End of Dawn emerges as a new symphonic black metal band, blending esoteric concepts and haunting soundscapes. In this interview, Mynoghra, one of the band’s vocalists and lyricists, delves into the intricate themes of their debut album Primordial Darkness, the creative synergy within the band, and their vision of guiding listeners through a journey into blissful obscurity.
Serial Metalbums: End of Dawn is a relatively new name in the scene. Can you share the story of how the band came together? What’s the meaning behind the name, and how does it reflect your artistic vision?
Mynoghra: End of Dawn' was brought to life by Absence, our band's composer, and lead guitarist, along with our drummer Yannis B. After composing all the songs for the first album, they sought out musicians who shared their passion for symphonic black metal and an affinity for darkness, leading to the formation of the band.
The band's name reflects the gradual decline of humanity, moving inevitably towards a 'lightless' dystopia. Our vision is to guide the audience through this dark journey, striving to keep the inner flame of esoteric enlightenment burning bright.
Serial Metalbums: Could you introduce the members of End of Dawn and talk about what each of you brings to the band, both musically and personally?
Mynoghra: Let's start with Absence. Not only is she our lead guitarist and composer, but she also wrote some of the lyrics for "Primordial Darkness" and recorded our first album.
Our second album's tracks (currently in progress) are composed by both Absence and Akhenaten, who has elevated the symphonic element in our music. Akhenaten also manages our social media and band promotion efforts.
Yannis B, our band's co-founder and drummer, keeps us in rhythm and actively seeks opportunities to participate in festivals and collaborate with similar artists.
Necro is our main vocalist and a lyricist. He is also responsible for organizing our concerts.
Mynoghra, the other vocalist and lyricist, is in charge of conceptualizing our artwork and the upcoming video clips.
Gravekeeper, our rhythmic guitarist, handles our photoshoots during gigs.
Last but not least, Apollyon, our bass player, ties our songs together and adds depth to our music.
Serial Metalbums: Your debut album, Primordial Darkness, was released last November. What inspired the album’s title, and does it represent an overarching concept or theme?
Mynoghra: Primordial Darkness explores the journey of the human soul through shadows, responding to the call of the Void. 'Gate after gate the void's unveiled, calling us back to nonexistence.' Rooted in biblical, occult, and existential themes, the album narrates the eternal battle between light and darkness and the pursuit of redemption in a grim world. However, darkness is not the villain in this story, but the cure against the twisted light that almost sadistically drags us to existence.
By answering the Void's call, one escapes this shallow, barbaric world and embraces the Primordial Darkness, the mother of all truths. Think of it as Plato's allegory of the cave in reverse. In this story, the seeker of truth is blinded by the scorching light of existence and seeks the truth in the occult knowledge hidden in the blissful darkness. While praising the light is fashionable, it is through the calmness and solitude of darkness that one can evolve spiritually, undistracted by daylight's noise. As the quote states, 'Wolves don't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.
Serial Metalbums: The production quality of Primordial Darkness is impressive for a debut. Who did you work with during the recording and production process, and how did you ensure the sound captured your vision?
Mynoghra: First of all, thank you for your positive feedback, it is much appreciated! All of the songs were recorded by Absence at our place and then mixed and mastered by George Konstantine Kratsas. As this is our debut album, we aimed to incorporate our aesthetic and set the foundation for our upcoming work. His expertise and understanding of our vision were crucial in achieving that.
During the recording process, we paid meticulous attention to every detail. Each member of the band brought their relentless dedication and unique touch to the tracks. We spent countless hours perfecting the sound to ensure it resonated with the essence of our music. Throughout, we collaborated closely with George, constantly communicating our ideas and feedback to ensure the final product captured the depth and atmosphere we envisioned. It was truly a collective effort, and we couldn't be more pleased with the result.
Serial Metalbums: What are the key musical and non-musical influences that shaped Primordial Darkness? Are there specific bands, artists, or even books, films, or personal experiences that played a role in its creation?
Mynoghra: As a seven-member band, each of us brings unique inspirations and musical preferences. Yet, we all share a deep influence from the symphonic and extreme black metal legends, Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth as well as other similar artists.
Beyond musical influences, we also draw inspiration from certain movies and books. For example, 'The Great Epilogue' is partially inspired by Darren Aronofsky's captivating film 'The Fountain.' Elements of 'Ignorance' reference the 'Hellraiser' universe. The Fall of the Rebels is clearly a nod to the Book of Revelation and John Milton's Paradise Lost.
Our songs are interwoven with references to various movies, books, myths, and the occult, as well as personal experiences and life perspectives.
Serial Metalbums: As a band releasing your debut, how do you see your place within the extreme metal scene? Are there any specific goals or milestones you want to achieve in the near future?
Mynoghra: We see our place within the extreme metal scene as one of innovation and homage. We strive to honor the foundations laid by the artists before us while infusing our unique elements and perspectives to push the genre forward, building a loyal and passionate community around our music and keeping the flame alive.
Reaching the surface amid so many talented musicians is a challenge, but standing out isn't our ultimate goal. It's about telling our story to those who are here to listen and ensuring our message gets through. Our music serves this purpose, and from that point on, it's up to the listeners to determine if it resonates enough to rise to the surface.
Serial Metalbums: What’s next for End of Dawn? Are there new projects, collaborations, or ideas already taking shape for the future? If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be, and why?
Mynoghra: Currently, we are crafting songs for our second album, aiming to elevate our music with even better creations. We also plan to bring one of our songs to life visually, adding another layer of storytelling to our music.
Meanwhile, we are organizing out-of-town concerts and seeking opportunities to participate in festivals and collaborate with similar artists. There are so many remarkable artists out there that we would love to meet in person and tour with, it feels wrong to pick just one or two.
We look forward to sharing our journey with all of you.