine. To know more about Noctum magazine click HERE. Short, raw and cold interview, just like the band’s sound. Enjoy
Goatsmegma was founded in 2018, so it’s a relatively new band with only three releases. Tell us how the proposal for the creation of the band came about and with what musical and ideological proposal.
– Goatsmegma was founded in mid 2018 as a trio, but then we took in a second guitarist with whom we didn’t agree on many things so we let him go, so for some time we were a trio again and now we are a four piece again. The idea was started by our drummer and then he told me and Wroth (vocalist). Its mostly Wroth who comes up with the riffs and then we adjust the songs a little.
Bands like GOATSMEGMA are often characterized as “Bestial Black Death Metal”. Here in Brazil, due to bands like HOLOCAUSTO and GOATPENIS, the most popular term would be “War Metal”. Do you believe that both one term and the other represent GOATSMEGMA? Why?
– Because both of them have been a great influence to us.
Speaking about influences , in my opinion it all really started with HOLOCAUSTO and SARCOFAGO. HOLOCAUSTO was the first to use the theme, back in 1986 and SARCOFAGO, the first to make a sound in the described style, also in 1986, both in the WARFARE NOISE compilation. Why do you think these bands are so little mentioned when we talk about influences and about the development of War/Bestial Black Metal?
– I’d say they are not undermentioned when it comes to extreme metal. They are the bands that started this genre and they will always be one of the founding pillars even if they sound a bit different than the bands we are used to today. Is the same with Venom and second wave black metal. Venom doesn!t sound like most black metal bands today yet they have played a big part in creating it.
You have two albums released. Interestingly, both are around 20 minutes long each. In fact, together they add up to about 45 minutes, which could easily be a single album length. Is there any reason why the full lengths of Goatsmegma are so short?
– To me the album length doesn’t really matter. Should we make up 20 minutes of filler songs to meet some criteria? I think its stupid for people to try make sense of the type of release just by the time it lasts – just enjoy what the band has created and don’t think too much about the length or if its an demo, EP or an LP.
The band’s second album entitled “Goat Separatist Movement” was recently released by the Godz ov War Productions label. Talk about the recording and production process for the album.
– Well, we just hit the studio did the instrumentals in one day and a few days after Wroth did the vocals.
“Separatist Goat Movement” is a very suggestive title. Aren’t you afraid that some people might label the band sa Nazi?
– Goatsmegma is NOT a nazi band, hasn’t been and will not be. Translating our album name as nazi is just plain wrong. Our album doesn’t reflect the real world and it should be taken as purely fictional.
During the pandemic period and its restrictions, what did you do best?
– Wrote new music
Goatsmegma’s sound is reminiscent of bands like Morbosidad, Black Witchery, Archgoat and Blasphemy. How do you rate the Goatsmegma sound?
– Its hard for me to rate my own music. It’s the sound we wanted and we liked. Of course we sound kinda like those aforementioned bands because we have been fans of them for long time and they have been an inspiration to us.
What is your opinion about the War Metal style? Can you name the best bands and albums?
– Its just raw agression. First bands that pop into my head are Blasphemy, Revenge, Sadomator, Morbosidad and Gravesend.
Besides the annihilation of humanity, war and hatred, what other themes does Goatsmegma preach in the lyrics? What is the inspiration s and what are the lyrical influences?
– We don’t release our lyrics.
Talk about recording Antchrist/Goatsmegma Split by NWN Productions.
– We did it as a trio, but the recording process was the same as always – rehershal style.
The production of “Demonic Goat Smegma Eating Ritual” your debut album is very raw and unpolished. What kind of sound did you want exactly? Are you satisfied with the result?
– At the time this was the sound we were looking for and yes we are happy with how it turned out.
The art of “Demonic Goat Smegma Eating Ritual” is utterly unholy and sick in the true underground sense. Did you have any problems with the cover?
– When we did a repress of our debut one of the cassette duplication plants didn’t want to make tapes for us because of the artwork. Besides that people seem to like it.
Who is the artist responsible for Goatsmegma’s cover art?
– Her name is Hella and she has done artworks for quite a few bands here. She is a close assosiate with our band and we are really happy with her work.
How is Goatsmegma seen in Estonia and the rest of Europe?
– We arent that known in Estonia. Most listeners seem to be from other parts of Europe and the Americas.
What about gigs and individual performances? Does Goatsmegma often perform live? What can you say about your shows, audience reception and bands you’ve performed with? What is your opinion about the current festivals in Europe?
– Goatsmegma plays live when we get an interesting offer. We don’t have an annual limit of how much we perform. I havent been to a lot of festival during the last few years. Howls of Winter is always nice. Its held in out hometown, Tallinn, and usually it has a great lineup of underground black metal. Besides Howls of Winter, Black Silesia open air left a good impression on me, the organization seemed like die hard maniacs.
Whats brazilian war metal bands do you know?
– Sarcofago, Goatpenis (RIP Sabbaoth) and Mystifier
A personal curiosity: In Brazil we have noticed a certain decline in the acquisition of physical material such as fanzines, CDs and so on. Along with this, it seems that the renewal of the scenario has not been taking place, with an average audience in the age group over 35 years. How is the situation in Estonia?
– Its kinda hard to tell since Estonia is such a small country. We have a metalscene of about 5-10k people maximum and a few dozen active underground bands. Usually our local bands still try to release physical media. When it comes to the audenece – Here its seems that younger people are getting into the scene.
What are the next steps ?
– There will be a killer split coming up so keep waiting for that.
Thanks for the interview. Last words?
– Thanks! Goatsmegma is coming! Bring all your black goat! We need all the maniacs!!!
