“R” is the Drummer/vocalist and driving force of Australia’s mighty Tyrannic. A band that conjures the feeling and sounds of Black Sabbath and Hellhammer combined with the first wave of thrash and doom metal that was unleashed on their debut Ethereal Sepulchre in 2018
How is the progress on the new album going?
‘’Our second full length, 'Mortuus Decadence' is nearly finished recording. The general production process will be at hand shortly and release will be on its way.’’
will it be different to Ethereal Sepulchre?
‘’Absolutely. In ways it'll always be similar as it has the same intention although it has already drastically sounded different since writing the 'Exterminating Angel' EP due to change of line-up and life circumstances. It is a natural transition into what we have now.
'Ethereal Sepulchre' was written and recorded sporadically over a long period of time (maybe years?) and by the time of its release I had urgently written more material which moulded the EP and recorded in a much shorter amount of time. Not long after that the new fold was solidified, and we began writing for the new album and recorded soon after.’’
Has your Line-up changed?
‘’Yes. I have always written most of the music, whilst J, the guitarist from the 'Macabre Festival.' demo to 'Ethereal Sepulchre' contributed to the songs as well, particularly on ES. 'Exterminating Angel' in its incarnation was an idea of a new band as it had been over a year that Tyrannic became inactive. Naturally the sound was different, as with aggravation I wanted to throw away a past of dissatisfactions, but there remained a lot of the same spirit that has been since I started writing music. There was unfinished business, so instead of naming the band Exterminating Angel it became the next step for Tyrannic.’’
Do you still think that the people behind the music is not important, but the music is?
‘’In Tyrannic the individual is irrelevant. The world and the eternal unearthly plane beyond us all is our devotion to reach. I am nobody.’’
Was it easier to write this time around?
‘’Not necessarily, although the approach in the writing process is more organic and solidified. More of the arrangement was contributed by our current bass player, A (who made first writing contributions on the EP), and our new guitarist, K.’’
‘’Every release has its different auras. These are never done specific to any particular method of writing, rehearsing and recording. So it's not so much a question of if the new album's process is easier, as things change along the way, incomparable to experience prior.’’
What and who got you into metal? And what are you listening to
‘’My memory is a bit fried to remember those details.. But it all started with Black Sabbath.. Black metal came soon after that..
What I'm listening to now? I'd say the same things as always.’’
Does your use of purple reflect your power and ambition?
‘’The arcane. DMT can give further insight into this.’’
Music should be without compromise?
‘’To me? Sure, in the context of Tyrannic, it should definitely have no compromise. That's the primary driving force for the band.’’
You are more than Doom/thrash? Or what's the craziest subgenre you've been called?
‘’In the beginning I used the term 'doom/thrash' before our first show. The promoter asked us for a brief subgenre description and I just said that. A lot of influences at the time were from bands of that nature, but it also sounded a bit unorthodox for the show we were playing. I wanted us to sound rather inappropriate and unappealing for a thrash/'heavy metal' show...’’
‘’My biggest inspiration in the early days of Tyrannic, learning guitar and writing songs at the same time was Hellhammer. To me you can't really label them as any sub-genre as they were just creating something new. And it was raw, relentless music. This is what I wanted Tyrannic to be. Our comrade, A.M, of Ignis Gehenna and Erebus Enthroned when first hearing the band mentioned his distaste for the 'doom/thrash' term as it ultimately was Black metal in spirit. Undisputedly I was very inspired by Black metal as well, and it all made sense from there. In the beginning, Tyrannic was a very ambitious project I tried to put together as a youngster, taking a stab in the dark. Through time, it became more and more clear what I wanted to do.’’
‘’Not too sure about what crazy subgenres we get called, but I liked "Beherit and Darkthrone coming down off pills" - Azgorh - Drowning the Light
And "Mortuary Drape on heroin" - Damon - Cauldron Black Ram’’
Your lyrics are you inspired by modern events or larger themes such as mortality etc?
‘’The downfall of the modern world was an aggressive spark in the beginning, though through growth as a band the lyrics developed from that, extending into the realms of Death and the beyond. Although these things intertwine, as the beyond co-exists with the Hell that is all around us. The lyrics are ambiguous yet blunt, not a statement as such, but rather means of exploration. The lyrics are simple, but personal. It is not boastful, and it does not smack of angst. People can take it or leave it.’’
You had some excellent gigs lined up for the year, but it's gone to custard. What are your plans?
Whilst the live front for us and many other bands has come to an indefinite stand still, it's really not the greatest concern for us as rehearsals and recording are still going ahead as planned. Live shows will come along with that when relevant again.
Has the Sydney scene improved lately?
‘’Most bands here are either inactive or release things sporadically. Aside from the greatest bands here that are still recording material like Nazxul and Pestilential Shadows, I wouldn't say there ever really has been a scene here, and I like it that way. Whilst those from interstate or overseas see it as a dressed up, modernist city, Sydney is an isolating, brutal, cesspool metropolis. It doesn't give a shit about who you are, so we take influence from that, and exist in the confines of dark, secluded insanity.’’
Final thoughts and future plans?
‘’A third album is already in stages of writing. Keep your eyes peeled for our second full length, 'Mortuus Decadence', to be released on Seance records.’’
Your top 6 albums of all time?
I'm giving you 18 because there's no way I can just say 6... and in no particular order, because that would be too difficult...
1. Boyd Rice - Music, Martinis and Misanthropy
2. Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
3. diSEMBOWELMENT - Transcendence into the Peripheral
4. Morbid Angel - Blessed Are the Sick
5. Deathspell Omega - Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice
6. Love - Forever Changes
7. Black Sabbath - s/t
8. Satyricon - The Shadowthrone
9. Jethro Tull - Stand Up
10. Glenn Branca - The Ascension
11. Misfits - Static Age
12. Reverend Bizarre - In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend
13. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
14. Bethlehem - SUIZID
15. Death in June - Brown Book
16. Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales
17. Samael - Worship Him
18. Sodom - Obsessed by Cruelty