On the 25th February 2022, German- based rising black metal force Dæmonesq will unleash their debut EP: The Beauty of Letting Go. Formed in 2020, the female fronted extreme metal congregation rises to conquer the male dominated realms of metal.
While the band is currently gearing up for the release of their thunderous 4-track debut, a brutal-heavy video clip of the fierce EP title track has been made available! Make sure to check it out!
Rægina (vocals), Hell-G (guitar) and Corny (drummer/producer) have shared their inner emotions and feelings about the EP, feminism and Black Metal with Metal Imperium. Keep on reading...
M.I. - German-based rising black metal force Dæmonesq are a female fronted extreme metal congregation that rises to conquer the male dominated realms of metal. What can fans expect of the band? Tell us more about the members involved in this Project.
Hell-G: We are growing a followership among Black Metal fans worldwide. We are constantly working on new songs and our live presence to deliver haunting music and live performances.
Dæmonesq is fronted by Rægina. Her visual and powerful lyrics are carried by the eerie and atmospheric soundscapes created by guitarists X and Hell-G as well as bassman Asmoth and drummer Corny. All members have long experience as performing and recording artists in various bands. Corny is a renowned producer who has worked with many bands such as Bonded, Darkness, Sodom, Disbelief, The Very End and many others.
M.I. - The band was born in 2020 under the banner of plagues, pain and suffering. Why did you feel the need to create the band? Is the band a way to exorcise your inner demons and suffering?
Rægina: The band is rather a way of cultivating our inner daemons and suffering. Black Metal as a genre is unique in combining utter despair and forceful aggression. Contentedness makes people lazy and indifferent. Unhappiness and setbacks lead people to look for new solutions for old problems. So, suffering can be a starting point for a change for the better. We hope our music inspires people not to ignore what makes them feel bad but to summon their strength and to fight back.
M.I. - The band usually uses many hashtags such as #blackmetal #womeninblackmetal #Watain #metal #blackmetal #darkthrone #abbath #immortal #femalefronted #dimmuborgir #trve #kvlt #doom #melodicblackmetal #atmosphericmetal #womeninmetal #satanicblackmetal #satanic #blackmistressmetal #mistress #corpsepaint #blackmetalhead #trveblackmetal #darkmusic #notrigger #antinsbm #kemperprofiler. Why use all these?
Hell-G: These hashtags are used to get our posts into the social media timelines of as many Black Metal fans as possible, so we choose hashtags that represent what Dæmonesq is all about. We seem to be reaching quite a good number with every post as the number of followers is growing constantly.
M.I. - What are the topics you approach in your lyrics? Who’s responsible for the lyrics?
Rægina: I write the lyrics. For me, good art leaves room for interpretation. Therefore, I try to phrase the lyrics in a rather abstract and metaphorical way, so everyone has the chance to connect the words and phrases to their own experiences and develop individual mental pictures. You will, on the other hand, find a lot of references to strong female characters and calls for joining forces in collective struggles.
M.I. - How did the recording process of the EP go with the pandemic and all that? Did it go smoothly or did you face many challenges?
Corny: I´m not only the drummer but also working as a producer so I am in charge of the production.
I have my own recording studio, therefore recording songs is not that challenging to us. We have accomplished a lot during the pandemic. A full-length album is almost done.
M.I. - Your hotly anticipated debut EP entitled “The Beauty of Letting Go” will be unleashed on the 25th February 2022. How excited are you?
Rægina: We are more than excited about how people will react to the EP. We put a lot of thought into choosing four songs that reflect the whole range of Dæmonesq’s music so this is the first time people can get a proper impression of what the band is about.
M.I. - According to Rægina, the video for “The Beauty of Letting Go” “depicts the decision to give up on parts of one’s own identity to pave the way for the development of a new self. This decision can be very painful, and we’ll have to be hard on ourselves to actually manage this transformation. Thereby, the video reinforces the message of the lyrics that also emphasise the beauty, freedom, and relief that come with the final choice to let go and give up on what once has been precious to us.” It this just a metaphor for suicide? Would you say you have suicidal minds and thoughts? Why is it important to transform ourselves every now and then?
Rægina: You could read the lyrics as a metaphor for suicide, indeed. Nietzsche said “Thinking about suicide is a potent consolidation: it helps us to get through many a bad night.” and I think that is true. Knowing that there is a way out can help to live through times of great pain and it can restore diminished feelings of agency and autonomy. You could, however, also read the lyrics in quite the opposite way: Getting rid of what is holding you back from having a better life even if the decision is frightening and the process is hurtful.
Standing still means moving backwards. Life is characterised by movement and development and if you aim for progression and flourishing you will need to be ready to transform yourself, your opinions, and beliefs.
M.I. - According to the press release, the video is not for the fainted but the true black metal hearts. Do you agree?
Hell-G: Yes. We chose to aggressively visualise the song with strong and disturbing imagery. X is in charge of the video productions and he did a great job in creating the video.
M.I. - The EP is going to be released independently by the band? Why will you do it yourselves?
