STORMKEEP Interview (2/2)
We’re talking with Otheyn Vermithrax in a two-part series about the second album, “The Nocturnes of Iswylm,” with which Stormkeep takes us into their own fantasy world. Did you miss the first part? No problem— you can read it here.
Orkus: Were there any particular challenges during the recording sessions?
Otheyn Vermithrax: The biggest challenge was that, in addition to my usual duties as a singer, keyboardist, and guitarist, I also played the drums this time. It was a difficult but very rewarding process. We also used more clean vocals on this album, which I handled myself this time. On our previous albums, these vocal parts were handled by the talented Shield Anvil. Writing and recording these passages was also quite challenging, but in the end, it resulted in something unique that would certainly have sounded very different if we had approached it the way we had before.
O: How did the songwriting and recording process for this album generally go?
OV: It was a long process. Writing the album took about a year and a half, and then we needed another six months for recording, mixing, and mastering.
O: You describe your music as “Black Metal Symphonia.” How did you come up with that term?
OV: On our previous album, we used the term “Dungeon Metal Symphonia.” This time, however, I felt that we had created something more deeply rooted in black metal than its predecessor. I view each piece of music as a kind of symphony in its own right—where “Symphonia” originally means “music in harmony.” The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
O: The album cover is impressive, too. It was designed by Simon Bisley. How did this collaboration come about? Did you have a specific vision in mind, or did you give him free rein?
OV: I’ve been a huge fan of Simon’s work for a long time. When we were thinking about the new album, it seemed essential to find someone unique—someone who could capture the themes and energy of our current direction. I reached out to him, and he agreed right away without any fuss. I gave him very specific guidelines regarding composition, placement, narrative elements, and visual content. Nevertheless, the final result is clearly a Bisley piece. He has an unmistakable, very distinctive aesthetic.
O: Even though your lyrics and themes are deeply rooted in fantasy, do you think the place where you grew up influenced your music in any way?
OV: I grew up in Boulder, Colorado—a small town at the foot of the mountains. In many ways, I’d say that my childhood was shaped by living in Colorado. Back then, the winters were still snowy, and the forests almost turned into another world. I think that made it easier for my imagination to run wild.
Claudia Zinn-Zinnenburg
Lineup:
Otheyn Vermithrax – vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums
Apokteino – guitar
Nebula Husk – bass
Lord Dahthar – keyboards
Listen to the album on Spotify:
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