NETHERIEL

CONTINUING ON AGAINST THE ODDS

One of the hardest parts of starting a band of any musical style is finding a group of like-minded individuals to share the arduous process of writing, performing and recording. When one member decides to break off from the group, the entire band dynamic is derailed, sometimes temporarily, often permanently. Such lineup changes have plagued Calgary death metal act Netheriel for their entire six-year history.

“It’s always a setback when you lose somebody and have to try and find a replacement or have to try to shuffle people around,” decrees drummer Chad Auramenko. He himself will be backing Netheriel for the final time on May 10, at the release party of their third studio album.

“I found that I wasn’t having enough time to commit at the level that I’d like to, but it sounds like the project’s going to continue on without me,” he continues solemnly. While leaving a band can often be a heart-wrenching experience, Auramenko doesn’t seem too upset with his decision.

“Well I’ve had some good times, but I think I’ve run through the course I have to run.”

Netheriel (a fictional word combining “netherworld” and “ethereal”), began as a recording project in 2007. The group’s first show wasn’t until November 2011, after compiling a live lineup. Even then the band was absent a bass player.

“We got through it. Just two guitars and drums and things always sound better when you have the bass in there, it makes it sound fuller.”

The original musical intention of Netheriel was a return to an older-school style of death metal, as opposed to the more technical- and grind-influenced DM bands that abound today, explains guitarist and founding member Matt St. James.

“Basically the idea was to go back to early ‘90s death metal. That was a main influence of mine for a long time and it still is today: bands like Deicide, obviously, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, and stuff like that,” he explains.

“We’ve touched upon more technical stuff which might be considered… math metal like Origin and Necrophagist, you know that kind of stuff, but, for the most part, we are old-school death metal — I think that would probably be the most accurate label.”

It’s no stretch to identify these influences in Netheriel’s past albums, 2009’s Regnum Inferni, and 2010’s The Nine Virtues of Destruction. Lyrical themes are typical of ‘90s death metal, dealing primarily with Satanic and gore imagery. The 2010 release branched off into more political and conspiratorial ideas but as St. James explains, their newest effort, entitled Abysmal Revelations, will feature a return to Satanic tradition.

“This newest one is sort of back to our roots, it’s very occult oriented. It’s a lot like the first album, so it’s kind of come full circle.” Musically the newest release involved a more balanced song writing process than had previously been demonstrated.

“The older stuff was more guitar driven and I think the newer stuff everybody just kind of contributes their own thing a little bit,” clarifies Auramenko.

The May 10th show will be something of a rarity for Netheriel, as the ubiquitous lineup changes as well as recording the new album has prohibited them from committing to very many live performances as of late, something St. James says is set to change.

“In the future, starting from this point, you’re going to see a lot more of us, kind of like we were doing last year when we were doing like two shows a month.”

St. James has high expectations for the release party, based on the success of a recent show in Lethbridge, which he says, “pretty much put Calgary’s scene to shame.

“It was probably our best show ever… I hope they live up to that here.”

Celebrate the Netheriel CD release on Friday, May 10 at Vern’s Pub (622 – 8 Ave. S.W.) with Blackest Sin, Victimize, and Red Deer’s Leave the Living.

By Ian Lemke
Photo: Carla Fisherman