Heavy Metal Caucasus: BLOOD COVENANT

Symphonic (Un)Black Metal

http://bloodcovenant.moy.su

Segor (Sergey Areskin)– Vocals/guitar/Composer

Garegin (Garik Amyan) – Drums/Lyrics/Composer

Armen Hovhannisyan – Bass

Hasmik Hovhannisyan – Keyboards

Narek Onanyan – Guitar

Mark Areskin – Guitar

Guest members:

Arthur Areskin – Clean vocals

Vazgen Kondakhchyan – Clean vocals

Armenia is the oldest Christian country in the world. Already in 301 AD, King Trdat III. declared christianity the state religion. Imagine that – 301! The Roman Empire was still in bloom back then and the Germanic tribes were just appearing in the vast forests north of the Roman wall. Not even Rome itself had forsaken the pagan gods, when the Armenians were already building incredible monasteries out of bare rock. This ancient christian heritage is still alive today not only in dozens of amazing churches and cathedrals, like the ones in Etchmiadzin, Kohr Virab, Geghard or Tatev, but also in more, well... unlikely places like a christian Black Metal band. Yes, you read that right: a christian Black Metal band, and a very well-known one, too... BLOOD COVENANT have been around for quite a while now and their mainman Segor Areskine is one of the most active metal musicians in Armenia. I'm glad, he gave me the chance to talk a little bit about his very special stance on Christianity and Black Metal.

But let’s start with a very basic question. Segor, although you and your bands are pretty well known in Armenia, the Heavy Metal fans from central Europe hardly know anything about BLOOD COVENANT and your other projects. Your first band was called IRON CROSS and started in 2001. Can you tell us please tell us something about IRON CROSS?

Yes, you are right, IRON CROSS was formed in 2001 by me and our drummer Garegin. At first there were three of us and then our former bass guitar player Avag and vocalist Dave joined the group. We played Thrash/Death Metal.

When did you get into Heavy Metal? Was there a special occassion, maybe a special band or album, which got you into Heavy Metal?

Well, you wouldn’t want to call it Heavy Metal, because the music we perform is actually Symphonic Black Metal. In 2001 I started listening to Christian Black Metal bands and it was my inspiration to perform Black Metal. I would also like to mention that I first fell in love with Black and Death Metal when I was 12.

In 2003 you changed the band’s name to BLOOD COVENANT. You also started heading into a different direction music-wise. While IRON CROSS played a mix of Thrash and Death Metal, BLOOD COVENANT might best be described as a Symphonic Black Metal act. What were the reasons for this style-change?

The reason was that I was looking for a brighter style during that period as well as Symphonic Black Metal was more dear to me.

I have to say musically BLOOD COVENANT’s debut album „The Day of Lord“ (2003) is a huge step forward compared to the IRON CROSS demo. You seem to have evolved much as musicians

between 2001 and 2003. It’s like a totally different band, really professional. What do you think were the main reasons for getting such a professional debut album with BLOOD COVENANT?

Thanks for the kind words. You are right, we took a step forward in terms of professionalism. The reason was both the change of style and the fact that our debut album was recorded in a professional studio in 2003. And we worked really hard to evolve. Besides, I became the vocalist of the band, so maybe it had some impact on the positive change, too.

One of my favourite tracks on „The Day of Lord“ is „Old Cross“. I especially love the guitar leads starting around 2:50. They sound to me, like Scandinavian Black Metal is a huge influence for you. Am I right? What are your musical influences?

Exactly, our greatest influences and inspiration are Norwegian Black Metal Bands, for example, Extol, Antestor to name a few.

In 2007 you released the follow-up record „The Blood of the New Covenant“. I can’t help but notice another slight change in style. On the one hand your music has become more brutal and heavier as compared to „The Day of Lord“. For example a song like „The Choice“ is really harsh and aggressive. On the other you’ve become more melodic and heading into a more classic Heavy Metal direction, with a clear voice. For example on „Holy Sanctuary“. Was it a deliberate decision to broaden your style or did it evolve that way naturally?

I have to say that Black Metal consists of Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Power Metal and Progressive Metal. So we started to evolve by including different styles and it all happened quite naturally.

Two years later, in 2009, you released a very special single. You recorded a song called „At the Cross“, which in fact is an old Armenian church hymn. How do Metal and church hymns go together? Are there similar harmonies or melodies, for example? Was it difficult to arrange it for a Metal band?

Actually Church music is very similar to Doom Metal, that’s why it was quite easy for us to arrange both styles. So in that single we used a traditional Armenian folk instrument called “Duduk“ and we came up with a very interesting Doom Black Metal style.

What was it like working with a Duduk? Were there any problems to record it and perform it live together with these loud guitars and drums?

No, not really. I have to say that it has a very rich sound during our live performances.

Your latest album „The Sign of Time“ was released in 2011. And like all your releases you are offering it as a free download on your website. Why did you take this decision? Did you try to find a label to release or did you plan from the start to release it on your own label Art4God?

Well, the decision to offer it free was for promotion purposes. As to the label, we do our recordings in „Art4God“. „Art4God“ is just our recording studio. However, our album of 2011 was released on „Darknagar Records“ label. Regarding international labels, we have only worked with „Darknagar Records“ so far.

Looking at your songs and album titles it’s quite obvious that your faith as a Christian plays a huge role in your music.

First of all I would like to mention that we are Christians and we believe in Jesus Christ who was crucified 2000 years ago for our sins and was risen from the dead to save us from hell by endowing us with eternal life. God is our life, and besides, you are right, our faith in Lord Jesus plays a huge role in our music, as we want to show the love of God and the hatred of Satan towards mankind.

So, are you playing in BLOOD COVENANT to worship god? Or is it a means to get the message out to other people?

We play our music for both purposes mentioned by you, that is, to spread the good news and worship God.

I’m sure a lot of people have asked you this question. So please forgive me if I do the same: how do Black Metal and Christianity go together?

We believe that initially all music styles were created by God, including all metal styles.

It must pretty tough for your from time to time, because as far as I can tell the most popular genres of Metal on the Caucasus are the Extreme Metal genres, like Black Metal and Death Metal. What is your view on these bands? Especially what do you think about their atheistic and even satanistic views? Did you ever have problems with other bands or musicians because of your faith?

I have to say that I respect them as musicians but I don’t accept their ideology. As to having problems because of our faith, it should be noted that there were cases when our band wasn’t allowed to take part in certain festivals by some organizers.

Your father is Arthur Areskin, who was the vocalist of Armenian Metal legends AYAS. He did some vocal recordings for „The Blood of the New Covenant“. What’s it like playing in a band and recording together with your own father? Is he very critical of what you’re doing because he’s a musician himself?

Yes, you are right, Arthur Areskin is my father, and besides the „The Blood of the New Covenant“ he also participated in the recordings of the album „Sign of Time“ in 2011. I wouldn’t say that he is critical of what we are doing. I would rather say that he gives us a good piece of advice as a musician.

Live at Highland Metalfest, Yerevan (Armenia)

What are your plans for BLOOD COVENANT?

Well, we are planning to have a live performance with a symphonic orchestra, but the date for that hasn’t yet been decided. Now we are looking for new labels to work with.

We are also planning a tour. As far as things look we soon we have a tour in Brazil to perform with the Brazilian band ANTIDEMON.

Thanks for taking the time. The last words belong to you:

Thank you too for showing interest in our band and I hope you have prosperity and success in everything you do. God bless you!