Hamburg-based doom metal band Atramentum has carved a unique path through their blend of doom, death, and black metal with hints of rock and roll. Vocalist Sebastian dives into the band's evolution, from their 2018 formation to the release of their second album, The Wrath Within. In this interview, he shares the personal stories behind their music, reflects on the challenges and triumphs of creating their latest record, and gives us a glimpse into their future plans.
Serial Metalbums: Could you introduce the band to readers of Serial Metalbums, including its members and how the project came together? Additionally, what are the key influences—both musical and thematic—that have shaped the identity of Atramentum?
Sebastian: Hey, first of all, thank you very much for the opportunity for this interview. We are Atramentum from Hamburg. Our sound is a mix of doom, death and black with a few Easter eggs of rock and roll.
In 2018, I (Sebastian) placed an ad with a demo (Lost) in a forum for musicians from Hamburg and that's how I came across Tobias. Together we started writing music in that direction, with Tobi being largely responsible for the songwriting and me for the lyrics. While working on the first album (Doomed in Time), Julian joined and a short time later the band was completed by the two guitar heroes Oli and Tim.
Our influences include Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Dark Fortress, Crowbar and others. We have a playlist on Spotify where we share our favorites in case your readers would like to listen.
Serial Metalbums: Your latest album, The Wrath Within was released today, How would you present this album to those who haven’t heard it yet? What themes, emotions, or stories do you aim to convey through this record?
Sebastian: Get ready for a long, cozy session with 13 songs that will take you through the dark themes of the psyche, varying between quiet, thoughtful passages and really shaking, hard riffs that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. We are proud and happy that this album is finally seeing the light of day. One topic that was very close to my heart, for example, is the loss of a child, which is dealt with in the song "Farewell".
Serial Metalbums: Can you take us behind the scenes of The Wrath Within? What was the songwriting process like, and how did the recording and production come together to bring this album to life?
Sebastian: Tobi did most of the songwriting. Oli also contributed songs for this album. Julian switched from drums to keys for the song "The Wrath Within". I tried to work on my clear vocals and thereby make a small adjustment to the overall sound. I'm very excited to see the reactions.
We recorded everything in our home studio. As with the first album "doomed in time", Dennis Clint from clintworks-audio did the mixing. For the mastering we turned to Eike Freese from Chameleon recording studios. The two of them did a great job and transformed the sound of the album into such a bomb.
Serial Metalbums: Your debut album, Doomed in Time, marked a significant beginning for Atramentum. How do you feel about this release now, and how does it compare to The Wrath Within in terms of style, themes, and execution?
Sebastian: On our first album "Doomed In Time" we were not yet complete as a band and we lacked the experience for the right approach and structure. I think you can clearly see the progress we have all made together, with everyone being able to bring in their influences. We have also developed significantly technically. I really like what we have achieved with "The Wrath Within" and it also suits my personal taste in music much more. Thematically I have processed more personal experiences and feelings and tried to filter out something meaningful from the chaos in my head. In my eyes, or should I say ears, the quality of the second album is a clear improvement compared to the first album. We paid more attention to small details. The overall sound is even better and we have used new techniques. Be it when recording, singing, playing or writing the music. My favorite is "The Wrath Within", although "Doomed In Time" has many great tracks.
Serial Metalbums: What’s next for Atramentum? Are you already working on new material, planning live performances? Do you see the possibility of exploring new directions or expanding your sound further in future releases?
Sebastian: Yes, we still have a few songs in the pipeline and a lot of ideas to work on. Who knows if any of them will make it onto the next record. We also have a few shows coming up this year that we're looking forward to. Among other gigs, we'll be playing at a festival for the first time, which we're super stoked about. In our future material, I definitely see the possibility of us continuing to experiment and refine our sound. A little experimentation here and there is part of that, of course. We don't have a set direction we're going in, either. We just try to make sure that we all like what we create, while incorporating our individual tastes.
Serial Metalbums: Being part of Atramentum and creating music in the Doom Metal genre must come with both challenges and rewards. What has been the most fulfilling or transformative experience for you personally during your journey with the band so far?
Sebastian: Besides the formation of the band and the fact that we even came together, which felt like a big challenge in the beginning, the most rewarding thing for me is that we can now develop together and continue to transform our sound. It's pretty damn cool to find four other dudes who are also keen to invest their energy in the same thing.
Serial Metalbums: The extreme metal scene has been evolving continuously, with new bands and sounds emerging worldwide. What’s your perspective on the current state of the scene, both locally and globally? Are there any trends, bands, or movements that you find particularly exciting or inspiring?
Sebastian: Personally, I'm not that up to date. I enjoy my old favorites, and of course their more recent albums too. Of course, I discover newer artists every now and then. What I notice, sadly, is that many bands sound identical these days. In some genres, you're overwhelmed by over-compression and the same old song structure, and everything just sounds completely overloaded. I like it when bands experiment with their sound and sometimes take new paths. Of course, a great sound can serve as a model for others. But I also always think it's great when you discover something unique that you haven't heard before.