Hell-G: The do-it-yourself attitude has always been a vital part in the underground culture. We chose to release independently as we hope to raise interest by labels that see the potential that the band has. This would give us the support needed to grow the band's reach on a larger scale.
M.I. - Even though the EP will be released independently, the band is “promoted” by All Noir. So, is it more important to have a good PR agency than a label?
Hell-G: The band members are musicians in the first place. Our real-life jobs help to accomplish a lot regarding musical and visual production. PR is a means to communicate our artistic ideas on a more professional level. We are relying on the proven skills of All Noir and her strong contacts to print and online magazines. Her work is one important piece on our way to find a label for future releases.
M.I. - The cover artwork is quite intense. Who is responsible for it?
Rægina: Asmoth is responsible for our graphic design. He is awesome in transforming emotions and ideas into graphic art. The cover pic was shot during the shooting of the music video for “The Beauty of Letting Go”.
M.I. - The band’s Facebook page says “Black Mistress Metal”... why use a definition like this if the band only has one female member? Doesn’t it somehow diminish the importance of the male members?
Rægina: I’d say Black Mistress Metal is not a description of the band per se but the music we make. What you hear are instruments and a voice. For the most part, the voice resembles typical Black Metal vocals. But the more I make progress in my singing skills, the more I am able to bring accents to certain parts of the vocals that actually sound like a female voice. Thereby, my goal is to capture the impression of a Black Mistress: commanding and unforgiving and, at the same time, driven by courage that is grounded in a willingness to be vulnerable. So, while it might be true that it diminishes the importance of the people behind the instruments, I would argue that music, and art in general, is about individual people stepping back and letting their art speak.
M.I. - How complicated is it being the frontwoman of a metal band? Rægina: There is a lot of overt and covert sexism in the metal scene, like there is in our society as a whole, but I am lucky enough to get the wholehearted support of the other band members and they are also supportive regarding my identity as a feminist. Having the band as a safe space is definitely an invaluable help in fulfilling the role of the frontwoman. And, so far, also most people I met at our concerts and most comments we have received via social media were really supportive and positive.
M.I. - How have the underground fans and bands treated you? Do you think they show the same respect they show towards a male fronted band?
Hell-G: We have received a lot of positive feedback. I have not felt that Black Metal fans taking notice of Dæmonesq as a new band have shown that they care about the sex of our vocalist, which is a good thing in my book as it shows that they appreciate our art regardless of boundaries that may once have been set. We rise to conquer.
M.I. - It is not very usual to see female Black Metal vocalists. Have you taken any vocal lessons? What special cares do you have with your voice?
Rægina: Yes, I had been taking vocal lessons for 1,5 years before I joined Dæmonesq. My vocal coach studied jazz singing and he’s been a student of Melissa Cross. My impression is that my voice develops the more I use it. So, I try to practice on a regular basis and to try out new things from time to time.
M.I. - Mention some female vocalists (BM or not) that have had a big impact on your vocal style and in your decision to become a BM singer.
Rægina: I am a big fan of Black Table’s vocalist Mers Sumida. Her vocals are very pervading, intensive and almost overwhelming; she also has a very unique sound. But despite my huge appreciation I would not try to imitate her. I rather try to find my own sound and to develop my vocals in a way that supports the band’s music in the best way possible.
The one singer that drove my decision to become a BM singer myself was not a woman but the singer of Møl. His voice is not only powerful but also versatile. He is, as far as I can tell, exceptionally talented and his technique is exemplary.
M.I. - Are there any plans to release a full-length in the near future?
Corny: Yes, a full-length album is almost ready to go. But first the promotion for the 4-Track EP will be finished and then we will make plans about releasing an album.
M.I. - The band has already played live and, from the footage available, I think it must have been very intense and awesome! How was the experience for you as musicians? How did the fans react to Dæmonesq?
Hell-G: We strive to deliver a performance that takes the audience captive and conveys the dark, eerie atmosphere of our songs. Everyone in the band was very enthusiastic about the opportunities to present our music to a live audience and we all were very pleased with being on stage together. This is a great deal about why we are working together as a band.
We received a lot of positive and encouraging responses at the gigs we played so far thanks to the work of the sound and light operators who made us look and sound good.
M.I. - Considering that the Lucifer Rising Tour has been cancelled and things are still uncertain due to the pandemic, what are Dæmonesq’s plans and goals for 2022? Will you be playing many shows and festivals?
Corny: Our goal is to play as many shows as possible. Due to the situation, it is almost impossible to make plans right now. But the “Lucifer Rising” tour will be made up for one day… Hopefully there is more to come this year. Our sound has to get on stage and we are very hungry!!!
M.I. - Do you have a final message to share with Metal Imperium’s readers?
Rægina: Find what you love and let it kill you. (Charles Bukowski)
Hell-G: Spread the Black Gospel and support the scene to keep it alive in these turbulent times.
Thank you Sónia!
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Listen Dæmonesq on Spotify
Questions by Sónia Fonseca
