Interview by Kris Peters
Depressive black metal outfit GHOST BATH have emerged from beyond the veil with their new album, Rose Thorn Necklace, set to be released on May 9 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band, in their 12th year of existence, are not in the business of softening the edges. Rather, the frontman (Nameless aka Dennis Mikula) is leaning more toward his antisocial traits, serrated like a rusty knife yet beautifully honed over years of toil.
HEAVY caught up with Nameless this week to get the rundown on what to expect, and start by asking how he is feeling with the release date approaching.
"You know, I don't really like releasing just singles," he measured. "I just want the whole album out for people to check out. But it's coming up, so I am excited to get it out there and start touring on it."
He raises a good point with the release of singles, because although snippets of an album work for the most part, for band's like Ghost Bath who create a more immersive musical experience, the effects can be just the opposite.
"I mean, I get why it's done," he answered, "it builds hype and people will hear the single then say oh, I want to hear the whole album now, so it makes sense, but personally, I don't like to listen to just one song by a band."
We ask Nameless what he was going for musically with Rose Thorn Necklace, to which he replied.
"Musically, I was going for my own take on depressive black metal, but more in a vein where it's like… I don't know… a little bit dancy in parts but still dark. I always try to do a contrast between beauty but with the heaviness, and that usually comes from the more melodic, pretty guitar parts contrasted with the vocals either being high-pitched shrieks or low growls. I like to play with contrast a lot, and that's kind of what I was going for."
In the full interview, Nameless further discussed Rose Thorn Necklace, emphasizing its representation of his personal interpretation of depressive black metal through a blend of melodic and heavy elements. He expressed a preference for listeners to engage with the entire album rather than individual singles, as each track plays a vital role in the overall emotional experience. Nameless also shared insights into his evolving songwriting process, noting a transition from collaborative efforts with the band to independent creation for this album and more.
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