Charnel Spirit interview

Hi! Blood Prophecy is described as a “debut demo” rather than simply a debut release. In 2026, when a band can put music directly onto streaming platforms and present itself immediately as a fully formed project, why was the demo format important to CHARNEL SPIRIT?

Greetings. Essentially, the idea of doing this demo is to help me find where I want to take Charnel Spirit into the future. I have no interest in feeling restricted within a specific sound. That would actually go against the grain of what music offers. Which is no rules. Charnel Spirit is actually quite stripped back and simplistic in reference to other bands and music I’m doing/have done. Which in itself, was a worthy exploration for me but into the future, I cannot say where I’ll take it. The demo was always going to be a bit primitive as it’s your first step into a new venture. I’m actually considering inviting other musicians to be involved because I enjoy learning new techniques and ideas. Lastly, I prefer physical medium always and the appreciation for the support of AMOR FATI PRODUCTIONS and being so easy to cooperate with and supportive of my work goes a long way to continue. Sure, streaming platforms have their place and all but everything just gets lost in the maelstrom and forgotten about. I have been a record collector for 25 years or so, it’s never going to stop because the streaming world is lost on me. I was born before it and missed out on its capabilities so I am grateful for labels like AFP exist for old souls like me.

The title Blood Prophecy suggests that something has already been foretold. What exactly is this prophecy, and whose blood is involved?

If you’re after a poetic response to this, I would say, my own. This demo is both musically and lyrically a reflection of how I felt at a specific time(s). I remember writing some fragments of the demo lyrics when I was on a plane flying out of Athens after an exhausting tour with a different band and feeling rather low and depleted at the time. Of course I expanded on them at a later date but the most important thing for me is to capture thoughts and ideas when they’re there. I’ve never been the type of man to just work on or forcefully conjure something that isn’t there. It has to come when it’s ready and from somewhere inspired. But to go back to your question, there isn’t any divine or spiritual essence at work here. It’s a platform for my own expression. As with all my music.   

There is a very strong emphasis on atmosphere in the description: darkness, grim revelation, shadow, ruin, the grave. When you were writing these songs, did the atmosphere come first and the riffs follow, or was the atmosphere something that emerged from the riffs?

It would be fair to say that all of my music comes from a deeper, darker place. As a result, its outcome always leans to the more darker, sombre and expressive side. However, I feel that currently, Charnel Spirit is yet to delve deeper into this. I feel having only just released a demo, I’ve only just scratched the surface and I’m preparing to delve deeper into broader ideas and sound. Atmosphere over anything else is the importance for me.

You describe CHARNEL SPIRIT as emerging from “the obscure depths” of the Australian underground. What does the Australian underground actually mean to you? Is there still a distinct local character to it, or has the internet made geographical scenes increasingly irrelevant?

Honestly, not much anymore. I used to be really involved within it, constantly searching for demos and trading and going to live shows. I was also releasing and distributing recordings on a small CD and cassette label. For a time, it was my only source of income here but as I’m sure the world would agree, it’s not feasible. Especially over here so isolated from the rest of the world. The Australian scene however, was brilliant and had its own sound. Whether it was from the bestial black/death/thrash side of things or a very small sect of more atmospheric and experimental black metal. I always thought it was great. But it’s just not the same anymore. As I got older and played less and less with others in bands and starting learning different instruments, obtained recording equipment and going completely solo, I started to find my own sound and went deeper into that aspect. I felt it to be a pretty natural evolution for myself and as I mentioned earlier, I’m considering asking others to be involved in the future. Not for the sake of playing live or frequent rehearsals. More so, to see if other ideas can link with mine. Hence a demo release so far because I’m interested to see if anything evolves into new territory. 

The music apparently moves between black metal and “a foreboding doom crawl”. What attracts you to that slower, heavier side of black metal? Is it the physical weight, the atmosphere, or simply the fact that some things become more disturbing when you refuse to hurry them?

Essentially, I would say the appealing aspect of more moody and atmospheric music for me is the ‘silence between the notes’. Not everything needs to be a blur or chaotic and a message could potentially be delivered with more weight under different circumstances as opposed to chaos and inferno. Instead of ramming it down your throat, maybe it’s better to let it breed within the listeners mind?

The phrase “grim revelation” appears almost like a central idea here. What is being revealed through CHARNEL SPIRIT that couldn't be expressed through more straightforward black metal imagery?

As explained, so far, the demo has served as an entrance into a territory I wish to explore. Doesn’t matter to me if it’s traditional or otherwise. It doesn’t even matter to me if it is Black Metal or not but in this case, it felt like the right way to go. Lyrically it’s fairly dismal and inhuman and the music reflected that and vice versa.

The press text uses words like “rite”, “prophecy”, “malice” and “inhuman vision”. Are these simply aesthetic terms, or does CHARNEL SPIRIT actually approach the music as something ritualistic?

No, nothing ritualistic about it. It’s a mirror of a dark and churning level within my mind. Nothing profound or any mysteries for others to gain. I can’t help but feel Charnel Spirit is outwardly presented in a cold and sterile way and whilst it’s not entirely intentional, it just came out that way. This isn’t from some silly elitist standpoint, it just exists in the way it was created. Isolated and dark.

Blood Prophecy was condemned in 2024 at Graven Sound & The World Tree Forge. That's an unusually evocative way of describing a recording date. Why “condemned” rather than recorded? Was that wording chosen to suggest that the demo itself is some kind of object with a fate?

Because it had no choice but to submit to what poison I felt the need to inject into it. It was condemned to suffer where I took it.

There is almost no biographical information about CHARNEL SPIRIT. Was that deliberate? Do you think knowing who is behind a black metal record actually adds anything, or can it sometimes get in the way of the atmosphere you've created?

It’s not deliberate, most of the information is included in the physical format of the release. I guess by the time this interview happened, it had not yet had time to be revealed but I personally don’t believe it’s all that important to know the in’s and out’s of everything and better to accept and digest things for what and the way they are. My ideas and the music they rest within, is rather varied and spread out over all my involvements and whilst there are some similarities between them, they’re pretty unique unto each other. 

A first demo has a very different function from a second or third album. You're essentially introducing the band's entire language for the first time. What did you absolutely need CHARNEL SPIRIT to sound like before you were willing to release it?

There really is nothing absolute or necessary I felt I needed to express within the demo. I just let it evolve and inspire itself as I worked on it piece by piece. I’ll have to see what happens into the future and if an album when I begin working on one properly, will develop a deeper concept and discover if something different I wish to express comes out. But for now, the Blood Prophecy demo should be considered as the first stone cast into the depths.

Australian black metal has produced everything from raw primitive material to highly atmospheric and esoteric work. Are there any Australian records or bands that you consider essential to understanding where CHARNEL SPIRIT comes from?

Honestly no. I have always felt the need to develop my own sound and expression. Geographical location has very little to do with it for me personally these days. Whilst you will always have your influences in your formative, younger years. What comes with age is the need and willingness to walk your own path. And if you have the capability to do so, which really only comes from putting yourself into your “art”, which is something I’ve noticed lately that is lacking. 

And finally: if Blood Prophecy is the first manifestation of CHARNEL SPIRIT, what has actually been prophesied for the band beyond this demo? Is this the beginning of something you already have planned, or did you simply open the door and see what came through?

As you said yourself, opening the door and see what came through and as a result, it has encouraged me to push a bit deeper and see what grasps into the future. I can’t really reveal anything currently, not for specific reason of mystery or secrecy, just simply not ready to unravel what is coiling.