Warpseer -"The black flame is illumination"

Sparky
2 days ago
5 min read

Emerging from the Australian underground in in 2023 is Warpseer. A project that began celebrating true Black metal that has evolved into something more grandiose, yet no less bestial. It is raw powerful music that celebrates its own narrative of horror and conflict.

Witchhammer (lead guitar and founder) I created Warpseer not long after I finished high school, and in the beginning, it was me handling all the instruments and a school mate of mine on vocals. The demos we made were shit, so I got a full lineup (very slowly) and then we could play shows and make better music. Warpseer is inspired by my love of black metal and fantasy RPGs mainly in the early days. The project was originally in the vein of bands like Leviathan, Burzum and Xasthur but I quickly moved away from that idea towards the more first wave sound we became known for early on.

The idea to keep it raw primal black metal?

W: That was the idea initially when I decided to start this, however with the latest songs we’ve been working on for our new album, we’ve decided to do more melodic and developed songs (think Dissection, Sacramentum, Behemoth etc).

Alamet (vocalist). I’d say our project aims to tell tales and narratives; there is no reason that storytelling is not primal and raw. The earliest forms of expression were the tales that were passed down.

Your debut EP The Trollking and the darkness within?

W: ‘The Trollking’ was a truly fucked recording process. The songs were created over a long, and quite difficult period, with some of that material dating back to late 2023. Amassing a full band took ages, as it’s fucking near impossible to find black metal bandmates who aren’t complete idiots apparently.

‘’Once I had a permanent lineup in early 2025, we decided to begin recording, however internal band struggles led to multiple re recordings and sessions. I had to track the bass parts at the last minute as we had many issues with the bassist at the time. A studio or producer was something that we couldn’t afford at the time either, so everything was recorded at our houses, and the guitars were tracked in a shipping container. Our drums were also recorded at our old drummer’s living room and sent to me to be mixed as one channel for the entire kit, which resulted in the less than ideal sound on the EP.

‘’The reception when it finally released in August 2025 was good, and it is good to have music that represents us well as a band, even if half of the Trollking lineup has since been replaced.

What is the Trollking?

W: The Trollking is a primordial force of nature. More than that, he is the embodiment of what our music represented at the time. He represents the themes of destruction, dominion and war. My earliest inspiration came from reading fantasy novels and RPGs. All of us in Warpseer are fans of fantasy literature, such as The Lord of the Rings etc, as well as fantasy RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer.

The nihilism within your music?

W: I don’t consider our music to be nihilistic in nature. Our music is intended as an escape from reality to a magical place far from our time.

A: Nihilism in its current sense is baseless and thought terminating, if we are talking about the way Nietzsche speaks of nihilism that the value we give the world and living is what we apply to it. The goal of nihilism is to overcome it.

Shall darkness consume all light?

A: One cannot exist without the other, all things are defined by its opposite. No shadows without light and no good without evil.

The influences that define Warpseer?

W: Musically, when we started, we opted for a more first-wave direction, being more directly influenced by Possessed, early Slayer, Hellhammer and Bathory (playing Bathory at our first show etc). These days, I am influenced by bands like early Behemoth, Dissection, Sacramentum, Watain and Dawn. I am also a big fan of Hellenic black metal especially Rotting Christ, Macabre Omen, Kawir etc. We play a Rotting Christ cover live so this isn’t surprising to those who know us.

A: Writing the lyrics for the newest album I find myself very influenced by bands like older Behemoth and Mgla, they write these songs that are filled with such conviction, command so much authority and truth whilst also seeming poetic at the same time.

The power of Black metal and how you were drawn to it?

W: I consider black metal as the most interesting and powerful of all genres of metal. Nothing else comes in close in emotion, intensity or unbridled power.

A: Black metal has seeped itself into my waking breath, what drew me in was the sheer emotion and modality of the genre. The screaming, the wall of noise you get lost in.

How do you define extreme music?

W: To me, extreme music is anything that is made to subvert, challenge or defile the established ‘rules’ of conventional music.

A: Extreme music in its broadest sense is latching to aspect of music and leading its logical conclusion. Singing to screaming, distortion to pure noise, from playing slow to as fast as you can. Anything that uproots the general ‘rules’ of music I would say is a form of extreme music.

Should Warpseer remain underground and always remain true to the black flame?

W: This is something I’ve thought about lately. Warpseer will always be a black metal band. It is simply the only fitting music for the project and what it represents. I think Warpseer will try to play only ‘underground’ shows or appropriate interstate supports etc. Anything in the realm of death/black metal, especially local or Australian is what interests me - events like Australian Antichrist etc.

A: The black flame is illumination; you feed fire to make it grow not smother it. We have tales to tell and songs to play. Let the world shake with its reverberation I say.

Plans for a follow up release?

W: We have just started recording our new full-length album – ‘A Will to Power’. Our first single has just been recorded and should be released soon, so stay tuned for that. It is titled ‘Mot and the Mace’ and will be the first release with our new current lineup. Our upcoming album will hopefully be released by the end of the year and takes us in a new direction as a band, both musically and lyrically. It marks a bit of a change in sound and theme, being of domination, subjugation and the occult. Our music is more developed, and this is a result of our new members. Some of our previous members, particularly our last drummer, held us back with their lack of skill and professionalism, so our new lineup is Warpseer operating at an unmatched level of strength with a new drummer and bassist.

Final thoughts? And gigs planned?

W: Thanks for the interview! Hails to all maniacs who have come to see us or bought our merch. Our next show is at the Indooropilly Hotel here in Brisbane, on the 23^rd of May. We’re playing alongside Akhoth, Khyber Pass, 308 and Vilifier. I’m especially keen for Vilifier, as it’s their first show in 8 years. Anyone reading this, make sure you’re at this show!Other live plans include competing to grab a spot on Necrosonic festival and looking to play shows outside QLD this year, hopefully Sydney or Melbourne.

A: Pledge yourself to the Warp. Hang your heads in prayer and succumb to its magic.

Top 6 favourite albums of all time?

W: Mine, in no order.

Gods of War – Macabre Omen

Altars of Madness – Morbid Angel

2112 – Rush

Twilight of the Gods - Bathory

Annihilation of the Wicked – Nile

Hatebreeder – Children of Bodom

A: Hard question, these will not be in order.

Aveth – Der Untergang

Mgla – Exercises in Futility