Interview with Mantus, guitar player of the Brazilian Black metal band, Patria.
Hello Mantus, how things are going?
All is going pretty well here. Working hard on some new songs for the next album.
Tell me when did Patria was founded?
I started Patria as a project in 2008 and in 2011 we decided to have a full line-up to take the road.
Last year you have released the album ”Individualism”. Tell me about it.
Yeah, it was released in April 21st 2014 by Indie Recordings from Norway and it’s a very important album for us, musically and lyrically but also because it’s our first album to have a wider distribution over the world. We were able to reach a lot more stores and audience, which is always a really great thing to promote the band. So, I would say “Individualism” was a divisor for us.
Did you receive good reviews about the album?
Absolutely! We have collected some amazing reviews on this album and it was a good surprise, not because we don’t trust our music, of course, but the response was greater than we could imagine. We got some highest scores on major metal magazines around the world and that’s so cool.
What can you tell me about the other band’s releases?
Well, we have a debut album out in 2009 called “Hymns of Victory and Death”, the second one “Sovereign Misanthropy” (2010) and the MCD “Gloria Nox Aeterna” (2010), all released by the russian label Monokrom. After that we signed to Drakkar Productions (France) and we released “Liturgia Haeresis” (2011) and “Nihil Est Monastica” (2013). Besides that we have two Splits, one called “Divide Et Impera” with the italian band Xeper and another one called “Ravenous Darkness” with the brazilian band In Nomine Belialis. Basically we have those Black Metal roots bonded in our music since the beginning but we also mix some extra influences and probably a different way to play and approach it. I think we’re evolving in a good way and if you listen the albums I’m sure you’ll notice that somehow, specially in our last digital singles “Symmetry of Imperfection” and “Behold The Void”. The core is still there but we’re constantly trying to develop our own identity through the releases.
Are you going to release a new album soon?
Not exactly soon but in 2016 for sure, maybe in autumn. We’re doing rehearsals and focusing exclusively on the new songs now. It’s turning out great so far. It’s gonna be a huge album for us.
Who mainly writes the lyrics?
Usually our vocalist, me and the bassist today.
What are the influences?
I would say our big influence is on the scandinavian Black Metal scene, specially norwegian in the 90’s. But we also have instinctively some old Thrash, Doom and Death Metal vein, even Progressive, although more discreet in our music.
Any shows confirmed for this year?
We have played this year in April at the infamous Inferno Festival in Oslo/Norway and it was fucking-tastic. What a damn experience! They’re one of the most important festivals of the genre and in that 15th anniversary edition they had major bands like Enslaved, Behemoth, Septic Flesh, My Dying Bride, Arcturus, Kampfar, Bloodbath, 1349 and tons of others. Basically since we returned we’re mainly focused on the new album, so, no plans for shows for now. I believe we’ll only return to the stages in the second semester of 2016.
Do you have a message for the Patria fans?
Hope you have enjoyed the interview. Support the real underground scene! Attend the shows, buy original material! Can’t wait to see you on the road.
Thank you Mantus. Cheers!
Thank you, Carla. My pleasure! Cheers from Brazil!
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