Interview with HECATE ENTHRONED (Part 1 of 2)

With “The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried,” the English black metal pioneers Hecate Enthroned present a complex piece of work. Some call their unique style symphonic black metal; others, extreme gothic metal. Vocalist Joe Stamp doesn’t really care either way; above all, he wants to provide his fans with meaningful entertainment, as he makes clear in our two-part interview.

Beneath the Surface

For their most recent releases, Hecate Enthroned had opted for shorter titles, but now they’re returning to the one-liners they used at the start of their career with “The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried.” Joe Stamp explains the reasoning behind it. “Yes, the title is pretty long, but it had to be that way in this case. The album revolves primarily around English and Welsh mythology, folklore, and history. The title represents the idea that all these things still exist today, even if they’re hidden beneath the surface. We just have to recognize them.”

Dragons and Castles

The cover shows a green, phosphorescent castle set against a rugged mountain range—something that isn’t immediately obvious to outsiders. Stamp nods. “The image is by Mark Erskine of Erskine Designs. I shared the concept and a few ideas with him. It definitely had to include a forest, the skeleton of a giant dragon, and something built by human hands. Mark then designed this shimmering castle set against some tall mountains. The glowing green represents nature and blends in perfectly with the overall image. We’re very happy with the image because it fits the overall mood of the album so well.”

On the Trail of Forest Spirits

In the music video for “Deathless in the Dryad Glade,” green flakes appear, falling to the ground like snow. The band, however, does not appear in the video. “It was a timing issue,” Stamp admits. “It just wasn’t possible to get the band together on such short notice, so we had to work with actors to bring the story to life. The deadline was too tight for us.” In terms of content, the song tells a kind of horror story, as Stamp explains: “The song is about malevolent entities in the woods that lead people astray. It’s a story about cosmic horror and transformation. The person becomes one with the forest in a very unsettling and lasting way, haha.”

Marc Halupczok

Lineup:
Joe Stamps – vocals
Nigel Dennan – guitar
Andy Milnes – guitar
Dylan Hughes – bass
Matt Holmes – drums
Pete White – keyboard

Listen to Ecate Enthroned on our “Current Issue” playlist on Spotify:

You can also find Hecate Enthroned in our July/August issue: