AKHOTH interview

Hail! Of Might and Hierarchy has finally escaped the fate of becoming one of those whispered-about underground releases that hardly anyone could actually hear. Do you think scarcity strengthened the album's aura, or did it simply prevent it from reaching the people who might have understood it?

Stillborn: Admittedly, it was just a natural progression of sorts. When starting a new project you don’t really have the resources or exposure required to branch out far ( even with the massive realm that is the internet ) and while we’re a mixed bag of experience the general idea was to just let the music talk for itself. The fact that it got picked up for a proper release is just a bonus.

Your lyrics revolve around hierarchy, conquest, and divine authority. Those words carry very different meanings depending on who's reading them. Are they historical observations, philosophical ideals, or metaphors for something beyond politics and religion?

Stillborn: Interesting question. The original voice Xieistnet was a bit of an enigma with lyrics. “Thinking man’s” but mostly something only he understood and kept guarded.

The mantle of vocals/lyricist has fallen to me as of late, so I’ve had to fill in some gaps/rewrite as I didn’t really know what he was going on about.

My approach, though, is one of strength and triumph. We are our own Masters. History has a lot of those moments and more people should educate themselves. That being said if you’re looking for any hint of an agenda or metaphors between the lines from either of us you’ll be lacking to find them.

There's an obvious fascination with order throughout the record. Yet black metal traditionally glorifies rebellion and individual defiance. Isn't there a contradiction there?

Stillborn: I think the general idea was one of decline. Empires rise and fall and it was a testament to that.

The album feels remarkably patient. Modern extreme metal often mistakes constant intensity for power, whereas Of Might and Hierarchy seems comfortable allowing tension to accumulate. Was restraint a conscious weapon?

Stillborn: More of just a natural process. At the time those songs were being written it was just what came out.

The phrase "medieval black metal" gets thrown around often, but for many bands it simply means castles and swords. What separates genuine historical atmosphere from fantasy role-playing?

Stillborn: Not a term I myself use to describe us but while there is a general consensus for it I feel it applies more to our rawness. While the songs aren’t necessarily meat and potatoes there’s a familiar and genuineness that hook you in. Too many bands these days want to be rockstars and larp swords and sorcery without having the substance to back that side up. You want to dress like a dork at least have good riffs.

Australia isn't exactly associated with medieval landscapes. How do you evoke a world that doesn't physically surround you?

Stillborn: Yeah, admittedly our abundance of castles and ruins are lacking but go to any forest or bushland and you’ll feel like you’ve taken a step into another realm. Either that or the heat will send you into a state of psychotic-illusional time displacement.

Which underground release first convinced you that atmosphere could be built through pacing rather than speed?

Stillborn: Couldn’t tell you exactly but Noenum - Black Esoteric Evangelium would certainly be a contender.

The production deliberately avoids modern perfection. Did you ever have to resist pressure to make the record cleaner or louder?

Stillborn: This wasn’t originally intended as an album. Just sort of fell into that category so it wasn’t necessarily a concept, just what was available.

Power is one of the central themes here. History repeatedly shows that every hierarchy eventually collapses. Does Of Might and Hierarchy acknowledge that inevitability, or is it concerned only with the moment when power still appears eternal?

Stillborn: The whole release is one of struggle yet leaves open the door of possibility. We rise, fall and rise again, history has proven we’re an unrelenting species that can’t be truly defeated.

The album often feels ceremonial rather than violent. Were you more interested in the psychology of authority than in warfare itself?

Stillborn: There’s no greater enemy than the one you can’t see. Warfare is a natural inevitability and with it comes the general expectation where as the psychological aspect of authority is the greater of the two evils in my opinion as we don’t tend to realise we’re being taken advantage of till we reach a tipping point that’s hard to return from.

Many artists romanticize past civilizations while quietly ignoring the brutality that sustained them. How do you avoid turning history into mythology?

Stillborn: History is brutal. If you can’t handle it in all its rawness then you can’t claim to respect it. I think too many live in a reality of their own choosing while childishly ignoring any parts that make them uncomfortable. That being said history is also full of amazing feats and progress. We owe it to ourselves to respect history in all its gore and glory.

Your first edition became collectible almost by accident. Do you think underground music loses something once it becomes widely available, or is that simply gatekeeping disguised as mystique?

Stillborn: Once again I think that was just the natural process of things. Unless you’ve got the gift of foresight you can’t really ever predict how something’s going to turn out. When I was a younger fella I definitely fell into gatekeeping tendencies but at the end of the day, the more exposure the better.

Signal Rex has now given the album a second life. Looking back with some distance, is there anything on Of Might and Hierarchy that you would no longer write today?

Stillborn: Those songs were written a few years ago now, we’ve developed not only as individual writers but also as a group. The natural progression of complexity and variation follows so even playing those songs live today they have more finesse so to speak.

One thing I noticed is that your music rarely feels nostalgic. It feels... ritualistic. Were you trying to recreate the past, or invoke an idea that exists outside of history altogether?

Stillborn: While there was no major intent for that approach I think due to a lot of the stuff we listen to it just naturally comes out in the writing. If you’re consciously trying to write something specific you’ll usually find yourself struggling to meet this self imposed demand.

If someone walked away from Of Might and Hierarchy believing it was simply an album about medieval warfare, what would they have completely failed to understand?

Stillborn: The vocals are just another instrument. At the risk of sounding wanky you need to take in the entire concept and open your mind. While we’re not exactly reinventing the wheel each riff, harmony, beat etc is written to project the story. Each song is its own piece. Have a joint. Close your eyes and take it all in, but I’m sure if you can’t reach that level of transcendence it’ll have you charging into a sea of spears and shields before you know it regardless.

https://akhoth.bandcamp.com/album/of-might-and-hierarchy