Garett: Let me start by saying thank you for taking the time to do this interview, it is greatly appreciated.  I really enjoyed reviewing Theomachia, and think that it deserves to be mentioned among the best death metal albums of the year.  This album seems to have created a little more buzz than your previous efforts, are you guys happy with the way that it has been received so far?

Barghest: No problem, thank you for the interview. And thank you for the compliment. To be honest I was expecting a little more of a buzz this time round. We set out to create a work far more relentless and hostile than our previous effort, Decrowning the Irenarch, and that is what we achieved, so we are happy on that front. We’ve had a great response from people who have heard it of course, but I think there are many ears the album hasn’t reached yet. 

Garett: Spearhead is still very much an underground band, particularly here in North America.  Can you provide us with a brief overview of the band’s history?

Barghest: Yes, we are an underground entity no doubt, Spearhead is not easy-listening-death metal. A succinct history: Spearhead was founded in the year of 2005. The debut offering Deathless Steel Command was recorded in mid-2005, released through Invictus Productions in 2006. Following the 2006 promo EP When the Pillars Fall, Spearhead entered Hertz Studio to record the second full-length, Decrowning the Irenarch, in the Summer of 2007 (again released under the banner of Invictus Productions, in Dec 2007). We entered Orgone Studio in 2010 to record Theomachia, unleashed this year (2011) by Agonia Records.

Garett: When I listen to Theomachia I can’t help but place it in the same blackened death metal category that Angelcorpse helped define in the late 90’s.  At the same time I hear some nods to early Morbid Angel, and even hints of early grindcore.  As a whole, I think that you guys have developed a pretty unique sound.  What are some of your influences, and where to you see Spearhead as fitting in from a genre stand point?  Also, what do you see as some of the more unique elements of the Spearhead sound?

Barghest: There are some influences from Angelcorpse and Morbid Angel yes. You could also add bands like Centurian, old Krisiun, Absu, old Kreator and Sodom etc., but our style is our own, and is more than just a collection of our influences. For genre I would just say we are Death Metal, or, if you like, ‘Black/Death metal’. What do you think are the unique elements? A lot of the riffs and drum patterns have a militant, attacking feel, interspersed with elements you could conceivably call ‘noble’ or ‘grandiose’, which for me is the main thing that sets us apart on a purely musical level. 

Garett:  The lyrics on both Theomachia and Decrowning the Irenarch look at war and destruction from a philosophical and very intellectual stand point.   Can you go into a little bit of detail about the inspiration behind this, and maybe talk a little bit about how taking such a complex approach with lyrics effects Spearhead’s song writing as a whole?  

Barghest: The songs are written first. The lyrics are always worked out to fit each track after it is written. There are all-pervading lyrical themes you will find in both albums, but Decrowning the Irenarch looks at war more from the perspective of history, teaches as it does that war both ennobles man and strengthens society. Theomachia touches on the apocalyptic, cosmological aspect of war, the hand that pushes what is falling, dealing too with the various traditional (pre-modern) conceptions of the aeon cycle of civilisations. Inspiration come from various readings and reasoned thought. I don’t just want to list a handful of books, which would make no sense taken out of context. But anyone with a genuine interest in such matters may find the works of Evola and Spengler useful starting-points.

Garett: Theomachia’s liner notes list Vortigern as the drummer, but also credit Torturer with session drums.  From what I can gather on the internet, you guys are currently lacking a drummer.  Can you tell me who played what on the album, and update us on Spearhead’s current drummer situation?

Barghest:  Yes, Vortigern is given the writing credit of “drums and additional guitars”, as all drum parts, and some additional guitars, were composed by him during the writing process of the album. Torturer (ex-Belphegor) was drafted in for recording last minute, due to a muscle injury sustained by Vortigern. We are still in fact without a drummer. Vortigern left shortly after Theomachia and so we are still on the look-out for a dedicated, experienced individual to drum for us.

Garett: How much touring are you guys able to do, and do you have more shows lined up in support of Theomachia?  I don’t suspect that touring North America would be even close to feasible at this point, but have you ever drawn interest from any of the festivals over here?  Maryland Death Fest and Rites of Darkness in particular seem like they would be good fits.

Barghest:  We are looking into tour options for 2012, but I cannot say anything at this point as nothing is confirmed. We already toured the US in 2009, supporting for Urgehal! Where were you?? It was only a two-week tour, starting in New York and finishing in California, and so naturally we had to miss out a number of states. We have had festival offers before from the US, but for one reason or another it hasn’t been do-able. Either of those fests would be great to play of course.   

Garett: What are your immediate goals as a band, and where would you like to see Spearhead five or ten years from now?

Barghest:  I don’t even know what state the world is going to be in in five or ten years’ time. Our immediate goals are to continue to write more material for the next release, and to re-establish a full line-up with a drummer.

Garett: Can you recommend one or two bands that fans of Spearhead should check out, but probably have never heard of?

Barghest: If you are unfortunate enough not to have already heard Infernal War I would recommend them. Outside of the metal world I would recommend someone like Triarii or Toroidh.

Garett: Thanks again for the interview.  Is there anything else that you would like to add either about Spearhead, metal in general, or anything else for that matter?

Barghest: You’re welcome. Fuck pacifism. SVPERO OMNIA!

Spearhead's Barghest

Interviewer: Garett

November 5, 2011

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TO THE TOP

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Formed: 2003
       Southern England,  UK
Label:  Agonia Records
Genre: Black / Death Metal

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Barghest:  Lead Vocals & Bass
Invictus:   Rhythm Guitars
Anaximenes:  Lead Guitars

DISCOGRAPHY:

Deathless Steel Command (2005)
When the Pillars Fall Demo (2006)
Decrowning the Irenarch (2007)
Theomachia (2011)

Check out Garett's review of Theomachia here