Interview to TERRESTRIAL BLIGHT (Sweden)

1. Hello Ordure Pessimiste , what was the driving force behind giving birth to this project? You have had experience with other bands before?

Greetings. The origin of the project is pretty simple: I wanted to spread subterranean music to the surface of the Earth, and incidentally to humans. To show that even infamous, infernal creatures (like myself) can produce music. The most striking aspect of human life I've discovered when emerging to the surface of the Earth was the power of black metal. I felt like contributing to it.

I've had experience with bands before indeed, but it didn't go well. As an infamous creature, I tried to blend in human society and partake in this ritual circles called "bands". However, my former bandmates probably detected my true nature and I never managed to get integrated. Hence the need to have recourse to recording projects to spread my plague. 

2. First of all, congrats on your debut album “Mother Earth's Rebellion". I can safely deduct that you´re pleased by this release. What effect has this album’s reception on you? How do you fell about it?

The album's reception has been glacially cold until now. It went under the radars, but it's not unexpected. If I want to have more people infected by my plague, I need to become better at promoting my works. But human technology and communication channels are so complicated to use... 

3. How does look like creating process of your music? I imagine such music as a really deep and personal opus of one mind.

You're right, this opus is a reflection of my mind and the oddities constantly residing within. I think about my hatred for humanity and the inspiration flows naturally. 

4. Describe us, if possible, your typical procedure when writing songs: What comes first, really? Music or lyrics?

The music always comes first. It usually starts with guitar riffs or clean arpeggios and I build upon it. Then I improvise some bass line over the finished guitar template. Then drum patterns. The lyrics always come at the very last. For instance, no lyrics were even written when I concluded my unholy pact with Vagamonde... The song titles weren't even determined back then. So I had to hurry up with my writing in order to not upset Her Subterranean Highness... 

5. What is music for you? Does it bring you some new emotions or it helps you to get ride of some negative emotions?

For this project in particular I would say that it's a combination of both. I can express myself exclusively through music, see. 

6. Your music emits misanthropic, aggressive and nihilistic perspective. Where do you draw inspiration from? Does this sullenness reflect your actual feelings?

My inspiration comes from my personal feelings towards humanity and human society. But also different other aspects of life. I don't believe in anything and don't trust anyone. Both the music and lyrics are reflections of my tortured mind. 

7. Black metal as a genre has been considered a philosophy by some, while some others consider it an avenue to express their anti-religious sentiments. What are your views on black metal as a whole?

Black metal is arguably the genre that has the most possible interpretations and meanings. I understand people that use black metal as a vector to emphasise their hatred towards religion, but there's nothing of it in Terrestrial Blight. Even if religion's one of the dumbest things created by human society. Terrestrial Blight is more akin to the cries of Nature, because it has been martyrised by the human race and its specimens. Black metal is intimately related to Nature, of course. And negative emotions. Misanthropy, nihilism. 

8. For this project, you count with the unholy alliance of subterranean empress Vagamonde.  Would it be possible to tell us more about your (both) personal musical background?

Vagamonde the subterranean Empress uses a persona when she visits the surface of the Earth. Under this persona, she's the mastermind behind folk death metal project Sempyrean. I got the great honour to contribute to her first opus, which will likely have been released by the time you read these lines. 

My DSBM project Sorg Mantel's first pathetic opus will probably have been released too. It shows another facet of the pitiful creature that I am. I'm also working on some other black metal projects as well. 

9. Have you ever considered enlisting members to handle the various instruments in order to perform live, and if not, why not?

Terrestrial Blight will most likely remain a recording project forever. First of all because summoning the subterranean Empress is no mean feat, and secondly I would need to find other creatures that have the same hatred for humanity as me. 

10. You are unsigned this period of time. There are many bands that prefer to be independent without following the specific rules of the labels. What is your opinion about this?

Being unsigned means that I can keep my freedom. On the other hand, my music will most likely remain unnoticed. In a sense it's probably better that way. Only the chosen few will get to hear my music and become contaminated by my venomous plague. 

11. With the easy access to internet you can spread your music across the globe just sitting in front of your computer. How much effort to you put into promoting the band world-wide?

Probably not enough. As I wrote earlier, you humans use very weird communication systems. The so-called "social media" in particular are the ones that puzzle me the most. I managed to create an Instagram page after I don't know which miracle, but I rarely post anything on it. My Bandcamp page is basically my main promotion hub. Finally, you humans tend to use streaming platforms like Spotify, but I think it goes against the spirit and essence of black metal and will thus never upload anything on them. 

12. What is the heavy music scene like in Umeå, Sweden ? What are some other bands from your country that we should be paying attention to?

A little underwhelming, to be fair. There's better music in the Earth's core, where I come from. Still, there are some black metal bands that deserve attention, like Naglfar. They're pioneers of the second-wave actually. Haradrim is also a good black metal band from Umeå. Otherwise, in Sweden, the classics Bathory, Marduk and Silencer are obviously worth a listen, even though they might already be famous enough. And Abruptum if you want some creepy ambient. I'm more versed into the Japanese black metal scene, actually. It's more interesting and versatile, more genuine as well. Mostly inspired by the French black metal scene, by the way. 

13. Many thanks again for your valuable time! I wish you only the best! The last words to our readers are of course yours!

Keep the black metal spirit alive, and count on horrid creature Ordure Pessimiste to keep on spreading its venom to new horizons.

https://ordurepessimiste.bandcamp.com/album/mother-earths-rebellion